The main objective of this paper is to provoke and stimulate debate on the health effects of long-term, low-level exposure of human populations to toxic metals. Over one billion (10(9)) human guinea pigs are now being exposed to elevated levels of toxic metals and metalloids in the environment. The number of persons suffering from subclinical metal poisoning is believed to be several million. A...

The basic design of what was to become the Triservice Apparatus (TSA) was first described in 1968 [1]. It consisted of two Oxford Miniature Vaporisers (OMV) placed in series, leading to an Oxford Inflating Bellows, a length of corrugated tubing, expiratory valve and face mask. Air was used as a carrier gas, but it was noted that a T piece could be attached to the inlet port of one of the vapori...

The complex geometry and structure of the right ventricular (RV) cavity make the assessment of RV function and volumes by 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography arduous. Highly trabeculated endocardial border and bellows-like contractile pattern are not explicitly imaged by 2D echocardiography. Furthermore, the retrosternal position of the right ventricle hinders its visualization, and minimal cha...

This paper presents analytical and experimental results of an investigation of joint actuators and their suitability for a particular class of complex mechanisms: serpentine robots. In practice, serpentine robots usually comprise of multiple segments connected by joints. Some serpentine robots provide legged, wheeled, or tracked propulsion, and, in addition, actuation for the joints. We compare...