Repression, accessibility, and the translation of private experience.

This article explores two underlying assumptions of the structural deficits approach to psychoanalytic psychotherapy (e.g., Gedo, 1984; Kohut, 1984); (a) that the analyst must gain a knowledge of the patient's intrapsychic capacities through empathetic processes, and (b) that inaccessible memories are split off or repressed from expression within the analytic hour because the patient lacks the adequate intrapsychic capacities and structures to tolerate their associated affects. These assumptions are discussed within the context of contemporary views of multiple modes or forms of memory, repression, and the question of accessibility. It is concluded that the mechanisms of repression can operate at the stages of initial encoding as well as the retrieval stage and, consequently, that traumatic memory contents appearing to be relatively inaccessible may be so (a) because of active repression at the time of retrieval or (b) because a minimal number of associative connections have been established with other contents in memory. Thus, a greater portion of private experience is preconsciously available than would be suggested by the deficits approach. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-contained, fully integrated biochip for sample preparation, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and DNA microarray detection

A fully integrated biochip device that consists of microfluidic mixers, valves, pumps, channels, chambers, heaters, and DNA microarray sensors was developed to perform DNA analysis of complex biological sample solutions. Sample preparation (including magnetic bead-based cell capture, cell preconcentration and purification, and cell lysis), polymerase chain reaction, DNA hybridization, and electrochemical detection were performed in this fully automated and miniature device. Cavitation microstreaming was implemented to enhance target cell capture from whole blood samples using immunomagnetic beads and accelerate DNA hybridization reaction. Thermally actuated paraffin-based microvalves were developed to regulate flows. Electrochemical pumps and thermopneumatic pumps were integrated on the chip to provide pumping of liquid solutions. The device is completely self-contained: no external pressure sources, fluid storage, mechanical pumps, or valves are necessary for fluid manipulation, thus eliminating possible sample contamination and simplifying device operation. Pathogenic bacteria detection from approximately milliliters of whole blood samples and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis directly from diluted blood were demonstrated. The device provides a cost-effective solution to direct sample-to-answer genetic analysis and thus has a potential impact in the fields of point-of-care genetic analysis, environmental testing, and biological warfare agent detection.     

Postdisaster psychological intervention since 9/11.

A wealth of research and experience after 9/11 has led to the development of evidence-based and evidence-informed guidelines and strategies to support the design and implementation of public mental health programs after terrorism and disaster. This article reviews advances that have been made in a variety of areas, including development of improved metrics and methodologies for conducting needs assessment, screening, surveillance, and program evaluation; clarification of risk and resilience factors as these relate to varying outcome trajectories for survivors and inform interventions; development and implementation of evidence-based and evidence-informed early, midterm, and late interventions for children, adults, and families; adaptation of interventions for cultural, ethnic, and minority groups; improvement in strategies to expand access to postdisaster mental health services; and enhancement of training methods and platforms for workforce development among psychologists, paraprofessionals, and other disaster responders. Continuing improvement of psychologists' national capacity to respond to catastrophic events will require more systematic research to strengthen the evidence base for postdisaster screening and interventions and effective methods and platforms for training. Policy decisions are clearly needed that enhance federal funding to increase availability and access to services, especially for longer term care. Traumatic bereavement represents a critical area for future research, as much needs to be done to clarify issues related to reactions and adaptation to a traumatic death. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cathode-luminescence from extrinsic impurities in bundles of carbon nanotubes: a possible role

Luminescence spectra obtained by electron bombardment of carbon nanotubes bundles show an UV signal centered at about 380 nm. We show that these transitions are extrinsic to nanotubes, in the sense that they are not linked to any carbon compound or structure, but are caused by the residual catalyst material used in the growth process. A possible role of such luminescence attributable to impurities is also discussed. In fact our luminescence measurements, in association with laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), permit us to assign these spectral bands to Zn and Al oxides. Our conclusions, supported by data in literature, and the comparison with the quantitative results obtained by LA-ICP-MS spectrometry (which detects ppm) allows us to define cathode-luminescence analysis as a good technique to control cleanness and purity of carbon nanotube samples.     

Prospective Patterns of Resilience and Maladjustment During Widowhood.

Using prospective longitudinal data on an older sample beginning prior to the death of a spouse, G. A. Bonanno et al. (2002) distinguished 5 unique trajectories of bereavement outcome: common grief, chronic grief, chronic depression, depression followed by improvement, and resilience. These trajectories having been identified, the aims of the current study were to examine differences in how respondents in each group reacted to and processed the loss. Specific hypotheses were tested regarding differences in coping, meaning making, context, and representations of the lost relationship. Results suggest that chronic grief stems from the upheaval surrounding the loss of a healthy spouse, whereas chronic depression results from more enduring emotional difficulties that are exacerbated by the loss. Both the resilient and the depressed-improved groups showed remarkably healthy profiles and relatively little evidence of either struggling with or denying/avoiding the loss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anticardiolipin antibodies in hemodialysis patients and in renal transplant recipients: prevalence and significance

Increased anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) serum levels have been recently described in haemodialysis patients and in renal transplant recipients, with a prevalence ranging from 4.8 to 46.4%. The causes and the clinical significance of aCL positivity in these patients are uncertain. We measured IgG- and IgM-aCL serum levels in 61 haemodialysis patients, in 14 renal transplant recipients and in 38 healthy controls. Increased levels of IgG-aCL were found in 4 haemodialysis patients (6.55%), in 2 transplant patients (14%) and in 2 of the healthy controls (5.26%). IgM-aCL serum levels were normal in all the patients. After one year of follow-up, no vascular events have been observed in aCL positive patients. It is probable that the presence of aCL in the serum of patients with end-stage renal disease is only an epiphenomenon and does not play a pathogenetic role.     

Respiratory optimized data selection for more resilient self-navigated whole-heart coronary MR angiography

Objectives

Our objective was to test a data-exclusion strategy for respiratory motion suppression by retrospectively eliminating data acquired at extreme respiratory positions for improved coronary vessel sharpness (VS) of 1-D self-navigated 3-D radial whole-heart coronary angiography acquisitions.

Materials and methods

3-D radial self-navigated acquisitions were performed on a 1.5T scanner in volunteers during free-breathing (n = 8), in coached volunteers (n = 13) who were asked to breathe in a controlled manner to mimic cardiovascular patients presenting with Cheyne-Stokes breathing, and in free-breathing patients (n = 20). Data collected during large respiratory excursions were gradually excluded retrospectively from the reconstruction yielding 14 data sets per subject on average. The impact on VS, blood and myocardium signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise was measured. From these results, two retrospective gating strategies were defined for the k-line elimination procedure and tested in all groups.

Results

Maximum right coronary artery VS improvement was +7.4 and +2.7% in coached volunteers and patients (P < 0.0001 for both), respectively, and 1.6% for the free-breathing volunteers (P = 0.13). The first gating strategy was defined as a fixed undersampling factor of 5 compared to a fully sampled 3-D radial acquisition, yielding significant VS improvement in coached volunteers and patients while myocardial signal-to-noise decreased in these. The second strategy was defined as a fixed gating window of 5.7 mm, leading to similar improvements.

Conclusion

The presented strategies improve image quality of self-navigated acquisitions by retrospectively excluding data collected during end-inspiration.

     

Integration of a Chemical‐Responsive Hydrogel into a Porous Silicon Photonic Sensor for Visual Colorimetric Readout

The incorporation of a chemo‐responsive hydrogel into a 1D photonic porous silicon (PSi) transducer is demonstrated. A versatile hydrogel backbone is designed via the synthesis of an amine‐functionalized polyacrylamide copolymer where further amine‐specific biochemical reactions can enable control of cross‐links between copolymer chains based on complementary target–probe systems. As an initial demonstration, the incorporation of disulfide chemistry to control cross‐linking of this hydrogel system within a PSi Bragg mirror sensor is reported. Direct optical monitoring of a characteristic peak in the white light reflectivity spectrum of the incorporated PSi Bragg mirror facilitates real‐time detection of the hydrogel dissolution in response to the target analyte (reducing agent) over a timescale of minutes. The hybrid sensor response characteristics are shown to systematically depend on hydrogel cross‐linking density and applied target analyte concentration. Additionally, effects due to responsive hydrogel confinement in a porous template are shown to depend on pore size and architecture of the PSi transducer substrate. Sufficient copolymer and water is removed from the PSi transducer upon dissolution and drying of the hydrogel to induce color changes that can be detected by the unaided eye. This highlights the potential for future development for point‐of‐care diagnostic biosensing.     

Milk quality as affected by grazing time of day in Mediterranean goats

We evaluated the effect of grazing time of day on goat milk chemical composition, renneting properties and milk fatty acid profile in a Mediterranean grazing system. Sixteen lactating Girgentana goats were divided into two experimental groups and housed in individual pens, where they received 500 g/d of barley grain. For 5 weeks the two groups were left to graze in two fenced plots on a ryegrass sward as follows: morning group (AM), from 9.00 to 13.00; afternoon group (PM), from 12.00 to 16.00. In selected herbage, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) increased in the afternoon (204 v. 174 g/kg dry matter, DM; P=0.01), whereas crude protein (CP) and linolenic acid decreased (respectively, 16.7 v. 19.8% DM; P<0.01 and 26.8 v. 30.4 g/kg DM; P<0.01). Pasture dry matter intake (DMI) was significantly higher in the afternoon (0.82 v. 0.75 kg/d; P=0.026). Fat corrected milk production (FCM), milk fat and lactose content were not affected by treatment, whereas protein and titrable acidity ( degrees SH) increased in the PM group (respectively 3.56 v. 3.42%; P=0.01; 3.55 v. 3.22 degrees SH/50 ml; P=0.01). In contrast, milk urea content was significantly higher in the AM group (381 v. 358 mg/l; P=0.037). The results seem to indicate that an improvement in ruminal efficiency might be obtained by shifting grazing time from morning to afternoon, as a consequence of a more balanced ratio between nitrogenous compounds and sugars. Indeed, the higher linolenic acid and the lower conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (respectively 1.02 v. 0.90, P=0.037; 0.71 v. 0.81% of total fatty acids, P=0.022) in the milk of goats grazing in the afternoon seem to indicate a reduced biohydrogenation activity in the PM group.