Importance of pre- and perinatal risk factors in respiratory distress syndrome of premature infants. A logical regression analysis of 1100 cases

BACKGROUND: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) due to surfactant deficiency remains a cause of considerable mortality in the neonatal period. METHODS: In a retrospective study we analysed the records of 1109 premature newborns with a birth weight below 1500 g that were treated on our unit. RDS was assumed if the infants needed mechanical ventilation with oxygen supplementation and the typical radiological signs were present on chest x-ray. RESULTS: No changes in the incidence of RDS were found during the period of observation. Below 29 weeks gestational age 90% of infants suffered from RDS (55% severe RDS grade III or IV). The incidence was 75% (grade III or IV: 32%) for infants born at 29 and 30 weeks, 48% (grade III or IV: 15%) at 31 and 32 weeks and 33% (grade III or IV: 6%) for neonates born at 33 weeks of gestation. Using a logistic regression analysis model the following parameters were found to increase the risk for RDS significantly (p < 0.05): no prenatal steroid treatment, Cesarean section, male gender, APGAR at 5 min < 7, metabolic acidosis (base excess < or = -6 mval) and rectal temperature < 36 degrees C on admission. Following gestosis, insufficiency of the placenta and premature rupture of membranes a decrease in the incidence of RDS was observed. CONCLUSION: We conclude that although some risk factors for RDS will be difficult to exclude (e.g. maternal disease, gender) the incidence and severity of RDS can be reduced by measures like maternal antenatal steroid treatment. Perinatal asphyxia (low APGAR values and/or acidosis) and hypothermia should be avoided, as these conditions increase the relative risk for developing RDS.     

Schweißen von Hohlstrukturen und offenporösen Metallschäumen für den Einsatz in Kombi‐Kraftwerken

Welding of Hollow Structures and Open‐Porous Metal Foams for Application in Combined Cycle Power Plants For applications within the scope of novel cooling concepts joining technologies for sandwich composites and open‐porous metal foams are researched in the context of the Collaborative Research Centre 561 “Thermally highly loaded, porous and cooled multi‐layer systems for combined cycle power plants”. The research motivation and application fields of the different structures are defined. Welding processes and strategies for manufacturing these structures are specified as well as the joining technologies’ characteristics. Planned future works for enhancements of the processes and structures are listed.     

Taking the fungal highway: mobilization of pollutant-degrading bacteria by fungi

The capacity of fungi to serve as vectors for the dispersion of pollutant-degrading bacteria was analyzed in laboratory model systems mimicking water-saturated (agar surfaces) and unsaturated soil environments (glass-bead-filled columns). Two common soil fungi (Fusarium oxysporum and Rhexocercosporidium sp.) forming hydrophilic and hydrophobic mycelia, respectively, and three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria (Achromobacter sp. SK1, Mycobacterium frederiksbergense LB501TG, and Sphingomonas sp. L138) were selected based on the absence of mutual antagonistic effects. It was shown that fungal hyphae act as vectors for bacterial transport with mobilization strongly depending on the specific microorganisms chosen: The motile strain Achromobacter sp. SK1 was most efficiently spread along hyphae of hydrophilic F. oxysporum in both model systems with transport velocities of up to 1 cm d(-1), whereas no dispersion of the two nonmotile strains was observed in the presence of F. oxysporum. By contrast, none of the bacteria was mobilized along the hydrophobic mycelia of Rhexocercosporidium sp. growing on agar surfaces. In column experiments however, strain SK1 was mobilized by Rhexocercosporidium sp. It is hypothesized that bacteria may move by their intrinsic motilitythrough continuous (physiological) liquid films forming around fungal hyphae. The results of this study suggest that the specific stimulation of indigenous fungi may be a strategy to mobilize pollutant-degrading bacteria leading to their homogenization in polluted soil thereby improving bioremediation.     

The equilibrium μ-D-T fusion cycle

The energy balance of muon-catalyzed deuteron-triton (d-t) fusion is known to depend upon the average number of fusion reactions catalyzed by one muon. We determine this important parameter from a particle kinetics formulation for the case of an equilibrium reaction cycle and use it to establish an energy viability criteria for aμ-d-t system.     

Über Carbonsäurehydroxy-tryptamide in ölhaltigen Samen

Tryptamides of Hydroxy-Carboxylic Acids in Oil-Containing Seeds Different amounts tryptamides of 5-hydroxy-carboxylic acids have been found in various oil-containing plant seeds, especially on their outer surface or in external layers of the tissues. In each variety, the substance present in highest concentration has been thoroughly investigated. It was found that the single fractions on thin-layer chromatograms were composed of several tryptamides of 5-hydroxy-carboxylic acids. Fatty acids ranging from C₁₆ to C₂₄ were detected. The antioxidative action of these tryptamides are discussed with examples.     

Error-free solution to a Toeplitz system of equations

A numerical method which allows error-free computation of the solution to a Toeplitz system of equations is developed. The method requires that the system of equations have rational entries. To avoid error that is inherent in floating-point arithmetic, multiple-modulus residue arithmetic is applied to a modified version of the Levinson algorithm and to an algorithm presented by S.Y. Kung and Y.H. Hu (1983). The error-free method has a highly parallel structure and can be implemented with existing software and hardware. The exact method presented here serves as an outline for the general approach to the development of error-free solution methods     

Studies with a behavior-oriented evaluation scale for depressive inhibition and agitation. Results of a video-documented amitriptyline-mianserine study

This is the first report of a new approach which is concerned with the registration and graded judgement of non-verbal behavior. We have tried to show that this is a method which helps to unveil the role of non-verbal behavior in the process of making a diagnosis and to define the concepts used.     

Carbons?ure-5-(hydroxy)-tryptamide in kaffeebohnen

Zusammenfassung In den Au?enauflagerungen von Kaffeebohnen (Kaffeewachs) kommen mehrere phenolische Substanzen vor, die mit GiBBs' Reagens unter Blauf?rbung reagieren. Die „Hauptkomponente” erwies sich aufgrund der sehr eingehenden Untersuchungen als ein Gemisch aus 48% Arachins?ure-5-(hydroxy)-tryptamid, 48% Behens?ure-5(Hydroxy)-Tryptamid und, 4% Lignocerins?ure-5-(hydroxy)-tryptamid. In unbehandelten Roh- und R?stkaffees kommen — auf die „Hauptkomponente” bezogen — insgesamt 80 mg bis 150 mg/100 g Hydroxy-tryptamide vor. Der Gehalt der Kaffees an Serotonin kann danach zwischen 26 mg und 50 mg/100 g angenommen werden.     

Source fluctuation effects in radiation diagnosis of voided fluidic systems

The role of the statistical fluctuations of a radiation source on its capability as a diagnostic tool in the determination of voids is examined. Factors such as the influence of the properties of the medium and the probability density distribution of the radiation source are discussed. Experimental investigations of source fluctuation effects have been undertaken and are found to be in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. The general framework of analysis is subsequently applied to additional source distribution functions to illustrate the potential void biasing effect of different radiation sources.