Sol-gel-derived TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> implant coatings for direct tissue attachment. Part I: design,preparation and characterization

A series of sol-gel derived TiO₂–SiO₂ mixed oxide coatings were prepared by carefully controlling the process parameters to obtain silica-releasing coatings consisting of nanoparticles. These features are of paramount importance for enhanced cell adhesion and activation. To achieve both these goals the Ti-alkoxide and Si-alkoxide were first separately hydrolysed and the titania–silica mixed sol was further reacted before the dipping process to obtain the desired particle sizes resulting to the biologically favourable topographical features. Silica release was observed from all the prepared coatings and it was dependent on SiO₂ amount added to the sols, i.e., the higher the added amount the higher the release. In addition, calcium phosphate was able to nucleate on the coatings. From the obtained SiO₂ dissolution data, together with the detailed XPS peak analysis, the mixed oxide coatings are concluded to be chemically heterogeneous, consisting of TiO₂ and SiO₂ species most likely linked together by Ti–O–Si bonds. TiO₂ is chemically stable making long-term implant coating possible and the desired nanoscale dimensions were well preserved although the composition was changed as a consequence of SiO₂ dissolution under in vitro conditions.     

Goal reconstruction and depressive symptoms during the transition to motherhood: Evidence from two cross-lagged longitudinal studies.

Two cross-lagged longitudinal studies were carried out to investigate the extent to which the adjustment of personal goals to match the particular stage-specific demands of the transition to motherhood has consequences for women's depressive symptoms. In Study 1, 348 women filled out a revised version of Little's (1983) Personal Project Analysis and a revised version of Beck's Depression Inventory (A. T. Beck, C. H. Ward, M. Mendelsohn, L. Mock, & J. Erlaugh, 1961) 4 times: during early pregnancy, 1 month before childbirth, 3 months after childbirth, and 2 years after childbirth. In Study 2, 140 women who reported high levels of fear of childbirth filled out identical measures during early pregnancy, 1 month before childbirth, and 3 months after childbirth. The results showed that an increase in family-related goals during pregnancy and after the birth of the child predicted a decline in women's depressive symptoms. By contrast, an increase in self-focused goals predicted an increase in women's depressive symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Women's and men's personal goals during the transition to parenthood.

To investigate how women's and men's personal goals change during the transition to parenthood, the authors studied 348 women (152 primiparous and 196 multiparous) and 277 of their partners at 3 times: early in pregnancy, 1 month before the birth, and 3 months afterward. At each measurement, participants completed the Personal Project Analysis questionnaire (B. R. Little, 1983). The results showed that during pregnancy women became more interested in goals related to childbirth, the child's health, and motherhood and less interested in achievement-related goals. After the birth women were more interested in family and health-related issues. These changes were more substantial among the primiparous than among the multiparous mothers. Although the men's personal goals changed during the transition to parenthood, these changes were less substantial than those found among the women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)