Halogen bonds with coordinative nature: halogen bonding in a S–I+–S iodonium complex

A thorough characterization of unusually strong I⁺–S halogen bonds indicates that halogen bonding is not merely an electrostatic contact but also has a strong coordinative nature, thus expanding the scope of halogen bonding.

Modification of the supramolecular structure of [(thione)IY] (Y = Cl, Br) systems by cooperation of strong halogen bonds and hydrogen bonds

Strong halogen bonds and hydrogen bonds cooperated to control the supramolecular structures of [(thione)IY] (Y = Cl, Br) compounds.

The professional competence profile of Finnish nurses practising in a forensic setting

Forensic nurses in Finland work in the two state-maintained forensic hospitals. The main function of these hospitals is to perform forensic psychiatric evaluation and provide treatment for two groups of patients: violent offenders found not guilty by reason of insanity, and those too dangerous or difficult to be treated in regional hospitals. Although the forensic nurses work with the most challenging psychiatric patients, they do not have any preparatory special education for the work. This paper describes the development of nurses who participated in a 1-year further education programme that was tailored to them. The nurses experienced that the 1-year education had a significant impact on their overall competence level. They found that their skills for observing, helping, teaching and caring for their patients had increased during the education. Conversely, it was found that the nurses collaborated little with their patients' family members. They were also not familiar with utilizing research findings in improving their care of patients. Forensic nursing is a global and relatively young profession that combines nursing care and juridical processes. There are, however, significant differences in the qualifications of forensic nurses internationally. The aim of the study was to describe the professional competence profile of practising forensic nurses in Finland and to explore the effects of a 1-year further education programme on that competence profile. The data were collected in 2011-2012 using the Nurse Competence Scale comprising seven competence categories, and analysed using the software package SPSS version 19.0 (SPSS, Inc., Armonk, NY, USA). The participants were 19 forensic nurses and their 15 head nurses. The assessed overall scores from both informant groups indicated a high level of competence across the seven categories. The nurses felt that the overall competence level had increased during the education programme. The increase seen by the head nurses was smaller. The less frequent competence items included utilization of research and involvement of family in care. It can be stated that the 1-year further education programme was effective in developing the nurses' competence profile and, in particular, affected their professional self-confidence. It will, however, be essential to strengthen their skills for working with families and their awareness of evidence-based forensic nursing.

Learning from the world of mental health care: nursing students' narratives

This narrative study describes the substance of nursing students' learning in the area of mental health and their responses to the challenges of working in the psychiatric field. The data consisted of 39 critical incidents written by 20 Finnish second-year nursing students during their 5-week mental health placement. The narrative analysis method was used in the data analysis and the configuration of three consistent learning storylines: self-awareness and self-esteem, the nurse-patient relationship and mental health care methods. The three storylines characterized the essence of the students' learning and their responses to the challenges of the psychiatric field during the placement. The students were actively exposed to complicated care situations and patient encounters in which they had to face their own emotions and test coping skills. It seems that the critical incident technique stimulated students' narrative skills and possibly sensitized them for listening at the stories of their future patients.

Enabling nursing students to focus on the Ottawa Charter and the nurses role in tackling inequalities in health through international exchange

Student nurses in a transatlantic exchange program explored the role of registered nurses in five countries' public health systems. The Ottawa Charter provided a framework for students to examine the nurse's responsibilities in public health. Students took practice placements in geographically rural a reason another continent and explored inequalities in health care. If nurses are to understand their role in the health care system then they must be taught the scope of their practice including their role in health promotion,public health practice and community development. For this project nursing instructors developed an assignment relevant to the aims and suitable for students in all five nursing programs. Only three of 48 students offered an assignment which focused on building healthy public policy. Nurse educators need to explore this further to ensure nurses of the future are aware of their role and responsibilities in this area and have skills to work effectively to influence and build healthy policy. The international student exchange supported the students' developing understanding of the breadth of initiatives around the globe where nurses are actively engaged in addressing inequalities of health. Findings from an analysis of their assignments are presented in this evaluative report.

Head-Mounted Video Camera System in Testing Multihandicapped Children with Low Vision

Vision testing with multihandicapped children is more difficult than with normally developed children: the child's ability to concentrate in the test situation is often markedly reduced, or the child is not capable of communicating with the examiner in the normal way owing to deficiencies in motor skills, hearing, or speech. Often observation of the eyes and face is difficult because of bent-down sitting position caused by poor control of head and neck.

By recording the test situation on a video tape it is possible to analyse the child's reactions afterwards more accurately. Our video system consists of a miniature video camera attached to the head of the child with a small mirror in front of the camera to provide a picture of the eyes. Simultaneous recording of the eye movements and the fixation target is possible by adjusting the position of the mirror so that it covers the view of the camera only partially. With the aid of a second, conventional video camera, we get an overview picture of the test situation. This picture is combined with the image of the miniature camera on the child's head and recorded on a video tape.

With our video system it is possible to see the eye movements even when the child's head is bent-down or the child is moving in the examination room. It also allows the use of full-field stimuli covering the eyes as in examination of the optokinetic nystagmus. The eye - hand coordination can also be monitored on the video tape.

Determination of fetal hemoglobin by cation exchange liquid chromatography

A sensitive liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of the major component of fetal hemoglobin (HbF0) in blood using high-resolution strong cation exchange column is described. The imprecision of the method was assessed in 20 repeated assays of blood samples containing 0.67%, 0.97%, 2.2% and 3.3% of HbF0. Within-assay CVs were 5.0%, 2.8%, 1.8% and 1.5% and between-assay CVs 5.8%, 3.7%, 1.9% and 2.7%, respectively. The HbF0 concentration was stable in EDTA blood for at least 20 days at +8 degrees C and 3 days at +22 degrees C. Blood HbF0 levels (mean +/- S.D.) were 0.41 +/- 0.20% for 21 healthy males, and 0.48 +/- 0.19% for 22 healthy non-pregnant females. The method is simple and reproducible, and allows the sensitive determination of blood HbF0.

Mumps virus infects beta cells in human fetal islet cell cultures upregulating the expression of HLA class I molecules

The ability of mumps virus to infect pancreatic Beta cells and cause alterations in their HLA expression was evaluated in cultured human fetal islet cell clusters. Mumps virus could be isolated during the whole culture period (6-8 days) and 60% of cells, including Beta cells, contained viral nucleocapsid protein at the end of the culturing. A minor decrease in insulin secretion was observed in some of the infected cultures. The infection was invariably associated with an increase in the expression of HLA class I molecules. This enhancement was mediated by soluble factors secreted by infected cells. The infection could not induce the expression of HLA-DR molecules. However, external interferon-gamma was able to cause a clear rise in DR-expression which was observed only on non-Beta-cells. Rubella and coxsackie B4 viruses were also able to enhance the expression of class I molecules while herpes simplex virus type 2 was not. The results suggest that certain viruses are able to infect Beta cells and cause alterations in their immunological appearance. Increased HLA class I expression in infected islets may exaggerate the autoimmune process in pre-diabetic individuals by increasing the activity of autoreactive cytotoxic T cells.

Computerized rotometer apparatus for recording circling behavior

A computerized rotometer for recording rotational behavior in rats is described. The digital pulses derived from the infrared photocell detector induced by animal rotations were input directly to a 20-megabyte microcomputer for on-line recording and were processed further to the Digital Equipment Corporation's VAX computer with the SAS software system for statistical and graphical analysis. The typical results obtained with drugs (apomorphine and amphetamine) eliciting contralateral and ipsilateral rotation in rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced lesions of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway were presented. The effect of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, OR-611, on the potentiation of L-dopa-induced contralateral rotation in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats was also studied. The automation of rotometer apparatus and the speed of data analysis facilitate screening novel antiparkinsonian drugs in rats with unilateral lesions of 6-OHDA.

Rapid screening of experimental cardiac drugs using atria and a microcomputer

The authors investigated the use of a programmable digitizer, multiplexer, and laboratory microcomputer as a rapid and accurate means of evaluating potential inotropic or antiarrhythmic drugs using mammalian atrial preparations.

Fluorescein angiography in homozygote and carrier state of progressive retinal atrophy of the poodle; comparative aspects with human retinitis pigmentosa

Fluorescein angiographic findings in 7 carriers and 7 homozygotes of a recessively inherited disease, generalized progressive retinal atrophy of the poodle, are described in detail and comparisons with 24 healthy control poodles are presented. Two angiographic types of the disease could be distinguished. These are: Type 1, a diffuse, widespread choriocapillaris atrophy associated with retinal vascular and depigmentation changes and Type 2, a predominantly retinal involvement combined with focal choroidal atrophic patches lineating major vessels. These findings share similarities with the observations made of the human disease, retinitis pigmentosa. Unaffected carriers of the disease showed characteristic fundus changes in angiography: patchy, hyperfluorescent depigmentation changes and often minor narrowing and irregularities of the arterioles and poorly visible capillary bed.

Fluorescein angiography of the canine ocular fundus in ketamine-xylazine anesthesia

Fluorescein fundus angiography was performed on 30 dogs with no pathologic fundus findings using a Canon CF 60 Z wide angle camera. In serial photography of the dye passage 4 different circulatory phases could be distinguished: choroidal, retinal anteriolar, capillary and venous phase. The dye passage in the retinal vessels was described in detail. For aesthesia the combination of ketamine and xylazine proved to be suitable.

Versatile semiautomated sample processor and gamma counter to increase radioimmunoassay efficiency

We describe a semiautomated batch-assay system designed to increase the speed and ease of performing radioimmunoassays while maintaining good accuracy and precision. The main components are a programmable pipetting unit (sample processor) and a gamma counter capable of simultaneously counting radioactivity in 12 samples. The processor uses prearranged sets of as many as 24 disposable pipette tips, which eliminates carryover between samples, and features a horizontal shaker and magnetic stirrer; 50 different assay protocols can be selected. Batches of tubes are easily transferred from the sample processor to the incubator and centrifuge. The gamma counter is controlled by a microprocessor, which is also used for data processing. Because the system is based on discrete rather than continuous-flow analysis and because of the ease with which consecutive samples can be processed, more than one operation and several different assays can be accommodated simultaneously, which saves time considerably.

Versatile semiautomated sample processor and gamma counter to increase radioimmunoassay efficiency

We describe a semiautomated batch-assay system designed to increase the speed and ease of performing radioimmunoassays while maintaining good accuracy and precision. The main components are a programmable pipetting unit (sample processor) and a gamma counter capable of simultaneously counting radioactivity in 12 samples. The processor uses prearranged sets of as many as 24 disposable pipette tips, which eliminates carryover between samples, and features a horizontal shaker and magnetic stirrer; 50 different assay protocols can be selected. Batches of tubes are easily transferred from the sample processor to the incubator and centrifuge. The gamma counter is controlled by a microprocessor, which is also used for data processing. Because the system is based on discrete rather than continuous-flow analysis and because of the ease with which consecutive samples can be processed, more than one operation and several different assays can be accommodated simultaneously, which saves time considerably.

Multicomponent radioimmunoassay: simultaneous measurement of choriomammotropin and pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein in pregnancy serum

We describe a receptacle for use in the simultaneous radioimmunoassay of two serum constituents in a single sample, and the application of this principle for the measurement of human pregnancy serum choriomammotropin and pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein. The analytical performance of this multicomponent radioimmunoassay approaches that of conventional radioimmunoassays. By following the principle described, it is likely that large numbers of constituents can be efficiently measured in single samples.

Multicomponent radioimmunoassay: simultaneous measurement of choriomammotropin and pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein in pregnancy serum

We describe a receptacle for use in the simultaneous radioimmunoassay of two serum constituents in a single sample, and the application of this principle for the measurement of human pregnancy serum choriomammotropin and pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein. The analytical performance of this multicomponent radioimmunoassay approaches that of conventional radioimmunoassays. By following the principle described, it is likely that large numbers of constituents can be efficiently measured in single samples.

A note on craniofacial sutural growth

The paper presents and discusses some features of sutural structures. Fibre orientation in sutures seems to be quite variable and associated with minute local growth phenomena. Trabecular patterns in bones, reflecting growth, appear to support the idea of the outside determination of growth. The bevelled and interdigitated structures seen in many sutures may be interpreted as an expedient solution to the problem of fast growth.

Evaluation of radioimmunological methods for assay of plasma and urinary aldosterone

Two radioimmunological methods for assay of plasma and urinary aldosterone were carefully evaluated. In the plasma method a radioimmunoassay is preceded by chromatography on a Sephadex LH-20 column. The method for urine includes a preextraction, hydrolysis of the acid-labile conjugates of aldosterone, and a radioimmunoassay. Both methods fulfill the criteria of reliability and are suitable for both routine and demanding research assays. The plasma method, using columns of double length, is also applicable to analysis of aldosterone in plasma of newborn children, and pregnant females and in cord plasma. The concentration of plasma aldosterone in healthy subjects on an ad lib salt diet was 162 +/- 93 (S.D.) pmol/1 in the supine position and 312 +/- 217 (S.D.) pmol/1 upright. The urinary excretion of aldosterone in healthy subjects was 28.3 +/- 16.7 (S.D.) nmol/24 h.