925 research outputs found
Endovascular treatment of bifurcation intracranial aneurysms with the WEB SL/SLS: 6-month clinical and angiographic results
No full textBackground: The WEB device is a recent intrasaccular flow disruption technique developed for the treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. To date, a single report on the WEB Single-Layer (SL) treatment of intracranial aneurysms has been published with 1-months’ safety results. The aim of this study is to report our experience and 6-month clinical and angiographic follow-up of endovascular treatment of wide-neck aneurysm with the WEB SL.
Methods: Ten patients with 10 unruptured wide-necked aneurysms were prospectively enrolled in this study. Feasibility, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and outcomes were recorded. Immediate and 6-month clinical and angio- graphic results were evaluated.
Results: Failure of WEB SL placement occurred in two cases. Eight aneurysms were successfully treated using one WEB SL without additional treatment. Three middle cerebral artery, four anterior communicating artery, and one basilar artery aneurysms were treated. Average dome width was 7.5 mm (range 5.4–10.7 mm), and average neck size was 4.9 mm (range 2.6–6.5 mm). No periprocedural complication was observed, and morbi-mortality at discharge and 6 months was 0.0%. Angiographic follow-up at 6 months demonstrated complete aneurysm occlusion in 2/8 aneurysms, neck remnant in 5/8 aneurysms, and aneurysm remnant in 1/8 aneurysm.
Conclusions: From this preliminary study, treatment of bifurcation intracranial aneurysms using WEB SL is feasible. WEB SL treatment seems safe at 6 months; however, the rate of neck remnants is not negligible due to compression of the WEB SL. Further technical improvements may be needed in order to ameliorate the occlusion in the WEB SL treatment
On the multiplicity of the second eigenvalue of the Laplacian in non simply connected domains -with some numerics
No full textWe revisit an interesting example proposed by Maria Hoffmann-Ostenhof, the second author and Nikolai Nadirashvili of a bounded domain in R 2 for which the second eigenvalue of the Dirichlet Laplacian has multiplicity 3. We also analyze carefully the first eigenvalues of the Laplacian in the case of the disk with two symmetric cracks placed on a smaller concentric disk in function of their size
Nachttraum, Tagtraum und Rausch bei E.T.A. Hoffmann
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht via the DOI in this recordNight-time dreams, day dreams and alcoholic intoxication in the work of E.T.A. Hoffmann
are usually narrated coherently and often inspire aesthetic production, but only if the
dreamer/drinker already possesses creative genius and aesthetic experience. Dream and intoxication characterize above all the dreamer/drinker and guide the reader to critically evaluate
their perspective. While the borderlines between the narration of these three states of mind are
fluid (a day dream may be narrated like a night-time dream, a day dreamer may be perceived
as drunk), there is a tendency to present alcoholic intoxication above all satirically, to foreground the difference between an artist’s perception from that of ordinary citizens in a day
dream, and to explore a relationship between dreamer and cosmos in a night-time dream
Validation of a cloud-based tele-stroke system reliability in determining national institutes of health stroke scale scores for acute ischemic stroke screening in the emergency department
No full textRemote diagnosis; Tele-strokeDiagnóstico remoto; Tele-ictusDiagnòstic remot; Tele-ictusBackground and purpose: The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is the most recommended tool for objectively quantifying the impairment caused by a suspected stroke. Nevertheless, it is mainly used by trained neurologists in the emergency department (ED). To bring forward the NIHSS to the pre-hospital setting, a smartphone-based Telestroke system was developed. It captures the full NIHSS by video, transmits it off-line, and enables assessment by a distant stroke physician. We aimed to compare the reliability of an NIHSS score determined by a neurologist from afar, using the platform with a standard NIHSS assessment performed in the emergency departments.
Methods: A multi-center prospective study was conducted in two centers (Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, and Rambam, Israel). Patients admitted to the ED with suspected stroke had a neurological exam based on the NIHSS, while being recorded by the system. A skilled neurologist rated the NIHSS according to the videos offline. The results were compared with the NIHSS score given by a neurologist at the bedside.
Results: A total of 95 patients with suspected stroke were included. The overall intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.936 (0.99 in VdH and 0.84 in Rambam), indicating excellent and good reliability, respectively.
Conclusion: Remote stroke assessment based on the NIHSS, using videos segments collected by a dedicated platform, installed on a standard smartphone, is a reliable measurement as compared with the bedside evaluation.The authors declare that this study received funding from CVAID Company. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article, or the decision to submit it for publication
SOME REFLECTIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE, GREEN GROWTH ILLUSIONS AND DEVELOPMENT SPACE
No full textMany economists and policy makers advocate a fundamental shift towards “green growth” as the new, qualitatively-different growth paradigm, based on enhanced material/resource/energy efficiency and drastic changes in the energy mix. “Green growth” may work well in creating new growth impulses with reduced environmental load and facilitating related technological and structural change. But can it also mitigate climate change at the required scale (i.e. significant, absolute and permanent decline of GHG emissions at global level) and pace? This paper argues that growth, technological, population-expansion and governance constraints as well as some key systemic issues cast a very long shadow on the “green growth” hopes. One should not deceive oneself into believing that such evolutionary (and often reductionist) approach will be sufficient to cope with the complexities of climate change. It may rather give much false hope and excuses to do nothing really fundamental that can bring about a U-turn of global GHG emissions. The proponents of a resource efficiency revolution and a drastic change in the energy mix need to scrutinize the historical evidence, in particular the arithmetic of economic and population growth. Furthermore, they need to realize that the required transformation goes beyond innovation and structural changes to include democratization of the economy and cultural change. Climate change calls into question the global equality of opportunity for prosperity (i.e. ecological justice and development space) and is thus a huge developmental challenge for the South and a question of life and death for some developing countries (who increasingly resist the framing of climate protection versus equity).
Environmental and Parental Influences on Offspring Health and Growth in Great Tits (Parus major)
No full textPMCID: PMC3728352This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Grundlagen und Wirkprinzipien von wassergefiltertem Infrarot A (wIRA) in Bezug zur Wundheilung
No full textThe experience of the pleasant heat of the sun in moderate climatic zones arises from the filtering of the heat radiation of the sun by water vapor in the atmosphere of the earth. The filter effect of water decreases those parts of infrared radiation (most parts of infrared-B and -C and the absorption bands of water within infrared-A), which would cause – by reacting with water molecules in the skin – only an undesired thermal load to the surface of the skin. Technically water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) is produced in special radiators, whose full spectrum of radiation of a halogen bulb is passed through a cuvette, containing water, which absorbs or decreases the described undesired wavelengths of the infrared radiation. Within infrared the remaining wIRA (within 780-1400 nm) mainly consists of radiation with good penetration properties into tissue and therefore allows – compared to unfiltered heat radiation – a multiple energy transfer into tissue without irritating the skin, similar to the sun’s heat radiation in moderate climatic zones. Typical wIRA radiators emit no ultraviolet (UV) radiation and nearly no infrared-B and -C radiation and the amount of infrared-A radiation in relation to the amount of visible light (380-780 nm) is emphasized. Water-filtered infrared-A as a special form of heat radiation with a high tissue penetration and with a low thermal load to the skin surface acts both by thermal (related to heat energy transfer) and thermic (temperature depending, with a relevant change of temperature) as well as by non-thermal (without a relevant transfer of heat energy) and non-thermic (not depending on temperature, without a relevant change of temperature) effects. wIRA produces a therapeutically usable field of heat in the tissue and increases tissue temperature, tissue oxygen partial pressure, and tissue perfusion. These three factors are vital for a sufficient tissue supply with energy and oxygen. As wound healing and infection defense (e.g. granulocyte function including their antibacterial oxygen radical formation) depend decisively on a sufficient supply with energy and oxygen, one explanation for the good clinical effect of wIRA on wounds and wound infections can be the improvement of both the energy supply per time (increase of metabolic rate) and the oxygen supply. In addition wIRA has non-thermal and non-thermic effects, which are based on putting direct stimuli on cells and cellular structures. wIRA can considerably alleviate the pain (with remarkably less need for analgesics) and diminish an elevated wound exudation and inflammation and can show positive immunomodulatory effects. wIRA can advance wound healing or improve an impaired wound healing both in acute and in chronic wounds including infected wounds. Even the normal wound healing process can be improved. wIRA is contact-free, easily applied, without discomfort to the patient, with absent consumption of material and with a good effect in the depth. The irradiation of the typically uncovered wound is carried out with a wIRA radiator.Die Erfahrung der angenehmen Wärme der Sonne in gemäßigten Breiten entsteht durch die Filterung der Wärmestrahlung der Sonne durch Wasserdampf in der Erdatmosphäre. Durch die Wasserfilterung werden die Strahlungsanteile gemindert (sogenannte Wasserbanden innerhalb des Infrarot A sowie die meisten Teile des Infrarot B und C), die sonst durch Wechselwirkung mit Wassermolekülen in der Haut eine unerwünschte thermische Belastung der obersten Hautschicht hervorrufen würden. Technisch wird wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) in speziellen Strahlern erzeugt, in denen die gesamte Strahlung eines Halogen-Strahlers durch eine Wasser enthaltende Küvette hindurchtritt, so dass die genannten unerwünschten Strahlungsanteile innerhalb des Infrarot gemindert oder herausgefiltert werden. Innerhalb des Infrarot stellt das verbleibende wIRA (im Bereich 780-1400 nm) vorwiegend Strahlung mit gutem Eindringvermögen in das Gewebe dar und erlaubt gegenüber ungefilterter Infrarotstrahlung einen mehrfachen Energieeintrag in das Gewebe bei geringerer thermischer Belastung der Hautoberfläche, vergleichbar der Sonnenwärmestrahlung in gemäßigten Breiten. Typische wIRA-Strahler emittieren keine Ultraviolett-Strahlung (UV) und nahezu keine Infrarot-B- und Infrarot-C-Strahlung, und der Anteil der Infrarot-A-Strahlung ist im Verhältnis zum Anteil des sichtbaren Lichts (380-780 nm) betont. Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A als spezielle Form der Wärmestrahlung mit hohem Eindringvermögen in das Gewebe bei geringer thermischer Oberflächenbelastung wirkt sowohl über thermische (auf Wärmeenergietransfer bezogene) und temperaturabhängige (mit Temperaturänderung auftretende) als auch über nicht-thermische (ohne relevanten Wärmeenergietransfer) und temperaturunabhängige (ohne relevante Temperaturänderung auftretende) Effekte. wIRA erzeugt ein therapeutisch nutzbares Wärmefeld im Gewebe und steigert Temperatur und Sauerstoffpartialdruck im Gewebe sowie die Gewebedurchblutung, drei entscheidende Faktoren für eine ausreichende Versorgung des Gewebes mit Energie und Sauerstoff. Da Wundheilung und Infektionsabwehr (z.B. Granulozytenfunktion einschließlich ihrer antibakteriellen Sauerstoffradikalbildung) entscheidend von einer ausreichenden Versorgung mit Energie und Sauerstoff abhängen, stellt die Verbesserung sowohl der Energiebereitstellung pro Zeit (Steigerung der Stoffwechselleistung) als auch der Sauerstoffversorgung eine Erklärung für die klinisch gute Wirkung von wIRA auf Wunden und Wundinfektionen dar. Zusätzlich hat wIRA nicht-thermische und ohne relevante Temperaturänderung auftretende Effekte, die darauf beruhen, direkte Reize auf Zellen und zelluläre Strukturen zu setzen. wIRA vermag Schmerzen deutlich zu mindern (mit bemerkenswert niedrigerem Analgetikabedarf) und eine erhöhte Wundsekretion und Entzündung herabzusetzen sowie positive immunmodulierende Effekte zu zeigen. wIRA kann sowohl bei akuten als auch bei chronischen Wunden einschließlich infizierter Wunden die Wundheilung beschleunigen oder bei stagnierender Wundheilung verbessern. Selbst der normale Wundheilungsprozess kann verbessert werden. wIRA ist ein kontaktfreies, verbrauchsmaterialfreies, leicht anzuwendendes, als angenehm empfundenes Verfahren mit guter Tiefenwirkung. Die Bestrahlung der typischerweise unbedeckten Wunde erfolgt mit einem wIRA-Strahler
Avaliação técnico-econômica de alternativas de lodos ativados no tratamento de esgotos domésticos
No full textTCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro Tecnológico. Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental.O tratamento de esgotos no Brasil situa-se num cenário de grandes desafios, sendo o sistema de Lodos Ativados uma importante tecnologia, largamente utilizada e com elevada eficiência de tratamento. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar os custos e benefícios de três sistemas de tratamento de esgotos, por variantes da tecnologia de lodos ativados, dimensionados para atender uma população de 100.000 habitantes. É estabelecido um cenário de mesmos parâmetros ambientais para as alternativas consideradas, com as seguintes premissas: (i) necessidade de 90% de eficiência na remoção de carga orgânica (DQO); (ii) necessidade de nitrificação (80%) e (iii) desnitrificação (60%); (iv) estabilização do lodo por processos aeróbios ou anaeróbios.Para estabelecer a comparação entre as alternativas, é aplicada a metodologia de custo do ciclo de vida. Esta metodologia se traduz num método de cálculo da totalidade dos custos inerentes ao projeto, durante toda a vida do mesmo. Os custos e benefícios associados aos respectivos sistemas de tratamento de esgotos são identificados e classificados. Os custos refletem todas as despesas do projeto em questão, desde as primeiras despesas até o fim da vida útil do projeto, e são classificados como custos de investimento inicial, e custos de OM&R (operação, manutenção e reparação). Com o objetivo de simplificar o estudo, o custo de desidratação do lodo não será considerado, apenas será considerado o custo para disposição de lodo em aterro sanitário. Os custos das alternativas avaliadas relevam principalmente os seguintes aspectos: área construída, custos de implantação de obras civis e aquisição de equipamentos, consumo de energia, custo de disposição de lodo, potencial de aproveitamento energético do biogás
2-channel surface ion neutralization
No full textPT: J; CR: ALLISON W, 1980, PHYS REV LETT, V45, P2040 AMOS AT, 1989, ADV CHEM PHYS, V76, P335 BLANDIN A, 1976, J PHYSIQUE, V37, P369 BLOSS W, 1978, SURF SCI, V72, P277 BRAKO R, 1981, SURF SCI, V108, P253 BRAKO R, 1985, SOLID STATE COMMUN, V55, P633 BRAKO R, 1989, REP PROG PHYS, V52, P655 FEUERBACHER B, 1981, PHYS REV LETT, V47, P526 GEERLINGS JJC, 1984, PHYS LETT A, V102, P204 GEERLINGS JJC, 1987, SURF SCI, V184, P305 GOLDBERG EC, 1984, PHYS REV B, V30, P2448 GRIMLEY TB, 1983, SURF SCI, V124, P305 HERMANN J, 1984, SURF SCI, V138, P580 HOFFMANN R, 1963, J CHEM PHYS, V39, P1397 INGLESFIELD JE, 1983, SURF SCI, V127, P555 KAWAI R, 1984, DYNAMICAL PROCESSES, P51 SCHALL H, 1989, SURF SCI, V210, P163 SEBASTIAN KL, 1985, PHYS REV B, V31, P6976 SULSTON KW, 1988, CHEM PHYS, V124, P411 SULSTON KW, 1988, PHYS REV B, V37, P9121 YOSHIMORI A, 1984, PROG THEOR PHYS SUPP, V80, P203 YOSHIMORI A, 1986, PROG SURF SCI, V21, P251; NR: 22; TC: 12; J9: SURFACE SCI; PG: 16; GA: CM339Source type: Electronic(1
Effects of a laser field on surface-ion neutralization
No full textWe present a theoretical model for studying the effects of an electromagnetic (laser) field on the process of neutralization of an ion during scattering by a surface. The model is part of a many-electron theory within the framework of a time-dependent version of the Anderson-Newns model. Where we specify the system studied, we choose the scattering of an initially ionized lithium atom by a potassium bromide surface. The model considers only scattering in one dimension. Numerical results are presented for the ion-neutralization probability as a function of time, incident-ion kinetic energy, electronic properties of the system, laser intensity, and laser frequency. The results are discussed and conclusions are drawn; for example, we conclude that the laser effects are negligible (at least for the parameters we choose) for laser intensities below about 1 PW/m2, and intensities larger than about 10 PW/m2 may be required for substantial effects.PT: J; CR: 1972, AM I PHYSICS HDB, P17 1989, CRC HDB CHEM PHYSICS, E80 ABRAHAMSON AA, 1969, PHYS REV, V178, P76 BATTAGLIA F, 1985, SURF SCI, V161, P163 BURROWS BL, 1991, SURF SCI, V253, P365 CIZEK J, 1969, ADV CHEM PHYS, V14, P35 DAVISON SG, 1970, SOLID STATE PHYS, V25, P1 DAVISON SG, 1986, J ELECTROANAL CH INF, V204, P173 DEKKER AJ, 1962, SOLID STATE PHYS, P371 DINGLES PP, 1980, PHYS REV LETT, V44, P1663 GEORGE TF, 1982, J PHYS CHEM-US, V86, P10 GEORGE TF, 1984, PROG SURF SCI, V16, P139 GOODMAN FO, UNPUB GOODMAN FO, 1963, J PHYS CHEM SOLIDS, V24, P1451 HAGSTRUM HD, 1977, INELASTIC ION SURFAC, P1 HERING P, 1980, PHYS REV LETT, V44, P687 HOFFMANN R, 1963, J CHEM PHYS, V39, P1397 HSU YP, 1985, PHYS REV A, V31, P576 KAWAI R, 1987, SURF SCI, V183, P161 METIU H, 1981, J CHEM PHYS, V74, P2641 MIES FH, 1980, THEORETICAL CHEM, V8 MILOSEVIC DB, 1990, SURF SCI, V227, P347 NEWNS DM, 1969, PHYS REV, V178, P1123 OLSON RE, 1971, APPL OPTICS, V10, P1848 POTTER ED, 1992, NATURE, V355, P66 SEBASTIAN KL, 1985, PHYS REV B, V31, P6976 SROUBEK Z, 1981, SPRINGER SERIES CHEM, V17, P277 SULSTON KW, 1988, PHYS REV B, V37, P9121 SULSTON KW, 1989, SURF SCI, V224, P543 TULLY JC, 1977, PHYS REV B, V16, P4324 YOSHIMORI A, 1986, PROG SURF SCI, V21, P251; NR: 31; TC: 5; J9: PHYS REV B; PG: 10; GA: LA298Source type: Electronic(1
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