Search

The photoabsorption and fluorescence excitation of Br2 have been investigated in the wavelength region 116–170 nm. The fluorescence lifetimes of some Rydberg excited states were measured. Perturbations in the excited states are discussed based on the comparison of the absorption and the excitation spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoabsorption and fluorescence cross sections of HBr were measured in the 105–235 nm region using synchrotron radiation as a light source. Sharp absorption bands were observed in the 105–120 nm region. These bands were classified into Rydberg series, and their oscillator strengths were measured. Fluorescence in the ultraviolet region was observed and used to identify the V 1∑+ state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoabsorption and fluorescence cross sections of HCl were measured in the 106–185 nm region. Sharp absortion bands appear at wavelengths shorter than 135 nm, and fluorescence occurs at several excited states. The fluorescence cross sections are generally quite small, indicating that the excited states are strongly predissociative. The molecular processes for producing the VUV and UV fluorescences are investigated, and the Rydberg characteristics of the strong absorption bands are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoabsorption of SO was investigated by producing the radicals from a pulsed discharge of a trace of SO2 in Ar. The photoabsorption cross section of SO in the 115–135 nm region was measured. A repulsive potential curve is constructed from the observed photoabsorption spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The use of opioid medications for acute and chronic pain has increased significantly in the past 20 years in the United States. Given the high density of opioid receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, side effects are common in these patients including constipation, dysphagia, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. These side effects, which are experienced by most patients who take opioids, can lead to significant impairment in quality of life. Unlike other side effects from opioids, gastrointestinal side effects do not diminish with continued use, often leading patients to reduce or discontinue their opioid treatment to relieve these side effects. Therefore, physicians must be aware and anticipate potential side effects in patients receiving opioids to ensure appropriate pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction International guidelines recommend a bundle of care, including targeted temperature management (TTM), in post cardiac arrest survivors. Aside from a few small surveys in different European countries, adherence to the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) recommendations are unknown. Methods This international European telephone survey was conducted to provide an overview of current clinical practice of post cardiac arrest management with a main focus on TTM. We targeted large teaching and university hospitals within Europe as leading facilities and key opinion leaders in the field of post cardiac arrest care. Selected national principal investigators conducted the survey, which was based on a predefined questionnaire, between December 2014 and March 2015, before the publication of the ERC Guidelines 2015. Results The return rate was 94% from 268 participating intensive care units (ICU). The majority had a predefined standard operating procedure (SOP) protocol for post cardiac arrest patients. Altogether, 68% of the ICUs provided TTM at a target temperature of 32–34 °C for 24 h, and 33% had changed the target temperature to 36 °C. The minority provided a written SOP for neurological prognostication, which was generally initiated 72 h after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Electroencephalography and somatosensory evoked potentials were used by most ICUs for early prognostication. Treating more than fifty patients a year was significantly associated with providing written SOPs for TTM and prognostication (p < 0.01), as well as the use of a computer feedback device (p = 0.03) for TTM. Conclusion This international European telephone survey revealed a high rate of implementation of TTM in post cardiac arrest patients in university and teaching hospitals. Most participants also provided a SOP, but only a minority had a SOP for neurological prognostication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The epidemiology of chronic constipation ( CC) skews toward female predominance, yet men make up an important component of those suffering from CC. We sought to determine whether there are sex-specific differences in symptoms and physiologic parameters on anorectal manometry ( ARM). Methods We performed a case-control analysis of sequential men and age-matched women (2:1 ratio) presenting for ARM as part of the evaluation of CC. We collected physiologic parameters derived from 3D high-resolution ARM in addition to the ROME III constipation module and the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory 20 ( PFDI-20) questionnaires. We analyzed univariate, sex-specific differences in ARM physiologic parameters and PFDI-20 parameters and adjusted for putative confounders using multivariate logistic regression. Key Results Our study enrolled 80 men and 165 age-matched women. Men had a higher median sphincter resting pressure (81.2 vs 75.2 mm Hg, P=.01) and mean squeeze pressure (257.0 vs 170.5 mm Hg, P<.0001) than women. Although men reported significantly less severe straining and incomplete evacuation, they had greater mean rectoanal pressure differential (−106.7 vs −71.1 mm Hg, P<.0001), smaller mean defecation index (0.17 vs 0.27, P=.03) and higher volume threshold for urgency (115.2 v. 103.4 mL, P=.03). However, women were more likely to have abnormal balloon expulsion time ( BET) than men (52.7% vs 35.0%, P=.01). After multivariate analysis, male gender was the only independent predictor of a normal BET ( OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.27-0.86, P=.01). Conclusions & Inferences Men and women with CC differ with regard to symptom severity and physiologic parameters derived from ARM suggesting differences in their pathophysiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vacuum ultraviolet fluorescence of Br atoms resulting from photodissociation of HBr was observed using both synchrotron radiation and argon discharge lamp as light sources. The fluorescence spectrum in the 150–165 nm region was dispersed and identified. Both the absorption and fluorescence cross sections were measured in the excitation wavelength region of 105.6–109 nm. The upper limit of HBr dissociation energy is determined to be 3.65±0.03 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linked Content This article is linked to W. E. Whitehead et al papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.13957 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.13839. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) form was developed to aid in the diagnosis and evaluation of DSM-IV Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). The reliability and validity of the procedure was tested in two studies. Study A included 27 subjects who ranged from having few or no premenstrual problems to those who met criteria for PMDD. Study B included 243 subjects, all of whom met criteria for PMDD. Individual items and Summary Scores had high test–retest reliability in both studies. Internal consistency of Summary Scores was also high in both studies. Summary Scores had moderate to high correlations with other measures of severity of illness. In addition, items and Summary Scores have been shown to be sensitive to change and to treatment differences in Study B. The DRSP provides sensitive, reliable, and valid measures of the symptoms and impairment criteria for PMDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic quenching rates of NO(A2Σ+, v′=0–2) are measured for the gases He, Ar, Xe, N2, O2, CO2, N2O, and SF6. The variations of the fluorescence intensity were measured for the (0,0), (1,0), and (2,0) bands of the γ band system when the quencher gases were added. The quenching rates were determined by using the Stern–Volmer plots with the known radiative lifetimes of the excited states. The electronic quenching rate constants are fast for the group of gases of O2, CO2, N2O, and SF6, whose quenching rate constants are in the order of 10−10 cm3/s. The quenching rate constants are slow for the group of gases including He, Ar, Xe, and N2 whose rate constants are in the order of 10−14 cm3/s. For the slow group, the quenching rate constants increase rapidly for v′=2 compared with those of v′=0 and 1. The charge transfer model and collision complex model are used to understand the quenching mechanism. For the fast group which mainly consists of gases with positive electron affinities, the charge transfer model adequately describes the mechanism. For the slow quenching group, a theoretical background is provided by consider the coupling of initial and final states in the complex potential surfaces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Excited states of ozone are investigated based on the absorption spectrum measured in the wavelength region 105-200 nm. Two Rydberg series corresponding to the transition 6a[sub 1] → ns, np and 4b[sub 2] → ns and np were assigned for the most of the strong peaks in the absorption spectrum. In 112-105 nm wavelengths, the progression of vibrational bands with an energy spacing of about 622 cm[sup -1] was measured which was unknown before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of O([sup 1]D) from O[sub 2] by photodissociation was measured in the 105-113 nm wavelength region. The quantum yields of O([sup 1]D) were employed to identify the excited states as [sup 3]Σ[sub u][sup -] or [sup 3]Π[sub u], where the former correlated with the production of O([sup 1]D) and the latter production of O([sup 3]P) only. Many bands of E, E[sup ′] of [sup 3]Σ[sub u][sup -] and F, F[sup ′] [sup 3]Π[sub u], were found with their vibrational states identified. Several bands had mixed states, such as the (0,0) and (1,0) bands of D[sup ′] [sup 3]Σ[sub u][sup -]←X [sup 3]Σ[sub g][sup -] transition which had smaller than unity quantum yields of O([sup 1]D) due to the perturbation caused by the nearby states D[sup ′] [sup 3]Σ[sub u][sup +](v[sup ′]=1,2) at 112.0 and 110.0 nm. The bands of npσ[sub u] [sup 3]Π[sub u] state in the region of 105-110 nm are in agreement with the assignments of other works, and a band near 107.3 nm is consistent with the predicted band position of the F [sup 3]Π[sub u](v[sup ′]=6) upper-state. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metastable O([sup 1]D) atom produced in the photodissociation of O[sub 2] in the wavelength region 113-130 nm was detected by measuring the 762 nm fluorescence of the transition O[sub 2](b [sup 1]Σ[sub g][sup +]→X [sup 3]Σ[sub g][sup -]). The excited states of O[sub 2] were classified as either the [sup 3]Σ[sub u][sup -] state that produces O([sup 1]D)+O([sup 3]P), or the [sup 3]Π[sub u] state that produces O([sup 3]P)+O([sup 3]P). Our quantum yield measurements of O([sup 1]D) found bands of both pure and overlapped [sup 3]Σ[sub u][sup -] and [sup 3]Π[sub u] states. Five bands were found to produce O([sup 1]D), including the longest, second, and third bands and two additional bands near 115.3 and 113.8 nm that were assigned as the E [sup 3]Σ[sub u][sup -](v[sup ′]=3-4) states. Three bands were assigned to the F [sup 3]Π[sub u](v[sup ′]=0-2) state. We also found a state at 116.2 nm, which did not produce O([sup 1]D), but produced weak visible fluorescence. The possibility of attributing the fluorescence to a transition D [sup 3]Σ[sub u][sup +]-C [sup 3]Π[sub g] was discussed. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Editorial: mixed soluble fibre in chronic constipation - something new?" in previous issue.

Introduction: International guidelines recommend a bundle of care, including targeted temperature management (TTM), in post cardiac arrest survivors. Aside from a few small surveys in different European countries, adherence to the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) recommendations are unknown.Methods: This international European telephone survey was conducted to provide an overview of current clinical practice of post cardiac arrest management with a main focus on TTM. We targeted large teaching and university hospitals within Europe as leading facilities and key opinion leaders in the field of post cardiac arrest care. Selected national principal investigators conducted the survey, which was based on a predefined questionnaire, between December 2014 and March 2015, before the publication of the ERC Guidelines 2015.Results: The return rate was 94% from 268 participating intensive care units (ICU). The majority had a predefined standard operating procedure (SOP) protocol for post cardiac arrest patients. Altogether, 68% of the ICUs provided TTM at a target temperature of 32-34°C for 24h, and 33% had changed the target temperature to 36°C. The minority provided a written SOP for neurological prognostication, which was generally initiated 72h after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Electroencephalography and somatosensory evoked potentials were used by most ICUs for early prognostication. Treating more than fifty patients a year was significantly associated with providing written SOPs for TTM and prognostication (p<0.01), as well as the use of a computer feedback device (p=0.03) for TTM.Conclusion: This international European telephone survey revealed a high rate of implementation of TTM in post cardiac arrest patients in university and teaching hospitals. Most participants also provided a SOP, but only a minority had a SOP for neurological prognostication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laser-induced fluorescence technique has been employed to study the first excited electronic state A 2A1 of CH3O. Vibrational levels v’3 =0–7 of the A state were excited and fluorescence decay rates were measured. Compared to a value 2.2±0.2 μs at v3=0, a significant decrease of decay rate was found at 277.6 nm (0.89 μs, v’3=7). Excitation to higher levels further reduced the lifetime. The predissociation threshold was estimated to be slightly above 276 nm (36 220 cm-1). The electronic quenching rates of the A state (v’=0–2) by CH3OH, O2, NO2, and N2 have also been determined and are compared with those of OH in the A state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internet has been widely used to promote collaborative learning among students. However, students do not always have access to the system, leading to doubt in the interaction among the students, and reducing the effectiveness of collaborative learning, since the web-based collaborative learning environment relies entirely on the availability of computers and the internet. A web-based collaborative learning scheme based on activity awareness carried out through mobile phones is proposed herein. The proposed mechanism automatically sends SMS messages on a GSM network, based on student identity and learning activity, making the student aware of the collaborative learning context, and further improving the student's learning. A web-based collaborative learning activity was implemented in a Taiwan undergraduate class to examine the proposed scheme. Experiments demonstrated that awareness of the collaborative learning context through mobile phones significantly increased student participation in learning activity and improving student learning performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: We examined the relationship between certain bipolar I disorder clinical course variables over 5 years with outcome over the subsequent 5-year period. Methods: Prospective observational follow-up data of 123 bipolar I subjects were analyzed. Predictive clinical variables included the frequency and direction of switches, and the quantity, polarity and length of affective periods. Outcome variables were an affective burden index (ABI) accounting for week-by-week severity and weeks hospitalized. Bivariate analyses guided the selection of predictors for multivariable analyses against the outcome variables. Results: Affective burden index: while the number and direction of switches, the number of polyphasic episodes, weeks in hypomania/mania/mixed state, weeks in minor/major depression, weeks in at least marked affective syndrome, and weeks in any affective syndrome all had bivariate correlation (p <0.01) with the ABI, only weeks in hypomania/mania/mixed state and weeks in minor/major depression made significant contributions in the multivariable analysis (p <0.01) with the ABI. Weeks hospitalized: weeks in at least marked affective syndrome were significantly correlated with weeks hospitalized in bivariate analysis (p <0.01), and maintained a contribution to weeks hospitalized in the multivariable analysis (p <0.01). Conclusions: The quantity and severity of weeks in symptomatic affective states are possibly greater predictors of affective burden in bipolar I patients than the quantity and direction of affective switches. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study on the utilization of emergency medical services to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among U.S. patients between 2006 and 2014. It examines how the number of emergency department (ED) visits increased during the period while noting that the rate of in-patient hospitalizations and surgeries have decreased.

An in-house developed mobile and portable threedimensional scanning lidar system is discussed in this work. The system uses a stimulated Raman-scattering technique for the continuous observation of atmospheric aerosols, clouds and trace gases. This system has a fast scanning technique with a high-speed data acquisition, and permits the real-time measurement of atmospheric pollutants with the temporal resolution of 1 min. This scanning lidar system provides typical horizontal coverage of about 8-10 km while scanning; however, in zenith mode, good quality backscattered signals can be from 20 km, depending upon the laser power and sky conditions. This versatile lidar system has also overcome the drawbacks which are popular in the traditional scanning lidar systems such as complicated operation, overlap height between laser beam and telescope field of view In this system, the optical damage is reduced by using an integral coaxial transmitter and receiver. Some of the initial results obtained from the scanning lidar system are also presented. This study shows that boundary-layer structure and land-sea breeze circulation can be resolved from the developed scanning lidar system. The application of this lidar system to measure the pollutants over an industrial area is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Non-invasive near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers the possibility to determine regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) in patients with cardiac arrest. Limited data from recent studies indicate a potential for early prediction of neurological outcome. Methods Sixty cardiac arrest patients were prospectively enrolled, 22 in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) and 38 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients respectively. NIRS of frontal brain was started after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) during admission to ICU and was continued until normothermia. Outcome was determined at ICU discharge by the Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) and 6 months after cardiac arrest. Results A good outcome (CPC 1-2) was achieved in 23 (38%) patients, while 37 (62%) had a poor outcome (CPC 3-5). Patients with good outcome had significantly higher rSO2 levels (CPC 1-2: rSO2 68%; CPC 3-5: rSO2 58%; p<0.01). For good and poor outcome median rSO2 within the first 24h period was 66% and 59% respectively and for the following 16h period 68% and 59% (p<0.01). Outcome prediction by area of rSO2 below a critical threshold of rsO2=50% within the first 40h yielded 70% specificity and 86% sensitivity for poor outcome. Conclusion On average, rSO2 within the first 40h after ROSC is significantly lower in patients with poor outcome, but rSO2 ranges largely overlap between outcome groups. Our data indicate limited potential for prediction of poor outcome by frontal brain rSO2 measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in-house developed mobile and portable threedimensional scanning lidar system is discussed in this work. The system uses a stimulated Raman-scattering technique for the continuous observation of atmospheric aerosols, clouds and trace gases. This system has a fast scanning technique with a high-speed data acquisition, and permits the real-time measurement of atmospheric pollutants with the temporal resolution of 1 min. This scanning lidar system provides typical horizontal coverage of about 8–10 km while scanning; however, in zenith mode, good quality backscattered signals can be from 20 km, depending upon the laser power and sky conditions. This versatile lidar system has also overcome the drawbacks which are popular in the traditional scanning lidar systems such as complicated operation, overlap height between laser beam and telescope field of view In this system, the optical damage is reduced by using an integral coaxial transmitter and receiver. Some of the initial results obtained from the scanning lidar system are also presented. This study shows that boundary-layer structure and land–sea breeze circulation can be resolved from the developed scanning lidar system. The application of this lidar system to measure the pollutants over an industrial area is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a 9-cM genome scan in a large bipolar pedigree sample from the National Institute of Mental Health genetics initiative (1060 individuals from 154 multiplex families). We performed parametric and nonparametric analyses using both standard diagnostic models and comorbid conditions thought to identify phenotypic subtypes: psychosis, suicidal behavior, and panic disorder. Our strongest linkage signals (genome-wide significance) were observed on chromosomes 10q25, 10p12, 16q24, 16p13, and 16p12 using standard diagnostic models, and on 6q25 (suicidal behavior), 7q21 (panic disorder) and 16p12 (psychosis) using phenotypic subtypes. Several other regions were suggestive of linkage, including 1p13 (psychosis), 1p21 (psychosis), 1q44, 2q24 (suicidal behavior), 2p25 (psychosis), 4p16 (psychosis, suicidal behavior), 5p15, 6p25 (psychosis), 8p22 (psychosis), 8q24, 10q21, 10q25 (suicidal behavior), 10p11 (psychosis), 13q32 and 19p13 (psychosis). Over half the implicated regions were identified using phenotypic subtypes. Several regions – 1p, 1q, 6q, 8p, 13q and 16p – have been previously reported to be linked to bipolar disorder. Our results suggest that dissection of the disease phenotype can enrich the harvest of linkage signals and expedite the search for susceptibility genes. This is the first large-scale linkage scan of bipolar disorder to analyze simultaneously bipolar disorder, psychosis, suicidal behavior, and panic disorder.Molecular Psychiatry (2006) 11, 252–260. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001778; published online 10 January 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low-to-moderate resolution of linkage analysis in complex traits has underscored the need to identify disease phenotypes with presumed genetic homogeneity. Bipolar disorder (BP) accompanied by psychosis (psychotic BP) may be one such phenotype. We previously reported a genome-wide screen in a large bipolar pedigree sample. In this follow-up study, we reclassified the disease phenotype based on the presence or absence of psychotic features and subgrouped pedigrees according to familial load of psychosis. Evidence for significant linkage to psychotic BP (genome-wide P<0.05) was obtained on chromosomes 9q31 (lod=3.55) and 8p21 (lod=3.46). Several other sites were supportive of linkage, including 5q33 (lod=1.78), 6q21 (lod=1.81), 8p12 (lod=2.06), 8q24 (lod=2.01), 13q32 (lod=1.96), 15q26 (lod=1.96), 17p12 (lod=2.42), 18q21 (lod=2.4), and 20q13 (lod=1.98). For most loci, the highest lod scores, including those with genome-wide significance (at 9q31 and 8p21), occurred in the subgroup of families with the largest concentration of psychotic individuals (=3 in a family). Interestingly, all regions but six-5q33, 6q21, 8p21, 8q24, 13q32 and 18q21-appear to be novel; namely, they did not show notable linkage to BP in other genome scans, which did not employ psychosis for disease classification. Also of interest is possible overlap with schizophrenia, another major psychotic disorder: seven of the regions presumed linked in this study-5q, 6q, 8p, 13q, 15q, 17p, and 18q-are also implicated in schizophrenia, as are 2p13 and 10q26, which showed more modest support for linkage. Our results suggest that BP in conjunction with psychosis is a potentially useful phenotype that may: (1) expedite the detection of susceptibility loci for BP and (2) cast light on the genetic relationship between BP and schizophrenia.Molecular Psychiatry (2004) 9, 1091-1099. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001541 Published online 6 July 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community reintegration (CR) after a disabling illness/ injury is the ultimate goal in rehabilitation. However, current research on this area is sparse in Singapore and Asia. Little is known about the significance and meanings of CR as defined by these individuals when they are adapting back to the Singapore community. Purpose: This study aimed to understand the definition and meanings attached to CR from a Singaporean perspective and identify facilitators and barriers to CR. Method: A phenomenological qualitative research design was adopted. Semi structured interviews were conducted for eight participants with acquired disabilities; recruited from the discharged patients of a community based rehabilitation programme. Data was analyzed thematically using a Framework approach. Results: Definition of CR amongst participants is consistent with existing literature. Themes derived from analysis are: 'Personal Factors', 'Family and Friends', 'Environmental Factors', and 'Culture & Spirituality'. The greatest facilitators and barriers to CR are the presence and absence of certain personality traits and social support. Cultural and spiritual influences pervaded participants' lifestyles. Conclusions: Research highlighted the significance of self-identity & esteem, and supportive social network in the CR process for individuals with acquired disabilities. Integrating cultural and spiritual components into the CR interventions should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]