bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Procedure of safe handling with cytostatic drugs
Authors: Kodzo Dragan
Published: March 2009

Working group for safe handling with cytostatic drugs has been formed by the Ministry of Health, and it consists of professionals from IORS, Federal Bureau of Weights and Measures, Industrial Medicine, Institute of Hematology, Military Medical Academy, and Crown Agents. The aim of this working group is to prepare procedures for safe handling with cytostatic drugs, as well as program for educational seminar for nurses, medical technicians, and pharmaceutical technicians. The procedures will serve as a guide of good practice of oncology health care, and will refer to all actions that health care professionals carry out from the moment of drugs arrival to the pharmacy to the moment of their application. In the first segment of this procedure, general rules are given for working with cytotoxic agents, control for risky exposures, safe system of work, control of working environment, monitoring of the employees' health condition adequate protection in the working environment, protective equipment of the employees (gloves, mask, cap, eyeglasses, shoe covers, coats and chambers for vertical laminary air stream). Storing of cytostatics, procedure in case of accident, and waste handling and removal are also described in this segment. Fifty-three standard operational procedures are described in detail in the second segment. Training scheme for preparation of chemotherapy is given in the third segment - education related to various fields and practical part, which would be carried out through workshops, and at the end of the course participants would pass a test and obtain certificate. After the procedures for safe handling with cytostatics are legally regulated employer will have to provide minimum of protective equipment, special rooms for the drugs dissolving, chambers with laminar airflow, 6 hours working time, rotation of the staff working with drugs dissolving in intervals of every five years, higher efficiency, better health control. In conclusion this specific field of work requires great psychological and physical efforts, and know-how. When taking care of ourselves, we are taking care of the others, as well.
The influence of patients' education on quality of life: A single center experience
Authors: Djurdjevic Ana , Berat Svetlana , Milovic Ljiljana , Delic Svetlana
Published: March 2009

Background: Since 1998 an individual approach in patient's education has been applied at the Institute for Oncology and radiology of Serbia (IORS). Until now about 2500 patients have been informed and advised about the disease they were suffering from. Furthermore, education of patients and their family members is also ongoing at the IORS within European Education Program (EEP) "Learning to live with cancer". This program is based on popular lectures requiring multidisciplinary team consisting of physician, senior nurse, psychologist, nutritionist, defectologist, and social worker. At the IORS, more than 3000 patients were included in this work in groups within EEP. The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of patients' education on quality of life (QoL). Patients and methods: A hundred and five individuals were divided into three groups of study subjects: experimental cancer patients group (n=35), control cancer patients group (n=35) (who did not have organized education), and control healthy persons group (n=35). All three groups were matched regarding gender, age and education level. The Rotterdam Symptom Checklist was used for the assessment of QoL. Results: We found high correlation between the level of getting informed and total quality of life (r=0.330), physical dimension of quality of life (r=0.233) and poor correlation with psychic dimension of quality of life (r=0.215). All measures of QoL were significantly better in experimental patients' group than in control patients' group: physical dimensions (p<0.01), psychic dimension (p<0.01), functional ability (p<0.01), and total QoL p<0.01). Conclusion: Education significantly improves the quality of life in cancer patients. It seems to be a powerful weapon against the disease, and should be incorporated as an integral part of treatment plan.
The importance of continual education in the process of integration of young nurses
Authors: Delic Svetlana , Milovic Ljiljana , Milosevic Marijana
Published: March 2009

Background: Duty of a nurse-manager is to realize importance of integration of newly employed nurse for forming coherent, unique and efficacious team. Integration of newly employed nurses, especially those without working experience, includes acceptance of standards that have been already accepted by other employees. The aim of this investigation was to show the importance of integration, in the first place the education for further professional improvement of young nurses. Methodology: Each year, in September/October the Educative Program (EP) for young nurses is organized at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. The program consists of 24 hours of theoretical lectures, and of 28 hours of practical teaching. At the beginning and at end of EP, the written test for knowledge checking is obligatory for all participants. Results: From September 2001 till June 2002, a group of twenty-two young nurses with no working experience were employed on a full-time basis at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. The median age was 22 years (range: 20-24yers). Sixteen of them (73%) started attending the EP during 2002/2003. At the end of course all of them passes the written exam (half of attendees showed excellent results). Conclusion: Integration of young nurses mainly depends on the organization of continual education - the activity that has to become an obligation in all health institutions.
Use of magnetic resonance imaging for morphometric analysis of the caudal cranial fossa in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Authors: Carrera Inés , Dennis Ruth , Mellor Dominic J. , Penderis Jacques , Sullivan Martin
Published: March 2009

Objective—To perform morphometric analysis of the caudal cranial fossa in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs), to assess the relationship between caudal fossa dimensions and the frequency of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of occipital abnormalities in CKCSs (with and without syringomyelia), and to compare caudal cranial fossa measurements in CKCSs with measurements of 2 groups of mesaticephalic dogs.

Animals—70 CKCSs and 80 mesaticephalic (control) dogs.

Procedures—Dogs were placed into 4 groups as follows: Labrador Retrievers (n = 40), spaniel-type dogs (40; English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels), CKCSs with syringomyelia (55), and CKCSs without syringomyelia (15). Multiple morphometric measurements (linear, angular, and area) were obtained from cranial midsagittalT2-weighted magnetic resonance images including the brain and cervical portion of the spinal cord. Several specific MRI findings were also recorded for CKCSs that appeared to affect the occipital bone and cervicomedullary junction.

Results—No significant difference was identified among breeds in control groups and between sexes in any of the groups for all morphometric measurements. Significant differences were identified in CKCSs, compared with mesaticephalic dogs, in the area of the caudal cranial fossa and for several linear measurements that reflected the length of the ventral aspect of the occipital bone. These differences were greater in CKCSs with syringomyelia. All CKCSs had abnormalities in occipital bone shape.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—CKCSs had a shallower caudal cranial fossa and abnormalities of the occipital bone, compared with those of mesaticephalic dogs. These changes were more severe in CKCSs with syringomyelia.
Effect of long-term dietary supplementation with clinoptilolite on performance and selected serum biochemical values in dairy goats
Authors: Katsoulos Panagiotis D. , Zarogiannis Sotirios , Roubies Nikolaos , Christodoulopoulos Georgios
Published: March 2009

Objective—To determine the effect of dietary supplementation with clinoptilolite on health and production as well as serum concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins, macroelements and trace elements, and activities of hepatic enzymes in dairy goats.

Animals—72 Saanen-cross dairy goats.

Procedures—Goats were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. The clinoptilolite group (n = 36) received concentrate feed, of which 2.5% contained clinoptilolite; the control group (36) received unsupplemented feed. The experiment began 8 weeks before parturition and continued to the beginning of the next nonlactating period (280 days of lactation). At the day of parturition, kids were weighed. Milk yields were recorded at day 60 of lactation and thereafter at monthly intervals. Milk percentages of fat, protein, and lactose and somatic cell count (SCC) were evaluated at the same points. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning of the experiment, the day of parturition, and thereafter at monthly intervals to measure serum concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins, macroelements and trace elements, and activities of hepatic enzymes.

Results—Birth weights of triplets and quadruplets were significantly higher in clinoptilolite-treated goats versus control goats. Milk fat percentage was significantly higher and SCC was significantly lower in clinoptilolite-treated goats, compared with respective values in control goats. However, no changes in serum concentrations of any variable were detected.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In the context of this experiment, clinoptilolite supplementation of concentrate feed at 2.5% improved milk fat percentage in dairy goats, without adverse effects on the serum variables evaluated. Furthermore, the reduction of SCC achieved with clinoptilolite supplementation provided some evidence of improved milk hygiene.
Effects of in vitro exposure to hay dust on the gene expression of chemokines and cell-surface receptors in primary bronchial epithelial cell cultures established from horses with chronic recurrent airway obstruction
Authors: Ainsworth Dorothy M. , Matychak MaryBeth , Reyner Claudia L. , Erb Hollis N. , Young Jean C.
Published: March 2009

Objective—To examine effects of in vitro exposure to solutions of hay dust, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or β-glucan on chemokine and cell-surface receptor (CSR) gene expression in primary bronchial epithelial cell cultures (BECCs) established from healthy horses and horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO).

Sample Population—BECCs established from bronchial biopsy specimens of 6 RAO-affected horses and 6 healthy horses.

Procedures—5-day-old BECCs were treated with PBS solution, hay dust solutions, LPS, or β-glucan for 6 or 24 hours. Gene expression of interleukin (IL)-8, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2), IL-1β, toll-like receptor 2, toll-like receptor 4, IL-1 receptor 1, and glyceraldehyde 3–phosphate dehydrogenase was measured with a kinetic PCR assay.

Results—Treatment with PBS solution for 6 or 24 hours was not associated with a significant difference in chemokine or CSR expression between BECCs from either group of horses. In all BECCs, treatment with hay dust or LPS for 6 hours increased IL-8, CXCL2, and IL-1β gene expression > 3-fold; at 24 hours, only IL-1β expression was upregulated by > 3-fold. In all BECCs, CSR gene expression was not increased following any treatment. With the exception of a 3.7-fold upregulation of CXCL2 in BECCs from RAO-affected horses (following 6-hour hay dust treatment), no differences in chemokine or CSR gene expression were detected between the 2 groups. At 24 hours, CXCL2 gene expression in all BECCs was downregulated.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Epithelial CXCL2 upregulation in response to hay dust particulates may incite early airway neutrophilia in horses with RAO.
Identification of potential on-farm sources of Listeria monocytogenes in herds of dairy cattle
Authors: Mohammed Hussni O. , Stipetic Korana , McDonough Patrick L. , Gonzalez Ruben N. , Nydam Daryl V. , Atwill Edward R.
Published: March 2009

Objective—To elucidate the ecology of Listeria monocytogenes on dairy cattle farms by determining the prevalence of the organism in various samples.

Sample Population—Dairy cattle operations in central New York State.

Procedures—A repeated cross-sectional study design was used. Various samples were obtained from cattle (feces, composite udder milk, and udders), their environment (silage, feed bunks, water troughs, and floor bedding), inline milk filters, and bulk tank milk from 50 dairy farms. Samples were tested for L monocytogenes by use of a PCR assay with 2 steps of bacterial enrichment. Data were analyzed with mixed-effect logistic regression to control for the potential clustering of L monocytogenes on particular farms.

Results—L monocytogenes was detected in composite milk, udder swab samples, and fecal samples at prevalences of 13%, 19%, and 43%, respectively. There was no significant clustering of the pathogen by farm. Listeria monocytogenes was more common in samples obtained from cattle and the environment during winter and summer versus the fall. The prevalence of L monocytogenes was twice as high in samples obtained from feed bunks, water troughs, and bedding, compared with that in samples obtained from silage (65%, 66%, 55%, and 30%, respectively).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—L monocytogenes was more prevalent in samples obtained from dairy cattle and their environment than in milk samples. Strategies to control the pathogen in dairy operations should focus on cow hygiene and sanitary milk harvesting on the farm.
Effects of feline herpesvirus type 1 on tear film break-up time, Schirmer tear test results, and conjunctival goblet cell density in experimentally infected cats
Authors: Lim Christine C. , Reilly Christopher M. , Thomasy Sara M. , Kass Philip H. , Maggs David J.
Published: March 2009

Objective—To determine the effect of feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) on tear film breakup time (TFBUT) and Schirmer tear test (STT) values in cats with primary experimental infection and to determine the relationship betweenTFBUT and STT values and conjunctival goblet cell density (GCD).

Sample Population—9 specific-pathogen–free cats of approximately 6 months of age.

Procedures—6 cats were inoculated with FHV-1; 3 control cats were sham inoculated. Clinical and histologic evidence of conjunctivitis and TFBUT, GCD, and STT values were assessed at multiple times until postinoculation day (PID) 29.

Results—In infected cats, mean clinical and histologic conjunctivitis scores peaked at PID 7 and remained above baseline at PID 29. In control cats, these 2 variables did not change from baseline throughout the study. MeanTFBUT declined rapidly in infected cats up to PID 15 and at PID 29 remained less than baseline, less than for control cats, and below refer-ence range values. Mean STT value for infected cats at PID 29 was increased from baseline but was within the reference range and not different from the value for control cats. Mean GCD in infected cats declined precipitously by PID 7 and remained below reference range values at PID 29. Mean GCD in control cats remained unchanged for the duration of the study period.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—FHV-1 induced qualitative tear film abnormalities in experimentally infected cats, as measured by TFBUT and GCD. Assessment of TFBUT provided a reasonable clinical estimate of GCD.
Evaluation of the influence of melatonin implants during the gestation period in sheep from a selenium-deficient region
Authors: Andrés Santiago , Sánchez Joaquín , Jiménez Antonio
Published: March 2009

Objective—To evaluate the possible effect of melatonin implants on blood glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and in the prevention of selenium (Se)-responsive disorders in sheep from an Se-deficient region.

Design—Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Animals—100 Merino ewes.

Procedures—Ewes of the same age, parity, body weight, body condition, and reproductive and health history were randomly allotted to 1 of 2 groups (control and implanted) of 50 sheep each. Treatment consisted of implants of melatonin (18 g) administered SC in the pinna of the right ear 6 weeks prior to introduction of rams. The control group did not receive implants. Hematologic and serum biochemical analyses were performed at various points before and after treatment, in addition to determinations of erythrocyte mean corpuscular fragility (MCF) and blood GSHPx activity. The incidence of Se-responsive disorders in lambs was recorded in both groups.

Results—Hematologic and serum biochemical analyses yielded values within respective reference ranges for both groups. Significant differences between groups were evident in MCF at early mating (lower in the implanted group vs the control group) and in blood GSHPx activity at early mating, gestation, and early lambing (higher in the implanted group vs the control group). There were significantly fewer lambs with nutritional myodystrophy in the implanted versus the control group.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Use of melatonin implants in sheep may improve reproductive performance and yield an earlier start of breeding season. The stimulating effect of melatonin on GSHPx activity may protect against oxidative damage during the first stage of gestation.
Comparison of the analgesic properties of transdermally administered fentanyl and intramuscularly administered buprenorphine during and following experimental orthopedic surgery in sheep
Authors: Ahern Benjamin J. , Soma Lawrance R. , Boston Raymond C. , Schaer Thomas P.
Published: March 2009

Objective—To evaluate the analgesic properties of transdermally administered fentanyl and IM administered buprenorphine in sheep undergoing unilateral tibial osteotomy.

Animals—20 mature sheep.

Procedures—Fentanyl patches (n = 15 sheep) or placebo patches (5 sheep) were applied 12 hours before sheep underwent general anesthesia and a unilateral tibial osteotomy. Buprenorphine was administered to the placebo group every 6 hours commencing at time of induction. Signs of pain were assessed every 12 hours after surgery by 2 independent observers unaware of treatment groups.

Results—There were no differences in preoperative and intraoperative physiologic data between the 2 groups. Sheep treated with fentanyl required less preoperative administration of diazepam for sedation and had significantly lower postoperative pain scores, compared with those treated with buprenorphine. No complications associated with the antebrachium at the site of patch application were detected.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Under the conditions of this study, transdermally administered fentanyl was a superior option to IM administered buprenorphine for alleviation of postoperative orthopedic pain in sheep. This information can be used to assist clinicians in the development of a rational analgesic regimen for research and clinical patients.
Correction: Addison, C.C., et al. Psychometric Evaluation of a Coping Strategies Inventory Short-Form (CSI-SF) in the Jackson Heart Study Cohort. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2007, 4, 243-249.
Authors: Addison Clifton C. , Campbell-Jenkins Brenda W. , Sarpong Daniel F. , Kibler Jeffery , Singh Madhu , Dubbert Patricia , Wilson Gregory , Payne Thomas , Taylor Herman
Published: March 2009

We found some errors in Table 4 in our paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health recently [1]. Table 4 is corrected as follows: [...]
Antecedents and Covariates of Alcohol Consumption among Swiss Male Conscripts
Authors: Mueller Mario , Kipke Ingo , Frey Franz , Rossler Wulf , Lupi Gianpiero , Vetter Stefan
Published: March 2009

This study aimed to investigate prevalence and correlates of alcohol consumption frequency in a sample of Swiss conscripts (n=25,611) in order to identify factors that predispose for frequent consumption. A self-report of drinking frequencies, as well as socio-demographic and psychosocial variables, was collected at psychiatric baseline screening. Based on univariate analyses, relevant variables were included in a multivariate multinomial logistic regression model. Six percent were abstainers, 15% reported rarely drinking, 53% occasional drinking, 24% regular drinking and 2% daily drinking. Except for substance use, most associations followed a “J”-shaped curve across the categories of alcohol frequency. Abstinence and frequent drinking can be perceived as deviations from the social norm. Both behaviors are associated with more psychosocial stressors and might be therefore special targets for further studies and new prevention programs.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Initiation of Smoking in Greek High-School Students
Authors: Sichletidis Lazaros T. , Chloros Diamantis A. , Tsiotsios Anastasios I. , Spyratos Dionisios G.
Published: March 2009

The smoking habits of 9,276 high-school students (15-18 years old) in six cities of Northern Greece were studied using a questionnaire in order to determine the prevalence and possible risk factors for initiation of smoking. We observed that 29.6% of high-school students (32.6% of boys and 26.7% of girls) were current smokers. A percentage of 43.3% had started smoking before the age of 14. Reactive behaviour towards parents’ and teachers’ advice (40.2%) and the existence of smoking friends (40.1%) were the main reasons of initiation. A well-planned integrated anti-smoking campaign is urgently required, especially among students and teachers.
Hypoglycemic Effects of Crude Polysaccharide from Purslane
Authors: Gong Fayong , Li Fenglin , Zhang Lili , Li Jing , Zhang Zhong , Wang Guangyao
Published: March 2009

The effects of crude polysaccharide from Purslane (CPP) on body weight (bw), blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), triglyceride (TG) and serum insulin levels were studied in diabetes mellitus mice. CPP treatment (200, 400 mg/kg bw) for 28 days resulted in a significant decrease in the concentrations of fasting blood glucose (FBG), TC and TG. Furthermore, CPP significantly increased the concentration of HDL-c, body weight and serum insulin level in the mice. In addition, according to acute toxicity studies and single cell gel electrophoresis analysis, CPP did not produce any physical or behavioral signs of toxicity. More significantly, our data demonstrated CPP exhibited the best effects at the dose of 400 mg/kg bw. The above results suggest that CPP can control blood glucose and modulate the metabolism of glucose and blood lipids in diabetes mellitus mice, so we conclude that CPP should be evaluated as a candidate for future studies on diabetes mellitus.
Multiple, but Concerted Cellular Activities of the Human Protein Hap46/BAG-1M and Isoforms
Authors: Gehring Ulrich
Published: March 2009

The closely related human and murine proteins Hap46/BAG-1M and BAG-1, respectively, were discovered more than a decade ago by molecular cloning techniques. These and the larger isoform Hap50/BAG-1L, as well as shorter isoforms, have the ability to interact with a seemingly unlimited array of proteins of completely unrelated structures. This problem was partially resolved when it was realized that molecular chaperones of the hsp70 heat shock protein family are major primary association partners, binding being mediated by the carboxy terminal BAG-domain and the ATP-binding domain of hsp70 chaperones. The latter, in turn, can associate with an almost unlimited variety of proteins through their substrate-binding domains, so that ternary complexes may result. The protein folding activity of hsp70 chaperones is affected by interactions with Hap46/BAG-1M or isoforms. However, there also exist several proteins which bind to Hap46/BAG-1M and isoforms independent of hsp70 mediation. Moreover, Hap46/BAG-1M and Hap50/BAG-1L, but not the shorter isoforms, can bind to DNA in a sequence-independent manner by making use of positively charged regions close to their amino terminal ends. This is the molecular basis for their effects on transcription which are of major physiological relevance, as discussed here in terms of a model. The related proteins Hap50/BAG-1L and Hap46/BAG-1M may thus serve as molecular links between such diverse bioactivities as regulation of gene expression and protein quality control. These activities are coordinated and synergize in helping cells to cope with conditions of external stress. Moreover, they recently became markers for the aggressiveness of several cancer types.
Corrrelation of the Specific Rates of Solvolysis of Ethyl Fluoroformate Using the Extended Grunwald-Winstein Equation
Authors: Seong Mi Hye , Kyong Jin Burm , Lee Young Hoon , Kevill Dennis N.
Published: March 2009

The specific rates of solvolysis of ethyl fluoroformate have been measured at 24.2 °C in 21 pure and binary solvents. These give a satisfactory correlation over the full range of solvents when the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation is applied. The sensitivities to changes in the NT solvent nucleophilicity scale and the YCl solvent ionizing power scale, and the kF/kCl values are very similar to those for solvolyses of n-octyl fluoroformate, consistent with the addition step of an addition-elimination pathway being rate-determining. For methanolysis, a solvent deuterium isotope effect of 3.10 is compatible with the incorporation of general-base catalysis into the substitution process. For five representative solvents, studies were made at several temperatures and activation parameters determined. The results are also compared with those reported earlier for ethyl chloroformate and mechanistic conclusions are drawn.
Synthesis of 3-(phenylazo)-1,2,4-triazoles by a nucleophilic reaction of primary amines with 5-chloro-2,3-diphenyltetrazolium salt via mesoionic 2,3-diphenyltetrazolium-5-aminides
Authors: Araki Shuki , Hirose Satoshi , Konishi Yoshikazu , Nogura Masatoshi , Hirashita Tsunehisa
Published: March 2009

The reactions of a 5-chloro-2,3-diphenyltetrazolium salt with amines have been examined. In the presence of an inorganic base such as NaHCO3, primary and secondary amines undergo a nucleophilic substitution to give the corresponding 5-aminotetrazolium salts. When triethylamine is used as a base, primary amines give 3-phenylazo-1,2,4-triazoles. A plausible dual-path mechanism is proposed for the formation of the triazoles via Type B mesoionic tetrazolium-5-aminides.
MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF ALTERNATING ELECTROMAGNETIC AND HYDRODYNAMIC FIELDS, INDUCED BY BAR TYPE CONDUCTORS IN A CYLINDER
Authors: Buikis Andris , Buligins Leonids , Kalis Harijs
Published: March 2009

The heating of buildings by ecologically clean and compact local devices is an interesting and actual problem. One of the modern areas of applications developed during last ten years is an effective usage of electrical energy by alternating current to produce heat energy. This work presents the mathematical model of one of such devices. It is a finite cylinder with viscous incompressible liquid and with metal electrodes of the form of bars placed parallel to the cylinder axis in the liquid. These conductors are connected to the alternating current.
COMPARISON OF FINITE‐DIFFERENCE SCHEMES FOR THE GROSS‐PITAEVSKII EQUATION
Authors: Trofimov Vyacheslav A. , Peskov Nikolai
Published: March 2009

A conservative finite‐difference scheme for numerical solution of the Gross‐Pitaevskii equation is proposed. The scheme preserves three invariants of the problem: the L 2 norm of the solution, the impulse functional, and the energy functional. The advantages of the scheme are demonstrated via several numerical examples in comparison with some other well‐known and widely used methods. The paper is organized as follows. In Section 2 we consider three main conservation laws of GPE and derive the evolution equations for first and second moments of a solution of GPE. In Section 3 we define the conservative finite‐difference scheme and prove the discrete analogs of conservation laws. The remainder of Section 3 consists of a brief description of other finite‐difference schemes, which will be compared with the conservative scheme. Section 4 presents the results of numerical solutions of three typical problems related to GPE, obtained by different methods. Comparison of the results confirms the advantages of conservative scheme. And finally we summarize our conclusions in Section 5.
NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF HYPERBOLIC HEAT CONDUCTION EQUATION
Authors: Čiegis Raimondas
Published: March 2009

Hyperbolic heat conduction problem is solved numerically. The explicit and implicit Euler schemes are constructed and investigated. It is shown that the implicit Euler scheme can be used to solve efficiently parabolic and hyperbolic heat conduction problems. This scheme is unconditionally stable for both problems. For many integration methods strong numerical oscillations are present, when the initial and boundary conditions are discontinuous for the hyperbolic problem. In order to regularize the implicit Euler scheme, a simple linear relation between time and space steps is proposed, which automatically introduces sufficient amount of numerical viscosity. Results of numerical experiments are presented.
RESULTS FOR SIXTH ORDER POSITIVELY HOMOGENEOUS EQUATIONS
Authors: Garbuza Tatjana
Published: March 2009

We consider positively homogeneous the sixth order differential equations of the type x (6) = h(t, x), where hpossesses the property that h(t, cx) = ch(t, x) for c ≥ 0. This class includes the linear equations x (6) = p(t)x and piece‐wise linear ones x (6) = k 2 x+ - k 1 x− . We consider conjugate points and angles associated with extremal solutions and prove some comparison results.
NONLINEAR SPECTRA: THE NEUMANN PROBLEM
Authors: Gritsans Armands , Sadyrbaev Felix
Published: March 2009

Eigenvalue problems of the form x” = −λf(x+ ) + μg(x− ), x‘(a) = 0, x' (b) = 0 are considered. We are looking for (λ,μ) such that the problem (i), (ii) has a nontrivial solution. This problem generalizes the famous Fučík problem for piece‐wise linear equations. In our considerations functions f and g may be nonlinear. Consequently spectra may differ essentially from those for the Fučík equation.
IDENTIFICATION OF MICROSTRUCTURED MATERIALS BY PHASE AND GROUP VELOCITIES
Authors: Janno Jaan , Engelbrecht Jüri
Published: March 2009

An inverse problem to determine parameters of microstructured solids by means of group and phase velocities of wave packets is studied. It is proved that in the case of normal dispersion the physical solution is unique and in the case of anomalous dispersion two physical solutions occur. Numerical tests are presented.
ON FULLY DISCRETE COLLOCATION METHODS FOR SOLVING WEAKLY SINGULAR INTEGRAL EQUATIONS
Authors: Kangro Raul , Kangro Inga
Published: March 2009

A popular class of methods for solving weakly singular integral equations is the class of piecewise polynomial collocation methods. In order to implement those methods one has to compute exactly certain integrals that determine the linear system to be solved. Unfortunately those integrals usually cannot be computed exactly and even when analytic formulas exist, their straightforward application may cause unacceptable roundoff errors resulting in apparent instability of those methods in the case of highly nonuniform grids. In this paper fully discrete analogs of the collocation methods, where integrals are replaced by quadrature formulas, are considered, corresponding error estimates are derived.
ON DEPENDENCE OF SETS OF FUNCTIONS ON THE MEAN VALUE OF THEIR ELEMENTS
Authors: Raitums Uldis
Published: March 2009

The paper considers, for a given closed bounded set M ⊂ R m and K = (0,1) n ⊂ R n , the set M = {h ϵ L2 (K;R m ) | h(x) ϵ M a.e.x ϵ K} and its subsets It is shown that, if a sequence {hk } ⊂ coM converges to an element hk ϵ M(hk ) there is h‘k ϵ M(ho ) such that h'k - hk → 0 as k → ∞ . If, in addition, the set M is finite or M is the convex hull of a finite set of elements, then the multivalued mapping h → M(h) is lower semicontinuous on coM.
ON NUMERICAL REALIZATION OF QUASIOPTIMAL PARAMETER CHOICES IN (ITERATED) TIKHONOV AND LAVRENTIEV REGULARIZATION
Authors: Raus Toomas , Hämarik Uno
Published: March 2009

We consider linear ill‐posed problems in Hilbert spaces with noisy right hand side and given noise level. For approximation of the solution the Tikhonov method or the iterated variant of this method may be used. In self‐adjoint problems the Lavrentiev method or its iterated variant are used. For a posteriori choice of the regularization parameter often quasioptimal rules are used which require computing of additionally iterated approximations. In this paper we propose for parameter choice alternative numerical schemes, using instead of additional iterations linear combinations of approximations with different parameters.
PPF-reinforced, ESP-lightened gypsum plaster
Authors: García Santos A.
Published: March 2009

A new construction material has been obtained by adding aggregate to gypsum plaster which, without reducing the bending strength of plain gypsum plaster without aggregates, lowers its density, and consequently the weight of the construction elements made from the agglomerated material, by half.The aggregates used were expanded polystyrene beads and short polypropylene fibre.The new material addresses one of the issues of cardinal interest in construction materials and construction element research, namely the need to lighten materials so as to ease the burden on buildings’ bearing structures while facilitating assembly of construction units, by a single worker wherever possible.With a water / binder ratio of 0.7 and 2% (by weight of plaster) of expanded polystyrene and 2% of polypropylene fibre aggregates, the decline in density achieved was 50,88% over plain gypsum plaster and 32.88% over plasterboard.
Mechanical behaviour of steel fibre-reinforced alkali activated slag concrete
Authors: Bernal S. , Mejía de Gutiérrez R. , Rodríguez E. , Delvasto S. , Puertas F.
Published: March 2009

This study addressed the mechanical behaviour of a steel fibre-reinforced alternative concrete made from waterglass (Na2SiO3.nH2O+NaOH)- activated Colombian blast furnace slag. The mixes studied were prepared with 400 kg of cement and the fibres were added in proportions of 40 and 120 kg per cubic metre of concrete. 7-, 14- and 28-day concrete was tested for compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strength. The results obtained showed that adding steel fibre to alkaline concrete lowered early age compressive strength, and that this decline was more intense with rising volumes of steel. Flexural and splitting tensile strength grew, however, enhancing the toughness of the material. As a general rule, the mechanical strength of the plain and fibre-reinforced alkaline concretes studied was higher than exhibited by conventional ordinary Portland cement concrete prepared with similar proportions of cement and fibre.
Conformationally Homogeneous Heterocyclic Pseudotetrapeptides as Three‐Dimensional Scaffolds for Rational Drug Design: Receptor‐Selective Somatostatin Analogues
Authors: Beierle John M. , Horne W. Seth , van Maarseveen Jan H. , Waser Beatrice , Reubi Jean Claude , Ghadiri M. Reza
Published: March 2009

Amid‐Ersatz: Ein 1,4‐disubstituiertes 1,2,3‐Triazol fungierte als Ersatz für eine trans‐Amidbindung zur Erstellung einer Bibliothek von 16 diastereomeren Pseudotetrapeptiden als β‐Turn‐Mimetika. Eine Strukturanalyse bei hoher Auflösung zeigte, dass diese Gerüste charakteristische starre β‐Turn‐artige Strukturen mit homogener Konformation einnehmen (siehe Beispiel), von denen einige selektiv an Somatostatinrezeptoren binden und einige eine Breitbandaktivität zeigen.

magnified image
Polyketide‐Chain Branching by an Enzymatic Michael Addition
Authors: Kusebauch Björn , Busch Benjamin , Scherlach Kirstin , Roth Martin , Hertweck Christian
Published: March 2009

A new “branch” for polyketide synthases was discovered in the biosynthesis of the antimitotic rhizoxin complex in the endofungal bacterium Burkholderia rhizoxinica. Genetic engineering and the structural elucidation of pathway intermediates revealed that a complex polyketide chain is branched at the β position by an unprecedented conjugate addition of an acetyl building block to an acryloyl precursor (see scheme).

magnified image
Konzept zum Nachweis der Erdbebengefährdung von Querschutzbauwerken in Wildbächen
Authors: Strauss Alfred , Bergmeister Konrad , Wendner Roman , Hübl Johannes , Rudolf‐Miklau Florian
Published: March 2009

Schutzbauwerke sind ein Bestandteil der Wildbachverbauung und können je nach ihrer Bedeutung beispielsweise in Schlüsselbauwerke oder Standardbauwerke und je nach ihrer Funktion in Dosier, Rückhaltesperren, Filter etc. differenziert werden. Für diese unterschiedlichen Sperrentypen gibt es zahlreiche Überlegungen bezüglich Einwirkungsarten und Einwirkungskombinationen, jedoch wurde bisher kaum die Erdbebenbeanspruchung innerhalb eines Kombinationslastfalls beim Entwurf von Wildbachsperren untersucht. Da diese jedoch für Staubecken eine Leiteinwirkung darstellt, liegt es nahe, den Einfluss dieses Nachweises auf die Bemessung zu untersuchen. Das Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es daher, (a) Verfahren für den vereinfachten Erdbebennachweis von Sperren der Klasse III (Wildbachsperren) zu zeigen, (b) auf probabilistischer Ebene die Notwendigkeit eines Erdbebennachweises im Vergleich mit den zur Zeit praktizierten Bemessungsansätzen zu prüfen und (c) ein für den Praktiker einfach handhabbares Instrument zur Bestimmung der Notwendigkeit eines Erdbebennachweises, z. B. in Form von Karten, zur Verfügung zu stellen.
Concepts of Intentional Control
Authors: Kröber Hans‐Ludwig
Published: March 2009

Whether a perpetrator with a mental disorder was able to act according to his insight into the unlawfulness of the intended act, or whether his ability to control his drives and criminal intentions was severely diminished, is a central aspect of legal responsibility as defined by the German penal code. This article aims to give the legal concept of capacity to control an empirical, psychological background. This concept is intrinsically interwoven with motivation, conscious decision‐making and volition as well as with the ability to convert intention into action. For neuroscientific research, it is important to have a valid psychological model of decision making. This article presents a psychological model of intentional action control and the problem of deactualization. It proposes a differentiation between the executive and the motivational capacities of controlling one's decisions and actions, each of which can separately be disturbed by various mental disorders. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of forensic psychiatry in mental health systems in Europe
Authors: Nedopil Norbert
Published: March 2009

Background Forensic psychiatry at first glance seems to differ from one country to another due to different historical developments, different legal systems and different mental health systems. In spite of that, forensic psychiatry has several goals shared across countries, principally:

assurance of treatment for severely mentally ill people who become delinquent;

giving evidence to courts in cases when the offender's mental responsibility is in question;

working effectively at the interface of the law and psychiatry, and, in so doing, working well with other clinical and non‐clinical professionals in the field;

preventing relapse of offenders with mental disorder.

In order to achieve these goals, special knowledge and skills must be developed, especially in assessment and management of violence and sexual deviance and of the risk of these behaviours, incorporating techniques developed in neighbouring disciplines.

One of the greatest challenges in the development of forensic psychiatry lies in its relationship with general psychiatry. It is arguable that the specialization of psychiatry into sub‐specialties has lead to loss of some skills in general psychiatry and to a ‘forensification’ of people who would previously have been treated as general psychiatry patients.

Aims In partnership, however, general and forensic psychiatrists could potentially achieve more than either group on its own: They could better

prevent people with mental illness from becoming offenders

prevent people with mental illness from becoming victims of crime

intervene in the vicious circle from victim to perpetrator

assess young people at risk for antisocial behaviour and protect them from becoming criminals

Clinical research on these topics is just beginning and this article argues for a close integration of forensic psychiatry into the wider mental health system and for a more intensive exchange of knowledge and skills from forensic psychiatry to general psychiatry and vice versa. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular Crystals Under High Pressure: Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of the Solid–Solid Phase Transitions in [Co2(CO)6(XPh3)2] (X=P, As)
Authors: Casati Nicola , Macchi Piero , Sironi Angelo
Published: March 2009

Under pressure: The changes occurring in [Co2(CO)6(XPh3)2] species at high pressure and low temperature have been investigated by experimental X‐ray diffraction and ab initio periodic calculations. The transformation of the carbonyl conformation (from staggered to eclipsed; see figure) and the compression/expansion of the CoCo bond have been carefully analysed.

magnified image

An accurate analysis of the solid‐state structural transformations occurring in species of the general formula [Co2(CO)6(XPh3)2] (X=P, As) by experimental X‐ray diffraction under non‐ambient conditions (on variation of pressure or temperature) and by ab initio theoretical modelling is presented. After a crystal‐to‐crystal phase transition, the conformation of carbonyl ligands about the CoCo bond changes from staggered to (almost) eclipsed. The analysis of high‐pressure and low‐temperature structures sheds light on the peculiar behaviour of the metalmetal bond, the most flexible in the molecule, which is initially compressed, then elongated due to increased intra‐carbonyl repulsion and eventually compressed again. Theoretical calculations in the solid state allow the thermodynamic quantities of the transformation to be computed and prediction of the distortions produced by the external stress. The change in molecular symmetry is induced by the increase in the high internal energy associated with the staggered carbonyl conformation, which does not allow efficient packing if the crystalline volume is reduced. The eclipsed conformer, though much less stable in isolation, guarantees better entanglement between molecules.
Pharmacological Promiscuity: Dependence on Compound Properties and Target Specificity in a Set of Recent Roche Compounds
Authors: Peters Jens‐Uwe , Schnider Patrick , Mattei Patrizio , Kansy Manfred
Published: March 2009

What parameters determine promiscuity? A compound's potential for promiscuity (pharmacological activity at multiple targets) may be influenced by molecular parameters such as ionization state, lipophilicity, and molecular weight. In an analysis of recent Roche compounds we found that a positive charge is an important determinant for potential promiscuity; aminergic activity was found to be the main reason for overt promiscuity.

magnified image

The term “pharmacological promiscuity” describes a compound's pharmacological activity at multiple targets. Pharmacological promiscuity is undesired in typical drug discovery projects, which focus on the “one drug–one target” paradigm. Off‐target activity can lead to adverse drug reactions, or can obscure pharmacodynamic effects in animal models. Therefore, advanced lead compounds, pharmacological tool compounds, and drug candidates are usually screened against panels of safety‐relevant targets to detect unwanted pharmacological activities. To identify determinants of pharmacological promiscuity, we compared the panel screening outcomes of 213 recent Roche compounds with their molecular properties. Pronounced promiscuity was not observed below a threshold Clog P value of 2. For basic compounds, the propensity for weak off‐target activity was found to increase with calculated basicities, whereas the potential for strong off‐target activity depends more qualitatively on the presence of a positive charge at physiological pH. Compounds originating from projects with an aminergic receptor or transporter as a therapeutic target are particularly prone to promiscuity; the promiscuity of such compounds is mainly caused by their activity at other aminergic targets in the screening panel.
Integral transform solution of the Navier–Stokes equations in full cylindrical regions with streamfunction formulation
Authors: Silva C. A. M. , Macêdo E. N. , Quaresma J. N. N. , Pereira L. M. , Cotta R. M.
Published: March 2009

A hybrid numerical–analytical solution based on the generalized integral transform technique is proposed to handle the two‐dimensional Navier–Stokes equations in cylindrical coordinates, expressed in terms of the streamfunction‐only formulation. The proposed methodology is illustrated in solving steady‐state incompressible laminar flow of Newtonian fluids in the developing region of a circular tube. The flow modeling also considers two limiting inlet conditions, namely, uniform velocity profile representing a parallel flow, and zero vorticity that characterizes irrotational inlet flow. The integral transform analysis for such a full cylindrical region brings up singularities at the channel centerline, and, as previously described in a work dealing with the boundary‐layer formulation, a way to alleviate this difficulty is to adopt a recently introduced fourth‐order eigenvalue problem as the basis for the eigenfunction expansion. A thorough convergence analysis of the proposed expansion is then undertaken, for different values of Reynolds number, and a set of reference results for the velocity distributions and friction factors are then presented in tabular and graphical forms. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effective elastic parameters of the periodic fibrous composites with random fibers according to the perturbation approach with response function
Authors: Kamiński Marcin
Published: March 2009

The main issue that is addressed in this paper is the application of the probabilistic homogenization method to periodic composites with random geometrical parameters. It is possible: thanks to the perturbation method based on Taylor expansion technique combined with numerical determination of the response function relating the effective parameters with the random input parameter. The whole computational procedure is build on the plane strain analysis of the finite element method performing the homogenization procedure according to the effective modules method (program MCCEFF); the symbolic computations system MAPLE is employed for the stochastic perturbation analysis. Probabilistic moments are determined on the basis of partial derivatives for the homogenized elasticity tensor calculated using symbolically determined response function method with respect to the fiber radius. The numerical methodology worked out may be further successively applied not only in the context of homogenization method but also to extent of various discrete computational techniques such as boundary/finite element, finite differences or finite volume methods and the various meshless strategies, also for the structural sensitivity analysis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.