Treatment of rising damp in historical buildings: wall base ventilation

Intervention in older buildings increasingly requires extensive and objective knowledge of what one will be working with. The multifaceted aspect of work carried out on buildings tends to encompass a growing number of specialities, with marked emphasis on learning the causes of many of the problems that affect these buildings and the possible treatments that can solve them. Moisture transfer in walls of old buildings, which are in direct contact with the ground, leads to a migration of soluble salts responsible for many building pathologies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V23-4H7T0H7-1/1/f5e8a4ec173c5dadf120770678facf4

INTRAVITAL AND POST-MORTEM DIAGNOSIS OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: URGENT CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT LETHAL CASES ANALYSIS

To estimate an accuracy of methods of myocardial infarction diagnostics (ECC, echocardiography, biomarkers) 41 case history reports of patients with Q(+) and Q(-) myocardial infarction and lethal outcome were analyzed. ECG and echocardiography were proved to be most accurate in case of anterior (67 % and 67 %), lateral (71 % and 67 %) and inferior (46 % and 79%) localizations of myocardial infarction. Interventricular septum and posterior localizations were not detected on ECG (0%). Complete coincidence of ECG and echocardiography with autopsy results was detected only in 4 %. CPC and CPC-МВ levels were elevated in 97%, troponins were positive in 70 %. Risk factors of lethal outcome in case of myocardial infarction include sex (male), comorbid pathology (arterial hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 2), complications (rhythm disorders, cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure), absence of thrombolytic therapy and its inefficacy. Myocardial infarction hypo- and hyperdiagnosis were detected

Relating aviation service difficulty reports to accident data for safety trend prediction

A synthetic model of scheduled-commercial U.S. aviation fatalities was constructed from linear combinations of the time-spectra of critical systems reporting using 5.5 years of Service Difficulty Reports (SDR){sup 2} and Accident Incident Data System (AIDS) records{sup 3}. This model, used to predict near-future trends in aviation accidents, was tested by using the first 36 months of data to construct the synthetic model which was used to predict fatalities during the following eight months. These predictions were tested by comparison with the fatality data. A reliability block diagram (RBD) and third-order extrapolations also were used as predictive models and compared with actuality. The synthetic model was the best predictor because of its use of systems data. Other results of the study are a database of service difficulties for major aviation systems, and a rank ordering of systems according to their contribution to the synthesis. 4 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs

Сложности дифференциальной диагностики дисфункции вокальных хорд и бронхиальной астмы

Aim. Differential diagnosis of vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) and asthma.Methods. 105 patients with partially controlled asthma were examined. We used specific examinations for VCD: psychological scales , questionnaires for monitoring symptoms of VCD, transnasal fiberoptic laryngoscopy, conventional and electronic lung auscultation with the analysis of the amplitude-frequency characteristics (AFC) of wheezing in the chest and in the region of the larynx on the left and right. Spirometry was performed using Vitalograph ALPHA spirometer (England). The patients were divided into three groups: group 1 included patients with asthma; group 2 included patients with asthma and VCD (asthma-plus syndrome); group 3 included patients with VCD.Results. Conventional auscultation revealed wheezing over the lungs with a decrease in its intensity on the neck surface in group 1. In groups 2 and 3, the maximal wheezing was observed on the anterior surface of the neck and less intense wheezing was heard over the lungs. Electronic auscultation found mid-tonal wheezing over the lungs and over the larynx in group 1; high-pitched wheezing over the larynx and mid-tonal wheezing over the lungs in groups 2 and 3. Score of dyspnea according to the Borg scale was highest in the asthma-plus group – 4,8 (5,2 – 6,5) points, and lowest in the 1st group – 4,2 (3,7 – 4,9) points. The sensation of wheezing is maximal in VCD – 7,1 (6,5 – 7,9) points. The scores of symptoms of VCD were strongly correlated with the intensity of wheezing, dyspnea, and AFC of wheezing. Spirometry was close to normal in the group of patients with VCD; obstructive disorders were noted in groups 1 and 2. Transnasal laryngoscopy demonstrated paradoxical movement of the vocal cords during inspiration in groups 2 and 3. The triggers of episodes of VCD in the subjects were numerous; vocal loads predominated. Specific treatment of VCD in groups 2 and 3 improved the respiratory performance significantly.Conclusion. The primary diagnosis of asthma cannot be made without an examination for VCD. Psychological questionnaires and VCD questionnaires should be used. It is important to use electronic auscultation over the larynx for diagnosis. Correction of treatment in accordance with VCD in patients with asthma can significantly reduce the doses of inhaled and oral corticosteroids.Целью исследования явилась дифференциальная диагностика дисфункции вокальных хорд (ДВХ) и бронхиальной астмы (БА).Материалы и методы. Обследованы пациенты (n = 105) с частично контролируемой БА, у которых применялись специфические методы обследования на ДВХ – психологические опросники и анкеты мониторинга симптомов при ДВХ, трансназальная оптическая ларингоскопия, традиционная и электронная аускультация легких с анализом амплитудно-частотных характеристик (АЧХ) хрипов на грудной клетке и в области гортани слева и справа. Проводилась спирометрия при помощи спирометра Vitalograph ALPHA (Англия). Пациенты были разделены на 3 группы: 1-я – пациенты с БА; 2-я – больные БА с ДВХ (синдром «астма плюс»); 3-я – лица с ДВХ.Результаты. При традиционной аускультации у больных 1-й группы выслушивались хрипы над легкими с уменьшением их интенсивности на поверхности шеи; максимум выслушивания хрипов у пациентов 2-й и 3-й групп – передняя поверхность шеи с уменьшением их интенсивности над легкими. При электронной аускультации у больных 1-й группы выслушивались среднетональные хрипы над легкими и гортанью, 2-й и 3-й групп – высокотональные хрипы – над гортанью и среднетональные – над легкими. Наибольшая выраженность одышки по шкале Борга – 4,8 (5,2–6,5) балла отмечена у пациентов группы «астма плюс», наименьшая – 4,2 (3,7–4,9) балла – у пациентов 1-й группы; максимальное ощущение свистящего дыхания при ДВХ – 7,1 (6,5–7,9) балла. Выявлена прямая сильная корреляционная зависимость показателей опросников симптомов ДВХ и степени интенсивности хрипов, одышки и АЧХ хрипов. Близкие к нормальным показатели спирометрии отмечены при ДВХ. Обструктивные нарушения выявлены у пациентов 1-й и 2-й групп. При трансназальной ларингоскопии у больных 2-й и 3-й групп продемонстрировано парадоксальное движение голосовых связок во время вдоха. Триггеры эпизодов ДВХ у обследуемых многочисленны, преобладали голосовые нагрузки. При специфическом лечении ДВХ у больных 2-й и 3-й групп заметно улучшились респираторные показатели.Заключение. Продемонстрировано, что для установления первичного диагноза БА необходимо обследование на наличие ДВХ. Актуально использование психологических опросников и анкет по диагностике ДВХ. Отмечено, что в процессе диагностики важно применять электронную аускультацию над гортанью, а коррекция лечения с учетом наличия ДВХ у пациентов с БА позволяет значительно снизить дозы ингаляционных и пероральных глюкокортикостероидов

New variable-metric algorithms for nondifferentiable optimization problems

This paper deals with new variable-metric algorithms for nonsmooth optimization problems, the so-called adaptive algorithms. The essence of these algorithms is that there are two simultaneously working gradient algorithms: the first is in the main space and the second is in the space of the matrices that modify the main variables. The convergence of these algorithms is proved for different cases. The results of numerical experiments are also given

Adaptive variable metric methods for nondifferentiable optimization problems

This paper deals with new variable metric algorithms for nonsmooth optimization problems, so-called “adaptive algorithms”. The essence of these are as follows: there are two simultaneously working gradient algorithms, the first in the main space, the second with respect to the matrices that modify the space variables. The convergence theorems for these algorithms are given for different cases

Derivatives of probability functions and some applications

Probability functions depending upon parameters are represented as integrals over sets given by inequalities. New derivative formulas for the intergrals over a volume are considered. Derivatives are presented as sums of integrals over a volume and over a surface. Two examples are discussed: probability functions with linear constraints (random right-hand sides), and a dynamical shut-down problem with sensors