We hypothesized that KPA, a harmonic oscillator kinematics-derived spring constant parameter of the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) profile, reflects PA compliance in pediatric patients. In this prospective study of 33 children (age range = 0.5-20 years) with various cardiac diseases, we assessed the novel parameter designated as KPA calculated using the pressure phase plane and the equation KP...

Global and regional ocean primary production estimates are highly dependent on assumptions concerning the photosynthetic potential of the resident phytoplankton communities. Little is known, however, about global patterns in the distribution of photosynthetic potential and their causes. Here, we review existing literature reporting photosynthetic characteristics of natural populations. From thi...

This paper presents a conceptual framework and a mathematical formulation for software resource allocation and project selection at the level of software skills. First, we introduce a skill-based framework that considers universities, software companies, and potential projects of a country. Based on this framework, we formulate a linear integer program PMax which determines the selection of pro...

The interests and limits of the different methods and protocols of maximal (anaerobic) power (Pmax) assessment are reviewed: single all-out tests versus force-velocity tests, isokinetic ergometers versus friction-loaded ergometers, measure of Pmax during the acceleration phase or at peak velocity. The effects of training, athletic practice, diet and pharmacological substances upon the productio...

Introduction : Patients with hemodynamically significant mitral stenosis (MS) have prolonged P-wave duration and increased P-wave dispersion (PWD) that decrease after successful percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy (PBMV). The purpose of this study was to investigate if the changes in these indices may predict a successful procedure. Methods : Fifty two patients with MS in sinus rhythm underwe...

We consider N terminals transmitting at the same data rate (G), with the power limits on the N terminals being Pmax. We assume that the power of the most distant terminal (terminal N) is fixed at its maximum value, Pmax and arbitrary noise power is σ. The path gains of the N terminals are given by hi, corresponding to the locations of the terminals. The objective is to maximize the aggregate th...

Background: P wave dispersion (PWD) is defined as the difference between the maximum P wave duration (Pmax) and the minimum P wave duration (Pmin) in 12-leads of the surface electrocardiography. The aim of this study was to evaluate the values of PWD during atrial fibrillation (AF) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: We prospectively evaluated atrial rhythms of 350 patients (251 m...

Thermoelectrochemical cells (TECs) have the potential to offer a continuous renewable electricity supply from a variety of thermal energy sources. Because of the thermal gradient, the device characteristics are a complex function of temperature dependent electrolyte transport properties, electrode electro-catalytic properties and the Seebeck coefficient of the redox couple. Understanding the in...

February 5, 2008 Two sets of data show that small interstellar grains captured in interstellar magnetic fields, → BIS, draped over the heliosphere appear to polarize the light of nearby stars. The polarizing grains couple to → BIS, while larger grains couple to the cloud velocity. The maximum polarization direction, Pmax, is offset in ecliptic longitude by ∆λ ∼ +35 from the upwind direction, an...

The ability of the latissimus dorsi muscle (LD) to participate as an accessory inspiratory muscle has been the subject of controversy. Electromyographic (EGM) activity of LD was evaluated in 11 healthy subjects (aged 30 +/- 2 yrs; forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 106 +/- 5% predicted; maximal inspiratory pressure (Pmax), 120 +/- 6 cmH2O) under different breathing conditions. The ip...