The Influence of the Temperature Factor on Deformability of the Plastic Medium

Using the solution of a closed problem of the theory of plasticity some analytic expressions were obtained for determination of the strain parameters of zone of deformation in view of the temperature factor

The Influence of Copper on the Microtexture of Fe-Si-Al Alloys for Non-Oriented Electrical Sheets

The effect of copper content in the range of 0,01 - 0,6 wt.% on the microtexture of some Fe-Si-Al non-oriented electrical sheets containing several impurity elements was investigated. The sheets were laboratory-manufactured and industrial samples of non-oriented electrical steels, decarburized and recrystallized, before the final annealing. Using the EBSD (electron backscatter diffraction) the microtexture was determined. It was found that the microtexture of the alloys containing more copper had fewer crystal grains with easy direction of magnetization in the sheet rolling plane. It was concluded that copper has a negative influence on the magnetic properties of soft-magnetic steel sheets

Knowledge and attitudes about health research amongst a group of Pakistani medical students

Background Health research training is an important part of medical education. This study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding health research in a group of Pakistani medical students at Aga Khan University, Karachi. Methods It was a cross-sectional pilot study conducted among a group of Pakistani medical students. Through stratified random sampling, a pre-tested, structured and validated questionnaire was administered to 220 medical students. Knowledge and attitudes were recorded on a scale (graduated in percentages). Results Mean scores of students were 49.0% on knowledge scale and 53.7% on attitude scale. Both knowledge and attitudes improved significantly with increasing years of study in medical college [Regression coefficient 4.10 (p-value; 0.019) and 6.67 (p-value; \u3c 0.001) for knowledge and attitudes, respectively]. Conclusion Medical students demonstrate moderate level of knowledge and attitude towards health research. Intensive training in this regard is associated with significant improvement in knowledge and attitudes of students towards health research

The Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit: a consolidated design for the system requirement review of the preliminary definition phase

Instrumentatio

Assessing organizational development in European primary care using a group based method: A feasability study of the Maturity Matrix

Purpose – The Maturity Matrix is a tool designed in the UK to assess family practice organisational development and to stimulate quality improvement. It is practice-led, formative and undertaken by a practice team with the help of trained facilitators. The aim of this study is to assess the Maturity Matrix as a tool and an organisational development measure in European family practice settings. Design/methodology/approach – Using a convenience sample of 153 practices and 11 facilitators based in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Slovenia, feasibility was assessed against six criteria: completion; coverage; distribution; scaling; translation; and missing data. Information sources were responses to evaluation questionnaires by facilitators and completed Maturity Matrix profiles. Findings – All practices taking part completed the Maturity Matrix sessions successfully. The Netherlands, the UK and Germany site staff suggested including additional dimensions: interface between primary and secondary care; access; and management of expendable materials. Maturity Matrix scores were normally distributed in each country. Scaling properties, translation and missing data suggested that the following dimensions are most robust across the participating countries: clinical performance audit; prescribing; meetings; and continuing professional development. Practice size did not make a significant difference to the Maturity Matrix profile scores. Originality/value – The study suggests that the Maturity Matrix is a feasible and valuable tool, helping practices to review organisational development as it relates to healthcare quality. Future research should focus on developing dimensions that are generic across European primary care setting

The Recombinant Amyloid-beta Peptide Abeta1-42 Aggregates Faster and Is More Neurotoxic than Synthetic Abeta1-42

Aggregation of the amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide is considered a central event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In order to bypass methodological bias related to a variety of impurities commonly present in typical preparations of synthetic Abeta, we developed a simple, generally applicable method for recombinant production of human Abeta and Abeta variants in Escherichia coli that provides milligram quantities of Abeta in very high purity and yield. Amyloid fibril formation in vitro by human Abeta1-42, the key amyloidogenic Abeta species in AD, was completed threefold faster with recombinant Abeta1-42 compared to synthetic preparations. In addition, recombinant Abeta1-42 was significantly more toxic to cultured rat primary cortical neurons, and it was more toxic in vivo, as shown by strongly increased induction of abnormal phosphorylation of tau and tau aggregation into neurofibrillary tangles in brains of P301L tau transgenic mice. We conclude that even small amounts of impurities in synthetic Abeta-including a significant fraction of racemized peptides that cannot be avoided due to the technical limitations of peptide synthesis-prevent or slow Abeta incorporation into the regular quaternary structure of growing beta-amyloid fibrils. The results validate the use of recombinant Abeta1-42 for both in vitro and in vivo studies addressing the mechanisms underlying Abeta aggregation and its related biological consequences for the pathophysiology, therapy, and prevention of AD

Crustal movements in the Eastern Alps and the North Mediterranian, Slovenian part of WP.10.1. Geodynamics at the Alps - Dinarides junction in Slovenia after geological, seismological and geodetic data

Central Europe Regional Geodynamic Project (CERGOP) in Slovenia includes GPS measurements on 5 sites. Within the first part of the project during years 1994-1997, measurements were performed on one site (Ljubljana), and during the CERGOP-2 extension in years 1999-2005 additional 4 sites were added (Bozica, Malija, Sneznik and Mrzlica). However, till now measurements on the three sites only (Ljubljana, Bozica and Malija) have been completed. Obtained data show similar sense and amount of horizontal displacements. They exhibit general northward movement of sites at the average velocity of 3 mm/yr. This is in accordance with results obtained from other sites of circum-Adriatic region, and it confirms the northward movement of the Adriatic microplate towards the "stable" Eurasian plate. In Slovenia, a northward oriented Ol tensor have been also obtained from several tens of earthquake fault pIane solution. Slight differences in sense and velocity of displacements among particular sites could be explained by the influence of local structures. In Slovenia, they belong to the Periadriatic dextral shear zone, to the Dinaric dextral shear zone, and tothe Transdanubian sinistraI shear zone. However, the real dynamics of particular structures, among which some also express co-seismic creep, will be possible to determine only by GPS measurements over a den ser network of sites