Xenon depresses aEEG background voltage activity whilst maintaining cardiovascular stability in sedated healthy newborn pigs

Changes in electroencephalography (EEG) voltage range are used to monitor the depth of anaesthesia, as well as predict outcome after hypoxia-ischaemia in neonates. Xenon is being investigated as a potential neuroprotectant after hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury, but the effect of Xenon on EEG parameters in children or neonates is not known. This study aimed to examine the effect of 50% inhaled Xenon on background amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) activity in sedated healthy newborn pigs.Five healthy newborn pigs, receiving intravenous fentanyl sedation, were ventilated for 24 h with 50%Xenon, 30%O2 and 20%N2 at normothermia. The upper and lower voltage-range of the aEEG was continuously monitored together with cardiovascular parameters throughout a 1 h baseline period with fentanyl sedation only, followed by 24 h of Xenon administration.The median (IQR) upper and lower aEEG voltage during 1 h baseline was 48.0 μV (46.0-50.0) and 25.0 μV (23.0-26.0), respectively. The median (IQR) aEEG upper and lower voltage ranges were significantly depressed to 21.5 μV (20.0-26.5) and 12.0 μV (12.0-16.5) from 10 min after the onset of 50% Xenon administration (p=0.002). After the initial Xenon induced depression in background aEEG voltage, no further aEEG changes were seen over the following 24h of ventilation with 50% xenon under fentanyl sedation. Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate remained stable.Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly influenced by 24h Xenon ventilation. 50% Xenon rapidly depresses background aEEG voltage to a steady ~50% lower level in sedated healthy newborn pigs. Therefore, care must be taken when interpreting the background voltage in neonates also receiving Xenon

Diffractive triangulation of radiative point sources

We describe a general method to determine the location of a point source of waves relative to a twodimensional single-crystalline active pixel detector. Based on the inherent structural sensitivity of crystalline sensor materials, characteristic detector diffraction patterns can be used to triangulate the location of a wave emitter. The principle described here can be applied to various types of waves, provided that the detector elements are suitably structured. As a prototypical practical application of the general detection principle, a digital hybrid pixel detector is used to localize a source of electrons for Kikuchi diffraction pattern measurements in the scanning electron microscope. This approach provides a promising alternative method to calibrate Kikuchi patterns for accurate measurements of microstructural crystal orientations, strains, and phase distributions

Comparison of grain to grain orientation and stiffness mapping by spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy and EBSD

Our aim was to establish the capability of spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy (SRAS) to map grain orientations and the anisotropy in stiffness at the sub-mm to micron scale by comparing the method with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) undertaken within a scanning electron microscope. In the former the grain orientations are deduced by measuring the spatial variation in elastic modulus; conversely, in EBSD the elastic anisotropy is deduced from direct measurements of the crystal orientations. The two test-cases comprise mapping the fusion zones for large TIG and MMA welds in thick power plant austenitic and ferritic steels, respectively; these are technologically important because, among other things, elastic anisotropy can cause ultrasonic weld inspection methods to become inaccurate because it causes bending in the paths of sound waves. The spatial resolution of SRAS is not as good as that for EBSD (∼100 m vs. ∼a few nm), nor is the angular resolution (∼1.5° vs. ∼0.5°). However the method can be applied to much larger areas (currently on the order of 300 mm square), is much faster (∼5 times), is cheaper and easier to perform, and it could be undertaken on the manufacturing floor. Given these advantages, particularly to industrial users, and the on-going improvements to the method, SRAS has the potential to become a standard method for orientation mapping, particularly in cases where the elastic anisotropy is important over macroscopic/component length scales

The Peripheral Plural Endings of Nouns in Petrine Sermons

In der Reihe Slavistische Beiträge werden vor allem slavistische Dissertationen des deutschsprachigen Raums sowie vereinzelt auch amerikanische, englische und russische publiziert. Darüber hinaus stellt die Reihe ein Forum für Sammelbände und Monographien etablierter Wissenschafter/innen dar

Your Mouth is the Mirror of Health and Disease of the Gastrointestinal System: Oral Mucosal Manifestations of Gastrointestinal Disease

Introduction: Over the last few years, the importance placed on multi-disciplinary approach to patient care has been increasing. One such relationship is the between a dentist and medical practioner. Methods: This narrative review examines the manifestations of gastrointestinal diseases in the oral mucosa. Understanding the interconnection between the oral cavity and gastrointestinal conditions can help with early diagnosis and can serve as an indicator of disease progression. The aim of this narrative review is to underscore the importance of recognising these suspicious oral mucosal signs and understand the bi-directional relationship between oral health and systemic well-being. Results: The findings highlight the need to integrate oral examinations in patients at high risk of or with suspected or current gastrointestinal diseases. A holistic approach will help in better patient care and overall patient outcomes. Discussion: There exists a gap in diagnostic approaches for oral manifestations of gastrointestinal diseases, which must be bridged to efficiently facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. Understanding this inter-play between oral health and systemic well-being will significantly improve pati

Language, Religion and Ethno-National Identity: The Role of Knowledge, Culture and Communication

The influence of religion and language on ethno-national identity is well-established. This article explores these concepts as mutually reinforcing aspects of cultural identity and examines their relationship to the formation of world views and causal interpretations shaping often incompatible ethno-national identities and hence conflicts. Especially we focus on the role of oral cultures as primary communication forms as against print-based ones, and how they differ in recording the past and interpreting the present and future. In orality we find a relatively strong influence of traditional religion, mysticism and past references as key informers of identity, whilst print correlates with the declining role of traditional religion and the rise of science as fundamental dimensions of ethno-national identity. We argue that this distinction helps to explain different experiences of ontological security and insecurity linked to ethno-nationalism and religion

The Texas public health nursing work environment and outcomes of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and intent to stay

This study was conducted to explore the relationships between the work environment, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and intent to stay from the perspective of public health nurses (PHNs) in Texas. Survey instruments were adapted for use in the population-based public health setting. A cross-sectional prospective survey design was used to conduct this research. The following work environment characteristics were rated favorably by PHNs: manager support, autonomy, teamwork, and an organizational focus on service excellence. However, unfavorable perceptions were reported with regard to new employee orientation and training, opportunities for career growth, staffing adequacy, and a practice model that involved PHNs’ input into organizational matters. Most PHNs were committed to their public health agencies and satisfied with their jobs. However, work stresses were experienced. The work environment, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment predicted PHNs’ intent to stay. Furthermore satisfaction-to-commitment serial mediation was found in the causal relationship between the work environment and intent to stay. This study fills an important research gap regarding the PHN work environment and outcomes in Texas. Findings will be presented to public health agency leaders and policy makers. The ultimate goal is to provide information and tools that can be used to improve work environment quality and assist public health agencies in the future recruitment and retention of PHNs.Nursin

A composite framework for the strategic alignment of information systems development

Information systems are corporate resources, therefore information systems development must be aligned with corporate strategy. This thesis proposes that effective strategic alignment of information systems requires information systems development, information systems planning and strategic management to be united. Literature in these areas is examined, breaching the academic boundaries which separate these areas, to contribute a synthesised approach to the strategic alignment of information systems development. Previous work in information systems planning has extended information systems development techniques, such as data modelling, into strategic planning activities, neglecting techniques of strategic management. Examination of strategic management in this thesis, identifies parallel trends in strategic management and information systems development; the premises of the learning school of strategic management are similar to those of soft systems approaches to information systems development. It is therefore proposed that strategic management can be supported by a soft systems approach. Strategic management tools and techniques frame individual views of a strategic situation; soft systems approaches can integrate these diverse views to explore the internal and external environments of an organisation. The information derived from strategic analysis justifies the need for an information system and provides a starting point for information systems development. This is demonstrated by a composite framework which enables each information system to be justified according to its direct contribution to corporate strategy. The proposed framework was developed through action research conducted in a number of organisations of varying types. This suggests that the framework can be widely used to support the strategic alignment of information systems development, thereby contributing to organisational success