Flyash as support for Ni catalysts in carbon dioxide reforming of methane

A series of Ni catalysts supported on flyash treated by various chemical methods was tested for carbon dioxide reforming of methane. Ni catalyst on the flyash treated with CaO (Ni/Ash-CaO) shows high conversion and stability, being close to those of the well-reported Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/SiO2 catalysts with conversions approaching thermodynamic equilibrium levels.

Spider toxins: A new group of potassium channel modulators

Spider toxins that target potassium channels constitute a new class of pharmacological tools that can be used to probe the structure and function of these channels at the molecular level. The limited studies performed to date indicate that these peptide toxins may facilitate the analysis of K+ channels that have proved insensitive to peptide inhibitors isolated from other animal sources. Thus far, two classes of K+ channel-selective spider toxins have been isolated, sequenced, and pharmacologically characterised - the hanatoxins (HaTx) from Grammastola spatulata and heteropodatoxins (HpTx) from Heteropoda venatoria. The hanatoxins block Kv2.1 and Kv4.2 voltage-gated K+ channels. In Kv2.1 K+ channels this occurs as a consequence of a depolarising shift in the voltage dependence of activation and not by occlusion of the channel pore. These toxins show minimal sequence homology with other peptide inhibitors of K+ channels, but they do share some homology with other ion channel toxins from spiders, particularly with regard to the spacing between cysteine residues. We have recently isolated three K+ channel antagonists from the venom of the Australian funnel-web spider Hadronyche versuta; at least two of these toxins are likely to constitute a new class of spider toxins active on K+ channels as they are approximately twice as large as HaTx and HpTx.

V4 region of small subunit rDNA indicates polyphyly of the Fellodistomidae (Digenea) which is supported by morphology and life-cycle data

There is no morphological synapomorphy for the disparate digeneans, the Fellodistomidae Nicoll, 1909. Although all known life-cycles of the group include bivalves as first intermediate hosts, there is no convincing morphological synapomorphy that can be used to unite the group. Sequences from the V4 region of small subunit (18S) rRNA genes were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among 13 species of Fellodistomidae from four subfamilies and eight species from seven other digenean families: Bivesiculidae; Brachylaimidae; Bucephalidae; Gorgoderidae; Gymnophallidae; Opecoelidae; and Zoogonidae. Outgroup comparison was made initially with an aspidogastrean. Various species from the other digenean families were used as outgroups in subsequent analyses. Three methods of analysis indicated polyphyly of the Fellodistomidae and at least two independent radiations of the subfamilies, such that they were more closely associated with other digeneans than to each other. The Tandanicolinae was monophyletic (100% bootstrap support) and was weakly associated with the Gymnophallidae (< 50-55% bootstrap support). Monophyly of the Baccigerinae was supported with 78-87% bootstrap support, and monophyly of the Zoogonidae + Baccigerinae received 77-86% support. The remaining fellodistomid species, Fellodistomum fellis, F. agnotum and Coomera brayi (Fellodistominae) plus Proctoeces maculatus and Complexobursa sp. (Proctoecinae), formed a separate clade with 74-92% bootstrap support. On the basis of molecular, morphological and life-cycle evidence, the subfamilies Baccigerinae and Tandanicolinae are removed from the Fellodistomidae and promoted to familial status. The Baccigerinae is promoted under the senior synonym Faustulidae Poche, 1926, and the Echinobrevicecinae Dronen, Blend & McEachran, 1994 is synonymised with the Faustulidae. Consequently, species that were formerly in the Fellodistomidae are now distributed in three families: Fellodistomidae; Faustulidae (syn. Baccigerinae Yamaguti, 1954); and Tandanicolidae Johnston, 1927. We infer that the use of bivalves as intermediate hosts by this broad range of families indicates multiple host-switching events within the radiation of the Digenea.

Women drivers' behaviour, socio-demographic characteristics and accidents

The purpose of this study was to examine factors which affect driving behaviour and accident rates in women in Australia. Two groups of women (aged 18-23 and 45-50 years) participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, completed a mailed questionnaire on driver behaviour and road accidents. Self reported accident rates in the last 3 years were 1.87 per 100 000 km for the young drivers (n = 1199) and 0.59 per 100 000 km for the mid-age drivers (n = 1564); most accidents involved damage only, not injury. Mean scores for lapses obtained using the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire, were similar in the two age groups and similar to those found in other studies. In contrast, scores for errors and violations for the young women were higher than for the mid-age group and previous reports using the same instruments. Riskier driving behaviour among young women was associated with stress and habitual alcohol consumption. In the mid-age group, poorer driver behaviour scores were related to higher levels of education, feeling rushed, higher habitual alcohol consumption and lower life satisfaction scores. Accident rates in both groups were significantly related to lapses. Women born in non-English speaking countries had significantly higher risk of accidents compared to Australian-born women: relative risk = 3.40, 95% confidence interval (1.93, 5.98) for the young drivers; relative risk = 1.77, 95% confidence interval (1.11, 2.83) for mid-age drivers. These findings support the need for road safety campaigns targeted at young women to reduce dangerous driving practices, such as speeding,'tail gating' and overtaking on the inside. There is also a need for further research to understand how lifestyle characteristics are associated with higher risk of accidents and to explore factors which might account for the higher risk for women drivers who were born overseas. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The functional outcome of children after a burn injury: A pilot study

Assessment of functional outcome can be used as a measure of the effectiveness of intervention during recovery from a burn injury. This pilot study identifies the factors that are likely to be most important for determining standardized functional outcome measures for children after a burn injury; it highlights the contribution of these factors to variations in children's postburn outcomes. A focus group of 8 parents and a self-report questionnaire administered to 12 children and 13 parents were the means of obtaining information for this exploratory study. Itching was found to be one of the primary impairments that contributed to reduced functional outcome during skin healing after a burn injury. The activities of children who had been burned that were most frequently affected by the injury (as reported by parents) were schoolwork and sports; these were closely followed by sleeping, playing with other children, and unliked activities. Least affected activities were enjoying the family, eating, seeing friends, watching television, and bathing or showering. Eighty-five percent of parents reported at least some level of interference with the listed daily activities. Burn injuries are likely to cause interference with several aspects of a patient's daily life. As a result, families require ongoing support and monitoring. Further research should longitudinally compare the performance of children who have been burned with other children and adolescents.

Some challenging group presentations

We study some challenging presentations which arise as groups of deficiency zero. In four cases we settle finiteness: we show that two presentations are for finite groups while two are fur infinite groups. Thus we answer three explicit questions in the literature and we provide the first published deficiency zero presentation for a group with derived length seven. The tools we use are coset enumeration and Knuth-Bendix rewriting, which are well-established as methods for proving finiteness or otherwise of a finitely presented group. We briefly comment on their capabilities and compare their performance.

Between-year fluctuations in schizophrenia birth rate and associations with the Southern Oscillation Index, cloud cover and sunshine

Our group have recently proposed that low prenatal vitamin D may be a risk-modifying factor for schizophrenia. Climate variability impacts on vitamin D levels in a population via fluctuations in the amount of available UV radiation. In order to explore this hypothesis, we examined fluctuations in the birthrates for people with schizophrenia born between 1920 and 1967 and three sets of variables strongly associated with UV radiation. These included: (a) the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), a marker of El Nino which is the most prominent meteorological factor that influences Queensland weather: (b) measures of cloud cover and (c) measures of sunshine. Schizophrenia births were extracted from the Queensland Mental Health register and corrected for background population birth rates. Schizophrenia birth rates had several apparently non-random features in common with the SO1. The prominent SO1 fluctuation event that occurred between 1937 and 1943 is congruent with the most prominent fluctuation in schizophrenia birth rates. The relatively flat profile of SOI activity between 1927 and 1936 also corresponds to the flattest period in the schizophrenia time series. Both time series have prominent oscillations in the 3 ~, year range between 1946 and 1960. Significant associations between schizophrenia birth rates and measures of both sunshine and cloud cover were identified,and all three time series shared periodicity in the 3-4 year range. The analyses suggest that the risk of schizophrenia is higher for those born during times of increased cloud cover,reduced sunshine and positive SO1. These ecological analyses provide initial support for the vitamin D hypothesis, however alternative non-genetic candidate exposures also need to be considered. Other sites with year-to-year fluctuations in cloud cover and sunshine should examine patterns of association between these climate variables and schizophrenia birth rates. The Stanley Foundation supported this project.

The continuum of quasi-psychotic beliefs and experiences in the Australian general public

When surveyed, many individuals without psychosis report a range of beliefs and experiences that are shared by patients with psychosis. This study aimed to examine quasi-psychotic beliefs and experiences in a sample of well Australians. 303 individuals were recruited from a defined catchment area as part of the Brisbane Psychosis Study. All subjects were screened with a modified SCAN in order to exclude psychoses. The Peters Delusional Inventory (PDI 40 items), items from the Chapmans' Psychosis Proneness Scale (PPS), the Communication Awareness Scale (CAS: a measure of awareness of thought disorder), items related to perceptions and beliefs from various schizotypy questionnaires and the Social Desirability (SD) items from the EPQ were administered. There was a significant negative correlation between age and total score on the PDI. There were significant positive correlations between the PDI, the PPS, the CAS and the items related to perception. There were no significant gender differences on any of the scores apart from SD (females had higher scores). Those with a positive family history of mental illness other than schizophrenia (n = 118) scored significantly higher on the PDI and scores related to perception, however they were no different on SD or the Psychosis Proneness items. There were no group differences on any of these items when those with a positive family history of schizophrenia (n = 27) were compared to the rest of the group. Well individuals who endorse delusional beliefs also tend to endorse items related to abnormal perceptions and awareness of thought disorder. The results of the study support the concept of a 'continuum of beliefs and experiences' in the general community that should inform our neurocognitive models of the symptoms of psychosis. The Stanley Foundation supported this project.

Effects of a program of intervention on parental distress following infant death

A longitudinal study of 144 patents (65 fathers, 79 mothers) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a program of intervention in relieving the psychological distress of parents affected by infant death. Participants were assessed in terms of their psychiatric disturbance, depression, anxiety, physical symptoms, dyadic adjustment, and coping strategies. The experimental group (n = 84) was offered an intervention program comprising the use of specially designed resources and contact with a trained grief worker. A control group (n = 60) was given routine community care. Parental reactions were assessed at four to six weeks postloss (prior to the implementation of the intervention program), at six months postloss, and at 15 months postloss. A series of multivariate analyses of valiance revealed that the intervention was effective in reducing the distress of parents, particularly those assessed prior to the intervention as being at high-risk of developing mourning difficulties. Effects of the intervention were noted in terms of parents' overall psychiatric disturbance, marital quality, and paternal coping strategies.

Prejudiced attitudes, group norms, and discriminatory behaviour

Most current attitude research focuses on range of non-social attitudinal targets, including health-related and consumer outcomes. In this paper, a program of research that considers the relations among intergroup attitudes, group norms, and behavior will be described. The first study examined the effect of ingroup norms relating to multiculturalism on the extent to wich participants hehaviourally enacted their attitudes. Consistent with social identity theory, attitudebehaviour consistency in relation was influenced by ingroup norms, particularly when national identity was salient. The results of a large scale field study that essential replicated this pattern of results will also be discussed.

Target similarity effects: Support for the parallel distributed processing assumptions

Recent research has begun to provide support for the assumptions that memories are stored as a composite and are accessed in parallel (Tehan & Humphreys, 1998). New predictions derived from these assumptions and from the Chappell and Humphreys (1994) implementation of these assumptions were tested. In three experiments, subjects studied relatively short lists of words. Some of the Lists contained two similar targets (thief and theft) or two dissimilar targets (thief and steal) associated with the same cue (ROBBERY). AS predicted, target similarity affected performance in cued recall but not free association. Contrary to predictions, two spaced presentations of a target did not improve performance in free association. Two additional experiments confirmed and extended this finding. Several alternative explanations for the target similarity effect, which incorporate assumptions about separate representations and sequential search, are rejected. The importance of the finding that, in at least one implicit memory paradigm, repetition does not improve performance is also discussed.

The moderating role of social support in Karasek's job strain model

This paper examines whether social support is a boundary-determining criterion in the job strain model of Karasek (1979). The particular focus is the extent to which different sources of social support, work overload and task control influence job satisfaction, depersonalization and supervisor assessments of work performance. Hypotheses are tested using prospective survey data from 80 clerical staff in a university setting. Results revealed 3-way interactions among levels of support (supervisor, co-worker, non-work), perceived task control and work overload on levels of work performance and employee adjustment (self-report). After controlling for levels of negative affect in all analyses, there was evidence that high levels of supervisor support mitigated against the negative effects of high strain jobs on levels of job satisfaction and reduced reported levels of depersonalization. Moreover, high levels of non-work support and co-worker support also mitigated against the negative effects of high strain jobs on levels of work performance. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of social support networks both at, and beyond, the work context.

Initial results of ultrasound screening for aneurysm of the abdominal aorta in Western Australia: relevance for endoluminal treatment of aneurysm disease

Background. Increased life expectancy in men during the last thirty years is largely due to the decrease in mortality from cardiovascular disease in the age group 29-69 yr. This change has resulted in a change in the disease profile of the population with conditions such as aneurysm of the abdominal aorta (AAA) becoming more prevalent. The advent of endoluminal treatment for AAA has encouraged prophylactic intervention and fuelled the argument to screen for the disease. The feasibility of inserting an endoluminal graft is dependent on the morphology and growth characteristics of the aneurysm. This study used data from a randomized controlled trial of ultrasound screening for AAA in men aged 65-83 yr in Western Australia for the purpose of determining the norms of the living anatomy in the pressurized infrarenal aorta. Aims. To examine (1) the diameters of the infra-renal aorta in aneurysmal and non-aneurysmal cases, (2) the implications for treatment modalities, with particular reference to endoluminal grafting, which is most dependent on normal and aneurysmal morphology, and (3) any evidence to support the notion that northern Europeans are predisposed to aneurysmal disease. Methods. Using ultrasound, a randomized control trial was established in Western Australia to assess the value of a screening program in males aged 65-83 yr, The infra-renal aorta was defined as aneurysmal if the maximum diameter was 30 mm or more. Aortic diameter was modelled both as a continuous tin mm) and as a binary outcome variable, for those men who had an infra-renal diameter of 30 mm or more. ANOVA and linear regression were used for modelling aortic diameter as a continuum, while chi-square analysis and logistic regression were used in comparing men with and without the diagnosis of AAA. Findings. By December 1998, of 19.583 men had been invited to undergo ultrasound screening for AAA, 12.203 accepted the invitation (corrected response fraction 70.8%). The prevalence of AAA increased with age from 4.8% at 65 yr to 10.8% at 80 yr (chi (2) = 77.9, df = 3, P<0.001). The median (IQR) diameter for the non-aneurysmal group was 21.4 mm (3.3 mm) and there was an increase (<chi>(2) = 76.0, df = 1, P<0.001) in the diameter of the infra-renal aorta with age. Since 27 mm is the 95th centile for the non-aneurysmal infra-renal aorta, a diameter of 30 mm or more is justified as defining an aneurysm. The risk of AAA was higher in men of Australian (OR = 1.0) and northern European origin (OR = 1.0, 95%CL: 0.9. 1.2) compared with those of Mediterranean origin (OR = 0.5, 99%CL: 0.4, 0.7). Conclusion. Although screening has not yet been shown to reduce mortality from AAA. these population-based data assist the understanding of aneurysmal disease and the further development and use of endoluminal grafts for this condition. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery.