Use of long-term microdialysis subcutaneous glucose monitoring in the management of neonatal diabetes - A first case report

In neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM), a rare genetic disorder, insulin therapy is required but the management is difficult. Frequent blood glucose determinations are necessary in most cases. Microdialysis subcutaneous glucose monitoring (MSGM) is feasible in neonates and has been proposed to reduce painful blood sampling and blood loss. We have applied long-term MSGM to a small-fordate female newborn with transient NDM. We found a good correlation of subcutaneous and blood glucose concentration over a wide range of values. MSGM enabled a reduction in blood glucose determinations during optimization of intravenous insulin treatment and initiation of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. We conclude that long-term MSGM is feasible and may reduce painful blood sampling and blood loss in NDM. Furthermore, long-term MSGM may hold a potential for avoiding hypoglycemic episodes and earlier discharge. Copyright (C) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Sources of unburned carbon in the fly ash produced from low-NOx pulverized coal combustion

Journal ArticleThe unburned carbon in the fly ash produced from low-NOx pulverized coal combustion is shown to consist of a mixture of soot and coal char. The soot was identified by the presence of chains or aggregates of 10-50-nm-diameter primary particles in electron microscope images of both laboratory samples and a sample of fly ash from a power plant operating low-NOx burners. Laboratory samples showed increasing carbon content with decreasing nitrogen oxide (NOx) concentration. The experiments included a high-NOx base case and four low-NOx cases consisting of (1) staged combustion with short (0.5 s) residence time, (2) staged combustion with long (1.5 s) residence time, (3) a low-NOx burner with slow mixing, and (4) reburning using coal as the reburning fuel. Comparison of the base case that used premixed coal and air with the long-residence-time staged combustion case shows a decrease in the NOx from over 900 ppm to below 200 ppm and an increase in the carbon in the ash from 4% to over 30%. The fly ash from staged combustion was a mixture of large soot aggregates, porous char, and spherical particles of mineral ash, whereas the ash from reburning lacked the large aggregates. For all laboratory conditions, the carbon content in the particle fraction with an aerodynamic diameter over 10 lm was higher than in the 1-2.5- lm-diameter fraction. Both soot aggregates and char contributed to the high carbon in the large particle fraction. The difference in carbon burnout between the two staging conditions was consistent with published soot oxidation rates. Both char burnout and soot formation need to be considered in studies of the carbon content of pulverized coal fly ash

Spontaneous Chelation-Driven Reduction of the Neptunyl Cation in Aqueous Solution.

Octadentate hydroxypyridinone (HOPO) and catecholamide (CAM) siderophore analogues are known to be efficacious chelators of the actinide cations, and these ligands are also capable of facilitating both activation and reduction of actinyl species. Utilizing X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies, as well as cyclic voltammetry measurements, herein, we elucidate chelation-based mechanisms for driving reactivity and initiating redox processes in a family of neptunyl-HOPO and CAM complexes. Based on the selected chelator, the ability to control the oxidation state of neptunium and the speed of reduction and concurrent oxo group activation was demonstrated. Most notably, reduction kinetics for the NpV O2 +/ /NpIV redox couple upon chelation by the ligands 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) and 3,4,3-LI(CAM)2 (1,2-HOPO)2 was observed to be faster than ever reported, and in fact quicker than we could measure using either X-ray absorption spectroscopy or electrochemical techniques

External and internal noise surveys of London primary schools

Internal and external noise surveys have been carried out around schools in London, UK, to provide information on typical levels and sources to which children are exposed while at school. Noise levels were measured outside 142 schools, in areas away from flightpaths into major airports. 86% of the schools surveyed were exposed to noise from road traffic, the average external noise level outside a school being 57 dB LAeq. Detailed internal noise surveys have been carried out in 140 classrooms in 16 schools, together with classroom observations. It was found that noise levels inside classrooms depend upon the activities in which the children are engaged, with a difference of 20 dB LAeq between the 'quietest' and 'noisiest' activities. The average background noise level in classrooms exceeds the level recommended in current standards. The number of children in the classroom was found to affect noise levels. External noise influenced internal noise levels only when children were engaged in the quietest classroom activities. The effects of the age of the school buildings and types of window upon internal noise were examined but results were inconclusive

In situ measurements of plasma properties during gas-condensation of Cu nanoparticles

Since the mean, standard deviation, and modality of nanoparticle size distributions can vary greatly between similar input conditions (e.g., power and gas flow rate), plasma diagnostics were carried out in situ using a double-sided, planar Langmuir probe to determine the effect the plasma has on the heating of clusters and their final size distributions. The formation of Cu nanoparticles was analyzed using cluster-plasma physics, which relates the processes of condensation and evaporation to internal plasma properties (e.g., electron temperature and density). Monitoring these plasma properties while depositing Cu nanoparticles with different size distributions revealed a negative correlation between average particle size and electron temperature. Furthermore, the modality of the size distributions also correlated with the modality of the electron energy distributions. It was found that the maximum cluster temperature reached during plasma heating and the material’s evaporation point regulates the growth process inside the plasma. In the case of Cu, size distributions with average sizes of 8.2, 17.3, and 24.9 nm in diameter were monitored with the Langmuir probe, and from the measurements made, the cluster temperatures for each deposition were calculated to be 1028, 1009, and 863 K. These values are then compared with the onset evaporation temperature of particles of this size, which was estimated to be 1059, 1068, and 1071 K. Thus, when the cluster temperature is too close to the evaporation temperature, less particle growth occurs, resulting in the formation of smaller particles

Students’ perceptions of school acoustics and the impact of noise on teaching and learning in secondary schools : findings of a questionnaire survey

This paper will present the design and findings of an online questionnaire survey of 11–16 year olds’ impressions of their school's acoustic environment, and of an experimental study into the effects of typical levels of classroom noise on adolescent's performance on numeracy and cognitive functioning tasks. Analysis of the responses to the questionnaire found that pupils who reported additional learning needs such as hearing impairment, speaking English as an additional language or receiving learning support reported being significantly more affected by poor school acoustics than pupils reporting no additional learning needs. Pupils attending suburban schools featuring cellular classrooms that were not exposed to a nearby noise sources were more positive about their school acoustics than pupils at schools with open plan classroom designs or attending schools that were exposed to external noise sources. The study demonstrates that adolescents are reliable judges of their school's acoustic environment, and have insight into the disruption to teaching and learning caused by poor listening conditions. Furthermore, pupils with additional learning needs are more at risk from the negative effects of poor school acoustics

Behavior of Biaxially Loaded Slab-Column Connections with Shear Studs

Results are presented from four non-prestressed concrete slabcolumn connection subassemblies tested under simulated gravity and earthquake-type loading. Each specimen consisted of a largescale first-story interior slab-column connection reinforced with headed shear studs, loaded to a gravity-shear ratio of 50%, and subjected to biaxial lateral displacements. The slabs, which were nominally identical aside from the shear stud reinforcement design, had a flexural reinforcement ratio in the column strip, based on the effective depth, of 0.7%. Shear stud reinforcement in the test specimens varied in terms of amount and spacing, both between and within stud peripheral lines. All four specimens exhibited drift capacities significantly lower than shown by previous studies. Although the lateral strength of the specimens was governed by the flexural capacity of the slab, severe concrete degradation ultimately limited the drift capacity of the connections. Signs of punching-related damage were first observed during the cycle to 1.85% drift in each loading direction. Test results suggest that the minimum amount of shear reinforcement required in Section 21.13.6 of ACI 318-11 when neither a drift nor a combined shear-stress check is performed (vs ≥ 3.5√fc′, psi [0.29√fc′, MPa]) is adequate for connections subjected to a gravity shear ratio of up to 50% and resultant drifts from biaxial displacements of up to 2.0% if studs are spaced at less than 2d within the first two peripheral lines. For larger drift demands, a maximum stud spacing within the first three peripheral lines of 1.5d is recommended.Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) Program (Grant No. 0936519

Exploring Levels of Awareness and Perceptions of Emotional Intelligence within a UK Law Firm

This study explores levels of awareness and perception of EI within a UK law firm to establish if levels of awareness and perception differ amongst different roles within the organisation. The literature review focussed on the EI models proposed by Salovey and Mayer (1990) and Goleman (1995) which formed part of the conceptual framework in order to ascertain if awareness or perceptions linked to the existing models of EI. The research was qualitative in nature and semi-structured interviews were used as the method of data collection and participants were purposively selected to obtain data from employees in different positions within the organisation. The study findings indicated low awareness of EI overall and a limited understanding of what EI entails, but the study highlighted the use of EI skills within the client relationship. Due to the relationship the organisation has with clients and the link to profit, EI skills are implemented when communicating with clients to ensure that they remain loyal to the organisation and thus continuing to generate profit for the firm. However the use and importance of EI skills within the employment relationship and with colleagues were not recognised, the focus of EI skills was specifically concentrated within the client relationship ensuring it was protected. The implications of the study were raised in relation to the employment relationship and the damage that the lack of awareness and inaccurate perceptions of EI is having on the relationship with other colleagues. As a result, this is creating a high turnover of staff and teams that are not performing to their maximum potential and therefore not effectively contributing to the overall success of the organisation. The recommendations of the study are to implement a training programme for the organisation as a whole to raise awareness of the importance of EI and to eradicate misconstrued perceptions of the concept in order to strive towards a workforce with high EI skills