PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of an adjustable inspiratory occlusion valve in experimental bronchopleural fistula during mechanical ventilation. METHODS We studied six mechanically ventilated pigs in a surgically created, reproducible model of bronchopleural fistula managed with mechanical ventilation and water-sealed thoracic drainage. An adjustable inspiratory occlusion valve was placed be...

AIMS To investigate the effect of a pneumatic tube system (PTS) on the results of samples sent for blood gas analysis to a central laboratory. METHODS Blood gas samples were analysed immediately or sent via the PTS to the laboratory for analysis. In addition, samples sent via the PTS in a pressure sealed container were compared with those sent non-pressure sealed to the laboratory. RESULTS ...

The resistance to destruction of spores of Bacillus subtilis var. niger hermetically sealed in various polymeric films and exposed to ethylene oxide with and without relative humidity was determined. The effect of desiccation was also determined. The order of increased resistance to sterilization with regard to type of polymeric film was found to be: polyethylene equal to polyvinyl chloride, le...

In this study, a Fe-based amorphous metallic coating (AMC) was sealed with three sealants, i.e., stearic acid, aluminum phosphate and cerium salt, respectively. Two types of electrochemical tests, namely the ex situ impedance spectroscopy test in potentiostatic polarization test, were conducted to evaluate erosion–corrosion resistance as-sprayed as-sealed AMCs. The results show that phosphate–s...

This paper considers when the utility function of the bidders is ambiguity averse, how does the bidding strategy differ in four classical auction mechanisms. In particular, if there is no information affiliation, i.e., when first order sealed auction is equivalent to English auction in terms of bidding, bidders may bid higher or lower relative to ambiguity neutral case. From the seller’s point ...