Fabrication of Single-Crystalline CoCrFeNi Thin Films by DC Magnetron Sputtering: A Route to Surface Studies of High-Entropy Alloys.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) with their almost limitless number of possible compositions have raised widespread attention in material science. Next to wear and corrosion resistive coatings, their application as tunable electrocatalysts has recently moved into the focus. On the other hand, fundamental properties of HEA surfaces like atomic and electronic structure, surface segregation and diffusion as well as adsorption on HEA surfaces are barely explored. The lack of research is caused by the limited availability of single-crystalline samples. In the present work, the epitaxial growth of face centered cubic (fcc) CoCrFeNi films on MgO(100) is reported. Their characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrates that the layers with a homogeneous and close to equimolar elemental composition are oriented in [100] direction and aligned with the substrate to which they form an abrupt interface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy are employed to study chemical composition and atomic and electronic structure of CoCrFeNi(100). It is demonstrated that epitaxially grown HEA films have the potential to fill the sample gap, allowing for fundamental studies of properties of and processes on well-defined HEA surfaces over the full compositional space.

Recombinant bacterial endotoxin testing: a proven solution.

Testing of parenteral pharmaceuticals and medical devices for pyrogens (fever-inducing substances) is critical to patient safety. The original rabbit pyrogen test has largely been replaced by different bacterial endotoxin tests based on Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), sourced from the blood equivalent of horseshoe crabs after comparative studies to the rabbit pyrogen test. Since 2004 a bacterial endotoxin test based on recombinant factor C (rFC), the endotoxin sensor protein inside of LAL, has been used as an animal-free alternative to LAL. Likewise, numerous studies compared LAL and rFC. Here we describe the history of pyrogen and bacterial endotoxin testing and summarize the evidence presented by those studies. We demonstrate that rFC and LAL are equivalent and comparable.

Saliva RNA biomarkers predict concussion duration and detect symptom recovery: a comparison with balance and cognitive testing.

OBJECTIVE: The goals of this study were to assess the ability of salivary non-coding RNA (ncRNA) levels to predict post-concussion symptoms lasting ≥ 21 days, and to examine the ability of ncRNAs to identify recovery compared to cognition and balance. METHODS: RNA sequencing was performed on 505 saliva samples obtained longitudinally from 112 individuals (8-24-years-old) with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Initial samples were obtained ≤ 14 days post-injury, and follow-up samples were obtained ≥ 21 days post-injury. Computerized balance and cognitive test performance were assessed at initial and follow-up time-points. Machine learning was used to define: (1) a model employing initial ncRNA levels to predict persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) ≥ 21 days post-injury; and (2) a model employing follow-up ncRNA levels to identify symptom recovery. Performance of the models was compared against a validated clinical prediction rule, and balance/cognitive test performance, respectively. RESULTS: An algorithm using age and 16 ncRNAs predicted PPCS with greater accuracy than the validated clinical tool and demonstrated additive combined utility (area under the curve (AUC) 0.86; 95% CI 0.84-0.88). Initial balance and cognitive test performance did not differ between PPCS and non-PPCS groups (p > 0.05). Follow-up balance and cognitive test performance identified symptom recovery with similar accuracy to a model using 11 ncRNAs and age. A combined model (ncRNAs, balance, cognition) most accurately identified recovery (AUC 0.86; 95% CI 0.83-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: ncRNA biomarkers show promise for tracking recovery from mTBI, and for predicting who will have prolonged symptoms. They could provide accurate expectations for recovery, stratify need for intervention, and guide safe return-to-activities.

Space-to-Ground Communication for Columbus: A Quantitative Analysis.

The astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) are only the most visible part of a much larger team engaged around the clock in the performance of science and technical activities in space. The bulk of such team is scattered around the globe in five major Mission Control Centers (MCCs), as well as in a number of smaller payload operations centres. Communication between the crew in space and the flight controllers at those locations is an essential element and one of the key drivers to efficient space operations. Such communication can be carried out in different forms, depending on available technical assets and the selected operational approach for the activity at hand. This paper focuses on operational voice communication and provides a quantitative overview of the balance achieved in the Columbus program between collaborative space/ground operations and autonomous on-board activity execution. An interpretation of the current situation is provided, together with a description of potential future approaches for deep space exploration missions.

Low and "supranormal" central venous oxygen saturation and markers of tissue hypoxia in cardiac surgery patients: a prospective observational study.

PURPOSE: To characterize incidence of low, normal and "supranormal" central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO(2)) and the relation to markers of tissue hypoxia, course and outcome in cardiac surgery patients. METHODS: Prospective, observational study in a university multidisciplinary 50-bed intensive care unit including 205 consecutive patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Data were split into training and test data sets and subjected to 50 replications of fivefold cross-validation to estimate lower and upper bounds of ScvO(2) indicative of impaired tissue oxygenation. RESULTS: Both low (≤ 60.8%) and supranormal (≥ 77.4%) ScvO(2) were associated with an unfavorable course, while the logistic EuroSCORE for risk adjustment was comparable between groups. Incidences of abnormal ScvO(2) were 13.2% low and 30.7% supranormal. Patients with low ScvO(2) and an uneventful course initially presented with normal lactate levels, whereas patients with supranormal ScvO(2) displayed consistently higher serum lactate levels. High ScvO(2) values were associated with the use of ß-mimetics and signs of systemic inflammation. Mortality rates were comparable for patient populations presenting either low (14.8%) or supranormal ScvO(2) (7.9%) and higher than normals (0%, p < 0.001). Lactate was comparably increased in patients that ultimately died, irrespective whether they had low or supranormal ScvO(2) values. In contrast, neither low nor supranormal ScvO(2) was associated with altered gastric pCO(2.) CONCLUSIONS: High ScvO(2) is an under-recognized warning sign for impaired tissue oxygenation in the peri-operative period. Including values ≥ 77.4% as 'normal' impaired performance of ScvO(2) monitoring to predict a complicated perioperative course.

Shifting and pinning of a magnetic vortex core in a permalloy dot by a magnetic field.

Magnetic pinning in thin films seems to be a major research subject in the near future, as it is involved in all switching processes which include a movement of a domain wall or a magnetic vortex. We used Lorentz transmission electron microscopy and vortex pinning at artificial pinning sites to investigate the pinning behavior of magnetic vortices for the first time with high spatial resolution.

The brain: a psychoneuroimmunological approach.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: An overview is provided that discusses brain dysfunctions in intensive care unit patients in the context of psychoneuroimmunology. Recent findings are discussed within the context of the relationship between behavioural aspects and immune functions. The concept of 'sickness behaviour' is introduced to understand the more differential aspects of stress, fatigue and mood. RECENT FINDINGS: Psychoneuroimmunology is a relatively new field of study that investigates interactions between behaviour and the immune system, mediated by the nervous system. 'Sickness behaviour' describes behavioural changes or reactions of an (infected) organism to cope with illness. Sickness behaviour should be seen as an adaptation to an infection that also influences the process of recovery or further illness. SUMMARY: There are plausible explanations of how psychological factors (such as aspects of mood) might influence immunity and immune system-mediated disease. There is substantial evidence that psychological factors can influence both cellular and humoral indicators of immune status and function. There are consistent and convincing reports of links between stress and disease onset and progression.

Stress and stress disorders during and after intensive care.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We provide an overview of the multilevel/multidimensional approach to stress and stress disorders, and integrate research findings into the intensive care context. Recent findings are discussed within the context of well studied biopsychological theories of stress and stress disorders. RECENT FINDINGS: The stress response must be viewed as a process. It should be discussed in terms of perception, immediate response and prolonged manifestations. There are correlations with biological principles, in that neurotransmitters can be distinguished on the basis of speed of response, duration of action and range of activity. Nevertheless, discussions on vulnerability to stress and the ability to cope with stressors are important. Findings regarding the influence of chronic stress and dysfunction of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis on stress disorders after intensive care encourage us to consider preoperative interventions that reduce chronic stress and therefore re-establish proper function of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis. SUMMARY: Stress disorders can be viewed as a consequence either of the action of humoral substances or of failure to recover. Studies on the process of psychophysiological recovery in the intensive care unit are urgently needed. Patient factors such as type of illness, age and sex should be considered modifiers of the stress response. In addition, the interaction between molecular mechanisms of the tissue healing process and the psychophysiological stress response require more intensive study.

A computer program for interpreting pulmonary artery catheterization data: results of the European HEMODYN Resident Study.

We previously validated an expert computer program (Hemodyn) designed to assist in interpreting pulmonary artery catheterization data. The present multicentric study assessed the influence of Hemodyn on the therapeutic strategies of residents. Each resident made several diagnostic choices and suggested appropriate treatments based on pulmonary artery catheterization (PAC) data. After knowledge of the computer interpretation, the resident could either maintain or change his or her diagnosis and treatment under a senior supervision. Agreement between the residents' initial evaluation and the computer's was poor (kappa <0.6). After computer assistance, agreement improved dramatically (kappa >0.9). Computer assistance led the residents to change at least one suggested treatment in 63% of cases, and in 8% of cases the residents changed the initial suggestion to its opposite. Expert software capable of helping residents to interpret PAC data properly may improve the quality of care given to critically ill patients.

Effects of opipramol as an evening anaesthesiologic premedication.

To date, opipramol has not been examined within the context of evening premedication in anaesthesiology. A suitable drug for such an application should induce anxiolytic and sleep-favouring effects. Due to its pharmacological properties, one would expect opipramol to lead to these effects. In order to test this possibility, 72 female patients were randomly assigned to 50 mg opipramol, 100 mg opipramol, or placebo (n = 24 patients per group) in the evening prior to surgery in a double-blind trial. Effects were recorded in the morning prior to the operation by means of self-rating questionnaires, regarding the patients' current subjective state and their judgement of the quality of sleep during the night before. The self-rating was done by the Multidimensional Mood Inventory BSKE (EWL), by use of the Multidimensional Somatic Symptom List (MSKL), and by use of the Würzburg Sleep Questionnaire. Further dependent variables were heart rate and blood pressure. Opipramol significantly improved sleep quality. Especially the frequency of awakening at night was reduced. These effects could be observed predominantly after 100 mg opipramol. At this dosage, inner excitement was reduced as well. The autonomic variables remained uninfluenced. There were no adverse events and no hints for interactions with anaesthesiology.