Perceived exertion associated with breathing hyperoxic mixtures during submaximal work

The effect of an enriched inspired oxygen concentration on perceived exertion (RPE) was investigated while running at two submaximal treadmill loads. Twelve males (VO2 max = 49.3 ml/kg-min) worked at 50% and 80% VO2 max, breathing either air or 80% O2-20% N2 in random order using a single blind technique. Subjects were evaluated while running for 10 min and during a 20 min recovery. Heart rate (HR), ventilation (VE), respiration rate (RR), tidal volume (VT) and RPE were measured before, during and after work. Blood lactate was measured 1 min after work. Oxygen concentration did not statistically affect HR, VE, RR or VT during exercise or recovery. At both loads, RPE at the end of exercise was significantly reduced breathing the hyperoxic mixture. At 50% VO2 max, mean RPE decreased from 11.2 breathing room air to 9.6 breathing 80% O2 and, 80% VO2 max, from 13.8 to 11.7 (P less than 0.01). Blood lactates were significantly reduced breathing 80% O2; from 23.4 mg to 13.3 at 50% VO2 max and from 55.5 to 36.5 at 80% VO2 max (P less than 0.01). The RPE correlated with lactate (r=0.64) at the end of work. Results indicate that during moderate and heavy work RPE is significantly affected by the inspired O2 concentration and there is a significant relationship between RPE and blood lactate.     

MaD, an automated precise analytical ultracentrifuge scanner system

The various hardware components of this scanning system, a mechanical split-beam scanner with its photomultiplier measuring slit, minimum analog electronics and an important digital part (computer, interface), are intimately interwoven by an elaborate software. A high degree of automation and sophistication is thus reached. On the one hand, all the photoelectrons coming from each light pulse are integrated. The result, after conversion to digital form enters the computer; a high precision is thus reached: 10(-5) absorbance unit (A.U.) under very favorable conditions, and 10(-4) A.U. for conventional sedimentation studies. On the other hand, during its motion along the image, the precise slit position is permanently known by the system: the sector image is thus segmented into precisely defined zones, inside which the average absorbancies are determined, punched, plotted and printed. New and very useful utilizations and improvements of analytical ultracentrifugation are now possible: the fixed radius mode, permits precise s determination by following the radial dilution; s can be precisely measured by time difference curves even when the solution absorbancy is comparable to the base line variations (0.01 A.U.); round trip analyses permit very long analyses without the absorbancies distributions distorsions due to very long one-way scans during sedimentations runs; reductions of the effect of the stray light by a factor of ten. This system has been in routine use for four years.     

Causes of failure of surgery on the lumbar spine

An interinstitutional study on the failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) has determined that failure to recognize or adequately treat lateral stenosis of the lumbar spine with resultant nerve irritation and/or compression comprised the primary etiology in 57% to 58% of patients. Other common causes were recurrent or persistent disk herniation and lumbosacral adhesive arachnoiditis. The diagnosis of stenosis was made either by high-resolution CT scan of the lumbar spine or by directly testing lateral canal and for animal patency at the time of surgery. It is now appreciated that the process of degenerative disk disease, particularly when enhanced by diskectomy, results in progressive loss of intervertebral disk volume and predisposes to future ipsilateral or contralateral lateral spinal stenosis. Degenerative disk disease is ultimately a bilateral process and therefore surgical exposure should be bilateral. The direct and indirect costs of FBSS to patients and to society as well as the toll in human suffering are very high. This is particularly a matter of concern when it is realized that for many FBSS patients, surgery could have been avoided in the first place by preventive care or by innovative conservative treatment. When surgery is indicated, adequate diagnostic tests and the execution of appropriate procedures based upon this information should largely prevent the failed back surgery syndrome.     

Monitoring motility, spreading, and mortality of adherent insect cells using an impedance sensor

An emerging sensor technology referred to as electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) has been extended for monitoring the behavior of insect cells including attachment, motility, and mortality. In ECIS, adherent cells were cultured on an array of eight small gold electrodes deposited on the bottom of tissue culture wells and immersed in a culture medium. Upon the attachment and spreading of cells on the gold electrode, the impedance increased because the cells acted as insulating particles to restrict the current flow. Experimental data revealed that insect cells interacted differently with various proteins used to precoat the gold electrode with concanavalin A as the best promoter to accelerate the rate of cell attachment. After the cells were fully spread, the measured impedance continued to fluctuate to reflect the constant motion and metabolic activity of the cells. As the cell behavior was sensitive to external chemicals, the applicability of ECIS for inhibition assays was demonstrated with HgCl2, trinitrotoluene, trinitrobenzene (TNB), and 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene as model systems. Unlike conventional assays, the quantitative data obtained in this study are taken in real time and in a continuous fashion to depict cell motility and mortality.     

卟啉类L—B膜分子间相互作用的光谱研究

以无取代的meso-四-(4-N)-吡啶基卟啉及其过渡族金属(主要Cu~(2+)、Zn~(2+))络合物制备L-B膜,以近紫外-可见吸收光谱和荧光光谱为手段,研究叶啉类分子在氯仿溶液中,L-B膜状态下以及固态状态下的相互作用。探讨分子聚集体的存在对光谱性质的影响。 为了研究叶咻类分子间的相互作用及其对光谱性质的影响,我们首先分析了叶啉在CHCl_3溶液中及固态状态下的近紫外-可见吸收光谱和荧光光谱。并将其与叶啉类分子的L-B膜作比较。结果表明,卟啉类的Soret吸收带带宽及峰位置在三种状态下均不相同,L-B膜的情况介于溶液中的和固体下的情况之间,说明了在L-B膜中,卟啉分子存在着某种形式的聚集体,且在这种聚集体中分子间的相互作用程度比固体弱,可以认为L-B膜上的分子呈准晶体状态。     

Improved microstructure and properties of 6061 aluminum alloy weldments using a double-sided arc welding process

Due to its popularity and high crack sensitivity, 6061 aluminum alloy was selected as a test material for the newly developed double-sided arc welding (DSAW) process. The microstructure, crack sensitivity, and porosity of DSAW weldments, were studied systematically. The percentage of fine equiaxed grains in the fully penetrated welds is greatly increased. Residual stresses are reduced. Porosity in the welds is reduced and individual pores are smaller. It was also found that the shape and size of porosity is related to solidification substructure. In particular, a weld metal zone with equiaxed grains tends to form small and dispersed porosity, whereas elongated porosity tends to occur in columnar grains.     

Benign and malignant esophageal strictures: treatment with a polyurethane-covered retrievable expandable metallic stent

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a polyurethane-covered, retrievable, self-expandable metallic stent and hook catheter in the treatment of esophageal strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stents were constructed of 0.4-mm stainless steel wire in a cylindric zig-zag configuration of six to nine bends. Four to eight stents were connected in tandem by dipping in a polyurethane solution. A nylon loop was hooked inside to each bend of the proximal portion of the stent and strung with a thread. Under fluoroscopic guidance, 22 stents were placed in 16 patients with a malignant stricture and five patients with a benign stricture. The stent was removed with a hook catheter 2 months after placement in patients with a benign stricture and when complications occurred in patients with a malignant stricture. All patients had dysphagia with ingestion of soft foods or liquids. RESULTS: Stent placement was technically successful and well tolerated in 20 patients. In one patient, the stent was misplaced but relocated successfully. After stent placement, all patients were able to ingest solid and/or soft foods without dysphagia. After stent removal, strictures showed improvement but recurred in two patients. CONCLUSION: Use of polyurethane-covered, retrievable expandable stents seems to be a feasible and effective method of treatment of benign and malignant esophageal strictures.