Social and clinical factors influencing the choice of coping strategies in relatives of patients with schizophrenia: results of the BIOMED I study

The impact of social and clinical factors on the choice of coping strategies of a sample of 236 relatives of patients with schizophrenia, living in five European countries, was explored using well-validated questionnaires. The adoption of problem-focused coping strategies was more frequent among young relatives and among relatives of younger patients, and was associated with higher levels of practical and emotional social support and of professional help. In contrast, emotion-focused strategies were more frequently adopted by relatives who had been living longer with the patient and who had poorer social support. It is suggested that supportive and educational interventions should be provided as early as possible to relatives of patients with schizophrenia, which, in addition to having a practical focus, should also have a social focus, aiming at extending the family's social network.     

Defeating Mechanisms of Armours for Main Battle Tanks

The fundamental protection principles of the new armours for main battle tanks against kinetic energy projectiles(KE) and chemical energy weapons (CE)——shaped charges are shortly described and their efficiency against both threats discussed. The armour topics can be split into: “perpendicular or zero-degree armours”, such as rolled homogeneous armour (RHA), also with extremely high strength, ceramics, glass, liquid filled columns and explosive filled cells,“inclined armours”, as spaced RHA plates with their corner effects, bulging armour, additive and integrated explosive reactive armours (ERA) and “hard kill active defence possibilities” in different defeating distances.     

Effect of water content on thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of xanthan powder: A comparison between standard and novel techniques

In this work, the sorption isotherms of xanthan powder obtained under static and dynamic conditions and their fitting with mathematical models were discussed. The transitions within xanthan-water systems have been investigated using a standard material characterization technique - Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) - and two novel techniques - Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) material pocket and Phase Transition Analysis (PTA). It was found that within water-xanthan systems, the onset temperature for the melting of freezable water obtained from DSC method was in agreement with freezable water melting peaks obtained via DMTA material pocket at levels of hydration when the freezable water was present. Also, low-temperature transitions, related to polysaccharide-water interactions, were observed by both techniques within xanthan systems which contained no freezable water. However, the use of the PTA technique was limited to xanthan systems with low water content.     

Comparative effects of atenolol versus celiprolol on serum lipids and blood pressure in hyperlipidemic and hypertensive subjects

Antihypertensive drugs may affect serum lipoprotein levels in mixed populations but data in hyperlipidemic patients are scanty. Atenolol versus celiprolol effects on serum lipoproteins were compared in 159 hyperlipoproteinemic hypertensive patients. This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, positive-controlled multicenter trial with centralized lipoprotein laboratory and diet constancy monitoring. Blood pressure reduction and serum lipoprotein and apoprotein levels were monitored for 3 months. Both drugs reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Atenolol had greater effects than celiprolol on diastolic pressure, but effects on systolic blood pressure were not different. Patients receiving atenolol had lower serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and higher low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios, whereas patients treated with celiprolol showed no contrasting changes. These differences in lipoprotein levels between drug treatment groups were statistically significant at weeks 9 and 12. The difference between drug treatments was also significant if the values of the 9- and 12-week visits were averaged. Patients taking atenolol had statistically significantly higher serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and apoprotein B at 9 weeks. These divergent directional changes were consistent throughout and statistically significantly different between drugs.     

Alternative Kraftstoffe: Chancen und Aufgaben

Alternative fuels: Possibilities and problems . The world's supply of fossil fuels is limited. The motor vehicle industry is striving to develop substitutes for crude oil and reduce its rate of consumption in the following ways. 1. Reduction of fuel consumption through improvements in the vehicle (weight, aerodynamics), the engine and the transmission as well as engine-transmission management. Future development possibilities along these lines are presented. 2. Utilisation of alternative fuels. The various possible alternative fuels are compared with one another and evaluated. Gaseous fuels (LPG) and liquid fuels (methanol and ethanol) appear promising, since the technical problems which still exist can be solved in the medium-term. Designs are presented both for vehicles operating on pure alcohol and for vehicles using an alcohol-petrol mixture. Preliminary experimental results are reported.     

The compatibility of the polystyrene/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene grafted copolymer system

Summary The study of polystyrene (PS)/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) grafted copolymer/cyclohexanone or methylene chloride system compatibility both in concentrated solutions and solid state has been carried out by phase separation, viscosimetrical measurements and thermal behaviour.Having in view the obtained data it has been ascertained that the systems present different degrees of compatibility depending on the mixtures composition. At higher temperatures, the compatibility of the components is changed.     

The effect of selective MAO inhibitors on the conditioned avoidance response of Wistar rats

Behavioral and biochemical effects of 1-deprenyl and clorgyline were studied in Wistar rats. Behavioral performances was tested in a one-way and in a two-way avoidance system. The two MAO inhibitors were given acutely (1 and 10 mg/kg sc) anc chronically (1 mg/kg sc/daily, for 7 days), and their influences on learning and retention performance was tested 24 hr after the last injection. Behavioral reactions remained unchanged after acute administration of the inhibitors, while they were significantly improved following the chronic treatments, either in the one-way or in the two-way experimental situation. Biochemical analysis indicated dissociation between the influence on striatal dopamine content and the behavioral effects of 1-deprenyl and clorgyline.     

Study of the compatibility in the poly (vinyl-chloride) -poly (vinyl-alcohol) system

Summary Although poly (vinyl-chloride) — PVC — and poly (vinyl-alcohol) — PVA —mixtures are used in practice for coatings, containers, fibers, few studies are encounterd concerning their compatibility (7, 8).This paper establishes both the optimum compatibility ratio and the thermal behaviour of the mixtures.The compatibility study in solid state was realised using the methodes: optical microscopy, thermogravimetry, DSC, inverse gaschromatography and IR spectroscopy.