Delayed tracheal extubation after cardiac surgery due to cardiogenic ventilator auto-triggering: a case report

Background Ventilator auto-triggering is associated with poor outcomes. Herein, we present a case of delayed tracheal extubation after cardiac surgery due to cardiogenic auto-triggering. Case presentation A 73-year-old male with chronic constrictive pericarditis underwent radical pericardiectomy. After confirming hemodynamic stability, we conducted spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) with a flow-trigger sensitivity of 1 L/min. As his respiratory rate (RR) increased to more than 60 breaths/min and tidal volume decreased to less than 100 mL, this SBT was considered a failure. Next morning, SBT was reperformed and the result was unchanged. However, we noticed that his heart rate and RR were the same and suspected auto-triggering caused by cardiogenic oscillations. We changed ventilator mode from flow triggering to pressure triggering of −2 cmH2O and he was uneventfully extubated. Conclusion We experienced a case of delayed tracheal extubation after cardiac surgery due to cardiogenic auto-triggering. Auto-triggering can be reduced by changing ventilator trigger mode.

Predicting the Solar System small bodies harvest of the BlackGEM Telescope Array

<p>*on behalf of the BlackGEM consortium</p> <p>BlackGEM is a Dutch-led wide-field optical telescope array dedicated to measure the optical emission from pairs of merging neutron stars and black holes. The array will start with three identical telescopes of 65 cm diameter, located at ESO La Silla, Chile. Each telescope is equipped with a 110 Mpix camera, consisting of a single 10.5k x 10.5k CCD, and covering 2.7 square degrees in one go, at 0.56 "/pix. The telescopes can work together as a single 3.6-meter telescope or look at different parts of the sky. The BlackGEM will perform four different science surveys and the BlackGEM Trigger Mode.</p> <p>The goal of our project is to estimate the potential of the BlackGEM telescope array for detecting various populations of the known Solar System small bodies, as well as for discovering the new ones. We create a software that simulates the BlackGEM surveys, determines the observability of the known Solar System small bodies, and determines the detectability of undiscovered objects with the BlackGEM array telescopes.</p>

A dual-trigger-mode ionic hydrogel sensor for contact or contactless motion recognition

The sandwiched hydrogel capacitive system is designed to fabricate a dual-trigger mode ionic sensor for recognizing mechanical stimuli and diverse touch-free gestures simultaneously, performing high responsivity and accurate spatial resolution.

Index Finger Muscle Fatigue and Pistol Firing Failure

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze finger strength and effects of muscle fatigue on the ability to shoot. Background: The finger and hand muscles of soldiers are subject to high loads. For example, the trigger pull of military pistols can amount up to 58 N (≈6 kg) and could cause muscle fatigue in the trigger finger. For soldiers, however, maintaining the ability to shoot is essential for self-defense and survival. Method: The marksmanship training of 30 German soldiers (15 female) ages 18 to 40 years was evaluated. Three consecutive exercises with a total of 60 rounds were fired from target ranges of 5 and 10 m, equally using a single-action and double-action trigger mode. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the index finger (MVCIF) was measured before and after each of the three firing exercises. Results: Shooting reduced MVCIF in female (88.2 ± 15.8 N to 67.3 ± 17.7 N, p < .001) and male soldiers (145.8 ± 21.7 N to 112.7 ± 26.6 N, p < .001). Of the 30 subjects, 23 were unable to shoot due to fatigue, including 15 of 15 female soldiers. The higher MVCIF was at rest, the less commonly ( r = .73, p < .001) and the later ( r = 0.82, p < .001) task failure occurred. Two intermissions of approximately 6 min did not suffice for a significant recovery. Conclusion: Excessive trigger pull weight causes muscle fatigue of the index finger and can ultimately lead to task failure during pistol marksmanship training. Short breaks are insufficient for the recovery of finger muscles. Application: This study presents a new perspective on ideal trigger pull weight, which should be carefully considered by manufacturers to allow repetitive firing and simultaneously ensure safe handling.

Results from the first missions of the JEM-EUSO program

The origin and nature of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) remain unsolved in contemporary astroparticle physics. To give an answer to these questions is rather challenging because of the extremely low flux of a few per km2 per century at extreme energies such as E > 5 × 1019 eV. The objective of the JEM-EUSO program, Extreme Universe Space Observatory, is the realization of a space mission devoted to scientific research of cosmic rays of highest energies. Its super-wide-field telescope will look down from space onto the night sky to detect UV photons emitted from air showers generated by UHECRs in the atmosphere. The JEM-EUSO program includes different missions using fluorescence detectors to make a proof-of-principle of the UHECR observation from space and to raise the technological level of the instrumentation to be employed in a space mission. EUSO-TA, installed at the Telescope Array site in Utah in 2013, is in operation. It has already detected 9 UHECRs in coincidence with Telescope Array fluorescence detector at Black Rock Mesa. EUSO-Balloon flew on board a stratospheric balloon in August 2014. It measured the UV intensity on forests, lakesandthecityofTimminsaswellasprovedtheobservationofUHECR-likeeventsbyshootinglasertracks. EUSO-SPB was launched on board a super pressure balloon on April 25th and flew for 12 days. It proved the functionality of all the subsystems of the telescope on a typical duration of a balloon flight; observed the UV emission on oceans and has a self-trigger system to observe UHECRs with energy E > 3×1018 eV. TUS, the Russian mission on board the Lomonosov satellite in orbit since April 28th 2016, is now included in the JEMEUSO program and has detected so far in the UHECR trigger-mode a few interesting signals. Mini-EUSO is in its final phase of integration in Italy, where several performance tests are being held. Mini-EUSO will be installed inside the International Space Station (ISS) in 2019. The main results obtained so far by such missions are summarized and put in prospect of future space detectors such as K-EUSO and POEMMA.