bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rehabilitation of Executive Functioning After Focal Damage to the Cerebellum
Authors: Schweizer Tom A. , Levine Brian , Rewilak Dmytro , O'Connor Charlene , Turner Gary , Alexander Michael P. , Cusimano Michael , Manly Tom , Robertson Ian H. , Stuss Donald T.
Published: July 2007

Executive dysfunction accounts for significant disability in patients with many types of brain injury in many locations. Clinical reports have described impaired executive functioning after damage to the cerebellum, and anatomical and neuroimaging studies have identified the likely basis for this effect: a cortico—ponto—cerebellar network through which the cerebellum is densely connected to areas of frontal cortex. The patterns of executive impairment attributable to cerebellar damage have been extensively described in the past 15 years, but there has been no assessment of the efficacy of rehabilitation in this patient population. Here, the use of a cognitive rehabilitation technique, Goal Management Training, in a patient with persisting executive dysfunction after a right cerebellar hemorrhage is described. The patient made and maintained modest gains on measures of sustained attention, planning, and organization that translated into significant improvement in real-life functioning. This is the first report on the rehabilitation of impaired executive functioning following focal damage to the cerebellum and in the presence of intact frontal cortex.
Low glucose level and low pH alter the electrochemical function of human parietal pleura
Authors: Kouritas V. K. , Hatzoglou C. , Foroulis C. N. , Hevas A. , Gourgoulianis K. I. , Molyvdas P. A.
Published: July 2007

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether low glucose and pH level, which are usually measured in complicated pleural effusions, alter the electrochemical function of healthy human parietal pleura.

Parietal pleural pieces were stripped from 66 patients during thoracic surgery and were mounted in Ussing chambers. Krebs’ solutions containing different glucose levels (0, 40 and 100 mg) and balanced at different pH levels (7.4, 7.3 and 7.2) were added to the pleural cavity surface of the pieces. Transmesothelial potential difference was measured at various time-points as an electrophysiological variable and transmesothelial resistance (RTM) was calculated using Ohm's law.

When normal-glucose Krebs at pH 7.45 was used,RTMremained unchanged over time, but when low-glucose Krebs was used,RTMdecreased. Krebs without glucose caused the greatest decrease inRTM. Use of low-pH Krebs decreasedRTM. The lower the pH of the Krebs, the faster the decrease inRTMand the greater the effect. The decrease inRTMwas greater with low-pH than with low-glucose Krebs. Low glucose and low pH caused an additive decrease inRTM.

Low glucose concentration and low pH cause alteration of the electrochemical function of human parietal pleura and could act as agents that lead to further exudate progression.
COPD prevalence in a random population survey: a matter of definition
Authors: Shirtcliffe P. , Weatherall M. , Marsh S. , Travers J. , Hansell A. , McNaughton A. , Aldington S. , Muellerova H. , Beasley R.
Published: July 2007

A recent American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society joint Task Force report recommends using a lower limit of normal (LLN) of forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity as opposed to a fixed ratio of <0.7 to diagnose airflow obstruction, in order to reduce false positive diagnoses of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as defined by the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). To date, there is no reliable spirometry-based prevalence data for COPD in New Zealand and the effect of different definitions of airflow obstruction based on post-bronchodilator spirometry is not known.

Detailed written questionnaires, full pulmonary function tests (including pre- and post-bronchodilator flow–volume loops) and atopy testing were completed in 749 subjects recruited from a random population sample.

The GOLD-defined, age-adjusted prevalence (95% confidence interval) for adults aged ≥40 yrs was 14.2 (11.0–17.0)% compared with an LLN-defined, age-adjusted, post-bronchodilator prevalence in the same group of 9.0 (6.7–11.3)%.

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease varied markedly depending on the definition used. Further research using longitudinal rather than cross-sectional data will help decide the preferred approach in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence surveys.
Patient-reported outcomes in schizophrenia
Authors: McCabe Rosemarie , Saidi Marya , Priebe Stefan
Published: July 2007

Background

Patient-reported outcomes are increasingly used to evaluate the care of people with schizophrenia

Aims

To review established and emerging patient-reported outcomes in schizophrenia research, assessment tools and key findings

Method

A non-systematic review addressing relevant constructs, the associated scales and key empirical findings

Results

Patient-reported outcomes in schizophrenia relate either to evaluation of illness and benef it from treatment or to resilience of the self. Of the former, needs for care, treatment satisfaction and the therapeutic relationship are most common. Less common are symptoms, insight, attitude towards medication, and clinical communication. Increasing expectations of treatment have led to new measures assessing resilience of the self, including empowerment, self-esteem, sense of coherence and recovery Scores of different patient-related outcomes overlap and are influenced by a general tendency, largely influenced by mood, for more or less positive appraisal

Conclusions

The conceptual and empirical basis for different patient-reported outcomes varies, with most data available for treatment satisfaction. More than one such outcome should be used only if there is a specific hypothesis. For new patient-reported outcomes, relative independence from existing constructs should be demonstrated
Hospitalisation as an outcome measure in schizophrenia
Authors: Burns Tom
Published: July 2007

Background

People with schizophrenia comprise the majority of patients with severe mental illness recruited to recent mental health service studies of new teams (e.g. assertive outreach, crisis resolution). Reduction in hospitalisation has been the most consistent outcome measure in these studies, but results are inconsistent

Aims

To understand inconsistency of results from studies using hospitalisation as an outcome measure

Method

The advantages and disadvantages of hospitalisation are explored, including the ways in which it is recorded. Regional variation in outcomes and the impact of control services are reviewed

Results

Hospitalisation has face validity as an outcome but translates poorly between differing healthcare contexts. These variations can be exploited positively to distinguish potentially effective ingredients in community care (outreach, combined health and social care, team structure) from redundant components

Conclusions

Hospitalisation is a good proxy outcome measure in schizophrenia care in randomised controlled trials, but the dangers of extrapolating to new contexts require care
Health economic measures in schizophrenia research
Authors: McCrone Paul
Published: July 2007

Background

It is essential in economic evaluations of schizophrenia interventions that all relevant costs are identified and measured appropriately Also of importance is the way in which cost data are combined with information on outcomes

Aims

To examine the use of health economicsin evaluations of interventions for schizophrenia

Methods

Areview of the key methods used to estimate costs and to link costs and outcomes was conducted

Results

Costs fall on a number of different agencies and can be short term or long term. Cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-utility analysis are the most appropriate methods for combing cost and outcome data

Conclusions

Schizophrenia poses a number of challenges for economic evaluation
Outcome measures in early psychosis
Authors: Singh Swaran P.
Published: July 2007

Background

Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is considered an important predictor of short-term clinical outcome

Aims

To explore the evolution of the concept of DUP, synthesise the evidence for its predictive value, highlight the problems in measurement, and consider the potential pitfalls of using DUP as a measure of the effectiveness of early intervention services

Method

A survey of recent literature was conducted

Results

Several studies and two systematicreviews confirm that DUP has a robust but moderate effecton outcome in schizophrenia. Studies vary widely in how DUP is defined and measured, since identifying precise time points when psychosis emerges and remits is conceptually ambiguous and clinically difficult

Conclusions

Standardised measurement of DUP is a vital first step in allowing comparisons between studies. Duration of untreated psychosis is a relevant measure only of the early detection function of early intervention services
Adverse effects of antipsychotics as outcome measures
Authors: Hamer Samantha , Haddad Peter M.
Published: July 2007

Background

Antipsychotic drugs are associated with adverse effects that can lead to poor medication adherence, stigma, distress and impaired quality of life

Aims

To review the use of adverse effects of antipsychotic drugs as outcome measures, with a particular emphasis on methodological issues

Method

Review of data on adverse effects from sources including randomised controlled trials (RCTs), post-marketing surveillance and naturalistic studies

Results

All have advantages and disadvantages and the best overview comes from considering all sources of data together. Adverse effects are inconsistently reported, hampering cross-study comparisons. Many outcome measures lack clinical meaning. In both naturalistic studies and RCTs adverse effects often account for less treatment discontinuation than lack of efficacy

Conclusions

Standardisation in the reporting of adverse effects is needed. Patients' subjective experience of medication should be given more consideration. Total discontinuation rates provide a useful global outcome measure that incorporates tolerability and efficacy as well as patient and clinician viewpoints. Patients should be informed of common side-effects prior to treatment and monitored for their occurrence during treatment
Symptom rating scales and outcome in schizophrenia
Authors: Mortimer Ann M.
Published: July 2007

Background

Symptom rating scales are now well established in schizophrenia research buttheir scores are notthe same as outcome

Aims

To appraise the usefulness of symptom rating scales in evaluating the outcome of people with schizophrenia

Method

Literature on the use of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) in schizophrenia research was studied

Results

Scales were designed to make diagnoses, to categorise patients, syndromes or both, and to demonstrate antipsychotic efficacy, as well as to measure outcome. There is much redundancy both between and within scales. Early work suggests limited concurrent validity with external outcome variables. Data are at best ordinal and there are particular difficulties in equating outcome with percentage changes in scores. The concept of remission, which uses absolute item score thresholds with a duration criterion, is a promising outcome measure

Conclusions

Symptom rating scale scores can only comprise a limited part of outcome measurement. Standardised remission criteria may present advantages in outcome research
Measurement of long-term outcomes in observational and randomised controlled trials
Authors: Hodgson Richard , Bushe Chris , Hunter Robert
Published: July 2007

Background

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for evaluating treatment efficacy. However, the outcomes of RCTs often lackclinical utility and usually do not address real-world effectiveness

Aims

To review how traditional RCTs may be triangulatedwith other methodologies such as observational studies and pragmatic trials by highlighting recently reported studies, outcomes used and their respective merits

Method

Literature review focusing on drug treatment

Results

Recently reported observational and some pragmatic studies show a degree of consistency in reported results and use outcomes that have face validity for clinicians

Conclusions

No single experimental paradigm or outcome provides the necessary data to optimise treatment of mental illness in the clinical setting
Long-acting injectable risperidone v. olanzapine tablets for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
Authors: Keks Nicholas A. , Ingham Michael , Khan Akbar , Karcher Keith
Published: July 2007

Background

The efficacy and safety of long-acting injectable risperidone have not been compared with those of an oral atypical antipsychotic.

Aims

To compare long-acting risperidone and oral olanzapine in 377 patients with DSM–IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Method

Patients were randomised to receive long-acting risperidone (25 mg or 50 mg every 14 days) or olanzapine (5–20 mg/day).

Results

In the 13-week phase, long-acting risperidone was at least as effective as (not inferior to) oral olanzapine. In the 12-month phase, significant improvements in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total and factor scores from baseline to month 12 and end-point were seen in both groups of patients. Few patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse event.

Conclusions

Both treatments were efficacious and well tolerated.
Cortical white-matter microstructure in schizophrenia
Authors: Andreone N. , Tansella M. , Cerini R. , Versace A. , Rambaldelli G. , Perlini C. , Dusi N. , Pelizza L. , Balestrieri M. , Barbui C. , Nosè M. , Gasparini A. , Brambilla P.
Published: July 2007

Background

Several, although not all, of the previous small diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) studies have shown cortical white-matter disruption in schizophrenia.

Aims

To investigate cortical white-matter microstructure with DWI in a large community-based sample of people with schizophrenia.

Method

Sixty-eight people with schizophrenia and 64 healthy controls underwent a session of DWI to obtain the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of white-matter water molecules. Regions of interest were placed in cortical lobes.

Results

Compared with controls, the schizophrenia group had significantly greater ADCs in frontal, temporal and occipital white matter (analysis of covariance, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our findings confirm the presence of cortical white-matter microstructure disruption in frontal and temporo-occipital lobes in the largest sample of people with schizophrenia thus for studied with this technique. Future brain imaging studies, together with genetic investigations, should further explore white-matter integrity and genes encoding myelin-related protein expression in people with first-episode schizophrenia and those at high risk of developing the disorder.
Manifest disease and motor cortex reactivity in twins discordant for schizophrenia
Authors: Schürmann Martin , Järveläinen Juha , Avikainen Sari , Cannon Tyrone D. , Lönnqvist Jouko , Huttunen Matti , Riitta Hari
Published: July 2007

Schizophrenia is often associated with difficulties in distinguishing between actions of self and of others. This could reflect dysfunction of the mirror neuron system which directly matches observed and executed actions. We studied 11 people with schizophrenia and their co-twins without manifest disease, using stimulus-induced changes in the magnetoencephalographic $20 Hz rhythm as an index of activation in the motor cortex part of the mirror neuron system. During action observation and execution, motor cortex reaction was weaker in those with schizophrenia than in their co-twins, suggesting a disease-related dysfunction of motor cognition.
Ethnicity and the Mental Health Act 1983
Authors: Singh Swaran P. , Greenwood Nan , White Sarah , Churchill Rachel
Published: July 2007

Background

Black and minority ethnic (BME) patients are disproportionately detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. There has been no systematic exploration of differences within and between ethnic groups, nor of the explanations put forward for this excess.

Aims

To systematically review detention and ethnicity, with meta-analyses of detention rates for BME groups, and to explore the explanations offered for ethnic differences in detention rates.

Method

Literature search and metaanalysis. Explanations offered were categorised, supporting literature was accessed and the strength of the evidence evaluated.

Results

In all, 49 studies met inclusion criteria; of these, 19 were included in the meta-analyses. Compared with White patients, Black patients were 3.83 times, BME patients 3.35 times and Asian patients 2.06 times more likely to be detained. The most common explanations related to misdiagnosis and discrimination against BME patients, higher incidence of psychosis and differences in illness expression. Many explanations, including that of racism within mental health services, were not supported by clear evidence.

Conclusions

Although BME status predicts psychiatric detention in the UK, most explanations offered for the excess detention of BME patients are largely unsupported.
Doctor, What Are My Chances of Having a Positive Sentinel Node? A Validated Nomogram for Risk Estimation
Authors: Bevilacqua José Luiz B. , Kattan Michael W. , Fey Jane V. , Cody Hiram S. , Borgen Patrick I. , Van Zee Kimberly J.
Published: July 2007

Purpose

Lymph node metastasis is a multifactorial event. Several variables have been described as predictors of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. However, it is difficult to apply these data—usually expressed as odds ratios—to calculate the probability of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis for a specific patient. We developed a user-friendly prediction model (nomogram) based on a large data set to assist in predicting the presence of SLN metastasis.

Patients and Methods

Clinical and pathologic features of 3,786 sequential SLN biopsy procedures were assessed with multivariable logistic regression to predict the presence of SLN metastasis in breast cancer. The model was subsequently applied to 1,545 sequential SLN biopsies. A nomogram was created from the logistic regression model. A computerized version of the nomogram was developed and is available on the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY) Web site.

Results

Age, tumor size, tumor type, lymphovascular invasion, tumor location, multifocality, and estrogen and progesterone receptors were associated with SLN metastasis in multivariate analysis. The nomogram was accurate and discriminating, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.754 when applied to the validation group.

Conclusion

Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients are increasingly interested in information about their disease. This nomogram is a useful tool that helps physicians and patients to accurately predict the likelihood of SLN metastasis.
Congestive Heart Failure in Older Women Treated With Adjuvant Anthracycline Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
Authors: Pinder Mary C. , Duan Zhigang , Goodwin James S. , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Giordano Sharon H.
Published: July 2007

Purpose

Limited data are available on long-term cardiac safety of adjuvant anthracycline chemotherapy in breast cancer patients over age 65 years. We evaluated rates and predictors of congestive heart failure (CHF) in this population.

Patients and Methods

We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Medicare database and included women with no history of CHF who were age 66 to 80 years and diagnosed with stage I to III breast cancer from 1992 to 2002. Cumulative rates of CHF were estimated, and multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with the development of CHF.

Results

A total of 43,338 women were included. Anthracycline-treated women were younger, with fewer comorbidities and more advanced disease than women who received nonanthracycline or no chemotherapy (P < .001 for each). The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for CHF was 1.26 (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.42) for women aged 66 to 70 treated with anthracycline compared with other chemotherapy. For women aged 71 to 80, adjuvant chemotherapy type was not associated with CHF. The following baseline characteristics were significant predictors of CHF: age (HR, 1.79 per 10 years; 95% CI, 1.66 to 1.93), black race (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.30 to 1.50), trastuzumab treatment (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.77), hypertension (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.39 to 1.52), diabetes (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.66 to 1.83), and coronary artery disease (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.39 to 1.79). Left-sided radiotherapy did not confer an elevated risk of CHF (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.11).

Conclusion

Women aged 66 to 70 years who received adjuvant anthracyclines had significantly higher rates of CHF. The difference in rates of CHF continued to increase through more than 10 years of follow-up.
Near Infrared Analysis as a First-Line Screening Technique for Identifying Animal Species in Rendered Animal by-Product Meals
Authors: De la Haba M.J. , Garrido-Varo A. , Pérez-Marín D.C. , Guerrero J.E.
Published: July 2007

The only official method currently available for the identification of feed ingredients in mixtures and compound feedingstuffs is inspection by optical microscopy (OM). From October 2003, the EU adopted Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 governing animal by-products (ABPs), which seeks to address the possible risks inherent in recycling potential infectivity due to the absence of barriers within species and to exclude the cannibalism which may be induced by intra-species recycling. The main aim of the present work was to develop and validate near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy chemometric models for the identification of the animal species in ABPs. A total of 352 meat and bone meal (MBM) samples from different species ( n = 80 pure poultry MBM, 75 pure pork MBM and 197 mixtures of cattle MBM with other species) were scanned using a monochromator instrument equipped with a transport module. The total sample set was split into a training set ( n = 234) and a validation set ( n = 118). Various mathematical and scatter correction treatments were tested and used to develop two different PLS2 discriminant models: Model I, to discriminate between ruminant and non-ruminant meals; and Model II, to discriminate between poultry by-product meal, pork meal and a mixture of cattle meal with other species. All models yielded SECV values approaching 0.2 and over 95% correct classification in the training step; whereas in the validation step, approaching 90% (Model I and II) of samples were correctly classified. The methodology presented here, based on discriminant analysis of NIR spectra, for use as a “first line of defence” in identifying animal species in rendered ABP meals, provides a reliable, fast and affordable means of enforcing legislation concerning the ban on MBM.
Pinus Taeda L. Wood Property Calibrations Based on Variable Numbers of near Infrared Spectra per Core and Cores per Plantation
Authors: Schimleck Laurence R. , Tyson Justin A. , Jones P. David , Peter Gary F. , Daniels Richard F. , Clark Alexander
Published: July 2007

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides a rapid, non-destructive method for the estimation of several wood properties of increment cores. NIR spectra are collected from adjacent sections of the same core; however, not all spectra are required for calibration purposes as spectra from the same core are autocorrelated. Previously, we showed that wood property calibrations that included a single spectrum per core were almost as successful when used to predict the wood properties of sections of new cores, as calibrations based on multiple, consecutive spectra per core. However, it is not known, for calibration purposes, how many NIR spectra should be collected per core, nor how many cores are required to represent a plantation. In this study, we demonstrate that it is unnecessary to use NIR spectra from every section of a core for calibration development. One spectrum per core adequately represents it, provided that sections from other cores representing juvenile, mature and the juvenile/mature wood transition are included in the calibration set. Calibration and prediction statistics can be slightly improved by increasing the number of spectra per core from one to between three and five, with the addition of further spectra unnecessary. For the plantations examined in this study, a minimum of seven cores per plantation is recommended. Increasing the number of cores per plantation to ten (the maximum) is unnecessary and the small improvement is not worth the cost.
Spectrophotometric Otoscope: A New Tool in the Diagnosis of Otitis Media
Authors: Schmilovitch Zeev , Alchanatis Victor , Shachar Menashe , Holdstein Yehud
Published: July 2007

Otitis media is one of the most common childhood ailments and, therefore, has a significant impact on public healthcare expenditure. The initial diagnosis is usually performed by a primary-care physician and is based upon otoscopy and symptomatology; the certainty of diagnosis of acute otitis media is only 58–73%. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a spectrophotometer-based system in identifying otitis media by comparing the output from the system with the clinical diagnosis of an experienced otologist and, hence, to evaluate the system as a diagnostic aid to primary-care physicians. The study was prospective and double blind. An otologist examined 258 patients consecutively with an oto-microscope and all of the patients were simultaneously examined with a spectrometer-based data acquisition system incorporated in a standard otoscope. The otologist's diagnosis served as a “gold standard”. The acquired data were analysed by means of partial least squares regression. The system correctly differentiated acute otitis media from serous otitis media and normal ears with sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 88%. The sensitivity and specificity were 89 and 95%, respectively, in a subset of subjects aged 12 y or less. Spectrophotometry was found to be a highly accurate means of diagnosing acute otitis media. We consider that it will become an important diagnostic aid for primary care physicians.
Determination of the Activation Energy for Desorption by Derivative Thermogravimetric Analysis
Authors: Li Xiang , Guo Hai-Fu , Chen Hua-Ming
Published: July 2007

A method using derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) was proposed for estimating the activation energy for the desorption of low volatile compounds on activated carbon. For such purposes, a fast Fourier-transform (FFT) filter was adapted to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the DTG response curve. A series of TG experiments were carried out to determine the respective TG spectra of dibenzofuran and 1-hexanol desorbed from NORIT RB1, NORIT PK and Chemviron BPL activated carbons, from which DTG curves were calculated. DTG spectra filtered using FFT allowed the corresponding activation energies for the desorption of dibenzofuran and 1-hexanol from the three activated carbons to be estimated. A relationship with the microporosity was found indicating that the narrower the mean pore diameter of an activated carbon, the higher was the activation energy for desorption.
Appraisal of Mixed Amorphous Manganese Oxide/Titanium Oxide Sorbents for the Removal of Strontium-90 from Solutions, with Special Reference to Savannah River Site and Chernobyl Radioactive Waste Simulants
Authors: Kirillov Sviatoslav A. , Lisnycha Tetiana V. , Pendelyuk Oksana I.
Published: July 2007

Hydrous, amorphous manganese oxide/titanium oxide composites (AMTO) obtained via template synthesis using alkali metal ions as templates have been characterized. Their applicability in remediation technologies has been tested, specifically for 90Sr removal from Savannah River Site high-level waste supernatants (SHLW) and Chernobyl 4th Block Shelter water (CSW) simulants. Sorption isotherms were used to establish the efficiency of the templating process, while the proton-exchange capacity of AMTO was determined to show that the solids were really protonated. Use of the 90Sr isotope showed that there was little dependence of the distribution coefficients for AMTO on pH, and at pH < 7, i.e., in neutral and acidic media, AMTO had a much greater affinity for strontium than commercial sorbents. Tests with SHLW and CSW simulants revealed that AMTO is capable of removing more than 99% of 90Sr from such wastes. Hence, it could be useful for solving decontamination problems.
Equilibrium and Kinetic Modelling of Phenol Adsorption onto Mixtures of Tar Sands and Titania
Authors: Zeatoun Lua'y
Published: July 2007

The isotherms and kinetics of adsorption of phenol onto mixtures of physically-activated tar sands and titania were studied at 298 K. Three kinetic models, i.e., pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion, were applied to fit the experimental data. The best fit was obtained with the pseudo-second-order model. The kinetic parameters were determined to allow the calculation of phenol uptake as function of time. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were employed to determine the adsorption capacities for different initial pH values of the solution. The effects of the particle size of the adsorbent and the initial pH of the solution on the removal of phenol were investigated.
Thin Layer Chromatographic Studies of the Adsorption Behaviour of Amino Acids through a Static Soil Phase
Authors: Mohammad Ali , Haq Nazrul
Published: July 2007

Thin layer chromatography (TLC) has been used as an analytical technique for the identification and monitoring of the adsorption behaviour of 27 amino acids through a static soil flat bed in contact with aqueous solutions of an inorganic electrolyte (ammonium sulphate) and an organic non-electrolyte (urea) at different concentration levels.

Certain amino acids showed salting-out and/or salting-in effects over a limited ammonium sulphate concentration range. Using differential adsorption, it was possible to separate closely related amino acids from their mixtures on the soil bed using 0.1 M solutions of ammonium sulphate and urea. In addition to the simultaneous separation of glycine from arginine and glutamic acid, mutual separations of amino acids having non-polar side-chains from amino acids having charged or ionic polar side-chains (basic and acidic) are worthy of mention.

The effects of particle size, activation temperature, irradiation of the soil by γ-rays and the pH of the soil bed on the mobility sequence of the amino acids were also examined. The most fascinating aspect of the present study was the adsorption behaviour of amino acids in the presence of cationic, anionic and non-ionic surfactants at different concentration levels.
Co-Adsorption of Alkylphenols and a Non-Ionic Surfactant onto Bentonite
Authors: Barhoumi Mondher , Beurroies I. , Denoyel R. , Saïd H. , Hanna K.
Published: July 2007

The influence of a non-ionic surfactant on the adsorption behaviour of alkylphenols onto bentonite was studied via measurements of their adsorption isotherms in the absence and presence of various concentrations of the surfactant. Irrespective of the presence of the surfactant, the alkylphenols were always adsorbed by the same mechanism. However, on adding the non-ionic surfactant TX100 to the medium, the adsorption properties were modified in a manner which depended on the alkyl chain length of the alkylphenol molecule. The longer the chain length, the weaker the influence of the TX100 surface aggregates on the adsorption behaviour. In terms of the relative hydrophobicity of these molecules, this behaviour is unexpected. However, it may be due in part to the adsorbing properties of the alkylphenols that are capable of self-aggregating at the bentonite/water interface and in part to the limited swelling capacity of the TX100 micelles or surface micelles. Partition coefficients between aqueous solution and surface aggregates were determined and compared with those calculated for the bulk micelles.
Synthesis and Kinetics of Generation of MMS/MFI Materials Prepared on the Basis of Ti-Aerosil
Authors: Khomenko K.M. , Rudneva A.V. , Oranskaya E.I.
Published: July 2007

The one-stage bitemplate synthesis method for obtaining mesoporous zeolite-containing materials was used to prepare Ti-aerosil (Ti-MZ). The formation kinetics and the textural features of this material were also studied. The products were characterized by IR spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption methods. Hydrothermal processing (HTP) for relatively short time periods (ca. 8 h) led to the formation of zeolite nano-domains in the amorphous titanium-silica matrix exhibiting perfect two-dimensional hexagonal packing without destruction of the mesopore framework. Increasing HTP time was accompanied by the formation of a highly crystalline zeolite framework in the titanium-silica matrix which exhibited increasing microporosity accompanied by the destruction of the mesoporous framework.
Studies of Ni/Kaolinite Catalysts for the Hydrogenation of Toluene
Authors: ElShafei G.M.S. , Zaki T. , Eshaq Gh. , Riad M.
Published: July 2007

No mention appears to have been made in the literature to the use of kaolinite as a support for nickel catalysts in the hydrogenation of toluene. In this study, kaolinite-supported Ni catalysts (1–7 wt%) were prepared and characterized, and their activity in the catalytic hydrogenation of toluene at atmospheric pressure established.

XRD, DSC, N2 adsorption and TPR methods were used as characterization techniques. XRD revealed that interaction occurs between the Ni species and the support at low Ni content (up to 3 wt%) but decreases as the Ni loading increases. This results in an increase in the number of Ni active sites with increased Ni loading and is reflected in the catalytic activity towards toluene conversion into methylcyclohexane, which increased as the Ni content of the catalyst increased.

Modification by post-impregnation with KNO3 or Zn(NO3)2 (2–6 wt% K or Zn) affected the extent of interaction between the Ni species and the support. Thus, the catalytic activity increased in the presence of 2 wt% modifier (K or Zn). However, at higher levels of modification (4 and 6 wt%), the catalytic activity decreased relative to that for the unmodified sample containing the same Ni loading. This loss in catalytic activity increased as the modifier content increased. Furthermore, in the presence of K as a modifier, the decrease in toluene conversion was accompanied by a shift in the temperature of maximum conversion from 200°C for the unmodified sample to a value of 250°C. This was attributed to the covering of the Ni active sites by some incompletely decomposed KNO3.
Vibration Control of a Wind-Excited Benchmark Tall Building with Complex Lateral-Torsional Modes of Vibration
Authors: Tse K. T. , Kwok K. C. S. , Hitchcock P. A. , Samali B. , Huang M. F.
Published: July 2007

This paper describes a proposed wind-excited benchmark tall building incorporating three-dimensional lateral-torsional modes of vibration, which is typical of a significant number of modern tall buildings. A series of wind tunnel pressure tests were conducted on a 1:400 scale model to determine the translational and torsional wind forces acting on the benchmark building. A finite element model was also constructed and mass, damping, and stiffness matrices were subsequently formulated as an evaluation model for numerical analysis. The evaluation model was further simplified to a state reduced-order system (ROS) using the state order reduction method. A numerical vibration control example was conducted to demonstrate the suppression of the wind-induced three-dimensional lateral-torsional motions using a bi-directional tuned mass damper (TMD) incorporating two magnetorheological (MR) dampers, one in each orthogonal direction, to act as a semi-active control system, referred to as a smart tuned mass damper (STMD). The optimal control forces generated by the MR dampers were obtained through the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) to minimize the storey accelerations. The formulation details, methodology and numerical simulation results are outlined in this paper.
Lateral Load-Carrying Capacity of Continuous Masonry Wall Supported on RC Frame
Authors: Liang Xing-Wen , Li Bo , Li Xiao-Wen
Published: July 2007

A continuous masonry wall supported on an RC frame operates as a transfer storey in a masonry building with the RC frame at its foot. It is necessary to study its earthquake-resistant behaviour and a design method. In this paper, pseudo-static tests of seven 1/2 scale model specimens of continuous masonry wall supported on an RC frame have been conducted, and the failure mechanism and the hysteretic behaviour of the model specimens under the combined actions of vertical and cyclic horizontal loads have been observed. Based on the maximum-principal-stress criterion, formulas for the lateral load-carrying capacity of a masonry wall have been developed. The calculated values are found to be consistent with those of the model tests.
Simplified Calculation Approach of Torsionally Coupled Seismic Response for Base-Isolated Eccentric Structures
Authors: Li Hong-Nan , Li Ying , Wu Xiang-Xiang
Published: July 2007

More and more applications exist of base-isolated buildings. So far much attention has been paid to the improvement of design approaches. In this paper, the equation of motion is derived for a torsionally coupled base-isolated structure under the action of seismic ground motion. Based on numerical analyses of the structure, torsional responses and influencing parameters have been investigated and some rules obtained for sites with different soils, in which the superstructure is idealized as a series-rigid floor model, while the isolation system adopts the Bi-linear resilience curve. Applying the method of least squares to the numerical results, three simplified formulae have been produced to approximately calculate the torsional seismic accelerations of base-isolated structures. The results calculated by the practical method proposed in this paper approximate to those obtained by time history analyses. It is shown that the method is of good accuracy in comparative terms and suffices for the needs of engineering designs for base-isolated eccentric structures with rubber bearings under earthquake action.
Mean Wind Pressure Coefficients on Surfaces of Gable-Roofed Low-Rise Buildings
Authors: Quan Yong , Tamura Yukio , Matsui Masahiro
Published: July 2007

To build an aerodynamic database for low-rise buildings, a series of pressure measurement wind tunnel tests were carried out on flat-, gable- and hip-roofed low-rise buildings in a simulated suburban wind field. Contours of statistics of point wind pressure coefficients on surfaces of the buildings were then drawn and disclosed on a website. The present study focuses on the mean wind pressure coefficients on roofs and walls of gable-roofed low-rise buildings for wind parallel or perpendicular to the roof ridges. The effects of building geometric parameters, height/breadth ratios, depth/breadth ratios and roof pitches, on the mean wind pressure coefficients on the building surfaces, which were sorted into four kinds of surfaces, upwind & downwind roof surfaces, crosswind surface, windward surface and leeward surface, are discussed. Based on these discussions, some new equations of the mean wind pressure coefficients are fitted as functions of building geometric parameters and the veracity of these fitted equations are compared with present test results and literatures.
The Importance of Genesis 1-3 in the Theology of Irenaeus
Authors: Jacobsen Anders-Christian
Published: July 2007

The narratives of creation and fall in Genesis chapter 1-3 plays a determining role in the theology of Irenaeus. In these narratives he founds his positive evaluation of the material reality which he sets up against the gnostics' negative evaluation of the material existence. In the theology of Irenaeus creation and consummation, anthropology and soteriology is closely connected. The central aim of his theological work is to make it clear what Man was meant to be, what He was and is, and what He will be. Man was never what God had thought Him to be, because He sinned. According to Irenaeus Man will be perfect when He some times in the future will be what God in the beginning had meant Him to be. The Fall of Man made history the history of salvation: God will make Man perfect through a process of healing. In the light of this, it is understandable that the stories of creation and fall play a very important role in the theology of Irenaeus. The idea of Man's creation in the image and likeness of God is especially important to Irenaeus: Through the process of creation and salvation God tries to impress his picture on Man.
Bishops and Monks in Late Antique Society
Authors: Patrucco Marcella Forlin
Published: July 2007

It's well known that the ancient history of the Christian monasticism was the sum of a wide variety of specific conditions, characters, requirements and influences – of cultural, social, doctrinal kind – as well as of organisational models: they co-existed in different forms of experimentation because of the diversity of times, places, contexts, men, and more often – it must be added – of the literary genres through which we are able to study them.
Eine übersehene Textvariante in den Oden Salomos (OdSal 36,1a)
Authors: Lattke Michael
Published: July 2007

Bei der Bearbeitung von Ode 36, die im dritten und abschließenden Band meines Kommentars erscheinen wird (NTOA 41/3), stieß ich auf eine äußerst wichtige Textvariante, die bisher völlig übersehen wurde. Bisher wurde 36,1a stets folgendermaßen übersetzt: „I rested on the Spirit of the Lord“ – „Ich ruhte mich aus auf dem Geiste des Herrn“ – „Je me suis reposé sur l'Esprit du Seigneur“. Diese Übersetzung basiert vor allem auf der in Kodex Nitriensis klar bezeugten Lesart der Präposition

(ՙal) ohne Suffix (N 150v, Z. 20). Dieselbe Lesart wird seit der editio princeps von Harris auch für Kodex Harris angenommen. Ich selbst habe beim Kollationieren dieses Kodex im Jahre 1977 in Manchester nicht bemerkt, daß diese Annahme dem handschriftlichen Text (H 26a, Z. 9) nur zum Teil gerecht wird. Sonst hätte ich in meiner ausführlichen Beschreibung von H aufdecken müssen, daß

(ՙal) offenbar von derselben Hand zu

(ՙlay) verbessert wurde, indem der in Serṭō geschriebene Finalbuchstabe -l der Präposition ՙal durch überschreibende Einfügung des Finalbuchstabens -y (Suffix 1. Sing.) nun auch nach links verbunden wurde (also -l-).
Die 2003-Kampagne des archäologischen Phrygien-Surveys der Universität Heidelberg, Ein kurzer Vorausbericht
Authors: Lampe Peter
Published: July 2007

Nach den ersten beiden Kampagnen der Jahre 2001 und 2002 (siehe ZAC 6, 2002, 117-120 und 7, 2003, 156-159) wurden im August und September 2003 in der türkischen Provinz Uşak in den beiden neu entdeckten, zwölf Kilometer voneinander entfernt liegenden Siedlungskammern, die als Pepouza und (u.a. durch Inschriftenfund) als Tymion identifiziert wurden, nachfolgende Arbeitsschritte durchgeführt.
Determination of the Fatigue Resistance of HVOF Thermal Spray WC-CoCr Coatings by Means of Impact Testing
Authors: David Constantine , Anthymidis Konstantinos , Agrianidis Pavlos , Tsipas Dimitrios
Published: July 2007

Impact testing is an efficient experimental procedure that enables the determination of the fatigue resistance of mono- and multi-layer coatings deposited on various substrates, which was not possible with the common testing methods previously available. In this paper an advanced impact tester, able to assess the fatigue failure resistance of coatings working under cyclic loading conditions, is presented. The fatigue failure of the tested coatings was determined by means of scanning electron, optical microscopy, and EDX analysis. The test results are recorded in diagrams containing the impact load versus the number of successive impacts that the examined coatings can withstand. From the experimental results it was concluded that a hard, wear resistant HVOF thermal spray WC-CoCr coating deposited on P91 steel substrate presents a high fatigue resistance.
Kalibriernormal für Geräte der registrierenden Härteprüfung (Standard for Calibration of Instruments of Hardness Testing)
Authors: Frühauf Joachim , Gärtner Eva , Herrmann Konrad , Menelao Febo
Published: July 2007

Es wird ein Silizium-Federsystem mit integriertem Anschlag vorgestellt, das sich als Maßverkörperung von Kraft und Weg zur Kalibrierung von Geräten der registrierenden Härteprüfung eignet. Nominalwerte von Anschlagsauslenkung und dazu notwendiger Kraft sind 25 μm bzw. 425 mN. Das Normal hat eine exakt lineare Charakteristik und besitzt einen Toleranzbereich für den Belastungsort von 0.5 mm Durchmesser.
Gefährdungen der Demokratie. Aktuelle Probleme in historischer Sicht
Authors: Möller Horst
Published: July 2007

Vorspann

Demokratische Systeme gehören mittlerweile zu den Selbstverständlichkeiten in der westlichen Welt; selbst Krisen und unbewältigte Reformherausforderungen werfen in der Öffentlichkeit nur selten die Frage nach den Gefährdungen der parlamentarischen Demokratie auf. Dabei müßte ein Blick zurück in die Zwischenkriegszeit, als die Demokratie fast überall auf der Verliererstraße war, zu erhöhter Wachsamkeit raten. Horst Möller, der Direktor des Instituts für Zeitgeschichte, unternimmt eine solche historische Tour d’horizon und skizziert dabei vor allem die riesigen Dimensionen des aktuellen Reformstaus, der dringend einer politischen Antwort bedarf, wenn die Demokratie nicht Schaden nehmen soll.
Reduction of Health Care–Associated Infection Risk in Neonates by Successful Hand Hygiene Promotion
Authors: Pessoa-Silva Carmem Lucia , Hugonnet Stéphane , Pfister Riccardo , Touveneau Sylvie , Dharan Sasi , Posfay-Barbe Klara , Pittet Didier
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVES. Hand hygiene promotion interventions rarely result in sustained improvement, and an assessment of their impact on individual infection risk has been lacking. We sought to measure the impact of hand hygiene promotion on health care worker compliance and health care–associated infection risk among neonates.

METHODS. We conducted an intervention study with a 9-month follow-up among all of the health care workers at the neonatal unit of the Children's Hospital, University of Geneva Hospitals, between March 2001 and February 2004. A multifaceted hand hygiene education program was introduced with compliance assessed during successive observational surveys. Health care–associated infections were prospectively monitored, and genotypic relatedness of bloodstream pathogens was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. A comparison of observed hand hygiene compliance and infection rates before, during, and after the intervention was conducted.

RESULTS. A total of 5325 opportunities for hand hygiene were observed. Overall compliance improved gradually from 42% to 55% across study phases. This trend remained significant after adjustment for possible confounders and paralleled the measured increase in hand-rub consumption (from 66.6 to 89.2 L per 1000 patient-days). A 9-month follow-up survey showed sustained improvement in compliance (54%), notably with direct patient contact (49% at baseline vs 64% at follow-up). Improved compliance was independently associated with infection risk reduction among very low birth weight neonates. Bacteremia caused by clonally related pathogens markedly decreased after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS. Hand hygiene promotion, guided by health care workers' perceptions, identification of the dynamics of bacterial contamination of health care workers' hands, and performance feedback, is effective in sustaining compliance improvement and is independently associated with infection risk reduction among high-risk neonates.