Manufacturing of Open-Cell Aluminium Foams: Comparing the Sponge Replication Technique and Its Combination with the Freezing Method

The manufacturing of aluminium foams with a total porosity of 87% using the sponge replication method and a combination of the sponge replication and freezing technique is presented. Foams with different cell counts were prepared from polyurethane (PU) templates with a pore count per inch (ppi) of 10, 20 and 30; consolidation of the foams was performed in an argon atmosphere at 650 °C. The additional freezing steps resulted in lamellar pores in the foam struts. The formation of lamellar pores increased the specific surface area by a factor of 1.9 compared to foams prepared by the sponge replication method without freezing steps. The formation of additional lamellar pores improved the mechanical properties but reduced the thermal conductivity of the foams. Varying the pore cell sizes of the PU template showed that—compared to foams with dense struts—the highest increase (~7 times) in the specific surface area was observed in foams made from 10 ppi PU templates. The effect of the cell size on the mechanical and thermal properties of aluminium foams was also investigated.     

Irresponsible responsibility

The Medical Association for Prevention of War (UK) submitted the following written statement to the Third Special Session on Disarmament of the United Nations General Assembly, which was held at UN headquarters in New York on 31 May‐25 June 1988.     

Synergism between lectins and vesicles of Viscum album L.- detection by biochemical and immunological methods

Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extracts, used in cancer therapy, contain several antitumor and immunologically active ingredients of which the cytotoxic mistletoe lectins and the immunoactive vesicles of chloroplast membranes are particularly important. We have investigated interactions between vesicles and lectins with respect to the question of synergistic or antagonistic effects. First we used biochemical methods. Lectin binding to vesicles was dependent on the pH-value and ionic strength of the buffers used. The strongest interaction was observed at low pH-values and at low ionic strength. Using immunological methods, we found that the combination of lectins and vesicles showed a strong amplifying synergistic effect on the stimulation of lymphocyte proliferation. We found an antagonistic effect in terms of cytotoxicity. In summary, these results demonstrate a significant influence of vesicles on all commonly used methods of determination of mistletoe lectins.     

Adolescent psychiatric aspects of visual handicap and blindness

The focus of the study was a questionnaire-based overview concerning psychiatric symptoms, self image, control beliefs and some aspects of family relations of severely visually impaired and blind adolescents and young adults. The high incidence of emotional and social problems seemed to be equal to that of a clinical sample, competence and control beliefs differed between impaired und unimpaired adolescents as well as between visually impaired und blind adolescents. Self-perceptions of bonding- vs. detachment behaviour from the viewpoint of the blind adolescents appeared somewhat "surer", nearer to the ratings of the unimpaired peers. The ratings of the visually impaired peers however seem to express more "uncertainties" in both main directions, bonding as well as detachment behaviour. Concerning global self image there seemed to exist no significant difference between our whole sample and unimpaired peers.     

Induction of antibodies to viscotoxins A1, A2, A3, and B in tumour patients during therapy with an aqueous mistletoe extract

Mistletoe extracts exert immunomodulatory properties on immunocompetent cells of the innate as well as the specific immune system. These effects have been mainly ascribed to mistletoe lectin 1 (ML-1) present in most of the extracts. However, it became evident that also other components of these extracts may induce immunological reactions, and especially viscotoxins (VT) may be of relevance. Aim of the study was, therefore, to evaluate whether VT like ML-1 could activate B-cells and lead to the production of VT-specific antibodies. Sera from 26 patients with different tumours who were treated with the mistletoe extract ABNOBAviscum Mali (AM) 4 for at least 18 weeks were analysed before therapy and after 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 weeks. Sera were tested by ELISA against the four viscotoxins A1, A2, A3, B, as well as against ML-1. Within the observation period twenty-four (92%) of the 26 patients developed antibodies to at least one of the four VT and 25 (96%) to ML-1. In most instances, anti-VT antibodies appeared after 6-9 weeks of treatment. The antibodies were predominantly of the IgG type belonging preferentially to the IgG1 and IgG3 subclass. IgE antibodies were found only to VT-B and to ML-1. There was no relation between the development of antibodies to VT and ML-1, and also cross-reactivity could be excluded with high probability. These data indicate that not only ML-1 but also VT induce immunological responses in patients treated with mistletoe extracts. Whether there is any relationship to the postulated anti-tumour effect of mistletoe extracts has, however, still to be evaluated.     

Variation in Routine Psychiatric Workload: The Role of Financing Source,Managed Care Participation,and Mental Health Workforce Competition

This study was conducted to examine the association between psychiatrists' demographic characteristics, payment source, and managed care participation and psychiatrists' practice workload, and between the supply of other mental health providers in a psychiatrist's county of practice and psychiatrists' practice workload. Data from the 1996 American Psychiatric Association National Survey of Psychiatric Practice were merged with national countywide measures of mental health workforce and environmental data from the 1996 Area Resource File. In comparison to male psychiatrists, female psychiatrists treat fewer patients per week, provide less total hours of weekly patient care, and obtain fewer new monthly referrals. An increase in psychiatrists' managed care participation was associated with only minor increases in the number of patients per week, weekly time spent in clinical care, and number of new monthly referrals. The supply of other mental health providers was not associated with variation in practice workload. Once psychiatrists participate in managed care plans, an increase in their participation rate does not significantly expand clinical practice workload. The supply of other mental health providers was not significantly associated with variation in psychiatrists' workload, which suggests that substitution effects may not be evident with this aspect of psychiatric practice.     

Policy Intervention

This paper addresses market failure due to externalities, as well as information asymmetries and public policy problems that need to be solved to ensure high quality care for affective disorders. We delineate the problems in parity legislation, managed care, as well as Medicare and Medicaid that need to be addressed to reduce the burden of illness affective disorders. A research agenda is developed for formulating and implementing public policy.