Integrative Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A Preliminary Investigation.

This study is a preliminary investigation of an integrative treatment aimed at improving the efficacy of cognitive therapy (CT) for depression. The development of the treatment protocol was based on process findings, which suggested that strategies used in CT to resolve alliance ruptures may actually exacerbate problems in the therapeutic relationship. The protocol integrates, within the traditional CT treatment manual, procedures to repair alliance ruptures that are derived from or consistent with humanistic and interpersonal therapies. Although conducted by inexperienced therapists, the integrative treatment led to greater improvement than a waiting-list condition. The results also compare favorably to previous findings for CT. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Understanding source effects in ADHD rating scales: Reply to DuPaul (2003).

G. J. DuPaul (see record 2003-02033-012) offered two suggestions for additional research to understand the strong source effects reported by R. Gomez, G. L Burns, J. A. Walsh, and M. A. de Moura (see record 2003-02033-001) in attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rating scales. The first suggestion was to determine whether the source effects represent mostly bias or accuracy. The second suggestion was to minimize source effects through the development of better ADHD rating scales. Because source effects can represent bias or accuracy, it is important to minimize the bias aspect through content validation procedures prior to attempts to determine whether source effects better reflect bias or accuracy. This comment offers various suggestions to reduce the bias in ADHD rating scales. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An engineering process for the verification of real-time systems

The complete verification of the timing properties of a large critical system cannot be undertaken in a single step or with a single method. In this paper we present a process that links together a number of techniques and approaches that cover all stages of development from requirements analysis to code testing. The key elements of the process are: a constrained form of timed automata that uses delay and deadline to define temporal behaviour, notions of rely and guarantee to cover temporal dependencies, model checking for design verification, SPARK and Ravenscar restrictions for programming, and scheduling and response time analysis for asserting implementation compliance. Extended examples of the use of the process are given.     

Fabrication and selective surface modification of 3-dimensionally textured biomedical polymers from etched silicon substrates

A new method is described for producing biomedically relevant polymers with precisely defined micron scale surface texture in the x, y, and z planes. Patterned Si templates were fabricated using photolithography to create a relief pattern in photoresist with lateral dimensions as small as 1 micron. Electroless Ni was selectively deposited in the trenches of the patterned substrate. The Ni served as a resilient mask for transferring the patterns onto the Si substrate to depths of up to 8.5 microns by anisotropic reactive ion etching with a fluorine-based plasma. The 3-dimensional (3-D) textured silicon substrates were used as robust, reusable molds for pattern transfer onto poly (dimethyl siloxane), low density poly (ethylene), poly (L-lactide), and poly (glycolide) by either casting or injection molding. The fidelity of the pattern transfer from the silicon substrates to the polymers was 90 to 95% in all three planes for all polymers for more than 60 transfers from a single wafer, as determined by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Further, the 3-D textured polymers were selectively modified to coat proteins either in the trenches or on the mesas by capillary modification or selective coating techniques. These selectively patterned 3-D polymer substrates may be useful for a variety of biomaterial applications.     

Computed tomography in the elderly

In a chemically defined serum-free culture system, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) as the only externally applied growth factor, in concert with corticosterone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and low insulin (1nM), stimulates adipose conversion of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Omission of PDGF during the induction period results in loss of differentiation competence and apoptotic cell death. Induction of apoptosis is shown to be clearly mediated by PDGF withdrawal, since neither corticosterone nor IBMX affect the apoptotic behaviour of 3T3-L1 cells. Cell viability in the absence of the survival factor PDGF could be achieved by application of high insulin (1 microM) or ectopical expression of the anti-apoptotic proto-oncogene Bcl-2. However, PDGF-independent suppression of cell death does not trigger adipose conversion in the presence of corticosterone and IBMX. Therefore, we conclude that suppression of apoptosis per se is not permissive for differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and PDGF might exert some additional differentiation-promoting effect(s).     

Echinococcal disease and the provision of humanitarian surgical aid in Bosnia

The Canadian Armed Forced have been deployed to the republics of the former Yugoslavia since 1992 as part of the United Nations Protection Force and the NATO-led Implementation Force. Most of the combat arms units have been supported by small, self-contained surgical teams for essential surgery. Considerable benefit is gained by cooperating with civilian surgeons. The experience of treating five patients with complicated hydatid disease endemic to the area is examined. Treatment of these patients requires performing major surgical procedures under austere conditions and must be undertaken with care. Careful selection and communication with the surgical nursing team and civilian surgeons is essential. Well selected cases can also pay tremendous dividends in terms of maintaining the skills of personnel who must be prepared for any emergency in addition to providing vital surgical assistance to these patients.