Optical differentiation between cashmere and other textile fibres by laser diffraction

This paper reports a novel method to differentiate cashmere from synthetic fibres and even from other wool fibres with the help of laser diffraction patterns. In the diffraction pattern, only natural fibres depict additional spots above and below the actual diffraction plane. These spots can be used to distinguish different fibre materials by comparing their length-to-height aspect ratio with standard values. Especially, it can be recognized that the diffraction lines above and below the diffraction plane are significantly longer and finer for cashmere fibres than for any other wool

Magnetic field experiment Pioneers 6, 7 and 8

Magnetometer systems on Pioneers 6, 7, and 8 to study interplanetary magnetic field

High energy gamma ray balloon instrument

The High Energy Gamma Ray Balloon Instrument was built in part to verify certain subsystems' performance for the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) instrument, the high energy telescope to be carried on the Gamma Ray Observatory. This paper describes the instrument, the performance of some subsystems, and some relevant results

Erfassung des Umgangs mit den Auswirkungen der Diabeteserkrankung in wichtigen Lebensbereichen.

Fragestellung: Diabetes beeinflusst wichtige Freizeitbereiche wie Sport oder Reisen aber auch die Partnerschaft. Oftmals hat der Diabetes auch sozialrechtliche Konsequenzen. Ziel der Untersuchung war die Evaluation von Fragebögen zur Erfassung des Umgangs mit diesen Auswirkungen des Diabetes auf den Alltag. Methodik: Vier Fragebögen wurden entwickelt, um den Umgang in den Bereichen Partnerschaft, Sport, Reisen und Soziales zu erfassen. Die Fragebögen wurden 195 Patienten mit Typ-1- und Typ-2-Diabetes vorgegeben (43,3 ± 14,6 Jahre; 46% weiblich; BMI: 27,2 ± 6,3 kg/m2; 10% Typ-2-Diabetes; Diabetesdauer: 17,9 ± 13,1 Jahre; HbA1c: 8,4 ± 1,8%). Zur Validierung füllten Patienten die Empowerment-Skala und einen Fragebogen zur Diabetesbelastung (PAID) aus. Ergebnisse: Alle Fragebögen waren hoch reliabel (Partnerschaft: α= 0,92; Sport: α= 0,91; Reisen: α= 0,85; Soziales: α= 0,92). Höheres Empowerment ging mit einem besseren Umgang bezüglich Partnerschaft (r = 0,55), Sport (r = 0,58), Reisen (r = 0,69) und Soziales (r = 0,59) (alle p < 0,001) einher. Umgekehrt waren erhöhte diabetesbezogene Belastungen mit einem ungünstigeren Umgang bezüglich Partnerschaft (r =-0,31), Sport (r =-0,30), Reisen (r =-0,41) und Soziales (r =-0,38) assoziiert (alle p < 0,001). Häufigere und länger-andauernde sportliche Aktivitäten korrelierten mit einem höheren Score im Sport-Fragebogen (r = 0,19 bzw. r = 0,23; p < 0,05). Patienten mit Führerschein erreichten einen höheren Score im Umgang mit sozialrechtlichen Angelegenheiten (Effektstärke d = 0,96). Patienten mit Partnerschaft hatten einen besseren Umgang bezüglich Partnerschaft (d = 0,44). Schlussfolgerungen: Es ist gelungen, reliable und valide Fragebögen zur Erfassung des Umgangs mit den Auswirkungen des Diabetes in den Bereichen Partnerschaft, Sport, Reisen und Soziales zu erstellen und damit das Empowerment in diesen Bereichen zu erfassen. Diese Fragebögen können eingesetzt werden, um den Schulungsbedarf abzuklären bzw. um problemspezifische Schulungsmodule zu evaluieren

Changes in the Red Sea overturning circulation during Marine Isotope Stage 3

The oceanography of the Red Sea is controlled by the restricted exchange of water masses with the Indian Ocean and by high evaporation rates due to the arid climate of the surrounding land areas. In the northern Red Sea, the formation of oxygen-rich subsurface water ventilates the deeper parts of the basin, but little is known about the variability in this process in the past. The stable oxygen and carbon isotope records of epibenthic foraminifera from a sediment core of the central Red Sea and comparison with existing isotope records allow for the reconstruction of changes in the Red Sea overturning circulation (ROC) during Marine Isotope Stage 3. The isotope records imply millennial-scale variations in the ROC, in phase with the climate variability in the high northern latitudes. This suggests an immediate response of dense-water formation to the regional climate and hydrology of the northern Red Sea. Deep-water formation was intensified under the influence of cold and hyper-arid conditions during Heinrich stadials and was diminished during Dansgaard–Oeschger interstadials. While these changes are reflected in both stable oxygen and carbon isotope records, the latter data also exhibit changes in phase with the African–Indian monsoon system. The decoupling of the stable carbon and oxygen isotope records at the summer monsoon maximum centered around 55–60 ka may be associated with an increased inflow of nutrient-rich intermediate waters from the Arabian Sea to the central Red Sea. This process fueled local surface water productivity, resulting in enhanced remineralization of sinking organic matter and release of 12C at intermediate water depths.</p

Clinicians' caseload management behaviours as explanatory factors in patients' length of time on caseloads : a predictive multilevel study in paediatric community occupational therapy

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Zirconium tetraazamacrocycle complexes display extraordinary stability and provide a new strategy for zirconium-89-based radiopharmaceutical development

89 Zr–Tetraazamacrocycle complexes display extraordinary stability

Fitness, motor competence and body composition as correlates of adolescent neck/shoulder pain: an exploratory cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adolescent neck/shoulder pain (NSP) is a common and sometimes debilitating problem. Several risk factors for this condition have been investigated, but no studies have previously evaluated associations between fitness, motor competence, body composition and adolescent NSP.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>1608 males and females of mean age 14 years answered questions on their history of NSP (4 measures), and were tested for aerobic fitness, upper and lower limb power, trunk endurance, grip strength, shoulder flexibility, motor competence and anthropometric factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to test for associations between NSP and physical variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were significant gender differences for most physical and pain variables. After multivariate analysis, males had lower odds of NSP if they had reduced back endurance [OR: 0.66 (95% CI: 0.46–0.97)], reduced persistent control [0.42 (0.19–0.95], and increased muscle power [0.33 (0.12–0.94)], and higher odds of NSP if they had a higher basketball throw [2.47 (1.22–5.00)] and jump performance [3.47 (1.55–7.74)]. Females had lower odds for NSP if they had a reduced jump performance [0.61(0.41–0.92)], a better basketball throw [0.60(0.40–0.90)], lower shoulder flexibility [0.54 (0.30–0.98)] and a higher aerobic capacity [0.61 (0.40–0.93)], and higher odds for NSP if they had greater abdominal endurance [1.57(1.07–2.31)] and greater bimanual dexterity [1.77(1.18–2.65)]. Females showed a U shaped relationship between NSP and back endurance [low: 2.12 (1.20–3.74); high 2.12 (1.18–3.83)].</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Adolescent NSP was associated with fitness and motor competence, although the associations varied with gender, and their strength was limited.</p

Circulating adrenomedullin estimates survival and reversibility of organ failure in sepsis: the prospective observational multinational Adrenomedullin and Outcome in Sepsis and Septic Shock-1 (AdrenOSS-1) study

Background: Adrenomedullin (ADM) regulates vascular tone and endothelial permeability during sepsis. Levels of circulating biologically active ADM (bio-ADM) show an inverse relationship with blood pressure and a direct relationship with vasopressor requirement. In the present prospective observational multinational Adrenomedullin and Outcome in Sepsis and Septic Shock 1 (, AdrenOSS-1) study, we assessed relationships between circulating bio-ADM during the initial intensive care unit (ICU) stay and short-term outcome in order to eventually design a biomarker-guided randomized controlled trial. Methods: AdrenOSS-1 was a prospective observational multinational study. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included organ failure as defined by Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, organ support with focus on vasopressor/inotropic use, and need for renal replacement therapy. AdrenOSS-1 included 583 patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis or septic shock. Results: Circulating bio-ADM levels were measured upon admission and at day 2. Median bio-ADM concentration upon admission was 80.5 pg/ml [IQR 41.5-148.1 pg/ml]. Initial SOFA score was 7 [IQR 5-10], and 28-day mortality was 22%. We found marked associations between bio-ADM upon admission and 28-day mortality (unadjusted standardized HR 2.3 [CI 1.9-2.9]; adjusted HR 1.6 [CI 1.1-2.5]) and between bio-ADM levels and SOFA score (p &lt; 0.0001). Need of vasopressor/inotrope, renal replacement therapy, and positive fluid balance were more prevalent in patients with a bio-ADM &gt; 70 pg/ml upon admission than in those with bio-ADM ≤ 70 pg/ml. In patients with bio-ADM &gt; 70 pg/ml upon admission, decrease in bio-ADM below 70 pg/ml at day 2 was associated with recovery of organ function at day 7 and better 28-day outcome (9.5% mortality). By contrast, persistently elevated bio-ADM at day 2 was associated with prolonged organ dysfunction and high 28-day mortality (38.1% mortality, HR 4.9, 95% CI 2.5-9.8). Conclusions: AdrenOSS-1 shows that early levels and rapid changes in bio-ADM estimate short-term outcome in sepsis and septic shock. These data are the backbone of the design of the biomarker-guided AdrenOSS-2 trial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02393781. Registered on March 19, 2015