Integrative and sealing-over recoveries from schizophrenia: distinguishing case studies

Fast-2, a membrane mutant of Paramecium aurelia, is due to a single-gene mutation and has behavioral abnormalities. Intracellular recordings through changes of external solutions were made. The mutant membrane hyperpolarized when it encountered solutions with low K+ concentration. This hyperpolarization and other associated activities were best observed in Ca- or Na-solutions devoid of K+. Membrane potential was plotted against the concentration of K+ (0.5 to 16 mM) in solutions of fixed Na+ or Ca++ concentration. The slopes of the curves for the mutant membrane were steeper than those for the wild type at the lower concentrations of K+. Inclusion of 2 mM tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA-Cl) counteracted the mutational effects. Spontaneous action potentials in Ba-solution and the electrically evoked action potentials in various solutions are normal in this mutant. We conclude that the resting permeability to K+ relative to the permeabilities to Na+ and Ca++ has been increased by the mutation.     

Terahertz Properties of Graphene

Graphene has proved itself as being unique in terms of fundamental physics, and of particular importance for post–silicon electronics. Research into graphene has divided into two branches, one probing the remarkable electronic and optical properties of graphene, and the other pursuing technologically viable forms of the material. Terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz TDS) is a powerful tool for both, able to characterise the free carrier response of graphene and probe the inter and intraband response of excited carriers with sub-ps time resolution. We review THz TDS and related THz measurements of graphene.     

A physiological Intensive Control Insulin-Nutrition-Glucose (ICING) model validated in critically ill patients

Intensive insulin therapy (IIT) and tight glycaemic control (TGC), particularly in intensive care unit (ICU), are the subjects of increasing and controversial debate in recent years. Model-based TGC has shown potential in delivering safe and tight glycaemic management, all the while limiting hypoglycaemia. A comprehensive, more physiologically relevant Intensive Control Insulin-Nutrition-Glucose (ICING) model is presented and validated using data from critically ill patients. Two existing glucose-insulin models are reviewed and formed the basis for the ICING model. Model limitations are discussed with respect to relevant physiology, pharmacodynamics and TGC practicality. Model identifiability issues are carefully considered for clinical settings. This article also contains significant reference to relevant physiology and clinical literature, as well as some references to the modeling efforts in this field. Identification of critical constant population parameters was performed in two stages, thus addressing model identifiability issues. Model predictive performance is the primary factor for optimizing population parameter values. The use of population values are necessary due to the limited clinical data available at the bedside in the clinical control scenario. Insulin sensitivity, S(I), the only dynamic, time-varying parameter, is identified hourly for each individual. All population parameters are justified physiologically and with respect to values reported in the clinical literature. A parameter sensitivity study confirms the validity of limiting time-varying parameters to S(I) only, as well as the choices for the population parameters. The ICING model achieves median fitting error of <1% over data from 173 patients (N=42,941 h in total) who received insulin while in the ICU and stayed for ≥ 72 h. Most importantly, the median per-patient 1-h ahead prediction error is a very low 2.80% [IQR 1.18, 6.41%]. It is significant that the 75th percentile prediction error is within the lower bound of typical glucometer measurement errors of 7-12%. These results confirm that the ICING model is suitable for developing model-based insulin therapies, and capable of delivering real-time model-based TGC with a very tight prediction error range. Finally, the detailed examination and discussion of issues surrounding model-based TGC and existing glucose-insulin models render this article a mini-review of the state of model-based TGC in critical care.     

Attentional dysfunction, social perception, and social competence: What is the nature of the relationship?

The aim of this study was to examine the nature of the relationship between attentional dysfunction and social competence deficits in patients with schizophrenia. Attentional functioning, social perception, and social competence were assessed in 56 inpatients. Measures of vigilance and span of apprehension were administered to assess attentional functioning. Social perception was assessed with an audiovisual measure of affect recognition. Social competence was rated from a role-play task. Span of apprehension and auditory vigilance emerged as specific predictors of social competence. Affect recognition was tested as a mediator and a moderator of the relationship between attentional dysfunction and social competence. Affect recognition was found to moderate the relationship between span of apprehension and social competence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Arctic river temperature dynamics in a changing climate

Climate change in the Arctic is expected to have a major impact on stream ecosystems, affecting hydrological and thermal regimes. Although temperature is important to a range of in‐stream processes, previous Arctic stream temperature research is limited—focused on glacierised headwaters in summer—with limited attention to snowmelt streams and winter. This is the first high‐resolution study on stream temperature in north‐east Greenland (Zackenberg). Data were collected from five streams from September 2013 to September 2015 (24 months). During the winter, streams were largely frozen solid and water temperature variability low. Spring ice‐off date occurred simultaneously across all streams, but 11 days earlier in 2014 compared with 2015 due to thicker snow insulation. During summer, water temperature was highly variable and exhibited a strong relationship with meteorological variables, particularly incoming shortwave radiation and air temperature. Mean summer water temperature in these snowmelt streams was high compared with streams studied previously in Svalbard, yet was lower in Swedish Lapland, as was expected given latitude. With global warning, Arctic stream thermal variability may be less in summer and increased during the winter due to higher summer air temperature and elevated winter precipitation, and the spring and autumn ice‐on and ice‐off dates may extend the flowing water season—in turn affecting stream productivity and diversity.     

Effects of Stabilized Criegee Intermediate and OH Radical Scavengers on Aerosol Formation from Reactions of β-Pinene with O 3

The formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from reactions of O 3 with g -pinene, an exocyclic monoterpene prominent in the ambient atmosphere, was studied in an environmental chamber using a thermal desorption particle beam mass spectrometer for chemical analysis and a scanning mobility particle sizer for aerosol yield measurements. Potential reaction pathways for SOA formation were investigated in a series of experiments conducted using various scavengers for stabilized Criegee intermediates (SCI) and OH radicals, both of which are formed in the reaction. The major particulate products were compounds less volatile than pinic acid, a low-volatility dicarboxylic acid that was identified but was a minor component of the aerosol. The aerosol mass spectrum and yield were relatively insensitive to the identity of the SCI scavenger, indicating that association reactions of scavengers with SCI were not important in SOA formation. The mass spectrum of the aerosol also did not depend on the identity of the OH radical scavenger. SOA yields, on the other hand, were significantly larger when cyclohexane was used as an OH radical scavenger, compared to those measured for reactions conducted using alcohols or aldehydes. This dependence indicates that radical pathways play a major role in SOA formation in this reaction. Furthermore, the results show that reaction of OH radicals with scavengers used in laboratory studies can perturb the radical chemistry in such a way as to significantly impact SOA yields. We propose that this effect is due to increases in the ratio [hydroperoxy radicals]/[organic peroxy radicals] when alcohols or aldehydes are used as OH radical scavengers. This apparently enhances the rate of reaction of hydroperoxy radicals with key radical intermediates in SOA formation, effectively short-circuiting the reaction system into pathways leading to more volatile products.     

Design and Operation of a Pressure-Controlled Inlet for Airborne Sampling with an Aerodynamic Aerosol Lens

Two pressure-controlled inlets (PCI) have been designed and integrated into the Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) inlet system containing an aerodynamic aerosol lens system for use in airborne measurements. Laboratory experiments show that size calibration and mass flow rate into the AMS are not affected by changes in upstream pressure (P ₀ ) of the PCI as long as the pressure within the PCI chamber (P _PCI ) is controlled to values lower than P ₀ . Numerous experiments were conducted at different P _PCI , P ₀ , and AMS lens pressures (P _Lens ) to determine particle transmission efficiency into the AMS. Based on the results, optimum operating conditions were selected which allow for constant pressure sampling with close to 100% transmission efficiency of particles in the size range of ～ 100–700 nm vacuum aerodynamic diameter (d _va ) at altitudes up to ～ 6.5 km. Data from an airborne field study are presented for illustration.     

Establishment of performance standards and a cut-score for the Canadian Forces Firefighter Physical Fitness Maintenance Evaluation (FF PFME)

The Bookmark method for setting cut-scores was used to re-set the cut-score for the Canadian Forces Firefighter Physical Fitness Maintenance Evaluation (FF PFME). The time required to complete 10 tasks that together simulate a first-response firefighting emergency was accepted as a measure of work capacity. A panel of 25 Canadian Forces firefighter supervisors set cut-scores in three rounds. Each round involved independent evaluation of nine video work samples, where the times systematically increased from 400 seconds to 560 seconds. Results for Round 1 were discussed before moving to Round 2 and results for Round 2 were discussed before moving to Round 3. Accounting for the variability among panel members at the end of Round 3, a cut-score of 481 seconds (mean Round 3 plus 2 SEM) was recommended. Firefighters who complete the FF PFME in 481 seconds or less have the physical capacity to complete first-response firefighting work.