Application demonstration and performance of a cellulose triacetate polymer film based transparent insulation wall heating system

For the application demonstration of cellulose triacetate (CTA) polymer film based transparent insulation (TI) structures a technically and ecologically optimized TI facade system was developed and used to equip a south-oriented wall of a solar house meeting passive house standard in Graz, Austria. The demonstration building was equipped with an appropriate data recording system for solar irradiation, temperature, heat flux and humidity. The practical experiences within the heating periods 2002/03 and 2003/04 are reported in this paper. For the optimized TI facade system a solar energy efficiency of about 43% and a U-value of 0.76 W/(m² K) were obtained. Although CTA absorbs a high amount of water no adverse condensation phenomena were observable visually. The reasoning for these findings is explained and related to construction details.     

Sustained cytokine delivery for anticancer vaccination: liposomes as alternative for gene-transfected tumor cells

Vaccination with tumor cells genetically engineered to produce interleukin (IL)-2 is an attractive strategy to enhance antitumor immune responses. The improved antitumor immunity upon vaccination with IL-2 gene-modified tumor cells may be due to the prolonged presence of the cytokine at the vaccination site. Because liposomes have been used for sustained delivery of a variety of agents, we compared the protective effect of vaccines consisting of IL-2 gene-modified B16 melanoma cells to that of vaccines composed of IL-2 liposomes and irradiated melanoma cells. The results indicate that both approaches equally protect against a lethal challenge with B16 melanoma cells. More than 20% of the protected animals developed vitiligo at the vaccination and/or tumor challenge site.     

MDR1 RNA transcripts do not indicate long-term prognosis in colorectal carcinomas

Because P-glycoprotein expression might be associated with a more aggressive behaviour of colorectal carcinomas (Weinstein et al., Cancer Res, 1991, 51, 2720-2726), we determined the relationship between MDR1 RNA expression of the carcinomas and the survival of the patients. At a median duration of follow-up of 86 months, event-free survival of patients with MDR1 RNA-negative tumours (n = 35) was not significantly different to that of patients with MDR1 RNA positive tumours (n = 67). Among the different tumour stages, event-free survival of the patients was also independent of MDR1 gene expression of the tumours. Thus, these findings do not support the hypothesis that local aggressiveness of P-glycoprotein positive tumour cells translates into worse clinical outcome.     

Evaluating alliance-focused intervention for potential treatment failures: A feasibility study and descriptive analysis.

This article describes a pilot study evaluating the feasibility of an approach developed to test the efficacy of a therapeutic intervention (brief relational therapy) for patients with whom it is difficult to establish a therapeutic alliance. In the first phase of the study, 60 patients were randomly assigned to either short-term dynamic therapy (STDP) or short-term cognitive therapy (CBT), and their progress in the first eight sessions of treatment was monitored. On the basis of a number of empirically derived criteria, 18 potential treatment failures were identified. In the second phase of the study, these identified patients were offered the option of being reassigned to another treatment. The 10 patients who agreed to switch treatments were reassigned either to the alliance-focused treatment, referred to as brief relational therapy (BRT), or a control condition. For patients coming from CBT, the control condition was STDP. For patients coming from STDP, the control condition was CBT. The results provide preliminary evidence supporting the potential value of BRT as an intervention that is useful in the context of alliance ruptures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Repairing alliance ruptures.

Increasingly, research on the therapeutic alliance has shifted its focus to clarifying the factors contributing to alliance development, including the processes involved in resolving alliance ruptures. This article provides a brief review of the empirical literature on ruptures in the alliance and their resolution or repair. In sum, the research is promising, indicating the relevance of ruptures and resolution to psychotherapy outcome. However, much of the research thus far consists of small samples or qualitative studies. In many respects, such research should be considered in the early stages of development. Provisional practice implications are presented, suggesting that therapists be more attentive to ruptures, explore patient negative feelings about therapy, and respond to those feelings in an open and nondefensive fashion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A single-chip CMOS transceiver for 802.11a/b/g wireless LANs

A dual-band trimode radio fully compliant with the IEEE 802.11a, b, and g standards is implemented in a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process and packaged in a 48-pin QFN package. The transceiver achieves a receiver noise figure of 4.9/5.6 dB for the 2.4-GHz/5-GHz bands, respectively, and a transmit error vector magnitude (EVM) of 2.5% for both bands. The transmit output power is digitally controlled, allowing per-packet power control as required by the forthcoming 802.11 h standard. A quadrature accuracy of 0.3/spl deg/ in phase and 0.05 dB in amplitude is achieved through careful analysis and design of the I/Q generation parts of the local oscillator. The local oscillators achieve a total integrated phase noise of better than -34 dBc. Compatibility with multiple baseband chips is ensured by flexible interfaces toward the A/D and D/A converters, as well as a calibration scheme not requiring any baseband support. The chip passes /spl plusmn/2 kV human body model ESD testing on all pins, including the RF pins. The total die area is 12 mm/sup 2/. The power consumption is 207 mW in the receive mode and 247 mW in the transmit mode using a 1.8-V supply.     

Structure–property correlations of polymeric films for transparent insulation wall applications. Part 1: Solar optical properties

In this paper the results of a research project to establish a fundamental understanding of the physical relationships between the material structure and solar optical properties of polymeric transparent insulation (TI) materials are described. First, a systematic characterization of potential materials for TI applications in respect to their relevant physical properties in the solar radiation range was done. Second, based on the investigation of polymer films with different thicknesses model functions for the solar optical properties were established. Third, the solar optical properties were interpreted on base of polymerphysical relations. The characterization in the solar range and the calculation of solar optical film properties have shown, that the solar extinction is dominated by scattering occurring mainly at the surface. A linear relationship between the solar optical thickness and the film thickness was obtained for film thicknesses ranging from 12 to 150 μm. For various amorphous and semi-crystalline films the surface roughness correlated well with the solar optical thickness.     

A novel methodology for the evaluation of distinctness of image of glossy surfaces

There is a strong industrial requirement for the characterization of special surface aspects that are responsible for the appearance of final products. Quantitative values for the distinctness of image (DOI), gloss/haze and perceptual attributes of surface structures are to be found. Enhanced attractiveness due to appropriate quality control of perceptual attributes during manufacture is required subsequently. Human eye-apparatus notices aberration of edge-sharpness of surface reflected objects very accurately. For that reason measuring techniques are required which enable precise determination of image detail reproduction. In this paper the Intensity Profile Analysis (IPA), a novel methodology for the characterization of surface DOI, is presented. IPA is related to modulation transfer analysis methodologies and enables to measure fine detail reproduction of glossy surfaces with good correlation to standard DOI measurement techniques, while featuring enhanced preciseness for surfaces with just slightly variant distinctness of image. IPA is a contactless technique and therefore applicable for uncured or hot surfaces. Due to its conception IPA results are very intuitive concerning visual observation. In this paper IPA–DOI values of coil-coated car steel surfaces are presented in order to demonstrate the principles.