Internet interventions for treatment of alcohol related problems

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: The primary objective of this review will be to assess the effect of internet and mobile phone alcohol-related interventions on reducing participants' alcohol consumption. Secondary objectives will include assessing the impact of the interventions on symptoms of alcohol-related disorders and degree of alcohol dependence, the effects on functioning, and patient acceptability. The review will also assess whether there are different outcomes for different diagnostic groups, and which intervention approaches or components (including therapeutic support) may be contributing to any positive effects.

Craving as a predictor of treatment outcomes in heavy drinkers with comorbid depressed mood

Alcohol and depression comorbidity is high and is associated with poorer outcomes following treatment. The ability to predict likely treatment response would be advantageous for treatment planning. Craving has been widely studied as a potential predictor, but has performed inconsistently. The effect of comorbid depression on craving's predictive performance however, has been largely neglected, despite demonstrated associations between negative affect and craving. The current study examined the performance of craving, measured pretreatment using the Obsessive subscale of the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale, in predicting 18-week and 12-month post-treatment alcohol use outcomes in a sample of depressed drinkers. Data for the current study were collected during a randomized controlled trial (Baker, Kavanagh, Kay-Lambkin, Hunt, Lewin, Carr, & Connolly, 2010) comparing treatments for comorbid alcohol and depression. A subset of 260 participants from that trial with a Timeline Followback measure of alcohol consumption was analyzed. Pre-treatment craving was a significant predictor of average weekly alcohol consumption at 18 weeks and of frequency of alcohol binges at 18 weeks and 12months, but pre-treatment depressive mood was not predictive, and effects of Baseline craving were independent of depressive mood. Results suggest a greater ongoing risk from craving than from depressive mood at Baseline.

Response to “Topical agent therapy for prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis : a meta-analysis”

To the Editor; It was with interest that I read the recent article by Zhang et al. published in Supportive Care in Cancer [1]. This paper highlighted the importance of radiodermatitis (RD) being an unresolved and distressing clinical issue in patients with cancer undergoing radiation therapy. However, I am concerned with a number of clinical and methodological issues within this paper: (i) the clinical and operational definition of prophylaxis and treatment of RD; (ii) the accuracy of the identification of trials; and (iii) the appropriateness of the conduct of the meta-analyses...

Treatment of cannabis use among people with psychotic disorders : critical review of randomised controlled trials

There is growing and converging evidence that cannabis may be a major risk factor in people with psychotic disorders and prodromal psychotic symptoms. The lack of available pharmacological treatments for cannabis use indicates that psychological interventions should be a high priority, especially among people with psychotic disorders. However, there have been few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of psychological interventions among this group. In the present study we critically overview RCTs of psychological and pharmacologic interventions among people with psychotic disorders, giving particular attention to those studies which report cannabis use outcomes. We then review data regarding treatment preferences among this group. RCTs of interventions within "real world" mental health systems among adults with severe mental disorders suggest that cannabis use is amenable to treatment in real world settings among people with psychotic disorders. RCTs of manual guided interventions among cannabis users indicate that while brief interventions are associated with reductions in cannabis use, longer interventions may be more effective. Additionally, RCTs reviewed suggest treatment with antipsychotic medication is not associated with a worsening of cannabis cravings or use and may be beneficial. The development of cannabinoid agonist medication may be an effective strategy for cannabis dependence and suitable for people with psychotic disorders. The development of cannabis use interventions for people with psychotic disorders should also consider patients' treatment preferences. Initial results indicate face-to-face interventions focussed on cannabis use may be preferred. Further research investigating the treatment preferences of people with psychotic disorders using cannabis is needed.

A confirmatory factor analysis of the Observer Alexithymia Scale in treatment seeking alcohol-dependent patients

Confirmatory factor analyses evaluated the factorial validity of the Observer Alexithymia Scale (OAS) in an alcohol-dependent sample. Observation was conducted by clinical psychologists. All models examined were rejected, given their poor fit. Given the psychometric limitations of the OAS shown in this study, the OAS may not be the most appropriate measure to use early in treatment among alcohol-dependent individuals.

Probabilistic cable rating based on cable thermal environment studying

This paper describes a new approach to establish the probabilistic cable rating based on cable thermal environment studies. Knowledge of cable parameters has been well established. However the environment in which the cables are buried is not so well understood. Research in Queensland University of Technology has been aimed at obtaining and analysing actual daily field values of thermal resistivity and diffusivity of the soil around power cables. On-line monitoring systems have been developed and installed with a data logger system and buried spheres that use an improved technique to measure thermal resistivity and diffusivity over a short period. Based on the long-term continuous field data for more than 4 years, a probabilistic approach is developed to establish the correlation between the measured field thermal resistivity values and rainfall data from weather bureau records. Hence, a probabilistic cable rating can be established based on monthly probabilistic distribution of thermal resistivity

Impact of a novel nurse-led prechemotherapy education intervention (ChemoEd) on patient distress, symptom burden, and treatment-related information and support needs : results from a randomised, controlled trial

Background: High levels of distress and need for self-care information by patients commencing chemotherapy suggest that current prechemotherapy education is suboptimal. We conducted a randomised, controlled trial of a prechemotherapy education intervention (ChemoEd) to assess impact on patient distress, treatment-related concerns, and the prevalence and severity of and bother caused by six chemotherapy side-effects. Patients and methods: One hundred and ninety-two breast, gastrointestinal, and haematologic cancer patients were recruited before the trial closing prematurely (original target 352). ChemoEd patients received a DVD, question-prompt list, self-care information, an education consultation ≥24 h before first treatment (intervention 1), telephone follow-up 48 h after first treatment (intervention 2), and a face-to-face review immediately before second treatment (intervention 3). Patient outcomes were measured at baseline (T1: pre-education) and immediately preceding treatment cycles 1 (T2) and 3 (T3). Results: ChemoEd did not significantly reduce patient distress. However, a significant decrease in sensory/psychological (P = 0.027) and procedural (P = 0.03) concerns, as well as prevalence and severity of and bother due to vomiting (all P = 0.001), were observed at T3. In addition, subgroup analysis of patients with elevated distress at T1 indicated a significant decrease (P = 0.035) at T2 but not at T3 (P = 0.055) in ChemoEd patients. Conclusions: ChemoEd holds promise to improve patient treatment-related concerns and some physical/psychological outcomes; however, further research is required on more diverse patient populations to ensure generalisability.

The formation of YBa2Cu3O7-x in melt-texture heat treatments

A study of the bulk formation of YBa2Cu3O7-x from the Y2BaCuO5 plus liquid regime reveals that phase formation occurs at appreciable rates below 950°C in air. This result has been observed for phase-pure YBa2Cu3O7-x starting material given two types of heat treatment: held at 1100°C and slow-cooled from 1030°C at 6°C/h or heat-treated isothermally. Differential thermal analysis, with a cooling rate of 10°C/min indicates that the degree of undercooling for the peritectic formation of YBa2Cu3O7-x is greater than 100°C. © 1994.

The development of a Monte Carlo system to verify radiotherapy treatment dose calculations

Recent advances in the planning and delivery of radiotherapy treatments have resulted in improvements in the accuracy and precision with which therapeutic radiation can be administered. As the complexity of the treatments increases it becomes more difficult to predict the dose distribution in the patient accurately. Monte Carlo methods have the potential to improve the accuracy of the dose calculations and are increasingly being recognised as the “gold standard” for predicting dose deposition in the patient. In this study, software has been developed that enables the transfer of treatment plan information from the treatment planning system to a Monte Carlo dose calculation engine. A database of commissioned linear accelerator models (Elekta Precise and Varian 2100CD at various energies) has been developed using the EGSnrc/BEAMnrc Monte Carlo suite. Planned beam descriptions and CT images can be exported from the treatment planning system using the DICOM framework. The information in these files is combined with an appropriate linear accelerator model to allow the accurate calculation of the radiation field incident on a modelled patient geometry. The Monte Carlo dose calculation results are combined according to the monitor units specified in the exported plan. The result is a 3D dose distribution that could be used to verify treatment planning system calculations. The software, MCDTK (Monte Carlo Dicom ToolKit), has been developed in the Java programming language and produces BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc input files, ready for submission on a high-performance computing cluster. The code has been tested with the Eclipse (Varian Medical Systems), Oncentra MasterPlan (Nucletron B.V.) and Pinnacle3 (Philips Medical Systems) planning systems. In this study the software was validated against measurements in homogenous and heterogeneous phantoms. Monte Carlo models are commissioned through comparison with quality assurance measurements made using a large square field incident on a homogenous volume of water. This study aims to provide a valuable confirmation that Monte Carlo calculations match experimental measurements for complex fields and heterogeneous media.

Thermal analysis and application of organoclays for water purification

In recent years, organoclays have become widely used in many industrial applications, and particularly they have been applied as adsorbents for water purification (de Paiva et al., 2008; Zhou et al., 2008; Park et al., 2011). When the organoclays are enhanced by intercalation of cationic surfactant molecules, the surface properties are altered from hydrophilic to highly hydrophobic. These changes facilitate their industrial applications which are strongly dependent on the structural properties of organoclays (Koh and Dixon, 2001; Zeng et al., 2004; Cui et al., 2007). Thus a better understanding of the configuration and structural change in the organoclays by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) is essential. It has been proven that the TG is very useful for the study of complex minerals, modified minerals, and nanomaterials (Laachachi et al., 2005; Palmer et al., 2011; Park et al., in press, 2011). Therefore, the current investigation involves the thermal stability of a montmorillonite intercalated with two types of cationic surfactants: dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DDTMA) and didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDDMA) using TG. The modification of montmorillonite results in an increase in the interlayer or basal spacing and enhances the environmental and industrial application of the obtained organoclay.

Thermal performance of composite panels under fire conditions using numerical studies : plasterboards, rockwool, glass fibre and cellulose insulations

In recent times, light gauge steel frame (LSF) wall systems are increasingly used in the building industry. They are usually made of cold-formed and thin-walled steel studs that are fire-protected by two layers of plasterboard on both sides. A composite LSF wall panel system was developed recently, where an insulation layer was used externally between the two plasterboards to improve the fire performance of LSF wall panels. In this research, finite element thermal models of the new composite panels were developed using a finite element program, SAFIR, to simulate their thermal performance under both standard and Eurocode design fire curves. Suitable apparent thermal properties of both the gypsum plasterboard and insulation materials were proposed and used in the numerical models. The developed models were then validated by comparing their results with available standard fire test results of composite panels. This paper presents the details of the finite element models of composite panels, the thermal analysis results in the form of time-temperature profiles under standard and Eurocode design fire curves and their comparisons with fire test results. Effects of using rockwool, glass fibre and cellulose fibre insulations with varying thickness and density were also investigated, and the results are presented in this paper. The results show that the use of composite panels in LSF wall systems will improve their fire rating, and that Eurocode design fires are likely to cause severe damage to LSF walls than standard fires.

Visualization of thermal characteristics around the absorber tube of a standard parabolic trough thermal collector by 3D simulation

Three dimensional conjugate heat transfer simulation of a standard parabolic trough thermal collector receiver is performed numerically in order to visualize and analyze the surface thermal characteristics. The computational model is developed in Ansys Fluent environment based on some simplified assumptions. Three test conditions are selected from the existing literature to verify the numerical model directly, and reasonably good agreement between the model and the test results confirms the reliability of the simulation. Solar radiation flux profile around the tube is also approximated from the literature. An in house macro is written to read the input solar flux as a heat flux wall boundary condition for the tube wall. The numerical results show that there is an abrupt variation in the resultant heat flux along the circumference of the receiver. Consequently, the temperature varies throughout the tube surface. The lower half of the horizontal receiver enjoys the maximum solar flux, and therefore, experiences the maximum temperature rise compared to the upper part with almost leveled temperature. Reasonable attributions and suggestions are made on this particular type of conjugate thermal system. The knowledge that gained so far from this study will be used to further the analysis and to design an efficient concentrator photovoltaic collector in near future.

Three dimensional simulation of a parabolic trough concentrator thermal collector

Parabolic Trough Concentrators (PTC) are the most proven solar collectors for solar thermal power plants, and are suitable for concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) applications. PV cells are sensitive to spatial uniformity of incident light and the cell operating temperature. This requires the design of CPV-PTCs to be optimised both optically and thermally. Optical modelling can be performed using Monte Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT), with conjugate heat transfer (CHT) modelling using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyse the overall designs. This paper develops and evaluates a CHT simulation for a concentrating solar thermal PTC collector. It uses the ray tracing work by Cheng et al. (2010) and thermal performance data for LS-2 parabolic trough used in the SEGS III-VII plants from Dudley et al. (1994). This is a preliminary step to developing models to compare heat transfer performances of faceted absorbers for concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) applications. Reasonable agreement between the simulation results and the experimental data confirms the reliability of the numerical model. The model explores different physical issues as well as computational issues for this particular kind of system modeling. The physical issues include the resultant non-uniformity of the boundary heat flux profile and the temperature profile around the tube, and uneven heating of the HTF. The numerical issues include, most importantly, the design of the computational domain/s, and the solution techniques of the turbulence quantities and the near-wall physics. This simulation confirmed that optical simulation and the computational CHT simulation of the collector can be accomplished independently.