Linguistic analysis of the valence, arousal and dominance of auditory hallucinations and internal thoughts in schizophrenia: Implications for psychoeducation and CBT

70% of patients with schizophrenia suffer from auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) which are frequently described as distressing and disabling. The content of AVH, in relation to internal thought, has never been linguistically tested in a self-monitoring study. The aim of this preliminary study was to establish if there was a significant difference between AVH and inner thoughts on the key linguistic parameters of valence (pleasantness), dominance (control) and arousal (intensity of emotion produced). Six volunteers with a diagnosis of schizophrenia from voice hearing support groups produced real-time, detailed diaries of AVH and inner thoughts using randomised/fixed timers. Analysis of content was completed using an established linguistic database. AVH were significantly more unpleasant and controlling but not more emotionally arousing than inner thoughts. Psychoeducation around the experience of hallucination in schizophrenia should include information that the voices will be significantly more unpleasant and controlling than their own thoughts but not more emotionally arousing. CBT might therefore include the use of compassion focussed techniques to help with the unpleasantness of AVH and schema level techniques to improve coping with the dominance of AVH

Alien Registration- Taylor, Gordon (Wade, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/32494/thumbnail.jp

Characteristics of Thick Concrete Neutron Reflection

Water is considered as a neutron reflector in nuclear criticality safety evaluations because it is readily available and easily forms a close-fitting shape around fissile material. Concrete is commonly encountered industrial environments and can be a more effective reflector than water. Nuclear criticality safety literature reporting experimental and analytical studies involving concrete as a reflector from the 1950’s to the present was reviewed. Nuclear criticality safety community perspective on concrete reflection has evolved from acknowledgement that concrete is a reflector through recognition that concrete can be a more effective reflector than water to current interest in identifying which constituents are most important. Concrete reflection work that has been done tends to be limited in several ways. Studies usually consider only a few concrete compositions from a relatively large number available. Studies have also tended to consider a limited number of fissile material moderation ranges, typically unmoderated and the moderation for minimum mass or volume criticality, or only very specific material arrangements. Most analytical studies evaluate systems as infinite extent slab arrangements. To address these limitations and evolving current interest, a comprehensive study using 32 concrete compositions derived from the literature survey was done for the three basic one-dimensional geometries used in radiation transport codes: spherical, infinite length cylindrical, and infinite extent slab geometries using a 235U [uranium-235] metal/water fissile mixture. The concentration/moderation range over which criticality is possible was spanned, and the change in keff [k-effective] per unit change in element atomic number density values, Δkeff/ΔN, [delta k-effective/delta N] for various concrete composition elements was computed to determine the relative effect of each element on neutron multiplication. These results will be useful to nuclear criticality safety practitioners in several ways. Some control can be exercised over concrete constituents and the results can be used to guide material selections during project design to minimize positive contributions to keff. For existing installations, if the concrete composition is known, the results will permit some ranking of its effectiveness relative to water. For technical studies, conservative conditions that maximize keff are generally preferred and the results will help guide constituent selections

Validation of Operational Multiscale Environment Model with Grid Adaptivity (OMEGA)

The Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) is improving the military\u27s capability to forecast dosage and hazard levels due to release of chemical, biological, and nuclear agents. During Operation DESERT STORM the military realized the need for models to predict risk levels for military personnel assigned proximate to missile attacks. One project associated with this is the continuing development of the Operational Multiscale Environmental Model with Grid Adaptivity (OMEGA). DNA has sponsored AFIT to validate OMEGA with focus on incorporating weather data obtained from Air Force Combat Climatology Center for the period of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident. The physics of the model is tested using National Weather Service Medium Range Forecast data by comparing predicted wind fields for three weather stations with analysis maps. The model is further tested using the data generated at Air Force Combat Climatology Center for the first three days following the release at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant. A user-defined source term was developed to simulate the release of radionuclides from the plant. Analysis from paired t-tests shows statistically how well OMEGA predicts wind fields. The results show qualitatively the promise of OMEG to meet the needs of the Defense Nuclear Agency as the model is under development

Physiological Effects of Chronic Copper Exposure to Rainbow Trout (\u3cem\u3eOncorhynchus Mykiss\u3c/em\u3e) in Hard and Soft Water: Evaluation of Chronic Indicators

Effects of chronic copper exposure on a suite of indicators were examined: acute toxicity, acclimation, growth, sprint performance, whole-body electrolytes, tissue residues, and gill copper binding characteristics. Juvenile rainbow trout were exposed for 30 d to waterborne copper in hard water (hardness = 120 μg/L as CaCO3, pH = 8.0, Cu = 20 and 60 μg/L) and soft water (hardness = 20 μg/L as CaCO3, pH = 7.2, Cu = 1 and 2 μg/L). Significant acclimation to the metal occurred only in fish exposed to 60 mg/L, as seen by an approx. twofold increase in 96-h LC50 (153 vs 91 μg Cu/L). Chronic copper exposure had little or no effect on survival, growth, or swimming performance in either water hardness, nor was there any initial whole-body electrolyte loss (Na+ and Cl-). The present data suggest that the availability of food (3% wet body weight/day, distributed as three 1% meals) prevented growth inhibition and initial ion losses that usually result from Cu exposure. Elevated metal burdens in the gills and livers of exposed fish were measures of chronic copper exposure but not of effect. Initial gill binding experiments revealed the necessity of using radiolabeled Cu (64Cu) to detect newly accumulated Cu against gill background levels. Using this method, we verified the presence of saturable Cu-binding sites in the gills of juvenile rainbow trout and were able to make estimates of copperbinding affinity (log Kgill=Cu) and capacity (Bmax). Furthermore, we showed that both chronic exposure to Cu and to low water calcium had important effects on the Cu-binding characteristics of the gills

The hagiography of St Alban and St Amphibalus in the twelfth century

This study is based on the fact that hagiographical texts can be used as historical sources. It examines texts produced at St Albans Abbey in the second half of the twelfth century which record the lives and miracles of St Alban and St Amphibalus, some of which were written by the monk William of St Albans. These texts were a stage in the development of the legend of St Alban which had its origins in Roman Britain. Textual and historical evidence suggests that they were written to provide both literary back-up for the discovery of the relics of St Amphibalus in June 1177, at Redbourn, near St Albans, and to document the emergent cult of that saint. The text can also be used to show that a principal motive for the initiation of the cult of St Amphibalus was the success of the cult of St Thomas of Canterbury, although there is also other evidence to suggest that St Albans Abbey was in debt and needed a new source of income. The invention-account and the miracle-account of St Amphibalus have not been studied before, and provide much information about the mechanics of cult-initiation and the spread of a 'new' saint's reputation for healing power