Examining the Content of Mental Health Intake Assessments From a Biopsychosocial Perspective

Psychotherapists’ approach to intake assessment has a major impact on mental health case conceptualization and treatment. Despite the importance of this issue, very little is known about the actual intake assessment practices of therapists providing mental health care in the community. This appears to be the first study that has investigated which aspects of biological, psychological, and sociocultural functioning are documented by therapists in their client intake assessments, how thoroughly these issues are assessed, and how well the information collected is then integrated into the assessment findings and case conceptualization. The examination of 163 client files from 3 mental health clinics found that therapists were regularly collecting client information regarding a wide range of biopsychosocial issues, though not in a detailed or comprehensive manner. There was also little evidence that the information was being integrated in a manner designed to maximize treatment effectiveness. These findings have major implications for training and practice in mental health assessment

On the nature of the ISO-selected sources in the ELAIS S2 region

We have studied the optical, near-IR and radio properties of a complete sample of 43 sources detected at 15-micron in one of the deeper ELAIS repeatedly observed region. The extragalactic objects in this sample have 15-micron flux densities in the range 0.4-10 mJy, where the source counts start diverging from no evolution models. About 90% of the sources (39 out of 43) have optical counterparts brighter than I=21 mag. Eight of these 39 sources have been identified with stars on the basis of imaging data, while for another 22 sources we have obtained optical spectroscopy, reaching a high identification percentage (30/43, ~70%). All but one of the 28 sources with flux density > 0.7 mJy are identified. Most of the extragalactic objects are normal spiral or starburst galaxies at moderate redshift (z_med~0.2); four objects are Active Galactic Nuclei. We have used the 15-micron, H_alpha and 1.4-GHz luminosities as indicators of star-formation rate and we have compared the results obtained in these three bands. While 1.4-GHz and 15-micron estimates are in good agreement, showing that our galaxies are forming stars at a median rate of ~40 Mo/yr, the raw H_alpha-based estimates are a factor ~5-10 lower and need a mean correction of ~2 mag to be brought on the same scale as the other two indicators. A correction of ~2 mag is consistent with what suggested by the Balmer decrements H_alpha/H_beta and by the optical colours. Moreover, it is intermediate between the correction found locally for normal spirals and the correction needed for high-luminosity 15-micron objects, suggesting that the average extinction suffered by galaxies increases with infrared luminosity.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures (3 in JPEG format), MNRAS, accepte

Local scale multiple quantitative risk assessment and uncertainty evaluation in a densely urbanised area (Brescia, Italy)

Abstract. The study of the interactions between natural and anthropogenic risks is necessary for quantitative risk assessment in areas affected by active natural processes, high population density and strong economic activities. We present a multiple quantitative risk assessment on a 420 km2 high risk area (Brescia and surroundings, Lombardy, Northern Italy), for flood, seismic and industrial accident scenarios. Expected economic annual losses are quantified for each scenario and annual exceedance probability-loss curves are calculated. Uncertainty on the input variables is propagated by means of three different methodologies: Monte-Carlo-Simulation, First Order Second Moment, and point estimate. Expected losses calculated by means of the three approaches show similar values for the whole study area, about 64 000 000 € for earthquakes, about 10 000 000 € for floods, and about 3000 € for industrial accidents. Locally, expected losses assume quite different values if calculated with the three different approaches, with differences up to 19%. The uncertainties on the expected losses and their propagation, performed with the three methods, are compared and discussed in the paper. In some cases, uncertainty reaches significant values (up to almost 50% of the expected loss). This underlines the necessity of including uncertainty in quantitative risk assessment, especially when it is used as a support for territorial planning and decision making. The method is developed thinking at a possible application at a regional-national scale, on the basis of data available in Italy over the national territory

Multipartite entanglement in fermionic systems via a geometric measure

We study multipartite entanglement in a system consisting of indistinguishable fermions. Specifically, we have proposed a geometric entanglement measure for N spin-1/2 fermions distributed over 2L modes (single particle states). The measure is defined on the 2L qubit space isomorphic to the Fock space for 2L single particle states. This entanglement measure is defined for a given partition of 2L modes containing m >= 2 subsets. Thus this measure applies to m <= 2L partite fermionic system where L is any finite number, giving the number of sites. The Hilbert spaces associated with these subsets may have different dimensions. Further, we have defined the local quantum operations with respect to a given partition of modes. This definition is generic and unifies different ways of dividing a fermionic system into subsystems. We have shown, using a representative case, that the geometric measure is invariant under local unitaries corresponding to a given partition. We explicitly demonstrate the use of the measure to calculate multipartite entanglement in some correlated electron systems. To the best of our knowledge, there is no usable entanglement measure of m > 3 partite fermionic systems in the literature, so that this is the first measure of multipartite entanglement for fermionic systems going beyond the bipartite and tripartite cases.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figure

Efficiency of BclI restriction fragment length polymorphism for detection of hemophilia A carriers in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Southeast of Iran

Background: Indirect genetic diagnosis using polymorphic DNA markers can detect carriers of hemophilia A. This technique is preferable in developing countries because of its simplicity and cost effectiveness compared to direct mutation analysis. In the present study, we examined usefulness of intragenic marker BclI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) at intron 18, for carrier detection. How this marker is informative was tested in 102 members of 16 hemophiliac families from Sistan and Baluchestan province, Southeast of Iran. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 29 hemophilia A patients and 73 of their relatives, after taking informed consents. DNA was extracted using proteinase K digestion followed by DNA precipitation. Factor VIII gene polymorphism was identified by the polymerase chain reaction/RFLP which is both sensitive and economical. Results: Our results showed that almost 69.8 of Xchromosomes had restriction site for BclI enzyme. The heterozygosity rate for BclI polymorphism in tested women was 61.4, signifying the usefulness of this marker in carrier detection. The informative rate respecting this polymorphism was 43.7 meaning that a remarkable percent of families from the target population could be diagnosed using this marker alone. Conclusion: In Sistan and Baluchestan province where there is limited access to sophisticated facilities of molecular diagnosis, use of PCR-based analysis of DNA polymorphism in the BclI locus can be used to identify a remarkable percentage of the carriers and even for prenatal diagnosis. Meanwhile, it is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of other polymorphic DNA markers to enhance the informative rate

Entanglement Capacity of Nonlocal Hamiltonians : A Geometric Approach

We develop a geometric approach to quantify the capability of creating entanglement for a general physical interaction acting on two qubits. We use the entanglement measure proposed by us for $N$-qubit pure states (PRA \textbf{77}, 062334 (2008)). Our procedure reproduces the earlier results (PRL \textbf{87}, 137901 (2001)). The geometric method has the distinct advantage that it gives an experimental way to monitor the process of optimizing entanglement production.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure

Knowledge and information needs of informal caregivers in palliative care : a qualitative systematic review

Objectives: To review current understanding of the knowledge and information needs of informal caregivers in palliative settings. Data sources: Seven electronic databases were searched for the period January 1994–November 2006: Medline, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Embase, Ovid, Zetoc and Pubmed using a meta-search engine (Metalib®). Key journals and reference lists of selected papers were hand searched. Review methods: Included studies were peer-reviewed journal articles presenting original research. Given a variety of approaches to palliative care research, a validated systematic review methodology for assessing disparate evidence was used in order to assign scores to different aspects of each study (introduction and aims, method and data, sampling, data analysis, ethics and bias, findings/results, transferability/generalizability, implications and usefulness). Analysis was assisted by abstraction of key details of study into a table. Results: Thirty-four studies were included from eight different countries. The evidence was strongest in relation to pain management, where inadequacies in caregiver knowledge and the importance of education were emphasized. The significance of effective communication and information sharing between patient, caregiver and service provider was also emphasized. The evidence for other caregiver knowledge and information needs, for example in relation to welfare and social support was weaker. There was limited literature on non-cancer conditions and the care-giving information needs of black and minority ethnic populations. Overall, the evidence base was predominantly descriptive and dominated by small-scale studies, limiting generalizability. Conclusions: As palliative care shifts into patients’ homes, a more rigorously researched evidence base devoted to understanding caregivers knowledge and information needs is required. Research design needs to move beyond the current focus on dyads to incorporate the complex, three-way interactions between patients, service providers and caregivers in end-of-life care setting

Multi-locus sequence type analysis of Shigellas pp. Isolates from Tehran, Iran

Background and Objectives: Strains of Shigella spp. can cause shigellosis, or bacillary dysentery. That is a public health problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to describe the population structure and genetic relatedness of multidrug resistant S. sonnei and S. flexneri isolated during a one year period from children with diarrhea in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 70 Shigella spp. were detected during the study period. Twenty MDR isolates of Shigella spp. were randomly selected and used in this study. Bacterial identification was performed by conventional biochemical and serological and confirmed by molecular method. After antimicrobial susceptibility testing, we used Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) for subtyping isolates. Results: We found 14 Shigella sonnei and 6 Shigella flexneri isolates. Results of MLST showed five sequence types (ST) (145, 152, 241, 245, 1502) and BURST analysis revealed the largest number of single locus variant (SLV) and highest frequency (FREQ) for ST152. ST 152 with nine members was predicted as the founder by BURST. Frequency for ST 1502 and ST 245 was four isolates and the least frequency was seen for ST 241 and 145 with one and two members, respectively. ST 145 and ST 245 were described as singletons in BURST. All isolates with ST145 and ST245 were identified as Shigella flexneri. Conclusion: Annual Multi locus sequence typing of MDR Shigella would help us in better understanding of dominant species and comparing our results with the same studies in other countries especially our neighbor countries in source tracking purposes. © Tehran University of Medical Science. All rights reserved

Single top production in the tt-channel at LHC: a realistic test of electroweak models

We compute the complete electroweak one-loop effect on the process of $t$-channel single top production at LHC in the Standard Model and in the MSSM within the mSUGRA symmetry breaking scheme. We find that the one-loop electroweak SM effect is large, and decreases the cross section of an amount that is of the same size as that of the NLO QCD one. The genuine SUSY effect in the mSUGRA scheme, for a general choice of benchmark points, is rather small. It might become large and visible in more general scenarios around thresholds involving light stop and neutralino mass values.Comment: 28 pages, 10 eps figure

Advective and diffusive gas phase transport in vadose zones: Importance for defining vapour risks and natural source zone depletion of petroleum hydrocarbons

Quantifying the interlinked behaviour of the soil microbiome, fluid flow, multi-component transport and partitioning, and biodegradation is key to characterising vapour risks and natural source zone depletion (NSZD) of light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) petroleum hydrocarbons. Critical to vapour transport and NSZD is transport of gases through the vadose zone (oxygen from the atmosphere, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), methane and carbon dioxide from the zone of LNAPL biodegradation). Volatilisation of VOCs from LNAPL, aerobic biodegradation, methanogenesis and heat production all generate gas pressure changes that may lead to enhanced gas fluxes apart from diffusion. Despite the importance of the gaseous phase dynamics in the vadose zone processes, the relative pressure changes and consequent scales of advective (buoyancy and pressure driven) / diffusive transport is less studied. We use a validated multi-phase multi-component non-isothermal modelling framework to differentiate gas transport mechanisms. We simulate a multicomponent unweathered gasoline LNAPL with high VOC content to maximise the potential for pressure changes due to volatilisation and to enable the joint effects of methanogenesis and shallower aerobic biodegradation of vapours to be assessed, along with heat production. Considering a uniform fine sand profile with LNAPL resident in the water table capillary zone, results suggest that biodegradation plays the key role in gas phase formation and consequent pressure build-up. Results suggest that advection is the main transport mechanism over a thin zone inside the LNAPL/capillary region, where the effective gaseous diffusion is very low. In the bulk of the vadose zone above the LNAPL region, the pressure change is minimal, and gaseous diffusion is dominant. Even for high biodegradation rate cases, pressure build-up due to heat generation (inducing buoyancy effects) is smaller than the contribution of gas formation due to biodegradation. The findings are critical to support broader assumptions of diffusive transport being dominant in vapour transport and NSZD assessments