Characterisation of CIME, an experimental chamber for simulating interactions between materials of the cultural heritage and the environment.

An approach consisting in combining in situ and laboratory experiments is often favoured for investigating the mechanisms involved in the weathering of the materials of the cultural heritage. However, the realistic simulation in the laboratory of the environmental conditions ruling the interactions of atmospheric compounds with materials is a very complex task. The aim of this work is to characterise CIME, a new chamber specially built to simulate the interactions between materials of the cultural heritage and the environment. The originality of this instrument is that beside the usual climatic parameters (temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation) and gaseous pollutants, it also allows the controlled injection of different types of particulate matter such as terrigenous, marine and anthropogenic. Therefore, varied realistic atmospheric environments (marine or urban) can be easily simulated within CIME. In addition to the technical description of CIME, this paper shows the first results obtained by the impact of gaseous pollutants on non-durable glass, bronze and limestone. The first experiments for the deposition of different particles (calcite, clays, soot and halite) are also presented.

Photocatalytic abatement results from a model street canyon.

During the European Life+ project PhotoPAQ (Demonstration of Photocatalytic remediation Processes on Air Quality), photocatalytic remediation of nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and airborne particles on photocatalytic cementitious coating materials was studied in an artificial street canyon setup by comparing with a colocated nonactive reference canyon of the same dimension (5 × 5 × 53 m). Although the photocatalytic material showed reasonably high activity in laboratory studies, no significant reduction of NOx, O3, and VOCs and no impact on particle mass, size distribution, and chemical composition were observed in the field campaign. When comparing nighttime and daytime correlation plots of the two canyons, an average upper limit NOx remediation of ≤2% was derived. This result is consistent only with three recent field studies on photocatalytic NOx remediation in the urban atmosphere, whereas much higher reductions were obtained in most other field investigations. Reasons for the controversial results are discussed, and a more consistent picture of the quantitative remediation is obtained after extrapolation of the results from the various field campaigns to realistic main urban street canyon conditions.

Construction of a photocatalytic de-polluting field site in the Leopold II tunnel in Brussels.

Within the framework of the European Life+-funded project PhotoPAQ (Demonstration of Photocatalytic remediation Processes on Air Quality), which was aimed at demonstrating the effectiveness of photocatalytic coating materials on a realistic scale, a photocatalytic de-polluting field site was set up in the Leopold II tunnel in Brussels, Belgium. For that purpose, photocatalytic cementitious materials were applied on the side walls and ceiling of selected test sections inside a one-way tunnel tube. This article presents the configuration of the test sections used and the preparation and implementation of the measuring campaigns inside the Leopold II tunnel. While emphasizing on how to implement measuring campaigns under such conditions, difficulties encountered during these extensive field campaigns are presented and discussed. This included the severe de-activation observed for the investigated material under the polluted tunnel conditions, which was revealed by additional laboratory experiments on photocatalytic samples that were exposed to tunnel air. Finally, recommendations for future applications of photocatalytic building materials inside tunnels are given.

Assessing fitness to stand trial: the utility of the Fitness Interview Test (revised edition).

OBJECTIVE: In Canada most evaluations of fitness to stand trial are conducted on an inpatient basis. This costs time and money, and deprives those defendants remanded for evaluation of liberty. This research assessed the predictive efficiency of the Fitness Interview Test, revised edition (FIT) as a screening instrument for fitness to stand trial. METHOD: We compared decisions about fitness to stand trial, based on the FIT, with the results of institution-based evaluations for 2 samples of men remanded for inpatient fitness assessments. RESULTS: The FIT demonstrates excellent utility as a screening instrument. The FIT shows good sensitivity and negative predictive power, which suggests that it can reliably screen those individuals who are clearly fit to stand trial, before they are remanded to an inpatient facility for a fitness assessment. CONCLUSION: We discuss the implications for evaluating fitness to stand trial, particularly in terms of the need for community-based alternatives to traditional forensic assessments.

Fitness to stand trial: characteristics of remands since the 1992 Criminal Code amendments.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the characteristics of a sample of remands after the introduction of the 1992 Criminal Code amendments, to compare those deemed fit with those deemed unfit as the result of an institution-based evaluation of fitness, and to determine the impact of the Code changes on one's detention period by investigating the length of time that individuals were held on remand. METHOD: File information was collected and analyzed for 180 males who were remanded for inpatient evaluations of their fitness to stand trial between October 1994 and July 1995. RESULTS: The results indicated that remanded defendants are more likely to be single, unemployed, and living alone and that unfit defendants are significantly more likely to have never been married. As well, individuals who were found to be unfit to stand trial were significantly less likely to have been diagnosed with a drug- or alcohol-use disorder and were 4 times more likely to have been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. The results also indicated that while the 1992 Criminal Code revisions called for a 5-day evaluation period, it appears that this is rarely accomplished, and, in fact, the average length of time for an assessment of fitness is 23 days. Finally, the majority of remanded individuals are certified and treated with psychotropic medications while on remand. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the fitness remand period is being used for purposes other than assessing fitness.

The impact of Canadian Criminal Code changes on remands and assessments of fitness to stand trial and criminal responsibility in British Columbia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact in British Columbia of the 1992 Criminal Code of Canada amendments dealing with remands for fitness to stand trial and not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (NCRMD) assessments. METHOD: Information on 620 remands for evaluation of fitness to stand trial and/or NCRMD were collected from a sample obtained in British Columbia from 1992 to 1994. The data collected included length of remand order, length of evaluation, criminal charges, psychiatric diagnoses, and the decisions about fitness or NCRMD. RESULTS: Remands increased by about 20% in a 1993-1994 fiscal year compared with the previous year. The majority of evaluations continue to be conducted in an inpatient facility. The goal of a 5-day evaluation period is rarely met: only 12.5% of inpatients were released within 5 days of admission, and the average length of evaluation was about 3 weeks. The use and success of the NCRMD defence appears to be on the rise. In addition, there were some striking differences in remands from metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in terms of rates of referral and recommendations of unfitness or NCRMD. CONCLUSION: Results indicated that Bill C-30 has not yet had the anticipated impact on remands as inpatient evaluations continue to be the norm and evaluations typically take several weeks. Suggestions for policy reform and future research are presented.

An examination of the relationship of homelessness to mental disorder, criminal behaviour, and health care in a pretrial jail population.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of homelessness and its relationship to mental disorder, criminal behaviour, and health care. METHOD: Interview and file data were collected for 790 male admissions to a large, pretrial jail facility over a 12-month period. RESULTS: A significant relationship was found between homelessness and severe mental disorder as well as between homelessness and prior psychiatric history. There were no significant differences found between the homeless and the nonhomeless on the types of crimes for which they were incarcerated or on contact with health care services within the past year. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate the need for a link between the jail and community services for homeless individuals.

Effect of an anabolic steroid (Metenolon) on contractile performance of the chronically stimulated latissimus dorsi in sheep.

In 12 sheep the left latissimus dorsi muscles (LD) were conditioned by chronic electrostimulation with a pulse generator (Itrel, Medtronic). Six animals (group B) received a weekly intramuscular injection of an anabolic steroid (Metenolon). After 14 weeks the contraction parameters of the left LDs (group A and B) and right LDs (control group) were investigated. The increase in weight of the conditioned LDs was 11.07% (+/- 1.06%) in group A and 79.97% (+/- 40.8; P < 0.05) in group B. The force capacity under stimulation patterns which were just tetanic was 1.15 kp in group A and 4.13 kp in group B (P < 0.05); under supramaximal stimulation patterns it was 4.23 kp (A) and 6.0 kp (B) (P = ns). The force time relation (dF/dt) was 6.7 kp/s for the left LDs in group A versus 16.4 kp/s for the right LDs (P < 0.01); in group B it was 5.13 kp/s for the left LDs versus 15.8 kp/s for the control muscles (P < 0.05). The maximal force (Fmax) per 100 g muscle weight did not differ significantly (A: 2.42 kp/100 g; B: 2.52 kp/100 g). In conclusion, the LD muscles which were subjected to both anabolic therapy and electrical stimulation showed a significant increase in their force capacity due to an enormous increase in mass. Fibre type transformation was complete only in group B. No fibre deterioration was observable in either group. No anabolic side effects were detected in the animals. With the use of anabolic steroids, therefore, a clearer direct increase in contractility on the left ventricle should be expected ("squeezing" theory), as well as a contribution to reduction in wall tension and myocardial oxygen consumption, respectively, according to Laplace's Law (via the considerable increase in thickness).

[Relative postnatal growth of the basal regions of the cranial fossa]. / Uber das relative postnatale Wachstum der Bodenregionen der Fossae craniales.

The relative postnatal growth of the bony floor parts was calculated from previous measurements and planimetrically determined on 21 adults and 13 skulls of children. As expected 1) the percentage rise in length and breadth values was lower than that of the area values. 2) The greatest postnatal area rise (63%) was determined in the hypophyseal region. 3) The growth of the individual skull areas terminates at a variable period after birth, e.g. a) between the foramen caecum and the tuberculum sellae in the 8th year of life; the planum sphenoidale, however, grows after the 9th year of life by approx. 27%! b) In children of 8 years of age, the lateral length of the middle cranial fossa is about 98% of the adult value. c) Between the 6th year of life and adult age a length increase of 18.5% takes place (tuberculum sellae--dorsum sellae). d) In 5-year old children the lateral length of the posterior cranial fossa is 97.5%, in 8-year-olds 99.9% of the adult value. e) After the 8th year of life the breadth increase is e.g. 6.4% in the region of the anterior cranial fossa, 3.5% in the middle fossa, and 10% in the pituitary region.

Different sequences of expression of band 3, spectrin, and ankyrin during normal erythropoiesis and erythroleukemia.

Expression of the erythrocyte anion exchanger band 3, and ankyrin and spectrin, two cytoskeletal proteins of the red blood cell membrane, was studied by immunofluorescence using: 1) smears of human bone marrow from healthy donors and from a patient with erythroleukemia, 2) human red blood cell precursors grown in cell culture, and 3) murine erythroleukemia cells grown in cell culture. Double immunostaining with antibodies to band 3 in combination with spectrin or ankyrin revealed that these proteins become expressed synchronously during normal human erythropoiesis. In contrast, both murine erythroleukemia cells (induced by fibronectin and dimethyl sulfoxide to differentiate in vitro) and erythroblasts from a patient suffering from erythroleukemia displayed distinct asynchronicity in expression of these proteins, ie, ankyrin and spectrin were synthesized first, followed by band 3 at a later stage of erythroid development. After the onset of band 3 expression in human erythroleukemia cells, an increase of membrane-associated fluorescence was detectable for both ankyrin and spectrin, supporting the general view that band 3 promotes assembly of the membrane cytoskeleton. These findings indicate that the current concept of a sequential expression of spectrin/ankyrin and band 3 is valid only for erythroleukemia cells or transformed erythropoietic cell lines but does not occur in normal erythropoiesis, during which these proteins become expressed simultaneously.

CSF enzymes in lacunar and cortical stroke.

Cerebrospinal fluid enzyme levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) were studied in 40 acute stroke patients comprising 20 lacunar strokes and 20 cortical strokes. A marked elevation of at least one of the enzymes CK, GOT or LDH was seen in 80% of cases of cortical strokes. No elevation was seen in lacunar stroke with CK, GOT or ACE and only a slight elevation with LDH. Within the cortical group, there was a correlation between the site, size of infarction seen on CT scan and enzyme level. These findings may help to explain the previously noted unpredictability of rises in CSF enzymes in stroke patients. In certain instances, a study of CSF enzymes may be of use to distinguish cortical from lacunar stroke. A precise diagnosis of lacunar infarction is important for management purposes, entry into stroke treatment trials or description of new syndrome types.