University of Tennessee

About: University of Tennessee is a education organization based out in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 41976 authors who have published 87043 publications receiving 2828517 citations. The organization is also known as: UTK & UT Knoxville.

Industrial Plasma Engineering : Volume 1: Principles

Abstract: This book will provide the necessary theoretical background and a description of plasma-related devices and processes that are used industrially for physicists and engineers.It is a self-contained introduction to the principles of plasma engineering with comprehensive references. This volume also includes the terminology, jargon and acronyms used in the field of industrial plasma engineering - indexed when they first appear in the text - along with their definitions and a discussion of their meaning. It is aimed at assisting the student in learning key terminology and concepts, and providing the in-service engineer or scientist with a technical glossary. An extensive index and appendices enhance the value of this book as a key reference source. These incorporate a list of the nomenclature used in mathematical expressions in the text, physical constants, and often-used plasma formulae. SI units are used throughout.Intended for students from all engineering and physical science disciplines, and as a reference source by in-service engineers.Coverage:* basic information on plasma physics and the physical processes important in industrial plasmas* sources of ion and electron beams and ionizing radiation used in industrial applications* physics and technology of DC and RF electrical discharges.

Rapid evolution of reproductive barriers driven by sexual conflict

Abstract: A growing amount of experimental data indicates extremely rapid evolution of traits and proteins related to fertilization in many diverging taxa These data come from studies of sperm or pollen competition between closely related species, and from molecular studies of fertilization proteins The positive selection for evolutionary novelty that appears to be acting on fertilization systems seems paradoxical because successful reproduction requires the close matching of female and male traits It has been suggested that perpetual coevolution between the sexes can result from sexual conflict in mating Sexual conflict occurs when characteristics that enhance the reproductive success of one sex reduce the fitness of the other sex Numerous examples of sexual conflict resulting from sensory exploitation, polyspermy and the cost of mating have been discussed in detail The potential for coevolution due to such conflict has been evaluated experimentally Here I develop a simple mathematical model describing coevolutionary dynamics of male and female traits involved in reproduction The model shows that continual change in such traits at a constant speed is expected whenever females (or eggs) experience fitness loss from having too many compatible males (or sperms) The plausibility of runaway coevolution increases with increasing population size Rapid evolution of reproductive barriers driven by sexual conflict may explain increased speciation rates after colonization of new habitats ('adaptive radiation') and high species richness in resource-rich environments

Time Lag between Deforestation and Bird Extinction in Tropical Forest Fragments

Abstract: Tropical forests are becoming increasingly fragmented, threatening the survival of the species that depend on them. Small, isolated forest fragments will lose some of their original species. What is uncertain is how long this process of faunal relaxation will take. We compiled data on birds in five tropical forest frag- ments in Kakamega Forest, Kenya, of known date of isolation. We then predicted the original and eventual species richness of these fragments and, from this difference, the eventual species losses. Expressing the losses to date as a fraction of eventual losses suggests that faunal relaxation approximates an exponential decay with a half-life of approximately 50 years for fragments of roughly 1000 ha. In other words, in the first 50 years after isolation, tropical forest fragments of this size suffer half of the total number of extinctions that they are likely to experience. This result sets the time scale over which humanity must take conservation ac- tion in fragmented tropical forests, may aid efforts to set priorities, and indicates how high the future global extinction rate will be.

Adverse Sedation Events in Pediatrics: A Critical Incident Analysis of Contributing Factors

Abstract: Objective. Factors that contribute to adverse sedation events in children undergoing procedures were examined using the technique of critical incident analysis. Methodology. We developed a database that consists of descriptions of adverse sedation events derived from the Food and Drug Administration9s adverse drug event reporting system, from the US Pharmacopeia, and from a survey of pediatric specialists. One hundred eighteen reports were reviewed for factors that may have contributed to the adverse sedation event. The outcome, ranging in severity from death to no harm, was noted. Individual reports were first examined separately by 4 physicians trained in pediatric anesthesiology, pediatric critical care medicine, or pediatric emergency medicine. Only reports for which all 4 reviewers agreed on the contributing factors and outcome were included in the final analysis. Results. Of the 95 incidents with consensus agreement on the contributing factors, 51 resulted in death, 9 in permanent neurologic injury, 21 in prolonged hospitalization without injury, and in 14 there was no harm. Patients receiving sedation in nonhospital-based settings compared with hospital-based settings were older and healthier. The venue of sedation was not associated with the incidence of presenting respiratory events (eg, desaturation, apnea, laryngospasm, ∼80% in each venue) but more cardiac arrests occurred as the second (53.6% vs 14%) and third events (25% vs 7%) in nonhospital-based facilities. Inadequate resuscitation was rated as being a determinant of adverse outcome more frequently in nonhospital-based events (57.1% vs 2.3%). Death and permanent neurologic injury occurred more frequently in nonhospital-based facilities (92.8% vs 37.2%). Successful outcome (prolonged hospitalization without injury or no harm) was associated with the use of pulse oximetry compared with a lack of any documented monitoring that was associated with unsuccessful outcome (death or permanent neurologic injury). In addition, pulse oximetry monitoring of patients sedated in hospitals was uniformly associated with successful outcomes whereas in the nonhospital-based venue, 4 out of 5 suffered adverse outcomes. Adverse outcomes despite the benefit of an early warning regarding oxygenation likely reflect lack of skill in assessment and in the use of appropriate interventions, ie, a failure to rescue the patient. Conclusions. This study—a critical incident analysis—identifies several features associated with adverse sedation events and poor outcome. There were differences in outcomes for venue: adverse outcomes (permanent neurologic injury or death) occurred more frequently in a nonhospital-based facility, whereas successful outcomes (prolonged hospitalization or no harm) occurred more frequently in a hospital-based setting. Inadequate resuscitation was more often associated with a nonhospital-based setting. Inadequate and inconsistent physiologic monitoring (particularly failure to use or respond appropriately to pulse oximetry) was another major factor contributing to poor outcome in all venues. Other issues rated by the reviewers were: inadequate presedation medical evaluation, lack of an independent observer, medication errors, and inadequate recovery procedures. Uniform, specialty-independent guidelines for monitoring children during and after sedation are essential. Age and size-appropriate equipment and medications for resuscitation should be immediately available regardless of the location where the child is sedated. All health care providers who sedate children, regardless of practice venue, should have advanced airway assessment and management training and be skilled in the resuscitation of infants and children so that they can successfully rescue their patient should an adverse sedation event occur.