Collisional excitation of doubly and triply deuterated ammonia ND2_2H and ND3_3 by H2_2

The availability of collisional rate coefficients is a prerequisite for an accurate interpretation of astrophysical observations, since the observed media often harbour densities where molecules are populated under non--LTE conditions. In the current study, we present calculations of rate coefficients suitable to describe the various spin isomers of multiply deuterated ammonia, namely the ND$_2$H and ND$_3$ isotopologues. These calculations are based on the most accurate NH$_3$--H$_2$ potential energy surface available, which has been modified to describe the geometrical changes induced by the nuclear substitutions. The dynamical calculations are performed within the close--coupling formalism and are carried out in order to provide rate coefficients up to a temperature of $T$ = 50K. For the various isotopologues/symmetries, we provide rate coefficients for the energy levels below $\sim$ 100 cm$^{-1}$. Subsequently, these new rate coefficients are used in astrophysical models aimed at reproducing the NH$_2$D, ND$_2$H and ND$_3$ observations previously reported towards the prestellar cores B1b and 16293E. We thus update the estimates of the corresponding column densities and find a reasonable agreement with the previous models. In particular, the ortho--to--para ratios of NH$_2$D and NHD$_2$ are found to be consistent with the statistical ratios

THE EFFECT OF INSPIRED OXYGEN CONCENTRATION ON INTRAPULMONARY RIGHT-TO-LEFT SHUNT DURING POSTOPERATIVE MECHANICAL VENTILATION

A consecutive series of patients undergoing cardiac surgery for valve replacement was divided into two groups. The first underwent postoperative artificial ventilation using the oxygen-driven Bird ventilator. The inspiratory oxygen concentration was 83%. In the second group a Bird ventilator was also used but with an oxygen concentration of 40%. In the first group the intrapulmonary right-to-left shunt rose to an average of 17% during the first two postoperative daysand in the second group to an average of 9%. The study supports the view that the inspiratory oxygen concentration should only be kept high enough to achieve a normal oxygen saturation of arterial bloo

Caracterização do tratamento utilizado por crianças com doença pulmonar crônica no Brasil : uma análise da Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM)

Objetivos: Determinar a prevalência de uso de medicamentos por crianças com doença pulmonar crônica (DPC) e caracterizar os medicamentos e medidas não farmacológicas utilizados. Métodos: Os dados foram obtidos pela Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM), estudo transversal realizado no Brasil. As variáveis preditoras foram: características das crianças com a doença e que utilizam medicamentos (idade, região, sexo, raça; escolaridade e critério ABEP do informante), prevalência do uso dos medicamentos, bombinhas, espaçadores e medidas não farmacológicos utilizados. O desfecho foi a prevalência e caracterização dos medicamentos e os controles utilizados por crianças com doença pulmonar crônica. Resultados: Das crianças com DPC autorreferida, 44,9% (IC95%:34,7- 55,5) utilizam medicamentos para tratar essa condição. A bombinha é utilizada por 40,5% (IC95%:29,2-52,9) das crianças, sendo 69,4% (IC95%:45,1-86,3) com espaçador. Os medicamentos mais utilizados foram salbutamol (15,2%;IC95%:9,4-23,7), fluticasona (7,2%;IC95%:2,8-17,5) e ipratrópio (6,1%;IC95%:2,1-16,5). A medida não farmacológica mais utilizada foi o controle ambiental (57,2%;IC95%:4,2-17,6). Conclusões: A terapia inalatória utilizada pelos pacientes é preconizada pois age diretamente no órgão afetado pela doença e apresenta rápida ação. Seu uso associado com espaçador permite uma diminuição dos efeitos adversos e melhor controle da dose administrada. Os medicamentos mais utilizados são os preconizados nas estratégias globais e diretrizes brasileiras.Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of medication use among children with chronic lung disease (CLD) and characterize the medications and non-pharmacological approaches used. Methods: The results were obtained through the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos, a cross-sectional study conducted in Brazil. The predictive variables were: the characteristics of children with the disease and who use medications (age, region, sex, race, education and ABEP criteria for the informant); prevalence of drugs, inhalers, spacers and non-pharmacological controls. The outcome was the prevalence and characterization of medications used and the controls used for the treatment. Results: Of the children with self-reported DPC, 44.9% (95% CI: 34.7- 55.5) used drugs to treat this condition. The inhalers were used by 40,5% (IC95%: 29,2-52,9) of them, being 69,4% (95% CI: 45,1-86,3) with a spacer. The most frequently used drugs were salbutamol 15.2% (IC95%: 9.4-23.7), fluticasone 7.2% (IC95%: 2.8-17.5) and ipratropium 6.1% (IC95%: 2.1-16.5). The most commem non-pharmacological approach used was environmental control (57.2%; 95% CI: 4.2-17.6). Conclusions: The inhalation therapy used by the patients is recommended because it acts directly on the organ affected by the disease and presents a fast action. Its use associated with spacer allows a decrease of adverse effects and better control of the dose administered. The most commonly used drugs are those recommended in global strategies and guidelines in Brazil

The use of traditional ecological knowledge in forest management: an example from India

Many forest communities possess considerable knowledge of the natural resources they use. Such knowledge can potentially inform scientific approaches to management, either as a source of baseline data to fill information gaps that cannot otherwise be addressed or to provide alternative management approaches from which scientists and managers might learn. In general, however, little attention has been given to the relevance of quantitative forms of such knowledge for resource management. Much discussion has focused on the integration of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) into management, but less attention has been paid to identifying specific areas where it is most useful and where it may be most problematic. We contrasted scientific data with information from TEK in the context of a threat to the sustainable harvesting of a nontimber forest product (NTFP) of livelihood importance in southern India, specifically, a fruit tree infected by mistletoe. The efficiency of deriving information from NTFP harvesters compared to scientific field studies was assessed. We further evaluated the potential of TEK to provide novel solutions to the management problem in question, the degree to which TEK could provide quantitative information, and the biases that might be associated with information derived from TEK. TEK complemented previously gathered ecological data by providing concordant and additional information, but also contradicted some results obtained using a scientific approach. TEK also gave a longer-term perspective with regard to NTFP harvesting patterns. Combining information on historical and current harvesting trends for the NTFP with official data suggests that current assessments of sustainability may be inaccurate and that the use of diverse information sources may provide an effective approach to assessing the status of harvested resources

REGULATION OF CORONARY BLOOD FLOW DURING ETHER AND HALOTHANE ANAESTHESIA

SUMMARY The effects of ether (6-10%) and halothane (1-2%) were studied on coronary flow regulation in dogs. In one group of experiments the kft coronary artery was perfused mechanically, coronary perfusion pressure being either kept constant or adjusted to aortic pressure, and the heart itself had to pump the blood to all other arteries. The preload on the heart was changed by varying die intravascular volume. In another group, bodi coronary arteries were perfused mechanically under constant pressure; the other arteries were also perfused mechanically by a cardiopulmonary bypass. In this group measurements were carried out on the empty beating heart. Halothane had a direct effect on die heart, myocardial contractility was reduced, cardiac work and myocardial oxygen consumption were diminished and coronary vasoconstriction followed. Edier effects on the heart were principally die same as diose due to halodiane, but to a lesser degree. Coronary vasoconstriction caused by halodiane did not produce myocardial hypoxia. Coronary vasoconstriction occurred as an autorcgulatory mechanism preventing "unnecessary ” hyperperfusion as long as cardiac work and oxygen consumption were diminished. Bodi edier and halodiane reduced systemic vascular resistanc

Migraine and cardiovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To evaluate the association between migraine and cardiovascular disease, including stroke, myocardial infarction, and death due to cardiovascular disease

Exploring why patients in heroin-assisted treatment are getting incarcerated - a qualitative study

Background: Heroin-assisted treatment has proven effective in reducing criminal offenses in opioid dependent individuals. Few studies attempted to explain the observed crime reduction and the reasons why these patients keep offending and getting incarcerated have to date not been explored. Methods: Patients with a history of incarcerations during the time of participating in heroin-assisted treatment (n = 22) were invited to a semi-structured, narrative interview. Findings were evaluated with Mayring's qualitative content analysis framework. Additionally, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test and the multiple-choice vocabulary intelligence test used to assess cognitive impairment and premorbid intelligence levels. Results: Three main categories emerged in patients' narratives on their incarcerations: cocaine use, impaired functioning, and financial constraints. Lifetime prevalence of cocaine use disorder was 95.5% and their cocaine use often led to patients getting incarcerated. Impaired functioning mainly constituted the inability to receive and open mail. Financial constraints led to incarcerations in lieu of payment in 16 participants (72.7%). Categories overlapped notably and often occurred in close temporal proximity. A fourth category on the likelihood of getting incarcerated again in the future was inhomogeneous and ranged from the strong conviction to complete rejection of the scenario. Average premorbid intelligence levels were found, whereas the cognitive assessment suggested severe cognitive impairment in our sample. Conclusion: Participants mainly reported to have committed minor offenses and not being able to pay for resulting fines. The resulting prison sentences are an unconvincing practice from a medical and economic perspective alike. Public expenditure and the interruptions of the continuum of care could be reduced by legislatively protecting these marginalised patients

Headache, migraine and risk of brain tumors in women: prospective cohort study

Background: While headache is a common symptom among brain tumors patients, often patients with common headache have concerns of being at risk for developing brain tumors. We aimed to disprove that migraine or headache in general is associated with increased risk of developing brain tumors. Methods: Prospective study among 39,534 middle-aged women, free of any cancer, and who provided information on headache history at baseline. We followed participants for occurrence of medical record-confirmed brain tumors. We ran multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate associations between any headache, migraine, and non-migraine headache with incident brain tumors. We further evaluated whether migraine frequency and updated headache information during follow-up could be linked with brain tumors. Results: A total of 13,022 (32.9%) women reported headache, of which 5,731 were classified as non-migraine headache and 7,291 as migraine. During a mean follow-up of 15.8 years, 52 brain tumors were confirmed. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for brain tumors were 1.33 (0.76-2.34) for any headache, 1.18 (0.58-2.41) for migraine and 1.53 (0.75-3.12) for non-migraine headache. The association for any headache was further attenuated in time-varying analyses (1.15; 0.58-2.24). Those who experience migraine six times/year were also not at increased risk of brain tumor (0.67; 0.13-3.32). Conclusions: Results of this large, prospective cohort study in women do not provide evidence that headache in general or migraine in particular are associated with the occurrence of brain tumors. Our data should reassure patients with headache that brain tumor is not a long-term consequence of headache. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s10194-015-0501-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users