Body temperature, Aldrete-Kroulik index, and patient discharge from the Post-Anesthetic Recovery Unit

Patient discharge from post-anesthetic recovery (PAR) depends, among other factors, on normothermia and the patient's score on the Aldrete-Kroulik index. The objective of this study was to verify the relationship between the Aldrete-Kroulik index and body temperature in patients. This study was performed at the University of Sao Paulo University Hospital. Convenience sampling was used, and the sample consisted of 60 patients of ages between 18 and 60 years who underwent general anesthesia. The patients' body temperature was obtained by tympanic measurement, and the Aldrete-Kroulik index was measured on admission and at discharge from post-anesthetic recovery. The data were processed using SPSS, considering a significance level of 5%, and the Spearman and Wilcoxon tests were applied. In conclusion, no significant correlation was found between the two parameters for discharge.

Grain size effect on the structural and dielectric properties of Pb0.85La0.15TiO3 ferroelectric ceramic compound

This paper presents a study of the influence of particle size on the structural and dielectric properties of Pb0.85La0.15TiO3 (PLT15) ferroelectric ceramic samples. The samples were prepared with average grain size of 1.69 +/- 0.08 mu m and 146 +/- 8 nm using, respectively, conventional and spark plasma sintering techniques. A decrease in the tetragonality degree as the crystallite size decreased was explained by an internal stress caused by the existence of a large amount of grain boundaries. The local structure exhibited no significant modification and the dielectric measurements showed a diffuse phase transition and a reduction in the permittivity magnitude at T-m as the average grain size decreased. The nanostructured ceramic sample prepared at a relatively lower temperature and sintering time presented a dielectric constant value of approximately 2000 at room temperature. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Nuclear rainbow in the O-16+(27)AL system: The role of couplings at energies far above the barrier

High precision elastic and inelastic angular distributions have been measured for the O-16 + Al-27 system at a beam energy of 100 MeV. The data analysis confirms a rainbow formation as already predicted by parameter-free Coupled Channel calculations. It also helps to reveal the crucial role of inelastic couplings in the rainbow formation for heavier systems even at energies far above the Coulomb barrier. This feature, well known in atomic/molecular scattering, is experimentally studied for the first time in Nuclear Physics. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optimal reactive power flow via the modified barrier Lagrangian function approach

A new approach called the Modified Barrier Lagrangian Function (MBLF) to solve the Optimal Reactive Power Flow problem is presented. In this approach, the inequality constraints are treated by the Modified Barrier Function (MBF) method, which has a finite convergence property: i.e. the optimal solution in the MBF method can actually be in the bound of the feasible set. Hence, the inequality constraints can be precisely equal to zero. Another property of the MBF method is that the barrier parameter does not need to be driven to zero to attain the solution. Therefore, the conditioning of the involved Hessian matrix is greatly enhanced. In order to show this, a comparative analysis of the numeric conditioning of the Hessian matrix of the MBLF approach, by the decomposition in singular values, is carried out. The feasibility of the proposed approach is also demonstrated with comparative tests to Interior Point Method (IPM) using various IEEE test systems and two networks derived from Brazilian generation/transmission system. The results show that the MBLF method is computationally more attractive than the IPM in terms of speed, number of iterations and numerical conditioning. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Correlating phase and microstructure development versus dielectric properties in La3+ and Er3+ co-doped Bi4Ti3O12 ferroelectric ceramics

Bi3.25La0.75-xErxTi3O12 and Bi3.25La0.75Ti3-xErxO12-delta ceramics were prepared and studied in this work in terms of dopant-induced phase and microstructure development as well as dielectric response. The results show that introduction of Er3+ tends to reduce the materials' sintering temperature and average grain size. Moreover, it was noted that in these systems the substitution site of this dopant is controlled by valence state and ionic radii mismatch effects. In particular, even when a nominal substitution of Ti4+ is conceived, here it is found that Er3+ also incorporates at the (Bi,La)(3+) sites. These and other interesting concluding remarks from this work, including Er3+ tolerance, were possible only after comparing, especially, the X-ray diffraction results and the intrinsic ferroelectric characteristics extracted from the dielectric measurements. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural refinement, optical and microwave dielectric properties of BaZrO3

In this work, barium zirconate (BaZrO3) ceramics synthesized by solid state reaction method and sintered at 1670 degrees C for 4 h were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. XRD patterns, Rietveld refinement data and FT-IR spectra which confirmed that BaZrO3 ceramics have a perovskite-type cubic structure. Optical properties were investigated by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. UV-vis absorption spectra suggested an indirect allowed transition with the existence of intermediary energy levels within the band gap. Intense visible green PL emission was observed in BaZrO3 ceramics upon excitation with a 350 nm wavelength. This behavior is due to a majority of deep defects within the band gap caused by symmetry breaking in octahedral [ZrO6] clusters in the lattice. The microwave dielectric constant and quality factor were measured using the method proposed by Hakki-Coleman. The dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) was investigated experimentally and numerically using a monopole antenna through an infinite ground plane and Ansoft's high frequency structure simulator software, respectively. The required resonance frequency and bandwidth of DRA were investigated by adjusting the dimension of the same material. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Impaired blood-brain/spinal cord barrier in ALS patients

Vascular pathology, including blood-brain/spinal cord barrier (BBB/BSCB) alterations, has recently been recognized as a key factor possibly aggravating motor neuron damage, identifying a neurovascular disease signature for ALS. However, BBB/BSCB competence in sporadic ALS (SALS) is still undetermined. In this study, BBB/BSCB integrity in postmortem gray and white matter of medulla and spinal cord tissue from SALS patients and controls was investigated. Major findings include (1) endothelial cell damage and pericyte degeneration, (2) severe intra- and extracellular edema, (3) reduced CD31 and CD105 expressions in endothelium, (4) significant accumulation of perivascular collagen IV, and fibrin deposits (5) significantly increased microvascular density in lumbar spinal cord, (6) IgG microvascular leakage, (7) reduced tight junction and adhesion protein expressions. Microvascular barrier abnormalities determined in gray and white matter of the medulla, cervical, and lumbar spinal cord of SALS patients are novel findings. Pervasive barrier damage discovered in ALS may have implications for disease pathogenesis and progression, as well as for uncovering novel therapeutic targets. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tracing latitudinal gradient, river discharge and water masses along the Subtropical South American Coast using benthic Foraminifera assemblages

More than 30% of Buccella peruviana (D'Orbigny), Globocassidulina crassa porrecta (Earland & Heron-Allen), Cibicides mackannai (Galloway & Wissler) and C. refulgens (Montfort) indicate the presence of cold Sub Antarctic Shelf Water in winter, from 33.5 to 38.3 degrees S, deeper than 100 m, in the southern part of the study area. In summer, the abundance of this association decreases to less than 15% around 37.5-38.9 degrees S where two species (Globocassidulina subglobosa (Brady), Uvigerina peregrina (Cushman) take over. G. subglobosa, U. peregrina, and Hanzawaia boueana (D'Orbigny) are found at 27-33 degrees S in both seasons in less than 55 m deep in the northern part, and are linked with warm Subtropical Shelf Water and Tropical Water. Freshwater influence was signalized by high silicate concentration and by the presence of Pseudononion atlanticum (Cushman), Bolivina striatula (Cushman), Buliminella elegantissima (D'Orbigny), Bulimina elongata (D'Orbigny), Elphidium excavatum (Terquem), E. poeyanum (D'Orbigny), Ammobaculites exiguus (Cushman & Bronnimann), Arenoparrella mexicana (Kornfeld), Gaudryina exillis (Cushman & Bronnimann), Textularia earlandi (Parker) and thecamoebians in four sectors of the shelf. The presence of Bulimina marginata (D'Orbigny) between 34.1-32.8 degrees S in the winter and 34.2-32.7 degrees S in the summer indicates that the influence of the Subtropical Shelf Front on the sediment does not change seasonally, otherwise, the presence of Angulogerina angulosa (Williamson) in the winter, only in Mar del Plata (38.9 degrees S), show that Malvinas currents are not influencing the sediment in the summer.

Influence of Molecular Dynamics on the Dielectric Properties of Poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) -Based Devices

This paper uses Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) techniques to study the molecular relaxations and phase transitions in poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT), which has been extensively studied as the active thin film in organic devices. Besides the identification of the glass transition, beta relaxation and crystal-to-crystal phase transition, we correlate such phenomena with dielectric and transport mechanisms in diodes with F8BT as the active layer. The beta relaxation has been assigned to a transition at about 210 K measured by H-1 and C-13 solid state NMR, and can be attributed to local motions in the side chains. The glass transition has been detected by DSC and H-1 NMR. Dielectric spectroscopy (DS) carried out at low frequencies on diodes made from F8BT show two peaks which are coincident with the above transitions. This allowed us to correlate the electrical changes in the film with the onset of specific molecular motions. In addition, DS indicates a third peak related with a crystal-to-crystal phase transition. Finally, these transitions were correlated with changes in the carrier mobility recorded in thin films and published recently.

Changes on emitter discharge under different water temperature and pressure

The study was conducted at the Research Laboratory of Hydraulic and Irrigation Group in the Rural Engineering Department, Technical University of Madrid (Universidad Politecnica de Madrid), Madrid, Spain. Water temperatures of 20, 30, 40 degrees C and system pressures often encountered in irrigation practices of 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 and 200 k Pa were applied to determine the effects of different water temperatures and pressures on emitter discharge. Non-pressure compensating in-line emitter which has turbulent flow regime with a long-path (labyrinth), emitter discharge was 4 L h(-1) at system pressure of 100 kPa according to the manufacturer recommended, was used. Emitters were spaced 20 cm along the drip laterals with 16 mm diameter. Discharge equations and coefficients of variation related to temperatures of 20, 30 and 40 degrees C were obtained as q = 0.375H(0.51), q = 0.358H(0.52), q = 0.346H(0.53) and 2.68, 2.09, 3.65, respectively. Discharge of the emitter was affected by different system pressures and increased as potentially (R = 0993-0996). In general. the emitter discharge increased with increasing temperature. However, especially in the common system pressures of 90-120 k Pa, differences of obtained emitter discharges between the different water temperatures were not significant (1%).

Lower third molar infection with purulent discharge through the external auditory meatus. Case report and review of literature

This manuscript reports an uncommon case of inferior third molar facial abscess with purulent secretion drainage through the left external acoustic meatus. The patient's left external acoustic meatus was filled with a purulent secretion observed on a CT scan. He underwent surgery to drain the facial abscess. Despite facial abscesses being routine occurrences, the literature does not contain many case reports of odontogenic facial abscesses with drainage via the external acoustic meatus. These situations occur in two possible ways: multiple fissures in the anterior wall of the cartilaginous portion of the external acoustic meatus; and congenital defects that are occasionally present in the anterior-superior aspect of the external acoustic meatus, known as the foramen of Huschke, which allow communication between the external acoustic meatus and mandibular fossa. These defects may also predispose the patient to the spread of the infection or tumour from the external auditory canal to the infratemporal fossa and vice versa. No otological sequelae were observed in this case. The authors conclude that the hypothesis of bone malformation cannot be excluded, and affirm that any facial abscess requires appropriate and immediate treatment for adequate resolution, by removing the causal factor and providing systemic support.

A modified Primal-Dual Logarithmic-Barrier Method for solving the Optimal Power Flow problem with discrete and continuous control variables

The aim of solving the Optimal Power Flow problem is to determine the optimal state of an electric power transmission system, that is, the voltage magnitude and phase angles and the tap ratios of the transformers that optimize the performance of a given system, while satisfying its physical and operating constraints. The Optimal Power Flow problem is modeled as a large-scale mixed-discrete nonlinear programming problem. This paper proposes a method for handling the discrete variables of the Optimal Power Flow problem. A penalty function is presented. Due to the inclusion of the penalty function into the objective function, a sequence of nonlinear programming problems with only continuous variables is obtained and the solutions of these problems converge to a solution of the mixed problem. The obtained nonlinear programming problems are solved by a Primal-Dual Logarithmic-Barrier Method. Numerical tests using the IEEE 14, 30, 118 and 300-Bus test systems indicate that the method is efficient. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Failure to reduce C-reactive protein levels more than 25% in the last 24 hours before intensive care unit discharge predicts higher in-hospital mortality: A cohort study

Purpose: To discharge a patient from the intensive care unit (ICU) is a complex decision-making process because in-hospital mortality after critical illness may be as high as up to 27%. Static C-reactive protein (CRP) values have been previously evaluated as a predictor of post-ICU mortality with conflicting results. Therefore, we evaluated the CRP ratio in the last 24 hours before ICU discharge as a predictor of in-hospital outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in 409 patients from a 6-bed ICU of a university hospital. Data were prospectively collected during a 4-year period. Only patients discharged alive from the ICU with at least 72 hours of ICU length of stay were evaluated. Results: In-hospital mortality was 18.3% (75/409). Patients with reduction less than 25% in CRP concentrations at 24 hours as compared with 48 hours before ICU discharge had a worse prognosis, with increased mortality (23% vs 11%, P = .002) and post-ICU length of stay (26 [7-43] vs 11 [5-27] days, P = .036). Moreover, among hospital survivors (n = 334), patients with CRP reduction less than 25% were discharged later (hazard ratio, 0.750; 95% confidence interval, 0.602-0.935; P = .011). Conclusions: In this large cohort of critically ill patients, failure to reduce CRP values more than 25% in the last 24 hours of ICU stay is a strong predictor of worse in-hospital outcomes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Complete fusion enhancement and suppression of weakly bound nuclei at near barrier energies

We consider the influence of breakup channels on the complete fusion of weakly bound systems in terms of dynamic polarization potentials. It is argued that the enhancement of the cross section at sub-barrier energies may be consistent with recent experimental observations that nucleon transfer, often leading to breakup, is dominant compared to direct breakup. The main trends of the experimental complete fusion cross sections are analyzed in the framework of the DPP approach. The qualitative conclusions are supported by CDCC calculations including a sequential breakup channel, the one neutron stripping of Li-7 followed by the breakup of Li-6.

UV-Ozone Generation from Modified High Intensity Discharge Mercury Vapor Lamps for Treatment of Indium Tin Oxide Films

In a homemade UV-Ozone generator, different ignition tubes extracted from HID mercury vapor lamps were investigated, namely: 80, 125, 250 and 400 watts. The performance of the generator in function of the type of the ignition lamp was monitored by the measurements of the ozone concentration and the temperature increment. The results have shown that the 400 W set up presented the highest ozone production, which was used in the treatment of indium tin oxide (ITO) films. Polymer light emitting diodes were assembled using ITO films, treated for 10, 20 and 30 min, as an anode. The overall results indicate improvement of the threshold voltage (reduction) and electroluminescence of these devices.