No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The chemistry, analysis, treatment, and occurrence of boron and chromium are of high interest since they are under consideration for revised MCLs in potable water. As a starting point to guide regulatory decision-making, a comprehensive review of boron in relation to potable water was undertaken. That work demonstrated that there were not proven cost-effective options for boron treatment. In preparation for a national survey of boron and chromium occurrence, it was discovered that existing analytical protocols sometimes '"missed" much of the total chromium that was present in water. It was determined that this was due to incomplete dissolution of particulates during routine Standard Method analysis of drinking water at pH 2.0. A more rigorous hydroxylamine digestion was developed and applied to circumvent this limitation. In relation to treatment, it was determined that sodium carbonate softening at pH 10.3 is a viable method of removing various inorganic contaminants including chromium from drinking water sources. The nationwide survey revealed that removals varied widely and were dependent on solution composition. Median removal of chromium was 92%. Linear and nonlinear empirical models were fit to crudely estimate the removal of various contaminants in the presence of other elements that are typically removed in the softening process (i.e. calcium, magnesium, silicon, iron, and aluminum). Boron was removed to a much lesser extent (median removal 2%) in this study, consistent with the general result of the literature review that enhanced treatments will be required for this contaminant. Modified precipitative softening was examined as a potentially attractive option to remove boron from natural waters. It was discovered that in some cases when magnesium and silicon were present, and if the pH was 10.8 ± 0.2, very high levels of boron removal (up to 90%) could be achieved versus 10% typically observed for conventional processes. This can be exploited to remove boron in waters naturally containing high levels of magnesium and silicon, or by adding supplemental amounts of either magnesium or silicon when one constituent is deficient. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to pilot a cognitive behavioral treatment protocol for adolescents with co-occurring conduct problems and depression and to examine changes in diagnostic status, symptomatic improvement, and related areas of functioning associated with this treatment. Manualized treatment consisted of 11 to 16 sessions that targeted problem solving skills, cognitive restructuring, affect regulation skills, and parenting strategies. A non-concurrent multiple baseline design was used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. A sample of five adolescents, aged 11 to 14 years, participated; all five families completed the protocol. Measures of diagnostic status, symptoms, and global impairment were administered at baseline, post-treatment, and 1-month post-treatment. Decreases in depression and conduct problem symptoms as well as changes in diagnostic status were evident for three of the five participants. Clinician severity ratings improved for all of the children at post-treatment. Preliminary results suggest that integrated cognitive behavioral treatment for adolescents with conduct problems and depression is associated with symptomatic improvement as well. Results of this study have implications for improving treatment outcomes for youth with these comorbid conditions and may also lead to increased conceptual understanding of the nature of these comorbid problems. Randomized clinical trials are required to assess the effectiveness of this combined treatment program. / Ph. D.

This study explored the use of adding trauma resolution therapy to standard cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention therapy for sex offenders. Ten adjudicated sex offenders with sexual abuse histories were treated with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing as an adjunct to standard outpatient sex offender treatment. Data points include self-report, other-report, assessment instruments, session transcripts, research journals, and physiological measures. Systematic treatment research and development methods (Bischoff, McKeel, Moon, & Sprenkle, 1996) resulted in a proposed treatment protocol. Emergent themes from a cross-case, grounded theory data analysis are presented. The data suggests the adjunct treatment provided some benefit both to participants and to the goals of standard sex offender-specific treatment. Implications for treatment providers, marriage and family therapy, and future research are discussed. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate a psychosocial treatment specifically designed for families with a child who experiences a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and an oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Research suggests emotion regulation and information processing in the child and parenting behaviors directed towards the child may contribute to, and maintain, generalized anxiety and oppositionality. A treatment protocol, integrating emotion focused cognitive-behavioral therapy and collaborative problem solving was designed. Five families participated in assessment, an average of 13 treatment sessions, and follow up. The hypothesis that both GAD and ODD could be treated within the same treatment plan was partially supported. All of the children experienced reductions in symptoms. Eighty percent of the children (4/5) had subclinical or no GAD diagnosis at post. At the 1 month follow-up, 3 children maintained these gains and 1 child showed more improvement at one month (compared to post). Forty percent of the children (2/5) had a subclinical ODD diagnosis at post, with 80% (4/5) subclinical at the 1 month follow-up. The study provided important considerations for future directions. / Ph. D.

The involvement of significant others in substance abuse treatment has been shown to be beneficial in the alcohol and cigarette literatures. However, these findings have not been extended to treatment for other substance abuse, particularly marijuana. This study examined whether partner involvement leads to improved outcomes for people seeking treatment for marijuana abuse. In addition, we examined what possible mechanisms can account for a partner's contribution to positive treatment outcomes. Hypotheses were only partially supported. Treatment conditions did not lead to differential changes in partner behaviors. However, there was some evidence that these partner behaviors do have impact on treatment outcomes. In particular, negative partner behaviors were associated with poorer outcomes. / Master of Science