Review of Coping strategies therapy for bulimia nervosa.

Reviews the book, Coping strategies therapy for bulimia nervosa by David L. Tobin (see record 2000-07256-000). The book starts with a short introduction of the need for combination treatments and the obstacles therapists have to overcome in order to arrive at a cost-effective care for bulimic patients. The first part of the book provides a framework for coping strategies therapy (CST). The author reviews empirical and theoretical models of psychotherapy. This discussion is followed by an overview of CST, with short summaries of the different doses of therapy that are a central outcome of the author's work. The second part of the book is an elaboration of the details of the different doses of therapy: Dose 1 (problem engagement with a "remoralizing" aim; 1-2 sessions), Dose 2 (problem engagement with a "remediating" aim; 3-8 sessions), Dose 3 (emotion engagement with a rehabilitating aim; 9-20 sessions), and Dose 4 (problem and emotion disengagement with the aim of "rooting out the source of the disease"; 50-100+ sessions). Each dose is a separate treatment program designed for a specific bulimic patient group, and each has a specific aim and starts at a specific level of motivation for change. Basic aims for the author are to justify the broad range of activities on a theoretical and empirical basis, to organize those activities to help clinicians make rationally administered interventions, to provide a rationale for combining diverse interventions, and to build an informed basis that facilitates clinical care. These are far-reaching aims, and the reviewer thinks Tobin takes a large and interesting step toward a more integrative understanding and practical approach to the treatment of eating disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Wet spun fibers from solutions of cellulose in an ionic liquid with suspended carbon nanoparticles

Wet spun fibers from solutions of dissolving pulp in 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate (EmimAc) with up to 50 wt % (based on cellulose) suspended carbon black and graphene nanoplatelets particles were studied. Carbon fillers were dispersed by simple shearing in a Couette type mixer and the resulting spin dope was extruded into a hot water coagulation bath from a single hole spinneret. Microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity were assessed as a function of filler loading and discussed in comparison to melt spun fibers with similar fillers. The coagulation process and subsequent drying of wet spun fibers was found to produce a significant microporosity, more so the higher the filler loading. The electrical percolation threshold was quite high in the wet spun fibers and relatively modest values of conductivity were obtained with regard to the high filler loadings. Carbon black was found to be superior to graphene nanoplatelets. This was related to flow‐induced orientation effects. The mechanical properties of the carbon‐filled fibers were found to be similar or lower compared to the pure cellulose fibers because of low interfacial interactions and formation of microporosity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41417.     

Non-positive autoimmune responses against CYP2E1 in refrigeration mechanics exposed to halogenated hydrocarbons

The aim of the study was to determine if occupational exposure to hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) generates autoimmune responses against CYP2E1. HFCs and HCFCs have replaced the chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in e.g. refrigeration installations and air-conditioning systems. During the substitution period, refrigeration mechanics reported symptoms like asthma, influenza-like reactions, and joint troubles. These symptoms resemble those of chronic inflammatory diseases with an autoimmune component. Since exposure to structurally similar chemicals, e.g. halothane, has previously been associated with autoimmune responses and diseases, autoimmunity among the refrigeration mechanics might hypothetically explain the reported inflammatory symptoms. Serum from 44 Swedish men, occupationally exposed to halogenated hydrocarbons, was screened for antibodies against CYP2E1 with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thirty of the workers had asthma, joint problems or influenza-like symptoms whereas 14 of them had no such symptoms. They were all selected from a cohort of 280 refrigeration mechanics. Unexposed, healthy, Swedish men (n=35) constituted control group. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee at Karolinska Institutet. No increase in autoantibodies against CYP2E1 was detected among the occupationally exposed workers as compared to the unexposed controls. Further, there was no difference in antibody titer between the exposed workers with symptoms and the exposed, asymtomatic workers or the unexposed controls. The present study does not completely exclude a connection between exposure and effect but makes the relation less likely at these exposure levels.     

Analysis of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Systems Involving Heat Exchangers

Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been regarded as the new energy source for portable, stationary, and automotive applications. However, commercial exploitation of PEMFCs is still in an early stage, due to shortage of infrastructure in the society, high cost, and particularly the difficulty of the water/thermal management. One of the objectives of the current work is to analyze the water/thermal balances in a 100-kW class PEMFC system, consisting of PEMFC stack, compressor, intercooler, heater, humidifier, condenser, and radiator. As a first step, the heat and mass balances in the heat exchangers are analyzed for various water recovery schemes, followed by an analysis of the PEMFC stack effects on the system balance concerning the pressure drop and operating current density.     

Future manufacturing approaches in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry

In order to develop future manufacturing strategies the chemical and pharmaceutical industry works on the implementation of process intensification and new modularization methods. In this paper current challenges, process intensification approaches and future manufacturing initiatives are summarized and discussed.     

Effects of psychological hardiness, job demands, and job control on sickness absence: A prospective study.

This study prospectively investigated the effects of psychological hardiness, job control, and job demands on medically certified sickness absence. Data from a questionnaire survey were combined with archival data for sickness absence among 7,239 civilian and military employees of the Norwegian Armed Forces (84.3% male, 69.8% military). A 2-component hurdle regression was used in the statistical analyses of the sickness absence data. After controlling for age, sex, and baseline absence, hardiness predicted both the likelihood of having any sickness absence (odds ratio = 0.97) and the number of absence spells (a 6.5% decrease in the expected count for 1 standard deviation change in hardiness). In addition, an interaction was found among hardiness, job control, and psychological demands. When demands were high, high job control was associated with more absence among employees with low levels of hardiness. Together, these findings point to hardiness as an important individual resource in relation to health, and that it is necessary to consider individual differences when examining the effects of work characteristics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Practice world

Civil Engineer Sigurd Hveem at the Norwegian Building Research Institute, BI, describes the laboratory and field tests carried out on the dynamic response of different lightweight timber floors to establish new design guidelines. NBI are also looking at theoretical calculation methods in order to predict the results obtained by measuring dynamic properties.     

Le bâtiment et les exportations

La récession que connaît le bâtiment dans la plupart des pays industrialisés occidentaux a obligé leurs industriés de la construction à chercher de nouveaux marchés à I'étranger. L'auteur, un des associés de la société d'ingénieurs-conseils en génie civil Kjessler et Mannersträle, SA de Stockholm nous donne une idée de la situation en Suède et des possibilités qu'elle présente pour les consultants à I'étranger.     

Thermodynamic assessment of the lanthanum-oxygen system

The data on the thermodynamic properties of La₂O₃ have been reviewed and optimized using the CALPHAD method. A consistent set of parameters is presented. Data on this system are scarce and, with the exception of a few datapoints on substoichiometric La₂O_3−x and one measurement of oxygen solubility in La metal, limited to the properties of pure La and pure La₂O₃. Using the optimized parameters, a tentative phase diagram and stability diagram have been calculated.