Use of Toxicity Identification Evaluation Procedures to Clarify the Relationship Between Ammonium Concentrations and Phytoplankton Blooms in the San Francisco Bay Estuary, California, USA.

Phytoplankton blooms in the northern San Francisco Bay Estuary have historically supported much of the larval fish production in the estuary. In the past, blooms were limited largely by reduced light intensities and net outflows through the system, as well as dense populations of introduced clams that continuously filter the water column. Conversely, the estuary is exposed to a wide variety of contaminants that may also impact phytoplankton growth. Interestingly, previous investigations have suggested that relatively low concentrations of ammonium may inhibit development of bloom conditions by interfering with nitrate assimilation. Given the complex dynamics of the system, with multiple factors that could potentially affect algal growth, additional data to validate this hypothesis are important to identify appropriate management options. Consequently, toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) procedures were applied to ambient water samples and monitored for 72-96 h under controlled conditions to evaluate their effects on algal growth and utilization of dissolved inorganic nitrogen. The TIE treatments specifically targeted ammonium, as well as the potential contributions of metals and nonpolar organic contaminants. Notably, all samples exhibited positive growth over the exposure period with no evidence of toxicity, and TIE treatments did not further improve growth. A subsequent 72-h study evaluated the effect of ammonium up to 12 µM at a fixed concentration of nitrate was monitored at 24-h intervals and showed no inhibition of the development of bloom conditions. Collectively, there was no evidence that ammonium interfered with growth, even at concentrations well above the range of postulated effect levels. Of additional interest, the lack of increased growth in TIE treatments targeting chelatable metals and nonpolar organics suggested that these contaminant classes were not present at inhibitory concentrations. These results demonstrate the importance of validation of cause in multistressor environments, and further clarify the roles of different factors that may limit development of bloom conditions in the estuary. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:178-190. © 2022 SETAC.

Fitting psychotherapy to patient coping style: A meta-analysis.

Over the course of 60 years of research, several personality traits have emerged as potential predictors of differential change in psychotherapy. Among them is the patient's coping style (CS), commonly distinguished between those who deal with change by looking inwardly (internalization) and those who deal with it outwardly (externalization). This study provides definitions of CSs, clinical examples, and frequent measures. We update a 2011 meta-analytic review that revealed a consistent interaction between CSs and treatment focus-symptom focus versus insight focus. The current meta-analysis of 18 studies revealed a medium to large effect (d = 0.60) and suggested that a symptom focus proves more effective for externalizing patient whereas an insight focus is generally more effective for internalizers. The article concludes with limitations of the research, diversity considerations, and therapeutic practices based on the meta-analytic results.

Selecting the most appropriate treatment for each patient / Selección del tratamiento más adecuado para cada paciente

Reviews the emergence of research on fitting treatment procedures to the unique needs and proclivities of patients. Traditional research on efficacy of psychotherapy focuses on the role of interventions and theoretical brands, minimizing factors that cannot be randomly assigned. This line of research has not realized its initial and desired promise, perhaps because it fails to incorporate into the study of psychotherapy important and effective treatment variations that are associated with therapist and non-diagnostic patient factors. Contemporary efforts to ‘‘fit’’ treatments to patients emphasize the roles of interventions, participant factors, and contextual/relationship factors. For these complex interactions, any of which reflect factors that cannot be randomly assigned, randomized clinical trials (RCT) protocols are inappropriate as a ‘‘gold standard’’. Several studies are presented which illustrate not only the predictive power of incorporating both treatment mediators and moderators into the realm of psychotherapy study, but the value of a multi-method approach to research. Converging studies moreover, provide a way to incorporate matching algorithms into decisions about assigning optimal treatments (AU)

Se revisa el surgimiento de la investigación sobre procedimientos de ajuste de tratamientos a las necesidades de los pacientes. La investigación tradicional sobre la eficacia de la psicoterapia se centra en el papel de las intervenciones y los modelos teóricos, minimizando los factores que no pueden ser asignados al azar. Esta línea de investigación no ha dado cuenta de su deseada promesa inicial, tal vez porque no incorporó en el estudio de la psicoterapia importantes y eficaces variaciones de tratamiento asociadas al terapeuta y a factores no diagnósticos de los pacientes. Los esfuerzos contemporáneos para ‘‘encajar’’ tratamientos a pacientes destacan el papel de las intervenciones, de factores participantes y de factores contextuales/relacionales. Estas complejas interacciones reflejan factores que no pueden ser asignados al azar, ensayos clínicos aleatorizados (ECA) que son inapropiadas como ‘‘estándar de oro’’. Se presentan varios estudios que ilustran no sólo el poder predictivo de la incorporación de ambos mediadores y moderadores de tratamiento en el ámbito de estudio de la psicoterapia, sino también el valor de un enfoque multi-método de investigación. Estudios convergentes proporcionan una manera de incorporar algoritmos en las decisiones sobre la asignación de tratamientos óptimos (AU)

Selecting the most appropriate treatment for each patient.

Reviews the emergence of research on fitting treatment procedures to the unique needs and proclivities of patients. Traditional research on efficacy of psychotherapy focuses on the role of interventions and theoretical brands, minimizing factors that cannot be randomly assigned. This line of research has not realized its initial and desired promise, perhaps because it fails to incorporate into the study of psychotherapy important and effective treatment variations that are associated with therapist and non-diagnostic patient factors. Contemporary efforts to "fit" treatments to patients emphasize the roles of interventions, participant factors, and contextual/relationship factors. For these complex interactions, any of which reflect factors that cannot be randomly assigned, randomized clinical trials (RCT) protocols are inappropriate as a "gold standard". Several studies are presented which illustrate not only the predictive power of incorporating both treatment mediators and moderators into the realm of psychotherapy study, but the value of a multi-method approach to research. Converging studies moreover, provide a way to incorporate matching algorithms into decisions about assigning optimal treatments.

Se revisa el surgimiento de la investigación sobre procedimientos de ajuste de tratamientos a las necesidades de los pacientes. La investigación tradicional sobre la eficacia de la psicoterapia se centra en el papel de las intervenciones y los modelos teóricos, minimizando los factores que no pueden ser asignados al azar. Esta línea de investigación no ha dado cuenta de su deseada promesa inicial, tal vez porque no incorporó en el estudio de la psicoterapia importantes y eficaces variaciones de tratamiento asociadas al terapeuta y a factores no diagnósticos de los pacientes. Los esfuerzos contemporáneos para "encajar" tratamientos a pacientes destacan el papel de las intervenciones, de factores participantes y de factores contextuales/relacionales. Estas complejas interacciones reflejan factores que no pueden ser asignados al azar, ensayos clínicos aleatorizados (ECA) que son inapropiadas como "estándar de oro". Se presentan varios estudios que ilustran no sólo el poder predictivo de la incorporación de ambos mediadores y moderadores de tratamiento en el ámbito de estudio de la psicoterapia, sino también el valor de un enfoque multi-método de investigación. Estudios convergentes proporcionan una manera de incorporar algoritmos en las decisiones sobre la asignación de tratamientos óptimos.

Dehydromethylation of alkali metal salts of the utility amide 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (TMP).

A general thermolysis reaction for the transformation of Group 1 TMP compounds (LiTMP, NaTMP, KTMP) to 1-aza-allylic TTHP derivatives is reported. TMEDA accelerates the reaction and produces the crystalline complexes [(TMEDA)LiTTHP] and [(TMEDA·NaTTHP)2]. Methane elimination during the transformational process was confirmed via TVA coupled to MS.

Depression and anxiety.

Anxiety and depression are common in patients with cancer and in palliative care settings. These symptoms can be reactive to the illness or can be related to the direct physiologic effects of the disease or to drug therapies. Effective treatment of these symptoms includes both psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic approaches. The newer antidepressants, anxiolytics, and hypnotics are better tolerated and can be continued safely if necessary, or they can be reduced and discontinued as symptoms improve.