The renal factor in the post-traumatic "fluid overload" syndrome

Hypervolemia with hypertension often occurs 36-72 hours following massive blood and fluid replacement for hypovolemic shock. This syndrome of "fluid overload" has been attributed to the rapid intravascular flux of previously sequestered fluid in patients with impaired diuresis. This hypothesis was tested in 35 injured patients who received a mean of 9.3 L of blood and 17.4 L of salt during resucitation. The renal parameters measured soon after resuscitation included: 1) renal clearance of inulin (GFR), para-amino hippurate (ERPF), milliosmoles, sodium, and free water; 2) inulin space, renal vascular resistance (RVR), O2 consumption, renin, renal blood flow (RBF), and response to furosemide. Eighteen patients developed hypertension, hypervolemia, and respiratory insufficiency. When compared to the 17 normovolemic, non-hypertensive patients, the 18 hypervolemic patients had significantly increased RVR, with a significant decrease in RBF despite an increase in plasma volume and cardiac output. Furosemide produced less diuresis and natriuresis in the hypertensive patients. The balance between hypovolemia and "fluid overload" seemed percarious in the hypertensive patients. Peripheral renin and catecholamine levels were normal in both groups. Patients with post-traumatic "fluid overload" appear to have a combination of hypervolemia, respiratory insufficiency, hypertension, increased cardiac output, decreased extracellular fluid space, and decreased renal perfusion. These findings suggest that decreased interstitial fluid space compliance rather than "fluid overload" is the underlying factor leading to respiratory insufficiency. The therapeutic aspects of these findings are discussed.     

A consistent stable numerical scheme for a nonlinear option pricing model in illiquid markets

Markets liquidity is an issue of very high concern in financial risk management. In a perfect liquid market the option pricing model becomes the well-known linear Black–Scholes problem. Nonlinear models appear when transaction costs or illiquid market effects are taken into account. This paper deals with the numerical analysis of nonlinear Black–Scholes equations modeling illiquid markets when price impact in the underlying asset market affects the replication of a European contingent claim. Numerical analysis of a nonlinear model is necessary because disregarded computations may waste a good mathematical model. In this paper we propose a finite-difference numerical scheme that guarantees positivity of the solution as well as stability and consistency.     

A general computational recognition primed decision model with multi-agent rescue simulation benchmark

Analytical decision making strategies rely on weighing pros and cons of multiple options in an unbounded rationality manner. Contrary to these strategies, recognition primed decision (RPD) model which is a primary naturalistic decision making (NDM) approach assumes that experienced and professional decision makers when encounter problems in real operating conditions are able to use their previous experiences and trainings in order to diagnose the problem, recall the appropriate solution, evaluate it mentally, and implement it to handle the problem in a satisficing manner. In this paper, a computational form of RPD, now called C-RPD, is presented. Unified Modeling Language was used as a modeling language to represent the proposed C-RPD model in order to make the implementation easy and obvious. To execute the model, RoboCup Rescue agent simulation environment, which is one of the best and the most famous complex and multi-agent large-scale environments, was selected. The environment simulates the incidence of fire and earthquakes in urban areas where it is the duty of the police forces, firefighters and ambulance teams to control the crisis. Firefighters of SOS team are first modeled and implemented by utilizing C-RPD and then the system is trained using an expert’s experience. There are two evaluations. To find out the convergence of different versions developed during experience adding, some of the developed versions are chosen and evaluated on seven maps. Results show performance improvements. The SOS team ranked first in an official world championship and three official open tournaments.     

Detecting improvement using Shewhart attribute control charts when the lower control limit is zero

In this paper, we present a method to monitor count data so as to be able to detect improvement when the counts are low enough to cause the lower limit to be zero. The method, which is proposed as an add-on to the conventional Shewhart control chart, consists in counting the number of samples in which zero defectives or zero defects per unit occur and signaling an increase in quality if k-in-a-row or 2-in-t samples have zero counts of defectives or zero defects per unit. This method enjoys some similarities to the very popular Shewhart control chart in that it is easy to design, understand and use. It is flexible, robust, and, like the Shewhart chart, yields detection frequencies that are optimal for very large shifts and good for other shifts. Some comparisons with traditional CUSUM charts are provided. Figures enabling Shewhart control chart users to easily design low-side add-on control charts are given for c and np charts.     

Disciplining Information Systems: Truth and its Regimes

This paper provides a critical discussion of the ongoing concern of Information Systems (IS) academics on the status of IS as an academic discipline. The focal claim of the argument is that the status of IS as an ‘academic discipline’ is not an ontological or an epistemological question but rather a political one. In defending this claim the paper will draw on the work of Foucault, in particular his discussion on the relation between power and knowledge. The paper will conclude that the advice given by Paul (2002) and others may be appropriate but for very different reasons. It will claim that it is equally important, if not more so, to know the reasons why claims to legitimacy may succeed or not, for such claims to be effective as a political programme.     

Axial offset control of PWR nuclear reactor core using intelligent techniques

Improved load following capability is one of the main technical performances of advanced PWR (APWR). Controlling the nuclear reactor core during load following operation encounters some difficulties. These difficulties mainly arise from nuclear reactor core limitations in local power peaking, while the core is subject to large and sharp variation of local power density during transients. Axial offset (AO) is the parameter usually used to represent of core power peaking, in form of a practical parameter. This paper, proposes a new intelligent approach to AO control of PWR nuclear reactors core during load following operation. This method uses a neural network model of the core to predict the dynamic behavior of the core and a fuzzy critic based on the operator knowledge and experience for the purpose of decision-making during load following operations. Simulation results show that this method can use optimum control rod groups maneuver with variable overlapping and may improve the reactor load following capability.     

The ontological screening of contemporary life: a phenomenological analysis of screens

In this paper, we attempt to show how phenomenology, in a traditional methodological form, can provide an interesting and novel basis for thinking about screens in a world where screens now pervade a great many aspects of human experience. In our analysis, we aim to give a phenomenological account of screen(ing), that is, of its fundamental and foundational meaning. In doing the phenomenological analysis, we ground our argument on the ontology of Heidegger's Being and Time. In doing this, we claim that the screen will only show itself, as that which it is, as a screen in-the-world, where screens already are or have their being ‘as screens’ for this and that purpose, activity or work. We claim, and aim to show, that our analysis provides many insights about the meaning of screens that would be difficult to gain through any other method of investigation. We also argue and show that, although our method is not empirical, its results have important implications for the empirical world.     

User-configurable OCR enhancement for online natural history archives

The creation of structured digital libraries from paper-based archives is an area of growing demand in many scientific and cultural fields, and is not satisfied either by off-the-shelf OCR or commercial form- processing systems. This paper describes and evaluates a configurable archive construction system, which integrates document image pre-processing and analysis with text post-processing tools and a standard OCR package to meet digital archiving requirements. The prototype system is currently being used in conjunction with the UK Natural History Museum to help convert more than 500,000 cards of Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) and Coleoptera (Beetles) to searchable digital archives. Evaluation results covering different aspects of the system from card scanning to overall word recognition rates for different database fields are summarised for two datasets comprising over 5,000 cards selected from different parts of these archives. First-pass end-to-end word recognition rates of 70–90% are reported for key data fields, subject to availability of suitable electronic dictionaries. Further validation and correction is supported through web-editing of the online digital archive.     

New approach to immobilization and specific-sequence detection of nucleic acids based on poly(4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid)

Immobilization and hybridization of oligonucleotides or specific-gene PCR product (DENV-1), a conserved genomic sequence of the dengue virus, onto graphite electrode modified with poly(4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid), were carried out with success using both direct electrochemical oxidation of guanine or redox electroactive indicator ethidium bromide.Studies of oligonucleotides hybridization with the complementary target showed a decrease of both guanosine and adenosine current peaks, when compared with the peak previously obtained before the hybridization. Immobilized ssDNA, DENV-1, was hybridized with various concentrations of target DNA. The interaction between DENV-1 hybridized onto the modified graphite electrodes surface and the intercalator, ethidium bromide, was observed by differential pulse voltammetry, monitoring the current change generated to the DNA intercalator accumulated onto the modified electrode after DNA hybridization. For the determination of complementary target, the proposed method exhibited a good dynamic range (12–42 nmol L^? 1) and a low detection limit (7.12 nmol L^? 1).AFM images showed that the oligonucleotides or single-stranded DNA, DENV-1, before hybridization, had roughness values lower than the double stranded obtained after hybridization.The new surface obtained in these work, as well as the possibility of utilization of the same to monitor hybridization events is a promising strategy for the development of DNA electrochemical biosensors.     

Effects of Dietary n-3 LCPUFA Supplementation on the Hippocampus of Aging Female Mice: Impact on Memory,Lipid Raft-Associated Glutamatergic Receptors and Neuroinflammation

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), essential molecules whose precursors must be dietary supplied, are highly represented in the brain contributing to numerous neuronal processes. Recent findings have demonstrated that LCPUFA are represented in lipid raft microstructures, where they favor molecular interactions of signaling complexes underlying neuronal functionality. During aging, the brain lipid composition changes affecting the lipid rafts’ integrity and protein signaling, which may induce memory detriment. We investigated the effect of a n-3 LCPUFA-enriched diet on the cognitive function of 6- and 15-months-old female mice. Likewise, we explored the impact of dietary n-3 LCPUFAs on hippocampal lipid rafts, and their potential correlation with aging-induced neuroinflammation. Our results demonstrate that n-3 LCPUFA supplementation improves spatial and recognition memory and restores the expression of glutamate and estrogen receptors in the hippocampal lipid rafts of aged mice to similar profiles than young ones. Additionally, the n-3 LCPUFA-enriched diet stabilized the lipid composition of the old mice’s hippocampal lipid rafts to the levels of young ones and reduced the aged-induced neuroinflammatory markers. Hence, we propose that n-3 LCPUFA supplementation leads to beneficial cognitive performance by “rejuvenating” the lipid raft microenvironment that stabilizes the integrity and interactions of memory protein players embedded in these microdomains.