Comparative assessment of clinical rating scales in Wilson’s disease

Background: Wilson’s disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism resulting in multifaceted neurological, hepatic, and psychiatric symptoms. The objective of the study was to comparatively assess two clinical rating scales for WD, the Unified Wilson’s Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS) and the Global Assessment Scale for Wilson’s disease (GAS for WD), and to test the feasibility of the patient reported part of the UWDRS neurological subscale (termed the “minimal UWDRS”). Methods: In this prospective, monocentric, cross-sectional study, 65 patients (median age 35 [range: 15–62] years; 33 female, 32 male) with treated WD were scored according to the two rating scales. Results: The UWDRS neurological subscore correlated with the GAS for WD Tier 2 score (r = 0.80; p < 0.001). Correlations of the UWDRS hepatic subscore and the GAS for WD Tier 1 score with both the Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (r = 0.44/r = 0.28; p < 0.001/p = 0.027) and the Child-Pugh score (r = 0.32/r = 0.12; p = 0.015/p = 0.376) were weak. The “minimal UWDRS” score significantly correlated with the UWDRS total score (r = 0.86), the UWDRS neurological subscore (r = 0.89), and the GAS for WD Tier 2 score (r = 0.86). Conclusions: The UWDRS neurological and psychiatric subscales and the GAS for WD Tier 2 score are valuable tools for the clinical assessment of WD patients. The “minimal UWDRS” is a practical prescreening tool outside scientific trials

Stabilizacja skarp i ochrona przed erozją w ramach jednej operacji

Dla długotrwałej stabilizacji naturalnych skarp i nowych wierceń w luźnej skale niezwykle ważne jest skuteczne odnowienie szaty roślinnej. W połączeniu z hydrosiewem lub suchym obsiewem bardzo skuteczne są tzw. trójwymiarowe maty antyerozyjne, wykonane z polipropylenu

Large-scale field tests with flexible slope stabilization systems

In the scope of a research project by the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, large-scale field tests with flexible slope stabilization systems were performed in Winterthur, Switzerland under the direction of the Bern University of Applied Sciences in Burgdorf. For this purpose, a 13 x 15 m steel frame was filled with soil material and tilted up to 85° using a 500 to crawler crane. Different mesh and net coverings combined with a nail anchoring system were used to stabilize the soil material against instabilities near the surface. This article gives an overview of the test assembly and summarizes the results from the large-scale field tests performed. In addition, the retrograde calculation of the RUVOLUM dimensioning concept was verified. The large-scale field tests performed create an ideal foundation for a better understanding of the load bearing capacity of flexible slope stabilization systems and comparison of different meshes under same conditions as well for further developing and adapting them to project-specific requirements.Dans le cadre d’un projet de recherche de la Commission pour la Technologie et l’innovation (CTI) du département fédéral des affaires économiques, de l’éducation et de la recherche, des tests grandeur réelle, sur des systèmes de stabilisation de pentes souples ont été réalisés à Winterthur, Suisse et sous la direction de l’Université bernoise de Burgdorf. A cet effet, un cadre en acier de 13 x 15 m a été rempli de matériau meuble et incliné jusqu’à 85° à l’aide d’une grue sur chenille de 500 to. Différentes mailles et filets plaqués combinés à un système d’ancrages ont été utilisés pour stabiliser les terrains superficiels. Cet article donne un aperçu de l’ensemble de test réalisés et résume les résultats des essais grandeur réelle. En complément un calcul inverse à l’aide du logiciel de dimensionnement RUVOLUM a été réalisé. Les essais grandeur réelle réalisés créent une base idéale pour une meilleure compréhension de la capacité de charge des systèmes souples de stabilisation de pentes et pour comparer différents filets dans des conditions d’application similaires et aussi pour développer et adapter ces filets aux exigences de projet bien spécifiques