Use of Technology for Note Taking and Therapeutic Alliance

Is psychotherapeutic alliance helped or harmed by using an iPad or computer during an intake session? Two studies are reported where psychotherapists use one of three different technologies in semistructured initial interviews: paper and pen, iPad, or a computer. The studies were conducted at a Primary Care Clinic and a Community Mental Health Clinic to provide a broader context to account for recent behavioral health integration into medical settings in addition to a traditional psychotherapy setting. The Primary Care Study consisted of 60 participants from a behavioral health service at a primary care clinic. The Community Mental Health Study involved 55 participants from a community mental health clinic in semirural Oregon. No differences were found for the three technologies in either study. Practice and training implications are offered

Global oceanic microseism sources as seen by seismic arrays and predicted by wave action models.

International audienceWe analyze global microseism excitation patterns between July 2000 and June 2001. Seismological observations are compared with modeling results to isolate robust activity features of relevant source processes. First, we use observations of microseism source locations estimated by Landès et al. (2010) based on array processing of ambient noise correlations. Second, we construct synthetic activity patterns by coupling sea state estimates derived from wave action models to the excitation theory for microseisms. The overall spatiotemporal evolution of both estimates is characterized by a seasonal character that is associated with strong activity during winter months. The distribution of landmass causes seasonal changes on the Northern Hemisphere (NH) to exceed the variability on the Southern Hemisphere (SH). Our systematic comparison of the two estimates reveals significant microseism excitation along coastlines and in the open ocean. Since coastal reflections are not accounted for in the modeling approach, the consistent mismatch between near-coastal observations and predictions suggests that relevant microseism energy arriving at the networks is generated in these areas. Simultaneously, systematic coincidence away from coastlines verifies the open ocean generation hypothesis. These conclusions are universal and robust with respect to the seismic network locations on the NH. The spatially homogeneous resolution of our synthetics provides a valuable resource for the assessment of the global microseism weather. Similar to previously identified hot spot areas in the North Atlantic, the modeled distributions hypothesize regions of strong localized activity on the SH, which are only partially confirmed by the analyzed data sets

Marine Tubeworm Metamorphosis Induced by Arrays of Bacterial Phage Tail–Like Structures

Many benthic marine animal populations are established and maintained by free-swimming larvae that recognize cues from surface-bound bacteria to settle and metamorphose. Larvae of the tubeworm Hydroides elegans, a significant biofouling agent, require contact with surface-bound bacteria to undergo metamorphosis; however, the mechanisms that underpin this microbially mediated developmental transition have been enigmatic. Here, we show that a marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea, produces arrays of phage tail–like structures that trigger metamorphosis of H. elegans. These arrays comprise about 100 contractile structures with outward-facing baseplates, linked by tail fibers and a dynamic hexagonal net. Not only do these arrays suggest a novel form of bacterium-animal interaction, they provide an entry point to understanding how marine biofilms can trigger animal development

Development of Probabilistically Based Spectra for the HBIP ISFSI Site

Calc Number: GEO.HBIP.03.0

Development of Probabilistically Based Spectra for the HBIP ISFSI Site

Calc Number: GEO.HBIP.03.0

Modelling of Wastewater Heat Recovery Heat Pump Systems

Wastewater heat recovery is currently an underutilized technology that could be part of solving the climate crisis. A large portion of the heat that leaves a building in the form of wastewater is potentially recoverable for pre-heating domestic hot water or other service water systems. While there are several different approaches to wastewater heat recovery, this project focused on creating detailed, integrated building models for wastewater heat recovery heat pump systems. EnergyPlus models were developed featuring inputs and assumptions corresponding to manufacturers’ specifications, performance lab test data and feedback from engineering consultants. EnergyPlus’s supervisory control Energy Management System objects were heavily relied upon to overcome modelling challenges. The developed EnergyPlus model was integrated into U.S. Department of Energy New Construction Reference Building models for various climate zones and building types to assess potential energy use, energy cost and greenhouse gas emission reductions

CRISPR-Cas9 screens in human cells and primary neurons identify modifiers of C9ORF72 dipeptide-repeat-protein toxicity.

Hexanucleotide-repeat expansions in the C9ORF72 gene are the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (c9ALS/FTD). The nucleotide-repeat expansions are translated into dipeptide-repeat (DPR) proteins, which are aggregation prone and may contribute to neurodegeneration. We used the CRISPR-Cas9 system to perform genome-wide gene-knockout screens for suppressors and enhancers of C9ORF72 DPR toxicity in human cells. We validated hits by performing secondary CRISPR-Cas9 screens in primary mouse neurons. We uncovered potent modifiers of DPR toxicity whose gene products function in nucleocytoplasmic transport, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), proteasome, RNA-processing pathways, and chromatin modification. One modifier, TMX2, modulated the ER-stress signature elicited by C9ORF72 DPRs in neurons and improved survival of human induced motor neurons from patients with C9ORF72 ALS. Together, our results demonstrate the promise of CRISPR-Cas9 screens in defining mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases