Topological volumes of fibrations: a note on open covers

We establish a straightforward estimate for the number of open sets with fundamental group constraints needed to cover the total space of fibrations. This leads to vanishing results for simplicial volume and minimal volume entropy, e.g., for certain mapping tori.

Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Heals Established Vesicovaginal Fistula and Counteracts Stone Formation in Rats

With the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy known to heal various both external and internal rat fistulas, we attempt to approach vesicovaginal fistula, continuous urine leaking through vagina, bladder stones, and a possible therapy solution among rats with well-formed 2 week-fistulas (vaginal/vesical 4 mm large defects) started with delayed therapy. Subsequent control fistula course (the subsequent 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks) since beginning revealed the failed healing, fistula leaking, adhesions, urinary leaking through vagina, failed epithelization, collagenization, granulation tissue and neovascularization, increased inflammation, and necrosis. Thereby, the later intervals revealed the persistent inability to sustain even minimal volume, vesical, and vaginal defects and stone formation at the end of the experiment (fistula-time day 56). BPC 157 therapy (10 µg/kg, 10 ng/kg, intraperitoneally once time daily or perorally in drinking water until sacrifice) was initiated with a considerable delay (at 2 weeks after fistula formation). Already within 1 week therapy, all BPC 157 regimens stopped urinary leaking through vagina, reversed the otherwise resistant poor healing course to the increased epithelization, collagenization, granulation tissue and neovascularization, decreased inflammation, and decreased necrosis. Thereby, at later intervals, all BPC 157 rats exhibited a five times larger volume that can be sustained before leaking as in healthy, vesical, and vaginal defects completely closed and no stone formation. Thus, macro/microscopic and functional recovery, and counteracted stone formation. Concluding, BPC 157 therapy’s beneficial effects resulted in healing and no stone formation, with µg- and ng-regimens, either given daily perorally in drinking water or intraperitoneally.

The Influence of Finely Ground Limestone in the Design of Concrete for White Boxes Regarding the Suppression of Shrinkage

For concrete constructions built as underground spaces, basements or cellars, it is necessary for these constructions to be able to resist the influence of groundwater pressure that could disrupt the compactness of the entire construction by its action. For this reason, constructions of so-called white boxes are often used. White boxes are concrete constructions whose main capability is high water impermeability, exhibiting at the same time minimal volume changes. These properties could be accomplished by a series of several technological precautions, one of which is the composition of the concrete mixture itself. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the influence of finely ground limestone and the latent hydraulic addition of finely ground blast furnace slag on the properties of concrete composite such as water impermeability, water absorption, or volume changes. These properties are vital for the construction of white boxes. In this paper, the suitability of the mutual combination of active and internal additive will also be evaluated.

Right atrium and cryptogenic ischaemic stroke in the young: a case–control study

BackgroundRecent studies suggest left atrial (LA) dysfunction in cryptogenic stroke. We studied the dynamics of right atrium (RA) and right atrial appendage (RAA) in young adults with cryptogenic stroke. We hypothesised that bi-atrial dysfunction and blood stagnation might contribute to thrombosis formation in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO), as deep venous thrombosis is detected only in the minority of patients.MethodsThirty patients (aged 18–49) with a first-ever cryptogenic stroke and 30 age-matched and sex-matched stroke-free controls underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. An approach to estimate the RAA volume was developed, using crista terminalis and pectinate muscles as anatomical landmarks. Atrial expansion indices were calculated as (maximal volume – minimal volume) ×100%/minimal volume. Total pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) was based on phase contrast CMR. Right-to-left shunt (RLS) was evaluated with transoesophageal echocardiography in 29 patients and transcranial Doppler in 30 controls, moderate-to-severe RLS considered as clinically significant.ResultsWe found that RA and RAA volumes were similar between patients and controls. Also, RA expansion index was similar, but RAA (95.6%±21.6% vs 108.7%±25.8%, p=0.026) and LA (126.2%±28% vs 144.9%±36.3%, p=0.023) expansion indices were lower in patients compared with controls. Seven (24%) of 29 patients had an RLS compared with 1 (3%) of 30 controls (p=0.012). Among 59 study subjects, RLS was associated with lower RA (81.9%±15.9% vs 98.5%±29.5%, p=0.030), RAA (84.7%±18% vs 105.6%±24.1%, p=0.022), LA (109.8%±18.6% vs 140.1%±33.7%, p=0.017) and LAA (median 102.9% (IQR 65.6%–121.7%) vs 229.1% (151.8%–337.5%], p=0.002) expansion indices and lower Qp/Qs ratio (0.91±0.06 vs 0.98±0.07, p=0.027).ConclusionsThis study suggests bi-atrial dysfunction in young adults with cryptogenic stroke, associated with moderate-to-severe RLS. Dysfunction of the atria and atrial appendages may be an additional mechanism for PFO-related stroke.Trial registration numberNCT01934725.

Nonnegative forms with sublevel sets of minimal volume

We show that the Euclidean ball has the smallest volume among sublevel sets of nonnegative forms of bounded Bombieri norm as well as among sublevel sets of sum of squares forms whose Gram matrix has bounded Frobenius or nuclear (or, more generally, p-Schatten) norm. These volume-minimizing properties of the Euclidean ball with respect to its representation (as a sublevel set of a form of fixed even degree) complement its numerous intrinsic geometric properties. We also provide a probabilistic interpretation of the results.

A Mini-fluid Challenge of 200 mL Predicts fluid Responsiveness Using Pulmonary Artery Catheter in Septic Shock Patients an Observational Study

Background: Mini-fluid challenge may predict fluid responsiveness and limit fluid overload. This study was designed to explore the minimal infusion volume in effectively predicting fluid responsiveness in septic shock patients.Methods: ICU septic shock patients with indwelling pulmonary artery catheter received five sequential intravenous boluses of 100 mL 4% gelatin. Cardiac output was measured with thermodilution before fluid challenge (baseline) and three minutes after each bolus. Fluid responsiveness (FR) was defined as an increase in CO greater than 10% after 500 mL fluid infusion. The smallest volume which can perform an effective fluid challenge was analyzed. Results: Forty-seven patients were included in this prospective study. After 500 mL volume expansion, thirty-six patients presented with FR (77%) and 11 patients were fluid nonresponders. A mini fluid of 100 mL colloid had a poor predictive value (AUC = 0.67, p > 0.05). The minimal volume required to predict FR in a mini fluid challenge was 200 mL. An increase in CO greater than 5.2% after 200 mL colloid infusion was able to predict FR with a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 90.9%. The AUC under the ROC curve was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.84 – 1, p < 0.05). Conclusion: In septic shock patients, a minimal volume of 200 mL 4% gelatin could reliably detect fluid responders and nonresponders.Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT01941472). Registered on 13 September 2013.