Ulstrasonic monitoring for early diagnosis of air embolism during neurosurgical procedures (author's transl)

The sitting position of the patient offers many advantages to the neurosurgeon for operations at the posterior fossa, the upper cervical region, the Gasserian ganglion and the retroganglionic trigeminal root. Air embolism is however one of the greatest dangers during operations in this position. Air emboli occur more frequently than it is generally recognized. Most monitoring systems indicate the entrance of air at a late stage only. But early diagnosis and immediate therapy are of utmost importance. The use of an ultrasonic monitoring device for early diagnosis and the preoperative insertion of a right artrial catheter for immediate aspiration of the air are recommended.     

Antitumor effect of plant lectins

BACKGROUND: Staff development experts in a tertiary-care hospital were searching for a holistic approach to facilitating improved outcomes. METHOD: Staff development experts, clinical nurse specialists, and clinical managers developed a model that provides a framework for educators to integrate their energies with those of other leaders in order to create a holistic approach to the goal of achieving excellence. RESULTS: The model that is proposed links strategies for change with outcome evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: The model provides a conceptual lens that helps nurse leaders focus on organizational assessment, strategies to improve the work environment, and the evaluation of outcomes. The model is useful for guiding practice as well as research.     

Multifactorial analysis of lung cancer dose-response relationships for workers at the Mayak nuclear enterprise

Dose-response relationships for alpha-radiation-induced lung cancers (adenocarcinoma, squamous carcinoma and small cell carcinoma) were developed by multifactorial analysis using data for Mayak nuclear enterprise workers chronically exposed by inhalation to 239Pu. The three most important lung cancer risk factors (smoking, plutonium incorporation, and external gamma irradiation), out of six factors previously identified, were used. Relative risks (odds ratios) were determined for 500 nuclear enterprise workers (162 cancer cases, 338 control) for different dose levels using a case-control study design and logistic regression. A threshold at about 3.7 kBq or 0.80 Gy was discovered for incorporated plutonium, which is satisfactorily described by linear-quadratic and quadratic models. Excess relative risk was 0.020 kBq(-2) and 0.97 Gy(-2). This quadratic function was mainly due to adenocarcinoma. A trend for decreasing risk was noted for the lowest levels of plutonium incorporation, near permissible level. No clear-cut dose-response relationship for lung cancer induction by chronic external gamma irradiation was obtained. Lung cancer induction by cigarette smoking had a linear dependence: smoking of one pack of papiroses (a type of Russian cigarette) per day for 5 y increases the lung cancer risk twofold. The effect was most clearly manifested for squamous-cell carcinoma.     

塞浦路斯考古博物馆

正建筑师Theoni Xanthi获得新塞浦路斯国际建筑竞赛一等奖。此次竞赛分为两个阶段,第一阶段共收到129份参赛作品,第二阶段入围7份作品。项目耗资7 500万欧元,新的考古博物馆将容纳塞浦路斯考古机构所有的重要收藏;同时,博物馆作为"文化之岛"——尼科西亚市的多功能文化设施,功能包括文物部办公室、会议室、图书馆、咖啡馆及餐厅、文化活动平台及一个达42 000平方米的开放的底层景观平台。考古博物馆坐落在离尼科西亚中世纪城墙不远的地方,处于城市绿地与城市中心区的中间地带。因此,作为应对,     

Electric power transmission: An overview of associated burdens

Transmission operators and regulators face the enormous challenge to meet both the request for a high‐performing grid as well as the public's concern about the burdens of electric power transmission. Although huge infrastructural projects for the development of interconnections are at several stages, the associated transmission burdens are not yet fully incorporated in the respective socioeconomic analysis. In this respect, the aim of this paper is to present a collective summary of electricity transmission burdens and their associated impacts. To increase coherence, the burdens have been classified in the following categories: transmission losses; electromagnetic fields; infrastructure; visual intrusion; noise; interruption of supply; land use; ecosystems; and property values. Moreover, the burdens relation with transmission technologies and associated impacts are illustrated in original overview tables. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of altitude and latitude on ambient UVB radiation

PURPOSE: Spitting as an ictal automatism has been rarely reported. We aimed to establish its potential lateralizing and localizing significance. METHODS: Review of patients undergoing surgery for intractable epilepsy at two comprehensive epilepsy centers. RESULTS: Five patients were found who had spitting as a stereotyped automatism of their complex partial seizures. All had evidence of right temporal ictal onset and underwent resective surgery. Two had tumors; one, a cavernous angioma; one, hippocampal gliosis, and one, hippocampal sclerosis. We found no instances of ictal spitting in patients with left hemisphere onset. CONCLUSIONS: Spitting as an automatism in complex partial seizures, although uncommon, may be a localizing sign to the nondominant temporal lobe.     

Data validation platform for the sophisticated monitoring and communication of the energy technology sector

It has very often been stated that the difficulty and complexity of achieving green energy targets in the European Union (EU) will require strengthened measures to promote implementation of New Energy Technologies, Energy End-use Efficiency, as well as measures to support the related energy Research and Technology Development (RTD). Often forgotten is the fact, that most of all, a European-wide co-ordinated forum is needed to continuously develop and sophisticate the monitoring and methodology results, bringing together specialised statisticians, energy researchers and experts on energy socio-economics. The aim of this paper is to present the Scientific Reference System (SRS) Scorecard; a data validation platform for the sophisticated monitoring and communication of the energy technology sector. In this respect, the concept of the SRS scorecard system will be laid out, the parameters and the scoring criteria will be explained as well as the assessment system so as to provide the interested reader with the basis needed to understand the technology evaluation examples provided, as well as its critical analysis.