Norms for change in episodic memory as a prerequisite for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The new diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from the International Working Group on Mild Cognitive Impairment (Winblad et al., 2004, p. 243) list “evidence of decline over time in objective cognitive tasks” as one diagnostic sign, implying the repeated neuropsychological testing. This study aimed to compare different assessment methods of longitudinal change based on the performances of 366 cognitively healthy participants (237 men, 129 women) examined with a German version of the California Verbal Learning Test (Delis, Kramer, Kaplan, & Ober, 1987) at baseline and 2 years later. Age, education, gender, and baseline performance were taken into account. Results revealed marked practice effects after 2 years. Normal ranges for change that controls for practice effects and regression to the mean proved to be superior to other reliable change indexes. This new method allows for more valid interpretation of change in neuropsychological functioning and thus diagnosis of MCI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Investigation on the effect of curvature on forming limit prediction for aluminium sheet alloys

The investigation of bendability of sheet metal alloys is of great importance for the evaluation of process robustness in production of hemmed sheet metal assemblies. Furthermore, material cracks due to bending can also occur at deep drawing operations. This contribution focuses on the experimental determination of material’s formability at deep drawing, the characterisation of bendability especially for hemming operations and the determination of formability under combined deep drawing and bending loads, respectively.     

A critical review of methodologies used in determination of relative bio‐availability ratio of RRR‐α‐tocopheryl acetate and all‐rac‐α‐tocopheryl acetate

Bio‐availability of different α‐tocopherol forms in livestock animals is measured by the increase in plasma or tissue concentrations of α‐tocopherol after oral administration. It is generally accepted that RRR‐α‐tocopheryl acetate (natural source vitamin E derived from vegetable oil) has a higher bio‐availability compared to all‐rac‐α‐tocopheryl acetate (synthetic vitamin E, i.e. α‐tocopherol produced by chemical synthesis). However, different bio‐availability ratios have been reported in the literature. The major reason for conflicting results in literature studies was the inability to separate the proportion of α‐tocopherol originating from test materials, from the proportion of α‐tocopherol originating from basal dietary ingredients and pre‐feeding. This causes significant variability. For bio‐availability determination, a baseline or control treatment is essential. The estimation of bio‐availability without correction for basal vitamin E status will lead to incorrect interpretation of the results. When using proper methodologies, it is possible to correct for the impact of α‐tocopherol intake from basal ingredients and α‐tocopherol originating from pre‐feeding, therefore yielding results reflecting the true relative bio‐availability of different α‐tocopherol substances. When reviewing literature data a critical evaluation of the method used in determination of relative bio‐availability is recommended. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

R?hre Massenbergtunnel (1962–1965) – Erste Anwendung der NATM bei einem Stra?entunnel in ?sterreich

As part of the Südumfahrung Leoben project, the construction of the first tube of the Massenbergtunnel (1962?C1965) put into practice for the first time the principles of the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). As the initial Belgian Method had caused a collapse after a short time due the extremely unfavourable geotechnical conditions, Prof. Rabcewicz adopted the NATM principle, leading to the sucessful completion of the project.     

Case study on the use of a combined system as an intermediate solution in Brazil: cost estimate

As a developing country, Brazil has to deal with a lack of basic sanitation. One of the major challenges is the treatment of wastewater. While 94% of Brazilian municipalities have stormwater systems, only 55% are connected to a wastewater system. To help improve the current situation, this study estimates the costs for implementing an intermediate solution, which is designed to ease the transition towards a separate wastewater treatment system. This solution utilizes a combined sewer system approach in areas where stormwater systems have already been implemented. A case study was carried out assessing two possible alternatives for a wastewater treatment system with data from the city of Joinville. Both alternatives are separate systems but one has a combined system as an intermediate solution. The results show that the alternative with an intermediate combined system will reduce the short‐term financial burden on governments in comparison to the separate sewer system approach.     

Isotopenanalytische Charakterisierung tiefliegender Grundwässer im Raum der Fürstenwalde-Gubener-Störungszone

Isotope variations were studied especially in deep situated groundwater wihtin the hydrogeological complicate fault zone of Fürstenwalde-Guben. ¹⁴ C, tritium and δD values were compared with hydrochemical data. A good correlation was found regarding depth profiles as well as between the related mean values classifying all samples by their chemical composition in five groups. The lowered mean deuterium contents of the samples of one group show an influence of water, formed in cooler climatic periods. On the other hand deuterium is frequently enriched in the most mineralized waters. The effect of coal degradation processes by aerated waters on the radiocarbon content is demonstrated regarding a case study in a small coal basin near Leipzig with former underground mining.     

Interregional migration,self-selection and the returns to education in Brazil

During the last decade Brazil has seen an astonishing reversal in the original north-east-to-south-east direction of migration. Within a framework of human capital and self-selection theory we try to identify the individual characteristics and motivations linked to the migration pattern. The overall results of this procedure suggest that there is a key difference between NE T{Rightarrow } SE movers and SE T{Rightarrow } NE movers. (1) SE T{Rightarrow } NE movers were adverse self-selected in terms of observable education characteristics. (2) No self-selection could be observed among migrants in the NE T{Rightarrow } SE direction. In general the North-East seems less attractive to highly skilled people. (3) Labor market segmentation with respect to sector occupation is likely. (4) There are clear differences in income determinants between movers and non movers. The majority of migrants except for migrants with higher education cannot expect to realize a return to education comparable to the average in the region of departure or destination. However, in the context of the Borjas selection model the returns to education analysis would predict a different pattern of migrant selectivity than the one observed in Brazil. Apart from soft characteristics connected to the regions we believe, that the large share of the non formal labor market is likely to indicate a surplus labor leading to a migration pattern different than expected from selection theory.     

Top-down contingencies in peripheral cuing: The roles of color and location.

According to contingent-processing accounts, peripheral cuing effects are due to the cues' inadvertent selection for processing by control settings set up for targets (e.g., C. L. Folk, R. W. Remington, & J. C. Johnston, 1992). Consequently, cues similar to targets should have stronger effects than do dissimilar cues. In the current study, this prediction is confirmed for cue-target combinations similar or dissimilar in the static features of color (Experiments 1-3) and location (Experiment 4), even when both cues and targets share the dynamic feature of abrupt onset. Perceptual priming (Experiment 2) and reallocation of attention did not account for similar-dissimilar differences (Experiments 3 and 4). The results are best explained by top-down-contingent attentional effects of the similar cues. Implications for bottom-up accounts of peripheral cuing effects are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)