The predictive utility of hypnotizability: The change in suggestibility produced by hypnosis.

Objective: The predictive utility of hypnotizability, conceptualized as the change in suggestibility produced by a hypnotic induction, was investigated in the suggested reduction of experimental pain. Method: One hundred and seventy-three participants were assessed for nonhypnotic imaginative suggestibility. Thereafter, participants experienced hypnotic and nonhypnotic imaginative analgesia suggestions, counterbalanced for order. Hypnotic suggestibility was then assessed. Results: Hypnotizability, operationalized as hypnotic suggestibility with imaginative suggestibility statistically controlled (Braffman & Kirsch, 1999), predicted intraindividual differences in responding to the hypnotic and imaginative analgesia suggestions. Higher hypnotizability was associated with relatively greater response to the hypnotic analgesia suggestion than to the imaginative analgesia suggestion. Conclusions: Operationalized in this way, hypnotizability may be a useful predictor of the effect of adding a hypnotic induction to a specific imaginative suggestion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The distribution of lithium intercalated in V2O5 thin films studied by XPS and ToF-SIMS

The distribution of lithium in V₂O₅/V lower oxide duplex thin films prepared by thermal oxidation of V metal was analysed by XPS and ToF-SIMS after intercalation at 2.8 V versus Li/Li⁺ and de-intercalation at 3.8 V following cycling between 3.8 and 2.8 V in 1 M LiClO₄-PC. XPS analysis of the intercalated thin film evidenced a partial reduction (43 at.% V⁴⁺) of the V₂O₅ surface, the modification of its electronic structure and the presence of Li, consistent with the formation of the δ-Li_xV₂O₅ (0.9 ≤ x ≤ 1) phase. The Li in-depth distribution measured by ToF-SIMS shows a maximum in the outer layer of V₂O₅, but Li is also found at the oxide film/metal substrate interface indicating its diffusion across the inner layer of V lower oxides. The analyses performed after de-intercalation on the samples cycled 12, 120 and 300 times reveal the effect of aging on the trapping of lithium. A significant reduction (17-22 at.% V⁴⁺) of the V₂O₅ surface was measured after 300 cycles. The Li in-depth distribution shows a maximum at the interface between the outer layer of V₂O₅ and the inner layer of lower oxides. Aging favours the accumulation of lithium at this interface with a resulting enlarged distribution enriching the sub-surface of the outer layer of V₂O₅ and the inner layer of lower oxides after 300 cycles. Lithium is also found, but in smaller quantities, at the oxide film/metal substrate interface. Measurements performed in the non-electrochemically treated surface areas of the de-intercalated samples revealed the same type of modifications, evidencing the diffusion of lithium along the interfaces where it is trapped.     

Synthesis of novel oxidizable polymerization sensitizers based on the dithiinoquinoxaline skeleton

Novel dyes, based on the dithiinoquinoxaline skeleton, were synthesized and characterized using ¹H NMR spectroscopy and chemical ionization mass spectroscopy. Their spectral properties, such as absorption, emission spectra and quantum yield of fluorescence, were also measured. Electron donating properties of the title compounds were estimated on the basis of DFT calculations. The studied dyes were used as oxidizable sensitizers for 2,4,6-tris(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine (Tz). The dye/Tz photoredox pairs were found to be effective visible-wavelength initiators of free radical polymerization. The ability of these systems to act as photoinitiators strongly depended upon the free energy change of the photoinduced electron transfer from the excited dyes to Tz. It has been shown that the intermolecular electron transfer is the limiting step in the photopolymerization initiated by these studied initiator systems.     

Aversive Learning Deficits and Depressive-Like Behaviors Are Accompanied by an Increase in Oxidative Stress in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: The Protective Effect of Rapamycin

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are one of the most common consequences of ethanol exposure during pregnancy. In adulthood, these disorders can be manifested by learning and memory deficits and depressive-like behavior. Ethanol-induced oxidative stress may be one of the factors that induces FASD development. The mammalian target of the Rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway that acts via two distinct multiprotein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, can affect oxidative stress. We investigated whether mTOR-dependent or mTOR-independent mechanisms are engaged in this phenomenon. Thus, Rapamycin—a selective inhibitor of mTORC1, Torin-2—a non-selective mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitor, and FK-506—a drug that impacts oxidative stress in an mTOR-independent manner were used. Behavioral tests were performed in adult (PND60-65) rats using a passive avoidance (PA) task (aversive learning and memory) and forced swimming test (FST) (depressive-like behaviors). In addition, the biochemical parameters of oxidative stress, such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), as well as apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP)-sites were determined in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in adult (PND65) rats. The rat FASD model was induced by intragastric ethanol (5 g/kg/day) administration at postnatal day (PND)4–9 (an equivalent to the third trimester of human pregnancy). All substances (3 mg/kg) were given 30 min before ethanol. Our results show that neonatal ethanol exposure leads to deficits in context-dependent fear learning and depressive-like behavior in adult rats that were associated with increased oxidative stress parameters in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Because these effects were completely reversed by Rapamycin, an mTORC1 inhibitor, this outcome suggests its usefulness as a preventive therapy in disorders connected with prenatal ethanol exposure.     

Failure mechanism of thin Al2O3 coatings grown by atomic layer deposition for corrosion protection of carbon steel

Combined analysis by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) of the corrosion protection provided to carbon steel by thin (50 nm) Al₂O₃ coatings grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and its failure mechanism is reported. In spite of excellent sealing properties, the results show an average dissolution rate of the alumina coating of ∼7 nm h⁻¹ in neutral 0.2 M NaCl and increasing porosity of the remaining layers with increasing immersion time. Alumina dissolution is triggered by the penetration of the solution via cracks/pinholes through the coating to the substrate surface where oxygen reduction takes place, raising the pH. At defective substrate surface sites of high aspect ratio and concentrated residual mechanical stress (along scratches) presumably exposing a higher steel surface fraction, localized dissolution of the coating is promoted by a more facile access of the solution to the substrate surface enhancing oxygen reduction. De-adhesion of the coating is also promoted in these sites by the ingress of the anodic dissolution trenching the steel surface. Localized corrosion of the alloy (i.e. pitting) is triggered prior to complete dissolution of the alumina film on the elsewhere still coated surface matrix.     

Dyes based on a 1,4‐naphthoquinone skeleton as new type II photoinitiators for radical polymerisation

Photoredox pairs consisting of 1,4‐naphthoquinone dyes and commercially available hydrogen donors (2‐mercaptobenzoxazole, 2‐mercaptobenzothiazole, 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole and 2,5‐dimercapto‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole) are found to be effective initiator systems for the radical polymerisation of trimethylolpropane triacrylate under visible light. The efficiency of these initiator systems is discussed in terms of the free energy change for the electron transfer process from the dye to the hydrogen donor. The results show that the photoinitiation ability of tested photoredox pairs depends on the structure of both the dye and the hydrogen donor.     

Photocrosslinking of solvent-based acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) by the use of selected photoinitiators type I

This study investigated the photocrosslinking of solvent-based acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) containing selected photoinitiators type I, known as α-cleavage photoinitiators. Photocrosslinking of PSA, especially of acrylic PSA, is well established crosslinking process using the UV radiation technology. UV-initiated crosslinking of acrylic PSA allows the synthesis of the wide range of UV-crosslinkable PSA with the interesting features. Especially, the important balances of properties such as adhesive and cohesive strength which are typically critical for the application performance can be achieved by this technology. The selection of suitable photoinitiator plays an important role to obtain the optimum properties of acrylic PSA including tack, peel adhesion, and shear strength. In this study, the investigations on different saturated conventional photoinitiators of type I for solvent-based PSA were carried out. The effects of photoinitiator concentration, UV crosslinking time and UV dose on the tack, peel strength, and shear strength were explored in detail for guiding the choice of photoinitiators to fabricate advanced PSA for industrial usage.     

The zinc ferrite obtained by oxidative precipitation method as a catalyst in n-butanol conversion

This paper presents the results of catalytic properties of n-butanol conversion of the zinc ferrite obtained by oxidative precipitation method. The zinc ferrite showed good dehydrogenating activity but also catalyzed consecutive bimolecular condensation of emerged aldehyde particles into symmetrical ketone. The zinc-iron oxide of spinel structure was prepared from ferrous sulfate, which forms as a waste during the titanium dioxide production.The X-ray diffraction methods (XRD, XRF) were used in determining the structure and composition of obtained zinc ferrite, while thermogravimetry (TG-DTG), and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were used in the study of thermal transformations of zinc spinel in air.     

Novel precipitated silicas: an active filler of synthetic rubber

Highly dispersed silicas have been obtained at a semi-technical scale by precipitation from sodium metasilicate solutions using appropriately diluted solutions of ammonium hydrogencarbonate or ammonium chloride. The difference, as compared to the generally applied technology of silica precipitation using acids or their anhydrides, has been the involvement of the precipitation reaction in alkaline media. Attempts have been made at changing the silica surface character from hydrophilic to more hydrophobic, using a modifier from the group of silane coupling agents. The alkoxysilanes modifiers contained groups with chemical affinity towards functional groups of butadiene–styrene rubber. Modification of silica surface using silane coupling agents has been found to improve the reinforcement of vulcanizates, by increasing the tensile and tear strength in particular.