Mercury accumulation in freshwater and marine fish from the wild and from aquaculture ponds.

We analysed the total mercury (Hg) accumulation in bodies and gut contents of 13 species of marine wild fish, 7 species of wild freshwater fish and 4 species of farmed fish. In addition, metal concentrations were recorded in water, sediment, fish prey and fodder materials, to track the dynamics of bio-accumulation. Cultured freshwater fish were collected at four Austrian farms and compared with samples obtained from markets.

A team-taught interdisciplinary approach to engineering ethics.

This paper outlines the development and implementation of a new course in Engineering Ethics at the University of Tennessee. This is a three-semester-hour course and is jointly taught by an engineering professor and a philosophy professor. While traditional pedagogical techniques such as case studies, position papers, and classroom discussions are used, additional activities such as developing a code of ethics and student-developed scenarios are employed to encourage critical thinking.

Impedance-gradient electrode reduces skin irritation induced by transthoracic defibrillation.

A new type of disposable external defibrillation electrode has been developed to reduce the skin irritation commonly associated with defibrillation and synchronised cardioversion. This design employs an impedance gradient to reduce the proportion of current delivered to the electrode periphery. The temperature distribution under the new electrode was compared with that of four other types of commercially available electrodes after repeated high-energy biphasic defibrillation discharges to domestic swine.

Physician-pharmacist comanagement of hypertension: a randomized, comparative trial.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of an evidence-based, systematic approach to hypertension care involving comanagement of patients by primary care physicians and clinical pharmacists versus usual care in reducing blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Methods: Patients in a staff model medical group with uncontrolled hypertension were randomized to either a usual care (UC) or a physician-pharmacist comanagement (PPCM) group. All physicians in the study received both group and individual education and participated in the development of an evidence-based hypertension treatment algorithm.