Zur Chemie von Mischphasen in komplexen Zustandsdiagrammen Das System Bi2O3/Bi2Se3/Bi2Te3/Chemistry of Mixed Crystals in Complex Phase Diagrams The System Bi2O3/Bi2Se3/Bi2Te3

Pseudoternary System Bi2O3/Bi2Se3/Bi2Te3, Phase Diagram, Thermodynamic Data The phase diagram of the pseudoternary system Bi2O3/Bi2Se3/Bi2Te3 is found to include a quaternary solid solution Bi2O2 (TexSe1-x) and ternary, intermetallic mixed crystals Bi2(TexSe1-x)3. Using thermodynamic modeling of the solid solutions it is possible to calcu­ late complex heterogeneous equilibria between all phases of this phase diagram. As a result we can thermodynamically describe the observed phase relations:

Bi2(TexSe1-x)3 ⊿H°m(298) = 0; ⊿S°m(298) = R[xlnx + (1-x)ln(1-x)]

Bi2O2(TexSe1-x) ⊿H°m(298) = Ω · x(1-x); O⊿S°m(298) = R/4 [xlnx + (1-x)ln(1-x)]

Ω = 0,6 kcal/mol

Thermochemische Untersuchungen zu den Systemen SE2O3-SeO2. V. Ytterbiumselenoxide auf dem Schnitt Yb2O3-SeO2/Thermochemical Investigations of Systems RE2O3-SeO2. V. Ytterbium Selenium Oxides on the Line Yb2O3-SeO2

The pure ternary phases on the line Yb2O3-SeO2 in thermodynamical equilibrium have been synthesized by solid state reaction and characterized using X-ray powder diffraction and IR-spectroscopy. There exist three phases: Yb2SeO5, Yb2Se3O9 and Yb2Se4O11, the last one with a homogeneiety range extending a higher SeO2-content. The thermal decompositions have been determined by total pressure measurements, and the thermodynamical data of the compounds have been derived. The phase diagram and the phase barogram have been established using the results of thermal analysis and total pressure measurements.

Untersuchungen zum ternären System Bi/Te/O, II. Thermisches Verhalten und Koexistenzbeziehungen von Bi2O2Te/Investigations of the Ternary System Bi/Te/O, II. The Thermal Behaviour and the Relations of Phase Coexistences of Bi2O2Te

The phase Bi2O2Te exists in the pseudobinary system Bi2O3/Bi2Te3. The thermal behaviour of Bi2O2Te was determined by DTA and X-ray analysis: The phase exists up to 620 °C and decomposes into the solid phases Bi12TeO20, Bi10Te2O19 [1] and liquid BiTe. The relations of the phase coexistences in the pseudobinary system and in the ternary area Bi2O3/TeO2/Bi2Te3/Te were investigated by solid state reactions, chemical transport reactions, and by total pressure measurements.

Untersuchungen zum ternären System Bi/Te/O, III. Bestimmung thermodynamischer Daten der ternären Verbindungen/Investigations on the Ternary System Bi/Te/O,III. Determination of Thermodynamic Data of Ternary Compounds

The phase relations in the ternary system Bi/Te/O have been determined in previous studies by solid state reactions. Thermodynamical data have now been obtained for the pertinent equilibria. The heats of solution of Bi2O3, Bi12TeO20, Bi10Te2O19, Bi16Te5O34, Bi2TeO5, Bi2Te2O7, Bi2Te4O11 and TeCl4 were determined in 4N HCl. From these the enthalpies of formation of bismuth tellurites at 298 K have been derived:

⊿H°b (Bi12TeO20, f, 298) = -901,6 ± 8 kcal/mol,

⊿H°b (Bi10Te2O19, f, 298) = -856,1 ± 9 kcal/mol,

⊿H°b (Bi16Te5O34, f, 298) = -1519,5 ± 17 kcal/mol,

⊿H°b (Bi2TeO5, f, 298)= -222,8 ± 3 kcal/mol,

⊿H°b (Bi2Te2O7, f, 298)= -299,4 ± 4 kcal/mol,

⊿H°b (Bi2Te4O11, f, 298)= -448,2 ± 7 kcal/mol.

Hg-Coordination Studies of Cysteine Containing Oligopeptides

In order to study the interaction of cysteine containing peptide chains with Hg(II) the nuclear quadrupole interaction (NQI) of 199mHg in the Hg complex of the oligopeptide Alanine-Alanine-Cysteine-Alanine-Alanine (AACAA) was determined by time differential perturbed angular correla-tion. Different 199mHg-NQI’s for free and resin-bound AACAA were obtained. Furthermore, the 199mHg-NQI’s are influenced by the Hg:AACAA stoichiometry.

[Ovarian tumor in a koi carp (Cyprinus carpio): Diagnosis, surgery, postoperative care and tumour classification]

Although ovarian tumour in the koi (Cyprinus carpio) does not appear to be an uncommon condition, its occurrence and therapy has rarely been reported. In the present case, the decision for surgery was based on clinical and sonographic findings of an intracoelomic mass. We used tricaine methansulfonate for the anaesthesia. Laparotomy was performed by ventral access and an ovarian tumour of 12-cm diameter was removed. The wound was sutured in two layers using Vicryl®. In addition to the application of an analgesic, an antibiotic and vitamins, the postoperative conditions the patient was kept under were adapted to support wound healing. The fish recovered uneventfully and was clinically healthy during the 16-month observation period. Based on the histological findings, the tumour was diagnosed as a thecoma. Investigations using antibodies against vimentin, cytokeratin, S 100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) failed to provide reliable results.

Testicular sex cord stromal tumors: analysis of patients from the MAKEI study

BACKGROUND

In children and adolescents, testicular sex cord stromal tumors (TSCSTs) are rare. There is only limited information available regarding their clinical presentation, biology, and prognosis.

METHODS

Between 1993 and 2009, 42 patients were prospectively reported to the cooperative MAHO and MAKEI studies on childhood germ cell tumors. Based on standardized documentation, data on epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic features, histopathological differentiation, therapy, and follow-up were evaluated.

RESULTS

During the study period, a gradual increase of the documentation of these rare tumors was observed. Palpable, indolent testicular swelling was the most common clinical finding. In three patients, retention of the testis was observed. Two patients showed sexual precocity, and one patient showed a 45X/46XY mosaic. Juvenile granulosa cell tumors (n = 16) and Sertoli cell tumor (n = 15) were the leading histopathological subtypes. The first were commonly diagnosed during the first weeks of life (median age: 6(0-162) days, the latter during infancy (median 7(0-14) months, P < 0.05). Other histological diagnoses included Leydig cell and Large Cell Calcifying Sertoli cell tumors (both n = 3) and not-otherwise-specified TSCSTs (n = 5), which were diagnosed during childhood and adolescence. All tumors were limited to the testis; there were no metastases. Treatment was surgical, only. After a median follow-up of 3.8 years, no relapse was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis and therapy of testicular tumors should be planned in accordance with the recommendations of the respective childhood germ cell tumor protocols. High inguinal orchiectomy is safe and constitutes definitive therapy. Diagnostic work-up and follow-up should also consider potentially associated tumor predisposition syndromes.

[Removable dentures with implants for edentulous lower jaw]

Fabrication of a complete mandibular denture that offers patient comfort, function, and aesthetics along with stability and acceptable retention remains one of the most challenging procedures in dental practice. Based on a thorough treatment planning and a successful surgical procedure implants have been shown to be reliable abutment for both retention and support of overdentures. During planning important relevant factors must be considered such as old age, systemic diseases, increased financial capability, etc. Implants retained overdentures can be divided into three groups according to the type of support: mucosal, muco-implantal and implantal. Key factors concerning the planning of prosthetic rehabilitation are the number and length of the implants, together with the quality and quantity of the anchoring bone tissue.

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: devising controlled active treatment studies for symptomatic and neuroprotective therapy--a consensus statement from the International Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Study Group

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to provide a consensus statement by the International Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Study Group (IRBD-SG) on devising controlled active treatment studies in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and devising studies of neuroprotection against Parkinson disease (PD) and related neurodegeneration in RBD.

METHODS

The consensus statement was generated during the fourth IRBD-SG symposium in Marburg, Germany in 2011. The IRBD-SG identified essential methodologic components for a randomized trial in RBD, including potential screening and diagnostic criteria, inclusion and exclusion criteria, primary and secondary outcomes for symptomatic therapy trials (particularly for melatonin and clonazepam), and potential primary and secondary outcomes for eventual trials with disease-modifying and neuroprotective agents. The latter trials are considered urgent, given the high conversion rate from idiopathic RBD (iRBD) to Parkinsonian disorders (i.e., PD, dementia with Lewy bodies [DLB], multiple system atrophy [MSA]).

RESULTS

Six inclusion criteria were identified for symptomatic therapy and neuroprotective trials: (1) diagnosis of RBD needs to satisfy the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, second edition, (ICSD-2) criteria; (2) minimum frequency of RBD episodes should preferably be ⩾2 times weekly to allow for assessment of change; (3) if the PD-RBD target population is included, it should be in the early stages of PD defined as Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-3 in Off (untreated); (4) iRBD patients with soft neurologic dysfunction and with operational criteria established by the consensus of study investigators; (5) patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI); and (6) optimally treated comorbid OSA. Twenty-four exclusion criteria were identified. The primary outcome measure for RBD treatment trials was determined to be the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) efficacy index, consisting of a four-point scale with a four-point side-effect scale. Assessment of video-polysomnographic (vPSG) changes holds promise but is costly and needs further elaboration. Secondary outcome measures include sleep diaries; sleepiness scales; PD sleep scale 2 (PDSS-2); serial motor examinations; cognitive indices; mood and anxiety indices; assessment of frequency of falls, gait impairment, and apathy; fatigue severity scale; and actigraphy and customized bed alarm systems. Consensus also was established for evaluating the clinical and vPSG aspects of RBD. End points for neuroprotective trials in RBD, taking lessons from research in PD, should be focused on the ultimate goal of determining the performance of disease-modifying agents. To date no compound with convincing evidence of disease-modifying or neuroprotective efficacy has been identified in PD. Nevertheless, iRBD patients are considered ideal candidates for neuroprotective studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The IRBD-SG provides an important platform for developing multinational collaborative studies on RBD such as on environmental risk factors for iRBD, as recently reported in a peer-reviewed journal article, and on controlled active treatment studies for symptomatic and neuroprotective therapy that emerged during the 2011 consensus conference in Marburg, Germany, as described in our report.

Optimisation of occupational exposures during site remediation at WISMU

Since 1991 the national corporation WISMUT GmbH has been charged with the rehabilitation of the sites of former Uranium mining and milling in East Germany. Since decommissioning and site remediation are carried out at places with enhanced dose rates and high concentrations of airborne radioactivity (Rn-222, long-lived alpha emitters), a large part of the employees is classified as occupational exposed radiation workers. Thus, in 2002, 1,073 workers were engaged with relevant works in radiation protection areas aboveground (radiation exposed workers of category B; mean effective dose: 0.3 mSv; maximum dose: 2.2 mSv), and 514 workers still prepared by underground activities the flooding of the Uranium mines (category A; mean effective dose: 0.9 mSv; maximum effective dose: 4.9 mSv). The paper presents the measures taken by WISMUT to optimise the occupational exposure. The need for implementing appropriate ALARA methods in the field of occupational exposure is last but not least caused by the fact that for a number of employees the integral exposure over the total working life time has exceeded already the 400 mSv figure.

Decommissioning and rehabilitation of uranium and thorium production facilities

The use of nuclear energy for military as well as for peaceful purposes was and remains closely connected with the mining and processing of uranium ore and, to a lesser extent, of thorium ore. Mining and processing of radioactive ores are characterised by the generation of huge amounts of radioactive residues, massive impacts upon ecosystems, landscape reshaping (or devastation in some places), and the monostructural socio-economic orientation of human settlement areas. However, a great number of the mines and mills commissioned during the cold war have been already closed, either for deposits being depleted of economically recoverable resources or on political grounds. The specifics of uranium/thorium mining and milling make high demands on the decommissioning and rehabilitation of the facilities which in addition to radiological aspects would have to address issues such as water pollution control and soil conservation, future site re-use, landscaping, and infrastructure development. The present paper gives an overview of the state of decommissioning and rehabilitation. Radiological specifics and their integration into the decommissioning and rehabilitation management are demonstrated for the rehabilitation of uranium mining legacies in Saxony and Thuringia.

Manipulating Y receptor subtype activation of short neuropeptide Y analogs by introducing carbaboranes

Short selective neuropeptide Y (NPY) analogs are highly attractive because of their facile synthesis. Based on the reduced-size NPY analog [Pro(30), Nle(31), Bpa(32), Leu(34)]NPY 28-36 position 32 was identified as a key position to alter the preferential activation pattern of the human neuropeptide Y receptors (hYRs). By replacing benzoylphenylalanine (Bpa) by a biphenylalanine (Bip) the photostability was first improved while the biological activity was maintained. SAR-studies showed that both aromatic rings have a high influence on the preferential hYR subtype activation. Interestingly, replacement of Bpa(32) by a strongly hydrophobic moiety changed the hYR subtype preference of the analog. Whereas the parent compound is able to activate the human neuropeptide Y1 receptor (hY1R) subtype, the introduction of an N(ε)-ortho-carbaboranyl propionic acid modified lysine resulted in a loss of activity at the hY1R but in an increased activity at both the hY2R and the hY4R. However, subsequent receptor internalization studies with this novel analog revealed that receptor internalization can neither be triggered at the hY2R nor at the hY4R suggesting a biased ligand. Surprisingly, investigations by (1)H NMR spectroscopy revealed structural changes in the side chains of residues Pro(30) and Leu(34) which nicely correlates with the shift from hY1R/hY4R to hY2R/hY4R activation preference. Thus, position 32 has been identified to switch the bioactive conformation and subsequently influences receptor subtype activation behavior.

[Complex prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with temporomandibular dysfunction. Case report]

There are varying opinions regarding the contribution of occlusal interferences to the development and progression of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Several studies have demonstrated that the use of occlusal adjustment might prevent the development of TMD and the exacerbation of its symptoms. Since the aetiology of TMD is multiple, the prosthodontic treatment cannot always be sufficient, but tends to be effective in some cases. The present article describes a case of a complex prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with TMD that originates from her previous prosthesis, resulting in reduced vertical dimension. Treatment included the registration of vertical and horizontal dimensions of occlusion by gothic arch (arrow-point) tracing. Degrees of the mandibular movement were recorded by digital axiograph (ARCUSdigma-KaVo) and transferred to a semi-adjustable articulator (KaVo Protar 5B). Appropriate vertical and horizontal occlusal dimensions and individual mandibular movements were then transferred to the final prosthesis.