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The systemic disposition of theophylline after taking a new, sustained release tablet (Theolair Retard 250 mg, Theolair S.R., Riker Laboratories) has been studied in 8 hospitalized patients. Absolute bioavailability was determined from the ratios of the areas under the serum concentration-time curves after intake of the tablet and after intravenous infusion of aminophylline in the same patient. The absolute bioavailability of Theolair Retard 250 mg was 110.9 +/- 20.8% (mean +/-SD). Maximal serum concentrations were reached after 7.3 +/- 3.5 h, the large intersubject variation being due to differences in gastric emptying time. The tablets appear to release theophylline slowly in acid conditions, but more rapidly in an alkaline medium. Invasion was found to be either monophasic with a rate constant of about 0.8 h-1 (intestine), or biphasic with rate constants of 0.2 h-1 (stomach) and 0.8 h-1 (intestine). The peak levels accounted for 7.9 +/- 2.2 mg . 1-1. The profiles of the serum concentration-time curves were such that the concentrations remained above 80% of cmax for 6.5 +/- 3.3 h. The relevant pharmacokinetic parameters (half-life of elimination, total body clearance and volume of distribution) were determined and were used to calculate the individual dosage regimens required to obtain therapeutic serum concentrations. The optimal dosing interval to obtain an average steady state serum concentration of 12.5 mg . l-1 was 9.8 +/- 3.1 h.

Shallow translational landslides and earth-flows (mixing process between landslide and flow process) are the most common and most problematic types of landslides relating to the weathering of the bedrock and unconsolidated slope deposits in Carinthia. These types of landslides can reach high speeds and travel long distances. Usually only the uppermost meters of loose sediments of the slope are affected and heavy rain events after a pre-saturation of the soil are typically triggers for such landslides.As part of a research project in Carinthia an Add-In for ArcGIS 10x was developed. This Add-In calculates the runout for these common types of mass movements on the basis of available data on a regional scale. The runout modelling assumes that the soil is presaturated and additional precipitation in susceptible area triggers the landslides. The calculation of the runout distances is performed using a specially programmed ArcGIS Add-In. The calculation requires the following information:Initiation cells of high susceptibility to landslide processes (slope failure initiation zones); digital elevation model (DEM); geology; surface roughness (generated from the landuse map); and curvature (this affects the drainage of the mass movement).The runout modelling takes into account the variability of the "trigger" and mobility as a function of water saturation in shallow landslides. The calibration of the parameters is based on simulations of initiation cells with known events so that it can be assumed that the simulation results match the conditions corresponding to events observed in the region. The model allows easy and fast recalculation for parts of the area if needed (new findings due to events).

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