Necessity, nice idea or nuissance? an exploration of clinical psychologists’ beliefs about, and uses of, diagnostically driven Nice guidelines

Section A is a scoping review, exploring UK clinical psychologists’ beliefs about psychiatric diagnosis. Reviewed beliefs are considered in relation to associated leadership documents. Most literature critiqued the practice of diagnosis. However, some clinical psychologists considered diagnosis a helpful practice. This perspective was unrepresented in recent leadership publications. For many, the debate was not binary; empirical literature suggested clinical psychologists had concerns with diagnosis but considered complete withdrawal from diagnostic practices unfeasible. The review suggests that more empirical literature is needed to understand clinical psychologists’ beliefs and practices regarding diagnostic practices in routine NHS work. Section B presents the findings of a mixed-methodological investigation of clinical psychologists’ (n = 55) beliefs about, and uses of diagnostically driven NICE guidelines. An integrated thematic map was produced, entitled: Threat, useful guide and vital manual: the shades of grey within and between clinical psychologists’ beliefs about, and uses of, NICE guidelines. Participants were concerned about the medical-model basis of NICE guidelines and their implementation as ‘rules’, and managed these concerns in various ways. Some worried the guidelines threatened clinical psychologists’ skills and jobs. A minority fully endorsed NICE guidelines. The need for clinical psychologists to feel safe to use their skills transparently is highlighted

Looking Ahead in Soybean Processing

War and immediate post-war demands for soybeans have been strong. Farmers in Iowa and throughout the Corn Belt have responded to these demands by greatly expanding their output of soybeans. Soybean production in Iowa in 1945 was more than triple 1940 production. About 43 million bushels of beans were harvested from the 1945 crop. And approximately 35 million bushels are expected from the 1946 crop

Extending the range of error estimates for radial approximation in Euclidean space and on spheres

We adapt Schaback's error doubling trick [R. Schaback. Improved error bounds for scattered data interpolation by radial basis functions. Math. Comp., 68(225):201--216, 1999.] to give error estimates for radial interpolation of functions with smoothness lying (in some sense) between that of the usual native space and the subspace with double the smoothness. We do this for both bounded subsets of R^d and spheres. As a step on the way to our ultimate goal we also show convergence of pseudoderivatives of the interpolation error.Comment: 10 page

Mining cosmic dust from the blue ice lakes of Greenland

Extraterrestrial material, most of which invisible settles to Earth's surface as dust particles smaller than a millimeter in size were investigated. Particles of 1/10 millimeter size fall at a rate of one/sq m/yr collection of extraterrestrial dust is important because the recovered cosmic dust particles can provide important information about comets. Comets are the most important source of dust in the solar system and they are probably the major source of extraterrestrial dust that is collectable at the Earth's surface. A new collection site for cosmic dust, in an environment where degradation by weathering is minimal is reported. It is found that the blue ice lakes on the Greenland ice cap provide an ideal location for collection of extraterrestrial dust particles larger than 0.1 mm in size. It is found that the lakes contain large amounts of cosmic dust which is much better preserved than similar particles recovered from the ocean floor

Exobiology in Earth orbit: The results of science workshops held at NASA, Ames Research Center

The Workshops on Exobiology in Earth Orbit were held to explore concepts for orbital experiments of exobiological interest and make recommendations on which classes of experiments should be carried out. Various observational and experimental opportunities in Earth orbit are described including those associated with the Space Shuttle laboratories, spacecraft deployed from the Space Shuttle and expendable launch vehicles, the Space Station, and lunar bases. Specific science issues and technology needs are summarized. Finally, a list of recommended experiments in the areas of observational exobiology, cosmic dust collection, and in situ experiments is presented

Effects of crop acreage control features of AAA on feed production in 11 Midwest states

This bulletin is the product of studies in the appraisal of governmental agricultural programs in progress at Iowa State College. The statistics upon which most of the conclusions relative to the effect of the AAA upon the production of feedstuffs are based are the estimates of feed production in the 3-year period, 1938-40, without crop acreage control. The manner in which the various estimates have been derived is explained in some detail in a series of fairly elaborate footnotes appended to tables 5 to 15, inclusive. The basic assumptions underlying these estimates are given in these footnotes. Available, relevant, empirical data are considered, and the appraisal and criticism of other research workers are taken into account.2 The quantification of these assumptions into estimates of feed production without crop acreage control are in the last analysis those of the authors, and, as all estimates, are subject to error. They are, it is believed, the best approximation that it is possible to make with the evidence now available of what the feed production would have been in the various parts of the Midwest had there been no AAA

Harvesting alfalfa with a windrow pick-up baler

Excellent quality hay may be made with the windrow pick-up baler. A windrow pick-up baler, operated at Iowa State College during the haymaking season of 1933, showed an average capacity of 1.59 tons of alfalfa per hour and a labor requirement of 2.52 man hours per ton. After the operators had developed some skill, the capacity of the machine in baling one crop from a field was increased to 3 tons per hour, and the labor expenditure lowered to 1.35 man hours per ton

Masonry barn design and construction

In 1913 an investigation was begun with the object of developing an all masonry barn which could be constructed at a reasonable cost and yet have the advantages of permanent and fire resistant construction. The studies which have been conducted pertain chiefly to the roof structure, with particular emphasis on the method of construction. In addition to a number of design studies, models of roof sections were built to develop a method of roof construction. Strength tests were made on roof models to check the reliability of the designs. The information obtained served as the basis of the design and method of constructing an experimental barn, which was built at Iowa State College in 1926-27. Common overall dimensions and a desirable roof shape were established to make the roof forms usable for a number of barns; wind load assumptions were adapted from reliable wind pressure investigations to permit a more intelligent and efficient roof design. The results of the design studies, construction and tests on models and roof sections, and the construction of the experimental barn, together with other related experiences, seem to warrant the following general conclusions: 1. The masonry arch is a very stable type of roof structure as shown by the tests on sections, which check closely the design calculations. 2. The construction of the roof is difficult and involves a large amount of labor because of: a. The use of heavy steel forms to carry a large part of the roof weight. b. The manipulation of the forms in erection, moving, dismantling and transporting. c. The handling and placing of roof materials. 3. The additional cost of the roof over a wood frame type construction is due. not so much to the cost of materials, as to the cost of the unproductive labor in handling the materials and in manipulation of the steel forms. The overhead cost of the forms becomes a large item in the first cost if they are used for only one or a few barns. 4. Experiments in the methods of making a roof watertight have not as yet indicated an entirely successful method. A heavy fibered asphalt has been found the best of the waterproof coatings which have been used. Leaks appear to be due to slight openings in the joints and to the development of fine cracks. 5. The construction of the roof should be directed by one . who is familiar with masonry construction. 6. A roof with a span of 34 ft. and a height of 20 ft. provides enough storage space for most conditions