A helium adsorption pump for temperatures between 0.71 and 1.2 K

The construction and method of working of a helium adsorption pump are described. The flux of helium-2 film can be suppressed by an appropriate construction, which permits it to reach temperatures down to 0.71 K. By total utilization of the pump's cross-section, temperatures from 1.2 K to 0.71 K remain constant for several hours with a precision of 0.001 K

A Case of Argyria, with Deposit of Silver in the Intestines, Liver, Kidneys, and Spleen

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Solving the dilemma of contradictory goals

Coupled problems in engineering inevitably lead to contradictory goals for single quality criteria. Applying numerical optimization to find the best solution requires the definition of an objective function based upon these criteria as a measure of merit for the whole design. It will be shown that the usual approach of a weighted sum is improper and unreliable. Also the consideration of the complete Pareto front is not only no solution to this problem, it usually requires a not maintainable amount of calculations. Therefore, a new approach for the definition of objective functions is proposed, which solves the dilemma of contradictory goals by finding an appropriate compromise based upon the intuition

Älterwerdende und alte Menschen mit geistiger Behinderung. Annäherung an ein diakonisches Aufgabenfeld aus der Sicht der Seelsorge

Abstract liegt vor unter http://www.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/archiv/269

Integrierte e-Learning-Services als Grundlage von qualifiziertem e-Learning an Hochschulen: Das Beispiel Hannover - Braunschweig

Die Anforderungen an Lehrende, die auf qualifizierte Weise e-Learning in ihren Lehr­veranstaltungen einsetzen wollen sind erheblich. Um zu technisch, didaktisch und organisatorisch innovativen Lehr-/Lernszenarien zu gelangen, muss nicht nur der einzelne Lehrende Kompetenzen aufbauen. Auch die mit der Lehre befassten Organisationseinheiten müssen hier Entwicklungen vollziehen. Wie können die Lehrenden und deren institutioneller Hintergrund bei diesen Prozessen unterstützt werden? Im Rahmen eines Förderprogramms des Landes Niedersachsen, dem e-Learning Academic Network (ELAN), haben sich die Technische Universität Braun­schweig, die Universität Hannover und die Medizinische Hochschule Hanno­ver zu einem Netzpiloten zusammengeschlossen. Einen Teil dieses Verbundes bildet das e-Learning Service Team (eST). Der Handlungsansatz des eST zielt sowohl auf die individuelle Kompetenzbildung des einzelnen Lehrenden, unter­stützt organisatorische Veränderungsprozesse und versteht sich selbst als Teil eines hochschulübergreifenden Entwicklungsprozesses, in dem Serviceeinheiten wie das eST komplementäre Aufgaben für die Hochschullehre übernehmen. Grundlage dafür bilden integrierte e-Learning-Services, also die Verknüpfung der verschiedenen Handlungsdimensionen des e-Learnings in einem Angebot, sowie ein prozessorientiertes Beratungsmodell, das Projekte und Organisationseinheiten dabei unterstützt ein so genanntes qualifiziertes eTeaching zu gestalten. 25.02.2007 | Rainer ALBRECHT, Uwe FROMMANN & Thanh-Thu PHAN TAN (Braunschweig, Hannover

Novel Schizophrenia Risk Gene TCF4 Influences Verbal Learning and Memory Functioning in Schizophrenia Patients

Background: Recently, a role of the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) gene in schizophrenia has been reported in a large genome-wide association study. It has been hypothesized that TCF4 affects normal brain development and TCF4 has been related to different forms of neurodevelopmental disorders. Schizophrenia patients exhibit strong impairments of verbal declarative memory (VDM) functions. Thus, we hypothesized that the disease-associated C allele of the rs9960767 polymorphism of the TCF4 gene led to impaired VDM functioning in schizophrenia patients. Method: The TCF4 variant was genotyped in 401 schizophrenia patients. VDM functioning was measured using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Results: Carriers of the C allele were less impaired in recognition compared to those carrying the AA genotype (13.76 vs. 13.06; p = 0.049). Moreover, a trend toward higher scores in patients with the risk allele was found for delayed recall (10.24 vs. 9.41; p = 0.088). The TCF4 genotype did not influence intelligence or RAVLT immediate recall or total verbal learning. Conclusion: VDM function is influenced by the TCF4 gene in schizophrenia patients. However, the elevated risk for schizophrenia is not conferred by TCF4-mediated VDM impairment. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base

Efficacy of Integrated Social Cognitive Remediation vs. Neurocognitive Remediation in Improving Functional Outcome in Schizophrenia: Concept and Design of a Multicenter, Single-Blind RCT (The ISST Study)

Background: Although clinically effective treatment is available for schizophrenia, recovery often is still hampered by persistent poor psychosocial functioning, which in turn is limited by impairments in neurocognition, social cognition, and social behavioral skills. Although cognitive remediation has shown general efficacy in improving cognition and social functioning, effects still need to be improved and replicated in appropriately powered, methodologically rigorous randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Existing evidence indicates that effects can most likely be optimized by combining treatment approaches to simultaneously address both social cognitive and social behavioral processes. Objectives: To assess whether Integrated Social Cognitive and Behavioral Skill Therapy (ISST) ismore efficacious in improving functional outcome in schizophrenia than the active control treatment Neurocognitive Remediation Therapy (NCRT). Methods: The present study is a multicenter, prospective, rater-blinded, two-arm RCT being conducted at six academic study sites in Germany. A sample of 180 at least partly remitted patients with schizophrenia are randomly assigned to either ISST or NCRT. ISST is a compensatory, strategy-based program that targets social cognitive processes and social behavioral skills. NCRT comprisesmainly drill and practice-oriented neurocognitive training. Both treatments consist of 18 sessions over 6 months, and participants are subsequently followed up for another 6 months. The primary outcome is all-cause discontinuation over the 12-month study period; psychosocial functioning, quality of life, neurocognitive and social cognitive performance, and clinical symptoms are assessed as secondary outcomes at baseline before randomization (V1), at the end of the six-month treatment period (V6), and at the six-month follow-up (V12). Discussion: This RCT is part of the German Enhancing Schizophrenia Prevention and Recovery through Innovative Treatments (ESPRIT) research network, which aims at using innovative treatments to enhance prevention and recovery in patients with schizophrenia. Because this study is one of the largest and methodologically most rigorous RCTs on the efficacy of cognitive remediation approaches in schizophrenia, it will not only help to identify the optimal treatment options for improving psychosocial functioning and thus recovery in patients but also allow conclusions to be drawn about factors influencing and mediating the effects of cognitive remediation in these patients

DAOA/G72 predicts the progression of prodromal syndromes to first episode psychosis

The genetic factors determining the progression of prodromal syndromes to first episode schizophrenia have remained enigmatic to date. In a unique prospective multicentre trial, we assessed whether variants at the d-amino acid oxidase activator (DAOA)/G72 locus influence progression to psychosis. Young subjects with a prodromal syndrome were observed prospectively for up to 2 years to assess the incidence of progression to schizophrenia or first episode psychosis. Of the 82 probands with a prodromal syndrome, 21 probands experienced progression to psychosis within the observation period. Assessment of nine common variants in the DAOA/G72 locus yielded two variants with the predictive value for symptom progression: all four probands with the rs1341402 CC genotype developed psychosis compared with 17 out of 78 probands with the TT or CT genotypes (χ2 = 12.348; df = 2; p = 0.002). The relative risk for progression to psychosis was significantly increased in the CC genotype: RR = 4.588 (95% CI = 2.175–4.588). Similarly, for rs778294, 50% of probands with the AA genotype, but only 22% of probands with a GG or GA genotype progressed to psychosis (χ2 = 7.027; df = 2; p = 0.030). Moreover, haplotype analysis revealed a susceptibility haplotype for progression to psychosis. This is one of the first studies to identify a specific genetic factor for the progression of prodromal syndromes to schizophrenia, and further underscores the importance of the DAOA/G72 gene for schizophrenia