IONIZED CALCIUM IN ACIDOSIS: DIFFERENTIAL EFFECT OF HYPERCAPNIC AND LACTIC ACIDOSIS

The effects of various forms of acidosis on ionized calcium concentrations were investigated in vivo in rabbits and in vitro in human plasma. Calculation of least square regression equations of ionized calcium (mM) on pH yielded the following regression coefficients in human plasma: hypercapnic acidosis —0.53±0.07; hydrochloric acidosis —0.65±0.06; lactic acidosis —0.27±0.05. These findings in human plasma are roughly paralleled by those in rabbits. From stability constants it was calculated that the formation of Ca-lactate complexes accounts for the difference between lactic and hydrochloric acidosis. It is concluded that differences in the behaviour of ionized calcium between hypercapnic and lactic acidosis might contribute to the known differences in cardiovascular effect

A dimension conjecture for q-analogues of multiple zeta values

We study a class of q-analogues of multiple zeta values given by certain formal q-series with rational coefficients. After introducing a notion of weight and depth for these q-analogues of multiple zeta values we present dimension conjectures for the spaces of their weight- and depth-graded parts, which have a similar shape as the conjectures of Zagier and Broadhurst-Kreimer for multiple zeta values

NESTMOD: The NetMod-NEST Interface

NESTMOD is a combined analytical modeling and simulation tool, based on the existing tools NetMod and NEST. It provides both transient and steady-state response statistics from models of interconnected local area networks that can execute at any level of detail desired. This gives users the potential to model both networks of extremely large scope (hundreds of thousands of nodes), and to look at great detail for any combination of the ISO layers. This paper describes the interface implementation, and presents an example to illustrate the potential power of the tool.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/107970/1/citi-tr-91-7.pd

Photovoltaic -Battery System to Power Fan-Controlled Rice Husk Gasifier Cooking Stove

More than three billion people use wood, dung, coal and other traditional fuels for cooking inside their homes. Inefficient wood stoves are responsible for indoor air pollution, respiratory related diseases and deaths but also accelerated deforestation due to excessive fuel consumption. A promising stove is the open-source, fan-controlled, top-lit updraft, autothermal Belonio gasifier. The need of electricity to power the fan proves to be an obstacle for low-income families without access to electricity. The aim of this study therefore was to develop an economical, environmentally friendly, emission-free solution to power the Belonio stove fan. Consequently, a PV-battery system was designed inclusive of charge controller and inverter. The overall efficiency of the PV-battery, battery-inverter, and inverter-fan in the system was found to be 43.8 %. Fan speed had a great effect on inverter efficiency requiring either additional electricity consumers such as lighting or mobile phone charger or the use of a DC fan in which case the inverter can be omitted. However, economically viable fan speed controllers for DC fans must be developed. The daily cost of cooking for an average 5 family household was estimated to be RM 0.40 which can be further reduced with mass production of the stand-alone PV powered Belonio gasifier system

Investigation of the performance of an optimised MicroCAT, a GEM and their combination by simulations and current measurements

A MicroCAT (Micro Compteur A Trous) structure which is used for avalanche charge multiplication in gas filled radiation detectors has been optimised with respect to maximum electron transparency and minimum ion feedback. We report on the charge transfer behaviour and the achievable gas gain of this device. A three-dimensional electron and ion transfer simulation is compared to results derived from electric current measurements. Similarly, we present studies of the charge transfer behaviour of a GEM (Gas Electron Multiplier) by current measurements and simulations. Finally, we investigate the combination of the MicroCAT and the GEM by measurements with respect to the performance at different voltage settings, gas mixtures and gas pressures.Comment: 26 pages, 32 figure

Casimir Effect in the Presence of Minimal Lengths

It is expected that the implementation of minimal length in quantum models leads to a consequent lowering of Planck's scale. In this paper, using the quantum model with minimal length of Kempf et al \cite{kempf0}, we examine the effect of the minimal length on the Casimir force between parallel plates.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Pathophysiological consequences and benefits of HFE mutations: 20 years of research

Mutations in the HFE (hemochromatosis) gene cause hereditary hemochromatosis, an iron overload disorder that is hallmarked by excessive accumulation of iron in parenchymal organs. The HFE mutation p.Cys282Tyr is pathologically most relevant and occurs in the Caucasian population with a carrier frequency of up to 1 in 8 in specific European regions. Despite this high prevalence, the mutation causes a clinically relevant phenotype only in a minority of cases. In this review, we summarize historical facts and recent research findings about hereditary hemochromatosis, and outline the pathological consequences of the associated gene defects. In addition, we discuss potential advantages of HFE mutations in asymptomatic carriers