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.     

Novel (Phenothiazinyl)Vinyl-Pyridinium Dyes and Their Potential Applications as Cellular Staining Agents

We report here the synthesis and structural characterization of novel cationic (phenothiazinyl)vinyl-pyridinium (PVP) dyes, together with optical (absorption/emission) properties and their potential applicability as fluorescent labels. Convective heating, ultrasound irradiation and mechanochemical synthesis were considered as alternative synthetic methodologies proficient for overcoming drawbacks such as long reaction time, nonsatisfactory yields or solvent requirements in the synthesis of novel dye (E)-1-(3-chloropropyl)-4-(2-(10-methyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)vinyl)pyridin-1-ium bromide 3d and its N-alkyl-2-methylpyridinium precursor 1c. The trans geometry of the newly synthesized (E)-4-(2-(7-bromo-10-ethyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)vinyl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodide 3b and (E)-1-methyl-4-(2-(10-methyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)vinyl)pyridin-1-ium tetrafluoroborate 3a′ was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. A negative solvatochromism of the dyes in polar solvents was highlighted by UV-Vis spectroscopy and explanatory insights were supported by molecular modeling which suggested a better stabilization of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO). The photostability of the dye 3b was investigated by irradiation at 365 nm in different solvents, while the steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence properties of dye 3b and 3a′ in solid state were evaluated under one-photon excitation at 485 nm. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the new PVP dyes on B16-F10 melanoma cells was evaluated by WST-1 assay, while their intracellular localization was assessed by epi-fluorescence conventional microscopy imaging as well as one- and two-photon excited confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). PVP dyes displayed low cytotoxicity, good internalization inside melanoma cells and intense fluorescence emission inside the B16-F10 murine melanoma cells, making them suitable staining agents for imaging applications.     

Socioeconomic Status, Resources, Psychological Experiences, and Emotional Responses: A Test of the Reserve Capacity Model.

The current study used ecological momentary assessment to test several tenets of the reserve capacity model (L.C. Gallo & K. A. Matthews, 2003). Women (N = 108) with varying socioeconomic status (SES) monitored positive and negative psychosocial experiences and emotions across 2 days. Measures of intrapsychic and social resources were aggregated to represent the reserve capacity available to manage stress. Lower SES was associated with less perceived control and positive affect and more social strain. Control and strain contributed to the association between SES and positive affect. Lower SES elicited greater positive but not negative emotional reactivity to psychosocial experiences. Women with low SES had fewer resources relative to those with higher SES, and resources contributed to the association between SES and daily experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cardiac Troponin Biosensor Designs: Current Developments and Remaining Challenges

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is considered as one of the main causes of death, threating human lives for decades. Currently, its diagnosis relies on electrocardiography (ECG), which has been proven to be insufficient. In this context, the efficient detection of cardiac biomarkers was proposed to overcome the limitations of ECG. In particular, the measurement of troponins, specifically cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT), has proven to be superior in terms of sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of myocardial damage. As one of the most life-threatening conditions, specific and sensitive investigation methods that are fast, universally available, and cost-efficient to allow for early initiation of evidence-based, living-saving treatment are desired. In this review, we aim to present and discuss the major breakthroughs made in the development of cTnI and cTnT specific biosensor designs and analytical tools, highlighting the achieved progress as well as the remaining challenges to reach the technological goal of simple, specific, cheap, and portable testing chips for the rapid and efficient on-site detection of cardiac cTnI/cTnT biomarkers in order to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases at an incipient stage.     

Structure and heat capacity of the NaCeF4 compound

This work continued our general research program on obtaining metallic cerium by electrodeposition from NaCeF4 dis-solved in different molten fluorides. The structure of NaCeF4 (cubic or hexagonal depe...     

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)