Cross-sectional and prospective associations between cognitive appraisals and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms following stroke

This study examined cross-sectional and prospective associations between cognitive appraisals and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following stroke. While in hospital, stroke patients (n=81) completed questionnaires assessing cognitive appraisals (i.e., negative cognitions about the self, negative cognitions about the world, and self-blame) and PTSD symptoms. PTSD symptoms were assessed again 3 months later when all patients had been discharged from hospital (n=70). Significant correlations were found between the time 1 measures of negative cognitions about the self and the world, but not self-blame, and the severity of PTSD symptoms measured at time 1 and at time 2. Regression analyses revealed that cognitive appraisals explained a significant amount of variance in the severity of PTSD symptoms at time 1, with negative cognitions about the self-emerging as a significant predictor. In contrast, time 1 cognitive appraisals were unable to explain additional variance in time 2 PTSD severity over and above that explained by time 1 PTSD severity. The findings therefore provide only weak support for Ehlers and Clark's cognitive model of PTSD

An empirical study of argumentation schemes in deliberative dialogue

Publisher PD

Odd Parity and Line Nodes in Heavy Fermion Superconductors

Group theory arguments have demonstrated that a general odd parity order parameter cannot have line nodes in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. In this paper, it is shown that these arguments do not hold on the $k_z = \pi/c$ zone face of a hexagonal close packed lattice. In particular, three of the six odd parity representations vanish identically on this face. This has potential relevance to the heavy fermion superconductor $UPt_3$.Comment: 5 pages, revte

The application of cast SiC/Al to rotary engine components

A silicon carbide reinforced aluminum (SiC/Al) material fabricated by Dural Aluminum Composites Corporation was tested for various components of rotary engines. Properties investigated included hardness, high temperature strength, wear resistance, fatigue resistance, thermal conductivity, and expansion. SiC/Al appears to be a viable candidate for cast rotors, and may be applicable to other components, primarily housings

Switching Current vs. Magnetoresistance in Magnetic Multilayer Nanopillars

We study current-driven magnetization switching in nanofabricated magnetic trilayers, varying the magnetoresistance in three different ways. First, we insert a strongly spin-scattering layer between the magnetic trilayer and one of the electrodes, giving increased magnetoresistance. Second, we insert a spacer with a short spin-diffusion length between the magnetic layers, decreasing the magnetoresistance. Third, we vary the angle between layer magnetizations. In all cases, we find an approximately linear dependence between magnetoresistance and inverse switching current. We give a qualitative explanation for the observed behaviors, and suggest some ways in which the switching currents may be reduced.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure

Implementing a Business Process Management System Using ADEPT: A Real-World Case Study

This article describes how the agent-based design of ADEPT (advanced decision environment for processed tasks) and implementation philosophy was used to prototype a business process management system for a real-world application. The application illustrated is based on the British Telecom (BT) business process of providing a quote to a customer for installing a network to deliver a specified type of telecommunication service. Particular emphasis is placed upon the techniques developed for specifying services, allowing heterogeneous information models to interoperate, allowing rich and flexible interagent negotiation to occur, and on the issues related to interfacing agent-based systems and humans. This article builds upon the companion article (Applied Artificial Intelligence Vol.14, no 2, pgs. 145-189) that provides details of the rationale and design of the ADEPT technology deployed in this application

Dielectric spectroscopy of epoxy/glass composite materials

Glass fibre reinforced epoxy (GFRE) material is used in pressboard transformers for optical telecommunication systems, typically at voltages between 1 to 2kV. A programme has been set up to follow the electrical ageing of the GFRE through dielectric and space charge (PEA) measurements. Here we report on the characterisation of the GFRE prior to ageing made by means of linear dielectric spectroscopy. Preliminary results for the aged samples show differences in dielectric response that could be related to de-bonding at the epoxy-fibre interfaces observed in some failed samples

Quantifying Service Accessibility/Transport Disadvantage for Older People in Non-Metropolitan South Australia

The proportion of Australia’s population aged 65 years and over is increasing. In a highly mobile society that relies on car transportation for obtaining essential goods and services, challenges exist for the ageing population when their ability to utilise a car as a form of transport diminishes. Limited transport is a particular concern for those living in non-metropolitan areas due to reduced service accessibility. This research aimed to develop a spatial index to quantify the degree of service accessibility/transport disadvantage for the population aged 65 years and over living in the Murray and Mallee region of South Australia. The index developed comprised two components. The first component incorporated accessibility to key services utilised by older people. The second component quantified public transport options. Together, these components formed a composite index that can be used independently or in conjunction with other spatial datasets. The index methodology developed has the capacity to be broadly applied through the adaptation of key parameters specific to other population cohorts and would benefit from application in other non-metropolitan regions within Australia and abroad

The Global Structure and Evolution of a Self-Gravitating Multi-phase Interstellar Medium in a Galactic Disk

Using high resolution, two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations, we investigate the evolution of a self-gravitating multi-phase interstellar medium in the central kiloparsec region of a galactic disk. We find that a gravitationally and thermally unstable disk evolves, in a self-stabilizing manner, into a globally quasi-stable disk that consists of cold (T < 100 K), dense clumps and filaments surrounded by hot (T > 10^4 K), diffuse medium. The quasi-stationary, filamentary structure of the cold gas is remarkable. The hot gas, characterized by low-density holes and voids, is produced by shock heating. The shocks derive their energy from differential rotation and gravitational perturbations due to the formation of cold dense clumps. In the quasi-stable phase where cold and dense clouds are formed, the effective stability parameter, Q, has a value in the range 2-5. The dynamic range of our multi-phase calculations is 10^6 - 10^7 in both density and temperature. Phase diagrams for this turbulent medium are analyzed and discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, ApJ Letters in press (vol. 516