Is there a role for continuation phase cognitive therapy for depressed outpatients?

Two pilot studies evaluated the rate of relapse or recurrence (i.e., major depressive disorder) after cognitive therapy (CT). Two sequential cohorts included outpatients who responded to acute phase CT (A-CT) and who agreed to monthly, treatment-free follow-up. In Study 1, the Kaplan-Meier technique estimated relapse and recurrence rates of 40% at 6 months, 45% at 8 months, 50% at 12 months, 67% at 18 months, and 74% at 24 months. In Study 2, responders to A-CT received 8 months (10 sessions) of continuation phase CT (C-CT). In Study 2, relapse or recurrence was 20% at 6 and 8 months, 27% at 12 months, and 36% at 18 and 24 months after A-CT. An exploratory log-rank test showed that relapse or recurrence-free survival was greater in Study 2 than in Study 1. If replicated, this result suggests that C-CT can reduce depressive relapse or recurrence. Alternative explanations are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The development of research methodology in homoeopathy

Homoeopathy is a form of complementary medicine based on treating 'like with like'. Its popularity with the public, and credibility with health professionals, has increased rapidly as a result of recent clinical trials demonstrating its efficacy. The results of a systematic review of clinical trials of homoeopathy are summarized. The main scientific obstacle to the acceptance of homoeopathy is its use of very high 'ultramolecular' dilutions. The action of these dilutions cannot be explained in terms of existing pharmacological concepts. This has lead to the 'information medicine' hypothesis, which postulates the storage of information in water and its transmission to sensitized biosystems. This hypothesis is starting to be supported by physics. 'Proving' drugs in order to determine their effects on healthy volunteers is a form of research practised by homoeopaths for 200 years, the methodology is continuing to evolve. Clinical trials in homoeopathy are complicated by the fact that treatment is highly individualised. Various approaches to the problem of individualization in controlled trials, including 'homoeopathy as indicated', 'single homoeopathic medicine' and 'individualized isopathy' are discussed. To improve homoeopathic practice its results should be critically audited, a method for doing this is described.     

Progress towards using the speed of ultrasound for beef leanness classification

Following the observation of a high correlation between the reciprocal of the speed of ultrasound and lean proportion in beef carcasses, commercial equipment (VOSI) was developed and its performance alongside a smaller assembly (Mini G) is reported. The speed of ultrasound was measured through six sites on beef carcasses within 1 h of stunning: three sites with VOSI and three sites with Mini G. Sides were also scored for fatness and conformation using the EAAP system, and subcutaneous fat depth was measured at 25,50 and 75% of the width of M. longissimus thoracis from the midline at the last rib. All sides were dissected into subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, muscle and bone. The reciprocal speed averaged over the three VOSI sites (RV346) was the best single predictor of the proportion of lean in the side. Multiple regression analyses, in predicting per cent lean, showed that addition of conformation score improved the precision of fat score and fat depth for a group of 26 sides. It did not provide a significant improvement over RV346. However, in another group of 50 sides showing more variation in side mass and conformation, conformation score did significantly improve RV346. The best prediction of per cent lean, involving RV346 and tissue thicknesses, gave a residual standard deviation of 1·35%, and conformation score did not significantly improve this regression.     

Microfluidic motion for a direct investigation of solvent interactions with PDMS microchannels

Solid surface/liquid interactions play an important role in microfluidics and particularly in manipulation of films, drops and bubbles, a basic requirement for a number of lab-on-chip applications. The behavior of solvents in coated microchannels is difficult to be predicted considering theories; therefore, experimental methods able to estimate the properties at the interface in real time and during the operational regime are amenable. Here, we propose to use an experimental setup to evaluate the effective dynamics of solvents inside PDMS microchannels. The influence of the solvent properties as well as of the channel wall’s wettability on the fluid movements was evaluated. Modification of the channel properties was achieved by introducing Teflon coatings that allow producing stable hydrophobic microchannel walls. The results were fitted according to Washburn-type power-law and compared with theoretical calculations of the parameter β that expresses the dependence of capillary dynamics on surface tension γ, liquid viscosity η, contact angles θ and the hydraulic radius R _H. A comparison between the calculated and the experimental values reveled that parameters other than the contemplated ones influenced the measurements. The main parameter that affects the flow of solvents such as water, methanol ethanol, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile and acetone was found to be the γ/η ratio. Considering these results, the investigation tool described here is believed to be promising to predict the dynamics of common organic solvents inside integrated functional fluidic devices and to accurately control solvent flow, particularly in capillary-driven pumpless systems, a basic requirement for widening the application range of PDMS lab-on-chip devices.     

Finite-size effects in surface tension: Thermodynamics and the Gaussian interface model

It has been suggested by Kayser that finite-size effects associated with capillary waves might play a significant role in some surface tension measurements; for capillary rise between plates a distance D apart, an effect varying as 1/D and apparently observable in measurements, was proposed. In reconsidering this problem, one must analyze the thermodynamics of finite-size corrections to surface tension. In particular, one sees that capillary rise between plates does not measure the interfacial free energy density but, rather, a derivative of the interfacial free energy with respect to a system dimension. The quantity needed to draw definite conclusions, the finite-size residual free energy, can be calculated within the harmonic or Gaussian capillary wave model in d spatial dimensions with the aid of Poisson summation techniques and should yield the correct leading asymptotic behavior. For d=3 and experimentally relevant parameter values, the results are independent of the short-wavelength cutoff needed in the model and can be checked against the theory of conformai covariance at two-dimensional critical points. It is found that the finite-size effects in capillary-rise measurements of surface tension vary as 1/D ² (with a universal coefficient) but are too small to be seen in current experiments.Invited paper presented at the Tenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 20–23, 1988, Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.A.     

Resistant starch formation during baking -effect of baking time and temperature and variations in the recipe

Summary The dietary fibre content in white wheat bread, measured with an enzymatic, gravimetric method, was almost 20% higher than in the corresponding flour. The increment was largely explained by the formation of resistant starch, i.e. starch available to amyloglucosidase only after solubilization with 2m-KOH. The resistant starch was formed in the oven or upon cooling of the finished bread. The water content in the dough seemed to influence the extent of the resistant starch formation, whereas changes in the fat content had no effect. The results indicate that the resistant starch might be hard retrograded starch, possibly amylose.

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Bildung von resistenter Stärke während des Backens in Abhängigkeit von Backzeit, Backtemperatur und Rezeptvariationen

Zusammenfassung Die Menge an Ballaststoffen, die nach einer enzymatisch-gravimetrischen Methode bestimmt wurde, war in weißem Weizenbrot fast 20% höher als in dem entsprechendem Mehl. Die Erhöhung konnte zum großen Teil auf die Bildung von resistenter Stärke zurückgeführt werden, d. h. auf eine Stärkefraktion, die nur nach Auflösung mit 2m-KOH für Amyloglucosidase zugänglich ist. Die resistente Stärke wird während des Backens oder während der Abkühlung des Brotes gebildet, und die Menge scheint vom Wassergehalt des Teiges, aber nicht vom Fettgehalt abhängig zu sein. Die Resultate dieser Untersuchung weisen darauf hin, daß die resistente Stärke retrogradierte Stärke, möglicherweise Amylose, ist.

     

Novel (Phenothiazinyl)Vinyl-Pyridinium Dyes and Their Potential Applications as Cellular Staining Agents

We report here the synthesis and structural characterization of novel cationic (phenothiazinyl)vinyl-pyridinium (PVP) dyes, together with optical (absorption/emission) properties and their potential applicability as fluorescent labels. Convective heating, ultrasound irradiation and mechanochemical synthesis were considered as alternative synthetic methodologies proficient for overcoming drawbacks such as long reaction time, nonsatisfactory yields or solvent requirements in the synthesis of novel dye (E)-1-(3-chloropropyl)-4-(2-(10-methyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)vinyl)pyridin-1-ium bromide 3d and its N-alkyl-2-methylpyridinium precursor 1c. The trans geometry of the newly synthesized (E)-4-(2-(7-bromo-10-ethyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)vinyl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodide 3b and (E)-1-methyl-4-(2-(10-methyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)vinyl)pyridin-1-ium tetrafluoroborate 3a′ was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. A negative solvatochromism of the dyes in polar solvents was highlighted by UV-Vis spectroscopy and explanatory insights were supported by molecular modeling which suggested a better stabilization of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO). The photostability of the dye 3b was investigated by irradiation at 365 nm in different solvents, while the steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence properties of dye 3b and 3a′ in solid state were evaluated under one-photon excitation at 485 nm. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the new PVP dyes on B16-F10 melanoma cells was evaluated by WST-1 assay, while their intracellular localization was assessed by epi-fluorescence conventional microscopy imaging as well as one- and two-photon excited confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). PVP dyes displayed low cytotoxicity, good internalization inside melanoma cells and intense fluorescence emission inside the B16-F10 murine melanoma cells, making them suitable staining agents for imaging applications.     

An experimental investigation into soft-pad grinding of wire-sawn silicon wafers

Silicon is the primary semiconductor material used to fabricate microchips. A series of processes are required to manufacture high-quality silicon wafers. Surface grinding is one of the processes used to flatten wire-sawn wafers. A major issue in grinding of wire-sawn wafers is reduction and elimination of wire-sawing induced waviness. Results of finite element analysis have shown that soft-pad grinding is very effective in reducing the waviness. This paper presents an experimental investigation into soft-pad grinding of wire-sawn silicon wafers. Wire-sawn wafers from a same silicon ingot were used for the study to ensure that these wafers have similar waviness. These wafers were ground using two different soft pads. As a comparison, some wafers were also ground on a rigid chuck. Effectiveness of soft-pad grinding in removing waviness has been clearly demonstrated.     

Analysis and tuning of adaptive generalized predictive control

The adaptive Generalized Predictive Controller (Clarke et al., 1987a, b) is capable of controlling plants with variable dead-time, unknown model orders and unstable poles and zeros. This paper shows how the GPC control law can be written in an equivalent general linear transfer function form which simplifies closed-loop (eg. root locus) analysis. Three recommended strategies for selecting the design parameters during the commissioning stage allow the user to adjust the closed-loop speed of response on-line using only a single active tuning parameter. Experimental runs confirm the ability of adaptive GPC to provide a consistent closed-loop response in spite of large process changes.