The writing performance of inverted and noninverted right- and left-handers.

Compared the writing performance of 33 inverted and 37 noninverted left-handed and right-handed writers (undergraduates). Inverted writers wrote as quickly and as well as noninverted writers when writing with the preferred writing posture but were superior to the latter group when performances with the nonpreferred posture were compared. There was no evidence that left-handers with either writing position were faster with the nonpreferred hand, in direct contradiction to R. Gregory and J. Paul's (see record 1981-11652-001) frequently cited claim that inverted left-handers write faster with the nonpreferred hand. Findings are also related to the J. Levy and M. L. Reid (see record 1977-05149-001) model of writing posture and cerebral organization. Results question attempts by educators to discourage use of the inverted writing posture. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dissection of the carotid artery and vertebral artery--diagnosis and therapy

Carotid and vertebral artery dissections typically occur in young adults after major trauma, although they can arise spontaneously or after trivial injury. Many patients with carotid dissections have minor symptoms such as a subject bruit or Horner's syndrome. Cephalic pain is also frequent and often inaugural in carotid dissection. However, extracranial dissection is a well recognised cause of ischaemic stroke. The diagnosis of dissection was based on angiographic findings. Noninvasive imaging also allows prompt and reliable diagnosis. Our goal was to demonstrate the spectrum of neuroradiologic (CT, MR and angiographic) findings in craniocervical arterial dissection and compare the diagnostic utility of CT, MR, MR angiography. Clinical data imaging studies, and outcome were reviewed and compared with the results in four patients with carotid artery dissection.     

Amifostine (WR-2721) shortens the engraftment period of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide-purged bone marrow in breast cancer patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow support

4-Hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC), a commonly used marrow-purging agent, is active against many tumors, but is also toxic to normal marrow progenitors. Amifostine (WR-2721) is a sulfhydryl compound with chemoprotectant activity. Preclinical studies using suspensions of bone marrow and breast cancer cells demonstrated that ex vivo treatment with amifostine followed by 4-HC resulted in protection of marrow progenitors, with no compromise in the antitumor effect of 4-HC. This fact stimulated the development of a clinical trial. Bone marrow was harvested from 15 poor-prognosis breast cancer patients and randomly assigned to ex vivo treatment with amifostine followed by 4-HC (amifostine + 4-HC), or treatment with 4-HC alone. High-dose chemotherapy was then administered followed by infusion of the purged autologous bone marrow support (ABMS). Leukocyte engraftment, defined as a white blood cell count > or = 1 x 10(9)/L, was achieved in an average of 26 days for patients whose marrow was purged with amifostine + 4-HC versus 36 days for patients whose marrow was purged with 4-HC alone (P = .032). The average number of platelet transfusions (12 v 29; P = .017) and days of antibiotic therapy (28 v 40; P = .012) were significantly less for patients whose marrow was exposed to amifostine + 4-HC, compared with 4-HC alone. Unpurged backup marrow fractions were infused into three patients whose marrow was purged with 4-HC alone, because of inadequate marrow recovery. None of the patients who received amifostine + 4-HC-purged marrow required a backup marrow fraction. Complete remissions were achieved in 83% of patients with measurable disease, with no difference between the two cohorts. Forty-three percent of patients remained alive and progression-free at a mean of 13 months posttransplant. There was no significant difference in the rate or pattern of relapse for patients whose marrow was purged with amifostine + 4-HC compared with those whose marrow was purged with 4-HC alone. Ex vivo treatment of marrow with amifostine significantly shortens the time to marrow recovery, thereby reducing the risk of myelosuppressive complications in breast cancer patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy and 4-HC-purged ABMS. Since supportive care requirements are also significantly decreased, amifostine may reduce the cost of such therapy.     

Autothermal two-stage gasification of low-density waste-derived fuels

In order to increase the efficiency of waste utilization in thermal conversion processes, pre-treatment is advantageous. With the Herhof Stabilat^® process, residual domestic waste is upgraded to waste-derived fuel by means of biological drying and mechanical separation of inerts and metals. The dried and homogenized waste-derived Stabilat^® fuel has a relatively high calorific value and contains high volatile matter which makes it suitable for gasification. As a result of extensive mechanical treatment, the Stabilat^® produced is of a fluffy appearance with a low density. A two-stage gasifier, based on a parallel-arranged bubbling fluidized bed and a fixed bed reactor, has been developed to convert Stabilat^® into hydrogen-rich product gas. This paper focuses on the design and construction of the configured laboratory-scale gasifier and experience with its operation. The processing of low-density fluffy waste-derived fuel using small-scale equipment demands special technical solutions for the core components as well as for the peripheral equipment. These are discussed here. The operating results of Stabilat^® gasification are also presented.     

Viscoelasticity of oxidized starch/low methoxy pectin mixtures in the presence of glucose syrup

The structural properties of mixtures of pectin, oxidized starch and glucose syrup were investigated using small deformation dynamic oscillation. In the absence of added calcium, preparations of low methoxy pectin with glucose syrup formed viscous solutions, which remained crystal-free at subzero temperatures. Samples of oxidized starch and glucose syrup, on the other hand, exhibited solid-like behaviour because of the crystalline nature of the amylose-like helices. Mixtures of the two polysaccharides with the co-solute clearly showed phase inversion from liquid to solid-like behaviour with increasing amounts of starch in the formulation. The transformation was reflected in the textural properties of samples, which varied from thick solutions to firm gels. The viscoelasticity of the system was modified further by the introduction of high methoxy pectin. Preparations of high methoxy pectin and glucose syrup formed rubbery gels whose amorphous nature underwent a glass transition during cooling.     

XML-Schema

XML hat sich als Sprache zur Definition von Dokumenten für den universellen Datenaustausch etabliert. XML-Schema erm?glicht ausgefeilte Definitionen für XML-Dokumente und hat beste Chancen, die bisher eingesetzte DTD abzul?sen. Neben einer allgemeinen Einführung geht dieser Beitrag auch auf verfügbare Produkte und neue M?glichkeiten der objektorientierten Softwareentwicklung mit XML-Schema ein. Vorschl?ge an Prof. Dr. Frank Puppe <puppe@informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de> oder Dieter Steinbauer <dieter.steinbauer@schufa.de> Alle „Aktuellen Schlagw?rter” seit 1988 finden Sie unter: www.ai-wuerzburg.de/as     

Co-carbonization of hard coals and coal extracts 2. The co-carbonization of medium- and high-rank coals with extracts

Studies on the influence of anthracene coal extracts on the carbonization process of medium- and high-rank coals were undertaken. Extracts from flame coal (Int. Class. 900) and gas-coking coal (Int. Class. 632) were used as additives. The blends prepared from the examined coals and the extracts exhibited better coking properties than the parent coals. The addition of extract to the coals gave an increase in the microstrength of the resultant cokes. The effects of co-carbonization of coking coals with extracts were increases in the size of the optical texture as well as in the degree of structural ordering of cokes. In the co-carbonization of semicoking coal with addition of coal extracts, a reduction in the size of the anisotropic units and a decrease in the crystallite height of cokes were observed. No modification of the basic anisotropy of coke from anthracite by coal extract was observed. With increasing extract content in anthracite/extract blends there was an increase in the degree of structural ordering of co-carbonization products. Extract addition was unable to modify the behaviour of fusinite. Based on the results of investigation of the influence of coal extracts on the carbonization of different-rank coals, a division of coals according to the modification of the optical texture of coke is given.