Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA)

Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are an important cause of morbidity and are frequently associated with poor prognosis, particularly in high-risk patients. The cornerstones in the management of complicated IAIs are timely effective source control with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is important in the management of intra-abdominal infections and must be broad enough to cover all likely organisms because inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor patient outcomes and the development of bacterial resistance. The overuse of antimicrobials is widely accepted as a major driver of some emerging infections (such as C. difficile), the selection of resistant pathogens in individual patients, and for the continued development of antimicrobial resistance globally. The growing emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms and the limited development of new agents available to counteract them have caused an impending crisis with alarming implications, especially with regards to Gram-negative bacteria. An international task force from 79 different countries has joined this project by sharing a document on the rational use of antimicrobials for patients with IAIs. The project has been termed AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections). The authors hope that AGORA, involving many of the world's leading experts, can actively raise awareness in health workers and can improve prescribing behavior in treating IAIs

An Examination of Active Commuting by Race/Ethnicity, Income and Location

Introduction Active commuting (AC; walking and biking to work) is associated with a number of positive health outcomes, low participation remains low in the USA. Our objective was to examine the multi-level influences on AC considering social determinants of health: race/ethnicity, income level and location. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey examining correlates of AC in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The sample consisted of 1,310 adults over the age of 18 who were employed part- or full-time outside of the home and physically able to walk and bike. One-way ANOVAs, t-tests, and Pearson correlation analyses were run to examine the relationship between AC and influences based on the Social Ecological Model for each of the different groups (non/metro, higher/lower-income, white/black/other). Results There was not a significant difference in active commuting for higher income participants compared to lower income participants. Among both low and high income individuals, males were more likely to AC than females. Metro participants reported significantly more AC trips compared to non-metro participants. Blacks were least likely to AC, followed by whites, with all other racial/ethnic groups having the highest rates of AC. Variables from multiple levels were significant influencers on AC in each population. Conclusion The findings from this study provide insight into the multi-level influences of AC in a variety of diverse population that are often at higher risk for diseases associated with physical inactivity and obesity. This information is useful in providing a foundation for future multi-level approaches targeting AC identifying populations with which to implement AC

Investigation of the Coupling Paths of a Galvanically Isolated AC/AC Converter

A galvanically isolated three-phase AC/AC converter with a high-frequency AC-link has been analyzed from an EMC point of view. This is a special configuration because of a large number of switches, a high frequency transformer, and a fourwire output. The essential coupling paths are identified.\ud Corresponding suppression remedies are given. The results, before and after measures, have been presented to demonstrate the improvement in EMC.\ud Keywords: AC/AC converter; electromagnetic interference; galvanically isolated\u

A new behavioural model for performance evaluation of common mode chokes

A galvanically isolated three-phase AC/AC converter with a high-frequency AC-link has been analyzed from an EMC point of view. This is a special configuration because of a large number of switches, a high frequency transformer, and a fourwire output. The essential coupling paths are identified. Corresponding suppression remedies are given. The results, before and after measures, have been presented to demonstrate the improvement in EMC. Keywords: AC/AC converter; electromagnetic interference; galvanically isolate

Study of the Effect of Transport Current and Combined Transverse and Longitudinal Fields on the AC Loss in NET Prototype Conductors

AC losses in cables carrying DC as well as AC transport currents at different DC background fields up to 2T have been measured on three types of Nb3Sn subcables in a new test facility. In this facility it is possible to apply sinusoidal transverse AC fields up to dB/dt=5T/s and longitudinal AC fields up to dB/dt=30T/s separately and simultaneously. The AC loss is measured with a calorimetric method. Simultaneously applied transverse and longitudinal fields can result in a loss which exceeds the added contributions of the separate applied AC fields. Within the measured range it is about correct (within 10%) to add the loss components due to DC transport current up to 10 kA and both applied transverse and longitudinal AC fields. The measured total loss is always above the sum of the loss component

Fuzzy Controller for Matrix Converter System to Improve its Quality of Output

In this paper, Fuzzy Logic controller is developed for ac/ac Matrix Converter. Furthermore, Total Harmonic Distortion is reduced significantly. Space Vector Algorithm is a method to improve power quality of the converter output. But its quality is limited to 86.7%.We are introduced a Cross coupled DQ axis controller to improve power quality. The Matrix Converter is an attractive topology for High voltage transformation ratio. A Matlab / Simulink simulation analysis of the Matrix Converter system is provided. The design and implementation of fuzzy controlled Matrix Converter is described. This AC-AC system is proposed as an effective replacement for the conventional AC-DC-AC system which employs a two-step power conversion.Comment: 11 page