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The bottom-up construction and operation of mechanical machines of molecular size is a topic of great interest for nanoscience, and a fascinating challenge of nanotechnology. Like their macroscopic counterparts, nanoscale machines need energy to operate. Although most molecular motors of the biological world are fueled by chemical reactions, light is a very good choice to power artificial molecular machines because it can also be used to monitor the state of the machine, and allows systems to be obtained that show autonomous operation and do not generate waste products. By adopting an incrementally staged design strategy, photoinduced processes can be engineered within rotaxane-type structures with the purpose of obtaining light-powered molecular machines. In this short review we will illustrate such an approach by describing some systems investigated in our laboratories.

To meet the patient with a question – reflections on asking questions as a form of intervention in psychodynamic treatment of addicts In psychodynamic psychotherapy, asking questions has found its way into the treatment process as a psychotherapeutic technique. Some question forms are illustrated with examples and Adler's individual psychological question is further developed within the framework of a conflict-solution- centered approach in the treatment of addiction patients. The so-called conflict-solutioncentered question is presented as a form of intervention in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Within the framework of an active therapeutic attitude, on the one hand it can help reduce craving for addictive substances as pathological compromise formation and on the other hand, it can promote the development of the patient's structural abilities. Asking this question can help addiction sufferers to work out individual conflict solutions from their creative power and thus to prevent a relapse of addictive substances. As a result, asking the conflict-solution-centered question can help to ensure abstinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]