Group staffing levels and responses to prospective and new group members.

A group's staffing level can play an important role in its socialization practices. For example, a group that is understaffed should be more open than an overstaffed group to both prospective and new members. To test this prediction, the leaders of nearly 100 student groups on a college campus were interviewed. These interviews yielded qualitative and quantitative data about the staffing levels in the groups and the methods that they used for recruiting prospective members and assimilating new ones. Analyses of the qualitative data clarified issues such as when understaffing and overstaffing are likely to occur, what kinds of problems they produce in groups, and how groups try to solve those problems. Analyses of the quantitative data revealed that our prediction was correct: As their staffing levels decrease, most groups become more open to prospective and new members. Implications of the results are discussed, and some suggestions for future research are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is there a role for continuation phase cognitive therapy for depressed outpatients?

Two pilot studies evaluated the rate of relapse or recurrence (i.e., major depressive disorder) after cognitive therapy (CT). Two sequential cohorts included outpatients who responded to acute phase CT (A-CT) and who agreed to monthly, treatment-free follow-up. In Study 1, the Kaplan-Meier technique estimated relapse and recurrence rates of 40% at 6 months, 45% at 8 months, 50% at 12 months, 67% at 18 months, and 74% at 24 months. In Study 2, responders to A-CT received 8 months (10 sessions) of continuation phase CT (C-CT). In Study 2, relapse or recurrence was 20% at 6 and 8 months, 27% at 12 months, and 36% at 18 and 24 months after A-CT. An exploratory log-rank test showed that relapse or recurrence-free survival was greater in Study 2 than in Study 1. If replicated, this result suggests that C-CT can reduce depressive relapse or recurrence. Alternative explanations are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The composition and microbial quality of pre-packed dates purchased in Greater Glasgow

Composition and microbiological contamination was measured in samples of pre-packed dates purchased from a number of stores and retail outlets in Greater Glasgow. The sugar content of dried pitted dates was c . 74%, about 10% more than reported on those packs where nutritional information was given. Potentially pathogenic bacteria like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus were identified in some of the samples together with lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and moulds, Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus . Fresh dates were the most heavily contaminated of all samples, probably owing to the high moisture content.     

Soliton-like waves in a low temperature nonlinear thermoelastic solid

An analysis of soliton-like waves propagating in a low-temperature nonlinear thermoelastic solid given in J. Ignaczak, J. Thermal Stresses 13, 73–98 (1990) is extended by introducing a low-temperature parameter ω ? (0, 1 ] into the basic equations. The two ω-parametrized one-dimensional soliton-like thermoelastic waves that propagate with finite speeds in a given direction are obtained in an implicit form for a large range of other parameters involved, by using the method similar to that employed by Ignaczak. If ω = 1 the thermoelastic soliton-like waves from Ignaczak's article are recovered. In addition, on the basis of an approximate system of nonlinear governing equations valid for a small ω, two fast-moving soliton-like thermoelastic waves are examined in detail. Each of these two waves reveals a fountain effect in a neighborhood of a moving front, and is close to a thermodynamical equilibrium far from the front. Schematic graphs illustrate both the exact and the approximate soliton-like waves.     

A comparison of the dissolution of model compounds and the kerogen of Green River oil shale by oxidation with perchloric acid — A model for the kerogen of Green River oil shale

A stepwise degradation of a kerogen concentrate of Green River oil shale was effected by oxidation with perchloric acid of varying boiling point and concentration. Dissolution of the kerogen concentrate occurred between 160 and 170°C. Several model compounds were also oxidized with perchloric acid. The model compounds were polyethylene, graphite, nylon, and polyethylene oxide. The results indicated that the kerogen was similar to polyethylene oxide. The results of this study and previous work were used to present a model for the structure of the kerogen of Green River oil shale.     

Predicting postdischarge opiate abstinence from admission measures of motivation and confidence.

Admission scores from a model comprising 3 motivation factors concerning the cessation of heroin use and a confidence scale concerning postdischarge abstinence were tested for their ability to predict postdischarge outcomes in patients beginning inpatient opiate detoxification. Statistically significant prediction of abstinence from heroin 30 days after discharge and the number of heroin-free days in the 3 months following admission was based on the confidence scale and a factor concerned with externally imposed constraints on continued heroin use. The single-scale confidence measure made the largest contribution to each prediction, indicating that such scales may be potentially useful outcome predictors for postdischarge abstinence. External constraints on heroin use may not provide a basis for success in this treatment modality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Matching treatment focus to patient social investment and support: 18-month follow-up results.

Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: brief broad-spectrum (BBS), extended relationship enhancement (ERE), or extended cognitive–behavioral (ECB). A hierarchical latent growth model was used to analyze the data of 188 patients (82%) followed for 18 months. ERE treatment was significantly more effective in increasing abstinence of patients entering treatment with a network unsupportive of abstinence or with a low level of investment in their network, whereas BBS treatment was more effective for patients with either (a) both a social network unsupportive of abstinence and a low level of network investment or (b) high investment in a network supportive of abstinence. ECB outcomes were neither as good as those matched nor as bad as those mismatched to the different exposures of relationship enhancement. This suggests that dose of relationship enhancement should be determined after assessing patient relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rehabilitation planned in accordance with the Luria neuropsychological investigation: A case history of a patient with left sided aneurysm.

After suffering a rupture of a left-sided aneurysm on the middle cerebral artery with prolonged arterial spasms, the prognosis for recovery of speech and motor functions of a 27-yr-old male patient was considered to be poor. Based on a Luria neuropsychological investigation that revealed many areas of preserved brain functions, rehabilitation efforts were directed toward training of specific abilities as well as compensatory skills using intact functions. This case demonstrates the interaction between the training program and the levels of motivation and persistence of the S and his family necessary to produce optimal rehabilitation outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treating smokers before the quit date: can nicotine patches and denicotinized cigarettes reduce cravings?

The present study investigated whether treatment with the combination of denicotinized cigarettes and 21-mg nicotine patch for 2 weeks before a designated quit date could lessen cravings for smoking, thereby helping smokers abstain from smoking. The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, in 2004 and 2005. Patients included 98 adult heavy smokers (using 20 or more cigarettes/day). Half of the subjects received 2 weeks of combination of denicotinized cigarettes (Quest 3) and 21-mg nicotine patch for 2 weeks before the quit date. The remaining smokers were switched to light cigarettes (Quest 1) during the 2 weeks before the quit date. After the quit date, all subjects received counseling for smoking cessation and were provided nicotine patches for up to 8 weeks after the quit date. Self-reported cravings for smoking, withdrawal symptoms, and smoking abstinence were measured at predetermined intervals using phone-based surveys and in clinical visits. The group that used denicotinized cigarettes and nicotine patch before quitting reported less frequent and less intense cravings for cigarettes in the 2 weeks before and after the designated quit date. Self-reported withdrawal symptoms and quit rates did not differ significantly between the groups. The use of a denicotinized cigarette combined with the nicotine patch appears to lessen cravings to smoke in the immediate postcessation period. A larger, better-powered study is needed to test if this treatment combination has merit for increasing quit rates.