The purpose of this study was to determine the association of age, gender, and cardiorespiratory fitness level upon normative heart rate and systolic blood pressure (SBP) responses per MET during the BSU/Bruce Ramp protocol. This research was delimited to 451 subjects, 201 men (mean age 46.5 ± 11.9 yrs) and 250 women (mean age 42.9 ± 11.4 yrs), low to moderate risk subjects. The majority of subjects were tested to enter the Ball State University Adult Physical Fitness Program. These subjects were tested using the BSU/Bruce Ramp protocol between 1992 and 1998.Multiple regression showed gender had a positive association upon submaximal SBP values. Gender's association with heart rate was negative between minute 3-6 and positive between minute 6-9. Age only had an association upon submaximal heart rate, which was negative. Cardiorespiratory fitness had a negative association upon SBP between minute 6-9 and a negative association with heart rate between minute 3-6.SBP increased 6.6 ± 4.4 and 6.0 ± 4.2 mmHg/MET between minute 3-6 for men and women, respectively. Analysis of variance demonstrated gender was not statistically significant between minute 3-6. SBP increased 4.7 ± 3.1 and 3.8 + 2.7 mmHg/MET between minute 6-9 for men and women, respectively. Gender was statisticallysignificant between minute 6-9 (p<.05). Heart rate increased 8.5 + 2.3 and 10.7 + 3.3 bpm/MET between minute 3-6 for men and women, respectively. Analysis of variance demonstrated gender was statistically significant between minute 3-6 (p<.05). The increase was 9.5 + 2.3 and 9.2 + 2.7 bpm/MET between minute 6-9 for men and women, respectively. Gender was not statistically significant between minute 6-9.In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the normative hemodynamic responses during the BSU/Bruce Ramp protocol are similar to submaximal normative data previously reported in the literature for incremental type protocols. / School of Physical Education

Previous literature showed weak and sometimes contradictory evidence regarding the best interventions to prevent pressure ulcers and the best factors that can serve as predictors for ulceration. The aim of this study was to explore effective interventions and associated risk factors in the area of pressure ulcer. A retrospective approach was used to explore such interventions and risk factors in a more natural clinical environment than found in a prospective study. While retrospective studies have their limitations, one problem of prospective studies, the Hawthorn effect, is not present. In order to meet the aims of the study, a matched case-controlled design was employed. A convenience sampling technique was used to select all patients who matched the study criteria. Two groups of patients were selected. The first group developed pressure ulcer during hospitalization, the other did not. In order to have a sound and robust comparison, each patient from the pressure ulcer groups was matched or at least nearly matched with another patient from the non-pressure ulcer group for a number Waterlow sub-scores. Further criteria for selection included a minimum of three days total length of stay in hospital and being initially free of any pressure ulcer on admission for both of the study groups. Electronic medical records for all patients were revised, and multidimensional data were extracted using a data extraction sheet. Data analyses were carried out using univariate analysis (t-test, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test) and multivariate analysis (binary logistic regression). In univariate analysis for preventive interventions, the following interventions were significantly associated with pressure ulcer prevention (P≤ 0.05): standard hospital bed, seating cushion, static pressure redistributing mattress, re-positioning every four hours and helping the patient to sit regularly in a chair. When the effect of all interventions was adjusted through the multivariate model, the following interventions were independently associated with prevention: draw sheet, re-positioning every four hours and helping patient to sit regularly in chair (odds ratio = 0.24, 0.06 and 0.13 respectively; P≤ 0.05). In univariate analysis for risk factors related to physical activity and mobility, the following factors were significantly associated with developing pressure ulcer (P≤ 0.05): moving in bed with help, the ability to take a bath only in bed, needing two helpers in performing activities of daily living and moving outside bed only by a hoist. When adjusting the effect of all variables related to physical activity and mobility through the multivariate model, only two factors were independently associated with developing pressure ulcer: moving in bed with help and the ability to take a bath only in bed (odds ratio = 7.69 and 3.67 respectively; P≤ 0.05). In univariate analysis for risk factors related to pressure ulcer intrinsic risk factors, the following factors were significantly associated with developing pressure ulcer (P≤ 0.05): presence of three underlying medical conditions, dehydration, depression, having a blood transfusion, serum albumin <32mg/dl, haemoglobin <130 g/l in males or <115 for females and systolic blood pressure <113 mmHg. When adjusting the effect of all variables related to intrinsic risk factors through the multivariate model, the following risk factors were independently associated with pressure ulcer: presence of two underlying medical conditions, presence of three underlying medical conditions, cognitive impairment, serum albumin <32mg/dl and haemoglobin <130 g/l in males or <115 for females (odds ratio = 13.3, 143, 4.3, 0.10 and 0.14 respectively; P≤ 0.05). Findings from this study suggest a number of interventions to be effective in PUs prevention, and a number of risk factors that can predict risk of PUs. Findings were based on statistical association between acquiring PUs and the independent variables (preventive interventions and risk factors). This cannot constitute a cause and effect relationship due to the retrospective nature of data analyzed; it only supports the association between a number of interventions and risk factors in preventing or predicting PUs. This can guide further research to investigate these interventions and risk factors by employing the same approach used, but in a prospective manner.

No description available.

This thesis describes the effect of pressure on crystal structures that are in some way unusual. The aim was to investigate whether pressure could be used to force these ‘structural oddities’ to conform to more conventional behaviour. In many cases pressure-induced phase transitions were observed, and the driving forces of these are considered. L-serine monohydrate crystallises with layers of hydrogen bonded serine molecules. Layers are linked together by H-bonds from the donor atoms of water molecules. The orientation of the water molecules between the layers is uncommon for other layered hydrates in the CSD. A single crystal of serine hydrate undergoes a pressure-induced phase transition at 5 GPa, which is characterised by a rotation of the water molecules to an orientation which is more frequently observed. PIXEL calculations show that the transition is driven by the PV term in the equation G = U - TS + PV. An attempt to reproduce the transition in another layered hydrate with a similar topology was partially successful in the compression of S-4-sulfo-L-phenylalanine monohydrate, which undergoes a similar phase transition at 1 GPa. Methyl 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzoate crystallises unusually with eight molecules in the asymmetric unit (Z’ = 8). Compression of a single crystal results in a phase transition at ca. 5 GPa to give a Z’ = 2 polymorph. The PV term is an important contributor to the driving force of the transition. The geometries of the molecules in phase-II are significantly less stable than in phase-I, and as pressure is released on phase-II the need to adopt a more stable molecular conformation eventually outweighs the PV advantage. The Z’ = 8 structure is eventually re-established at 4.6 GPa. This work illustrates how low Z’ polymorphs of the same structure are not always the thermodynamically more stable forms. When recrystallised in situ from a 4:1 by volume solution of methanol and ethanol, a new polymorph of salicylamide is obtained at 0.2 GPa. The ambient pressure phase appears in the CSD to contain a number of abnormally short H…H contacts. We find this model to be incorrect, and have re-determined the structure to find no short H…H contacts. PIXEL and DFT calculations indicate that the high-pressure polymorph is favoured over the ambient phase by the PV term, the zero point energy and entropy. Low completeness that often occurs as a result of shading from the high-pressure cell was improved by the inclusion of multiple crystals within the sample chamber. Bianthrone changes colour from yellow to green on grinding, though this does not occur when subjected to hydrostatic pressure to 6.5 GPa. There is, however, a subtle colour change from bright yellow to dark orange as pressure is applied, and it is likely that this is caused by changes in the - stacking distances. This work highlights how a system can react differently to hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic conditions.

The application of extreme conditions offers a general route for the synthesis of materials under equilibrium conditions. By finely tuning the thermodynamic variables of pressure and temperature one can manipulate matter on an atomic scale, creating novel compounds or changing the properties of existing materials. In particular, the study of hydrogen and hydrogen compounds has attracted the attention of researchers in the past. Although hydrogen readily reacts with many elements at ambient conditions, there is a significant “hydride gap” covering the d-metals between the Cr-group and Cu-group elements. At elevated pressures however, the chemical potential of hydrogen rises steeply. At sufficient pressures, hydrogen overcomes the dissociation barrier at the metal surface and atomic hydrogen diffuses into the metal, usually occupying interstitial sites in the host matrix. These interstitial hydrogen alloys can exhibit interesting physical properties, such as modified crystalline structures, different compressibility, altered microstructure (nanocrystallinity), hydrogen mediated superconductivity or potential hydrogen storage capabilities. Furthermore, theory predicts that hydrogen confined in a host matrix might undergo the elusive transition to a metallic groundstate at considerably lower pressures than pure hydrogen. Most d-metals have been found to exhibit hydride phases at extended conditions of pressure and temperature. However, besides rhenium, the 6th row metals between tungsten and gold, as well as silver, have not or only very recently been found to form bulk hydrides. In the course of this PhD-thesis, several of the missing metalhydrides were successfully synthesized in the diamond anvil cell and characterized by in-situ x-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation.

No description available.

<p>Hydrogen has been called the fuel of the future, and as it’s non- renewable counterparts become scarce the economic viability of hydrogen gains traction. The potential of hydrogen is marked by its high mass specific energy density and wide applicability as a fuel in fuel cell vehicles and homes. However hydrogen’s volume must be reduced via pressurization or liquefaction in order to make it more transportable and volume efficient. Currently the vast majority of industrially produced hydrogen comes from steam reforming of natural gas. This practice yields low-pressure gas which must then be compressed at considerable cost and uses fossil fuels as a feedstock leaving behind harmful CO and CO2 gases as a by-product. The second method used by industry to produce hydrogen gas is low pressure electrolysis. In comparison the electrolysis of water at low pressure can produce pure hydrogen and oxygen gas with no harmful by-products using only water as a feedstock, but it will still need to be compressed before use. Multiple theoretical works agree that high pressure electrolysis could reduce the energy losses due to product gas compression. However these works openly admit that their projected gains are purely theoretical and ignore the practical limitations and resistances of a real life high pressure system. The goal of this work is to experimentally confirm the proposed thermodynamic gains of ultra-high pressure electrolysis in alkaline solution and characterize the behavior of a real life high pressure system.</p> / Dissertation

Cloud top height plays an important roll in the energy budget and is also important for aviation. This thesis concerns the quality control of cloud top height (CTH) retrievals. The approach for quality controlling retrieved CTH has been using the forward simulating software RTTOV. An error estimation function has been developed as well as an investigation to what simplifications can be done regarding the forward simulations for CTH purposes at SMHI. The purpose of the error estimation function is to validate CTH output from CTH retrieval algorithms by giving a rough error estimate of the retrieved CTH compared to what forward simulations predict. For simplifying the forward simulations the most promising results have been shown for lower clouds. Further testing is still of interest and for future work suggestions are provided regarding the error estimation function as well as for simplifying the forward simulations.

Approved for public release, distribution unlimited / The flow patterns of two oil mist nozzles used in rotor blade excitation experiments were characterized using a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV). Both nozzles were operated in a vacuum test chamber and velocity measurements were taken at three axial distances from the nozzle exit, at three or four different pressures, at three different temperatures. The 4 gallon per hour "mini-mist" nozzle produced a "referenced velocity" consistent with a hollow cone at each axial location, pressure, and temperature. The temperature of the oil flowing through the 4 gallon per hour nozzle did not affect the nozzle's performance. The 6 gallon per hour "standard" nozzle produced a "solid" cone structure at each axial location, pressure, and temperature. The temperature of the oil flowing through the 6 gallon per hour nozzle did affect the nozzle's performance. The spray pattern quantification can be used to design blade excitation experiments in high cycle fatigue (HCF) vacuum spin tests.

Class of 2010 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of automated blood pressure machines located within community-based pharmacies. METHODS: A descriptive, prospective study was performed comparing blood pressure readings obtained from community-based automated blood pressure machines to readings from a mercury manometer for 2 different arm sizes. Mercury manometer readings were obtained using the standardized technique and a standard cuff recommended by the American Heart Association RESULTS: For the subject with the small arm size, the automated blood pressure machines reported systolic pressure readings that were, on average, 16.1 mmHg higher than those obtained manually by the researcher. The mean systolic and pressure readings for the subject with the medium arm size were not significantly different between the automated machine and manual manometer readings, and the diastolic pressure readings were modestly different. CONCLUSIONS: We found that automated blood pressure machines located within a sample of representative community pharmacies were neither accurate nor reliable. The accuracy of the readings are especially inaccurate for subjects with a smaller than average arm size.