Pion interferometry in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[sNN]=200GeV

We present a systematic analysis of two-pion interferometry in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[sNN]=200GeV using the STAR detector at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. We extract the Hanbury-Brown and Twiss radii and study their multiplicity, transverse momentum, and azimuthal angle dependence. The Gaussianness of the correlation function is studied. Estimates of the geometrical and dynamical structure of the freeze-out source are extracted by fits with blast-wave parametrizations. The expansion of the source and its relation with the initial energy density distribution is studied

Preventing Inadvertent Foreign Body Injection in Angiography

Background: Inadvertent injection of foreign material during angiography, particularly neuroangiography, should be avoided to reduce the risk of embolic complications. Woven gauze and cotton fabrics have been identified as sources of inadvertent foreign body embolization. Purpose: To find the source of particles that contaminate injections on an angiography table and to identify measures for their reduction. Materials and Methods: The number and size of particles on an angiographic supply table at a tertiary stroke center were analyzed by using the Coulter principle in September 2019. Seven conditions (saline directly drawn from its bag, from a small metal cup, from a small plastic cup, from a large plastic bowl, from a large plastic bowl with a guidewire and its sheath, from a large plastic bowl with a stack of woven gauze, and from a large plastic bowl with a large cotton towel) were tested at different time intervals (0, 30, and 60 minutes). Each container was filled with saline, and particle count was analyzed immediately after unpackaging, after rinsing with saline, and after introduction of foreign material; t tests were used for statistical comparisons. Results: Freshly unpacked basins can be contaminated with many submillimetric particles (range, 4.4-25.1 particles per milliliter on average, depending on basin). Cotton towels and woven gauze placed in rinsed basins resulted in a significant increase in particles (from 1.5 particles per milliliter +/- 0.4 [standard deviation] to 64.4 particles per milliliter +/- 4.1 and 257.1 particles per milliliter +/- 11.6, respectively; P \u3c .001). Rinsing basins with saline significantly reduced the number of particles (P \u3c /= .03). Drawing saline directly from bags through intravenous lines yielded the lowest number of particles (0.1 particles per milliliter). Conclusion: To decrease the risk for foreign body embolization, it is best to rinse all basins before use, draw saline and contrast agents directly from the respective bags and bottles through intravenous lines, and avoid cotton towels and woven gauze in basins and on the angiography table altogether whenever possible

MRI Analysis Of the Water Content Change In the Brain During Acute Ethanol Consumption Via Quantitative Water Mapping

AimsAlcohol consumption influences the water balance in the brain. While the impact of chronic alcohol misuse on cerebral water content has been the subject of several studies, less is known about the effects of acute alcohol misuse, with contradictory results in the literature. Therefore, we investigated the effects of acute alcohol intoxication on cerebral water content using a precise quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence.MethodsIn a prospective study, we measured cerebral water content in 20 healthy volunteers before alcohol consumption and after reaching a breath alcohol concentration of 1 ‰. A quantitative MRI water mapping sequence was conducted on a clinical 3 T system. Non-alcoholic fluid input and output were documented and accounted for. Water content was assessed for whole brain, grey and white matter and more specifically for regions known to be affected by acute or chronic alcohol misuse (occipital and frontal lobes, thalamus and pons). Changes in the volume of grey and white matter as well as the whole brain were examined.ResultsQuantitative cerebral water content before and after acute alcohol consumption did not differ significantly (P ≥ 0.07), with changes often being within the range of measurement accuracy. Whole brain, white and grey matter volume did not change significantly (P ≥ 0.12).ConclusionThe results of our study show no significant water content or volume change in the brain after recent alcohol intake in healthy volunteers. This accounts for the whole brain, grey and white matter, occipital and frontal lobes, thalamus and pons

Some like it, some do not: behavioral responses and central processing of olfactory–trigeminal mixture perception

Exploring the potential of eucalyptol as a masking agent for aversive odors, we found that eucalyptol masks the olfactory but not the trigeminal sensation of ammonia in a previous study. Here, we further investigate the processing of a mixture consisting of eucalyptol and ammonia, two olfactory-trigeminal stimuli. We presented the two pure odors and a mixture thereof to 33 healthy participants. The nostrils were stimulated alternately (monorhinal application). We analyzed the behavioral ratings (intensity and pleasantness) and functional brain images. First, we replicated our previous finding that, within the mixture, the eucalyptol component suppressed the olfactory intensity of the ammonia component. Second, mixture pleasantness was rated differently by participants depending on which component dominated their mixture perception. Approximately half of the volunteers rated the eucalyptol component as more intense and evaluated the mixture as pleasant (pleasant group). The other half rated the ammonia component as more intense and evaluated the mixture as unpleasant (unpleasant group). Third, these individual differences were also found in functional imaging data. Contrasting the mixture either to eucalyptol or to both single odors, neural activation was found in the unpleasant group only. Activation in the anterior insula and SII was interpreted as evidence for an attentional shift towards the potentially threatening mixture component ammonia and for trigeminal enhancement. In addition to insula and SII, further regions of the pain matrix were involved when assessing all participant responses to the mixture. Both a painful sensation and an attentional shift towards the unpleasant mixture component complicates the development of an efficient mask because a pleasant perception is an important requirement for malodor coverage

Intra-arterial pulse wave analysis during thrombectomy for the assessment of collateral status - A feasibility study

<div><p>Purpose</p><p>Knowledge of the collateralization of an occluded vessel is important for the risk-benefit analysis of difficult revascularization maneuvers during mechanical thrombectomy. If the territory behind a clot is well perfused, one could desist from performing a risky thrombectomy maneuver. The arterial pulse pressure curve may serve as an indicator for the collateralization of an occluded target vessel. We investigated the feasibility of arterial pulse measurements with a standard microcatheter.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We measured the intra-arterial blood pressure proximal and distal to the clot in 40 thrombectomy maneuvers in a porcine stroke model. We used a microcatheter (Trevo Pro 18, Stryker, Kalamazoo, CA, USA), a pressure transducer (MEMSCAP SP844), an AdInstruments Powerlab 16/35 workstation, and LabChart 8 Software (AdInstruments, Dunedin, New Zealand).</p><p>Results</p><p>Median arterial blood pressure proximal and distal to the clot was 96.0 mmHg (IQR, 23.8 mmHg) and 47.5 mmHg (IQR, 43.5 mmHg), respectively (p < .001). The median difference between systolic maximum and diastolic minimum proximal and distal to the clot decreased significantly from 1.8 mmHg (IQR, 3.6 mmHg) to 0.0 mmHg (IQR, 0.5 mmHg) (p < .001). There was loss of the curve in 26 of 40 cases and loss of pressure in 23 of 40 cases (p = .008). There was no significant correlation between vessel diameter and either loss of the pulse pressure curve (p = .20) or overall pressure loss (p = .31).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>It is possible to measure the pulse pressure proximal and distal to the clot with a standard microcatheter used during mechanical thrombectomy.</p></div

Seeing faces, when faces can't be seen: Wearing portrait photos has a positive effect on how patients perceive medical staff when face masks have to be worn.

IntroductionSince the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wearing surgical face masks has become mandatory for healthcare staff in many countries when interacting with patients. Recently, it has been shown that wearing face masks impairs social interaction by diminishing a person's ability to read the emotion of their counterparts, an essential prerequisite to respond adequately in social situations. It is easily conceivable that this may have a tangible negative influence on the communication and relationship between patients and healthcare personnel. We therefore investigated whether it has an effect on how patients perceive healthcare professionals when physicians and nursing staff wear portrait photos with their smiling faces in addition to face masks.MethodsDuring the study period of 16 days, the medical staff of our Department wore surgical face masks at all times during any kind of interaction with patients. In a pseudorandomized order, all members of our staff additionally affixed their portrait photos to their work clothes on 8 of the 16 days. After completion of their visit, 226 patients were interviewed anonymously in a cross-sectional study design using a questionnaire in which they rated the following three items: friendliness of staff, medical quality of treatment, and how well they felt taken care of during treatment in our Department.ResultsOn days, on which staff wore photos, mean scores of the questionnaires were significantly higher than on non-photo days (p = 0.013; mean ± standard deviation = 92.8 ± 11.3 vs. 91.0 ± 12.6; median (range) = 97 (98) vs. 96 (76)). When analyzed separately, the increased scores were only significant for the item friendliness of staff (p = 0.009; mean ± standard deviation = 95.8 ± 6.3 vs. 92.2 ± 11.5; median (range) = 98 (39) vs. 97 (54)).ConclusionOur study suggests that the use of portrait photos with smiling faces has a positive effect on how patients perceive healthcare staff