Autobiographical memory specificity after manipulating retrieval cues in adults reporting childhood sexual abuse.

Traumatized samples have relative difficulty in generating specific autobiographical memories on a cue word task, compared to nonexposed controls. Simultaneously, trauma is associated with highly specific intrusive trauma memories in day-to-day life. Possibly, day-to-day intrusions and memories generated to cue words rely on different retrieval processes, with the former dependent on close associations between retrieval cues and specific memory representations (direct retrieval), and the latter on iterative retrieval cycles through a hierarchical memory system (generative retrieval). This study investigated this distinction using two versions of the cue word task, designed to promote generative and direct retrieval, respectively, in participants with or without a history of child sexual abuse (CSA). The data demonstrated that CSA participants were less specific than nonabused controls to generative retrieval cues, but this difference disappeared with direct retrieval cues. This interaction was stronger in CSA participants with relatively greater posttraumatic stress and remained significant when participants with past or current major depressive disorder were excluded and also when only those participants with corroborated CSA were included. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ionic autocrosslinking of water-based polymer latices: A new concept of acid–base interaction occurring upon film formation

Latices of the terpolymer styrene/butyl acrylate/acido-basic monomer, the monomer having either a basic chemical group or an acidic chemical group, were separately prepared by free-radical emulsion polymerization using the nonionic surfactant poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) as steric stabilizer. The basic polymer latices were prepared using 1, 3 or 5% of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, whereas the acidic polymer latices were prepared using 1, 3 or 5% of acrylic acid (mol% relative to conventional monomers, styrene and butyl acrylate). Blends of the basic and the acidic polymer latices were prepared by simply mixing equal molar quantities of basic and acidic latices. The resulting blends were stable as the steric stabilization prevented unlike particles from colliding. Upon film formation, coalescence of the particles took place, with formation of ionic clusters due to proton exchange from the acidic monomer units to the basic monomer units of neighbouring unlike particles. This constitutes a reversible ionic crosslinking at the periphery of neighbouring particles, which affects the various film properties to different extents.     

Magnetohydrodynamic waves and coronal seismology: an overview of recent results

Recent observations have revealed that magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves and oscillations are ubiquitous in the solar atmosphere, with a wide range of periods. We give a brief review of some aspects of MHD waves and coronal seismology that have recently been the focus of intense debate or are newly emerging. In particular, we focus on four topics: (i) the current controversy surrounding propagating intensity perturbations along coronal loops, (ii) the interpretation of propagating transverse loop oscillations, (iii) the ongoing search for coronal (torsional) Alfvén waves, and (iv) the rapidly developing topic of quasi-periodic pulsations in solar flares.     

Naming the Unnamable: Socionics or the Sociological Turn of/to Distributed Artificial Intelligence

Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems -     

Nanoparticle layer deposition for plasmonic tuning of microstructured optical fibers

Plasmonic nanoparticles with spectral properties in the UV-to-near-IR range have a large potential for the development of innovative optical devices. Similarly, microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) represent a promising platform technology for fully integrated, next-generation plasmonic devices; therefore, the combination of MOFs and plasmonic nanoparticles would open the way for novel applications, especially in sensing applications. In this Full Paper, a cost-effective, innovative nanoparticle layer deposition (NLD) technique is demonstrated for the preparation of well-defined plasmonic layers of selected particles inside the channels of MOFs. This dynamic chemical deposition method utilizes a combination of microfluidics and self-assembled monolayer (SAM) techniques, leading to a longitudinal homogeneous particle density as long as several meters. By using particles with predefined plasmonic properties, such as the resonance wavelength, fibers with particle-adequate spectral characteristics can be prepared. The application of such fibers for refractive-index sensing yields a sensitivity of about 78 nm per refractive index unit (RIU). These novel, plasmonically tuned optical fibers with freely selected, application-tailored optical properties present extensive possibilities for applications in localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing.     

Modelling the charring behaviour of structural lumber

Charring rates for large‐section timber based on experimental data have been generally established. The established rates may not be appropriately used for the prediction of failure times of lumber members which are small by comparison. It is questionable whether a constant rate can be safely assumed for lumber members since the rate is likely to increase once the centre‐point temperature of the members starts to rise. This paper presents an empirically based model of charring rates for Spruce‐Pine‐Fir (SPF) Machine‐Stress‐Rated (MSR) 2×4 lumber subjected to a constant‐temperature exposure of 500°C, on the basis of test results on 55 specimens. In order that the model can be used with reliability analysis, one of the two model parameters was treated as a Lognormal random variable to explain variations observed in the charring rates. Furthermore, the model has been extended to permit evaluations for other lumber sizes and under exposures such as ASTM E119 fire conditions. The model was compared with existing models and used to predict char data found in the literature. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaktive membrancopolymere auf acrylbasis

The copolymerization of acrylonitrile with maleic anhydride was investigated to synthesize acylic reactive polymers for manufacture of membranes that serve as support for covalent enzyme immobilization. The free-radical copolymer synthesis was carried out in solution (N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMAC), γ-butyrolactone, ethylene carbonate), by precipitation polymerization (dioxane) as well as bulk polymerization. The polymers were characterized using IR spectroscopy, elementary analysis, NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, viscosity measurements, osmometry and potentiometry. The kinetic parameters were followed by dilatometric measurements up to high conversions. The anhydride content in the monomer mixtures showed a significant influence on the rate of polymerization and the molecular weight. With raised concentration of anhydride the polymerization rate and molecular weights decreased. Film forming polymers (M̄_η > 30 000 g/mol) can be obtained by all copolymerization procedures with exception of solution polymerization in DMF and DMAC, respectively. The content of maleic anhydride in the membrane polymers did not exceed 5 mol-%, even though the maleic anhydride content in the monomer mixtures was raised up to the equimolar mixture. Nevertheless, such low maleic anhydride content of prepared membranes is enough for successful enzyme immobilization with amyloglucosidase (copolymer was prepared in γ-butyrolactone, M̄_η = 49 000 g/mol, c = 0,3 mol-%).     

Redefining Hypo- and Hyper-Responding Phenotypes of CFTR Mutants for Understanding and Therapy

Mutations in CFTR cause misfolding and decreased or absent ion-channel function, resulting in the disease Cystic Fibrosis. Fortunately, a triple-modulator combination therapy (Trikafta) has been FDA-approved for 178 mutations, including all patients who have F508del on one allele. That so many CFTR mutants respond well to modulators developed for a single mutation is due to the nature of the folding process of this multidomain protein. We have addressed the question ‘What characterizes the exceptions: the mutants that functionally respond either not or extremely well’. A functional response is the product of the number of CFTR molecules on the cell surface, open probability, and conductivity of the CFTR chloride channel. By combining biosynthetic radiolabeling with protease-susceptibility assays, we have followed CF-causing mutants during the early and late stages of folding in the presence and absence of modulators. Most CFTR mutants showed typical biochemical responses for each modulator, such as a TMD1 conformational change or an increase in (cell-surface) stability, regardless of a functional response. These modulators thus should still be considered for hypo-responder genotypes. Understanding both biochemical and functional phenotypes of outlier mutations will boost our insights into CFTR folding and misfolding, and lead to improved therapeutic strategies.     

Leistungsfähigkeit und Empfindlichkeit der Braunschen Röhre mit doppelter Konzentrierung

Ohne ZusammenfassungHerrn Prof. Rogowski danke ich für die Anregung der Arbeit, der Notgemeinschaft der Deutschen Wissenschaft für ihre Unterstützung.