Does Alcoholics Anonymous Participation Decrease Learned Helplessness and Increase Self-efficacy?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has long been the major treatment of choice in the United States for individuals with alcohol related problems. Research on AA has had methodological problems and there is no clear evidence that AA in and of itself is effective in treating alcohol problems. Treatment studies on alcohol and substance users have found that abstinence self-efficacy and approach coping skills have been related to improved drinking outcomes. Also, depression and alcohol problems have been shown to be highly correlated with each other. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between participation in AA and improvements in abstinence self-efficacy, learned helplessness, and depression. One hundred and four individuals who enrolled in inpatient treatment for alcohol dependence were assessed at admission for depression, self-efficacy, learned helplessness, and alcohol-related problems. These were also assessed at end of treatment and 2 month follow-up along with participation in AA. Minimal findings were found for the impact of AA on any psychosocial variables

Roll-to-Roll nanoimprint lithography of polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes and fouling mitigation effects

Previous research has shown that embossing commercial polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes with sub-micron surface patterns increases the critical flux and reduces the rate of cake layer formation when filtering model solutions. These membranes were created using traditional nanoimprint lithography (NIL), by which a lithographically defined silicon wafer is pressed against a membrane at elevated temperatures and pressures. In order for this technological advance to be translated into commercial application, the embossing must be done using a high-throughput manufacturing method. The focus of ongoing research has been to move the imprinting process into a roll-to-roll process. In this process, the membrane and mold are fed through a pair of rollers, and at the center nip of the rollers, the membrane is pressed into the periodic grooves of the mold. There are two ways of controlling the pressure applied by the rollers. The first is to set a distance between the rollers (roll gap), such that a percent reduction in thickness of the membrane defines pressure. The second is to have a moving roll gap where a constant force is applied to the rollers, thus a constant pressure to membrane. We have found that both methods successfully transfer patterns to the membrane. Preliminary results have shown that pattern transfer can be obtained at room temperatures, with permeance (though somewhat reduced) being retained by the membrane. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Optimization of Electrode Configuration in Surface-Parallel Actuated Deformable Mirrors

Thin, lightweight and low-cost deformable mirrors have been recently proposed, providing a pertinent device for wavefront error correction. We present different approaches to optimize actuator arrangement. The design is optimized according to a given correction requirement, through the number of electrodes, their shape and location. A first method focuses on the compensation of a given optical aberration (astigmatism). A second method directly optimizes the correction of a set of optical modes, taking into account the voltage limitation. We will describe the optimization techniques and give some examples of applications and design performance

Wrinkling of Transversely Loaded Spinning Membranes

Spinning membrane structures provide a mass-efficient solution for large space apertures. This paper presents a detailed study of the wrinkling of spinning circular membranes loaded by transverse, uniform loads. Experimental measurements of the angular velocities at which different membranes become wrinkled, and of the wrinkling mode transitions that occur upon spin down of the membrane, are presented. A theoretical formulation of the problem is presented, from which pairs of critical angular velocities and critical transverse loads are determined. A general stability chart is presented, which identifies the stability limits in terms of only two dimensionless parameters, for any membrane. The transition between bending dominated behavior and in-plane dominated behavior is identified, and it is shown that in the bending-dominated case the critical non-dimensional transverse load is independent from the non-dimensional angular velocity

Quantum Cascade Laser-Based Photoacoustic Spectroscopy for Trace Vapor Detection and Molecular Discrimination

We report on the development of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-scale photoacoustic sensor for the detection of trace gases. A mid-infrared quantum cascade laser (QCL) was used to determine detection limits for acetic acid, acetone, 1,4-dioxane, and vinyl acetate. The source was continuously tunable from 1015 cm−1 to 1240 cm−1, allowing for the collection of photoacoustic vibrational spectra for these gases. Exceptional agreement between the measured photoacoustic spectra and the infrared spectra for acetic acid, acetone, 1,4-dioxane, and vinyl acetate was observed. Partial least-squares (PLS) regression was used to develop an algorithm for classification of these compounds based solely on photoacoustic spectra

Anaphylactic Shock

Anaphylaxis is a life threatening hypersensitivity reaction that can cause shock. Epidemiology studies show anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock is relatively rare, but its incidence is increasing. A review of the pathophysiology of anaphylaxis can provide insight into clinical decisions. Diagnosing anaphylaxis can be difficult as symptoms and history are not always obvious. Diagnostic guidelines provide an objective tool to assess for anaphylaxis. Early intervention during anaphylaxis may prevent development of shock. Management is focused on circulation support with epinephrine and IV fluids, and airway maintenance. Following an acute anaphylactic reaction, patients should be provided with a referral for follow up and educated on avoidance of triggers and use of epinephrine autoinjectors

Clickable polymer ligand-functionalized iron oxide nanocubes: A promising nanoplatform for 'local hot spots' magnetically triggered drug release

Exploiting the local heat on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) to cleave thermal labile bonds represents an interesting approach in the context of remotely triggered drug delivery. Here, taking advantages of a simple and scalable two-step ligand exchange reaction, we have prepared iron oxide nanocubes (IONCs) functionalized with a novel multifunctional polymer ligand having multiple catechol moieties, furfuryl pendants, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) side chains. Catechol groups ensure a strong binding of the polymer ligands to the IONCs surface, while the PEG chains provide good colloidal stability to the polymer-coated IONCs. More importantly, furfuryl pendants on the polymer enable to click the molecules of interest (either maleimide–fluorescein or maleimide–doxorubicin) via a thermal labile Diels–Alder adduct. The resulting IONCs functionalized with a fluorescein/doxorubicin-conjugated polymer ligand exhibit good colloidal stability in buffer saline and serum solution along with outstanding heating performance in aqueous solution or even in viscous media (81% glycerol/water) when exposed to the AMF of clinical use. The release of conjugated bioactive molecules such as fluorescein and doxorubicin could be boosted by applying AMF conditions of clinical use (16 kAm–1 and 110 kHz). It is remarkable that the magnetic hyperthermia-mediated release of the dye/drug falls in the concentration range 1.0–5.0 μM at an IONCs dose as low as 0.5 gFe/L and at no macroscopical temperature change. This local release effect makes this magnetic nanoplatform a potential tool for drug delivery with remote magnetic hyperthermia actuation and with a dose-independent action of MNPs.This work was partially supported by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative training network MSCA-ITN-ETN (HeatNMof project, GA 860942), partially by the AIRC Foundation (AIRC IG-14527 to T.P.), partially by the European Research Council (starting grant ICARO, Contract No. 678109), and partially by ERC proof of concept Hypercube, Contract No. 899661)