Release of potassium (K) during biomass combustion, may cause significant operating problems in terms of ash deposition and high-temperature corrosion of superheater tubes. Other ash-forming elements, such as calcium (Ca), silicon (Si), and phosphorus (P), may to a certain degree control the K release. The aim of this work was to study the release of K from simple systems, to obtain information on the retaining effects of the elements Ca, Si, and P. Further objectives were to investigate the effects of temperature, the presence of water vapor, the speciation of K and Ca, and the sample size on the release rate of K, from the simple ternary systems K-Ca-Si and K-Ca-P. Well-defined mixtures of K, Ca, and Si (or P) species were heat-treated in a reactor, at constant temperature (900 or 1000 °C), in a gas flow of 4 nL/min N 2 containing 2% (v/v) H 2 O. Average release rates were calculated from weight measurements of the samples after every 15 min of the heat treatment (and subsequent cooling to room temperature). The presence of water in the gas flow was found to significantly enhance the K-release rate, from both the K-Ca-Si system and the K-Ca-P system. For the K-Ca-Si system, a significantly higher release rate was observed at 1000 °C compared to 900 °C. Furthermore, doubling the Ca/Si molar ratio K 2 CO 3 -CaO-SiO 2 mixture strongly enhanced the K-release rate (by about 2 times) at 1000 °C. This suggests that SiO 2 preferentially reacts with CaO, so that more K is being released to the gas phase instead of being incorporated into the silicate structure. For the K-Ca-P system, with K 2 CO 3 as the K source, the Ca/P molar ratio had a strong effect on the K-release rate: a decrease in the Ca/P molar ratio (or increase in the P content) significantly decreased the K-release rate from the K-Ca-P mixtures. As opposed to the K-Ca-Si system, it thus seems that K is preferentially incorporated in (nonvolatile)The effects of temperature and Ca source on the K-release rate from this system were limited but most pronounced for the mixtures with the highest Ca/P ratio (lowest P content). Furthermore, the sample size had a strong influence on the K-release rate. In the case of K-Ca-P mixtures containing KCl as the K source, the K-release rate was significantly higher at 1000 °C compared to 900 °C in the first 15 min of the heat treatment, whereas the Ca/P ratio had no effect on the K-release rate. Selected samples of the K-Ca-Si and K-Ca-P mixtures, before and after the heat treatment, were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in combination with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), to investigate the morphological and compositional changes. Moreover, selected samples of the K-Ca-P mixtures were heated from room temperature to 1400 °C, in a simultaneous thermal analyzer (STA), to investigate the melting and gas-phase release behavior. Both methods confirmed the effects of the Ca/Si and Ca/P ratios and the speciation of K and Ca on the release behavior observed in the heating experiments.

Abstract. Resveratrol, a stilbene polyphenol found in grapes and red wine, produces vasorelaxation in both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent manners. The mechanisms by which resveratrol causes vasodilatation are uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism(s) of endothelium-independent resveratrol-induced vasorelaxation in human internal mammary artery (HIMA) obtained from male patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery and to clarify the contribution of different K + channel subtypes in resveratrol action in this blood vessel. HIMA rings without endothelium were precontracted with phenylephrine. Resveratrol induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of the HIMA. A highly selective blocker of ATP-sensitive K + channels, glibenclamide, as well as nonselective blockers of Ca 2+ -sensitive K + channels, tetraethylammonium and charybdotoxin, did not block resveratrolinduced relaxation of HIMA rings. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP), non selective blocker of voltagegated K + (K V ) channels, and margatoxin that inhibits K V 1.2, K V 1.3, and K V 1.6 channels abolished relaxation of HIMA rings induced by resveratrol. In conclusion, we have shown that resveratrol potently relaxed HIMA rings with denuded endothelium. It seems that 4-AP-and margatoxinsensitive K + channels located in smooth muscle of HIMA mediated this relaxation.

Resveratrol, a phenolic substance present in grapes and a variety of medical plants, has been reported to induce vasorelaxation, however the mechanisms are uncertain. In this paper we investigate the possible participation of K π channels in the endothelium-independent vasodilatation of rat aorta induced by resveratrol. Resveratrol induced concentration-dependent relaxation of rings with endothelium and without endothelium. We used different potassium channel inhibitors to determine whether the K π channels mediated endothelium-independent relaxation of rat aorta induced by resveratrol. Highly selective blocker of ATP-sensitive K π channels, glibenclamide, as well as non-selective blockers of K π channels, tetraethylammonium, did not block resveratrol-induced relaxation of rat aortic rings. Charybdotoxin, a blocker of calcium-sensitive K π channels did not affect the resveratrol-induced relaxation. 4-Aminopiridine, non-selective blocker of voltage-gated K π (Kv) channels, and margatoxin that inhibits Kv1 channels abolished relaxation of rat aortic rings induced by resveratrol. In conclusion, we have shown that resveratrol potently relaxed rat aortic rings with denuded endothelium. It seems that 4-aminopiridine and margatoxin-sensitive K π channels located in the smooth muscle of rat aorta mediated this relaxation.

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Although long a feature of inpatient mental health ward routine, community meetings have not always attracted a clear sense of purpose and value. A common complaint from patients is that community meetings are useless and have no worthwhile purpose. It was thought that staff on acute wards would benefit from having a space to think about community meetings, and a work discussion group was provided over a duration of 18 months. It was hoped that this intervention would enable facilitators to think about these meetings and about their aims and benefits. This paper presents findings from the work discussion group: staff facilitators' experience of facilitating community meetings and patients' direct feedback to facilitators about their experience of these meetings. The conclusions made are that community meetings could provide a useful forum for patients and staff if they: • are of benefit to patients • provide a forum for development of the therapeutic alliance between patients and staff • contribute towards improvement of the ward milieu • provide a forum for staff to develop therapeutic skills • provide a forum for staff to develop working relationships with colleagues and different professionals in the team.

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This service evaluation study aimed to demonstrate the impact of implementing ward‐based multidisciplinary therapy input on an acute psychiatric ward in a London hospital for a six‐month period. The results indicated a high level of patient engagement with the project and referrals facilitated for patients following discharge. A reduction of incidents on the ward was reported over the project period compared to the previous year and there was less use of containment measures by staff by the end of the project. Recommendations are made for service improvement.

This study evaluates the distress experienced by women attending gynecology outpatient clinics (GOCs). We investigate causes of this distress and explore women's own experience of their distress. A questionnaire survey of 197 women attending GOCs was carried out, both quantitative and qualitative analyses were undertaken. Thirty-five percent of women showed clinical levels of anxiety, 13% had clinically significant depression and half reported feeling distressed. A range of feelings was reported, though commonly mixed emotions were expressed. Women had a low sense of personal control and uncertainty in relation to their gynecologic problem. Both coincidental stress, such as life changes, and the direct consequences of the gynecologic problem were predictive of anxiety. Qualitative analysis suggested four ways in which women experienced their distress and the gynecologic problem: (i) gynecologic symptoms were a direct cause of distress, (ii) gynecologic symptoms caused distress indirectly through reactions to diagnosis and treatment, (iii) gynecologic symptoms caused distress because of their impact on relationships, social life and self identity, and (iv) distress was unrelated to the gynecologic symptoms. Results highlight diversity and complexity in women's experiences and support the need for a fuller understanding of distress in this group in order to meet their needs adequately and appropriately.