The Exclusion of Restrictive Lung Disease by Spirometric Criteria in Patients with a Reduced Forced Vital Capacity

Reductions in forced vital capacity (EVC) as determined by spirometry may result from restrictive or obstructive disease, either alone or in combination. Restrictive disease is implied when measures of forced expiratory flow are relatively maintained, and obstructive disease is present when flow measurements are disproportionately reduced. In the presence of air flow obstruction, the possibility of concomitant restrictive disease contributing to the reduction in FVC is difficult to assess from spirometry alone. Static lung volumes are usually necessary to establish this diagnosis. We evaluated the FEV1/EVC%o obtained at spirometry compared to its predicted normal value. We found it to be useful in eliminating the need for additional testing in many cases in which the question of mixed obstructive and restrictive disease had been raised. Specifically, in patients with obstructive disease and a reduced FVC, an FEV1/FVC% of less than 81%, of the age-, height-, and sex-matched predicted value largely excluded the possibility that concomitant restrictive disease was also present (p\u3c.05). Higher values had no predictive value

Proton Affinities of H2S and H2O

Ion cyclotron single- and multiple-resonance spectroscopy have been used to identify and examine the energetics of ion-molecule reactions in which H3O+ and H3S+ are involved either as product or reactant. The reactions observed provide narrow limits for the gas-phase proton affinities of these species, giving 164 ± 4 kcal/mole for H2O and 178 ± 2 kcal/mole for H2S

1977: Abilene Christian College Bible Lectures - Full Text

Seeking The Lost Being the Abilene Christian University Annual Bible Lectures 1977 Published by ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Book Store ACU Station Abilene, Texas 7960

Re-assessing the validity of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ):Two new scales for moral deliberation and paternalism

RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES: The current study and previous research have called the six-component model of Lützen's 30-item Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ) into question. For this reason, we re-examined the construct validity of this instrument. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, which was based on a convenience sample of Dutch nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), we tested the validity of MSQ items using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA, respectively). RESULTS: The EFA revealed a two-component model, which was then tested as a target model with CFA and was found to have good model fit. Some items were correlated with two uncorrelated latent constructs, which we labelled as "paternalistic" and "deliberate" attitudes towards patients. CONCLUSIONS: As in previous studies, the analyses in the current study, which was conducted among PAs and NPs, did not reveal six dimensions for the 30 items. Two new latent dimensions of moral sensitivity were psychometrically tested and confirmed. These two components relate to studies investigating ethical behaviour, and they can be used to describe the moral climate in healthcare organizations. The scales are indicators of the extent to which health professionals behave in a deliberate (sensitive) or paternalistic (insensitive) manner towards the opinions of patients within the context of medical decision-making

Photoionization and ion cyclotron resonance studies of the ion chemistry of ethylene oxide

Time-resolved photoionozation mass spectrometry (PIMS), ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy (ICR), and photoelectron spectroscopy have been employed to study the formation of the ethylene oxide molecular ion and its subsequent ion–molecule reactions which lead to the products C2H5O+ and C3H5O+. Earlier observations that a structurally and energetically modified species (C2H4O+) * is an intermediate in the production of C3H5O+ are confirmed. The PIMS data detail the effects of internal energy on reactivity, with the ratio of C3H5O+ to C2H5O+ increasing by an order of magnitude with a single quantum of vibrational energy. Evidence is presented for the formation of (C2H4O+) * in a collision-induced isomerization which yields a ring-opened structure by C–C bond cleavage. This species contains considerable internal excitation which is relaxed in collisions with ethylene oxide or bath gases such as SF6 prior to reaction. The relaxed ring-opened C2H4O+ ion reacts with neutral ethylene oxide by CH2 + transfer to yield an intermediate product ion C3H6O+ which gives C3H5O+ by loss of H. Isotopic product distributions observed in a mixture of ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide-d4 are consistent with this mechanism. The effects of ion kinetic energy on reactivity are explored using ICR techniques. Increased reactant ion kinetic energy leads to collision-induced dissociation of C2H4O+ rather than isomerization to the open form

Effects of Reproductive Status, Social Rank, Sex and Group Size on Vigilance Patterns in Przewalski's Gazelle

Quantifying vigilance and exploring the underlying mechanisms has been the subject of numerous studies. Less attention has focused on the complex interplay between contributing factors such as reproductive status, social rank, sex and group size. Reproductive status and social rank are of particular interest due to their association with mating behavior. Mating activities in rutting season may interfere with typical patterns of vigilance and possibly interact with social rank. In addition, balancing the tradeoff between vigilance and life maintenance may represent a challenge for gregarious ungulate species rutting under harsh winter conditions. We studied vigilance patterns in the endangered Przewalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) during both the rutting and non-rutting seasons to examine these issues.Field observations were carried out with focal sampling during rutting and non-rutting season in 2008-2009. Results indicated a complex interplay between reproductive status, social rank, sex and group size in determining vigilance in this species. Vigilance decreased with group size in female but not in male gazelles. Males scanned more frequently and thus spent more time vigilant than females. Compared to non-rutting season, gazelles increased time spent scanning at the expense of bedding in rutting season. During the rutting season, territorial males spent a large proportion of time on rutting activities and were less vigilant than non-territorial males. Although territorial males may share collective risk detection with harem females, we suggest that they are probably more vulnerable to predation because they seemed reluctant to leave rut stands under threats.Vigilance behavior in Przewalski's gazelle was significantly affected by reproductive status, social rank, sex, group size and their complex interactions. These findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying vigilance patterns and the tradeoff between vigilance and other crucial activities

Elective laparoscopic splenectomy for giant hemangioma: a case report

Although unusual, hemangioma is the most common primary splenic neoplasm. Splenectomy is indicated when the tumor is large, with increased risk of hemorrhage. The laparoscopic approach is preferred for most elective splenectomies. Although technically feasible, laparoscopic splenectomy can be a challenge in the patient with splenomegaly. We present herein a case of an 18-year-old male asymptomatic patient who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy for the incidental finding of splenomegaly caused by a large splenic hemangioma. Laparoscopic splenectomy appears to be a safe and effective procedure, in appropriately experienced hands, for patients with splenomegaly, given the spleen's fragile anatomy and its relationship to other abdominal viscera

1972: Abilene Christian College Bible Lectures - Full Text

THE CHURCH AND THE FUTURE Being the Abilene Christian College Annual Bible Lectures 1972 Published by ABILENE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE BOOK STORE ACC Station Abilene, Texas 7960

Selected reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes in common bean after Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola and Botrytis cinerea infection

Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Korona plants were inoculated with the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (Psp), necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea (Bc) or with both pathogens sequentially. The aim of the experiment was to determine how plants cope with multiple infection with pathogens having different attack strategy. Possible suppression of the non-specific infection with the necrotrophic fungus Bc by earlier Psp inoculation was examined. Concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion (O2 -) and H2O2 and activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were determined 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after inoculation. The measurements were done for ROS cytosolic fraction and enzymatic cytosolic or apoplastic fraction. Infection with Psp caused significant increase in ROS levels since the beginning of experiment. Activity of the apoplastic enzymes also increased remarkably at the beginning of experiment in contrast to the cytosolic ones. Cytosolic SOD and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD) activities achieved the maximum values 48 h after treatment. Additional forms of the examined enzymes after specific Psp infection were identified; however, they were not present after single Bc inoculation. Subsequent Bc infection resulted only in changes of H2O2 and SOD that occurred to be especially important during plant–pathogen interaction. Cultivar Korona of common bean is considered to be resistant to Psp and mobilises its system upon infection with these bacteria. We put forward a hypothesis that the extent of defence reaction was so great that subsequent infection did not trigger significant additional response