Recent progress constraining the nuclear equation of state from astrophysics and heavy ion reactions

The quest for the nuclear equation of state (EoS) at high densities and/or extreme isospin is one of the longstanding problems of nuclear physics. Ab initio calculations for the nuclear many-body problem make predictions for the density and isospin dependence of the EoS far away from the saturation point of nuclear matter. On the other hand, in recent years substantial progress has been mode to constrain the EoS both, from the astrophysical side and from accelerator based experiments. Heavy ion experiments support a soft EoS at moderate densities while recent neutron star observations require a ``stiff'' high density behavior. Both constraints are discussed and shown to be in agreement with the predictions from many-body theory.Comment: Invited talk given at NPA III, Dresden, Germany, March 200

Effect of intranasal oxygen administration on blood gas variables and outcome in neonatal calves with respiratory distress syndrome: 20 cases (2004-2006)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of intranasal oxygen administration on blood gas variables and outcome in neonatal calves with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 20 neonatal calves with RDS. PROCEDURES: Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) before and after intranasal administration of oxygen were analyzed. RESULTS: There were significant increases in PaO(2) and SaO(2) in the first 24 hours after oxygen administration was begun, with mean +/- SD PaO(2) increasing from 38.4+/-8.8 mm Hg to 58.7+/-17.8 mm Hg during the first 3 hours of treatment. Calves with PaO(2)>55 mm Hg within the first 12 hours after oxygen administration was begun had a significantly higher survival rate (9/10) than did calves that did not reach this threshold (4/10). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that intranasal oxygen administration was a simple method of improving blood gas variables in neonatal calves with RDS and that PaO(2) could be used to predict outcome