284 research outputs found
Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS), General Electric Phase 1. Volume 3: Energy conversion subsystems and components. Part 3: Gasification, process fuels, and balance of plant
Results are presented of an investigation of gasification and clean fuels from coal. Factors discussed include: coal and coal transportation costs; clean liquid and gas fuel process efficiencies and costs; and cost, performance, and environmental intrusion elements of the integrated low-Btu coal gasification system. Cost estimates for the balance-of-plant requirements associated with advanced energy conversion systems utilizing coal or coal-derived fuels are included
Global large-scale stratosphereâtroposphere exchange in modern reanalyses
Stratosphereâtroposphere exchange (STE) has important impacts on the
chemical and radiative properties of the upper troposphere and lower
stratosphere. This study presents a 15-year climatology of global large-scale
STE from four modern reanalyses: ERA-Interim, JRA-55, MERRA-2, and MERRA. STE
is separated into three regions (tropics, subtropics, and extratropics) and
two transport directions (stratosphere-to-troposphere transport or STT and
troposphere-to-stratosphere transport or TST) in an attempt to identify the
significance of known transport mechanisms. The extratropics and tropics are
separated by the tropopause break. Any STE occurring between the tropics
and the extratropics through the tropopause break is considered subtropical
exchange (i.e., in the vicinity of the subtropical jet).
In addition, this study employs a method to identify STE as that which
crosses the lapse-rate tropopause (LRT), while most previous studies have
used a potential vorticity (PV) isosurface as the troposphereâstratosphere
boundary. PV-based and LRT-based STE climatologies are compared using the
ERA-Interim reanalysis output. The comparison reveals quantitative and
qualitative differences, particularly for TST in the polar regions.
Based upon spatiotemporal integrations, we find STE to be STT dominant in
ERA-Interim and JRA-55 and TST dominant in MERRA and MERRA-2. The sources of
the differences are mainly attributed to inconsistencies in the
representation of STE in the subtropics and extratropics. Time series during
the 15-year analysis period show long-term changes that are argued to
correspond with changes in the BrewerâDobson circulation
Systematic review of antiepileptic drugsâ safety and effectiveness in feline epilepsy
Understanding the efficacy and safety profile of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in feline epilepsy is a crucial consideration for managing this important brain disease. However, there is a lack of information about the treatment of feline epilepsy and therefore a systematic review was constructed to assess current evidence for the AEDsâ efficacy and tolerability in cats. The methods and materials of our former systematic reviews in canine epilepsy were mostly mirrored for the current systematic review in cats. Databases of PubMed, CAB Direct and Google scholar were searched to detect peer-reviewed studies reporting efficacy and/or adverse effects of AEDs in cats. The studies were assessed with regards to their quality of evidence, i.e. study design, study population, diagnostic criteria and overall risk of bias and the outcome measures reported, i.e. prevalence and 95% confidence interval of the successful and affected population in each study and in total
Identification of hip fracture patients from radiographs using Fourier analysis of the trabecular structure: a cross-sectional study
Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Antiepileptic drugsâ tolerability and safety â a systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse effects in dogs
<p>Various anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are used for the management of idiopathic epilepsy (IE) in dogs. Their safety profile is an important consideration for regulatory bodies, owners and prescribing clinicians. However, information on their adverse effects still remains limited with most of it derived from non-blinded non-randomized uncontrolled trials and case reports.</p><p><span>This poster won third place, which was presented at the Veterinary Evidence Today conference, Edinburgh November 1-3, 2016. </span></p><br /> <img src="https://www.veterinaryevidence.org/rcvskmod/icons/oa-icon.jpg" alt="Open Access" /
International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force consensus proposal: Medical treatment of canine epilepsy in Europe
In Europe, the number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) licensed for dogs has grown considerably over the last years. Nevertheless, the same questions remain, which include, 1) when to start treatment, 2) which drug is best used initially, 3) which adjunctive AED can be advised if treatment with the initial drug is unsatisfactory, and 4) when treatment changes should be considered. In this consensus proposal, an overview is given on the aim of AED treatment, when to start long-term treatment in canine epilepsy and which veterinary AEDs are currently in use for dogs. The consensus proposal for drug treatment protocols, 1) is based on current published evidence-based literature, 2) considers the current legal framework of the cascade regulation for the prescription of veterinary drugs in Europe, and 3) reflects the authorsâ experience. With this paper it is aimed to provide a consensus for the management of canine idiopathic epilepsy. Furthermore, for the management of structural epilepsy AEDs are inevitable in addition to treating the underlying cause, if possible
International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force Consensus Proposal: Outcome of therapeutic interventions in canine and feline epilepsy
Common criteria for the diagnosis of drug resistance and the assessment of outcome are needed urgently as a prerequisite for standardized evaluation and reporting of individual therapeutic responses in canine epilepsy. Thus, we provide a proposal for the definition of drug resistance and partial therapeutic success in canine patients with epilepsy. This consensus statement also suggests a list of factors and aspects of outcome, which should be considered in addition to the impact on seizures. Moreover, these expert recommendations discuss criteria which determine the validity and informative value of a therapeutic trial in an individual patient and also suggest the application of individual outcome criteria. Agreement on common guidelines does not only render a basis for future optimization of individual patient management, but is also a presupposition for the design and implementation of clinical studies with highly standardized inclusion and exclusion criteria. Respective standardization will improve the comparability of findings from different studies and renders an improved basis for multicenter studies. Therefore, this proposal provides an in-depth discussion of the implications of outcome criteria for clinical studies. In particular ethical aspects and the different options for study design and application of individual patient-centered outcome criteria are considered
Antimicrobial Use Guidelines for Treatment of Urinary Tract Disease in Dogs and Cats: Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases
Urinary tract disease is a common reason for use (and likely misuse, improper use, and overuse) of antimicrobials in dogs and cats. There is a lack of comprehensive treatment guidelines such as those that are available for human medicine. Accordingly, guidelines for diagnosis and management of urinary tract infections were created by a Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases. While objective data are currently limited, these guidelines provide information to assist in the diagnosis and management of upper and lower urinary tract infections in dogs and cats
Prediction of marbofloxacin dosage for the pig pneumonia pathogens Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida by pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling
PK/PD integration data. (DOCX 7 kb
Post-release reforms for short prison sentences: re-legitimising and widening the net of punishment
Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) promised a ârevolutionâ in the way offenders are managed, providing a renewed focus on short sentence prisoners. The TR reforms extends mandatory post-release supervision and tailored through-the-gate resettlement provisions to a group that has predominately faced a âhistory of neglectâ yet often present with the most acute needs within the criminal justice system. However, existing literature underlines that serving short sentences lack âutilityâ and can be counter-productive to facilitating effective rehabilitation.
This article explores the purposes of providing post release supervision for short sentences, firstly exploring a previous attempt to reform short sentences; (the now defunct) âCustody Plusâ within the 2003 Criminal Justice Act and then the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 within the TR reforms. This article contends that both post release reforms have sought to re-affirm and re-legitimise prison as the dominant form of punishment in society- or what Carlen refers to as âcarceral clawbackâ. This article will also use Cohenâs analysis on social control to establish that post release supervision will serve to âwiden the netâ extend the period of punishment and oversight and will only reinforce a form of enforced âstate obligated rehabilitationâ that will undermine efforts made to resettle short sentence prisoners
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