Outcome of different treatment mixes in a multidimensional neuropsychological rehabilitation program.

Within a clinical demonstration program, 59 traumatically brain-injured patients were treated with 1 of 3 mixes of treatment. Mix 1 included cognitive remediation (CGR), small-group interpersonal (SGI) communication training, therapeutic community activities, and personal counseling. Mix 2 was similar to Mix 1 but stressed SGI exercises and eliminated CGR. Mix 3 emphasized CGR and eliminated SGI exercises. The efficacy of the treatment mixes was evaluated with performance on neuropsychological tests, improved independence in functional activities, measures of intra- and interpersonal functioning, and vocational outcome. Ss' participation in the program, irrespective of treatment mix, yielded improvements in (1) self-image, (2) quality of interpersonal relatedness and interaction, (3) involvement with others in naturalistic settings, and (4) vocational outcome. Overall, data point to the superiority of the balanced mix (Mix 1) over Mixes 2 and 3. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personal resources and political uprooting: The Israeli experience.

The authors assessed distress in Israeli society before and after Israel’s disengagement from Gaza and the northern West Bank during the summer of 2005. Random samples of 701 Israelis residing in various parts of Israel (Study 1) and 246 Israelis residing in Gaza and the northern West Bank who were to be uprooted (Study 2) were interviewed by telephone several weeks before the disengagement (T1), with 462 and 124 of these respondents, respectively, reinterviewed several weeks after the disengagement (T2). Anxiety related to the national and security situation was lower at T2 than at T1 in both studies. A personal resource, namely mastery–optimism, contributed negatively to both anxiety and hostility before the disengagement in both studies. In Study 1, it also predicted lower postdisengagement anxiety. The findings underscore the importance of mastery–optimism in the adjustment to threatening political events such as forced uprooting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Determination of trace isoflavone phytoestrogens in biological materials by capillary electrochromatography

Capillary electrochromatography using a specialty monolithic matrix was utilized in developing a rapid and highly efficient separation of isoflavones in biological materials. Without a preconcentration technique, it is relatively easy to reach ppm-ppb concentrations of these compounds in soy-based foods and verify them structurally using a photodiode array detector. With on-column preconcentration, we were able to measure low-ppb levels in human serum. Using blood samples from human volunteers, whose diet was supplemented by a soy-based product, the method has been validated for high-throughput screening of isoflavones in clinical studies.     

Edit distance of run-length encoded strings

Let X and Y be two run-length encoded strings, of encoded lengths k and l, respectively. We present a simple O(|X|l+|Y|k) time algorithm that computes their edit distance.     

Clinical assessment of attachment patterns and personality disorder in adolescents and adults.

The relevance of attachment theory and research for practice has become increasingly clear. The authors describe a series of studies with 3 aims: (a) to validate measures of attachment for use by clinicians with adolescents and adults, (b) to examine the relation between attachment and personality pathology, and (c) to ascertain whether factor analysis can recover dimensions of attachment reflecting both interpersonal and narrative style. In 3 studies, experienced clinicians provided psychometric data using 1 of 4 attachment questionnaires (2 adolescent and 2 adult samples). Attachment dimensions predicted both personality pathology and developmental experiences in predictable ways. Factor analysis identified 4 dimensions that replicated across adolescent and adult samples on the basis of a combination of interpersonal and narrative indicators: secure, dismissing, preoccupied, and incoherent/disorganized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reduction of polarization in electrodialysis by ion-conducting spacers

A new method to decrease polarization in electrodialysis is suggested, with the aid of ion-conducting spacers. Spacers were prepared and tested. It was found that high current efficiency can be preserved at high current densities, in the present experiments up to 30 mA/cm² for a 0.011 N dialysate. Resistance of the dialysate compartment was lower than that corresponding to a homogeneous layer of solution for dilute dialysates. An open stack design made possible by the spacer is discussed.     

The Lake Ontario zooplankton community before (1987–1991) and after (2001–2005) invasion-induced ecosystem change

We assessed changes in Lake Ontario zooplankton biomass, production, and community composition before (1987–1991) and after (2001–2005) invasion-induced ecosystem changes. The ecosystem changes were associated with establishment of invasive dreissenid mussels and invasive predatory cladocerans (Bythotrephes and Cercopagis). Whole-lake total epilimnetic plus metalimnetic zooplankton production declined by approximately half from 42.45 (g dry wt?m⁻²? year⁻¹) during 1987–1991 to 21.91 (g dry wt?m⁻²? year⁻¹) in 2003 and averaged 21.01 (g dry wt?m⁻²? year⁻¹) during 2001–2005. Analysis of two independent data sets indicates that the mean biomass and biomass proportion of cyclopoid copepods declined while the same measures increased for the invasive predatory cladocerans. Changes in means and proportions of all other zooplankton groups were not consistent between the data sets. Cyclopoid copepod biomass and production declined by factors ranging from 3.6 to 5.7. Invasive predatory cladoceran biomass averaged from 5.0% to 8.0% of the total zooplankton biomass. The zooplankton community was otherwise resilient to the invasion-induced disruption as zooplankton species richness and diversity were unaffected. Zooplankton production was likely reduced by declines in primary productivity but may have declined further due to increased predation by alewives and invasive predatory cladocerans. Shifts in zooplankton community structure were consistent with increased predation pressure on cyclopoid copepods by alewives and invasive predatory cladocerans. Predicted declines in the proportion of small cladocerans were not evident. This study represents the first direct comparison of changes in Lake Ontario zooplankton production before and after the invasion-induced disruption and will be important to food web-scale investigations of invasion effects.     

Toward a neuropsychological model of functional disability after mild traumatic brain injury.

Discusses investigations into the nature, causes, predictors, and treatment of functional disability after minor traumatic brain injury (TBI). Distinctions among minor head injury, mild traumatic brain injury, postconcussion syndrome, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are clarified, and methodological and information-processing issues in minor TBI are identified. Four stages of clinical research related to minor TBI are described: identification of functional scenarios (1983–1987), development of educational materials (1985–1986), ongoing research (1988–1992), and clinical applications (1992 and continuing). Finally, a neuropsychological model of functional disability after minor TBI is presented, with implications for assessment and treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A toy or a friend? Children's anthropomorphic beliefs about robots and how these relate to second-language word learning

This study investigates the degree to which children anthropomorphize a robot tutor and whether this anthropomorphism relates to their vocabulary learning in a second-language (L2) tutoring intervention. With this aim, an anthropomorphism questionnaire was administered to 5-year-old children (N = 104) twice: prior to and following a seven-session L2 vocabulary training with a humanoid robot. On average, children tended to anthropomorphize the robot prior to and after the lessons to a similar degree, but many children changed their attributed anthropomorphic features. Boys anthropomorphized the robot less after the lessons than girls. Moreover, there was a weak but significant positive correlation between anthropomorphism as measured before the lessons and scores on a word-knowledge post-test administered the day after the last lesson. There was also a weak but significant positive correlation between the change in anthropomorphism over time and scores on a word-knowledge post-test administered approximately 2 weeks after the last lesson. Our results underscore the need to manage children's expectations in robot-assisted education. Also, future research could explore adaptations to individual children's expectations in child-robot interactions.     

Limit state design framework for geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures

Conventional design of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures is divided into two categories, walls and slopes, based on the batter of its facing system. Internal stability, characterized as sufficient reinforcement anchoring and strength, is performed using earth pressure-based design criteria for reinforced walls while reinforced slopes are founded on limit equilibrium (LE) slope stability analyses. LE analyses are also used to assess the global or compound stability of both types of structures, accounting for the geometry of the reinforced, retained and foundation soils. The application of LE-based methods typically results in determination of a slip surface corresponding to the lowest attained Safety Factor (SF), known as the Factor of Safety (Fs); however, it yields little information about reinforcement loading or connection load. In this study, use of the analyzed spatial distribution of SF known as a Safety Map, is modified to attain a prescribed constant Fs at any location in the reinforced soil mass. This modified framework, implemented through an iterative, top-down procedure of LE slope stability analyses originating from the crest of a reinforced structure and exiting at progressively lower elevations on the facing, enables the determination of a Tension Map that illustrates the required distribution of reinforcement tension to attain a prescribed limit state of equilibrium. This tension map is directly constrained by a pullout capacity envelope at both the rear and front of each reinforcement layer, providing a unified, LE-based approach towards assessing an optimal selection of mutually dependent strength and layout of the reinforcement. To illustrate the utility of the Limit State framework, a series of instructive examples are presented. The results demonstrate the effects of facing elements, closely-spaced reinforcements, secondary reinforcement layers, and is compared to conventional design approaches.