1 Synesthetic associations and psychopathological symptoms Marcel Necká Abstract Synesthesia in general is a phenomenon of intersensory and intrasensory linkage that may be observed in various conditions including artistic creativity and also manifests in conditions of various brain dysfunctions and injuries. Synesthesia is a phenomenon represented by transmodal associative connections that may represent a continuum from strong synesthetic phenomena to its mild forms that may enable creation of "synesthetic" metaphors. This study is focused on projective assessments of word-color association and their relationship to psychopathological measures reflecting stress, depression, dissociation and other psychometric measures in 154 participants selected from general population. The results are in agreement with previous reported studies suggesting that lighter colors are more frequently associated with positive emotional meanings. In addition the results indicate significant relationships of color- word associations to some specific words with depression, anxiety, alexithymia and symptoms of traumatic stress. These results are in ac-cordance with existing findings in context of the so-called metaphorical synesthesia where significant role might be attributed to color intensity. In this context, results of this...

Orientador: Carlos Francisco Sampaio Bonafé / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T11:09:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Norberto_DouglasRicardo_M.pdf: 4245356 bytes, checksum: 8a2d8041749dec81554527bd8729d8ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: A hemoglobina extracelular de Glossoscolex paulistus (eritrocruorina) foi investigada com respeito ao efeito da temperatura na dissociação induzida por alta pressão hidrostática. O aumento de temperatura e pressão induziu o processo de dissociação, como observado pela significativa diminuição da intensidade de espalhamento de luz. Tais informações foram confirmadas através de HPLC em gel filtração e microscopia eletrônica. Ocorreu uma redução dos valores de energia livre de Gibbs de dissociação indicando um processo predominantemente endotérmico. A variação de entalpia (?H) observada no processo foi de 27,82 MJ/mol de hemoglobina (Hb) e a de entropia (T?S), à temperatura de 293 K, de 23,91 MJ/mol de Hb. Foi encontrada uma redução da mudança de volume de dissociação (?V) de -78,20 para -10,44 mL/mol de subunidade de Hb. Em condições atmosféricas e temperatura de 293 K, a variação da energia interna de dissociação (?U) foi de 27,82 MJ/mol de Hb e da energia livre de Helmholtz, (?A), de 3,92 MJ/mol de Hb. Os resultados da dissociação oligomérica em alta pressão no intervalo de temperatura investigado mostraram a ocorrência de etapas distintas de mudança de estabilidade conformacional. Complementarmente, foi realizado um estudo das interações intersubunidades e da área de exposiçao da proteína ao solvente no processo de dissociação, permitindo a obtenção de importantes dados quantitativos no processo / Abstract: Glossoscolex paulistus extracelluar hemoglobin (erithrocruorin) was studied with respect of thermal effect on the dissociation induced by high hydrostatic pressure. The increase of temperature and pressure led to dissociation process, as observed by the significant decrease in the intensity of light scattering values. Such information was confirmed by HPLC gel filtration and electron microscopy. A predominantly endothermic process was observed with the reduction in the Gibbs free energy of dissociation. The enthalpy change (?H) obtained was of 27,82 MJ/mol of hemoglobin (Hb) and the entropy change (T?S), at a temperature of 273 K, 23,91 MJ/mol of Hb. The estimated volume change of dissociation (?V) decreased from -78,20 to -10,44 mL/mol of subunit of Hb. The change of internal energy of dissociation (?U), at atmospheric conditions and temperature of 293K, was of 27,82 MJ/ mol of Hb and the change of free energy of Helmholtz (?A) was of 3,92 MJ/mol of Hb. The results also indicated that the dissociation of oligomeric Hb at high pressure and at investigated temperature range occurs in distinct steps of conformational stability and allowed to obtain significant quantitative data in the process. In addition, it was studied the subunity interactions and related exposed area of the protein solvent dissociation, attempting to obtain an quantitative description of the process / Mestrado / Bioquimica / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

The Process Dissociation Procedure (PDP) and Verbal Report Framework (VRF) have demonstrated that both explicit (Explicit Adaptation, EA) and implicit processes (Implicit Adaptation, IA) contribute to visuomotor adaptation. However, the definition of EA is inconsistent across the two paradigms, such that the PDP refers to EA as reflecting one’s knowledge regarding how they have to reach in the novel visuomotor environment, while the VRF refers to EA as reflecting pre-planned aiming strategies. The objective of the current experiment was to compare EA as assessed via the PDP and VRF and hence provide insight into if they are assessing similar explicit processes. Sixty-one participants were evenly divided into three groups (PDP, VRF and VRF-No Cursor) and trained to reach in a virtual environment with an aligned cursor (1 block of 45 trials) and then a cursor rotated 40° clockwise (CW) relative to hand motion (3 blocks of 45 trials). EA and IA were assessed immediately following each block of rotated reach training trials, and again 5-minutes later. In the assessment trials, the PDP group reached while using any learned strategy (EA+IA), or while not engaging in a strategy (IA) and the VRF group reported their planned aiming direction by picking a number from an array of numbers surrounding the target (EA), before reaching to the target (EA+IA) with visual feedback. The VRF-No Cursor group completed the same assessment trials as the VRF group, but no visual feedback was presented during assessment of EA and IA. Following this, participants completed a post-experiment questionnaire and a drawing task to assess their awareness of the visuomotor rotation and changes in their reaches respectively. We found that all groups adapted their reaches to the 40° CW cursor rotation. As well, averaged across participants, the magnitude and retention of EA and IA were similar between the PDP and VRF groups. However, the magnitude of EA established via the VRF was not related to participants’ post-experiment awareness of the visuomotor distortion and how they had changed their reaches, as observed in the PDP and VRF No-Cursor groups. Together, these results indicate that, while the PDP and VRF suggest similar contributions of EA and IA to visuomotor adaptation, the methods of assessment engage different explicit processes. EA assessed within the VRF does not reflect one’s awareness of the visuomotor distortion at the end of the experiment or how they changed their reaches.

There are many identified factors that correlate with whether an individual experiences adverse symptoms following a traumatic event. Research indicates that betrayal, where the victim is betrayed by another individual, may be one of these factors. Betrayal Trauma Theory (BTT) posits that betrayal during trauma increases the likelihood of developing adverse psychological symptoms. BTT objectively dichotomizes traumas as high betrayal or low betrayal traumas based on details of the event. Though literature finds those who experience high betrayals experience more severe symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and dissociation than those who experience low betrayals, this objective classification is limited as it is based solely on the circumstances of the trauma and does not give the victim the option of indicating whether they felt betrayed. We believe perceptions of betrayal, whether the event meets the objective criteria of betrayal put forth by BTT or not, is an important predictor of trauma-related outcomes. This study (N = 244) found that perceived betrayal predicts symptoms of PTSD and depression independently, as well as when controlling for objective betrayal, dependence on the perpetrator, event centrality, anxiety, and dissociation. These findings indicate perceived betrayal is a unique construct that should be included in the operationalization of betrayal in future research. Objective betrayal is limited in that it is a permanent classification based on the circumstances of the traumatic event. Perceived betrayal, however, can be addressed and reduced by skilled clinicians and betrayal-specific treatments, thus reducing the effect betrayal has on trauma-related outcomes.

Tato práce se zabývá chováním huminových kyselin ve vodných roztocích a to především jejich disociací a rozpustností. Disociace huminových kyselin byla studovaná jejich částečným rozpuštěním ve vodě a v roztocích solí o různých iontových silách. Analyzované huminové kyseliny pocházely jak z lignitických tak i půdních zdrojů a jedna z nich byla upravena plazmatem. Metodami použitými při experimentech byla potenciometrie, konduktomerie a UV/VIS spektroskopie. Podle Henderson-Hasselbalchovy závislosti byly vypočítány zdánlivé disociační konstanty. Dále byly určeny zdánlivé aktivitní koeficienty kyselých funkčních skupin. Poté byla studovaná rozpustnost huminových kyselin ve vodných roztocích solí. Byly sestrojeny závislosti pH hodnot, vodivostí a absorbancí jak na obsahu huminových kyselin ve vzorku tak na iontové síle roztoku. Studována byla také kinetika disociace huminových kyselin. Získaná data byla srovnána s navrženou hypotézou předpokládající několikakrokový mechanismus disociace huminových kyselin. Chovaní všech vzorků huminových kyselin odpovídalo navrženému mechanismu. Bylo potvrzeno, že stupeň disociace huminových kyselin ve vodných roztocích klesá s rostoucím obsahem huminové kyseliny stejně tak jako ve vodných roztocích solí s rostoucí iontovou silou.

Humic acids are natural substances belonging to the group of humic substances. They arise mainly decomposition of plant residues. They are contained in soils, peat, sediments, young coal, water and even in the air. Humic acids are only partially soluble in water with increasing pH increases their solubility. Diploma thesis focuses on the use of chronopotentiometric titration of humic research. This method is mainly used for the determination of trace concentrations of analytes. This work is focused on the determination of acidity by potentiometric titration and the determination of dissociation constants using chronopotentiometry with measurement of pH of prepared samples.

L’étude de la cinétique de la photodissociation de l’eau assistée par lumière visible a été l’objectif principal de ce travail. En tant que matériau photo-excitable, le semi-conducteur SrTiO₃ dopé au Rh a été utilisé. Le dopage permet l’absorption de lumière visible et donc la transformation d’énergie solaire en combustibles chimiques. Le 1er Chapitre de cette thèse est consacré à une étude bibliographique couvrant les méthodes de caractérisation et les modèles de la cinétique photo-électrochimique. Le 2ème Chapitre traite la description des matériaux et méthodes expérimentaux. Le 3ème Chapitre concerne la caractérisation de la cinétique de la photodissociation de l’eau sur photo-électrodes à base de Rh:SrTiO₃, modifiées en surface par ajout d’un clathrochélate modèle, ou avec du Cu ou du Pt métalliques. Le 4ème Chapitre décrit une étude théorique du mécanisme de la réaction de dégagement d’hydrogène, catalysée par un clathrochélate modèle. Le spectre EXAFS du complexe a été analysé et modélisé, et les intermédiaires importants du mécanisme ont été mis en évidence. Le 5ème Chapitre est consacré à l’étude dynamique de photo-électrodes à base de Rh:SrTiO₃ en utilisant la technique de la photo-tension à lumière modulée. Ce Chapitre présente des résultats inattendus, qui sont rapportés pour la première fois. Ce comportement bizarre a été modélisé par un système d’équations différentielles usuellement utilisées pour décrire ce type de système photo-électrochimique. / The kinetics of water photo-dissociation assisted by visible light was the main topic of this work. The Rh doped SrTiO₃ semiconductor was employed as photo-excitable material. It can absorb visible light and therefore transform solar energy into useful chemical fuels. In this manuscript, a wide bibliographic overview is provided in the 1st Chapter, covering a description of the characterization methods and current models for photoelectrochemical kinetics. The 2nd Chapter is devoted to the description of the materials and methods. The 3rd Chapter deals with the full photoelectrochemical kinetic characterization of water splitting with Rh:SrTiO₃ photoelectrodes, surface-modified by addition of a model clathrochelate or with metallic Cu or Pt. In the 4th Chapter, a theoretical study of the mechanism of hydrogen evolution catalyzed by a model clathrochelate is provided. During the discussion, the EXAFS spectrum of the organometallic complex was thoroughly analyzed and modelled, and the relevant protonated intermediates involved in the mechanism were identified. The 5th Chapter deals with the photoelectrochemical dynamics of illuminated Rh:SrTiO₃ -based photo-electrodes, characterized by the light-modulated photovoltage technique. Unusual results were obtained and are reported in this thesis for the first time. This unexpected dynamic behavior has been modelled by a set of classical differential equations usually used to describe such photo-processes.

Depression and other mental disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide and their burden has increased considerably over past decades. However, advances in psychopharmacology of psychiatric disorders are not in measure with this negativ trend. As a result, a large body of researchinpsychiatryandneurosciencestries to furtherourunderstanding of pathophysiologicalmechanismsunderlyingmooddisorders andothermentalillnesses in order to improve the efficacy of current treatments and to identify new therapeutic agents. According to current evidence, stress-related pathways and inflammation processes are directly involved in thedevelopment of depressive disorder andseveral other psychiatric conditions.Thestudy of the effects and consequences of stress exposure requires an interdisciplinary approach,taking into account specific aspects of the "inputs", such as chronic stress and traumatic experiences, and related psychological processes, with the crucial role of dissociation. Following these theoretical findings, the empirical research performed in two cohorts of inpatients with depressive disorder focused on immune and endocrine responses to stress and their relationship to psychopathological symptoms, specifically trauma-related symptoms, psychic and somatoform dissociation and depressive...

Betrayal trauma theory (BTT) explains the relationship between a victim and perpetrator to be an especially critical factor for predicting adverse trauma outcomes; however, to date, there is no adequate measure to assess this relationship. We aimed to create a measure of reliance, here defined as dependence on another for food, clothing, finances, emotional support, and more. We utilized a new scale, the Reliance on Perpetrator Scale, to measure this construct. 397 participants completed a battery of questionnaires to measure reliance and 4 primary outcomes of interpersonal trauma exposure: PTSD symptoms, depression, event centrality, and dissociation. A series of exploratory principal components factor analyses provided evidence for a 3 factor solution for this scale, though visual examinations of scree plots and a parallel analysis indicated 2 factors. We ultimately chose to retain 2 factors: practical reliance and emotional dependence. We expected and achieved predictive validity such that practical reliance and emotional dependence were both highly positively correlated with all outcomes. We expected and achieved convergent validity such that positive affect and secure attachment were highly positively correlated with emotional dependence as measured by an existing scale. The current study replicated previous findings that high betrayal events—as opposed to low betrayal events—are often accompanied by worse outcomes. The results of a hierarchical regression model found that both subscales of the Reliance on Perpetrator scale predicted significant unique variance in all outcomes. In conclusion, the current study provides the first empirical evidence to support BTT's idea that the victim-perpetrator relationship plays an integral role in outcomes of interpersonal trauma and provides a more comprehensive way to measure this relationship.

This thesis presents research aimed at elucidating neurophysiological and neuropsychological correlates of two psychiatric disorders, schizophrenia and PTSD. Although psychiatric disorders are not traditionally known for featuring cognitive deficits, research over the past three decades has revealed that deficits in many aspects of cognitive functioning are present across a wide range of disorders. Here, we aim to further our understanding of these deficits and provide evidence of the clinical utility of neurophysiological correlates of cognitive dysfunction. The cause and course of cognitive deficits in PTSD is poorly understood, and an investigation of one potential explanatory mechanism, dissociative symptomatology, is presented in the first part of this thesis. Our results suggest that dissociative symptomatology plays a role in cognitive dysfunction in PTSD, as among the clinical variables tested (including PTSD symptomatology, dissociative symptoms, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms) dissociative symptoms were the only significantly correlated variables to cognitive dysfunction in a sample of combat-trauma exposed veterans with and without PTSD. In the second part of this thesis, we investigate the potential clinical utility of a neurophysiological biomarker for semantic processing deficits, the N400, in schizophrenia. Our results indicate that N400 measures are stable over a one week period and therefore may be clinically useful as a neurophysiological biomarker for semantic processing abnormalities in schizophrenia. Overall, these two studies contribute to our knowledge of cognitive deficits in psychiatric disorders and demonstrate their complexity as well as their potential to provide clinically useful tools to aid in the identification of novel treatments targeted at ameliorating cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and PTSD. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)