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Objective The primary objective of this study was to compare one-year mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with volatile anesthesia or total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). Secondary objectives were to compare in-hospital and 30-day mortality, postoperative levels of creatine kinase (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin, and durations of tracheal intubation, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Setting International, multi-institution centers. Participants Adults patients undergoing heart surgery. Interventions Volatile anesthesia and TIVA. Measurements and Main Results Meta-analysis found no statistically significant difference between patients receiving TIVA and volatile anesthesia in one-year mortality (n = 6440, OR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.54, p = 0.09, Z = 1.67, I2 = 0%), troponin (n = 3127, SMD = 0.26, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.52, p = 0.05, Z = 1.92, I2 = 90%) and CK-MB concentration 24h postoperatively (n = 1214, SMD = 0.10, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.36, unadjusted p = 0.48, Z = 0.71, I2 = 79%), or time to tracheal extubation (n = 1059, SMD = 0.10, 95% CI -0.28 to 0.49, p = 0.60, Z = 0.53, I2 = 88%). The durations of ICU stay (n = 2003, SMD = 0.29, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.57, p = 0.04, Z = 2.05, I2 = 88%) and hospital stay (n = 1214, SMD = 0.42, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.75, p = 0.01, Z = 2.53, I2 = 91%) were shorter in the volatile anesthetic compared to TIVA group. Conclusions No significant differences in mortality (in-hospital, 30-day, 1-year), troponin and CK-MB concentrations 24 h postoperatively, or time to tracheal extubation were found between patients who had volatile anesthesia or TIVA. Compared to TIVA, volatile anesthesia was associated with shorter durations of hospital and ICU stays.

This article presents some results on the energy demand in conventional bread baking and in the processing of frozen part baked breads, resulting from the “EU-FRESHBAKE” European project (FP6). Bread baking is one of the most energy demanding processes (around 4 MJ/kg), compared with other thermal processes such as canning. However, there is a large variability of data in the literature. For partial baking, bread has to be baked twice. It may also be frozen after part baking, which will increase the total energy demand. Results obtained with equipment used by craft bakeries are presented. Conventional and frozen part baked processes are compared. The effect of occupation ratio on the overall energy demand is also assessed. It was observed that 15–20% of the total energy is used for heating up the dough and 10–20% for crust drying. Pre-heating of the oven represents another significant energy demand. The energy demand for freezing is comparable to that for baking. An Energy Efficiency Index is used to assess the ratio of energy effectively transferred to the dough during baking. Part baked frozen technology demands about 2.2 times as much energy as conventional bread making process.

For calibration of a large capacity gas flow meter, a sonic nozzle bank may be used as a reference system. International standards (ISO9300:1990) allow installation of a single nozzle in a meter tube as a flow transfer standard. For multiple nozzles in a single tube, the effect of interference between sonic nozzles and the chamber wall must be measured to predict the discharge coefficient of a nozzle array from those of single nozzles. The interference effect between neighboring nozzles can be additional error sources in mass flow measurement. Sonic nozzles with three different throat diameters ( d =4.3, 8.1, and 13.4 mm) were tested in a single meter tube in three geometrical arrangements. The mass flow rate was measured against a primary gas flow standard system. Three installation plates for sonic nozzles were made to vary the distance between nozzles and distance from the chamber wall. Discharge coefficients of the three individual nozzles were in agreement with the ISO recommended equation within ±0.2%. Discharge coefficients of the nozzle bank calculated from those of the individual sonic nozzle were the same as the direct measurements within ±0.098% at the 95% confidence level for all cases. For these experiments, the results were not influenced by the proximity of the tube wall or the interaction of the nozzles.

The avidity of leukocyte integrin CR3 (Mac-1, CD11b/CD18, α m β 2 ) on neutrophils (PMN) may be rapidly modulated by several agonists. We describe a method for determining the avidity of these receptors by measuring the adhesion of PMN to fibrinogen-coated surfaces. Cells are loaded with a succinimidyl ester of carboxyfluorescein diacetate, which is deacetylated by intracellular esterases yielding a highly fluorescent carboxyfluorescein that remains trapped within the PMN. The number of cells adhering to fibrinogen-coated wells of Terasaki microplates is quantitated with a fluorescence plate reader. Stimulation of PMN with a number of agonists, including PMA, fNLLP, Ca-ionophore A23187, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor and lipopolysaccharide strongly increased adhesion to fibrinogen, which was CD11b/CD18 dependent. The extent of cell adhesion depended on stimulus concentration and incubation time. This assay requires little time, utilizes small numbers of cells and does not require hazardous reagents.