The Development of a Framework for a Comprehensive Approach to Stress Management Interventions at Work.

This overview shows that organizations adopt a variety of programs to prevent and manage stress at various levels of the organization. Programs vary widely in their objectives, structure, and target groups, and there is some skepticism regarding the practicality of using off-the-peg programs that have been developed without considering specific organizational requirements. Organizational policies to sustain and develop employee health and well-being must involve the development of strategies that comprehensively address health and safety issues. These strategies should comprise plans to prevent and manage stress, support individual and organizational needs, and be continually evaluated and reviewed. A framework is presented for developing a comprehensive approach to stress prevention and management in the workplace, encompassing the identification, implementation, and evaluation of bespoke intervention programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diffusion of drugs from hydrogels and liposomes as drug carriers

BACKGROUND: The mass transfer of model drugs Lidocaine hydrochloride and Dihydroquercetin from hydrogels (the usual carriers for topical drugs), and hydrogels containing liposomes, as novel drug vehicles, was studied. Diffusion experiments were performed using a Franz diffusion cell. Experimental data were used to calculate drug diffusion coefficients across membranes, and their effective diffusion coefficients from hydrogels and liposome containing hydrogels. For the first time the diffusion resistance of all drug carriers was determined from corresponding diffusion coefficients. The main aim of this work was the study of drug diffusion coefficients from liposomes and their comparison with related diffusion coefficients from hydrogels to find how liposomes contribute to prolonged and controlled drug release. RESULTS: Drug diffusion coefficients were: 1.38 · 10^?8m² s^?1 for Lidocaine hydrochloride and 5.96 · 10^?9m² s^?1 for Dihydroquercetin, while corresponding effective diffusion coefficients from hydrogels were: 7.82 · 10^?10m² s^?1 and 7.98 · 10^?10m² s^?1, respectively. Effective diffusion coefficients from liposome‐containing hydrogels were:4.82 · 10^?10m² s^?1 (Lidocaine hydrochloride) and 4.305 · 10^?10m² s^?1 (Dihydroquercetin). Diffusion resistances for the two hydrogels were almost the same. Very similar values of diffusion resistances for all liposome dispersions were obtained. CONCLUSION: Calculated diffusion coefficients and resistances demonstrate that liposomes, as drug carriers, significantly affect diffusion rates. The results obtained could be used whenever diffusion‐controlled drug release is required. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparative life history studies of four Callosobruchus species infesting cowpeas with special reference to Callosobruchus rhodesianus (Pic) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

A comparative study of the ecology of Callosobruchus analis (F.), C. chinensis (L.), C. rhodesianus (Pic) and two strains of C. maculatus (F.) was made at three temperatures (25, 30 and 35°C) and three relative humidities (60, 70 and 80% r.h.). The performances of C. rhodesianus and the strain of C. maculatus from Brazil were also compared at 20°C. The intrinsic rates of increase of each species at each temperature were estimated. The optimum temperature for multiplication of all species was around 30°C. Total oviposition was highest at 30°C for all species, but survival from egg to adult was highest at 25°C for C. rhodesianus and the Malawi strain of C. maculatus compared with 30°C for the others. Development of both strains of C. maculatus was fastest at 35°C, but all other species developed most rapidly at 30°C. Relative humidity in the range 60–80% had no appreciable effect on any of the biological characteristics studied. The performance of C. rhodesianus was better at 20°C than that of the Brazilian strain of C. maculatus, and the results are discussed in relation to the distribution of the two species in Africa.     

Cost effectiveness of centralised and decentralised storm water treatment

As part of a research & development project commissioned by the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia's Ministry for the Environment and Nature Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (MUNLV) an examination is being carried out of the general possibilities for centralised and decentralised treatment storm water runoff to be discharged into (canalised) receiving waters and the costs ensuing from this. The examination of the different options is being carried out under real conditions, with the Briller Creek (Wuppertal/Germany) and Müggen Creek (Remscheid/Germany) catchment areas being used as models. The range of investigations deals with a comparison between 'decentralised, semicentralised, centralised' storm water treatment, centralised storm water treatment involving a separate sewer and parameter-specific pollution based storm water runoff control. In the framework of the research project each of the variants is to be elaborated and the costs are to be calculated so as to permit a comparison between the different system designs. In particular, the investigations are to take into account the actual requirements to be met by storm water drainage systems involving separate sewage systems.     

A real-time control strategy for separation of highly polluted storm water based on UV-Vis online measurements--from theory to operation

'Classical' real-time control (RTC) strategies in sewer systems are based on water level and flow measurements with the goal of activation of retention volume. The control system rule of 'clean (storm water) runoff into the receiving water - polluted runoff into the treatment plant' has been thwarted by rough operating conditions and lack of measurements. Due to the specific boundary conditions in the city of Wuppertal's separate sewer system (clean stream water is mixed with polluted storm water runoff) a more sophisticated--pollution-based--approach was needed. In addition the requirements to be met by the treatment of storm water runoff have become more stringent in recent years. To separate the highly-polluted storm water runoff during rain events from the cleaner stream flow a pollution-based real-time control (P-RTC) system was developed and installed. This paper describes the measurement and P-RTC equipment, the definition of total suspended solids as the pollution-indicating parameter, the serviceability of the system, and also gives a cost assessment. A sensitivity analysis and pollution load calculations have been carried out in order to improve the P-RTC algorithm. An examination of actual measurements clearly shows the ecological and economic advantages of the P-RTC strategy.