Physical properties of liquid oxygen difluoride and liquid diborane - A critical review updated

Physical properties of liquid oxygen difluoride and liquid diboran

The association between Alzheimer's Disease-Related markers and physical activity in cognitively normal older adults

Previous studies have indicated that physical activity may be beneficial in reducing the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between habitual physical activity levels and brain amyloid deposition and AD-related blood biomarkers (i.e., measured using a novel high-performance mass spectrometry-based assay), in apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers and noncarriers. We evaluated 143 cognitively normal older adults, all of whom had brain amyloid deposition assessed using positron emission tomography and had their physical activity levels measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). We observed an inverse correlation between brain amyloidosis and plasma beta-amyloid (Aβ)1−42 but found no association between brain amyloid and plasma Aβ1−40 and amyloid precursor protein (APP)669−711. Additionally, higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower plasma Aβ1−40, Aβ1−42, and APP669−711 levels in APOE ε4 noncarriers. The ratios of Aβ1−40/Aβ1−42 and APP669−711/Aβ1−42, which have been associated with higher brain amyloidosis in previous studies, differed between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers. Taken together, these data indicate a complex relationship between physical activity and brain amyloid deposition and potential blood-based AD biomarkers in cognitively normal older adults. In addition, the role of APOE ε4 is still unclear, and more studies are necessary to bring further clarification

Prevalence of Hyperacusis and Its Relation to Health: The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study

ImportanceThe prevalence of hyperacusis and its relationship with mental and general health is unknown in a nonclinical sample. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of hyperacusis and its relation with hearing, general and mental health in a population-based study.Study DesignProspective population-based study.Material and MethodsThis study uses data from the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study (BHAS). A sample of 5,107 eligible inhabitants aged 45 to 70 years completed a detailed questionnaire and a clinical assessment. A positive answer to “Do you consider yourself sensitive or intolerant to everyday sounds” was used to indicate hyperacusis. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between hearing, mental and general health factors, and hyperacusis.ResultsOf 5,107 participants, 775 (15.2%) reported hyperacusis. The majority of participants with hyperacusis reported an occasional effect on daily life (72.0%). Being female, older in age, having a lower income, physical or mental health difficulties, more severe hearing loss, and tinnitus were all associated with the presence of hyperacusis. Individuals who experience hearing impairment, poorer general or mental health have a higher possibility of hyperacusis having an effect on their daily life.ConclusionsIn this community population-based cohort study, we found a prevalence of hyperacusis of 15.2%. Individuals with hearing loss, mental health problems, and lower physical health have a higher possibility of experiencing effects on their daily life associated with their hyperacusis. Unravelling the relationship between hyperacusis hearing, general and mental health can be of major importance for a better understanding of the condition and its consequences.Level of EvidenceII-2 Laryngoscope, 202

A blood-based biomarker panel indicates IL-10 and IL-12/23p40 are jointly associated as predictors of β-amyloid load in an AD cohort

Alzheimer\u27s Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterised by extracellular amyloid deposition as plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein. As no current clinical test can diagnose individuals at risk of developing AD, the aim of this project is to evaluate a blood-based biomarker panel to identify individuals who carry this risk. We analysed the levels of 22 biomarkers in clinically classified healthy controls (HC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer\u27s participants from the well characterised Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of aging. High levels of IL-10 and IL-12/23p40 were significantly associated with amyloid deposition in HC, suggesting that these two biomarkers might be used to detect at risk individuals. Additionally, other biomarkers (Eotaxin-3, Leptin, PYY) exhibited altered levels in AD participants possessing the APOE ϵ4 allele. This suggests that the physiology of some potential biomarkers may be altered in AD due to the APOE ϵ4 allele, a major risk factor for AD. Taken together, these data highlight several potential biomarkers that can be used in a blood-based panel to allow earlier identification of individuals at risk of developing AD and/or early stage AD for which current therapies may be more beneficial

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in a tertiary paediatric intensive care unit: a 1-year prospective observational study

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence, risk factors and impact of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a mixed tertiary paediatric intensive care unit. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: Patients in the intensive care unit who were mechanically ventilated for more than 48 hours were assessed daily, according to criteria for a diagnosis of VAP. Potential risk factors for VAP, if present, were documented. RESULTS: Of 692 invasively ventilated patients, 269 (38.9%) were ventilated for > 48 hours and met no exclusion criteria. Eighteen (6.7%) patients had episodes of VAP, and the VAP incidence density was 7.02 per 1000 intubation days. The mean admission Paediatric Index of Mortality 2 risk of death was similar in patients with and without VAP (0.084 v 0.056; P =0.8). Patients with VAP (compared with patients without VAP) had a longer median duration of ICU stay, (19.35 v 7.35 days; P < 0.001), duration of ventilation (11.99 v 4.92 days; P=0.024) and duration of hospital stay (35.5 v 20 days; P < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that reintubation, absence of tube feeding and absence of stress ulcer prophylaxis were risk factors for VAP. While backward selection removed reintubation as a positive predictor during multivariate analysis, tube feeds (hazard ratio (HR), 0.27; 95% CI, 0.09-0.85; P = 0.02) and stress ulcer prophylaxis (HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.11-0.76; P = 0.01) were independently associated with reduced VAP incidence. CONCLUSIONS: VAP in children is associated with significant morbidity and increased length of hospital stay. Enteral feeding and stress ulcer prophylaxis while intubated are associated with lower VAP hazards.Anil Gautam, Subodh S Ganu, Oliver J Tegg, David N Andresen, Barry H Wilkins and David N Schel

Correlative surface and bulk analysis of deep cryogenic treatment influence on high-alloyed ferrous alloy

In this study we investigate the effect of deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) on a high-alloyed ferrous alloy (HAFA) to understand the resulting chemical and physical changes to the HAFA's microstructure and properties. Using multiple materials analysis techniques, we uncover the fundamental chemical changes to the HAFA with DCT, and link changes in material properties to changes in the microstructure. The increased carbide nucleation with DCT is linked to greater solute mobility resulting from the modified stress state of the material and modified chemical bonding of the solutes with the matrix. In turn this provides the possibility of prior formation of nucleation points for primordial carbide formation that act as accelerators for both nucleation and evolution of carbides. These result in modified chemical and microstructural homogeneity of the material that fundamentally led to changes in the surface properties and applicability of HAFA in advanced wear, corrosion and fatigue resistance demanding conditions

Development of an instrumentation system for a real-time parameter measurement of electric locomotives

 The Centre for Railway Engineering has implemented an instrumentation system to measure real-time parameters of electric locomotives in revenue bearing service. The system is installed in a 3000kW Queensland Railways 3 100/3200 class locomotives. The system has a capacity of 43 channels covering both mechanical and electrical parameters associated with the traction drive. Specifically the measured parameters are aimed at providing a better understanding of the brush to commutator interface characteristics and wear patterns as well as determining the level and effect of harmonics generated by the operation of the phase converters. </p