The effect of frozen storage of open-ocean seawater samples on the concentration of dissolved phosphate and nitrate

Filtered seawater samples which were stored at −20°C in containers of different surface area to volume ratios were analysed for the effects of surface adsorption of nitrate and phosphate during storage for a maximum of 24 months. The results for nitrate showed no significant change in concentration over the duration of the experiment. However, the concentration of phosphate steadily decreased in samples stored for longer than 4 months. The loss of phosphate after this time cannot be explained at present, but this study showed that it was not due to the effects of surface adsorption.     

FFD bin packing for item sizes with uniform distributions on [0, 1/2]

We study the expected behavior of the FFD bin-packing algorithm applied to items whose sizes are distributed in accordance with a Poisson process with rateN on the interval[0, 1/2] of item sizes. By viewing the algorithm as a succession of queueing processes we show that the expected wasted space for FFD bin-packing is bounded above by 11.3 bins, independent ofN.     

An industrial cell biologist's wish list

The current state of protein production by eukaryotic cells in culture is reviewed by a cell biologist with an eye towards areas that could benefit from more work by chemical engineers. The basic question of how the type of bioreactor influences cell productivity has not been answered. We are still learning how to optimize protein production in all types of bioreactors. Recent examples show that optimization can increase productivity over 10-fold. Support work needs to be done to determine the limits of individual cell productivity. Basic cell metabolism work needs to be done in serum-free medium to make it generally applicable. Only then can better bioreactors be designed with useful probes to monitor important substances.     

Psychiatric rehabilitation as the preferred response to the needs of individuals with severe psychiatric disability.

Defines severe psychiatric disability (SPD) and discusses the demographic characteristics of persons with SPD. Two groups with SPD have become sources of public policy debate: the homeless and young adults (aged 18–35 yrs). Attempts to impact client rehabilitation outcome are noted. It is suggested that interventions based on a rehabilitation model show promise as a way to reduce psychiatric disability. These interventions are based on strategies aimed at increasing a person's skills and supports. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thought disorder in schizophrenics and normal controls: Social class and race differences.

Tested the usefulness of a measure of thought disorder, the Thought Disorder Index (TDI), for assessing those other than White middle-class patients. The TDI is based on deviant language patterns. 101 hospitalized schizophrenic patients, first-degree relatives of schizophrenics, and normal controls were compared on TDI scores by social class, race, and diagnosis. There were 53 White and 48 Black Ss. TDI scores accurately distinguished among the 3 psychiatric categories for both Black and White subgroups. Normal language patterns of Black and lower-class people are clearly distinguishable from those conveying instances of thought slippage and those occurring in psychotic patients and in their parents. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Barriers to the provision of mental health services to individuals with severe physical disability.

Surveyed 86 consumer advocates (67 with physical disabilities), 157 rehabilitation counselors, 94 rehabilitation administrators, 323 mental health administrators and professionals, and 145 severely disabled Ss concerning Ss' perceptions of the nature and extent of mental health services, barriers to mental health service provision for individuals with severe physical disabilities, and personal data. Overall, there was a general consistency among the sample groups in their perceptions of the extent to which each of 10 variables is a barrier to service delivery. The lack of accessible public transportation, especially in nonmetropolitan areas, and the accompanying limitation on costly mental health outreach services were viewed as serious problems. The limited knowledge and skills of many mental health professional regarding severe physical disability was perceived to be a moderate to substantial barrier to service provision. Findings indicate that individuals with severe physical disability are an underserved group. Recommendations regarding policy and program development and training of professionals are offered. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The psychological treatment of unipolar depression: Progress and limitations.

Reviews the psychological and pharmacological treatments of unipolar depression for the evidence of efficacy. Cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal therapies were found to be equivalent or superior to pharmacological treatments in terms of both immediate and sustained treatment effects. However, these treatment effects were modest when nonspecific treatment effects are considered. Psychological treatments within the cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal framework could not be distinguished by either magnitude of treatment effects or response specificity (i.e., effect on specific response domains, such as vegetative symptoms, cognitive or social functioning). The benefits of focusing unitary, theory-derived treatments on the depression episode may have peaked. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Shiftwork experience and the value of time

Dissatisfaction with shiftwork has been shown to increase with age and work experience. The objective was to determine if differences in preferred paid work time existed between shiftworkers with different lengths of shiftwork experience and age-matched non-shiftworkers (controls). A questionnaire was used to determine how controls and shiftworkers with different shiftwork experience perceived the value of preferred work time across the week. Participants were required to value each hour across the days of the week on a scale from 0 (least preference) to 10 (highest preference). Data were analysed across groups to produce mean and standard deviation matrices. Unpaired t-tests determined significant differences between groups. This study found that preferred hours-of-work change with years of shiftwork experience. For shiftworkers in their first 5 years and those in their 30th-year-plus of shiftwork, night work was a low priority. Shiftworkers with 17 - 30 years experience indicated a preference for work any time across the week. Overall, shiftworkers extended their preferred work hours to include the evenings and weekend. Controls adhered more strongly to current societal norms. The results suggest that a person initially undertaking shiftwork may well be one with a less restrictive perception of time and its use, however, this perception may alter over time.     

Enhanced browsing in digital libraries: three new approaches to browsing in Greenstone

Browsing is part of the information-seeking process, used when information needs are ill-defined or unspecific. Browsing and searching are often interleaved during information seeking to accommodate changing awareness of information needs. Digital libraries often do not support browsing. Described here are three browsing systems created for the Greenstone digital library software .     

Changing reinforcing events: An approach to the treatment of depression.

The relationship between depression and reinforcement is central to therapy that changes reinforcing events, depression and reinforcement are assumed to be highly related phenomena. The main goal is to enhance the quantity and the quality of the person's reinforcement-related interaction. Procedures include the systematic assessment of depression level, pinpointing of key pleasant and unpleasant events, and the daily monitoring of pleasant and unpleasant events and mood. Tactics include a wide range of cognitive-behavioral interventions such as assertion, relaxation training, daily planning and time management training, and cognitive procedures intended to allow the person to deal more adaptively with aversive situations. A therapist manual is available. Pre-, post- and follow-up data for 3 groups of depressed individuals are presented. (41 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)