Digital shinrin-yoku: do nature experiences in virtual reality reduce stress and increase well-being as strongly as similar experiences in a physical forest?

Virtual Reality - Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing refers to a therapeutic, immersive nature experience that aids to improve well-being. The goal of the current research was to compare the effects of...     

When autocratic leaders become an option—Uncertainty and self-esteem predict implicit leadership preferences.

We investigated the impact of uncertainty on leadership preferences and propose that the conjunction of self-esteem level and stability is an important moderator in this regard. Self-threatening uncertainty is aversive and activates the motivation to regain control. People with high and stable self-esteem should be confident of achieving this goal by self-determined amelioration of the situation and should therefore show a stronger preference for democratic leadership under conditions of uncertainty. By contrast, people with low and unstable self-esteem should place their trust and hope in the abilities of powerful others, resulting in a preference for autocratic leadership. Studies 1a and 1b validate explicit and implicit leadership measures and demonstrate a general prodemocratic default attitude under conditions of certainty. Studies 2 and 3 reveal a democratic reaction for individuals with stable high self-esteem and a submissive reaction for individuals with unstable low self-esteem under conditions of uncertainty. In Study 4, this pattern is cancelled out when individuals evaluate leadership styles from a leader instead of a follower perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Studying creativity training programs: A methodological analysis

Throughout decades of creativity research, a range of creativity training programs have been developed, tested, and analyzed. In 2004 Scott and colleagues published a meta‐analysis of all creativity training programs to date, and the review presented here sat out to identify and analyze studies published since the seminal 2004 review. Focusing on quantitative studies of creativity training programs for adults, our systematic review resulted in 22 publications. All studies were analyzed, but comparing the reported effectiveness of training across studies proved difficult due to methodological inconsistencies, variations in reporting of results as well as types of measures used. Thus a consensus for future studies is called for to answer the question: Which elements make one creativity training program more effective than another? This is a question of equal relevance to academia and industry, as creativity training is a tool that can contribute to enhancement of organizational creativity and subsequently innovation. However, to answer the question, future studies of creativity training programs need to be carefully designed to contribute to a more transparent landscape. Thus this paper proposes a methodological research standard consisting of three criteria, to which researchers can look when designing future studies of the effectiveness of creativity training.     

Oxidative doping renders graphene hydrophilic, facilitating its use as a support in biological TEM

Graphene represents the first practical realization of crystalline supports in biological transmission electron microscopy (TEM) since their introduction over 30 years ago. The high transparency, minimal inelastic cross-section, and electrical conductivity of graphene are highly desirable characteristics for a TEM support. However, without a suitable method for rendering graphene supports, hydrophilic applications are limited. This work describes the in situ functionalization of graphene with minimal structural degradation, rendering TEM supports sufficiently hydrophilic for the mounting of biological samples.     

Thematic Apperception Test: Some evidence bearing on the "hero assumption."

2 experiments are presented which test the assumption that there is customarily a single figure in TAT stories which is particularly revealing of the Ss own attributes. In a group of 30 female Ss it was demonstrated that hero figures were more often identified as similar to self or else denied as similar. Following a frustration experience aggressive acts carried out by heroes against others and against the self and also aggressive acts carried out by others against the hero all increased. These findings were regarded as evidence for the hero assumption. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Über die Fehlerauffindbarkeit als Hauptforderung an die zerstörungsfreie Werkstoffprüfung

About the Detection of Imperfections as a Main Task for Nondestructive Testing The inspection uncertainty is identified which is a measure of the difference between the size of imperfection that has a high probability of being passed and the size of imperfection that has a high probability of being rejected by an inspection. Reduction of the inspection uncertainty is the only means by which one can reduce inspection errors as the acceptance of defective material units and the rejection of sound material units. The discussion is presented within a framework that allows a quantitative evaluation of the quality of the material units that pass an inspection and a determin ation of the rejection rate. Analysis of the causes of inspection uncertainty is essential to efficient strategies for improving nondestructive inspection capabilities.     

Berstsicherheit von Reaktordruckbehätterstutzen unter Innendruck

Bruchmechanische Beurteilung von Stutzeneckenrissen von Reaktordruckbehältem unter Innendruckbeanspruchung. Berechnung von K_l-Faktoren für verschiedene zugrunde gelegte Risse an der Innenecke eines Kühlmitteleintrittsstutzens eines Druckwasserreaktors mit Hilfe eines Finite-Element-Programms. Einführung von besonderen Elementen für den Bereich der Rißspitze sowie genauer Verfahren zur Ableitung von K_l-Werten für vier verschiedene Rißgrößen gemeinsam mit ihren Abweichungen um das Rißprofil herum. Vergleich der errechneten K_l/-Faktoren mit den Ergebnissen für unterschiedliche, rißbehaftete Modelle, zum Teil unter Verwendung von Näherungslösungen.     

Effects of pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile on the metabolism of cholesterol in rat liver microsomes

The effects of pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN) on hepatic metabolism of cholesterol were studied in rat liver microsomes in order to clarify the underlying mechanisms of the PCN-induced biliary hypersecretion of cholesterol. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a diet supplemented with 0.05% of PCN for one week. The microsomal activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, regulating cholesterol biosynthesis, decreased from 577 ± 46 (SEM) to 367 ± 38 pmol/min/mg protein compared to the controls. Cholesterol 7 α-hydroxylase activity, governing bile acid synthesis, was 9.0 ± 1.1 pmol/min/mg protein in the treated group and 34.8 ± 7.4 pmol/min/mg protein in the controls, a reduction of 74% (P<0.01). The acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity, catalyzing the esterification of cholesterol, remained unchanged, as did the levels of total and free cholesterol in liver homogenates and microsomes. The results of this study provide evidence that the increase in biliary cholesterol secretion during PCN treatment is not caused by a change in ACAT activity, but can be explained by a decreased catabolism of cholesterol to bile acids.