Are Treatment Preferences Relevant in Response to Serotonergic Antidepressants and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Depressed Primary Care Patients? Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial Including a Patients' Choice Arm

Background Little is known about the influence of depressed patients' preferences and expectations about treatments upon treatment outcome We investigated whether better clinical outcome in depressed primary care patients is associated with receiving their preferred treatment Methods Within a randomized placebo-controlled single-centre 10-week trial with 5 arms (sertraline, placebo, cognitive-behavioral group therapy, CBT-G, moderated self-help group control, treatment with sertraline or CBT-G according to patients' choice), outcomes for 145 primary care patients with mild-to-moderate depressive disorders according to DSM-IV criteria were investigated Preference for medication versus psychotherapy was assessed at screening using a single item Post-baseline difference scores for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) were used to assess treatment outcome (mixed-model repeated-measures regression analysis) Results Depressed patients receiving their preferred treatment (n = 63), whether sertraline or CBT-G, responded significantly better than those who did not receive their preferred therapy (n = 54, p = 0 001) The difference in outcome between both groups was 8 0 points on the HAMD-17 for psychotherapy and 2 9 points on the HAMD-17 for treatment with antidepressants Results were not explained by differences in depression severity or dropout rates Conclusions Patients' relative preference for medication versus psychotherapy should be considered when offering a treatment because receiving the preferred treatment conveys an additional and clinically relevant benefit (HAMD-17 +2 9 points for drugs, +8 0 points for CBT-G) in outcome Copyright (C) 2010 S Karger AG Base

Trilobite biostratigraphy of the Králův Dvůr Formation (upper Katian, Prague Basin, Czech Republic): global faunal changes or facies-related distribution?

Eight trilobite associations and sub-associations have been distinguished in the late Katian Králův Dvůr Formation. Spatial distribution of these associations reflects lithology but their succession was dictated also by global climatic changes and palaeogeographical positioning. Locally developed “Podolí Ore Horizon” trilobite association contains low-diversity but specific forms showing survivals from the underlying Bohdalec Formation combined with the late Katian taxa (Chlustinia, Duftonia, Onnia, etc.). The Amphitryon – Kloucekia Association is newly established for the lower two thirds of the formation. It is characterized by abundant benthic scavenger-predators accompanied by filter feeders and common pelagic/nektic predators. Within Amphitryon –Kloucekia Association can be distinguished four sub-Association 1) the newly established Onnia ultima sub-Association is characterized by a dominance of Onnia and Flexicalymene; it is developed at the lowermost levels of the formation, 2) the deeper-water Nankinolithus granulatus sub-Association (originally established as horizon), 3) rather shallow-water, brachiopod-dominated Dedzetina-Tretaspis sub-Association with rare trilobites and 4) the trilobite-dominated Tretaspis anderssonni sub-Association (originally horizon). Last three sub-associations are considered as rather facies-related, with limited stratigraphical applicability only. Impure bioclastic limestone below top of the formation contains a rich shallow- and temperate-water Marekolithus kosoviensis Association, which better corresponds with the original horizon concept. This association is dominated by small benthic scavenger-predator trilobites, which are associated by the filter feeder Marekolithus. The Mucronaspis Association of medium-sized scavenger-predators is characteristic for the uppermost portion of formation and persisted till the early onset of the glaciation at the base of Hirnantian. Minute detritus feeders are rare but present in all the above-discussed associations excluding the last one

Electrical Contact Resistance of Large-Area Graphene on Pre-Patterned Cu and Au Electrodes

Contact resistance between electrically connected parts of electronic elements can negatively affect their resulting properties and parameters. The contact resistance is influenced by the physicochemical properties of the connected elements and, in most cases, the lowest possible value is required. The issue of contact resistance is also addressed in connection with the increasingly frequently used carbon allotropes. This work aimed to determine the factors that influence contact resistance between graphene prepared by chemical vapour deposition and pre-patterned Cu and Au electrodes onto which graphene is subsequently transferred. It was found that electrode surface treatment methods affect the resistance between Cu and graphene, where contact resistance varied greatly, with an average of 1.25 ± 1.54 kΩ, whereas for the Au electrodes, the deposition techniques did not influence the resulting contact resistance, which decreased by almost two orders of magnitude compared with the Cu electrodes, to 0.03 ± 0.01 kΩ

Electrical Contact Resistance of Large-Area Graphene on Pre-Patterned Cu and Au Electrodes

Contact resistance between electrically connected parts of electronic elements can negatively affect their resulting properties and parameters. The contact resistance is influenced by the physicochemical properties of the connected elements and, in most cases, the lowest possible value is required. The issue of contact resistance is also addressed in connection with the increasingly frequently used carbon allotropes. This work aimed to determine the factors that influence contact resistance between graphene prepared by chemical vapour deposition and pre-patterned Cu and Au electrodes onto which graphene is subsequently transferred. It was found that electrode surface treatment methods affect the resistance between Cu and graphene, where contact resistance varied greatly, with an average of 1.25 ± 1.54 kΩ, whereas for the Au electrodes, the deposition techniques did not influence the resulting contact resistance, which decreased by almost two orders of magnitude compared with the Cu electrodes, to 0.03 ± 0.01 kΩ.Contact resistance between electrically connected parts of electronic elements can negatively affect their resulting properties and parameters. The contact resistance is influenced by the physicochemical properties of the connected elements and, in most cases, the lowest possible value is required. The issue of contact resistance is also addressed in connection with the increasingly frequently used carbon allotropes. This work aimed to determine the factors that influence contact resistance between graphene prepared by chemical vapour deposition and pre-patterned Cu and Au electrodes onto which graphene is subsequently transferred. It was found that electrode surface treatment methods affect the resistance between Cu and graphene, where contact resistance varied greatly, with an average of 1.25 ± 1.54 kΩ, whereas for the Au electrodes, the deposition techniques did not influence the resulting contact resistance, which decreased by almost two orders of magnitude compared with the Cu electrodes, to 0.03 ± 0.01 kΩ

Cambrian and Ordovician Fossil-Lagerstätten in the Barrandian area

Exceptionally preserved fossils showing typical characters of the so called Konservat-Lagerstätten are shortly mentioned from Cambrian and Ordovician sediments of the Barrandian area. Fossils with well preserved soft parts were ascertained in several different levels of two Cambrian units of the Příbram-Jince Basin as well as in diverse levels of the Skryje-Týřovice Basin. Other exceptionally preserved fossils are shortly discussed from numerous Lower to Upper Ordovician levels of the Prague Basin

Highly Sensitive Room-Temperature Ammonia Sensors Based on Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Modified by PEDOT

An ammonia gas sensor material based on sulfonic functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubesmodified by poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), namely, PEDOT/SWCNTSO3H, was prepared via in situ polymerization. A thin active layer of PEDOT/SWCNT-SO3H was deposited on a polyimide substrate with interdigital electrodes by air-brush spray coating. The morphology of the prepared material was studied by scanning electron microscopy, and the presence of PEDOT in the structure of SWCNT-SO3H was examined with Raman spectroscopy. The obtained results showed that PEDOT was successfully bound to SWCNT-SO3H and that this modification significantly improved the NH3 sensing performance of the sensor. The sensor exhibited a strong response to ammonia (102% at 50 ppm),minimal drift in the electrical resistance during cyclic exposure, and good spontaneous desorption, all at room temperature. In the range from 20 ppm to 100 ppm ammonia, the calibration curve is considered linear, with a sensitivity of a 0.7% resistance change per 1 ppm ammonia. Furthermore, the sensor shows the ability to detect ammonia at sub-ppm concentration, and the response is 4.4% at 300 ppb. With regard to the material structure, the sensing mechanisms of both materials, i.e., PEDOT/SWCNT-SO3H and SWCNT-SO3H, are discussed in the article

One-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of sertraline and cognitive behavior group therapy in depressed primary care patients (MIND study)

Background: The long-term course of symptoms in patients with mild-to-moderate depression is not well understood. A 12-month-follow-up analysis was performed on those participants from a randomized controlled 10-week trial (RCT, MIND-study), who had received either treatment with an antidepressant (sertraline) or a psychotherapeutic intervention (group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)). Methods: The longitudinal interval follow-up evaluation (LIFE) was applied to 77 patients with mild-to moderate depression. The primary outcome was the number of weeks in the one-year follow-up period spent completely recovered from all depressive symptoms. Functional outcome was measured with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. Further outcomes were relapse and remission rates based on weekly psychiatric rating scales (PSR) and the number of weeks in the follow-up period during which patients had a depressive disorder or subthreshold symptoms of depression. Results: Patients with acute treatment (10 weeks) with SSRI and those with acute treatment with CBT (also 10 weeks) did not differ significantly concerning the number of weeks in the follow-up period in which they were completely recovered (primary outcome) (SSRI: 31.6 weeks (standard deviation (SD): 23.7), CBT: 27.8 weeks (SD: 24.3)). Sertraline was superior to CBT regarding GAF scores by trend (p = 0.06). Limitations: The generalizability of the findings is limited by the moderate sample size and missing values (LIFE). Conclusions: Sertraline and group CBT have similar anti-depressive effects in the long-term course of mild-tomoderate depression. Regarding long-term global functioning, sertraline seems to be slightly superior to CBT