Experimentally induced states of mind determine abstinent smokers’ level of craving in reaction to smoking-cues

Introduction. The present study aims to contribute to our knowledge on the causes of variations in experienced craving of (ex)smokers. The general idea is tested that when (ex)smokers are exposed to a smoking-cue, their level of craving is determined by the momentary state of mind through which the smoking-cue is interpreted. Methods. A cue-reactivity paradigm in temporary abstinent smokers is applied to trigger craving responses under different experimentally induced states of mind. Craving is assessed with a three-item self-report measure. In study 1 (N= 120) a self-affirmation procedure is applied right before abstinent smokers were exposed to their own smoking paraphernalia. In study 2 (N=140) abstinent smokers received bogus feedback inducing a high or low self-efficacy and strong or weak positive outcome expectations. Results. Study 1 showed a significant interaction: When involvement was high, self-affirmation increased the level of craving but when involvement was low self-affirmation lowered craving. Study 2 also showed a significant interaction: Only when the positive outcome expectation of smoking were high, self-efficacy lowered the level of craving. All analyses were controlled for number of cigarettes smoked a day and number of past quit attempts. Conclusions. The present studies provide experimental evidence that levels of craving can be determined by momentary induced states of mind. This theoretical perspective can be integrated in existing conditioning and social cognitive learning perspectives on craving and substance use

Monitoring corrosion-induced concrete cracking adjacent to the steel-concrete interface

Substantial research effort has been devoted on linking corrosion-induced cracking of concrete with the internal corrosion damage level. Still, numerical models of the corrosion and cracking process require internal parameters, that cannot be directly evaluated from experimental data. Therefore, this study provides a novel experimental method for monitoring the effects of steel corrosion adjacent to the steel-concrete interface. This non-destructive method is suited for small-scale laboratory-made specimen, and was designed to provide missing information required for subsequent calibration of numerical models. Hollow steel bars were cast into concrete and subjected to accelerated corrosion using the impressed current technique. The deformations of the hollow steel bars were measured using distributed strain sensing in an optical fibre, attached to the inner surface of the hollow steel bars. After the corrosion period, X-ray Computed Tomography scans were performed to evaluate concrete cracking and corrosion level. The results reveal a non-uniform distribution of strain around the perimeter of the steel, indicating a non-uniform radial stress distribution. The non-uniformity correlated very well with the position of the corrosion-induced cracks; with extension hoop strains in the steel at the location of these cracks and contraction hoop strains in between. Further, the corrosion level varied around the perimeter, with higher values near cracks. The combination of non-destructive monitoring techniques used in this study on small-scale laboratory-made specimens show great potential to reveal new insights on how the corrosion pattern, corrosion-induced cracking of the concrete cover and stress (indirectly measured through the strain in the steel) interact throughout the corrosion process

School Absenteeism as a Perpetuating Factor of Functional Somatic Symptoms in Adolescents:The TRAILS Study

Objective To examine whether school absenteeism is a perpetuating factor of functional somatic symptoms and whether this holds true for bullied adolescents. Study design This study is part of the longitudinal population-based study Tracking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey. Data from assessment wave 2 (n = 2149; 51.0% girls; mean age = 13.65, SD = 0.53) and assessment wave 3 (n = 1816; 53.3% girls; mean age = 16.25, SD = 0.72) were used. Peer victimization was assessed by peer nominations, school absenteeism by both parent and teacher reports, and functional somatic symptoms with the Youth Self-Report. Results With structural equation modeling, school absenteeism at the second wave, adjusted for functional somatic symptoms at the second wave, was revealed to predict functional somatic symptoms at the third wave in the entire cohort (beta = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02-0.22), but not in the subgroup of bullied adolescents (beta = -0.13; 95% CI, -0.62--0.26). However, the difference between bullied and unbullied adolescents did not reach significance. Conclusion This study provides evidence that school absenteeism is a perpetuating factor of functional somatic symptoms in adolescents. A clinical intervention study is necessary to examine whether preventing school absenteeism truly helps to reduce functional somatic symptoms in adolescents. (J Pediatr 2011;159:988-93)

A two-stage study of steel corrosion and internal cracking revealed by multimodal tomography

Modeling of corrosion-induced cracking is limited by lacking knowledge on the behavior of corrosion products. In this work, the corrosion and cracking processes were experimentally investigated in 3D at two different stages. The processes were measured at micro-structural scale, applying nondestructive neutron and X-ray computed tomography in two scans at different stages in the corrosion process. A method to evaluate the average volumetric strain of the compressed corrosion layer was proposed and displacements in the concrete matrix were measured. Strain localization revealed cracks not directly visible in the images. Multimodal tomography demonstrated to be an effective method for investigating steel corrosion in reinforced concrete

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the lytic transglycosylase MltA from Escherichia coli

The lytic transglycosylase MltA from Escherichia coli with its membrane anchor and signal sequence deleted has been purified to homogeneity by means of cation-exchange chromatography. The enzyme was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belong to space group P3(1)21 or P3(2)21, with unit-cell parameters a=b=103.70, c=109.84 Angstrom and one molecule per asymmetric unit. Crystals diffract to 2.2 Angstrom resolution on a synchrotron-radiation source

Green Walls for a Restorative Classroom Environment:A Controlled Evaluation Study

In the present research, we evaluated the restorative impacts of green walls with living plants in classrooms of two elementary schools using a controlled, prospective design with baseline measurements and follow-ups at 2 and 4 months. At each time of measurement, children's (n = 170, age = 7-10) cognitive performance, well-being, and classroom evaluations were measured with attentional tests and self-report questionnaires. Results show that children in the four classrooms where a green wall was placed, as compared with children in control groups, scored better on a test for selective attention; processing speed was not affected by the green wall. The green wall also positively influenced children's classroom evaluations. There were no measurable effects of the green wall on children's self-reported well-being. The green walls were generally evaluated positively during the two follow-ups. These results provide some of the first empirical support for green walls as a means for restorative classroom design.</p

Greening a Geriatric Ward Reduces Functional Decline in Elderly Patients and is Positively Evaluated by Hospital Staff

This research examined whether greening of a geriatric ward may reduce the hospital-induced decline in the independent functioning of elderly patients as measured by changes from admission to discharge in the KATZ-ADL6 and physician assessments at discharge. Using a quasi-experimental design with 4 months of pre- and post-tests, the functional decline in a sample of 54 hospitalized geriatric patients was found to be lower after greening than before greening for both measures. Moreover, an evaluative survey among 15 staff members showed that they appreciated the greening, and believed it to support patient well-being

Stress reducing effects of real and artificial nature in a hospital waiting room

Objectives: This field study investigated the potential stress-reducing effects of exposure to real or artificial nature on patients in a hospital waiting room. Additionally, it was investigated whether perceived attractiveness of the room could explain these effects. Design: In this between-patients experimental design, patients were exposed to one of the following: real plants, posters of plants, or no nature (control). These conditions were alternately applied to two waiting rooms. Location: The location of this study was two waiting rooms at the Radiology Department of a Dutch hospital. Subjects: The subjects comprised 457 patients (60% female and 40% male) who were mostly scheduled for echocardiogram, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scans, or nuclear research. Results: Patients exposed to real plants, as well as patients exposed to posters of plants, report lower levels of experienced stress compared to the control condition. Further analyses show that these small but significant effects of exposure to nature are partially mediated by the perceived attractiveness of the waiting room. Conclusions: Natural elements in hospital environments have the potential to reduce patients' feelings of stress. By increasing the attractiveness of the waiting room by adding either real plants or posters of plants, hospitals can create a pleasant atmosphere that positively influences patients' well-being