Analytical Mechanics of Chemical Reactions. VI. Rotational and Vibrational Distributions of the H + H_2 Reaction in a Plane

Rotational and vibrational distributions for the exchange reaction H+H_(2)→H_(2)+H are obtained numerically for reaction in a plane and compared with the vibrationally adiabatic solutions. Evidence is obtained regarding the two adiabatic solutions for the final rotational state predicted earlier and for the disappearance of one of these at higher initial relative velocity. Good agreement between calculations based on natural collision coordinates and these based on Cartesian coordinates was found, where tested. The vibrational motion for reaction in a plane is fairly adiabatic on the average at energies of thermal interest. Connections with other properties are noted. The results support the idea of statistical adiabaticity suggested earlier in this series and thus support a derivation of activated complex theory based on this concept

Analytical Mechanics of Chemical Reactions. V. Application to the Linear Reactive H +H_2 Systems

Natural collision coordinates and a zeroth‐order vibrational–adiabatic approximation are used to treat linear reactive collisions. Nonadiabatic effects on barrier transmission and on vibrational state of products are calculated. The present results are classical and are compared with exact classical numerical results for the H+H_2 reaction in the range 7–20 kcal/mol of initial relative translational energy. The agreement is encouraging and the results support the concepts introduced earlier of statistical adiabaticity and of nonadiabatic leak. At low energies the reaction is adiabatic on the average (initial vibrational phase average), thus justifying activated complex theory for this system. The relative importance of reaction path curvature and of vibrational frequency variation along the reaction path in inducing nonadiabatic effects is described. Implications for a quantum treatment, activated complex theory, and highly nonadiabatic systems are noted

Advanced age affects the outcome-predictive power of RIFLE classification in geriatric patients with acute kidney injury

The RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss, and end-stage) classification is widely used to gauge the severity of acute kidney injury, but its efficacy has not been formally tested in geriatric patients. To correct this we conducted a prospective observational study in a multicenter cohort of 3931 elderly patients (65 years of age or older) who developed acute kidney injury in accordance with the RIFLE creatinine criteria after major surgery. We studied the predictive power of the RIFLE classification for in-hospital mortality and investigated the potential interaction between age and RIFLE classification. In general, the survivors were significantly younger than the nonsurvivors and more likely to have hypertension. In patients 76 years of age and younger, RIFLE-R, -I, or -F classifications were significantly associated with increased hospital mortality in a stepwise manner. There was no significant difference, however, in hospital mortality in those over 76 years of age between patients with RIFLE-R and RIFLE-I, although RIFLE-F patients had significantly higher mortality than both groups. Thus, the less severe categorizations of acute kidney injury per RIFLE classification may not truly reflect the adverse impact on elderly patients

Establishing a nationwide emergency department-based syndromic surveillance system for better public health responses in Taiwan

Background. With international concern over emerging infectious diseases (EID) and bioterrorist attacks, public health is being required to have early outbreak detection systems. A disease surveillance team was organized to establish a hospital emergency department-based syndromic surveillance system (ED-SSS) capable of automatically transmitting patient data electronically from the hospitals responsible for emergency care throughout the country to the Centers for Disease Control in Taiwan (Taiwan-CDC) starting March, 2004. This report describes the challenges and steps involved in developing ED-SSS and the timely information it provides to improve in public health decision-making. Methods. Between June 2003 and March 2004, after comparing various surveillance systems used around the world and consulting with ED physicians, pediatricians and internal medicine physicians involved in infectious disease control, the Syndromic Surveillance Research Team in Taiwan worked with the Real-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (RODS) Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh to create Taiwan's ED-SSS. The system was evaluated by analyzing daily electronic ED data received in real-time from the 189 hospitals participating in this system between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2005. Results. Taiwan's ED-SSS identified winter and summer spikes in two syndrome groups: influenza-like illnesses and respiratory syndrome illnesses, while total numbers of ED visits were significantly higher on weekends, national holidays and the days of Chinese lunar new year than weekdays (p < 0.001). It also identified increases in the upper, lower, and total gastrointestinal (GI) syndrome groups starting in November 2004 and two clear spikes in enterovirus-like infections coinciding with the two school semesters. Using ED-SSS for surveillance of influenza-like illnesses and enteroviruses-related infections has improved Taiwan's pandemic flu preparedness and disease control capabilities. Conclusion. Taiwan's ED-SSS represents the first nationwide real-time syndromic surveillance system ever established in Asia. The experiences reported herein can encourage other countries to develop their own surveillance systems. The system can be adapted to other cultural and language environments for better global surveillance of infectious diseases and international collaboration. © 2008 Wu et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Analytical Mechanics of Chemical Reactions in One and Two Dimensions Using a Hamilton-Jacobi Formalism

151 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1969.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Absence of capnography from tracheostomy: An indicator of tracheostomy tube dislodgement

Tracheostomy is a common artificial airway in the operative room (OR) or intensive care units for maintaining airway patency. Patients with tracheostomy are generally considered with a “secure” airway and would be preoxygenated before anesthesia induction. However, there are some pitfalls for an anesthesiologist when confronting with tracheostomy management. As a crucial component for ventilation, any management of tracheostomy should be conducted prudently. We report a case with tracheostomy presented to OR with loss of capnography but fair oxygen saturation which proved to be tube dislodgement by fiber-optic bronchoscopy timely without further desaturation

Immunosuppressive effect of zhankuic acid C from Taiwanofungus camphoratus on dendritic cell activation and the contact hypersensitivity response

Some ergostane triterpenoids from Taiwanofungus camphoratus have been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. However, the effect of ergostane triterpenoids on the immune response remains unknown. In this study, we elucidated that ergostane triterpenoids significantly decreased the cytokines and chemokine release by dendritic cells (DC) and that, in the case of zhankuic acid C (ZAC), the decrease was dose-dependent and inhibited DC maturation. ZAC inhibited the contact hypersensitivity response and infiltrative T cells in the ears of DNFB-stimulated mice. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time that ZAC exhibits an immunosuppressive effect on DC activation and the contact hypersensitivity response. It is suggested that ZAC can potentially be used for treating chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases

The relationship of anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody and C5a complement with disease activity and short-term outcome in idiopathic membranous nephropathy

Background: The binding of anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (anti-PLA2R) antibody to podocyte and complement activation is the mechanisms of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). C5a, a complement activation end product, is a strong inflammatory cell stimulator and can influence the behavior of T cells and dendritic cells. This study examined the etiology–disease relationship and significance of auto-antibody and C5a with short-term remission. Method: Plasma anti-PLA2R antibody and C5a were measured with the blood samples that were collected when patients were admitted for renal biopsy. The deposition of IgA, IgG, IgM, C1q and C3c in glomerulus was graded according to immunofluorescence staining. The relationship of anti-PLA2R antibody with C5a, glomerular immunoglobulin and complement deposition was examined. Antibody and C5a levels as predictors of short-term remission were also examined. Results: In 72 IMN patients, 50 patients had positive plasma anti-PLA2R antibody. The antibody had positive correlation to proteinuria. Patients with high grade IgG or C3c, but not IgA/IgM/C1q, deposition had higher anti-PLA2R antibody titers. C5a was increased in IMN patients, but had no correlation with anti-PLA2R antibody or proteinuria. The analysis revealed that C5a, not initial anti-PLA2R antibody, was a predictor associated with 12-month remission in patients receiving immunosuppression with multivariate-adjusted OR 0.74 (95% CI, 0.58–0.94, P = 0.01). Conclusion: This study provides indirect evidences of etiology–disease relationship of anti-PLA2R antibody in IMN patients. The role of C5a, a predictor of remission, in the disease course of MN and the influences on inflammatory cells in MN patients is worth to be clarified. Keywords: C5a, Disease activity, Membranous nephropathy, Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody, Prognosi

Confounding factors to predict the awakening effect-site concentration of propofol in target-controlled infusion based on propofol and fentanyl anesthesia.

We conducted a large retrospective study to investigate the confounding factors that predict Ce ROC under propofol-based TIVA with TCI. We recorded sex, age, height, weight, Ce LOC, Ce ROC, total propofol and fentanyl consumption dose, and anesthetic time. Simple linear regression models were used to identify potential predictors of Ce ROC, and multiple linear regression models were used to identify the confounding predictors of Ce ROC. We found that Ce ROC correlated with age, sex, Ce LOC, and both total fentanyl and propofol consumption dose. The prediction formula was: Ce ROC = 0.87 - 0.06 × age + 0.18 × Ce LOC + 0.04 (if fentanyl consumption > 150 μg; if not, ignore this value) + 0.07 × (1 or 2, according to the total propofol consumption dose, 1 for a propofol amount 1000-2000 mg and 2 for a propofol amount > 2000 mg). We simplified the formula further as Ce ROC = 0.87 - 0.06 × age + 0.18 × Ce LOC. In conclusion, Ce ROC can be predicted under TCI with propofol- and fentanyl-based TIVA. The confounding factors that predicted propofol Ce ROC are age, sex, Ce LOC, and total consumption dose of propofol and fentanyl