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We have analysed the microseismic activity within the Rwenzori Mountains area in the western branch of the East African Rift. Seismogram recordings from a temporary array of up to 27 stations reveal approximately 800 events per month with local magnitudes ranging from –0.5 to 5.1. The earthquake distribution is highly heterogeneous. The majority of located events lie within faults zones to the East and West of the Rwenzoris with the highest seismic activity observed in the northeastern area, where the mountains are in contact with the rift shoulders. The hypocentral depth distribution exhibits a pronounced peak of seismic energy release at 15 km depth. The maximum extent of seismicity ranges from 20 to 32 km and correlates well with Moho depths that were derived from teleseismic receiver functions. We observe two general features: (i) beneath the rift shoulders seismicity extends from the surface down to ca. 30 km depth; (ii) beneath the rift valley seismicity is confined to depths greater than 10 km. From the observations there is no indication for a crustal root beneath the Rwenzori Mountains. The magnitude frequency distribution reveals a b-value of 1.1, which is consistent with the hypothesis that part of the seismicity is caused by magmatic processes within the crust. Fault plane solutions of 304 events were derived from P-polarities and SV/P amplitude ratios. More than 70 % of the source mechanisms exhibit pure or predominantly normal faulting. T-axis trends are highly uniform and oriented WNW-ESE, which is perpendicular to the rift axis and in good agreement with kinematic rift models. At the northernmost part of the region we observe a rotation of the T-axis trends to NEN-SWS, which may be indicative of a local perturbation of the regional stress field.
We have analysed the microseismic activity within the Rwenzori Mountains area in the western branch of the East African Rift. Seismogram recordings from a temporary array of up to 27 stations reveal approximately 800 events per month with local magnitudes ranging from –0.5 to 5.1. The earthquake distribution is highly heterogeneous. The majority of located events lie within faults zones to the east and west of the Rwenzoris with the highest seismic activity observed in the northeastern area, where the mountains are in contact with the rift shoulders. The hypocentral depth distribution exhibits a pronounced peak of seismic energy release at 15 km depth. The maximum extent of seismicity ranges from 20 to 32 km and correlates well with Moho depths that were derived from teleseismic receiver functions. We observe two general features: (i) beneath the rift shoulders, seismicity extends from the surface down to ca. 30 km depth; (ii) beneath the rift valley, seismicity is confined to depths greater than 10 km. From the observations there is no indication for a crustal root beneath the Rwenzori Mountains. The magnitude frequency distribution reveals a b-value of 1.1, which is consistent with the hypothesis that part of the seismicity is caused by magmatic processes within the crust. Fault plane solutions of 304 events were derived from P-polarities and SV/P amplitude ratios. More than 70 % of the source mechanisms exhibit pure or predominantly normal faulting. T-axis trends are highly uniform and oriented WNW–ESE, which is perpendicular to the rift axis and in good agreement with kinematic rift models. At the northernmost part of the region we observe a rotation of the T-axis trends to NEN–SWS, which may be indicative of a local perturbation of the regional stress field.
Aims: To compare the effects of Ayurvedic and conventional nutritional therapy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods: Sixty-nine patients with IBS were randomized to Ayurvedic (n = 35) or conventional nutritional therapy according to the recommendations of the German Nutrition Society including the low-FODMAP diet (n = 34). Study visits took place at baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months. The primary outcome was IBS symptom severity (IBS-SSS) after 3 months; secondary outcomes included stress (CPSS), anxiety and depression (HADS), well-being (WHO-5) and IBS-specific quality of life (IBS-QOL). A repeated measures general linear model (GLM) for intent-to-treat-analyses was applied in this explorative study. Results: After 3 months, estimated marginal means for IBS-SSS reductions were 123.8 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 92.8–154.9; p < 0.001] in the Ayurvedic and 72.7 (95% CI = 38.8–106.7; p < 0.001) in the conventional group. The IBS-SSS reduction was significantly higher in the Ayurveda group compared to the conventional therapy group (estimated marginal mean = 51.1; 95% CI = 3.8–98.5; p = 0.035) and clinically meaningful. Sixty-eight percentage of the variance in IBS-SSS reduction after 3 months can be explained by treatment, 6.5% by patients' expectations for their therapies and 23.4% by IBS-SSS at pre-intervention. Both therapies are equivalent in their contribution to the outcome variance. The higher the IBS-SSS score at pre-intervention and the larger the patients' expectations, the greater the IBS-SSS reduction. There were no significant group differences in any secondary outcome measures. No serious adverse events occurred in either group. Conclusion: Patients with IBS seem to benefit significantly from Ayurvedic or conventional nutritional therapy. The results warrant further studies with longer-term follow-ups and larger sample sizes. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03019861, identifier: NCT03019861.
An accurate measurement of the 140Ce(n,γ) energy-dependent cross-section was performed at the n_TOF facility at CERN. This cross-section is of great importance because it represents a bottleneck for the s-process nucleosynthesis and determines to a large extent the cerium abundance in stars. The measurement was motivated by the significant difference between the cerium abundance measured in globular clusters and the value predicted by theoretical stellar models. This discrepancy can be ascribed to an overestimation of the 140Ce capture cross-section due to a lack of accurate nuclear data. For this measurement, we used a sample of cerium oxide enriched in 140Ce to 99.4%. The experimental apparatus consisted of four deuterated benzene liquid scintillator detectors, which allowed us to overcome the difficulties present in the previous measurements, thanks to their very low neutron sensitivity. The accurate analysis of the p-wave resonances and the calculation of their average parameters are fundamental to improve the evaluation of the 140Ce Maxwellian-averaged cross-section.
Neutron capture on 241Am plays an important role in the nuclear energy production and also provides valuable information for the improvement of nuclear models and the statistical interpretation of the nuclear properties. A new experiment to measure the 241Am(n, γ) cross section in the thermal region and the first few resonances below 10 eV has been carried out at EAR2 of the n_TOF facility at CERN. Three neutron-insensitive C6D6 detectors have been used to measure the neutron-capture gamma cascade as a function of the neutron time of flight, and then deduce the neutron capture yield. Preliminary results will be presented and compared with previously obtained results at the same facility in EAR1. In EAR1 the gamma-ray background at thermal energies was about 90% of the signal while in EAR2 is up to a 25 factor much more favorable signal to noise ratio. We also extended the low energy limit down to subthermal energies. This measurement will allow a comparison with neutron capture measurements conducted at reactors and using a different experimental technique.
Objectives: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have become the standard of care for metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progressing during or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Real-world clinical practice tends to represent more diverse patient characteristics than randomized clinical trials. We sought to evaluate overall survival (OS) outcomes in the total study population and in key subsets of patients who received nivolumab for previously treated advanced NSCLC in real-world settings in France, Germany, or Canada.
Materials and methods: Data were pooled from two prospective observational cohort studies, EVIDENS and ENLARGE, and a retrospective registry in Canada. Patients included in this analysis were aged ≥18 years, had stage IIIB/IV NSCLC, and received nivolumab after at least one prior line of systemic therapy. OS was estimated in the pooled population and in various subgroups using the Kaplan-Meier method. Timing of data collection varied across cohorts (2015–2019).
Results: Of the 2585 patients included in this analyses, 1235 (47.8 %) were treated in France, 881 (34.1 %) in Germany, and 469 (18.1 %) in Canada. Median OS for the total study population was 11.3 months (95 % CI: 10.5–12.2); this was similar across France, Germany, and Canada. The OS rate was 49 % at 1 year and 28 % at 2 years for the total study population. In univariable Cox analyses, the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in nonsquamous disease, liver, or bone metastases were associated with significantly shorter OS, whereas tumor programmed death ligand 1 expression and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0–1 were associated with significantly prolonged OS. Similar OS was noted across subgroups of age and prior lines of therapy.
Conclusion: OS rates in patients receiving nivolumab for previously treated advanced NSCLC in real-world clinical practice closely mirrored those in phase 3 studies, suggesting similar effectiveness of nivolumab in clinical trials and clinical practice.
The radiative capture cross section of 238U is very important for the developing of new reactor technologies and the safety of existing ones. Here the preliminary results of the 238U(n,γ) cross section measurement performed at n_TOF with C6D6 scintillation detectors are presented, paying particular attention to data reduction and background subtraction.
Background: The photon strength functions (PSFs) and nuclear level density (NLD) are key ingredients for calculation of the photon interaction with nuclei, in particular the reaction cross sections. These cross sections are important especially in nuclear astrophysics and in the development of advanced nuclear technologies.
Purpose: The role of the scissors mode in the M1 PSF of (well-deformed) actinides was investigated by several experimental techniques. The analyses of different experiments result in significant differences, especially on the strength of the mode. The shape of the low-energy tail of the giant electric dipole resonance is uncertain as well. In particular, some works proposed a presence of the E1 pygmy resonance just above 7 MeV. Because of these inconsistencies additional information on PSFs in this region is of great interest.
Methods: The γ-ray spectra from neutron-capture reactions on the 234U, 236 U, and 238 U nuclei have been measured with the total absorption calorimeter of the n_TOF facility at CERN. The background-corrected sum-energy and multi-step-cascade spectra were extracted for several isolated s-wave resonances up to about 140 eV.
Results: The experimental spectra were compared to statistical model predictions coming from a large selection of models of photon strength functions and nuclear level density. No combination of PSF and NLD models from literature is able to globally describe our spectra. After extensive search we were able to find model combinations with modified generalized Lorentzian (MGLO) E1 PSF, which match the experimental spectra as well as the total radiative widths.
Conclusions: The constant temperature energy dependence is favored for a NLD. The tail of giant electric dipole resonance is well described by the MGLO model of the E1 PSF with no hint of pygmy resonance. The M1 PSF must contain a very strong, relatively wide, and likely double-resonance scissors mode. The mode is responsible for about a half of the total radiative width of neutron resonances and significantly affects the radiative cross section.
73Ge(n, γ ) cross sections were measured at the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF at CERN up to neutron energies of 300 keV, providing for the first time experimental data above 8 keV. Results indicate that the stellar cross section at kT = 30 keV is 1.5 to 1.7 times higher than most theoretical predictions. The new cross sections result in a substantial decrease of 73Ge produced in stars, which would explain the low isotopic abundance of 73Ge in the solar system.
We have measured the radiative neutron-capture cross section and the total neutron-induced cross section of one of the most important isotopes for the s process, the 25Mg. The measurements have been carried out at the neutron time-of-flight facilities n_TOF at CERN (Switzerland) and GELINA installed at the EC-JRC-IRMM (Belgium). The cross sections as a function of neutron energy have been measured up to approximately 300 keV, covering the energy region of interest to the s process. The data analysis is ongoing and preliminary results show the potential relevance for the s process.
Above 1 MeV of incident neutron energy the fission fragment angular distribution (FFAD) has generally a strong anisotropic behavior due to the combination of the incident orbital momentum and the intrinsic spin of the fissioning nucleus. This effect has to be taken into account for the efficiency estimation of devices used for fission cross section measurements. In addition it bears information on the spin deposition mechanism and on the structure of transitional states. We designed and constructed a detection device, based on Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters (PPAC), for measuring the fission fragment angular distributions of several isotopes, in particular 232Th. The measurement has been performed at n_TOF at CERN taking advantage of the very broad energy spectrum of the neutron beam. Fission events were recognized by back to back detection in coincidence in two position-sensitive detectors surrounding the targets. The detection efficiency, depending mostly on the stopping of fission fragments in backings and electrodes, has been computed with a Geant4 simulation and validated by the comparison to the measured case of 235U below 3 keV where the emission is isotropic. In the case of 232Th, the result is in good agreement with previous data below 10 MeV, with a good reproduction of the structures associated to vibrational states and the opening of second chance fission. In the 14 MeV region our data are much more accurate than previous ones which are broadly scattered.
Eine materialreiche, ansprechend illustrierte und mit zahlreichen Beispielen ausgestattete Einführung in die Lyrikvermittlung liegt hier vor, die sich vorrangig an die Lehrenden im Primarbereich richtet. Die Stärke der Darstellung liegt eindeutig im Praxisbezug, viele Modelle für konkrete Unterrichtsplanung und -durchführung können hier nachgelesen und dann erprobt werden, die Ausrichtung folgt dezidiert handlungs- und produktionsorientierten Methoden, wie man es von Franz-Josef Payrhuber auch nicht anders erwartet. Die Gliederung ist ausgerichtet an vier "Blickpunkten": Zunächst werden "Formen" präsentiert, der umfangreiche zweite Teil widmet sich den "Methoden", der dritte präsentiert einzelne "Themen" und der letzte nimmt "Autoren" in den Blick. Abgeschlossen wird der Band durch ein umfassendes Literaturverzeichnis. ...
Die vorliegende Werkbiographie Mira Lobes ist Ergebnis eines Forschungsprojekts am Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Geschichte und Theorie der Biographie in Wien. Daraus entstanden eine Ausstellung im Jahre 2014/15 mit dem Titel "Ich bin ich. Mira Lobe und Susi Weigel" anlässlich des hundertsten Geburtstags der Schriftstellerin, die der Verfasser mitkuratiert hat. Seine Forschungen wurden 2014 als Dissertation in Wien vorgelegt. Es ist die erste umfassende Darstellung zu Leben und Werk der erfolgreichen und kanonisierten Autorin, vermag über den Blick auf die Einzelperson hinaus außerdem wichtige Erkenntnisse über das kinderliterarische Leben in Österreich seit den 1950er Jahren zu vermitteln. Denn neben den Ausführungen zu Mira Lobe selbst berücksichtigt Huemer eine Vielzahl anderer Aspekte: die Publikationswege Lobes, die Verlagslandschaft, die IllustratorInnen ihrer Bücher wie auch zum Teil die Rezeption der Werke. Dies alles wurde erreicht durch eine akribische Auswertung des recht verstreuten Nachlasses sowie durch zahlreiche Interviews mit noch lebenden Weggefährten, die eine wichtige Rolle im Leben der Autorin gespielt haben. ...
Rezensionen [2017]
(2017)
156 Ansari, Christine (Hrsg.): Adoleszenz in Medienkontexten. Literaturrezeption, Medienwirkung und Jugendmedienschutz (judith mathez)
158 Bachmann, Christian A. / Emans, Laura / Schmitz-Emans, Monika (Hrsg.): Bewegungsbücher. Spielformen, Poetiken, Konstellationen (gundel mattenklott)
160 Ballis, Anja /Schlachter, Birgit (Hrsg.): Schätze der Kinder- und Jugendliteratur wiederentdeckt. Frühe Lektüreerfahrung und Kanonbildung im akademischen Kontext (ernst seibert)
162 Benner, Julia: Federkrieg. Kinder- und Jugendliteratur gegen den Nationalsozialismus 1933 – 1945 (linde storm)
164 Born, Stefan: Allgemeinliterarische Adoleszenzromane. Untersuchungen zu Herrndorf, Regener, Strunk, Kehlmann und anderen (lena hoffmann)
166 Börnchen, Stefan: Poetik der Linie. Wilhelm Busch, Max und Moritz und die Tradition (lukas sarvari)
168 Burwitz-Melzer, Eva /O’Sullivan, Emer (Hrsg.): Einfachheit in der Kinder- und Jugendliteratur. Ein Gewinn für den Fremdsprachenunterricht (roland alexander issler)
169 Emde, Oliver /Möller, Lukas /Wicke, Andreas (Hrsg.): Von »Bibi Blocksberg« bis »TKKG«. Kinderhörspiele aus gesellschafts- und kulturwissenschaftlicher Perspektive (anika ullmann)
171 Ferstl, Paul /Walach, Thomas / Zahlmann, Stefan (Hrsg.): Fantasy Studies (maren bonacker)
173 Giesa, Felix: Graphisches Erzählen von Adoleszenz. Deutschsprachige Autorencomics nach 2000 (michael staiger)
175 Hahn, Heidi / Laudenberg, Beate / Rösch, Heidi (Hrsg.): »Wörter raus!?« Zur Debatte um eine diskriminierungsfreie Sprache im Kinderbuch (julia benner)
177 Haug, Christine / Frimmel, Johannes (Hrsg.): Schulbücher um 1800. Ein Spezialmarkt zwischen staatlichem, volksaufklärerischem und konfessionellem Auftrag (ortwin beisbart)
179 Hollerweger, Elisabeth /Stemmann, Anna (Hrsg.): Narrative Delikatessen. Kulturelle Dimensionen von Ernährung (sonja loidl)
180 Hopp, Margarete: Sterben, Tod und Trauer im Bilderbuch seit 1945 (iris schäfer)
182 Huemer, Georg: Mira Lobe. Doyenne der österreichischen Kinder- und Jugendliteratur (andreas schumann)
183 Josting, Petra (Hrsg.): Andreas Steinhöfel, Bielefelder Poet in Residence 2014 (heinke kilian)
185 Josting, Petra /Roeder, Caroline /Dettmar, Ute (Hrsg.): Immer Trouble mit Gender. Genderperspektiven in Kinder- und Jugendliteraturforschung und -medien (jana mikota)
187 Kurwinkel, Tobias /Schmerheim, Philipp /Sevi, Annika (Hrsg.): Michael Ende intermedial. Von Lokomotivführern, Glücksdrachen und dem (phantastischen) Spiel mit Mediengrenzen (michael stierstorfer)
188 Mikota, Jana / Pecher, Claudia Maria / von Glasenapp, Gabriele (Hrsg.): Literarisch-kulturelle Begegnungen mit dem Judentum. Beiträge zur kinderliterarischen Fachöffentlichkeit (susanne blumesberger)
190 Müller, Karla / Decker, Jan-Oliver / Krah, Hans / Schilcher, Anita (Hrsg.): Genderkompetenz mit Kinder- und Jugendliteratur entwickeln: Grundlagen – Analysen – Modelle (annette kliewer)
192 Nikolajeva, Maria: Reading for Learning. Cognitive Approaches to Children’s Literature (sabine fuchs)
194 Paul, Lissa / Johnston, Rosemary R. / Short, Emma (Hrsg.):Children’s Literature and Culture of the First World War.(julia benner)
195 Payrhuber, Franz-Josef / Meier, Bernhard(Hrsg.): Franz, Kurt: Kinderlyrik. Geschichte, Formen, Rezeption(ludger scherer)
197 Payrhuber, Franz-Josef:Gedichte entdecken. Wege zu Gedichten in der ersten bis sechsten Klasse (andreas schumann)
198 Pohlmann, Carola (Hrsg): Kinder- und Jugendliteratur. Sammeln und Erwerben (wolfgang wangerin)
200 Pompe, Anja (Hrsg): Kind und Gedicht. Wie wir lesen lernen (heinz-jürgen kliewer)
202 Preindl, Nadia:Russische Kinderliteratur im europäischen Exil der Zwischenkriegszeit (verena rutschmann)
204 Richter, Karin: Die Kinder- und Jugend-literatur der DDR. Entwicklungslinien – Themen und Genres. Autorenporträts und Textanalysen (maria becker)
206 Riemhofer, Andra:Interkulturelle Kinder- und Jugendliteratur in Deutschland. Lesen auf eigene Gefahr (roger meyer)
208Roeder, Caroline (Hrsg.): Himmel und Hölle. Raumerkundungen – interdisziplinär & in schulischer Praxis (claudia blei-hoch)
210 Ruzicka Kenfel, Vejka (Hrsg.): New Trends in Children’s Literature Research. Twenty-first Century Approaches (2000–2012) from the University of Vigo (Spain) (susanne blumesberger)
212 Schäfer, Iris:Von der Hysterie zur Magersucht. Adoleszenz und Krankheit in Romanen und Erzählungen der Jahrhundert- und der Jahrtausendwende (philipp schmerheim)
214 Scherer, Gabriela / Volz, Steffen (Hrsg.): Im Bildungsfokus: Bilderbuchrezeptions-forschung (margarete hopp)
216 Schmitt, Susann Sophie:Nachwuchs für die Literatur. Kinder- und Jugendprogramme ausgewählter Literaturhäuser Deutschlands, Österreichs und der Schweiz (renate grubert)
217 Seelinger Trites, Roberta:Literary Conceptu-alizations of Growth. Metaphors and Cogni-tion in Adolescent Literature (iris schäfer)
219 Seifert, Martina:Die Bilderfalle. Kanada in der deutschsprachigen Kinder- und Jugend-literatur: Produktion und Rezeption (sabine planka)
222 Stein, Daniel / Thon, Jan-Noël (Hrsg.): From Comic Strips to Graphic Novels. Contributions to the Theory and History of Graphic Narrative (anna stemmann)
223 Tomberg, Markus (Hrsg.): Alle wichtigen Bücher handeln von Gott. Religiöse Spuren in aktueller Kinder- und Jugendliteratur (martin anker)
The neutron capture cross section of 154Gd was measured from 1 eV to 300 keV in the experimental area located 185 m from the CERN n_TOF neutron spallation source, using a metallic sample of gadolinium, enriched to 67% in 154Gd. The capture measurement, performed with four C6D6 scintillation detectors, has been complemented by a transmission measurement performed at the GELINA time-of-flight facility (JRC-Geel), thus minimising the uncertainty related to sample composition. An accurate Maxwellian averaged capture cross section (MACS) was deduced over the temperature range of interest for s process nucleosynthesis modelling. We report a value of 880(50) mb for the MACS at kT = 30 keV, significantly lower compared to values available in literature. The new adopted 154Gd(n,γ) cross section reduces the discrepancy between observed and calculated solar s-only isotopic abundances predicted by s-process nucleosynthesis models.
Background The to date evidence for a dose-response relationship between physical workload and the development of lumbar disc diseases is limited. We therefore investigated the possible etiologic relevance of cumulative occupational lumbar load to lumbar disc diseases in a multi-center case-control study. Methods In four study regions in Germany (Frankfurt/Main, Freiburg, Halle/Saale, Regensburg), patients seeking medical care for pain associated with clinically and radiologically verified lumbar disc herniation (286 males, 278 females) or symptomatic lumbar disc narrowing (145 males, 206 females) were prospectively recruited. Population control subjects (453 males and 448 females) were drawn from the regional population registers. Cases and control subjects were between 25 and 70 years of age. In a structured personal interview, a complete occupational history was elicited to identify subjects with certain minimum workloads. On the basis of job task-specific supplementary surveys performed by technical experts, the situational lumbar load represented by the compressive force at the lumbosacral disc was determined via biomechanical model calculations for any working situation with object handling and load-intensive postures during the total working life. For this analysis, all manual handling of objects of about 5 kilograms or more and postures with trunk inclination of 20 degrees or more are included in the calculation of cumulative lumbar load. Confounder selection was based on biologic plausibility and on the change-in-estimate criterion. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated separately for men and women using unconditional logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, region, and unemployment as major life event (in males) or psychosocial strain at work (in females), respectively. To further elucidate the contribution of past physical workload to the development of lumbar disc diseases, we performed lag-time analyses. Results We found a positive dose-response relationship between cumulative occupational lumbar load and lumbar disc herniation as well as lumbar disc narrowing among men and women. Even past lumbar load seems to contribute to the risk of lumbar disc disease. Conclusions According to our study, cumulative physical workload is related to lumbar disc diseases among men and women.
Introduction: In the large-scale case-control study EPILIFT, we investigated the dose-response relationship between lifestyle factors (weight, smoking amount, cumulative duration of different sports activities) and lumbar disc disease. Methods: In four German study regions (Frankfurt am Main, Freiburg, Halle/Saale, Regensburg), 564 male and female patients with lumbar disc herniation and 351 patients with lumbar disc narrowing (chondrosis) aged 25 to 70 years were prospectively recruited. From the regional population registers, 901 population control subjects were randomly selected. In a structured personal interview, we enquired as to body weight at different ages, body height, cumulative smoking amount and cumulative duration of different sports activities. Confounders were selected according to biological plausibility and to the change-in-estimate criterion. Adjusted, gender-stratified odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using unconditional logistic regression analysis. Results: The results of this case-control study reveal a positive association between weight and lumbar disc herniation as well as lumbar disc narrowing among men and women. A medium amount of pack-years was associated with lumbar disc herniation and narrowing in men and women. A non-significantly lowered risk of lumbar disc disease was found in men with high levels of cumulative body building and strength training. Conclusions: According to our multi-center case-control study, body weight might be related to lumbar disc herniation as well as to lumbar disc narrowing. Further research should clarify the potential protective role of body building or strength training on lumbar disc disease.
Previous research indicates that anxiety disorders are characterized by an overgeneralization of conditioned fear as compared with healthy participants. Therefore, fear generalization is considered a key mechanism for the development of anxiety disorders. However, systematic investigations on the variance in fear generalization are lacking. Therefore, the current study aims at identifying distinctive phenotypes of fear generalization among healthy participants. To this end, 1175 participants completed a differential fear conditioning phase followed by a generalization test. To identify patterns of fear generalization, we used a k-means clustering algorithm based on individual arousal generalization gradients. Subsequently, we examined the reliability and validity of the clusters and phenotypical differences between subgroups on the basis of psychometric data and markers of fear expression. Cluster analysis reliably revealed five clusters that systematically differed in mean responses, differentiation between conditioned threat and safety, and linearity of the generalization gradients, though mean response levels accounted for most variance. Remarkably, the patterns of mean responses were already evident during fear acquisition and corresponded most closely to psychometric measures of anxiety traits. The identified clusters reliably described subgroups of healthy individuals with distinct response characteristics in a fear generalization test. Following a dimensional view of psychopathology, these clusters likely delineate risk factors for anxiety disorders. As crucial group characteristics were already evident during fear acquisition, our results emphasize the importance of average fear responses and differentiation between conditioned threat and safety as risk factors for anxiety disorders.
Accurate measurement of the standard 235U(n,f) cross section from thermal to 170 keV neutron energy
(2020)
An accurate measurement of the 235U(n,f) cross section from thermal to 170 keV of neutron energy has recently been performed at n_TOF facility at CERN using 6Li(n,t)4He and 10B(n,α)7Li as references. This measurement has been carried out in order to investigate a possible overestimation of the 235U fission cross section evaluation provided by most recent libraries between 10 and 30 keV. A custom experimental apparatus based on in-beam silicon detectors has been used, and a Monte Carlo simulation in GEANT4 has been employed to characterize the setup and calculate detectors efficiency. The results evidenced the presence of an overestimation in the interval between 9 and 18 keV and the new data may be used to decrease the uncertainty of 235U(n,f) cross section in the keV region.