Regenerative cooling design and analysis computer program

Program evaluates influences of heat transfer, stress, and cycle life. Coolant passages may be tubes or channels, with or without gas-side wall coating. Program options include two-dimensional thermal analysis model of tube or channel cross-section using relaxation technique with variable number of nodes

Cross-modal and synaesthetic perception in music and vision

This thesis is concerned with the cross-modal and synaesthetic perception of musical and visual stimuli. Each of these types of perception has been researched separately, and a hypothesis is presented here that accounts for both cross-modal matching and the development of synaesthesia. This hypothesis claims that sensory information can be evaluated in another modality by using a scale of comparison in that modality. The first set of experiments examines normal subjects performing cross-modal matching with coloured circles and auditory stimuli that vary in complexity. It is shown that subjects use a variety of scales of comparison from both visual and auditory modalities to form matches. As the stimuli increase in complexity, the individual variation in cross-modal matching also increases. The second set of experiments examines matching performance using higher order stimuli, by having subjects evaluate fragments of melodies and complete melodies on affective and descriptive adjective scales. Melodies were also matched with landscape scenes to examine if subjects could form matches between two highly complex sets of stimuli. The final experiments examine synaesthetic associations with colour, evoked from music, letters, numbers, and other categorical information. Common features of synaesthesia from a population of synaesthetes are identified, and experiments performed to test the interference of the synaesthetic associations. Additional experiments are presented that explore the superior short-term memory of one synaesthete, and the role of his associations as a mnemonic device

Predicting the early therapeutic alliance in the treatment of drug misuse

Aims - To predict the early therapeutic alliance from a range of potentially relevant factors, including clients' social relationships, motivation and psychological resources, and counsellors' professional experience and ex-user status. Design - The study recruited 187 clients starting residential rehabilitation treatment for drug misuse in three UK services. Counsellor and client information was assessed at intake, and client and counsellor ratings of the alliance were obtained during weeks 1, 2 and 3. Measurements - The intake assessment battery included scales on psychological wellbeing, treatment motivation, coping strategies and attachment style. Client and counsellor versions of the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI-S) were used for weekly alliance measurement. Hierarchical linear models were used to examine the relationship between alliance and predictor variables. Findings - Clients who had better motivation, coping strategies, social support and a secure attachment style were more likely to develop good alliances. Findings with regard to counsellor characteristics were not clear cut: clients rated their relationships with ex-user counsellors, experienced counsellors and male counsellors as better, but more experienced counsellors rated their alliances as worse. Conclusions - The findings offer important leads as to what interventions might improve the therapeutic alliance. Further work will need to establish whether the therapeutic alliance and ultimately treatment outcomes can be enhanced by working on improving clients' motivation and psychosocial resources

What should be done with antisocial personality disorder in the new edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-V)?

Antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, dissocial personality disorder and sociopathy are constructs that have generally been used to predict recidivism and dangerousness, alongside being used to exclude patients from treatment services. However, 'antisocial personality disorder' has recently begun to emerge as a treatment diagnosis, a development reflected within cognitive behaviour therapy and mentalisation-based psychotherapy. Many of the behaviour characteristics of antisocial personality disorder are, at the same time, being targeted by interventions at criminal justice settings. A significantly higher proportion of published articles focusing on antisocial personality concern treatment when compared to articles on psychopathy. Currently, the proposal for antisocial personality disorder for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, suggests a major change in the criteria for this disorder. While the present definition focuses mainly on observable behaviours, the proposed revision stresses interpersonal and emotional aspects of the disorder drawing on the concept of psychopathy. The present commentary suggests that developments leading to improvement in the diagnosis of this type of disorder should, rather than focusing exclusively on elements such as dangerousness and risk assessment, point us to ways in which patients can be treated for their problems

#METOO: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING A SOCIAL MOVEMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON SURVIVORHOOD

The #MeToo movement gained traction in 2017 when survivors of sexual violence were encouraged to speak out on social media about their own experiences. Subsequently, millions of individuals came forward with their stories of sexual violence, thrusting these traumatic experiences into the spotlight. This dissertation discusses the findings of a qualitative, empirical study, designed to examine the intended and unintended ways in which the #MeToo movement has impacted survivors of sexual violence. In creating the context for this study, theoretical frameworks that allowed for an understanding of the ways in which cultural dialogues may impact individuals, along with the understanding of the ways in which sexual violence and trauma is processed, were explored. Findings revealed that the participant survivors had significant responses to this movement. Nine critical themes were identified including positive responses to the movement, such as the development of increased connections to other survivors and support systems, feelings of gratitude, and increased comfort in speaking about their experiences. Other responses highlighted more intrusive or distressing reactions, included feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, guilty or retraumatized, with some survivors noting the need to engage in protective behaviors, and others questioning the movements overall longevity or impact. Clinical implications of this research include an increased awareness of the impact of this movement on survivors of sexual violence and a greater understanding of their experiences within the context of this movement. Particularly, this dissertation sheds light on the potential ramifications of exposure to traumatic material through large scale advocacy movements taking place on both social and traditional media outlets, as well as the potential for healing as a result of the same phenomenon

DNA polymerase activity as an index of lymphocyte stimulation: studies in Down's syndrome

The ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes to respond to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in vitro was studied in patients with Down's syndrome. The response was measured by the increase in DNA polymerase activity and the rate of incorporation of tritiated thymidine by the cultured lymphocytes. These activities were significantly lower in PHA-stimulated lymphocytes from patients with Down's syndrome compared with age- and sex-matched, mentally retarded patients without Down's syndrome from the same institution and the normal healthy volunteers. The impairment in response to PHA does not seem to be related to the presence of Australia antigen in patients with Down's syndrome or to institutionalization itself. In contrast to DNA polymerase activity and thymidine-(3)H uptake, there was no significant difference in the percentage of blast transformation in the three groups studied. The poor response of the lymphocytes from patients with Down's syndrome to a mitogenic stimulus could reflect an impairment of cellular immune functions in these patients which may be one of the factors contributing to the vulnerability of these patients to repeated or persistent infections