Increasing numbers of patients are receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an intensive care treatment, some of whom have pre-existing airway obstruction. Spirometers are the ideal instruments for measuring airway obstruction, but peak flow meters are useful and versatile devices. The behaviour of both types of device was therefore studied in a hyperbaric unit under conditions of increased press...

Measuring resource efficiency can be achieved using different methods, of which primary energy demand is commonly used. The primary energy factor (PEF) is a figure describing how much energy from primary resources is being used per unit of energy delivered. The PEF for nuclear power is typically 3, which refers to thermal energy released from fission in relation to electricity generated. Fuel l...

PURPOSE Our previous study demonstrated that photoelectric dye-coupled polyethylene film (Okayama University-type retinal prosthesis), which was implanted in subretinal space of the eyes of Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats, prevented retinal neurons from apoptotic death. In this study, we aimed to examine whether photoelectric dye itself would protect retinal neurons from apoptosis in RCS r...

By using indirect immunofluorescence we demonstrated the localisation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (laminin--LAM, collagen IV--COL IV, fibronectin--FN) and the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in rabbit and mouse primary embryonic fibroblasts (PEF). Proliferating mitotically arrested PEF (by mitomycin C) were compared in both species. The stability of protein expression was ascer...

Nocturnal cough and wheeze are common in asthma. The cause of nocturnal asthma is unknown and there is conflicting evidence on whether sleep is a factor. Twelve adult asthmatic subjects with nocturnal wheeze were studied on two occasions: on one night subjects were allowed to sleep and on the other they were kept awake all night, wakefulness being confirmed by electroencephalogram. Every patien...

Investigation of pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment yeast at 20 kV/cm using chambers with BaTiO3 dielectric layers was conducted in this study. The sterile rate as well concentrations metallic ions and hydroxyl radicals were measured to assess the PEF performance. results indicated that generation could be reduced by 90%. However, a much higher strength would required for satisfactory steril...

Using strength Pulse Electrical Field (PEF) in food industries is a non-thermal process that can deactivate microorganisms and increase penetration in plant and animals tissues without serious impact on food taste and quality. In this paper designing and fabricating of a PEF generator has been presented. Pulse generation methods have been surveyed and the best of them selected. The equipment by...

S OF TALKS PRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONALMATHEMATICAL CONFERENCE TOPICS IN MATHEMATICAL ANALYSISAND GRAPH THEORY (MAGT) A Satellite Meeting to ICM 2006 BELGRADE, SERBIA, SEPTEMBER 1–4, 2006. Editorial note. Selected peer-refereed full presented at MAGT 2006, are publishedin: Applicable Analysis and Discrete Mathematics, 1, No. 1 (2007).

OBJECTIVE To determine the correlates of the lability of peak expiratory flow (PEF) in the elderly. METHODS A community sample of 4,581 persons > or = 65 years old from the Cardiovascular Health Study completed an asthma questionnaire and underwent spirometry. During a follow-up examination of the cohort, 1,836 persons agreed to measure PEF at home twice daily for 2 weeks, and 90% successfull...

Objective(s): To investigate the effects of paeoniflorin (PEF) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis feedback function of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). cSingle-prolonged stress (SPS) was used to establish a PTSD-like rat model. The contents of plasma corticosterone (CORT), adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and cortic...