Finite element simulation of a gradient elastic half-space subjected to thermal shock on the boundary

The influence of the microstructure on the macroscopical behavior of complex materials is disclosed under thermal shock conditions. The thermal shock response of an elastic half-space subjected to convective heat transfer at its free surface from a fluid undergoing a sudden change of its temperature is investigated within the context of the generalized continuum theory of gradient thermoelasticity. This theory is employed to model effectively the material microstructure. This is a demanding initial boundary value problem which is solved numerically using a higher-order finite element procedure. Simulations have been performed for different values of the microstructural parameters showing that within the gradient material the thermoelastic pulses are found to be dispersive and smoother than those within a classical elastic solid, for which the solution is retrieved as a special case. Energy type stability estimates for the weak solution have been obtained for both the fully and weakly coupled thermoelastic systems. The convergence characteristics of the proposed finite element schemes have been verified by several numerical experiments. In addition to the direct applicative significance of the obtained results, our solution serves as a useful benchmark for modeling more complicated problems within the framework of gradient thermoelasticity

A coexisting anatomic variation of median and ulnar nerves in a cadaver palm

During a routine dissection we observed an anatomical variation of the median nerve and an atypical anastomosis in the palm region of a male cadaver. There were four distinct recurrent motor branches of the left median nerve and the palmar cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve communicated directly with the third common palmar digital nerve. The presence of such anatomical variant in the hand should keep surgeons alert in the management of hand pathology especially in carpal tunnel syndrome which is a routine operation for many medical centers

Χρήση του δείκτη QBR για την εκτίμηση των επιπτώσεων της κατασκευής φραγμάτων κατά μήκος της κοίτης ενός μεσογειακού χειμάρρου στην παρόχθια βλάστηση

Ο χείμαρρος «Γεραμπίνη» Ζαγοράς Πηλίου, ο οποίος αποτελεί την περιοχή μελέτης, είναι ένα υδατικό οικοσύστημα με έντονες διακυμάνσεις στο υδρολογικό του ισοζύγιο. Με κύριο στόχο την αποτροπή των πλημυρρικών φαινομένων, κατασκευάστηκαν κατά μήκος του, είκοσι ένα (21) φράγματα στερέωσης. Στην παρούσα εργασία προσδιορίζεται και αναλύεται ο δείκτης QBR «Qualitat del Bosc de Ribera», ο οποίος αποτελεί έναν αξιόπιστο ποιοτικό δείκτη της παρόχθιας βλάστησης για τα μεσογειακά υδατικά οικοσυστήματα. Από την συλλογή, επεξεργασία και ανάλυση των δεδομένων προκύπτει ότι η τεχνητή διευθέτηση του μεσογειακού χειμάρρου δεν αποτέλεσε τροχοπέδη στη διατήρηση και στην αναβάθμιση της δυναμικής των στοιχείων που συντελούν στη φυσική εξέλιξη της παρόχθιας βλάστησής του

Community Nurses' Role as Counselors in Primary Health Care

B A C K G R O U N D : Counselling is regarded as an interactive process during which help is usually provided toindividuals with health problems. In the framework of nursing, nurses also play a counselling role.A I M : The present study aims at determining the general public’s attitudes and opinions about the role that nursescan play as counsellors in health related topics.M A T E R I A L - M E T H O D : Our sample consisted of 246 participants randomly chosen; 104 (43.2%) were menand 137 (56.8%) were women. The data were collected using a questionnaire specifically developed for this study andbased on literature review.R E S U L T S : 56.1% of the participants are unaware of the term “health counselling” and 59.4% are unaware of thecounselling process performed by nurses. However, unawareness does not mean that they have negative attitudes,since 202 participants (82.8%) say that they would seek counselling on health topics from nurses. Furthermore, themajority (90.7%, n=215) of the participants responded that they would trust the family nurse and 95.1% (n=231) saidthat they would welcome a family nurse’s placement in their neighbourhood. People with chronic diseases, and mainlyelderly people (n=127) would be the ones who would mostly seek counselling.C O N C L U S I O N S : The results indicate that nurses are accepted as counsellors by lay people. The communitynurse’s role is important because it contributes to detection, as well as addressing of health needs of communitymembers

Probing the Space of Toric Quiver Theories

We demonstrate a practical and efficient method for generating toric Calabi-Yau quiver theories, applicable to both D3 and M2 brane world-volume physics. A new analytic method is presented at low order parametres and an algorithm for the general case is developed which has polynomial complexity in the number of edges in the quiver. Using this algorithm, carefully implemented, we classify the quiver diagram and assign possible superpotentials for various small values of the number of edges and nodes. We examine some preliminary statistics on this space of toric quiver theories

HYDROLOGICAL RESPONSE OF TORRENT “GERAMPINI” IN ZAGORA AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHECK DAMS

Ο χείμαρρος «Γεραμπίνη» Ζαγοράς χαρακτηρίζεται από την εμφάνιση εντόνων πλημμυρικών φαινομένων. Για τη σταθεροποίηση του χώρου και την αντιμετώπιση τον κινδύνου των πλημμυρών η δασική υπηρεσία κατασκεύασε έως το 1999, συνολικά είκοσι φράγματα. Στην παρούσα εργασία αναλύονται οι σημαντικότερες βροχοπτώσεις που καταγράφηκαν την περίοδο 1999-2005. Για κάθε επεισόδιο εκτιμήθηκε η απορροϊκή βροχόπτωση. Με βάση τις κλίσεις, που υπολογίσθηκαν από τους τοπογραφικούς χάρτες και την τοπογραφική αποτύπωση της κοίτης, προσδιορίσθηκε ο χρόνος υστέρησης. Ακολούθως εκτιμήθηκαν τα αντίστοιχα υδρογραφήματα σύμφωνα με το Design of Small Dams. Από τη σύγκριση των μεγεθών αυτών προκύπτει ότι σε χειμάρρους με μικρή λεκάνη απορροής και μεγάλη κλίση, τα φράγματα στερέωσης της κοίτης συμβάλλουν περισσότερο στη σταθεροποίηση του χώρου και της κοίτης του ρεύματος και λιγότερο στην απάλυνση των πλημμυρικών αιχμών.Torrent “Gerabini” in Zagora is characterized by the appearance of extreme flood phenomena. Till 1999, the forest service has constructed twenty check dams so as to prevent flood hazard and stabilize the land. In the present study, the recorded rainfalls during the years 1999-2005 are analyzed. The effective rainfall is estimated by using the Curve Number procedure. Afterwards, the estimation of the hydrographs was based on the dimensionless unit hydrograph of Sierra Nevada. Finally and as it results from the comparison of slope changes, it is concluded that the torrent control works in a small watershed with a great mean slope, contribute more in the stabilization of the land and main streams and less in the mitigation of flood discharge

Infliximab in Takayasu arteritis: a safe alternative?

Objective: To test the efficacy of Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against TNF-alpha, in the treatment of Takayasu arteritis. Materials and methods: We used infliximab at an initial dose of 3 mg/kg i.v. at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 8 thereafter in combination with methotrexate or azathioprine, to treat four patients with Takayasu arteritis. Results: Three out of four patients responded to infliximab treatment, while two of them retained the response during a two-year follow up. A higher dose regimen (5 mg/kg), however, was eventually warranted for two of the responders. No major side effects were noted. Conclusions: Infliximab might be an effective and safe alternative for patients with Takayasu arteritis