The Relational Impact of Multiple Sclerosis: An Integrative Review of the Literature Using a Cognitive Analytic Framework

This integrative literature review uses cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) theory to examine the impact of a chronic illness, multiple sclerosis (MS), on relationships and mental health. Electronic searches were conducted in six medical and social science databases. Thirty-eight articles met inclusion criteria, and also satisfied quality criteria. Articles revealed that MS-related demands change care needs and alter relationships. Using a CAT framework, the MS literature was analysed, and five key patterns of relating to oneself and to others were identified. A diagrammatic formulation is proposed that interconnects these patterns with wellbeing and suggests potential “exits” to improve mental health, for example, assisting families to minimise overprotection. Application of CAT analysis to the literature clarifies relational processes that may affect mental health among individuals with MS, which hopefully will inform how services assist in reducing unhelpful patterns and improve coping. Further investigation of the identified patterns is needed

The investigation and peculiarities of calculation of transport machine elements made of austempered ductile iron

In this article the statical and cyclical strength investigations of austempered ductile cast iron (ADI) are presented. ADI material becomes more and more popular. Ductile iron is lighter than steel and its mechanical properties are better. ADI has good resistance to fatigue, high tensile strength, toughness and ductility. The fatigue crack initiation generally occurs in the graphite matrix. In the work the kinetic fatigue diagrams, longevity distributions laws and the mathematical model of crack growth ratio are described. The blanks of material were cut from a tooth of gear. Structure of the material consists of bainite and spherical graphite. The mechanical properties of ADI were obtained with assessment of chemical composition. The determined statical mechanical properties of two different ADI materials are presented. The compact specimen was produced in order to determine a threshold stress intensity factor. According to the investigations the stress intensity factor (threshold) for the ADI 6.2.02 and for the ADI 9.4.02 are eveluated. The carried out investigations are insufficient for the complete evaluation of austempered ductile iron for the production of transport equipment elements

Fracturing of a defective plate under cyclic loading

In 1994 the authors of the present paper, with the assistance of the staff of the Laboratory of Strength Mechanics in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University initiated investigation into defective construction elements. Cyclic fracturing processes were investigated in such construction elements that are subject to geometric uniformity disturbance, i.e. in heavily loaded defective elements. The limit value of the stress intensity factor was determined using the CT specimens. This value defines the threshold for stress intensity below that a crack does not propagate. The accuracy of these results was tested for a compact specimen with a rounded notch. A cyclic loading program was selected and tests were conducted to determine conditions favouring crack appearance in a defective plate. A cast iron plate with natural defects was loaded cyclically and studied until its breakdown. Experimental investigations prove that conditions for crack formation in defective construction elements are only satisfactorily defined by the fracture mechanics criterion Δ K th (stress intensity factor threshold) and the endurance limit of a plane-surface specimen. The stress and strain state in a defective area having an influence on crack appearance was analysed, and the effect of defects and loading conditions on the processes of crack formation and propagation was evaluated. Programmed computations of geometrical parameters qualify the experimental results

Research into smell emitted by containers for public waste / Konteineriuose surenkamų buitinių atliekų skleidžiamo kvapo tyrimai

Waste is generally accepted as any materials and objects that a holder discards, wants to discard or is required to be discarded. The article deals with the smell of prefabricated containers for household waste produced under normal domestic activities. The paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of open, shallow and underground Molok containers, installation options and geometric parameters. Research has been conducted referring to air samples taken from three open, three shallow and three underground Molok containers at an outside temperature of 0 °C and depending on the replenishment of containers. The performed analysis has shown that the strongest smell of household waste is detected from completely replenished containers. Open containers have a distinctive feature of releasing a strong smell - in one of those, the odour strength of 119 OUE/m3 has been determined. Santrauka Atliekos visuotinai suprantamos kaip bet kokios medžiagos ir daiktai, kurių turėtojas atsikrato, nori ar privalo atsikratyti. Straipsnyje nagrinėjamas konteineriuose surenkamų buitinių atliekų, susidarančių įprastinėje žmogaus buitinėje veikloje, skleidžiamas kvapas. Aptariami atvirųjų, šachtinių ir požeminių Molok konteinerių privalumai ir trūkumai, įrengimo galimybės, geometriniai parametrai. Tyrimo metu esant 0 °C aplinkos temperatūrai oro mėginiai imti iš trijų atvirųjų buitinių atliekų konteinerių, trijų šachtinio tipo konteinerių ir trijų požeminių Molok konteinerių, atsižvelgiant į konteinerių buitinių atliekų pripildymo būdą. Tyrimais nustatyta, jog stipriausias buitinių atliekų kvapas susidaro konteineriuose, esant visiškam buitinių atliekų pripildymui. Buitinių atliekų skleidžiamo kvapo stiprumu išsiskiria atvirojo tipo konteineriai, iš kurių viename nustatytas net 119 OUE/m3 kvapo stiprumas. Raktiniai žodžiai: buitinės atliekos; konteineris; kvapas; Europinis kvapo vienetas; olfaktometrij