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.     

Overview of theories for water and solute transport in9 UF/RO membranes

The applicability of various models for the transport of water and solute in UF/RO membranes is briefly outlined.The selectivity of various solutes in ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis is further discussed.     

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.     

Materials Emission of Chemicals – PVC Flooring Materials

Abstract Data of chemical emissions from flooring materials have been collected and investigated in a database known as METS. The emission tests are performed using the Field and Laboratory Emission Cell (FLEC). The emission rates of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) in the boiling point range of hexane to octa-decane varies from around 4,000 μg/(m²· h) to less than 10 μg/ (m²· h). Results obtained 1994/95 are presented and compared with the results obtained in 1992 for similar materials. The tests are performed 4 weeks and 26 weeks after the manufacturing of the material. The emission rates of TVOC decrease on the average approximately 60% from 4 to 26 weeks. The differences and trends in emission rates of individual chemicals and their use are discussed. For many VOCs emission rates decrease rapidly and become near to or below 2 μg/(m²· h) (the detection limit) after 26 weeks. For a small number of individual compounds the emission rate decrease little over 26 weeks. A small number of chemicals are singled out for particular interest in a health and comfort evaluation based on the emission results.     

Strong bounds on the approximability of two Pspace-hard problems in propositional planning

The computational complexity of planning with Strips-style operators has received a considerable amount of interest in the literature. However, the approximability of such problems has only received minute attention. We study two Pspace-hard optimization versions of propositional planning and provide tight upper and lower bounds on their approximability. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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。