Expiratory rib cage Compression in mechanically ventilated subjects: a randomized crossover trial [corrected].

Background: Expiratory rib cage compression (ERCC) has been empirically used by physiotherapists with the rationale of improving expiratory flows and therefore the airway clearance in mechanically ventilated patients. This study evaluates the acute mechanical effects and sputum clearance of an ERCC protocol in ventilated patients with pulmonary infection.

Methods: In a randomized crossover study, sputum production and respiratory mechanics were evaluated in 20 mechanically ventilated subjects submitted to 2 interventions.

Comparison of different pretreatment methods for lignocellulosic materials. Part I: conversion of rye straw to valuable products.

The conversion of lignocellulose to valuable products requires I: a fractionation of the major components hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, II: an efficient method to process these components to higher valued products. The present work compares liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment to the soda pulping process and to the ethanol organosolv pretreatment using rye straw as a single lignocellulosic material. The organosolv pretreated rye straw was shown to require the lowest enzyme loading in order to achieve a complete saccharification of cellulose to glucose.