Attention remediation following traumatic brain injury in childhood and adolescence.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently affects both the basic and the superordinate components of attention; deficits vary according to patient age. This study evaluated the efficacy of a specific remediation intervention for attention. Sixty-five TBI patients (aged 6?18 years) with attention deficit were assessed at baseline and at 1-year follow-up: 40 patients received attention-specific neuropsychological training for 6 months, and the control group comprised 25 patients. Cognitive assessment included a Wechsler Intelligence Scale (e.g., A. Orsini, 1993) and the Continuous Performance Test II (CPT II; C. K. Conners, 2000). The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS; S. Sparrow, D. Balla & D. V. Cicchetti, 1984) was administered to assess the treatment's ecological validity. At baseline, all patients presented with a mild intellectual disability and pathological scores on the CPT II. At follow-up, significant differences were found between the 2 groups on the CPT II and VABS: The clinical group improved more than the control group. Specific remediation training for attention, including a combination of a process-specific approach and metacognitive strategies, significantly improved attention performance. Improvement in attention skills also affected adaptive skills positively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward the reduction of population obesity: Macrolevel environmental approaches to the problems of food, eating, and obesity.

The authors reviewed the evidential basis of three environmental approaches to reducing population obesity: What are the effects of (a) taxing or subsidizing foods, (b) manipulating the ease of food access, and (c) restricting access to certain foods? A narrative review evaluated evidence using National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute criteria. There was strong evidence that subsidization influences food purchases, but not necessarily food consumption or body weight. Ease of food access may influence food purchases, and possibly food intake and body weight. Data on restriction were lacking. More studies are needed to justify that altering these macro-environmental variables will necessarily reduce population obesity. A proposed conceptual model posits that the steps through environmental interventions may exert intended and unintended influences on body weight and obesity prevalence. Contemplated policy changes should weigh scientific evidence with social judgments and values concerning changes to the environment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Determination of the place conditioning and locomotor effects of amperozide in rats: A comparison with cocaine.

Amperozide promotes social interactions in rats (Rattus norvegicus) and reduces craving for cocaine and alcohol without producing adverse side effects. Amperozide administration produced a place preference in the dose range from 3.0 to 10.0 mg/kg. Locomotor behavior tended to be suppressed on the days of amperozide pairings, elevated on the days of vehicle pairings, and elevated on test days. Administration of 20.0 mg/kg but neither 2.0 nor 0.2 mg/kg cocaine produced place preference. Rats exhibited a greater place preference for the chamber paired with 2.0 mg/kg and 20.0 mg/kg but not 0.2 mg/kg cocaine compared to the chamber paired with 5.0 mg/kg amperozide. The results indicate that amperozide is appetitive. The most appetitive dose of amperozide (5.0 mg/kg) is less appetitive than the most appetitive dose of cocaine (20.0 mg/kg). More research is needed before conclusions regarding the degree of abuse potential for amperozide can be made. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex differences in jealousy: Evolutionary mechanism or artifact of measurement?

Two studies are presented that challenge the evidentiary basis for the existence of evolved sex differences in jealousy. In opposition to the evolutionary view, Study 1 demonstrated that a sex difference in jealousy resulting from sexual versus emotional infidelity is observed only when judgments are recorded using a forced-choice response format. On all other measures, no sex differences were found, both men and women reported greater jealousy in response to sexual infidelity. A second study revealed that the sex difference on the forced-choice measure disappeared under conditions of cognitive constraint. These findings suggest that the sex difference used to support the evolutionary view of jealousy likely represents a measurement artifact resulting from a format-induced effortful decision strategy and not an automatic, sex-specific response shaped by evolution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bacteria Loads from Point and Nonpoint Sources in an Urban Watershed

A pathogen impaired watershed in Houston, Tex., was studied to assess the spatial and temporal nature of point and nonpoint bacterial load contributions. End-of-pipe sampling at wastewater treatment plant effluent and storm sewers discharging under dry weather conditions was undertaken. Relatively low concentrations of E. coli were found in wastewater treatment effluent, with a geometric mean of 5 MPN/dL, while dry weather storm sewer discharges exhibited a geometric mean concentration of 212 MPN/dL. Loads from both point and nonpoint sources of E. coli were calculated and compared to in-stream bacteria loads. Nonpoint loads were estimated using an event mean concentration approach on an annual basis. Nonpoint source (NPS) loads were the primary source of bacteria loading to the bayou. Wastewater treatment plant and dry weather storm sewer loads, however, dominated in dry weather conditions. While NPS loads remained relatively constant from headwaters to the mouth of the bayou, point source loads exhibited greater spatial variability depending on the distribution of the discharging pipes. The study points to the need for spatial and temporal considerations in managing bacterial pollution in streams.     

Randomized Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adult Female Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

The authors conducted a randomized clinical trial of individual psychotherapy for women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to childhood sexual abuse (n = 74), comparing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with a problem-solving therapy (present-centered therapy; PCT) and to a wait-list (WL). The authors hypothesized that CBT would be more effective than PCT and WL in decreasing PTSD and related symptoms. CBT participants were significantly more likely than PCT participants to no longer meet criteria for a PTSD diagnosis at follow-up assessments. CBT and PCT were superior to WL in decreasing PTSD symptoms and secondary measures. CBT had a significantly greater dropout rate than PCT and WL. Both CBT and PCT were associated with sustained symptom reduction in this sample. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is there a role for continuation phase cognitive therapy for depressed outpatients?

Two pilot studies evaluated the rate of relapse or recurrence (i.e., major depressive disorder) after cognitive therapy (CT). Two sequential cohorts included outpatients who responded to acute phase CT (A-CT) and who agreed to monthly, treatment-free follow-up. In Study 1, the Kaplan-Meier technique estimated relapse and recurrence rates of 40% at 6 months, 45% at 8 months, 50% at 12 months, 67% at 18 months, and 74% at 24 months. In Study 2, responders to A-CT received 8 months (10 sessions) of continuation phase CT (C-CT). In Study 2, relapse or recurrence was 20% at 6 and 8 months, 27% at 12 months, and 36% at 18 and 24 months after A-CT. An exploratory log-rank test showed that relapse or recurrence-free survival was greater in Study 2 than in Study 1. If replicated, this result suggests that C-CT can reduce depressive relapse or recurrence. Alternative explanations are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing blood flow control through a bootstrap method

In order to assess blood flow control, the relationship between blood pressure and blood flow can be modeled by linear filters. We present a bootstrap method, which allows the statistical analysis of an index of blood flow control that is obtained from constrained system identification using an established set of pre-defined filters.     

Comparison of shear strength tests on AV119 epoxy-joined ceramics

The results of an experimental investigation on epoxy-joined CVD SiC and alumina tested in shear and apparent shear mode by four different configurations are presented. Ceramics have been joined by an epoxy adhesive (AV119), which is not to be considered as the final joining material for high temperature applications, but just as a model brittle joining material chosen to obtain several joined samples in a reasonable time. Advantages and disadvantages of each configuration are discussed and compared to results obtained with the same epoxy-joined carbon/carbon composites, tested by the same shear tests.     

Determination of the solar calibration constant for a sun-sky radiometer: proposal of an in-situ procedure

A new procedure is presented for determining in situ the solar calibration constant, i.e., the Sun-sky radiometer counts for a direct normal solar flux extrapolated to the top of the atmosphere. The method makes use of a modified version of the Langley plot based on the use of an inversion code of column-integrated aerosol size distribution, and it is ordinarily applied to calibrate Prede Sun-sky radiometers. To analyze how such an in situ method can work accurately, the technique has been applied to a five-month dataset obtained from measurements taken in Rome, Italy, by a Prede Sun-sky radiometer from 22 April to 5 November 2001. The precision of the in situ method has been estimated to within 1-2.5%, depending on the wavelength.