Ketamine and the obstetric patient

Ketamine anaesthesia was administered to 135 mothers undergoing Caesarean section. The incidence of awareness, dream recall, and psychic disturbance in this group was compared with that occurring in 126 subjects anaesthetised with thiopentone and nitrous oxide. Factual recall was rare in both groups. Dreaming, although more frequent in the ketamine series, was usually pleasant in nature. Psychic phenomena occurred after ketamine anaesthesia, but were infrequent if ketamine dosage was limited, or anaesthesia supplemented with diazepam. It is concluded that ketamine may be used to advantage in obstetric anaesthesia, without significant dreaming or psychic disturbances. S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 734 (1974)

General anaesthesia for caesarean section

Fifty mothers presenting for elective Caesarean section were anaesthetised using a technique previously recommended for obstetric anaesthesia. Clinically, most infants were in good condition after birth. Blood gas studies done on the mothers before induction and at delivery showed a mild respiratory alkalosis with a compensatory metabolic acidosis. Mean umbilical arterial blood gas/acid-base status revealed a mild acidaemia, both respiratory and metabolic in origin, which was well within accepted normal limits. Fetal oxygenation also appeared satisfactory (mean umbilical vein p02 33,9 torr and umbilical artery p02 18,9 torr). Two mothers (4%) were conscious during surgery, but felt no pain. Vomiting after anaesthesia occurred in 16% of cases. Evidence of postoperative chest infection was found in 5 mothers (10%). Thus, the anaesthetic technique advocated does not appear to adversely influence the mother or her infant.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1735 (1974)

Thermodynamics of non-local materials: extra fluxes and internal powers

The most usual formulation of the Laws of Thermodynamics turns out to be suitable for local or simple materials, while for non-local systems there are two different ways: either modify this usual formulation by introducing suitable extra fluxes or express the Laws of Thermodynamics in terms of internal powers directly, as we propose in this paper. The first choice is subject to the criticism that the vector fluxes must be introduced a posteriori in order to obtain the compatibility with the Laws of Thermodynamics. On the contrary, the formulation in terms of internal powers is more general, because it is a priori defined on the basis of the constitutive equations. Besides it allows to highlight, without ambiguity, the contribution of the internal powers in the variation of the thermodynamic potentials. Finally, in this paper, we consider some examples of non-local materials and derive the proper expressions of their internal powers from the power balance laws.Comment: 16 pages, in press on Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamic

Neutron time-of-flight spectrometer for laser-fusion experiments

The basic concept of a time-of-flight spectrometer is illustrated. The spectrometer described can measure 14.1-MeV neutrons coming directly from the D-T plasma and also neutrons scattered by the air or ground or other structures within the vicinity of the flight path. (MOW

The diagnosis of trypanosome infections: applications of novel technology for reducing disease risk

Reliable DNA based methodologies to determine prevalence of trypanosome species in domestic livestock have been available for over 10 years. Despite this, they are rarely used to generate baseline data for control operations for these diseases in the field. Rather, such operations tend to rely on data which can be generated using low technology methods such as direct observation of parasites by light microscopy. Here we show the pitfalls of relying on such low tech methodology which, although simple in its application, can provide inaccurate and inadequate data on which to base control methodologies. Our analysis of 61 cattle selected for trypanosome carrier status by either microscopy, low PCV or poor condition score, showed that 90% were infected with trypanosomes while 84% of the total were infected with T. brucei. Diagnosis by PCR on buffy coat preparations on Whatman® FTA® matrices was the most sensitive methodology relative to the gold standard, whereas microscopy was the least sensitive. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2002 1(2): 39-45

Ultra-fast image converter streak cameras for laser fusion diagnostics

The design and operation of a 10-ps resolution optical streak camera used to characterize laser pulses and other transient optical signals in fusion research is discussed. Performance characteristics are presented. The design, operation, and application of an x-ray streak camera used to study laser-produced plasmas in the x-ray spectral region of 1 to 10 keV with temporal and spatial resolutions of approximately 20 ps and approximately 10 $mu$m is also discussed. (auth

Theory of the first-order isostructural valence phase transitions in mixed valence compounds YbIn_{x}Ag_{1-x}Cu_{4}

For describing the first-order isostructural valence phase transition in mixed valence compounds we develop a new approach based on the lattice Anderson model. We take into account the Coulomb interaction between localized f and conduction band electrons and two mechanisms of electron-lattice coupling. One is related to the volume dependence of the hybridization. The other is related to local deformations produced by f- shell size fluctuations accompanying valence fluctuations. The large f -state degeneracy allows us to use the 1/N expansion method. Within the model we develop a mean-field theory for the first-order valence phase transition in YbInCu_{4}. It is shown that the Coulomb interaction enhances the exchange interaction between f and conduction band electron spins and is the driving force of the phase transition. A comparison between the theoretical calculations and experimental measurements of the valence change, susceptibility, specific heat, entropy, elastic constants and volume change in YbInCu_{4} and YbAgCu_{4} are presented, and a good quantitative agreement is found. On the basis of the model we describe the evolution from the first-order valence phase transition to the continuous transition into the heavy-fermion ground state in the series of compounds YbIn_{1-x}Ag_{x}Cu_{4}. The effect of pressure on physical properties of YbInCu_{4} is studied and the H-T phase diagram is found.Comment: 17 pages RevTeX, 9 Postscript figures, to be submitted to Phys.Rev.

Observers in an accelerated universe

If the current acceleration of our Universe is due to a cosmological constant, then a Coleman-De Luccia bubble will nucleate in our Universe. In this work, we consider that our observations could be likely in this framework, consisting in two infinite spaces, if a foliation by constant mean curvature hypersurfaces is taken to count the events in the spacetime. Thus, we obtain and study a particular foliation, which covers the existence of most observers in our part of spacetime.Comment: revised version, accepted in EPJ

75th Anniversary of ‘Existence of Electromagnetic-Hydrodynamic Waves’

We have recently passed the 75th anniversary of one of the most important results in solar and space physics: Hannes Alfv\'en's discovery of Alfv\'en waves and the Alfv\'en speed. To celebrate the anniversary, this article recounts some major episodes in the history of MHD waves. Following an initially cool reception, Alfv\'en's ideas were propelled into the spotlight by Fermi's work on cosmic rays, the new mystery of coronal heating and, as scientific perception of interplanetary space shifted dramatically and the space race started, detection of Alfv\'en waves in the solar wind. From then on, interest in MHD waves boomed, laying the foundations for modern remote observations of MHD waves in the Sun, coronal seismology and some of today's leading theories of coronal heating and solar wind acceleration. In 1970, Alfv\'en received the Nobel Prize for his work in MHD, including these discoveries. The article concludes with some reflection about what the history implies about the way we do science, especially the advantages and pitfalls of idealised mathematical models.Comment: 10 pages, accepted by Solar Physic