Client Attachment as a Predictor of Therapy Outcome and Premature Termination

The primary purpose of this study was to examine how clients’ self-reported adult attachment pattern and their attachment to the counselor are associated with working alliance and premature termination. A total of 65 clients at a large southeastern university counseling center were included in data analysis. Clients in this study completed survey packets including the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998), the Working Alliance Inventory (Horvath & Greenberg, 1989), the Client Attachment to Therapist Scale (Mallinckrodt, Gantt, & Coble, 1995), the Outcome Questionnaire 45 and 30 items (Lambert et al. 1996), and the Therapeutic Distance Inventory (Mallinckrodt, 2011) at four different time points: (a) pretest, (b) after the 3rd session, (c) after the 5th session, and (d) at termination. The Therapeutic Distance scale is composed of four dimensions, Too Close, Too Distant, Growing Engagement, and Growing Autonomy. Results suggested that interactions between adult attachment (anxiety or avoidance) and therapeutic distance were not significantly associated with working alliance or premature termination. However, therapeutic distance subscales were correlated as direct effects with working alliance and premature termination. Other findings suggested adult attachment did not change over the course of therapy. The Client Attachment to Therapist (CATS) subscales at session 5 and at termination were significantly correlated with premature termination. In addition, working alliance at termination was significantly negatively associated with premature termination. Finally, the CATS-Avoidant-Fearful subscale at session 3 was associated with an increase in symptoms, and working alliance at session 3 was associated with a decrease in symptoms. Implications for theory, psychotherapy, and future research are discussed

Manganese based layered oxides with modulated electronic and thermodynamic properties for sodium ion batteries

Manganese based layered oxides have received increasing attention as cathode materials for sodium ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacities and good sodium ion conductivities. However, the Jahn–Teller distortion arising from the manganese (III) centers destabilizes the host structure and deteriorates the cycling life. Herein, we report that zinc-doped Na0.833[Li0.25Mn0.75]O2 can not only suppress the Jahn–Teller effect but also reduce the inherent phase separations. The reduction of manganese (III) amount in the zinc-doped sample, as predicted by first-principles calculations, has been confirmed by its high binding energies and the reduced octahedral structural variations. In the viewpoint of thermodynamics, the zinc-doped sample has lower formation energy, more stable ground states, and fewer spinodal decomposition regions than those of the undoped sample, all of which make it charge or discharge without any phase transition. Hence, the zinc-doped sample shows superior cycling performance, demonstrating that zinc doping is an effective strategy for developing high-performance layered cathode materials

Sr2_2IrO4_4/Sr3_3Ir2_2O7_7 superlattice for a model 2D quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet

Spin-orbit entangled pseudospins hold promise for a wide array of exotic magnetism ranging from a Heisenberg antiferromagnet to a Kitaev spin liquid depending on the lattice and bonding geometry, but many of the host materials suffer from lattice distortions and deviate from idealized models in part due to inherent strong pseudospin-lattice coupling. Here, we report on the synthesis of a magnetic superlattice comprising the single ($n$=1) and the double ($n$=2) layer members of the Ruddlesden-Popper series iridates Sr$_{n+1}$Ir$_{n}$O$_{3n+1}$ alternating along the $c$-axis, and provide a comprehensive study of its lattice and magnetic structures using scanning transmission electron microscopy, resonant elastic and inelastic x-ray scattering, third harmonic generation measurements and Raman spectroscopy. The superlattice is free of the structural distortions reported for the parent phases and has a higher point group symmetry, while preserving the magnetic orders and pseudospin dynamics inherited from the parent phases, featuring two magnetic transitions with two symmetry-distinct orders. We infer weaker pseudospin-lattice coupling from the analysis of Raman spectra and attribute it to frustrated magnetic-elastic couplings. Thus, the superlattice expresses a near ideal network of effective spin-one-half moments on a square lattice

Development and cross‑national investigation of a model explaining participation in WHO‑recommended and placebo behaviours to prevent COVID‑19 infection

To protect themselves from COVID-19, people follow the recommendations of the authorities, but they also resort to placebos. To stop the virus, it is important to understand the factors underlying both types of preventive behaviour. This study examined whether our model (developed based on the Health Belief Model and the Transactional Model of Stress) can explain participation in WHO-recommended and placebo actions during the pandemic. Model was tested on a sample of 3346 participants from Italy, Japan, Poland, Korea, Sweden, and the US. It was broadly supported: objective risk and cues to action showed both direct and indirect (through perceived threat) associations with preventive behaviours. Moreover, locus of control, decision balance, health anxiety and preventive coping moderated these relationships. Numerous differences were also found between countries. We conclude that beliefs about control over health and perceived benefits of actions are critical to the development of interventions to improve adherence to recommendations

Symmetry Control of Unconventional Spin–Orbit Torques in IrO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e

Spin–orbit torques generated by a spin current are key to magnetic switching in spintronic applications. The polarization of the spin current dictates the direction of switching required for energy-efficient devices. Conventionally, the polarizations of these spin currents are restricted to be along a certain direction due to the symmetry of the material allowing only for efficient in-plane magnetic switching. Unconventional spin–orbit torques arising from novel spin current polarizations, however, have the potential to switch other magnetization orientations such as perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, which is desired for higher density spintronic-based memory devices. Here, it is demonstrated that low crystalline symmetry is not required for unconventional spin–orbit torques and can be generated in a nonmagnetic high symmetry material, iridium dioxide (IrO2), using epitaxial design. It is shown that by reducing the relative crystalline symmetry with respect to the growth direction large unconventional spin currents can be generated and hence spin–orbit torques. Furthermore, the spin polarizations detected in (001), (110), and (111) oriented IrO2 thin films are compared to show which crystal symmetries restrict unconventional spin transport. Understanding and tuning unconventional spin transport generation in high symmetry materials can provide a new route towards energy-efficient magnetic switching in spintronic devices

Real-Time Automated Solubility Screening Method Using Deep Neural Networks with Handcrafted Features

Solubility measurements are essential in various research and industrial fields. With the automation of processes, the importance of automatic and real-time solubility measurements has increased. Although end-to-end learning methods are commonly used for classification tasks, the use of handcrafted features is still important for specific tasks with the limited labeled images of solutions used in industrial settings. In this study, we propose a method that uses computer vision algorithms to extract nine handcrafted features from images and train a DNN-based classifier to automatically classify solutions based on their dissolution states. To validate the proposed method, a dataset was constructed using various solution images ranging from undissolved solutes in the form of fine particles to those completely covering the solution. Using the proposed method, the solubility status can be automatically screened in real time by using a display and camera on a tablet or mobile phone. Therefore, by combining an automatic solubility changing system with the proposed method, a fully automated process could be achieved without human intervention

Application of Depletion Attraction in Mineral Flotation: I. Theory

We investigate the role of depletion interactions in the particle–bubble interactions that determine the attachment capability of particles on the bubble surface in flotation. In this article, we propose a theoretical model that explains how this attractive interaction could enhance flotation efficiency. Two optimum conditions are determined for the concentration and molecular weight of the depletion agent. The optimum concentration can be determined through the extent of surface activity of the depletion agents. The magnitude of the depletion attraction increases as the concentration increases; however, an increase in the concentration simultaneously enhances its surface concentration. The bubble surface adsorption of the depletion agent results in polymer brushes on the bubble surface that produce a large repulsive interaction. In contrast, the optimal molecular weight of the depletion agents is given by the interaction between the depletion agent sizes, which is determined by its molecular weight and Debye length which is determined by the solution ionic strength. We demonstrate that exploiting this depletion interaction could significantly enhance the flotation efficiency and in principal could be used for any particle system

Targeted thrombolysis by magnetoacoustic particles in photothrombotic stroke model

Abstract Background Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) has a short half-life, and additional hemorrhagic transformation (HT) can occur when treatment is delayed. Here, we report the design and thrombolytic performance of 3 \upmu μ m discoidal polymeric particles loaded with rtPA and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), referred to as rmDPPs, to address the HT issues of rtPA. Methods The rmDPPs consisted of a biodegradable polymeric matrix, rtPA, and SPIONs and were synthesized via a top-down fabrication. Results The rmDPPs could be concentrated at the target site with magnetic attraction, and then the rtPA could be released under acoustic stimulus. Therefore, we named that the particles had magnetoacoustic properties. For the in vitro blood clot lysis, the rmDPPs with magnetoacoustic stimuli could not enhance the lytic potential compared to the rmDPPs without stimulation. Furthermore, although the reduction of the infarcts in vivo was observed along with the magnetoacoustic stimuli in the rmDPPs, more enhancement was not achieved in comparison with the rtPA. A notable advantage of rmDPPs was shown in delayed administration of rmDPPs at poststroke. The late treatment of rmDPPs with magnetoacoustic stimuli could reduce the infarcts and lead to no additional HT issues, while rtPA alone could not show any favorable prognosis. Conclusion The rmDPPs may be advantageous in delayed treatment of thrombotic patients

Application of Depletion Attraction in Mineral Flotation: II. Effects of Depletant Concentration

Along with the accompanying theory article, we experimentally investigate the effect of the depletion attraction force on the flotation of malachite. While varying the concentration of the depletion agent (polyethylene glycol), three different systems are studied: pure malachite, pure silica and a 1:1 mass ratio of malachite and silica binary system. We find that the recovery increases significantly as the concentration of the depletion reagents increases for all three systems. However, the recovery suddenly decreases in a certain concentration range, which corresponds to the onset of the decreased surface tension when high concentrations of the depletion agent are used. The decreased surface tension of the air/water interface suggests that the recovery rate is lowered due to the adsorption of the depletion agent to the bubble surface, acting as a polymer brush. We also perform experiments in the presence of a small amount of a collector, sodium oleate. An extremely small amount of the collector (10−10–10−5 M) leads to the increase in the overall recovery, which eventually reaches nearly 100 percent. Nevertheless, the grade worsens as the depletant provides the force to silica particles as well as target malachite particles