High resolution lifetime measurements of the perturbed J’=0 levels of the 1B3u state of pyrazine

The lowest excited singlet 1B3u state of pyrazine is known to be coupled to a number of triplet 3B3u states. Using a strongly collimated molecular beam and a single frequency laser it is shown that the J’=0 of the 000 transition contains at least 36 states. We have individually excited eight of these states and studied its decay. The lifetimes found (typically 450 ns) do not scale with the intensities of the excitation spectrum. This deviation is caused by a nonradiative decay of the zero order 3B3u states. With a simple model it was possible to reconstruct the absorption spectrum, the energies of the zero order states and its coupling strengths. The zero order decay rates of the singlet and triplet states have been determined. The value obtained for the zero order singlet state is 5 MHz; the values for the triplet states range from 0.6 to about 5 MHz

Probability of Major Depression Classification Based on the SCID, CIDI and MINI Diagnostic Interviews : A Synthesis of Three Individual Participant Data Meta-Analyses

Three previous individual participant data meta-analyses (IPDMAs) reported that, compared to the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM (SCID), alternative reference standards, primarily the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), tended to misclassify major depression status, when controlling for depression symptom severity. However, there was an important lack of precision in the results.To compare the odds of the major depression classification based on the SCID, CIDI, and MINI.We included and standardized data from 3 IPDMA databases. For each IPDMA, separately, we fitted binomial generalized linear mixed models to compare the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of major depression classification, controlling for symptom severity and characteristics of participants, and the interaction between interview and symptom severity. Next, we synthesized results using a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects meta-analysis.In total, 69,405 participants (7,574 [11%] with major depression) from 212 studies were included. Controlling for symptom severity and participant characteristics, the MINI (74 studies; 25,749 participants) classified major depression more often than the SCID (108 studies; 21,953 participants; aOR 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.92]). Classification odds for the CIDI (30 studies; 21,703 participants) and the SCID did not differ overall (aOR 1.19; 95% CI 0.79-1.75); however, as screening scores increased, the aOR increased less for the CIDI than the SCID (interaction aOR 0.64; 95% CI 0.52-0.80).Compared to the SCID, the MINI classified major depression more often. The odds of the depression classification with the CIDI increased less as symptom levels increased. Interpretation of research that uses diagnostic interviews to classify depression should consider the interview characteristics

Mikroelektromechanisches Translationsschwingersystem

The system (100) has a micro-electromechanical translation vibrator (110) comprising a primary side (111) in which a tubular acoustic resonator (120) is arranged such that resonance frequency of the acoustic resonator is adapted to a natural frequency of the micro-electromechanical translation vibrator. The acoustic resonator comprises apertures such that the apertures face a swinging member (112) of the micro-electromechanical translation vibrator. The micro-electromechanical translation vibrator is designed to be driven electrostatically, electromagnetically or piezoelectrically. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing a micro-electromechanical translation vibrator system

Resilience in patients and spouses faced with malignant melanoma. A qualitative longitudinal study

Life-threatening diseases like malignant tumours are associated with considerable existential distress. Little is known about the factors that promote resilience within these individuals. This longitudinal qualitative partner study aimed to analyse resilience as per Antonovsky's sense of coherence. Eight patients with malignant melanoma and their partners were interviewed. They were asked about their coping strategies, attitudes towards the meaning of life and their cancer, and comprehension of what is happening to them. The questions were asked shortly after their diagnosis was made and 6 months later. All interviews were audio-taped and later transcribed and analysed according to the method of qualitative content analysis described by P. Mayring. At baseline, the majority of statements made (261; patients = 141/spouses = 120) related to coping/manageability of disease, with only 26 statements (patients = 15/spouses = 11) related to meaning and 127 (patients = 64/spouses = 63) to comprehension. There were no significant differences between the responses of patients and their partners and no significant changes in the number of statements during the 6-month interview. The most significant theme that emerged was manageability of disease, with distraction the most commonly utilised coping skill. The comprehension and meaning themes were far less prevalent. Hence, support should focus on disease and situational manageability

In-vivo serotonin transporter availability and somatization in healthy subjects

Dysregulation of the central serotonergic system is implicated in somatization, which can lead to manifest mental disease. However, neuroimaging studies on serotonin transporter (SERT) availability and somatoform symptoms as assessed by the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R) are sparse and reveal inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to explore for the first time the relationship between SERT and somatoform symptom expression in healthy volunteers including the analysis of the SERT-LPR genotype. Fourteen healthy subjects (age 36.07 ± 7.22 years, 9 females) completed the SCL-90-R, underwent [11C]DASB PET and were genotyped on the same day. SERT binding potentials (BPND) were quantified with the multilinear reference tissue model (MRI coregistration). The BPND of the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) correlated positively with the somatization subscale. The SERT availability of the right OFC correlated significantly with the obsessive–compulsive subscale and the degree of anxiety was associated with the BPND of the right hippocampus. No main genotype effect on regional SERT availability or on the association between SERT BPND and the respective SCL-90-R subscales was observed. Our findings document a positive correlation between frontal SERT availability and the severity of somatoform symptoms prior to the onset of disease