Verhaltenstherapie einer Patientin mit Genitalkarzinom, somatoformer Schmerzstörung und Dyspareunie

The present case study describes a behavior therapy with 30 treatment sessions for a patient with genital cancer, somato-form disorder and dyspareunia. On the basis of a bio-psycho-social model, daily pain appraisals and relaxation techniques were used. Treatment procedures to reduce depressive symptoms involved cognitive strategies, diary method, pleasure scales and resource acquisition. The patient repeatedly described her feelings of sadness, hopelessness and fear in respect to her cancer. On the basis of her sexual history `sensate focus' treatment was gradually introduced. The patient underwent role-play and performance feedback of conflict situations with her husband who was partially involved in the psychotherapy. The patient was able to accomplish the set objectives to a great extent after 30 treatment sessions: The vaginal pains and the depressive symptoms strongly decreased. The patient describes herself as being more encouraged, shows more interests and is more active even outside of her family. Through the instructions she was able to acquire practical knowledge which helped her experience a more fulfilling sexual life. Having completed treatment the couple now talks about feelings and needs more often. The patient also learned to stand up more to her husband and children. Finally, she was able to deal with her fears about her genital cancer, especially regarding her fear of pain and death. The evaluation of the therapy progress reflects these changes: The scores obtained from the Beck-Depression-Inventory (BDI) and the Symptom-Checklist (SCL 90-R) had decreased to normal range at the end of the therapy ( BDI: 8; SCL 90-R: GSI: 0,49; T-score: 55) compared to scores at the beginning of the treatment (BDI: 26; SCL 90-R: GSI: 0,92; T-score: 67). In conclusion the study emphasizes the importance of offering psychosomatic treatment to gynecological patients

Recursion and the Language Faculty. On the Evolution of the Concept in Generative Grammar

Recursion has been a central feature of syntactic theory in generative grammar since its establishment in the 1950s (Bar-Hillel, 1953; Chomsky, 1956; 1957). Yet, since the highly influential 2002 paper by Hauser, Chomsky, and Fitch, and their strong hypothesis regarding the outstanding status of recursion in language, there has been a renewed interest in the subject. The ensuing debates, however, have been characterized by severe terminological confusion and thus been rendered futile at times. The aim of this article is to shed some light on different notions of recursion in general as well as in linguistic description and to provide a brief sketch of how these evolved in the development of generativism. We argue that two different perspectives need to be distinguished, which directly relate to distinct vantage points of earlier generative frameworks on the one hand and the Minimalist program on the other

Higher Loop Spin Field Correlators in Various Dimensions

We compute higher-point superstring correlators involving spin fields in various even space-time dimensions D at tree-level and to arbitrary loop order. This generalizes previous work in D=4 space-time dimensions. The main focus are D=6,8 and D=10 superstring compactifications for which correlation functions with four and more spin fields are computed. More precisely, we present every non-vanishing six-point function. A number of results can even be derived for arbitrary D. A closed formula for the correlators with any number of fermions psi and two spin fields S in D space-time dimensions is given for arbitrary genus. Moreover, in D=6 and for arbitrary genus, we find a general formula for the correlators . The latter serve as basic building blocks to construct higher-point fermionic correlation functions. In D=8 we can profit from the SO(8)-triality to derive further tree-level correlators with a large numbers of spin fields.Comment: 47 pages, 1 figure; v2: typos corrected; submitted to JHE

The Role of Polysorbate 80 and HPβCD at the Air-Water Interface of IgG Solutions

Purpose: To test the hypothesis of surface displacement as the underlying mechanism for IgG stabilization by polysorbates and HPβCD against surface-induced aggregation. Methods: Adsorption/desorption-kinetics of IgG-polysorbate 80/-HPβCD were monitored. Maximum bubble pressure method was used for processes within seconds from surface formation. Profile analysis tensiometry was applied over long periods and to assess surface rheologic properties. Additionally, the kinetics of adsorption, desorption and surface displacement was followed by a double-capillary setup of the profile analysis tensiometer, allowing drop bulk exchange. Results: Weak surface activity for HPβCD vs. much higher surface activity for polysorbate 80 was shown. Protein-displacement when exceeding a polysorbate 80 concentration close to the CMC and a lack of protein displacement for HPβCD was observed. The drop bulk exchange experiments show IgG displacement by polysorbate 80 independent of the adsorption order. In contrast, HPβCD coexists with IgG at the air-water interface when the surface layer is built from a mixed IgG-HPβCD-solution. Incorporation of HPβCD in a preformed IgG-surface-layer does not occur. Conclusions: The results confirm surface displacement as the stabilization mechanism of polysorbate 80, but refute the frequently held opinion, that HPβCD stabilizes proteins against aggregation at the air-water interface in a manner comparable to non-ionic surfactant