Defining Early Positive Response to Psychotherapy: An Empirical Comparison Between Clinically Significant Change Criteria and Growth Mixture Modeling

Several different approaches have been applied to identify early positive change in response to psychotherapy so as to predict later treatment outcome and length as well as use this information for outcome monitoring and treatment planning. In this study, simple methods based on clinically significant change criteria and computationally demanding growth mixture modeling (GMM) are compared with regard to their overlap and uniqueness as well as their characteristics in terms of initial impairment, therapy outcome, and treatment length. The GMM approach identified a highly specific subgroup of early improving patients. These patients were characterized by higher average intake impairments and higher pre- to-posttreatment score differences. Although being more specific for the prediction of treatment success, GMM was much less sensitive than clinically significant and reliable change criteria. There were no differences between the groups with regard to treatment length. Because each of the approaches had specific advantages, results suggest a combination of both methods for practical use in routine outcome monitoring and treatment planning

Radar-Based Respiratory Measurement of a Rhesus Monkey by Suppressing Nonperiodic Body Motion Components

We propose a method to measure the respiration of a rhesus monkey using a millimeter-wave radar system with an antenna array. Unlike humans, small animals are generally restless and hyperactive in nature, and suppression of their body motion components is thus necessary to realize accurate respiratory measurements. The proposed method detects and suppresses nonperiodic body motion components while also combining and emphasizing the periodic components from multiple echoes acquired from the target. Results indicate that the proposed method can measure respiration rate of the target monkey accurately, even with frequent body movements.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures. This work is going to be submitted to the IEEE for possible publicatio

Influence of Social Class Perceptions on Attributions among Mental Health Practitioners

Objective: A vignette-based study assessed the influence of social class attributions toward a hypothetical client\u27s difficulty. Method: 188 licensed mental health professionals who were recruited through professional listservs completed an online survey after reviewing one of two versions of a vignette describing a hypothetical client that varied based on social class cues. Results: As expected, this sample of licensed mental health practitioners detected social class differences based on the descriptors of the hypothetical client across the two vignettes. These perceived social class differences, however, did not impact participants\u27 attributions toward the client for causing or solving her problems, level of Global Assessment of Functioning score ascribed to the client, or willingness to work with the client. Conclusions: There was no evidence that participants differentially ascribed attributions based on social class. Implications and directions for future research are provided

Sol-gel chemistry mediated Zn/Al-based complex dispersant for SWCNT in water without foam formation

We report a bimetallic Zn/Al complex as an efficient inorganic dispersant for SWCNT, synthesized from Zn(CH3COO)(2) and Al(NO3)(3). The Zn/Al complex shows more than four times greater efficiency at dispersing SWCNT than widely used surfactants (CTAB and SDS). Besides remarkable dispersibility, the Zn/Al complex does not foam upon any shaking treatment and it can be used just after quick dissolution of the powdered form, which is a marked advantage over surfactants. The Zn/Al complex, containing amorphous Al(CH3COO)(3) and a complex of Zn2+ and NO3- ions, should have a unique dispersion mechanism, differing from the surfactants. Al(CH3COO)(3) has higher affinity for SWCNT than ions, adsorbing onto its surface in the first layer and attracting Zn2+ and NO3- ions. Charge transfer interactions between the Zn/Al complex and SWCNT, as evidenced by optical absorption spectroscopy, should induce a charge on SWCNT; the zeta potential of such coated SWCNT was +55 mV, indicating a high dispersion stability in aqueous media. Hence, the Zn/Al complex can widen the applications of SWCNT to various technologies such as the transparent and conductive films, as well as high performance composite polymers. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.ArticleCARBON. 94:518-523 (2015)journal articl

Carboxylic acid functionalized spin-crossover iron(II) grids for tunable switching and hybrid electrode fabrication

Two carboxyl-substituted iron(II) grids, one protonated, [Fe4(HL)4](BF4)4·4MeCN·AcOEt (1), and the other deprotonated, [Fe4(L)4]·DMSO·EtOH (2), where H2L = 4-{4,5-bis[6-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)pyrid-2-yl]-1H-imidazol-2-yl}benzoic acid, were synthesized. Single-crystal X-ray structure analyses reveal that both complexes have a tetranuclear [2 × 2] grid structure. 1 formed one-dimensional chains through intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic acid units of neighboring grids, while 2 formed two-dimensional layers stabilized by π–π-stacking interactions. 1 showed spin transition between the 3HS-1LS and 1.5HS-2.5LS states around 200 K, while 2 showed spin-crossover between the 4LS and 2LS-2HS states above 300 K. A modified indium–tin oxide (ITO) electrode was fabricated by soaking the ITO in a solution of 1. The resultant electrode showed reversible redox waves attributed to the original redox processes of iron(II)/iron(III)

Diagnosis and Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis with Cytomegalovirus Infection: Importance of Controlling Mucosal Inflammation to Prevent Cytomegalovirus Reactivation

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a member of the herpesvirus family. HCMV infection persists throughout the host lifespan in a latent state following primary infection. The ability of HCMV to escape control by the host immune system and its resulting reactivation suggests the importance of ongoing immune surveillance in the prevention of HCMV reactivation. HCMV is a common cause of opportunistic infection that causes severe and fatal disease in immune-compromised individuals. In inflammatory bowel disease patients, particularly those with ulcerative colitis (UC), HCMV is often reactivated because these patients are frequently treated with immunosuppressive agents. This reactivation exacerbates colitis. Additionally, HCMV infection can induce severe colitis, even in patients with UC who have never been treated with immunosuppressive agents. However, the role of HCMV in colonic inflammation in patients with UC remains unclear. Here, we present previous and current clinical data on the diagnosis and treatment of HCMV infection in UC. Additionally, our experimental data from a newly established mouse model mimicking UC with concomitant CMV infection clearly demonstrate that inflammation could result in the exacerbation of UC disease activity with induction of HCMV reactivation. In summary, optimal control of colonic inflammation should be achieved in UC patients who are refractory to conventional immunosuppressive therapies and are positive for HCMV

A ring of grids: a giant spin-crossover cluster

Mononuclear and icosanuclear spin-crossover complexes, [FeII(HL)2](BF4)2(1) and [FeII 20(L)24](BF4)16(2), were synthesized using an asymmetric multidentate ligand (HL).1has a bis-chelate structure with two protonated ligands, while2has a ring-shape structure comprising four [2 × 2] grid moieties and four mononuclear units

PREPARATION OF VANADIUM PENTOXIDE NANOPARTICLE-DEPOSITED ALUMINA SUBMICRON PARTICLES FOR CATALYSTS WITHOUT SINTERING

The formation of vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) nanoparticles immobilized on alumina (Al₂O₃) particles was studied in a methane/oxygen coflow diffusion-flame reactor. V₂O₅ nanoparticles formed by the decomposition of vanadium oxytriethoxide were deposited onto Al₂O₃ particles, which were introduced into the flame together with vanadium oxytriethoxide solution. To immobilize the V₂O₅ nanoparticles on Al₂O₃ particles, rapid cooling with a Laval nozzle was applied to the V₂O₅/Al₂O₃ particles formed in the flame. We found that it was possible to suppress the sintering of V₂O₅ nanoparticles on the Al₂O₃ particles when the Al₂O₃ particles were introduced into the flame at a temperature sufficiently high to soften the surfaces of the Al₂O₃ particles