Resistance.

This article reviews extant literature on how patient resistance has been defined and its effects on psychotherapy. Resistance has been considered as both a patient-in-treatment state and as an enduring trait. In either form, patient resistance seems to interfere with treatment outcome. Resistance also functions as a moderating variable in determining the effectiveness of different levels of therapist directiveness. The evidence that patients who enter treatment with high levels of trait like resistance will benefit most from nondirective interventions is moderately strong. Conversely, those who enter treatment with low levels of trait like resistance benefit most from therapist directed interventions. Therapeutic practices associated with the research evidence are advanced. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Impact of bleaching pine fibre on the fibre/cement interface

The goal of this article was to evaluate the surface characteristics of the pine fibres and its impact on the performance of fibre–cement composites. Lower polar contribution of the surface energy indicates that unbleached fibres have less hydrophilic nature than the bleached fibres. Bleaching the pulp makes the fibres less stronger, more fibrillated and permeable to liquids due to removal the amorphous lignin and its extraction from the fibre surface. Atomic force microscopy reveals these changes occurring on the fibre surface and contributes to understanding the mechanism of adhesion of the resulting fibre to cement interface. Scanning electron microscopy shows that pulp bleaching increased fibre/cement interfacial bonding, whilst unbleached fibres were less susceptible to cement precipitation into the fibre cavities (lumens) in the prepared composites. Consequently, bleached fibre-reinforced composites had lower ductility due to the high interfacial adhesion between the fibre and the cement and elevated rates of fibre mineralization.     

On flow properties,fibre distribution,fibre orientation and flexural behaviour of FRC

For improving the mechanical properties of fibre reinforced concrete one can either increase the fibre content, use hybrid fibre systems, or one can attempt to align fibres in the direction of stress. In this paper, it is attempted to use the flow-properties of the fresh (self-compacting) concrete to change the fibre distribution and orientation. Using a single mixture of fibre reinforced concrete, containing 3% of 30 mm long straight steel fibres, the fibre distribution and orientation was determined in three different parts of a ‘U-shaped specimen’ where the concrete could flow in three different directions. The fibre distribution and orientation was determined from a CT-scan. Flexural tests show that the mechanical behaviour depends on the fibre distribution and orientation, which can be affected by changing the viscosity of the fresh mixture.     

Solving advanced network reliability problems by means of cellular automata and Monte Carlo sampling

This paper extends the cellular automata-based, Monte Carlo sampling methodology for computing network reliability, previously proposed by the first author. The extension regards the development of cellular automata for the solution of the all-terminal and k-terminal connection problems and the maximum unsplittable flow problem, which can be considered as a particular, simplified case of the maximum flow distribution problem. The algorithms developed are presented in detail and verified on literature cases.     

Cellulose modified fibres in cement based composites

The objective of the present work is to evaluate the effect of surface modification of cellulose pulp fibres on the mechanical and microstructure of fibre–cement composites. Surface modification of the cellulose pulps was performed with Methacryloxypropyltri-methoxysilane (MPTS) and Aminopropyltri-ethoxysilane (APTS) in an attempt to improve their durability into fibre–cement composites. The surface modification showed significant influence on the microstructure of the composites on the fibre–matrix interface and in the mineralization of the fibre lumen as seen by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with back-scattered electron (BSE) detector. Accelerated ageing cycles decreased modulus of rupture (MOR) and toughness (TE) of the composites. Composites reinforced with MPTS-modified fibres presented fibres free from cement hydration products, while APTS-modified fibres presented accelerated mineralization. Higher mineralization of the fibres led to higher embrittlement of the composite after accelerated ageing cycles. These observations are therefore very useful for understanding the mechanisms of degradation of fibre–cement composites.     

A pilot study of L-methionine for the treatment of AIDS-associated myelopathy

The pathogenesis of AIDS-associated vacuolar myelopathy (VM) may be related to abnormality of transmethylation mechanisms in the nervous system. To evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of the methyl-group donor L-methionine in AIDS-associated VM, we conducted a pilot clinical trial in 12 patients with VM. Seven of the nine patients who completed the study had clinical and electrophysiologic improvement. Controlled studies may be indicated to assess the efficacy and safety of L-methionine in AIDS-associated VM.     

Opitz C trigonocephaly syndrome and midline brain anomalies

Using the Halstead-Reitan Battery profiles of 796 people, a formula for the detection of malingering was partially cross-validated to assess the false positive rate. Subjects included normals, psychiatric cases, and persons with all major types of brain disorder. The formula incorrectly designated 32% of the sample as fakers (i.e., as false positives). Of the 120 head-trauma cases, 39 (32%) obtained Fake scores, whereas 81 (67%) were correctly assessed as not malingering. The correlation of the results of the formula and the severity of the profile (as measured by the Average Impairment Rating) was 67, p < .0001.