Simultaneous Identification of the Diffusion Coefficient and the Potential for the Schr\"odinger Operator with only one Observation

This article is devoted to prove a stability result for two independent coefficients for a Schr\"odinger operator in an unbounded strip. The result is obtained with only one observation on an unbounded subset of the boundary and the data of the solution at a fixed time on the whole domain

Steady-state signatures of radiation trapping by cold multilevel atoms

In this paper, we use steady-state measurements to obtain evidence of radiation trapping in an optically thick a cloud of cold rubidium atoms. We investigate the fluorescence properties of our sample, pumped on opened transitions. The intensity of fluorescence exhibits a non trivial dependence on the optical thickness of the media. A simplified model, based on rate equations self-consistently coupled to a diffusive model of light transport, is used to explain the experimental observations in terms of incoherent radiation trapping on one spectral line. Measurements of atomic populations and fluorescence spectrum qualitatively agree with this interpretation.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

A global Carleman estimate in a transmission wave equation and application to a one-measurement inverse problem

We consider a transmission wave equation in two embedded domains in $R^2$, where the speed is $a1 > 0$ in the inner domain and $a2 > 0$ in the outer domain. We prove a global Carleman inequality for this problem under the hypothesis that the inner domain is strictly convex and $a1 > a2$ . As a consequence of this inequality, uniqueness and Lip- schitz stability are obtained for the inverse problem of retrieving a stationary potential for the wave equation with Dirichlet data and discontinuous principal coefficient from a single time-dependent Neumann boundary measurement

Expression of chemokine receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 during cardiopulmonary bypass

AbstractObjective: This study investigated the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on neutrophil expression of chemokine receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2, and the β2 integrin CD11b. Methods: Ten patients undergoing coronary artery grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass were studied. Blood samples were collected preoperatively, before bypass, at termination of bypass, and 12 to 18 hours postoperatively. In vitro studies were performed on control subjects to determine changes in the surface expression of CXCR1, CXCR2, and CD11b on stimulation with interleukin 8. Receptor expression was measured by flow cytometry. Plasma levels of interleukin 8 from the patients were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results: After bypass, CXCR2 expression fell by 66% (P <.0001) and remained low postoperatively (P <.0001). CXCR1 expression persisted at preoperative levels. CD11b expression increased significantly after bypass (P <.0001), returning to prebypass levels postoperatively. In vitro studies showed a dose-related fall of both CXCR1 (P <.0001) and CXCR2 expression (P <.0001) and a significant rise in CD11b expression (P <.0001). Plasma interleukin 8 increased significantly after bypass (P <.0001), remaining elevated 12 to 18 hours postoperatively (P =.02). Correlations between interleukin 8 levels and CXCR2 expression (P <.0001) and CD11b expression (P <.03) were demonstrated. Conclusions: CXCR2 expression is significantly down-regulated after bypass; in contrast, CXCR1 expression remains unchanged. In addition, whereas interleukin 8 is an important determinant of both CXCR1 and CXCR2 expression in vitro, it only correlates with CXCR2 and CD11b expression in vivo. This has implications in the search for antagonists against CXC chemokines and their receptor

A national survey of the diagnosis and management of suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) affects up to 20% of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU). It is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Despite published guidelines, variability in diagnosis and management exists, the extent of which remains unclear. We sought to characterise consultant opinions surrounding diagnostic and management practice for VAP in the UK. METHODS: An online survey was sent to all consultant members of the UK Intensive Care Society (n=∼1500). Data were collected regarding respondents' individual practice in the investigation and management of suspected VAP including use of diagnostic criteria, microbiological sampling, chest X-ray (CXR), bronchoscopy and antibiotic treatments. RESULTS: 339 (23%) responses were received from a broadly representative spectrum of ICU consultants. All respondents indicated that microbiological confirmation should be sought, the majority (57.8%) stating they would take an endotracheal aspirate prior to starting empirical antibiotics. Microbiology reporting services were described as qualitative only by 29.7%. Only 17% of respondents had access to routine reporting of CXRs by a radiologist. Little consensus exists regarding technique for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with the reported volume of saline used ranging from 5 to 500 mL. 24.5% of consultants felt inadequately trained in bronchoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: There is wide variability in the approach to diagnosis and management of VAP among UK consultants. Such variability challenges the reliability of the diagnosis of VAP and its reported incidence as a performance indicator in healthcare systems. The data presented suggest increased radiological and microbiological support, and standardisation of BAL technique, might improve this situation

Heterogeneous Batch Distillation Processes: Real System Optimisation

In this paper, optimisation of batch distillation processes is considered. It deals with real systems with rigorous simulation of the processes through the resolution full MESH differential algebraic equations. Specific software architecture is developed, based on the BatchColumn® simulator and on both SQP and GA numerical algorithms, and is able to optimise sequential batch columns as long as the column transitions are set. The efficiency of the proposed optimisation tool is illustrated by two case studies. The first one concerns heterogeneous batch solvent recovery in a single distillation column and shows that significant economical gains are obtained along with improved process conditions. Case two concerns the optimisation of two sequential homogeneous batch distillation columns and demonstrates the capacity to optimize several sequential dynamic different processes. For such multiobjective complex problems, GA is preferred to SQP that is able to improve specific GA solutions