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We study the size dependence of pull-off forces of water ice in laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. To determine the pull-off force in our laboratory experiments, we use a liquid nitrogen cooled centrifuge. Depending on its rotation frequency, spherical ice grains detach due to the centrifugal force which is related to the adhesive properties. Numerical simulations are conducted by means of molecular dynamics simulations of hexagonal ice using a standard coarse-grained water potential. The pull-off force of a single contact between two spherical ice grains is measured due to strain controlled simulations. Both, the experimental study and the simulations reveal a dependence between the pull-off force and the (reduced) particle radii, which differ significantly from the linear dependence of common contact theories.

This paper highlights the challenges the fire and rescue services can meet at façade fires involving EPS insulation during construction and use of a building. The EPS characteristics are discussed in respect to the fire and rescue operation and results from orientating fire tests performed at a fire and rescue services training and test field are presented. Types of evacuation solutions, involving the fire and rescue services, where façade fires can delay or completely rule out the possibilities for safe evacuation, are presented. The restrictions in the Swedish building codes regarding use of combustible insulation are analysed and reflections over the practical problems with following the instructions to keep an EPS insulated façade safe through the building's whole lifespan are made. A number of occurred fires involving EPS are discussed and analysed from a fire and rescue perspective. Finally, recommendations are given for the fire and rescue services and future research fields are proposed.

Background: Pelotherapy is the traditional procedure of applying curative muds on the skin's surface-shown to have a positive effect on the human body and cure illnesses. The effect of pelotherapy is complex, functioning through several mechanisms, and depends on the skin's functional condition. The current research objective was to develop a methodology and electrodes to assess the passage of the chemical and biologically active compounds of curative mud through human skin by performing electrical bioimpedance (EBI) analysis., Methods: The methodology included local area mud pack and simultaneous tap water compress application on the forearms with the comparison to the measurements of the dry skin. A custom-designed small-area gold-plated electrode on a rigid printed circuit board, in a tetrapolar configuration, was designed. A pilot study experiment with ten volunteers was performed., Results: Our results indicated the presence of an effect of pelotherapy, manifested by the varying electrical properties of the skin. Distinguishable difference in the measured real part of impedance ( R ) emerged, showing a very strong correlation between the dry and tap-water-treated skin (r = 0.941), while a poor correlation between the dry and mud-pack-treated skin (r = 0.166) appeared. The findings emerged exclusively in the frequency interval of 10 kHz …1 MHz and only for R ., Conclusions: EBI provides a promising tool for monitoring the variations in the electrical properties of the skin, including the skin barrier. We foresee developing smart devices for promoting the exploitation of spa therapies.

The effects of bath therapy are complex and result from a unique interaction between the aquatic environment and the human body functions. The effect of bath therapy depends on both water temperature and chemical additives (mineral substances and humic substances). Värska Resort Centre, in south-eastern Estonia, uses for the balneotherapy the local curative mud and mineral water. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the effects of Värska's local mud bath and mineral water bath on moderate musculoskeletal pains in working-age people. The study involved 64 working-age subjects: within two weeks, 32 of them received five general mineral water baths, and another 32 received five general curative mud baths. Pain was assessed with the Nordic Musculosceletal Questionnaire, and muscle tension was measured with a myotonometer in m. erector spinae and m. trapezius. Measurements were performed three times: before the start of the study, immediately after the last procedure, and 2-3 weeks after the last procedure. Both the Värska curative mud bath and the Värska mineral water bath showed a positive effect on musculoskeletal pain and muscle tension. Both procedures can be recommended as drug-free interventions for mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain syndrome and muscle tensions, in both prevention and treatment., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Previous studies have demonstrated that cGMP is produced by nitric oxide-mediated activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) in seminiferous tubules of the human testis. It is not known, however, whether carbon monoxide (CO), another activator of sGC, is also involved in testicular function. To address this issue, testicular probes from 65- to 75-yr-old men have been examined. The CO-generating enzyme, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), could be localized by immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses to Sertoli cells. In these cells, HO-1 is detectable in adluminal cell compartments, whereas sGC immunoreactivity is distributed exclusively in basal compartments. Treatments of isolated tubules with either sodium arsenite, known to induce HO-1, or hematin, an HO substrate, resulted in 4.4- and 1.8-fold, respectively, increases in cGMP levels. ODQ, a specific sGC inhibitor, inhibited completely the sodium arsenite-stimulated cGMP production. Moreover, the HO inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin-IX and the CO scavenger hemoglobin both significantly reduced (77% or 46% of control, respectively) tubular cGMP generation. These findings, demonstrating for the first time a link between HO-1 activity in Sertoli cells and sGC-dependent cGMP production in seminiferous tubules, suggest a functional role of CO in the human testis.

Early mental and psychomotor recovery was studied in 67 patients undergoing colorectal surgery under continuous epidural anaesthesia and light general anaesthesia using propofol, halothane, and midazolam/fentanyl. The study was approved by the local ethics committee. All patients received epidural anaesthesia with 0.25% bupivacaine and were then randomly allocated to one of three groups. In group I (halothane), light general anaesthesia was induced with thiopental 3-5 mg/kg and maintained with halothane. The propofol group (II) received 2 mg/kg for induction and a mean continuous infusion of 1.7 mg/kg.h. In group III (Mi/Fe), midazolam and fentanyl were used for induction and maintenance. All patients were intubated, received non-depolarising muscle relaxants, and were manually ventilated with nitrous oxide-oxygen (2:1.2). For postoperative analgesia, 0.05 mg/kg morphine was administrated epidurally 30 min before the end of the operation; 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after arriving in the recovery room, vigilance was assessed using a modified Steward score, the Trieger test, the ability to recall a column of numbers (KAI test), and symbol counting (CI test). Heart rate, blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, and blood gases were recorded. RESULTS. The three groups were comparable with regard to age, sex, ASA classification, and duration of anaesthesia and operation (Table 3). There was no difference between the groups in performance of the recovery tests (Figs. 2-5), blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood gas analysis (Fig. 6), or oxygen saturation. Comparing pre- and postoperative values, we found severe psychomotor and mental impairment in all groups. pCO2 was slightly elevated in all groups, but only 3 patients in the propofol group and 6 in the midazolam/fentanyl group developed hypercapnia above 50 mm Hg. Patients receiving propofol or midazolam/fentanyl had significantly less postoperative nausea and vomiting than those receiving halothane (Table 5). CONCLUSION. It is concluded that propofol offers no advantage over halothane or midazolam/fentanyl where early postoperative recovery is concerned. Intraoperatively, all three techniques provided good anaesthesia. Propofol and midazolam/fentanyl caused less postoperative nausea and vomiting than halothane anaesthesia.

184 liver metastases in 30 patients were examined retrospectively and the imaging in sonography, dynamic CT and plain CT was compared. Dynamic CT is markedly superior to plain CT and sonography in respect of the delineation of liver metastases, especially also in the identification and location of diffuse metastases.

A 72-year-old female patient was scheduled for abdominal surgery with epidural block in combination with general anesthesia. An 18 G epidural catheter was inserted through an 18 G Tuohy needle between T12 and L1 using the midline approach and the 'loss of resistance' technique. A test dose of 13 ml bupivacaine 0.25% showed no effect and a bolus of 12 ml bupivacaine 0.25% was added 8 min later. Bilateral analgesia between S5 and C4 developed over the following 17 min but was not accompanied by any cardiovascular or respiratory depression. The patient became sleepy and was finally intubated after the administration of thiopentone 175 mg and pancuronium 6 mg. There were no objections to surgery, so the hemicolectomy was continued as planned. Intraoperatively the systolic blood pressure dropped twice, to a minimum of 105 mm Hg, coinciding with eventration of the intestine, but this was reversed immediately on administration of a vasoconstrictor. Extubation of the patient was possible 90 min later on the termination of surgery, when the level of anesthesia had reached T2. A spinal X-ray with radiopaque dye showed a typical intrathecal distribution. Most remarkable in this case is the stability of the cardiovascular function which in our opinion is related to the 0.25% solution. Serious complications of an inadvertent dural puncture can be avoided or alleviated with this concentration if the epidural block is to be combined with general anesthesia.