Book Reviews

Egon Matijević i Mirko Kesler: Kemija za VII. razred gimnazije. Zagreb 1953. (Školska knjiga) [K. Schulz] Kemijski koledar. Ljubljana 1953. (Slovensko kemijsko društvo) [K. Schulz] Les Proteines. Raports et discussions. lnstitut International de Chimie Solvay. Neuvieme Conseil de Chimie. Bruxelles 1953 [M. Piantanida

Book Reviews

Egon Matijević i Mirko Kesler: Kemija za VII. razred gimnazije. Zagreb 1953. (Školska knjiga) [K. Schulz] Kemijski koledar. Ljubljana 1953. (Slovensko kemijsko društvo) [K. Schulz] Les Proteines. Raports et discussions. lnstitut International de Chimie Solvay. Neuvieme Conseil de Chimie. Bruxelles 1953 [M. Piantanida

Preliminary reliability and validity of the DMRS-SR-30, a novel self-report measure based on the defense mechanisms rating scales

Defense mechanisms are psychological factors that influence emotional distress and quality of life. There are a number of measures assessing the construct of defense mechanisms, but only few available instruments reflect the gold-standard theoretical hierarchical organization of defenses. We report on the development of a novel 30 item self-report questionnaire, the DMRS-SR-30, based on the parent instrument, the Defense Mechanism Rating Scales (DMRS). This study tested preliminary reliability and validity of the Italian version of the DMRS-SR-30. We first extracted 30 items from the DMRS Q-sort version (DMRS-Q) and adapted them for a self-reported format. We then applied the DMRS quantitative scoring algorithms to provide proportional scores for the 28 individual defenses and summary scores for seven defense levels and overall defensive functioning (ODF) scores. A dynamic interview was used for assessing participant’s defense mechanisms with the observer-rated DMRS and DMRS-Q. We examined internal consistency of the scales along with criterion, concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity among participants (N = 94) who completed the DMRS-SR-30, SCL-90, BDI, and IES-R. Results showed very good internal consistency for ODF (Cronbach’s alpha =.890) and the high adaptive defense level, whereas some subscales with few items had lower values. Correlation analyses between DMRS-SR-30 and the two DMRS-based observer-rated measures showed very good criterion and concurrent validity for ODF and moderate to high for defense levels subscales. Correlations between the DMRS-SR-30 ODF and SCL-90 GSI, BDI and IES=R (r = −.456, r= −.540, r = −.402, respectively, all p <.001), indicated good convergent validity. Despite the well-known limitations of self-report methods of psychodynamic phenomena, self-report measures are highly practicable for assessing large samples. The DMRS-SR-30 is the first self-assessed measure describing the whole hierarchy of 28 defense mechanisms and providing scores for ODF, defensive categories, defense levels, and individual defenses. Preliminary examination of the Italian version of the DMRS-SR-30 showed promising results of internal consistency, criterion and concurrent validity, and convergent validity and of the measure. Further validation is needed to confirm these findings and explore other aspects of validity and reliability

Unique Aggregation of Sterigmatocystin in Water Yields Strong and Specific Circular Dichroism Response Allowing Highly Sensitive and Selective Monitoring of Bio-Relevant Interactions

We demonstrated the hitherto unknown property of the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin (STC) to provide homogeneous solutions in aqueous medium by forming a unique aggregate type (not formed by analogous aflatoxins), characterized by exceptionally strong circular dichroism (CD) bands in the 300-400 nm range. Results showed that these CD bands do not originate from intrinsic STC chirality but are a specific property of a peculiar aggregation process similar to psi-DNA CD response. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments revealed a fine fiber network resembling a supramolecular gel structure with helical fibers. Thermodynamic studies of aggregates by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed high reversibility of the dominant aggregation process. We demonstrated that the novel STC psi-CD band at 345 nm could be applied at biorelevant conditions (100 nanomolar concentration) and even in marine-salt content conditions for specific and quantitative monitoring of STC. Also, we showed that STC strongly non-covalently interacts with ds-DNA with likely toxic effects, thus contrary to the previous belief requiring prior enzyme epoxidation

Cohexisting Medullary and Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Purpose: Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) and medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) have always been considered different in terms of their incidence rates, cell origins, and histopathological features. Simultaneous occurrence of both disease entities is very rare. Methods: We describe a series of cases with simultaneous MTC and PTC occurrences in the thyroid gland. Results: From 2,897 patients (mean age, 49.2±12.5; 81% women) who underwent thyroidectomy for cancer between 2000 and 2015, we reviewed 11 cases of simultaneous occurrence of MTCs and PTCs. Multifocal PTC with simultaneous MTC was detected in 5 of the 11 cases (45%). Of these PTC patients, 2 had 2 foci, 2 had 3 foci, and 1 had 4 foci. There was 1 case of multifocal MTC with solitary PTC. One patient presented with “composite thyroid carcinoma” with mixed features of MTCs and PTCs. Eight patients (72%) presented an association with diffuse lymphocytic thyroiditis. The sizes of the tumors were 1.95±0.23 cm vs. 1.20±0.20 cm for PTCs and MTCs, respectively (P=0.531). The prevalence of extrathyroidal extension was 33.1% vs. 30.2% for PTCs and MTCs, respectively (P=0.282). All patients underwent total thyroidectomy and central neck node dissection. Radio iodine was delivered to 44% of patients. Follow-up review revealed 9 disease-free patients and 1 with local neck recurrence, while 1 patient died due to non-thyroid reasons. Conclusion: There are only 30 reports describing a total of 50 cases in the English literature regarding concurrent PTC and MTC in the same gland. This study represents one of the largest case series. Whether the incidence of another cancer in these patients is coincidental, or due to the possible activation of a common tumorigenic pathway for both follicular and parafollicular thyroid cells, remains to be elucidated

Comprehensive study of micro-seismicity by using an automatic monitoring platform

A modern digital seismic network, with many stations optimally distributed on the earthquake causative seismic zone, enables detection of very low magnitude earthquakes and determination of their source parameters. It is essential to associate to such kind of networks procedures to analyze the huge amount of continuously recorded data for monitoring the space-time-magnitude evolution of natural and/or induced seismicity. Hence, the demand for near-real-time, automated data collection and analysis procedures for assisting seismic network operators in carrying out microearthquake monitoring is growing. In response to this need, we designed a computational software platform, TREMOR, for fast and reliable detection and characterization of seismicity recorded by a dense local seismic network. TREMOR integrates different open-source seismological algorithms for earthquake signal detection, location, and source characterizations in a fully automatic workflow. We applied the platform in play-back mode to the continuous waveform data recorded during 1 month at the Japanese Hi-net seismic network in the Nagano region (Japan) and compared the resulting catalog with the Japan Meteorological Agency bulletin in terms of number of detections, location pattern and magnitudes. The results show that the completeness magnitude of the new seismic catalog decreased by 0.35 units of the local magnitude scale and consequently the number of events increased by about 60% with respect to the available catalog. Moreover, the fault plane solutions resulted coherent with the stress regime of the region, and the Vp/Vs ratio well delineated the main structural features of the area. According to our results, TREMOR has shown to be a valid tool for investigating and studying earthquakes, especially to identify and monitor natural or induced micro-seismicity

Secondary students' values and perceptions of science-related careers: responses to vignette-based scenarios

There has been concern about the attractiveness of science-based careers to many adolescent learners, and it has been suggested that school science may not always recognise or engage personal values that are important to young people in making life choices. The present study discusses interview comments made by upper secondary level students in England when 15 young people were asked to give their personal responses to brief vignettes describing scientific careers. Using an interview-about-scenarios approach, the students were asked about whether they would feel comfortable working in the scientific careers represented. The career areas were purposefully selected because they might be considered to potentially raise issues in relation to personal values or commitments that some students might hold. A range of student perceptions relating to the mooted careers were elicited (positive, negative and indifferent), but all of the participants raised issues that impacted on the acceptability or attractiveness of at least one of the mooted scientific careers, in terms of aspects of their own personal beliefs and values systems. It is recommended that teachers and career advisors should be aware of the range of value-related considerations that influence student views of science-related careers and should consider exploring aspects of science-based careers that link to values commonly shared by young people. This exploratory study also offers indications for directions for further research exploring how learners' value systems impact upon their perceptions of science and scientific work