Contextualizing is not nullifying: Reply to Mills (2005).

In omitting crucial words and sentencees, neglecting relevant citations, and overlooking important distinctions, Jon Mills' (see record 2005-04819-001) critique of relational psychoanalysis significantly misrepresents the authors' viewpoint. This viewpoint seeks to contextualize, but not to nullify, individual worlds of experience and their limiting horizons. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of GABA,a Bacterial Metabolite,on Pseudomonas fluorescens Surface Properties and Cytotoxicity

Different bacterial species and, particularly Pseudomonas fluorescens, can produce gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and express GABA-binding proteins. In this study, we investigated the effect of GABA on the virulence and biofilm formation activity of different strains of P. fluorescens. Exposure of a psychotropic strain of P. fluorescens (MF37) to GABA (10⁻⁵ M) increased its necrotic-like activity on eukaryotic (glial) cells, but reduced its apoptotic effect. Conversely, muscimol and bicuculline, the selective agonist and antagonist of eukaryote GABA_A receptors, respectively, were ineffective. P. fluorescens MF37 did not produce biosurfactants, and its caseinase, esterase, amylase, hemolytic activity or pyoverdine productions were unchanged. In contrast, the effect of GABA was associated to rearrangements of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure, particularly in the lipid A region. The surface hydrophobicity of MF37 was marginally modified, and GABA reduced its biofilm formation activity on PVC, but not on glass, although the initial adhesion was increased. Five other P. fluorescens strains were studied, and only one, MFP05, a strain isolated from human skin, showed structural differences of biofilm maturation after exposure to GABA. These results reveal that GABA can regulate the LPS structure and cytotoxicity of P. fluorescens, but that this property is specific to some strains.     

There is no outside: Empathy and authenticity in psychoanalytic process.

Within the relational revisioning of psychoanalysis, important questions have emerged concerning the compatibility or incompatibility of the empathic understanding so treasured by self psychology and the authentic participation championed by relational analysts more indebted to the interpersonalist and Kleinian traditions. Does remaining close to the patient's emotional perspective require the analyst to become dishonest or inauthentic? Or conversely, does authentic participation require an emotional distance incompatible with empathic understanding? The author argues for a clinical sensibility and a theoretical/philosophical orientation that renders authenticity and empathy not only compatible with but also necessary to each other. This solution proceeds not by an appeal to dialectic, paradox, or shifting listening perspectives, but rather by questioning the assumptions that create the apparent opposition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ultrasonic study of sintered SiC at low temperatures

We investigated the temperature dependence, at low temperaturs, of sound velocity in sintered silicon carbide samples, containing three different sintering additives, boron or beryllium oxide or aluminum nitride. It was found that samples containing AlN or B showed lnT dependence (T is the temperature) of sound velocity but the one with BeO did not. The slope of the lnT dependence, which is proportional to the density of states of two level tunneling systems (TLS), is much larger for SiC with AlN than that with B. This sequence and no lnT dependence in BeO, correlate with the solubility of these additives into SiC, suggesting that the TLS, at least in this case, are created by the additives in solid solutions in the crystals. The samples containing B were heat treated to allow grain growth as well as densification. The density of states of TLS in these samples (measured by the slope of the lnT dependence of velocity) increased as the grain size increased. This suggests that the TLS do not reside in grain boundaries and that B migrates from the grain boundaries (where it originally segregated) into the bulk, thus creating more TLS inside the grains.     

Fracture resistance of mineral reinforced polyamide 6

Tensile tests have been carried out over a wide range of test speeds on compact tension specimens of polyamide 6 containing spherical silica particles, whose size and content had been adjusted to give optimum impact performance in conventional impact tests after conditioning at 50% relative humidity. The tensile test results confirmed there to be a significant improvement in the high speed crack initiation resistance at room temperature and at high moisture contents on addition of the silica particles. However, at low moisture contents and/or temperatures well below the glass transition temperature, the crack initiation resistance was reduced. It is hence inferred that for the chosen silica particle distribution, toughening requires a certain minimum level of matrix ductility in order to be effective.     

Electron microscopy study of the microstructure of a hot-pressed silicon nitride

A microstructural investigation of a commercial hot-pressed silicon nitride variety is reported here; electron microscopy observations have been performed in attempt to precisely] characterize the microstructure of the material. In particular, grain boundary structures have been studied by transmission electron microscopy using bright and dark-field techniques; a typical amorphous phase has been revealed in triple junctions and along grain boundaries.     

Reply to Pariser (2005).

The author responds to Michael Pariser's critique (see record 2005-01622-013) of her original article (see record 2003-99989-005) by distinguishing between reduction and reductionism, by refusing to see philosophy and neuroscience as competitors, by rejecting the call to adapt psychoanalysis to the demands of managed care, and by using the ideas of Wittgenstein to point out the problems of too-facile translation between the languages of neuroscience and of emotional-relational experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Kohut and contextualism: Toward a post-Cartesian psychoanalytic theory.

This article portrays Heinz Kohut as a pivotal transitional figure in the development of a post-Cartesian, fully contextual psychoanalytic psychology. Despite his contextualization of narcissism and movement toward phenomenology and perspectivalism, remnants of Cartesian, isolated-mind thinking persisted in his metapsychology of the self and in his view of analytic empathy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Working intersubjectively: Contextualism in psychoanalytic practice": Reply to Curtis (1999).

Comments on R. C. Curtis's (see record 2003-01834-002) review of Working Intersubjectively: Contextualism in Psychoanalytic Practice (1997) by Donna M. Orange, George E. Atwood, and Robert D. Stolorow. Orange discusses the purposes and functions of scholarly citation and Curtis's misunderstanding of the authors' critique of technical rationality. Orange notes that their contextualism is not equivalent to the dialectical acceptance of opposites with which Curtis confuses it. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)