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Item does not contain fulltext, This study aimed to provide a preliminary test of the efficacy of a brief cognitive bias modification program for reducing approach bias in adult smokers motivated to quit. Participants were 52 smokers who were randomly assigned to four sessions of approach bias modification training (AAT) or sham training. Participants were asked to make a self-guided quit attempt upon completion of the final training session. Approach bias was assessed at baseline and at the end of each session, and days abstinent was assessed 1-week following the quit attempt. Individuals assigned to the AAT training condition evidenced significantly greater reductions in approach bias relative to those in the sham condition (p < .001). Baseline approach bias did not moderate the between-group effect (ps > 0.41); however, higher levels of approach bias at baseline were associated with greater approach bias reduction over time irrespective of condition (p < .001). Consistent with hypothesis, the reduction in approach bias during the intervention period was significantly related to the number of days abstinent following the quit attempt (p = .033). The present study extends recent work in alcohol use disorders by showing that approach bias reduction, in this case for smoking-related stimuli, may also facilitate smoking cessation. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Objective To compare outcomes for young adults conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART) with non-ART-conceived young adults. Design Cohort study. Setting Not applicable. Participant(s) Mothers and their offspring (aged 18-28 years) conceived by ART; mothers and their non-ART-conceived offspring, randomly selected from the same source population. Intervention(s) Structured telephone interviews, one with mothers and another with their young adult offspring. Main Outcome Measure(s) Maternal report on young adult offspring hospitalizations and chronic illness accumulated over the first 18 years of their lives; young adult self-report on perceived current quality of life, body mass index, pubertal development, and educational achievement. Result(s) Of 1,480 eligible ART mothers, 80% were traced and contacted. Of those, 656 (55%) participated, reporting on 705 ART-conceived offspring; 269 (23%) declined participation and 262 (22%) did not respond. Of the participants, 84% consented to contact with their young adult offspring, of whom 547 (92%) participated. Random-digit dialing recruited 868 non-ART mothers and 549 offspring. Compared with non-ART young adults, the ART group had significant increases in three maternally reported outcomes: 1) hospital admissions, including those in the secondary school years; 2) atopic respiratory conditions; and 3) combined endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic disease ICD-10 category. Young adult reported outcomes were similar for both groups. Conclusion(s) This study addresses gaps in knowledge of outcomes beyond adolescence for those conceived by ART. Results show few adverse outcomes in this large cohort of young adults, but additional assessment through clinical review is required to address issues unable to be examined in this study. © 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

J.R. Fisher The economic aspects of Spanish imperialism in America, 1492- 1810 : ,1999, Item does not contain fulltext

The largest application of titanium dioxide is as white pigment, representing 95-98% of worldwide TiO2 consumption. TiO2 pigments are used in surface coatings, plastics, paper, printing inks, synthetic fibres and ceramics. Pigment consumption has been forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.35% from 3 262 000 tonnes in 1996 to 4 513 000 t in 2010. There are two commercial processes used for producing TiO2 pigments - the sulphate and the chloride processes. The former was used exclusively until 1958 when the first successful commercial chloride process plant was built. For over 75% of all pigment applications, TiO2 is now produced using the chloride process. Feedstock requirements for both processes are different. Those suitable for chlorination are higher in TiO2 and include natural and synthetic rutile, slag, leucoxene and some ilmenites. Undesirable compounds are alkaline materials and trace amounts of radioactive materials. Feedstocks suitable for sulphidation are slag and primary and secondary ilmenites. Sulphate grade slag has a smaller particle size and larger amounts of alkali metal oxides than chlorinatable slag. A summary of TiO2 feedstocks is presented which forecasts supply/demand balance, and indicates that high-grade, chlorinatable feedstocks will be in short supply by 2008., The largest application of titanium dioxide is as white pigment, representing 95-98% of worldwide TiO2 consumption. TiO2 pigments are used in surface coatings, plastics, paper, printing inks, synthetic fibres and ceramics. Pigment consumption has been forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.35% from 3 262 000 tonnes in 1996 to 4 513 000 t in 2010. There are two commercial processes used for producing TiO2 pigments - the sulphate and the chloride processes. The former was used exclusively until 1958 when the first successful commercial chloride process plant was built. For over 75% of all pigment applications, TiO2 is now produced using the chloride process. Feedstock requirements for both processes are different. Those suitable for chlorination are higher in TiO2 and include natural and synthetic rutile, slag, leucoxene and some ilmenites. Undesirable compounds are alkaline materials and trace amounts of radioactive materials. Feedstocks suitable for sulphidation are slag and primary and secondary ilmenites. Sulphate grade slag has a smaller particle size and larger amounts of alkali metal oxides than chlorinatable slag. A summary of TiO2 feedstocks is presented which forecasts supply/demand balance, and indicates that high-grade, chlorinatable feedstocks will be in short supply by 2008.