Determination of melt composition in an open-arc ore-thermal furnace

The aim of the study is to improve the technical and economic performance of the normal electrocorundum production process in an ore-thermal furnace by automated control of the melt composition at the final stage. The essence of the research is to exploit the valve effect of an AC arc. The expression for the Al2O3 content in the melt was obtained from the electrical characteristics of the melt. Studies have shown a fairly high degree of accuracy in the convergence of the results of the proposed method with laboratory data.

An unusual case of anteroinferior paralabral cyst with axillary nerve compression: A case report

Paralabral cysts are an uncommon cause of shoulder pain in young adults. Their association with neurological symptoms is seldom reported in the literature. The cysts are believed to develop when there is a labral tear allowing synovial fluid entry into tissues causing one-way valve effect. This case report describes a case of anteroinferior paralabral cyst in a painful shoulder associated with axillary nerve palsy. MRI revealed an anteroinferior labral cyst. Electromyography revealed denervation of deltoid and teres minor muscles. Shoulder arthroscopy was performed with cyst decompression and labral repair. Shoulder function improved gradually and by the end of 1 year, power was back to pre-injury status. Paralabral cysts are a rare entity. When associated with nerve injury, prompt decompression is necessary to prevent irreversible nerve and muscle damage.

Pit and tracheid anatomy explain the hydraulic safety- but not the hydraulic efficiency of 28 conifer species

Conifers face increased drought mortality risks because of drought-induced embolism in their vascular system. Variation in embolism resistance may result from species differences in pit structure and function, as pits control the air seeding between water transporting conduits. This study quantifies variation in embolism resistance and hydraulic conductivity for 28 conifer species grown in a 50-year-old common garden experiment and assesses the underlying mechanisms. Conifer species with a small pit aperture, high pit aperture resistance and large valve effect were more resistant to embolism, as they all may reduce air seeding. Surprisingly, hydraulic conductivity was only negatively correlated with tracheid cell wall thickness. Embolism resistance and its underlying pit traits related to pit size and sealing were stronger phylogenetically controlled than hydraulic conductivity and anatomical tracheid traits. Conifers differed in hydraulic safety and hydraulic efficiency, but there was no trade-off between safety and efficiency because they are driven by different xylem anatomical traits that are under different phylogenetic control.

Shock Due to an Obstructed Endotracheal Tube

Endotracheal tube obstruction by a mucus plug causing a ball-valve effect is a rare but significant complication. The inability to pass a suction catheter through the endotracheal tube with high peak and plateau pressure differences are classical features of an endotracheal tube obstruction. A case is described of endotracheal tube obstruction from a mucus plug that compounded severe respiratory acidosis and hypotension in a patient who simultaneously had abdominal compartment syndrome. The mucus plug was not identified until a bronchoscopic assessment of the airway was performed. Due to the absence of classical signs, the delayed identification of the obstructing mucus plug exacerbated diagnostic confusion. It resulted in various treatments being trialed whilst the patient continued to deteriorate from the evasive offending culprit. We suggest that earlier and more routine use of bronchoscopy should be employed in an intensive care unit, especially as a definitive way to rule out endotracheal obstruction.