554 research outputs found

    IT Solution for Disease Management at PT Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia

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    One of company's occupational health programs is disease management which is a part of preventive health care. In its realization, it was discovered that there some challenges in data collection, monitoring of catering and sport activity, employee health reports, and medical costs. The purpose of this study is to design an IT solution for the disease management program at PT. Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia (PMI). The diseases in focus are diabetes, hypertension, and tuberculosis. Methodology starts with survey on PT. PMI requirements, research parameters, problem analysis, literature study, and system design. Solution is focused on designing a registry system that includes Alert Management System, Food Tracking, EHR, Sport Tracking, Guidelines, and Report System. The results of this study is a web-based information system that can assist health care workers in seeking data, monitoring food intake and sport activity, and reporting systems for upper-level management

    Evolutionary Dynamics of Multigene Families in Triportheus (Characiformes, Triportheidae): A Transposon Mediated Mechanism?

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    Triportheus (Characiformes, Triportheidae) is a freshwater fish genus with 18 valid species. These fishes are widely distributed in the major river drainages of South America, having commercial importance in the fishing market, mainly in the Amazon basin. This genus has diverged recently in a complex process of speciation carried out in different river basins. The use of repetitive sequences is suitable to trace the genomic reorganizations occured along the speciation process. In this work, the 5S rDNA multigene family has been characterized at molecular and phylogenetic level. The results showed that other multigene family has been found within the non-transcribed spacer (NTS): the U1 snRNA gene. Double-FISH with 5S and U1 probes were also performed, confirming the close linkage between these two multigene families. Moreover, evidences of different transposable elements (TE) were detected within the spacer, thus suggesting a transposon-mediated mechanism of 5S-U1 evolutionary pathway in this genus. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a species-specific grouping, except for Triportheus pantanensis, Triportheus aff. rotundatus and Triportheus trifurcatus. The evolutionary model of the 5S rDNA in Triportheus species has been discussed. In addition, the results suggest new clues for the speciation and evolutionary trend in these species, which could be suitable to use in other Characiformes species

    Surveillance for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks -- United States, 1995-1996

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    PROBLEM/CONDITION: Since 1971, CDC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have maintained a collaborative surveillance system for collecting and periodically reporting data that relate to occurrences and causes of waterborne-disease outbreaks (WBDOs). REPORTING PERIOD COVERED: This summary includes data for January 1995 through December 1996 and previously unreported outbreaks in 1994. DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM: The surveillance system includes data about outbreaks associated with drinking water and recreational water. State, territorial, and local public health departments are primarily responsible for detecting and investigating WBDOs and for voluntarily reporting them to CDC on a standard form. RESULTS: For the period 1995-1996, 13 states reported a total of 22 outbreaks associated with drinking water. These outbreaks caused an estimated total of 2,567 persons to become ill. No deaths were reported. The microbe or chemical that caused the outbreak was identified for 14 (63.6%) of the 22 outbreaks. Giardia lamblia and Shigella sonnei each caused two (9.1%) of the 22 outbreaks; Escherichia coli O157:H7, Plesiomonas shigelloides, and a small round structured virus were implicated for one outbreak (4.5%) each. One of the two outbreaks of giardiasis involved the largest number of cases, with an estimated 1,449 ill persons. Seven outbreaks (31.8% of 22) of chemical poisoning, which involved a total of 90 persons, were reported. Copper and nitrite were associated with two outbreaks (9.1% of 22) each and sodium hydroxide, chlorine, and concentrated liquid soap with one outbreak (4.5%) each. Eleven (50.0%) of the 22 outbreaks were linked to well water, eight in noncommunity and three in community systems. Only three of the 10 outbreaks associated with community water systems were caused by problems at water treatment plants; the other seven resulted from problems in the water distribution systems and plumbing of individual facilities (e.g., a restaurant). Six of the seven outbreaks were associated with chemical contamination of the drinking water; the seventh outbreak was attributed to a small round structured virus. Four of the seven outbreaks occurred because of backflow or backsiphonage through a cross-connection, and two occurred because of high levels of copper that leached into water after the installation of new plumbing. For three of the four outbreaks caused by contamination from a cross-connection, an improperly installed vacuum breaker or a faulty backflow prevention device was identified; no protection against backsiphonage was found for the fourth outbreak. Thirty-seven outbreaks from 17 states were attributed to recreational water exposure and affected an estimated 9,129 persons, including 8,449 persons in two large outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis. Twenty-two (59.5%) of these 37 were outbreaks of gastroenteritis; nine (24.3%) were outbreaks of dermatitis; and six (16.2%) were single cases of primary amebic meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri, all of which were fatal. The etiologic agent was identified for 33 (89.2%) of the 37 outbreaks. Six (27.3%) of the 22 outbreaks of gastroenteritis were caused by Cryptosporidium parvum and six (27.3%) by E. coli O157:H7. All of the latter were associated with unchlorinated water (i.e., in lakes) or inadequately chlorinated water (i.e., in a pool). Thirteen (59.1%) of these 22 outbreaks were associated with lake water, eight (36.4%) with swimming or wading pools, and one(4.5%) with a hot spring. Of the nine outbreaks of dermatitis, seven (77.8%) were outbreaks of Pseudomonas dermatitis associated with hot tubs, and two (22.2%) were lake-associated outbreaks of swimmer\u27s itch caused by Schistosoma species. INTERPRETATION: WBDOs caused by E. coli O157:H7 were reported more frequently than in previous years and were associated primarily with recreational lake water. This finding suggests the need for better monitoring of water quality and identification of sources of contamination. Although protozoan parasites, especially Cryptosporidium and Giardia, were associated with fewer reported outbreaks than in previous years, they caused large outbreaks that affected a total of approximately 10,000 persons; all of the outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis were associated with recreational water, primarily swimming pools. Prevention of pool-associated outbreaks caused by chlorine-resistant parasites (e.g., Cryptosporidium and to a lesser extent Giardia) is particularly difficult because it requires improved filtration methods as well as education of patrons about hazards associated with fecal accidents, especially in pools frequented by diaper-aged children. The proportion of reported drinking water outbreaks associated with community water systems that were attributed to problems at water treatment plants has steadily declined since 1989 (i.e., 72.7% for 1989-1990, 62.5% for 1991-1992, 57.1% for 1993-1994, and 30.0% for 1995-1996). This decrease might reflect improvements in water treatment and in operation of plants. The outbreaks attributed to contamination in the distribution system suggest that efforts should be increased to prevent cross-connections, especially by installing and monitoring backflow prevention devices. Actions Taken: Surveillance data that identify the types of water systems, their deficiencies, and the etiologic agents associated with outbreaks are used to evaluate the adequacy of current technologies for providing safe drinking and recreational water. In addition, they are used to establish research priorities and can lead to improved water-quality regulations

    Impact of Bidentate Pyridyl-Mesoionic Carbene Ligands: Structural, (Spectro)Electrochemical, Photophysical, and Theoretical Investigations on Ruthenium(II) Complexes

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    We present here new synthetic strategies for the isolation of a series of Ru(II) complexes with pyridyl-mesoionic carbene ligands (MIC) of the 1,2,3-triazole-5-ylidene type, in which the bpy ligands (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) of the archetypical [Ru(bpy)3]2+ have been successively replaced by one, two, or three pyridyl-MIC ligands. Three new complexes have been isolated and investigated via NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The incorporation of one MIC unit shifts the potential of the metal-centered oxidation about 160 mV to more cathodic potential in cyclic voltammetry, demonstrating the extraordinary σ-donor ability of the pyridyl-MIC ligand, while the π-acceptor capacities are dominated by the bpy ligand, as indicated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroelectrochemistry (EPR-SEC). The replacement of all bpy ligands by the pyridyl-MIC ligand results in an anoidic shift of the ligand-centered reduction by 390 mV compared to the well-established [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complex. In addition, UV/vis/NIR-SEC in combination with theoretical calculations provided detailed insights into the electronic structures of the respective redox states, taking into account the total number of pyridyl-MIC ligands incorporated in the Ru(II) complexes. The luminescence quantum yield and lifetimes were determined by time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy. An estimation of the excited state redox potentials conclusively showed that the pyridyl-MIC ligand can tune the photoredox activity of the isolated complexes to stronger photoreductants. These observations can provide new strategies for the design of photocatalysts and photosensitizers based on MICs

    The genomic structure of the highlyconserved dmrt1 gene in Solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1868) shows an unexpected intragenic duplication

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    Knowing the factors responsible for sex determination in a species has significant theoretical and practical implications; the dmrt1 gene (Doublesex and Mab-3 (DM)-related Transcription factor 1) plays this role in diverse animal species. Solea senegalensis is a commercially important flat fish in which females grow 30% faster than males. It has 2n = 42 chromosomes and an XX / XY chromosome system for sex determination, without heteromorph chromosomes but with sex proto-chromosome. In the present study, we are providing the genomic structure and nucleotide sequence of dmrt1 gene obtained from cDNA from male and female adult gonads. A cDNA of 2027 containing an open-reading frame (ORF) of 1206 bp and encoding a 402 aa protein it is described for dmrt1 gene of S. senegalensis. Multiple mRNA isoforms indicating a high variable system of alternative splicing in the expression of dmrt1 of the sole in gonads were studied. None isoforms could be related to sex of individuals. The genomic structure of the dmrt1 of S. senegalensis showed a gene of 31400 bp composed of 7 exons and 6 introns. It contains an unexpected duplication of more than 10399 bp, involving part of the exon I, exons II and III and a SINE element found in the sequence that it is proposed as responsible for the duplication. A mature miRNA of 21 bp in length was localized at 336 bp from exon V. Protein-protein interacting networks of the dmrt1 gene showed matches with dmrt1 protein from Cynoglossus semilaevis and a protein interaction network with 11 nodes (dmrt1 plus 10 other proteins). The phylogenetic relationship of the dmrt1 gene in S. senegalensis is consistent with the evolutionary position of its species. The molecular characterization of this gene will enhance its functional analysis and the understanding of sex differentiation in Solea senegalensis and other flatfish

    Desmoplastic myxoid tumor of pineal region, SMARCB1-mutant, in young adult

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    We present a young adult woman who developed a myxoid tumor of the pineal region having a SMARCB1 mutation, which was phenotypically similar to the recently described desmoplastic myxoid, SMARCB1-mutant tumor of the pineal region (DMT-SMARCB1). The 24-year-old woman presented with headaches, nausea, and emesis. Neuroimaging identified a hypodense lesion in CT scans that was T1-hypointense, hyperintense in both T2-weighted and FLAIR MRI scans, and displayed gadolinium enhancement. The resected tumor had an abundant, Alcian-blue positive myxoid matrix with interspersed, non-neoplastic neuropil-glial-vascular elements. It immunoreacted with CD34 and individual cells for EMA. Immunohistochemistry revealed loss of nuclear INI1 expression by the myxoid component but its retention in the vascular elements. Molecular analyses identified a SMARCB1 deletion and DNA methylation studies showed that this tumor grouped together with the recently described DMT-SMARCB1. A cerebrospinal fluid cytologic preparation had several cells morphologically similar to those in routine and electron microscopy. We briefly discuss the correlation of the pathology with the radiology and how this tumor compares with other SMARCB1-mutant tumors of the nervous system

    Early lactate and glucose kinetics following return to spontaneous circulation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

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    OBJECTIVE: Lactate has been shown to be preferentially metabolized in comparison to glucose after physiological stress, such as strenuous exercise. Derangements of lactate and glucose are common after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Therefore, we hypothesized that lactate decreases faster than glucose after return-to-spontaneous-circulation (ROSC) after OHCA. RESULTS: We included 155 OHCA patients in our analysis. Within the first 8 h of presentation to the emergency department, 843 lactates and 1019 glucoses were available, respectively. Lactate decreased to 50% of its initial value within 1.5 h (95% CI [0.2-3.6 h]), while glucose halved within 5.6 h (95% CI [5.4-5.7 h]). Also, in the first 8 h after presentation lactate decreases more than glucose in relation to their initial values (lactate 72.6% vs glucose 52.1%). In patients with marked hyperlactatemia after OHCA, lactate decreased expediently while glucose recovered more slowly, whereas arterial pH recovered at a similar rapid rate as lactate. Hospital non-survivors (N = 82) had a slower recovery of lactate (P = 0.002) than survivors (N = 82). The preferential clearance of lactate underscores its role as a prime energy substrate, when available, during recovery from extreme stress

    Evolutionary Dynamics of rDNAs and U2 Small Nuclear DNAs in Triportheus (Characiformes, Triportheidae): High Variability and Particular Syntenic Organization.

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    Agradecer a ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.Las familias multigénicas corresponden a un grupo de genes repetidos en tándem, mostrando una enorme diversidad tanto en el número de unidades como en la organización genómica. En los peces, a diferencia del ADNr que ha sido bien explorado en estudios citogenéticos, los genes del ARN nuclear pequeño (ARNsn) U2 están poco investigados en cuanto a su localización cromosómica. Todas las especies de Triportheus (Characiformes, Triportheidae) estudiadas hasta ahora llevan un sistema de cromosomas sexuales ZZ/ZW, donde el cromosoma W contiene un enorme cistrón de ADNr 18S. En algunas especies también se verificó la organización sinténica de los ADNr en los autosomas. Para explorar esta organización particular, realizamos una hibridación in situ con fluorescencia de tres colores utilizando los genes 5S, 18S rDNA y U2 snRNA como sondas en ocho especies de Triportheus. Este trabajo representa el primero que analiza la distribución cromosómica de genes de ARNsn U2 en genomas de Triportheidae. La variabilidad en el número de grupos de ADNr y las sintenias divergentes de estas tres familias multigénicas ponen en evidencia su dinamismo evolutivo, revelando una organización mucho más compleja de estos genes de lo que se suponía anteriormente para especies estrechamente relacionadas. Nuestro estudio también proporciona datos adicionales sobre la acumulación de secuencias repetitivas en el cromosoma específico del sexo. Además, también se revisa la organización cromosómica de los snDNA U2 entre especies de peces. ​Multigene families correspond to a group of genes tandemly repeated, showing enormous diversity in both number of units and genomic organization. In fishes, unlike rDNAs that have been well explored in cytogenetic studies, U2 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) genes are poorly investigated concerning their chromosomal localization. All Triportheus species (Characiformes, Triportheidae) studied so far carry a ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes system, where the W chromosome contains a huge 18S rDNA cistron. In some species the syntenic organization of rDNAs on autosomes was also verified. To explore this particular organization, we performed three-color-fluorescence in situ hybridization using 5S, 18S rDNA, and U2 snRNA genes as probes in eight Triportheus species. This work represents the first one analyzing the chromosomal distribution of U2 snRNA genes in genomes of Triportheidae. The variability in number of rDNA clusters, and the divergent syntenies for these three multigene families, put in evidence their evolutionary dynamism, revealing a much more complex organization of these genes than previously supposed for closely related species. Our study also provides additional data on the accumulation of repetitive sequences in the sex-specific chromosome. Besides, the chromosomal organization of U2 snDNAs among fish species is also reviewed.Este estudio fue apoyado por las agencias brasileñas CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—proc. no 306896/2014-1), FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a` Pesquisa do Estado de Sa˜o Paulo—Proc. no 2014/ 22532 -7), y CAPES (Coordenac¸a˜o de Aperfeic¸oamento de Pessoal de Nı ´vel Superior—proc. no BEX 11744/13-8)

    Atomic layer deposition of NiO applied in a monolithic perovskite/PERC tandem cell

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    Monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaics have fueled major research efforts as well as gaining rapid industrial interest. So far, most of the literature has focused on the use of currently more expensive silicon heterojunction bottom cell technology. This work demonstrates a perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell based on the industrially dominant passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology. In detail, we investigate a tunnel recombination junction (TRJ) consisting of ITO/NiO/2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl] phosphonic acid (2PACz) and compare it with an ITO/2PACz TRJ. Specifically, the NiO layer is deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Although ITO/2PACz-based tandem devices can reach more than 24% conversion efficiency, we observe that they suffer from a large spread in photovoltaic parameters due to electrical shunts in the perovskite top cell, caused by the inhomogeneity of the 2PACz layer on ITO. Instead, when ALD NiO is sandwiched between 2PACz and ITO, the surface coverage of 2PACz improves and the yield of the devices, in terms of all device parameters, also improves, i.e., the standard deviation decreases from 4.6% with ITO/2PACz to 2.0% with ITO/NiO/2PACz. In conclusion, thanks to the presence of NiO, the TRJ consisting of ITO/NiO/2PACz leads to a 23.7% efficient tandem device with narrow device efficiency distribution

    What is the potential benefit of pre-hospital extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for patients with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest?:A predictive modelling study

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    AIM: In this predictive modelling study we aimed to investigate how many patients with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) would benefit from pre-hospital as opposed to in-hospital initiation of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).METHODS: A temporal spatial analysis of Utstein data was performed for all adult patients with a non-traumatic OHCA attended by three emergency medical services (EMS) covering the north of the Netherlands during a one-year period. Patients were considered potentially eligible for ECPR if they had a witnessed arrest with immediate bystander CPR, an initial shockable rhythm (or signs of life during resuscitation) and could be presented in an ECPR-centre within 45 minutes of the arrest. Endpoint of interest was defined as the hypothetical number of ECPR eligible patients after 10, 15 and 20 minutes of conventional CPR and upon (hypothetical) arrival in an ECPR-centre as a fraction of the total number of OHCA patients attended by EMS.RESULTS: During the study period 622 OHCA patients were attended, of which 200 (32%) met ECPR eligibility criteria upon EMS arrival. The optimal transition point between conventional CPR and ECPR was found to be after 15 minutes. Hypothetical intra-arrest transport of all patients in whom no return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was obtained after that point (n = 84) would have yielded 16/622 (2.5%) patients being potentially ECPR eligible upon hospital arrival (average low-flow time 52 minutes), whereas on-scene initiation of ECPR would have resulted in 84/622 (13.5%) potential candidates (average estimated low-flow time 24 minutes before cannulation).CONCLUSION: Even in healthcare systems with relatively short transport distances to hospital, consideration should be given to pre-hospital initiation of ECPR for OHCA as it shortens low-flow time and increases the number of potentially eligible patients.</p
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