When isolated constricted airway smooth muscle is oscillated, muscle tone decreases. We investigated whether changing tidal volume (VT) would affect induced bronchoconstriction in an in vivo canine model. Open-chest dogs were intubated with a double-lumen endotracheal tube, which isolated each main bronchus, and mechanically ventilated with a dual-cylinder ventilator. Bronchial pressure (Pbr) a...

Indoor radon activities were measured during a period of 6 months, as well as several physical environmental variables (temperature, pressure, humidity and rainfall). The location was a small room at an administrative building of the University of Coimbra, usually undisturbed by human activities and situated over bedrock of low-uranium Triassic red sandstones. A low average activity of radon wa...

A highly accurate two-color interferometer with automatic correction of the refractive index of air was developed for crustal strain observation. The two-color interferometer, which can measure a geometrical distance of approximately 70 m, with a relative resolution of 2 × 10 −9 , clearly detected a change in strain due to earth tides in spite of optical measurement in air. Moreover, a large st...

tidal triggering mechanism, ibecause a similar process appears to trigger terrestrial volcanic eruptions (4), and perhaps earthquakes as well (5). The terrestrial situation is somewhat obscured, however, because of the complicating loading effects of oceanic and atmospheric tides, ocean currents, and atmospheric circulation. The moon has provided another clear, albeit luxurious, view of the ear...

T he past year has been truly extraordinary. Not only has there been astonishing medical and public health interest in cholesterol, but the term cholesterol has been brought by the media into common culture and consciousness in quite surprising ways. How did this happen? And what are its implications for science, for medicine, and for public health and policy? This evening I will try to address...

PURPOSE The effect of isoflurane on the subcortical P14 component of the median nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) is poorly known. We studied whether the P14 wave from the upper brainstem, recorded with a nasopharyngeal electrode, was attenuated at the isoflurane-induced EEG burst-suppression level. We also compared the effect of isoflurane on the P14, cervical N13 and cortical N20, N3...