Development of an item bank for the assessment of depression in persons with mental illnesses and physical diseases using Rasch analysis.

Objective: The calibration of item banks provides the basis for computerized adaptive testing that ensures high diagnostic precision and minimizes participants’ test burden. The present study aimed at developing a new item bank that allows for assessing depression in persons with mental and persons with somatic diseases. Method: The sample consisted of 161 participants treated for a depressive syndrome, and 206 participants with somatic illnesses (103 cardiologic, 103 otorhinolaryngologic; overall mean age = 44.1 years, SD =14.0; 44.7% women) to allow for validation of the item bank in both groups. Persons answered a pool of 182 depression items on a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Evaluation of Rasch model fit (infit 2.0), and reliability (>.80) resulted in a bank of 79 items with good psychometric properties. Conclusions: The bank provides items with a wide range of content coverage and may serve as a sound basis for computerized adaptive testing applications. It might also be useful for researchers who wish to develop new fixed-length scales for the assessment of depression in specific rehabilitation settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the overdrawing of melt‐spun isotactic polypropylene tapes

The morphology and mechanical properties of melt‐spun and post‐drawn isotactic polypropylene (iPP) tapes have been studied in order to examine their dependence on the post‐draw ratio applied. Special attention is focused on the characterization of the so‐called overdrawing behavior of the tapes; at a certain draw ratio, a change of the optical appearance of the tape from transparent to opaque is observed. Overdrawing is accompanied with changes in the mechanical properties, surface, and morphology of the tapes. For post‐draw ratios without overdrawing, and for highly overdrawn tapes, the variation in the mechanical properties measured is very small, but for slightly overdrawn tapes, a large scattering of mechanical properties has been measured. In the latter case, this behavior is related to the start of internal delamination of the tapes during post drawing. It is shown that strongly overdrawn tapes have excellent mechanical properties, in particular, high specific stiffness and strength. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2920–2931, 2007     

A Novel Method Facilitating the Simple and Low-Cost Preparation of Human Osteochondral Slice Explants for Large-Scale Native Tissue Analysis

For in vitro modeling of human joints, osteochondral explants represent an acceptable compromise between conventional cell culture and animal models. However, the scarcity of native human joint tissue poses a challenge for experiments requiring high numbers of samples and makes the method rather unsuitable for toxicity analyses and dosing studies. To scale their application, we developed a novel method that allows the preparation of up to 100 explant cultures from a single human sample with a simple setup. Explants were cultured for 21 days, stimulated with TNF-α or TGF-β3, and analyzed for cell viability, gene expression and histological changes. Tissue cell viability remained stable at >90% for three weeks. Proteoglycan levels and gene expression of COL2A1, ACAN and COMP were maintained for 14 days before decreasing. TNF-α and TGF-β3 caused dose-dependent changes in cartilage marker gene expression as early as 7 days. Histologically, cultures under TNF-α stimulation showed a 32% reduction in proteoglycans, detachment of collagen fibers and cell swelling after 7 days. In conclusion, thin osteochondral slice cultures behaved analogously to conventional punch explants despite cell stress exerted during fabrication. In pharmacological testing, both the shorter diffusion distance and the lack of need for serum in the culture suggest a positive effect on sensitivity. The ease of fabrication and the scalability of the sample number make this manufacturing method a promising platform for large-scale preclinical testing in joint research.     

Correction to Gloster et al. (2011).

Reports an error in "Psychological treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia: A randomized controlled trial to examine the role of therapist-guided exposure in situ in CBT" by Andrew T. Gloster, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen, Franziska Einsle, Thomas Lang, Sylvia Helbig-Lang, Thomas Fydrich, Lydia Fehm, Alfons O. Hamm, Jan Richter, George W. Alpers, Alexander L. Gerlach, Andreas Str?hle, Tilo Kircher, Jürgen Deckert, Peter Zwanzger, Michael H?fler and Volker Arolt (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2011[Jun], Vol 79[3], 406-420). In the article, the name of author Georg W. Alpers was misspelled as George W. Alpers. In Table 2, in the footnote, line two, the criteria should read “MI≤1.8”. The online versions of this article have been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2011-08726-001.) Objective: Cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) is a first-line treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia (PD/AG). Nevertheless, an understanding of its mechanisms and particularly the role of therapist-guided exposure is lacking. This study was aimed to evaluate whether therapist-guided exposure in situ is associated with more pervasive and long-lasting effects than therapist-prescribed exposure in situ. Method: A multicenter randomized controlled trial, in which 369 PD/AG patients were treated and followed up for 6 months. Patients were randomized to 2 manual-based variants of CBT (T+/T?) or a wait-list control group (WL; n = 68) and were treated twice weekly for 12 sessions. CBT variants were identical in content, structure, and length, except for implementation of exposure in situ: In the T+ variant (n = 163), therapists planned and supervised exposure in situ exercises outside the therapy room; in the T? group (n = 138), therapists planned and discussed patients' in situ exposure exercises but did not accompany them. Primary outcome measures were (a) Hamilton Anxiety Scale, (b) Clinical Global Impression, (c) number of panic attacks, and (d) agoraphobic avoidance (Mobility Inventory). Results: For T+ and T? compared with WL, all outcome measures improved significantly with large effect sizes from baseline to post (range = ?0.5 to ?2.5) and from post to follow-up (range = ?0.02 to ?1.0). T+ improved more than T? on the Clinical Global Impression and Mobility Inventory at post and follow-up and had greater reduction in panic attacks during the follow-up period. Reduction in agoraphobic avoidance accelerated after exposure was introduced. A dose–response relation was found for Time × Frequency of Exposure and reduction in agoraphobic avoidance. Conclusions: Therapist-guided exposure is more effective for agoraphobic avoidance, overall functioning, and panic attacks in the follow-up period than is CBT without therapist-guided exposure. Therapist-guided exposure promotes additional therapeutic improvement—possibly mediated by increased physical engagement in feared situations—beyond the effects of a CBT treatment in which exposure is simply instructed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Novel fiber-optical interferometer with miniaturized probe for in-hole measurements

Today, micro-system technology and the development of new MEMS （Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems） are emerging rapidly. In order for this development to become a success in the long run, measurement systems have to ensure product quality. Most often, MEMS have to be tested by means of functionality or destructive tests. One reason for this is that there are no suitable systems or sensing probes available which can be used for the measurement of quasi inaccessible features like small holes or cavities. We present a measurement system that could be used for these kinds of measurements. The system combines a fiber optical, miniaturized sensing probe with low-coherence interferometry, so that absolute distance measurements with nanometer accuracy are possible.     

Zusammenhang zwischen Gefüge und Korrosionsverhalten bei Zirkonium

Interrelationship between structure and corrosion behaviour of zirconium Due to plant failures caused by the break-down of zirconium grade 702 subjected to sulphuric acid the structure and corrosion behaviour of welded and as delivered specimens were tested for various heat treatments. After annealing for 0.5 to 9 hours at temperatures from 650 to 1000 deg centigrade the specimens were cooled down in water, air, or furnace. The corrosion resistance was tested intentionally under extremely critical conditions, i.e. in boiling 65 pct sulphuric acid. It was shown by structure investigations and electron microprobe analysis that the corrosion behaviour of zirconium is strongly influenced by the structure, which in its turn is dependent on the grade of purity and the prehistory of the material. Type, amount, and distribution of residual elements or precipitations caused by them are responsible for the corrosion resistance. This is valid particularly for the element iron. The plant failures mentioned here coincided with the examination results. Measures to improve the chemical resistance of pure zirconium subjected to extremely aggressive media were derived as follows:

• 1 Annealing of the welded and as delivered state for several hours at 750 deg centigrade
• 2 If an improvement of the weld meets the demands welding should be conducted in at least two layers. The first layer should be in contact with the aggressive environment
• 3 Application of zirconium with a superior grade of purity as well for the base metal as for the filler material.

Practicability, economy, and success of the measures mentioned depend on the individual case to a high degree. In this regard practical experiences still have to be gained.     

Deceiving Oneself About Being in Control: Conscious Detection of Changes in Visuomotor Coupling.

Previous research has demonstrated that compensatory movements for changes in visuomotor coupling often are not consciously detected. But what factors affect the conscious detection of such changes? This issue was addressed in 4 experiments. Participants carried out a drawing task in which the relative velocity between the actual movement and its visual consequences was perturbed. Unconscious compensatory movements and conscious detection rates were simultaneously recorded. There was an invariant relationship between the extent of the change and its conscious detection that was proportional to the initial drawing velocity. This suggests that conscious change detection relies on a system that integrates visual and motor information-as, for instance, suggested by the internal model theory of motor control. Figural discrepancies increased the detection rates, indicating that additional cues for the what system facilitate conscious change detection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)