RHIC 12x150A current lead temperature controller: design and implementation

There are 60 12 x 150A current leads distributed in six RHIC service buildings; each lead delivers power supply current from room temperature to cryogenic temperature in RHIC. Due to the humid environment, condensation occurs frequently and ice forms quickly during operation, especially during an extensive storage period. These conditions generate warnings and alarms to which personnel must respond and establish temporary solutions to keep the machine operating. In here, we designed a temperature control system to avoid such situations. This paper discusses its design, implementation, and some results. There are six service buildings in the RHIC complex; each building has two valve boxes that transfer room-temperature current cables from the power supplies into superconducting leads, and then transport them into the RHIC tunnel. In there, the transition between the room-temperature lead into superconducting lead is critical and essential; smooth running during the physics store is crucial for the machine's continuing operation. One of the problems that often occurred previously was the icing of these current leads that could result in a potential leakage current onto ground, thereby preventing a continuous supply of physics store. Fig. 1 illustrates a typical example on a power lead. Among the modifications of the design of the valve box, we list below the new requirements for designing the temperature controller to prevent icing occurring: (1) Remotely control, monitor, and record each current lead's temperature in real time. Prevent icing or overheating of a power lead. (2) Include a temperature alarm for the high/low level threshold. In this paper we discuss the design, implementation, upgrades to, and operation of this new system

Promoción de alimentación saludable y segura, actividad física y huerta orgánica

La pandemia por COVID-19 ha profundizado carencias socio-económicas y nutritivas en poblaciones vulnerables. A través de este proyecto pretendimos reducirlas, fomentando los hábitos saludables y promoviendo la puesta en valor de los beneficios de una huerta orgánica en el hogar y en la escuela. Los objetivos del trabajo fueron: a) Capacitar a los docentes para ser agentes multiplicadores de una alimentación saludable e inocua y de actividad física; y al personal de cocina en buenas prácticas de manipulación de alimentos. b) Promover la huerta escolar con hábitos agroecológicos y reciclaje. Los destinatarios directos fueron los docentes y cocineras (80 personas) y los indirectos, los alumnos de ambas escuelas (436 personas). Se trabajó interdisciplinariamente, cada uno con una visión desde su disciplina, logrando un enfoque integral y efectivo en el logro de los objetivos planteados, además de un enriquecimiento personal. La modalidad de trabajo fue a distancia (virtual), mediante Talleres (Google Meet) con docentes de ambas escuelas, estimulando el intercambio activo de ideas y propuestas de trabajo con sus alumnos. Ofrecimos recursos y actividades en un aula Moodle, proponiendo Foros de intercambio de aportes, saberes y consultas para cada tema tratado en Taller. Se evaluó la participación de los docentes en los talleres a través de su asistencia y de las prácticas frente al alumnado escolar. Los escolares elaboraron enmiendas orgánicas y armaron huertas, donde sembraron, cosecharon y usaron esos productos. La huerta escolar se planteó como estrategia educativa de alto impacto para promover hábitos de “reducir, reutilizar y reciclar” lo que consumimos, y generar un consumo responsable, ecológico y sostenible

Profit and loss analysis for an intensive care unit (ICU) in Japan: a tool for strategic management

BACKGROUND: Accurate cost estimate and a profit and loss analysis are necessary for health care practice. We performed an actual financial analysis for an intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital in Japan, and tried to discuss the health care policy and resource allocation decisions that have an impact on critical intensive care. METHODS: The costs were estimated by a department level activity based costing method, and the profit and loss analysis was based on a break-even point analysis. The data used included the monthly number of patients, the revenue, and the direct and indirect costs of the ICU in 2003. RESULTS: The results of this analysis showed that the total costs of US$2,678,052 of the ICU were mainly incurred due to direct costs of 88.8$ 2,295,044. However, it was determined that the ICU required at least 1,986 patient days within one fiscal year based on a break-even point analysis. As a result, an annual deficit of US$ 383,008 has occurred in the ICU. CONCLUSION: These methods are useful for determining the profits or losses for the ICU practice, and how to evaluate and to improve it. In this study, the results indicate that most ICUs in Japanese hospitals may not be profitable at the present time. As a result, in order to increase the income to make up for this deficit, an increase of 437 patient days in the ICU in one fiscal year is needed, and the number of patients admitted to the ICU should thus be increased without increasing the number of beds or staff members. Increasing the number of patients referred from cooperating hospitals and clinics therefore appears to be the best strategy for achieving these goals

Familial component of early-onset colorectal cancer: opportunity for prevention

[Background]: Individuals with a non-syndromic family history of colorectal cancer are known to have an increased risk. There is an opportunity to prevent early-onset colorectal cancer (age less than 50 years) (EOCRC) in this population. The aim was to explore the proportion of EOCRC that is preventable due to family history of colorectal cancer. [Methods]: This was a retrospective multicentre European study of patients with non-hereditary EOCRC. The impact of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE), U.S. Multi-Society Task Force (USMSTF), and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines on prevention and early diagnosis was compared. Colorectal cancer was defined as potentially preventable if surveillance colonoscopy would have been performed at least 5 years before the age of diagnosis of colorectal cancer, and diagnosed early if colonoscopy was undertaken between 1 and 4 years before the diagnosis. [Results]: Some 903 patients with EOCRC were included. Criteria for familial colorectal cancer risk in ESGE, USMSTF, and NCCN guidelines were met in 6.3, 9.4, and 30.4 per cent of patients respectively. Based on ESGE, USMSTF, and NCCN guidelines, colorectal cancer could potentially have been prevented in 41, 55, and 30.3 per cent of patients, and diagnosed earlier in 11, 14, and 21.1 per cent respectively. In ESGE guidelines, if surveillance had started 10 years before the youngest relative, there would be a significant increase in prevention (41 versus 55 per cent; P = 0.010). [Conclusion]: ESGE, USMSTF, and NCCN criteria for familial colorectal cancer were met in 6.3, 9.4, and 30.4 per cent of patients with EOCRC respectively. In these patients, early detection and/or prevention could be achieved in 52, 70, and 51.4 per cent respectively. Early and accurate identification of familial colorectal cancer risk and increase in the uptake of early colonoscopy are key to decreasing familial EOCRC.This study was funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III through project PI20/0974 to J.P and PI19/01867 to F.B. (co-funded by European Regional Development Fund ‘A way to make Europe’); and Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (Generalitat de Catalunya, GRC 2017SGR653). Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III

A predictive model for the early identification of patients at risk for a prolonged intensive care unit length of stay

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with a prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay account for a disproportionate amount of resource use. Early identification of patients at risk for a prolonged length of stay can lead to quality enhancements that reduce ICU stay. This study developed and validated a model that identifies patients at risk for a prolonged ICU stay.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a retrospective cohort study of 343,555 admissions to 83 ICUs in 31 U.S. hospitals from 2002-2007. We examined the distribution of ICU length of stay to identify a threshold where clinicians might be concerned about a prolonged stay; this resulted in choosing a 5-day cut-point. From patients remaining in the ICU on day 5 we developed a multivariable regression model that predicted remaining ICU stay. Predictor variables included information gathered at admission, day 1, and ICU day 5. Data from 12,640 admissions during 2002-2005 were used to develop the model, and the remaining 12,904 admissions to internally validate the model. Finally, we used data on 11,903 admissions during 2006-2007 to externally validate the model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The variables that had the greatest impact on remaining ICU length of stay were those measured on day 5, not at admission or during day 1. Mechanical ventilation, PaO₂: FiO₂ratio, other physiologic components, and sedation on day 5 accounted for 81.6% of the variation in predicted remaining ICU stay. In the external validation set observed ICU stay was 11.99 days and predicted total ICU stay (5 days + day 5 predicted remaining stay) was 11.62 days, a difference of 8.7 hours. For the same patients, the difference between mean observed and mean predicted ICU stay using the APACHE day 1 model was 149.3 hours. The new model's r²was 20.2% across individuals and 44.3% across units.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A model that uses patient data from ICU days 1 and 5 accurately predicts a prolonged ICU stay. These predictions are more accurate than those based on ICU day 1 data alone. The model can be used to benchmark ICU performance and to alert physicians to explore care alternatives aimed at reducing ICU stay.</p

The KMOS3D Survey: Demographics and Properties of Galactic Outflows at z=0.6-2.7

We present a census of ionized gas outflows in 599 normal galaxies at redshift 0.6 < z < 2.7, mostly based on integral field spectroscopy of H alpha, [N II], and [S II] line emission. The sample fairly homogeneously covers the main sequence of star-forming galaxies with masses 9.0 < log(M-*/M-circle dot) < 11.7, and probes into the regimes of quiescent galaxies and starburst outliers. About one-third exhibits the high-velocity component indicative of outflows, roughly equally split into winds driven by star formation (SF) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). The incidence of SF-driven winds correlates mainly with SF properties. These outflows have typical velocities of similar to 450 km s(-1), local electron densities of n(e) similar to 380 cm(-3), modest mass loading factors of similar to 0.1-0.2 at all galaxy masses, and energetics compatible with momentum driving by young stellar populations. The SF-driven winds may escape from log(M-*/M-circle dot) less than or similar to 10.3 galaxies, but substantial mass, momentum, and energy in hotter and colder outflow phases seem required to account for low galaxy formation efficiencies in the low-mass regime. Faster AGN-driven outflows (similar to 1000-2000 km s(-1)) are commonly detected above log(M-*/M-circle dot) similar to 10.7, in up to similar to 75% of log(M-*/M-circle dot) greater than or similar to 11.2 galaxies. The incidence, strength, and velocity of AGN-driven winds strongly correlates with stellar mass and central concentration. Their outflowing ionized gas appears denser (n(e) similar to 1000 cm(-3)), and possibly compressed and shock-excited. These winds have comparable mass loading factors as the SF-driven winds but carry similar to 10 (similar to 50) times more momentum (energy). The results confirm our previous findings of high-duty-cycle, energy-driven outflows powered by AGN above the Schechter mass, which may contribute to SF quenching.E.S.W. and J.T.M. acknowledge support by the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in Three Dimensions (ASTRO 3D), through project number CE170100013. D.J.W. and M.F. acknowledge the support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft via Project ID 3871/1-1 and 3871/1-2. G.B.B. acknowledges support from the Cosmic Dawn Center, which is funded by the Danish National Research Foundation

West Africa, 400-1400

Editor(s): Murray Fraser.Peer reviewe