Surfactant replacement therapy in acute respiratory distress syndrome from viral pneumonia

A modified natural surfactant was administered to a patient with life-threatening adult respiratory distress syndrome caused by viral pneumonia. Subsequently, there was a marked improvement in gas exchange. In order to assess the mechanism for improved oxygenation, computed tomography of the lungs was done. Quantitative analysis of the scans taken before and after surfactant administration indicates that improvement in gas exchange was largely due to the expansion of underinflated and collapsed lung areas. Although this is a single case report, it provides insight into the possible beneficial effect of instilled surfactant in severe respiratory distress from viral pneumonia.     

A new computer graphics approach to parameter space design of control systems

This paper presents a new approach to parameter space design of linear multivariable control systems. The complete solution of a pole region assignment problem for single-input systems is obtained as an admissible region in then-dimensional parameter space of state feedback gains. We develop a new modeling technique for these admissible parameter space regions which is superior to previous ones because it permits unambiguous and efficient graphical display of slices in 2D and 3D subspaces. In an interactive computer graphics implementation, this method provides an environment where the influence of stability, performance, robustness, integrity, and control constraints on design parameters can be directly visualized and complex tradeoffs are resolved in an interactive way. By judicious combination of overlays, color, and/ or animation, admissible ranges of up to five or six design parameters can be displayed simultaneously. A sequential decomposition technique which selects slices for full parameter space design of lower dimensional subsystems such that the remaining eigenvalues are invariant is used for systems of arbitrarily high order. Parameter space design of unity rank feedback for multiinput systems is done in exactly the same fashion, while systematic sequential design of full rank feedback is achieved as the sum of dyadic stages to which the single-input modeling techniques apply. Examples are given for all presented methods to show the flexibility and potential as a computer-aided control system design framework with a novel integration of computer graphics technology.     

Applications of heat-diffusion equation for surface wrapping: hole detection and normal orientation

This paper presents a method for detecting holes during the surface wrapping process which cause surface leaks into the volume parts that shall not be meshed. The method solves a heat-diffusion equation on the background octree mesh, which is generated based on user-defined parameters, and its resolution corresponds to the resolution of the wrapper surface mesh. The heat problem is posed with the constant heat source in the volume, and the holes are detected as regions of high temperature gradients. The method detects both holes with open-boundary edges and semantic holes due to some missing parts. The sensitivity of the method is controlled via user-adjustable parameter which represents the ratio between the volume that shall not be meshed and the area of the hole. In addition, it is demonstrated that the method can be used to correct the orientation of normals in the surface mesh by utilising the property that high temperature is always found inside the volume. The potential of the method is presented on complex engineering examples.     

Surface modification of activated carbon fabric with ozone. Part 2: Thermal analysis with TGA-FTIR and DTA

Two samples of activated carbon fabrics (ACF) with very high surface area (>1300 to >1800 m²/g) fully ozonized in the part 1 of this study were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled both with differential thermal analysis (DTA) and FT-IR spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR). The adsorbed water and the amount of oxygenated functional groups were determined. The ozonized ACF shows an exothermal decomposition at about 181–189°C which may be due at least in part to the decomposition of ozonide and/or peroxide groups. The TGA-FTIR has revealed that the main products released from the thermal decomposition are CO₂ followed by CO. Formic acid was detected only in correspondence to the exothermal transition at 181°C and was taken as a proof of the decomposition of secondary ozonides.     

Untersuchungen über den Einfluß der organischen und mineralischen Düngung auf die Viskositätseigenschaften der Kartoffelstärke

Studies on the Influence of Organic and Mineral Fertilization on Viscosity Properties of Potato Starch. In trying to solve the question, whether through mineral fertilization a specific potato starch quality can be established in the field the special significance of year-round climatic conditions, location of cultivation and variety for pasting temperature, hot viscosity and cold viscosity of the potato starch became apperent. Compared to these influences, that of mineral fertilization was minimal. It was shown that the factors of starch quality were only to be positively influenced, however slightly, on a long-term basis through increase of the P₂O₅-content of the soil. Thus, aimed production of specific starch qualities is not possible through fertilization. This means that breeders of starch potatoes ought to adjust mineral fertilization to optimum yield of tubers and starch.     

Human factors in operating systems related to delay and displacement of retinal feedback.

Evaluated theories of response to altered retinal feedback i.e., associative learning doctrines and the feedback-compensation hypothesis in relation to their application in defining human factors principles in machine and perceptual training designs. Using 12 Ss, controlled comparisons were made of the relative effects of reversed and delayed feedback of head and eye movements under conditions in which head movements could not compensate altered feedback of eye movements and vice versa. Findings, e.g., the accuracy of ocular tracking, etc., are discussed. Some results indicate that there was little or no learned adaptation to the reversed and delayed vision produced by head and eye movements. Findings support a behavioral cybernetic interpretation of the guidance factors in man-machine and perceptual systems relationships by showing that the effects of altered feedback in machine and systems operation are determined by movement capabilities in compensating displacements and delays in sensory input. Results also suggest that visual impairments may be produced by delays in the retinal feedback effects of eye and head movements and that these defects may require dynamic methods of optometric diagnosis and training for their measurement and correction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A new route to graphene starting from heavily ozonized fullerenes: Part 3 – an electron spin resonance study

It is shown that graphite oxide (GO) and both heavily ozonized C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes, known as “fullerene ozopolymers,” are paramagnetic materials with a very strong electron spin resonance (ESR) signal at room temperature. When thermally annealed, the paramagnetic centers are gradually lost in large part. This occurs at 350°C in the case of GO, while for fullerene ozopolymers, a higher temperature is required, reaching the same results in the end. The half-width of ESR signal is linked to the distribution of paramagnetic centers. Once again, striking analogies were found in the half-width of the ESR signal measured on GO and fullerene ozopolymers, at least in the temperature range of 25–450°C. Similarly, the same g-factor values, which are diagnostic for understanding the chemical nature of paramagnetic centers, were found on both GO and fullerene ozopolymers in all ranges of temperature considered.