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Background: Sleep disordered breathing and pulmonary hypertension are both highly prevalent in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Since (SDB) has been shown to increase pulmonary pressures, we hypothesized that initiation of positive airway pressure (PAP) may reduce pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) in compliant patients. Methods: A total of 125 consecutive CHF patients admitted for decompensation were screened. Of these patients, 18 met inclusion criteria for the study which included a PASP ≥ 36 and polysomnogram-proven SDB. A repeat echocardiogram performed at mean 8 weeks post intervention was reviewed to compare PASP. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in mean age, BMI, AHI, baseline PASP, and ejection fraction between the PAP-compliant group and PAP non-compliant group. A statistically significant mean reduction in PASP of 13.8 ± 7.0 mmHg (range: -25, -1) was observed in CHF patients with SDB who were compliant with PAP therapy, versus a mean increase of 0.9 ± 8.7 mmHg (range: -8, 15) in heart failure patients with SDB who were noncompliant with PAP therapy. Conclusions: The findings suggest that PAP therapy is associated with improvement in pulmonary hypertension with congestive heart failure and sleep disordered breathing.

We report scanning tunneling microscopy and ballistic electron emission microscopy studies of the electronic states of the uncovered and chemisorbed-oxygen covered surface of AlOx tunnel barrier layers. These states change when chemisorbed oxygen ions are moved into the oxide by either flood gun electron bombardment or by thermal annealing. The former, if sufficiently energetic, results in locally well defined conduction band onsets at ~1 V, while the latter results in a progressively higher local conduction band onset, exceeding 2.3 V for 500 and 600 C thermal anneals.

Background/Aims/Objectives:The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the discrete facets of personality and dispositional, or trait-like, mindfulness.Methodology/Methods:The study employed a factoral quantitative design and 229 participants completed two online measures, the Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the NEO-PI-R Personality Questionnaire. The latter measured the ‘Big Five’ factors of personality (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness) and their 30 associated facets. Participant data was analysed via factor analysis utilising scores across all 35 variables, that is, the five dispositional mindfulness domains plus the 30 personality facets.Results/Findings:Analysis resulted in the emergence of a five-factor model. These five ‘new’ factors aligned closely with the ‘Big Five’ personality factors. Hence, dispositional mindfulness domains were statistically indistinct from established factors of personality. Notably, three out of the five FFMQ dispositional mindfulness domains (namely, Non-Judging of Inner Experience, Non-Reactivity to Inner Experience, and Acting with Awareness) loaded inversely on to the ‘Neuroticism’ factor. Additionally, two FFMQ domains (Acting with Awareness and Describing) loaded positively on to ‘Conscientiousness’, while one FFMQ domain (Observe) loaded positively on to ‘Openness’. These results align with previous studies conducted at factor level and deepen understanding of facet- level relationships.Discussion/Conclusions:Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention is now utilised extensively, often within the context of a broader counselling approach. The results of this study suggest that tailoring such clinical mindfulness interventions more to the client’s particular personality and needs may maximise benefit and negate the possibility of harmful consequences. For example, accentuating self-compassion, perhaps by setting the work in the context of a richer compassion-based approach, could be beneficial for a deeply self-critical client scoring highly on Neuroticism.