Characterizing luminous efficiency functions for a simulated mesopic night driving task based on reaction time

The objective of this study is to test the luminous efficiency functions V(lambda), V'(lambda), V(10)(lambda) and their linear combinations on the basis of a data set gained from a simulated mesopic night-time driving experiment. Another aim is to provide 'real-world' data for the 'X framework' or 'linear combination model', and to find out its limits in a practical situation. Human performance was measured by the reaction time method. Results show that the single parameter of the linear combination of photopic and scotopic luminous efficiency functions can be determined analytically with little variation for a given mesopic background luminance level and a given visual target colour, but the computation leads to considerable deviations comparing all three target colours (red, green and blue) used in the experiment. The conclusion for the given experimental conditions is that the single parameter of the linear combination model has an increasing deviation for lower background luminance levels.     

Implant wear induces inflammation, but not osteoclastic bone resorption, in RANK(-/-) mice.

Signaling of RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B) through its ligand RANKL appears critical in osteolysis associated with aseptic loosening (AL). The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of RANK in a murine osteolysis model developed in RANK knockout (RANK(-/-)) mice. Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) debris was introduced into established air pouches on RANK(-/-) mice, followed by implantation of calvaria bone from syngeneic littermates. Wild type C57BL/6 (RANK(+/+)) mice injected with either UHMWPE or saline alone were included in this study. Pouch tissues were collected 14 days after UHMWPE inoculation for molecular and histology analysis. Results showed that UHMWPE stimulation induced strong pouch tissue inflammation in RANK(-/-) mice, as manifested by inflammatory cellular infiltration, pouch tissue proliferation, and increased gene expression of IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and RANKL. However, the UHMWPE-induced inflammation in RANK(-/-) mice was not associated with the osteoclastic bone resorption observed in RANK(+/+) mice. In RANK(+/+) mice subjected to UHMWPE stimulation, a large number of TRAP(+) cells were found on the implanted bone surface, where active osteoclastic bone resorption was observed. No TRAP(+) cells were found in UHMWPE-containing pouch tissues of RANK(-/-) mice. Consistent with the lack of osteoclastic activity shown by TRAP staining, no significant UHMWPE particle-induced bone resorption was found in RANK(-/-) mice. A well preserved bone collagen content (Van Gieson staining) and normal plateau surface contour [microcomputed tomography (microCT)] of implanted bone was observed in RANK(-/-) mice subjected to UHMWPE stimulation. In conclusion, this study provides the evidence that UHMWPE particles induce strong inflammatory responses, but not associated with osteoclastic bone resorption in RANK(-/-) mice. This indicates that RANK signaling is essential for UHMWPE particle-induced osteoclastic bone resorption, but does not participate in UHMWPE particle-induced inflammatory response.     

Wirkung und Wirkfaktoren von psychodramatischem Coaching — Eine experimentelle Evaluationsstudie

Zusammenfassung Diese Studie untersucht, wie Erfolg im Einzelcoaching entsteht und was Psychodrama dazu beitragen kann. Dabei werden zun?chst die vier Berner Wirkfaktoren dargestellt, die im Rahmen einer allgemeinen psychologischen Coachingkonzeption die vier m?glichen Erfolgsstrategien darstellen. über Videoauswertung und schriftliche Befragung aller Beteiligten wurden 35 Einzelsitzungen evaluiert. Dabei zeigten sich die vier Wirkfaktoren tats?chlich als elementar in kurz- und mittelfristig erfolgreichen Coachingprozessen. In dem experimentellen Vergleich wurde das psychodramatische Coaching zudem wesentlich besser bewertet als das Vergleichscoaching, was durch den Ressourcen- und Wachstumsfokus sowie die sehr gute Beziehungskompetenz der Psychodramatiker erkl?rt werden kann. Des Weiteren zeigen die Auswertungen, dass ein dosierter und gezielter Einsatz des psychodramatischen Methodenrepertoires fruchtbarer zu sein scheint als der zeitlich umfassende Einsatz des Psychodramas als Hauptinterventionsmethode.

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Summary The present study investigates the process of success development in one-to-one-coaching and examines how the method of psychodrama can contribute to this process. First the four change factors are presented. They represent the four success strategies in a general psychological coaching approach that can be chosen by the coach. Second 35 one-to-one-coaching sessions are evaluated by a video-based rating-system and questionnaires that were filled in by all coaches, clients and employees of the clients. In these analyses the four change factors were shown to be critical for short- and medium-term success. In an experimentally designed assessment the psychodramatic coachings had a considerably better result than the comparative coaching. This outcome could be explained by the focus on resources and growth and the high competence of the psychodramatic coaches to set up an appreciative coaching relationship. The analyses demonstrate furthermore that the well-aimed and specific use of psychodrama methods is more fruitful than its time-extensive use as the main intervention method.

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Peter Behrendt geb. 1977, Dipl. Psych., ausgebildeter Psychodrama-Therapeut und Mediator, seit 2004 freiberuflich Coaching, Moderation sowie Konzeption und Durchführung von Fortbildung und Trainings. Er konzipierte und leitete die Evaluationsstudie, die diesem Artikel zugrunde liegt.     

Perspectives on Health Among Adult Users of Illicit Stimulant Drugs in Rural Ohio

CONTEXT: Although the nonmedical use of stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine is increasingly common in many rural areas of the United States, little is known about the health beliefs of people who use these drugs. PURPOSE: This research describes illicit stimulant drug users' views on health and health-related concepts that may affect their utilization of health care services. METHODS: A respondent-driven sampling plan was used to recruit 249 not-in-treatment, nonmedical stimulant drug users who were residing in 3 rural counties in west central Ohio. A structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers was used to collect information on a range of topics, including current drug use, self-reported health status, perceived need for substance abuse treatment, and beliefs about health and health services. FINDINGS: Participants reported using a wide variety of drugs nonmedically, some by injection. Alcohol and marijuana were the most commonly used drugs in the 30 days prior to the interview. Powder cocaine was used by 72.3% of the sample, crack by 68.3%, and methamphetamine by 29.7%. Fair or poor health status was reported by 41.3% of the participants. Only 20.9% of the sample felt they needed drug abuse treatment. Less than one third of the sample reported that they would feel comfortable talking to a physician about their drug use, and 65.1% said they preferred taking care of their problems without getting professional help. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulant drug users in rural Ohio are involved with a range of substances and hold health beliefs that may impede health services utilization.     

Cutaneous plasmacytosis associated with lung and anal carcinomas

Cutaneous plasmacytosis is a rare disorder characterized by a benign proliferation of mature plasma cells that appears as multiple dark-brown to purplish skin lesions, often associated with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia. We present the case of a 55-year-old Caucasian man who suffered from a cutaneous plasmacytosis associated with two different carcinomas. Cutaneous plasmacytosis seems to be a reactive process because most cases reported are not associated with any apparent underlying disease. Nevertheless, because few reported cases were associated with malignancies, screening of additional neoplasms would be justified.     

Modern wound dressings: Making and properties. II. Wound dressings containing immobilized proteolytic enzymes (a review)

Published data devoted to making and characterization of the properties of polymeric wound dressings with proteolytic action are reviewed. These data are indicative of individual dependence of the physicochemical properties, activity, and stability of each particular enzyme on the type of polymer matrix and the method of immobilization. In order to obtain wound dressings, which are active in physiological medium and retain their activity upon sterilization, it is necessary to optimize the composition and characteristics of a polymer matrix and the enzyme included into its structure. __________ Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 40, No. 8, pp. 24–28, August, 2006.