Semiclosed-circuit atmosphere control in a portable recompression chamber

A small portable recompression chamber is described that can be used both to treat a diver for decompression sickness or to transport him to a larger chamber complex. The device can be operated in either open circuit or semiclosed circuit atmospheres, permits two way conversation between patient and attendant, and uses an air injector for circulation of the chamber atmosphere

Origin of the giant magnetic moments of Fe impurities on and in Cs films

To explore the origin of the observed giant magnetic moments ($\sim 7 \mu_B$) of Fe impurities on the surface and in the bulk of Cs films, we have performed the relativistic LSDA + U calculations using the linearized muffin-tin orbital (LMTO) band method. We have found that Fe impurities in Cs behave differently from those in noble metals or in Pd. Whereas the induced spin polarization of Cs atoms is negligible, the Fe ion itself is found to be the source of the giant magnetic moment. The 3d electrons of Fe in Cs are localized as the 4f electrons in rare-earth ions so that the orbital magnetic moment becomes as large as the spin magnetic moment. The calculated total magnetic moment of $M = 6.43 \mu_B$, which comes mainly from Fe ion, is close to the experimentally observed value.Comment: 4 pages including 3 figures and 1 table. Submitted to PR

Overall Perceived Health Predicts Risk of Hospitalizations and Death in Adults With Heart Failure: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

Background Patient overall perception of health may provide an effective early warning for risk of hospitalization and death among heart failure patients. Objective Determine whether overall perceived health predicts all-cause hospitalization or death in heart failure patients after adjusting for confounding factors in a sample of adults with heart failure. Design Prospective, longitudinal, observational study. Settings Three outpatient urban settings in the northeast United States between 2007 and 2010. Participants Adults with chronic Stage C heart failure confirmed by echocardiographic and clinical evidence. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted using data collected on 273 Stage C patients with heart failure. Participants in the parent study were followed for 6 months. Overall perceived health was measured by self-report. Hospitalization and death were assessed from electronic hospital records and confirmed with county death records as needed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between perceptions of health and rates of hospitalization and death. Results Patients with poor or fair perceived health had over 5.5 times the rate of death or hospitalization over the 6-month period (hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval: 2.0–15.6; p = 0.001) after controlling for model covariates. The predictive ability of perceived health attenuated over time such that at 30-days patients who reported poor or fair perceived health had only 1.2 times the rate of an event and virtually no difference in event rate by 60-days. Conclusions Overall perceived health is a powerful indicator of impending events and can be a quick tool for prioritizing heart failure patients who are at highest risk of imminent death and hospitalization. Questions about perceived health need to be asked of patients regularly in order to have clinical utility

Poor attention rather than hyperactivity/impulsivity predicts academic achievement in very preterm and full-term adolescents

Background: Very preterm (VP) children are at particular risk for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) of the inattentive subtype. It is unknown whether the neurodevelopmental pathways to academic underachievement are the same as in the general population. This study investigated whether middle childhood attention or hyperactivity/impulsivity problems are better predictors of VP adolescents' academic achievement. Method: In a geographically defined prospective whole-population sample of VP (<32 weeks gestation) and/or very low birth weight (<1500 g birth weight) (VLBW/VP; n = 281) and full-term control children (n = 286) in South Germany, ADHD subtypes were assessed at 6 years 3 months and 8 years 5 months using multiple data sources. Academic achievement was assessed at 13 years of age. Results: Compared with full-term controls, VLBW/VP children were at higher risk for ADHD inattentive subtype [6 years 3 months: odds ratio (OR) 2.8, p < 0.001; 8 years 5 months: OR 1.7, p = 0.020] but not for ADHD hyperactive-impulsive subtype (6 years 3 months: OR 1.4, p = 0.396; 8 years 5 months: OR 0.9, p = 0.820). Childhood attention measures predicted academic achievement in VLBW/VP and also full-term adolescents, whereas hyperactive/impulsive behaviour did not. Conclusions: Attention is an important prerequisite for learning and predicts long-term academic underachievement. As ADHD inattentive subtype and cognitive impairments are frequent in VLBW/VP children, their study may help to identify the neurofunctional pathways from early brain development and dysfunction to attention problems and academic underachievement

Ecological Studies of Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis)

Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) was selected for detailed description here because of its wide distribution and importance throughout the Great Plains Region in the United States.https://scholars.fhsu.edu/fort_hays_studies_series/1058/thumbnail.jp

Bayesian High-Redshift Quasar Classification from Optical and Mid-IR Photometry

We identify 885,503 type 1 quasar candidates to i<22 using the combination of optical and mid-IR photometry. Optical photometry is taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-III: Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (SDSS-III/BOSS), while mid-IR photometry comes from a combination of data from the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) "ALLWISE" data release and several large-area Spitzer Space Telescope fields. Selection is based on a Bayesian kernel density algorithm with a training sample of 157,701 spectroscopically-confirmed type-1 quasars with both optical and mid-IR data. Of the quasar candidates, 733,713 lack spectroscopic confirmation (and 305,623 are objects that we have not previously classified as photometric quasar candidates). These candidates include 7874 objects targeted as high probability potential quasars with 3.5<z<5 (of which 6779 are new photometric candidates). Our algorithm is more complete to z>3.5 than the traditional mid-IR selection "wedges" and to 2.2<z<3.5 quasars than the SDSS-III/BOSS project. Number counts and luminosity function analysis suggests that the resulting catalog is relatively complete to known quasars and is identifying new high-z quasars at z>3. This catalog paves the way for luminosity-dependent clustering investigations of large numbers of faint, high-redshift quasars and for further machine learning quasar selection using Spitzer and WISE data combined with other large-area optical imaging surveys.Comment: 54 pages, 17 figures; accepted by ApJS Data for tables 1 and 2 available at http://www.physics.drexel.edu/~gtr/outgoing/optirqsos/data/master_quasar_catalogs.011414.fits.bz2 and http://www.physics.drexel.edu/~gtr/outgoing/optirqsos/data/optical_ir_quasar_candidates.052015.fits.bz

Smart Fan

Modern box fans offer a simple solution to cooling an area. However, the simplicity that makes these fans appealing also limits their potential. A smart box fan that preserves its original simplicity while providing enhanced technological features such as smartphone connectivity and variable speed selection should lead to ease of use, improved performance, and increased customer satisfaction. To this end, a regular box fan will be instrumented and technology-enhanced, thus “smart fan.” The standard AC motor will be replaced with a DC motor for finer speed selection over the allowable range. The smart fan will offer three categories of operation: manual control, scheduled operation, and temperature-sensitive automation. Manual control operates the smart fan similarly to a standard box fan. Scheduled operation specifies the operation of the fan for any time. Temperature-sensitive automation will offer two modes. The first is a single-source mode that operates using a local temperature sensor. The second is a dual-source mode–intended for use in a window–that uses the temperature sensor and a weather API. Both modes operate by mapping speeds to a range of temperatures. The smart fan will allow users to run it when they want, how they want

Psychometric Testing of the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index

BACKGROUND: Self-care is believed to improve outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients. However, research testing this assumption is hampered by difficulties in measuring self-care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a revised instrument measuring self-care in persons with HF, the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI). The SCHFI is a self-report measure comprised of 15 items rated on a 4-point response scale and divided into 3 subscales. METHODS AND RESULTS: Psychometric testing was done using data from 760 HF patients (age 70.36 +/- 12.3 years, 51% male) from 7 sites in the United States. Reliability of the SCHFI (alpha.76) was adequate. Reliability of the Self-Care Maintenance subscale was lower than desired (alpha.56) but the reliability of the other subscales was adequate: Self-Care Management (alpha.70) and Self-Care Self-Confidence (alpha.82). Construct validity was supported with satisfactory model fit on confirmatory factor analysis (NFI=.69, CFI.73). Construct validity was supported further with significant total and subscale (all P \u3c .05) differences between patients experienced with HF and those newly diagnosed, consistent with the underlying theory. CONCLUSION: Low reliability of the Self-Care Maintenance subscale was expected because the items reflect behaviors known to vary in individuals. The reliability and validity of the SCHFI are sufficient to support its use in clinical research

Describing Self-Care in Italian Adults with Heart Failure and Identifying Determinants of Poor Self-Care

Background: Self-care improves outcomes in patients with heart failure; however, no studies have been conducted on this topic in Italy. Aims: We aimed to describe self-care in Italian adults with heart failure and to identify sociodemographic and clinical determinants of self-care. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to study 1192 heart failure patients enrolled across Italy. We measured self-care using the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index version 6.2, which measures self-care maintenance, management and confidence. Sociodemographic and clinical data were tested as potential determinants of self-care. Results: The mean age of the sample was 72 (SD = 11) years; 58% were male. In the three areas of self-care, scores ranged from 53.18 to 55.26 and few people were adequate in self-care (14.5% to 24.4% of the sample). Self-care behaviours particularly low in this population were symptom monitoring, exercise, use of reminders to take medicines and symptom recognition. Confidence in the ability to keep oneself free of symptoms and relieve symptoms was low. Taking fewer medications, poor cognition, older age, having a caregiver, being male and having heart failure for a shorter time predicted poor self-care maintenance. Poor cognition, not being employed, being male, and having worse New York Heart Association class predicted poor self-care management. Poor cognition, taking fewer mediations, older age, and male gender predicted poor self-care confidence. Conclusion: Self-care is poor in Italian heart failure patients. Determinants of poor self-care identified in this study can help to target patients’ education. Male gender and poor cognition were consistently associated with poor self-care maintenance, management and confidence