Selbstentzieher/innen von Heroin

Im Rahmen einer detaillierten Untersuchung von fünf Biographien mittels Tiefeninterviews und teilnehmender Beobachtung wurden SelbstentzieherInnen von Heroin danach gefragt, welche Bewältigungsstrategien sie entwickeln und anwenden, um ihr Leben im Kontext von Drogengebrauch, Kontroll- und Ausstiegsversuchen in den Griff zu. Es bedarf einer Vielzahl von Bewältigungstrategien, die je nach konkreter Ausformulierung des (Abstinenz-)Ziels entworfen, erprobt, durchgehalten oder verworfen werden. Zunächst müssen sie den akuten Entzug bewältigen helfen. Danach müssen sie zur Erhaltung der Abstinenz oder eines gemäßigten Konsums dienen. Scheitert der/die Drogenabhängige mit den gewählten Strategien, kommt es zum Rückfall, der wiederum spezieller Methoden der Bewältigung bedarf. All dies muss von SelbstentzieherIinnen im 'trial and error'-Verfahren erlernt bzw. erfahren werden. In der Arbeit werden die Copingstrategien unterteilt in: Evasive Bewältigungsstrategien Konzentrative Bewältigungsstrategien Aktivierung von Ängstenn Konfrontative Bewältigungsstrategien Diskursive Bewältigungsstrategien Einsichten, die das Handeln beeinflussenn Als Ergebnis wird gezeigt, dass die Drogeneinstiegsgründe für den/die Einzelne(-n) entweder mehr zu sozialen oder individuellen Motiven tendieren und sich diese Motivationslage für den Drogenausstieg wiederholt

ERP Effects Prior to Performance Errors in Musicians Indicate Fast Monitoring Processes

Background One central question in the context of motor control and action monitoring is at what point in time errors can be detected. Previous electrophysiological studies investigating this issue focused on brain potentials elicited after erroneous responses, mainly in simple speeded response tasks. In the present study, we investigated brain potentials before the commission of errors in a natural and complex situation. Methodology/Principal Findings Expert pianists bimanually played scales and patterns while the electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were computed for correct and incorrect performances. Results revealed differences already 100 ms prior to the onset of a note (i.e., prior to auditory feedback). We further observed that erroneous keystrokes were delayed in time and pressed more slowly. Conclusions Our data reveal neural mechanisms in musicians that are able to detect errors prior to the execution of erroneous movements. The underlying mechanism probably relies on predictive control processes that compare the predicted outcome of an action with the action goal

Time-dependent absorption of very high-energy gamma-rays from the Galactic center by pair-production

Very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays have been detected from the direction of the Galactic center. The H.E.S.S. Cherenkov telescopes have located this gamma-ray source with a preliminary position uncertainty of 8.5" per axis (6" statistic + 6" sytematic per axis). Within the uncertainty region several possible counterpart candidates exist: the Super Massive Black Hole Sgr A*, the Pulsar Wind Nebula candidate G359.95-0.04, the Low Mass X-Ray Binary-system J174540.0-290031, the stellar cluster IRS 13, as well as self-annihilating dark matter. It is experimentally very challenging to further improve the positional accuracy in this energy range and therefore, it may not be possible to clearly associate one of the counterpart candidates with the VHE-source. Here, we present a new method to investigate a possible link of the VHE-source with the near environment of Sgr A* (within approximately 1000 Schwarzschild radii). This method uses the time- and energy-dependent effect of absorption of gamma-rays by pair-production (in the following named pair-eclipse) with low-energy photons of stars closely orbiting the SMBH Sgr A*.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, Published in Proceedings of the 4th International Meeting on High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy (Gamma 08), Heidelber

Rapid variability at very high energies in Mrk 501

A major flaring state of the BL Lac object Mrk 501 was observed by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) in June, 2014. Flux levels higher than one Crab unit were recorded and rapid variability at very high energies ($\sim$2-20 TeV) was revealed. The high statistics afforded by the flares allowed us to probe the presence of minutes timescale variability and study its statistical characteristics exclusively at TeV energies owing to the high energy threshold of approximately 2 TeV. Doubling times of a few minutes are estimated for fluxes greater than 2 TeV. Statistical tests on the light curves show interesting temporal structure in the variations including deviations from a normal flux distribution similar to those found in the PKS 2155-304 flare of July 2006, at nearly an order of magnitude higher threshold energy. Rapid variations at such high energies put strong constraints on the physical mechanisms in the blazar jet.Comment: In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherland

The Isolated Orbital Floor Fracture from a Transconjunctival or Subciliary Perspective-A Standardized Anthropometric Evaluation

Background: The influence of orbital fractures and their repair on the rate of deformities of the lower eyelid is an ongoing source of discussion in the literature. Most of the present studies include isolated blow-out as well as combined orbital fractures. Material and Methods: We present a retrospective evaluation of a series of 100 patients after isolated blow-out fracture repair using reference anthropometric data on standardized photographs. Analysis included eye fissure width and height, lid sulcus height, upper lid height, upper and lower iris coverage, position of cornea to palpebra inferior, canthal tilt, scleral show, ectropion and entropion. It was clearly distinguished between operated and contralateral eyelid, whether a transconjunctival or a subciliary approach was performed and amount of fracture. Our main interests were changes of the aforementioned parameters with regards to eyelid deformities. Results: Surgery per se did not significantly influence eyelid deformities. However, the surgical approach selected significantly affected eye fissure index, lower iris coverage and rate of scleral show, indicating retraction of the lower eyelid. Conclusions: The standardized measurements described here are accurate and objective to evaluate postoperative results. The subciliary approach included the highest risk of lower lid retraction as compared to transconjunctival approaches

The Competition Effect of Decentralized Platforms: An Analytical Model

Envelopment angst and concerns about the exploitative appropriation of data network effects can lead to fragmented platform markets. In this paper, we investigate if this fragmentation can be mended with decentralized platform architectures. Abstracting from an exemplary case in the mobility-as-a-service sector, we model a competitive two-platform market with a centralized platform and decentralized alternative. We find that in markets with high envelopment costs, the co-existence of these platforms leads to market segmentation: Complementors with low market power join the centralized platform, while complementors with high market power join the decentralized platform. Furthermore, the existence of a decentralized alternative can increase welfare. Lastly, by considering data control aspects, we demonstrate the effect of favorable platform design on complementor decision-making

Особливості розвитку секти хлистів на Слобожанщині в другій половині ХІХ ст.

У статті, на підставі широкого кола джерел, зроблено спробу виявити та проаналізувати особливості розвитку секти хлистів на Слобожанщині в другій половині ХІХ століття, зокрема, акцентується увага на історії харківського хлистівства.The thesis deals with the problem of religious sects development in Kharkiv Province in the late XIX centurie. Special attention is paid to the following aspects: the appearance of religious sects of khlysts and spiritual spadones, the dynamics and the main factors of their development, the character of sectarians relations with the state bodies, Russian Orthodox Church and its community in Kharkiv Province

Efficiency of 7.2% hypertonic saline hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 versus mannitol 15% in the treatment of increased intracranial pressure in neurosurgical patients – a randomized clinical trial [ISRCTN62699180]

INTRODUCTION: This prospective randomized clinical study investigated the efficacy and safety of 7.2% hypertonic saline hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 (7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5) in comparison with 15% mannitol in the treatment of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). METHODS: Forty neurosurgical patients at risk of increased ICP were randomized to receive either 7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5 or 15% mannitol at a defined infusion rate, which was stopped when ICP was < 15 mmHg. RESULTS: Of the 40 patients, 17 patients received 7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5 and 15 received mannitol 15%. In eight patients, ICP did not exceed 20 mmHg so treatment was not necessary. Both drugs decreased ICP below 15 mmHg (p < 0.0001); 7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5 within 6.0 (1.2–15.0) min (all results are presented as median (minimum-maximum range)) and mannitol within 8.7 (4.2–19.9) min (p < 0.0002). 7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5 caused a greater decrease in ICP than mannitol (57% vs 48%; p < 0.01). The cerebral perfusion pressure was increased from 60 (39–78) mmHg to 72 (54–85) mmHg by infusion with 7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5 (p < 0.0001) and from 61 (47–71) mmHg to 70 (50–79) mmHg with mannitol (p < 0.0001). The mean arterial pressure was increased by 3.7% during the infusion of 7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5 but was not altered by mannitol. There were no clinically relevant effects on electrolyte concentrations and osmolarity in the blood. The mean effective dose to achieve an ICP below 15 mmHg was 1.4 (0.3–3.1) ml/kg for 7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5 and 1.8 (0.45–6.5) ml/kg for mannitol (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: 7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5 is more effective than mannitol 15% in the treatment of increased ICP. A dose of 1.4 ml/kg of 7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5 can be recommended as effective and safe. The advantage of 7.2% NaCl/HES 200/0.5 might be explained by local osmotic effects, because there were no clinically relevant differences in hemodynamic clinical chemistry parameters

Aging in Dense Colloids as Diffusion in the Logarithm of Time

The far-from-equilibrium dynamics of glassy systems share important phenomenological traits. A transition is generally observed from a time-homogeneous dynamical regime to an aging regime where physical changes occur intermittently and, on average, at a decreasing rate. It has been suggested that a global change of the independent time variable to its logarithm may render the aging dynamics homogeneous: for colloids, this entails diffusion but on a logarithmic time scale. Our novel analysis of experimental colloid data confirms that the mean square displacement grows linearly in time at low densities and shows that it grows linearly in the logarithm of time at high densities. Correspondingly, pairs of particles initially in close contact survive as pairs with a probability which decays exponentially in either time or its logarithm. The form of the Probability Density Function of the displacements shows that long-ranged spatial correlations are very long-lived in dense colloids. A phenomenological stochastic model is then introduced which relies on the growth and collapse of strongly correlated clusters ("dynamic heterogeneity"), and which reproduces the full spectrum of observed colloidal behaviors depending on the form assumed for the probability that a cluster collapses during a Monte Carlo update. In the limit where large clusters dominate, the collapse rate is ~1/t, implying a homogeneous, log-Poissonian process that qualitatively reproduces the experimental results for dense colloids. Finally an analytical toy-model is discussed to elucidate the strong dependence of the simulation results on the integrability (or lack thereof) of the cluster collapse probability function.Comment: 6 pages, extensively revised, final version; for related work, see http://www.physics.emory.edu/faculty/boettcher/ or http://www.fysik.sdu.dk/staff/staff-vip/pas-personal.htm