High Lithium Transference Number Electrolytes Containing Tetratriflylpropene's Lithium Salt.

Electrolytes with a high lithium transference number linked with high ionic conductivity are urgently needed for high power battery operation. In this work, we present newly synthesized lithium tetra(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)propene as a salt-in-glyme-based "salt-in-solvent" electrolyte. We employ impedance spectroscopy in symmetric Li/electrolyte/Li cells and pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the lithium conduction mechanism. We find predominant lithium conductivity with very high lithium transference numbers (∼70% from the polarization experiments) and three times higher ionic conductivity compared to well-known lithium triflate in diglyme electrolyte. This is a consequence of the reduced mobilities of large anions linked with improved ionic dissociation.

Biological evidence for a causal role of HPV16 in a small fraction of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a causal factor in virtually all cervical and a subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OP-SCC), whereas its role in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (L-SCC) is unclear. METHODS: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (N=154) and deep-frozen tissues (N=55) of 102 L-SCC patients were analysed for the presence of 51 mucosal HPV types. HPV DNA-positive (HPV DNA+) cases were analysed for E6*I mRNA transcripts of all high risk (HR)/probably/possibly (p)HR-HPV identified, and for HPV type 16 (HPV16) viral load. Expression of p16(INK4a), pRb, cyclin D1 and p53 was analysed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients were valid in DNA analysis, of which 32 (35%) had at least one HPV DNA+ sample. Among the 29 single infections, 22 (76%) were HPV16, 2 (7%) HPV56 and 1 each (4%) HPV45, HPV53, HPV70, HPV11 and HPV42. Three cases harboured HPV16 with HPV33 (twice) or HPV45. Only 32% of HPV DNA+ findings were reproducible. Among HPV16 DNA+ L-SCC, 2 out of 23 (9%) had high viral loads, 5 out of 25 (21%) expressed E6*I mRNA and 3 out of 21 (14%) showed high p16(INK4a) and low pRb expression (all three HPV16 RNA-positive), immunohistochemical marker combination not identified in any other HPV DNA+ or HPV DNA-negative (HPV DNA-) L-SCC, respectively. CONCLUSION: HPV type 16 has a causative role in a small subgroup of L-SCC (<5% in this German hospital series).

[How quickly do the effects of sector division appear? The initial results of the companion research of the Zurich sector division project]. / Wie rasch zeigen sich Sektorisierungseffekte? Erste Resultate aus der Begleitforschung des Züricher Sektorisierungsprojektes.

Dividing the delivery system of larger psychiatric hospitals into defined smaller catchment areas called sectors, implies a contribution to quality assurance. Continuous monitoring and evaluation of a period before and after this reorganisation, which took place in 1994 for the central region of Zürich (Psychiatric University Hospital), allows perception of expected and possible unexpected changes. All newly registered patients were recorded within a time span divided into five periods of six month five each, the last one covering the first six months after sectorisation. This design permits to answer the question as to how fast the intended changes after sectorisation occur, and also to control side effects. Results show that sectorisation resulted in a marked increase of registrations from the defined catchment area of each sector, and that the investigated institutions achieve attainment of the aim to effect a special selection of psychiatric patients characterised by considerable psycho-social deficits. The two sectors display differences in respect of socio-demographic characteristics of newly registered patients.

Attachment transition, addiction and therapeutic bonding--an integrative approach.

In the light of the attachment theory and research outlines the authors develop the concept that addiction is a delayed maladaptive attachment transition in young adults. They look into the relevance of this theoretical framework for therapy in adulthood, especially addiction therapy, connect it with an approach, that understands addiction as fear of intimacy and discuss the clinical implications of therapeutic bonding as a specialized approach for this condition.

Swiss heroin-addicted females. Career and social adjustment.

Studies on gender-related differences among heroin-addicted individuals are uncommon because women usually make up only one quarter of any one sample group. In our sample group of 248 Swiss-German heroin-addicted individuals from different therapeutic programs and prisons, 70 were women (28.2%). Follow-up investigations were conducted after a lapse of 2 years, and after a lapse of 7 years, respectively. Men and women appear to differ with respect to why they begin to use drugs, as well as why they relapse back into drug use. Prior to the commencement of drug abuse, social background concerns and social adjustment dynamics appear to constitute a heavier burden for women than for men. Observations of social functioning and adjustment phenomena made during their drug careers and in the follow-up investigations, however, failed to yield significant statistical differences. The predominant effects of drug use appear to eclipse the gender-related role-pattern. On the basis of our background data, as well as our therapeutic experience, we postulate that for an individual whose sex-role identity is threatened, drug abuse has a stabilizing function, and it carries a message.

[Tattooing in drug addicts. Symbolic barriers or a handicap to rehabilitation?]. / Tätowierungen bei Drogenabhängigen. Symbolische Grenze oder Hindernis für die Rehabilitation?

Occasionally dermatologists are consulted by previously addicted young people who want to have tattoos removed to help them achieve social integration. Most of these tattoos have been done on exposed parts of the body (hands, forearms, chest) by the patients themselves. The area of the tattoo and how obvious it is must influence the decision on whether to agree to such requests, since unrealistic expectations with regard to the cosmetic result and ignorance about the number of operations required are quite common. To give the right support, it is useful to know something about the background of such tattoos and to the desire of be rid of them.

[A communications theory approach to the mechanisms of development of psychiatric disorders exemplified by foreign workers]. / Ein kommunikationstheoretischer Ansatz der Entstehungsmechanismen psychischer Störungen am Beispiel von ausländischen Arbeitnehmern.

This article is intended as a contribution towards interpreting the development of psychiatric symptoms as a final result of disturbed processes of communication. We should like to point out that the importance of communication for normal and abnormal behaviour has been established both from the viewpoints of sociopsychology and family therapy as well as of cognition psychology and psychophysiology. The present study is limited to the presentation of clinical aspects, but it should be pointed out that a systematic phase concept of treatment can be developed via an integration of psychophysiological research studies on this subject; however, we have not gone into this possibility in detail in the present study.