Affect and the motivational foundations of social capital.

Social capital is a resource that includes the willingness of members of society to cooperate with each other, even when it is not in their own individual material self-interests to do so, or enforce beneficial social norms, even when this is materially costly for the enforcer. Evidence from economic choice experiments suggests that affect may play an important role in the individual-level decision process that generates these behavioral tendencies. Negative affective responses to uncooperative behavior can lead to a breakdown in social capital, if there is no option to punish. Given a punishment option, however, individuals discipline uncooperative types, even though it is materially costly to do so. This can completely counteract the tendency for social capital to decline in repeated interactions. Positive affect, triggered by punishing uncooperative types, appears to play a role in generating this socially beneficial willingness to sanction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Einfluß der Hydrodynamik auf die Korrosion von Eisen und Stahl in neutralen belüfteten NaCl- und Na2SO4-Lösungen

Influence of hydrodynamics on the corrosion of iron and steel in neutral aerated NaCl and Na₂SO₄ solutions The corrosion behaviour of iron and steel in aerated neutral NaCl and Na₂SO₄ solutions is mainly determined by the transport-controlled cathodic oxygen reduction. Its reaction zone depends on the physical and chemical properties of the 3-D layer formed on the corroding surface. The influence of hydrodynamics is restricted to the transport of the dissolved oxygen to the reaction zone. The obtained results are independent of laminar or turbulent flow conditions.     

Microbiological examinations and in-vitro testing of different antibiotics in therapeutic endoscopy of the biliary system

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Prior to endoscopic therapeutic procedures, no antibiotic prophylaxis is administered routinely. Because of the reported incidence of infectious complications, which may reach up to 10%, a prospective study was undertaken to investigate the effects of a prophylactic dose of cefuroxime on the incidence of bacteremia and clinical signs of infection, but no significant effects could be demonstrated. In addition to this published work, blood and bile cultures obtained in this trial were also investigated, and the in-vitro susceptibility to several antibiotics was tested in order to recommend the appropriate substances. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-nine consecutive patients (51 men, 48 women; mean age 61.4 +/- 17 years) with biliary obstruction who underwent an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography with drainage (PTCD) were included. Sequential blood cultures were taken before and up to 60 minutes after the endoscopic intervention. Bile cultures were obtained in 56 patients with biliary drainage. Aerobic and anaerobic cultures were prepared from all obtained specimens and the isolated organisms were identified. In the case of positive cultures, an in-vitro resistance test for 15 different antibiotics was performed. RESULTS: The incidence of bacteremia was 11.1% (n = 11), and 16 bacteria were isolated. Twelve different microorganisms were detected, with Escherichia coli found in four cases. From 41 positive out of 56 prepared bile cultures (73.2%), 91 isolates were found with 25 different species. A single agent was detected in eight cases (19.5%), while a mixed growth, with pathogens ranging from two to six species, was found in 33 cases (80.5%). The seven most frequently isolated germs were E. coli and Enterococcus (each n = 19), Klebsiella (n = 10), Streptococcus viridans (n = 9), Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 5), Morganella morganii (n = 4), and Bacteroides fragilis (n = 3), representing 76% of all agents. Examination for fungal infection revealed positive cultures of Candida albicans in 16.1% of bile cultures (nine of 56). Interestingly, the use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), with a consequent rise in the gastric pH value, led to an increase in the rate of bacteremia to 26.2% (five of 19) compared to the other patients not on PPIs (n = 80), who developed bacteremia in only six cases (7.5%; p = 0.02). In-vitro testing of different antibiotics was carried out in 73 isolates. Imipenem showed the best antimicrobial activity (98.4%), followed by trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (90%), amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid (87.3%), vancomycin (82.4%), and ofloxacin (76.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Escherichia coli was found to be the pathogen most frequently detected in blood and bile following endoscopic interventions in the biliary tract. Enterococci, Klebsiella and Streptococcus viridans were found in bile cultures with an incidence exceeding 10%. In view of the in-vitro test results, possible side effects, and contraindications, amoxicillin plus beta-lactamase inhibitors or quinolones are considered to be suitable antibiotics for the prophylaxis of biliary infections.     

Enzyme activities in ‘non-oilseed’ sunflowers and sunflower products (variety greystripe)

Amylase, protease, cellulase and hemicellulase activities of ‘non-oilseed’ sunflower products (unshelled sunflower seeds, sunflower kernels and hulls as well as roasted unshelled sunflower seeds and sunflower kernels) were determined. Amylase and cellulase activities were highest in unshelled sunflower seeds and lowest in the shelled kernels. Protease and hemicellulase activities were highest in the kernels and lowest in the hulls. Enzyme activities were reduced by roasting.     

Einfluß sehr niedriger Schwefelgehalte auf die mechanischen Eigenschaften des Stahles St 52-3

Legierungsverfahren zur Einbringung von Metallen seltener Erden in Versuchsschmelzen. Abhängigkeit der Schwefelabsenkung vom Zusatz dieser Metalle zum Stahl. Ermittlung von Zugfestigkeit, Streckgrenze, Bruchdehnung, Brucheinschnürung und Kerbschlagzähigkeit in Abhängigkeit von der Probenlage (längs, quer und in Dickenrichtung) bei unterschiedlich abgesenkten Schwefelgehalten.     

Selective encapsulation of single cells and subcellular organelles into picoliter- and femtoliter-volume droplets

This paper describes a method, which combines optical trapping and microfluidic-based droplet generation, for selectively and controllably encapsulating a single target cell or subcellular structure, such as a mitochondrion, into a picoliter- or femtoliter-volume aqueous droplet that is surrounded by an immiscible phase. Once the selected cell or organelle is encased within the droplet, it is stably confined in the droplet and cannot be removed. We demonstrate in droplet the rapid laser photolysis of the single cell, which essentially "freezes" the state that the cell was in at the moment of photolysis and confines the lysate within the small volume of the droplet. Using fluorescein di-beta-d-galactopyranoside, which is a fluorogenic substrate for the intracellular enzyme beta-galactosidase, we also assayed the activity of this enzyme from a single cell following the laser-induced lysis of the cell. This ability to entrap individual selected cells or subcellular organelles should open new possibilities for carrying out single-cell studies and single-organelle measurements.