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Fiorillo A, Giacco D, De Rosa C, Kallert T, Katsakou C, Onchev G, Raboch J, Mastrogianni A, Del Vecchio V, Luciano M, Catapano F, Dembinskas A, Nawka P, Kiejna A, Torres-Gonzales F, Kjellin L, Maj M, Priebe S. Patient characteristics and symptoms associated with perceived coercion during hospital treatment. Objective: Large numbers of psychiatric patients either are involuntarily admitted to hospital treatment or feel coerced despite a legally voluntary admission. For ethical and clinical reasons, their perceived coercion should be reduced as far as possible. There is however limited evidence on patient characteristics associated with perceived coercion during hospital treatment. This study aimed to identify i) sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with perceived coercion at admission and ii) changes in symptoms and global functioning associated with changes in perceived coercion over time. Method: Three thousand and ninety three in-patients who were involuntarily admitted or felt coerced to hospital treatment despite a legally voluntary admission were recruited in the European evaluation of coercion in psychiatry and harmonization of best clinical practice - EUNOMIA project in 11 European countries. Perceived coercion, global functioning and symptoms were assessed after admission and at a 3-month follow-up. Results: Involuntary admission, female gender, poorer global functioning and more positive symptoms were associated with higher levels of perceived coercion at admission. Perceived coercion significantly decreased over time, and the improvements in global functioning and positive symptoms were associated with reduction in perceived coercion. Conclusion: Female patients perceive more coercion in psychiatric hospital treatment. Effective treatment for positive symptoms and improving patients' global functioning may lead to a reduction in perceived coercion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a few examples of the application of electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) to solidification problems. For directionally solidified Al–Zn samples, this technique could reveal the change in dendrite growth directions from <100> to <110> as the composition of zinc increases from 5 to 90 wt%. The corresponding texture evolution and grain selection mechanisms were also examined. Twinned dendrites that form under certain solidification conditions in Al–X specimens (with X = Zn, Mg, Ni, Cu) were clearly identified as <110> dendrite trunks split in their centre by a (111) twin plane. In Zn–0.2 wt% Al hot-dip galvanized coatings on steel sheets, EBSD clearly revealed the preferential basal orientation distribution of the nuclei as well as the reinforcement of this distribution by the faster growth of <10 0> dendrites. Moreover, in Al–Zn–Si coatings, misorientations as large as 10° mm−1 have been measured within individual grains. Finally, the complex band and lamellae microstructures that form in the Cu–Sn peritectic system at low growth rate could be shown to constitute a continuous network initiated from a single nucleus. EBSD also showed that the α and β phases had a Kurdjumov–Sachs crystallographic relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: An intervention to structure patient–key worker communication has been tested in a randomized controlled trial. The aim of this paper was to investigate effectiveness of the intervention in terms of moderators of effectiveness. Method: A total of 507 patients with schizophrenia were included. Moderators of effectiveness were investigated using two-wayanovas. Results: Patients with a better relationship with their key worker and a shorter duration of illness at baseline benefited more from the intervention in terms of quality of life. Patients who received the intervention who were in competitive employment or had a shorter duration of illness showed greater reduction of unmet needs. Older patients receiving the intervention had better treatment satisfaction. Conclusion: Outcome of the intervention was moderated by patient characteristics. Moreover, the moderating characteristics varied depending on the specific outcome. Evidence on moderators is very limited, even though, they are significant for understanding, targeting and implementing complex interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the testing of Petrifilm Escherichia coli/coliform count plates as a convenient method for enumerating Escherichia coli in environmental waters in Ottawa County, Michigan. Identification of blue colonies on Petrifilm plates; Use of polymerase chair reaction; Disadvantage of Petrifilm.

A letter to the editor is presented which describes the prevalence, risk factors and the impact of therapeutic patient education in monitoring the phobia of parents with children with atopic dermatitis using the TOPICOP.