Diverse Applications of Nanomedicine

The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic. \ua9 2017 American Chemical Society

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Investimentos privados, impactos ambientais e qualidade de vida num empreendimento mineral amazônico: o caso da mina de manganês de Serra do Navio (Amapá) Private investments, environmental impact, and the quality of life at a mining venture in the Amazon: the case of the Serra do Navio manganese mine in Amapá

O texto discute as conseqüências ambientais e socioeconômicas de um grande empreendimento de extração mineral na Amazônia brasileira. Entre 1957 e 1998, a Indústria e Comércio de Minérios S. A. (ICOMI) explorou manganês no Amapá, em Serra do Navio, uma das maiores minas desse minério no mundo. Foi o primeiro e o mais durável empreendimento mineral de grande escala e intensivo de capital na região amazônica brasileira. O texto apresenta um perfil biofísico e socioeconômico do Amapá, caracterizando-o como fronteira de expansão da sociedade nacional. Discute o volume da produção, as características da companhia mineradora, mostrando seu sucesso comercial, os principais impactos ambientais do empreendimento, especialmente o desmatamento, o status da qualidade de água e a recuperação ambiental da área minerada, concluindo que esses impactos foram localizados e moderados. Na conclusão, são apresentados os resultados de um exercício de mensuração dos níveis de bem-estar socioeconômico da população do Amapá entre 1953 e 1993: as melhoras foram sensíveis.<br>The text examines the environmental and socioeconomic consequences of a major mining venture in the Brazilian Amazon. From 1957 to 1998, Indústria e Comércio de Minérios S. A. (ICOMI) extracted ore from one of the world’s largest manganese mines, located in the Serra do Navio highlands region of the state of Amapá. ICOMI was the first and longest-running large-scale, capital-intensive mining operation in the Brazilian Amazon. Based on a biophysical and socioeconomic profile of Amapá, the region is characterized as a frontier for an expanding Brazilian society. After discussing the mining company’s characteristics, its production volume and commercial success, main environmental impacts (particularly deforestation), area water quality, and the environmental recovery of the mined area, it is concluded that impacts have been localized and moderate. Furthermore, measurements of the levels of socioeconomic well being in Amapá between 1953 and 1993 indicate significant improvements

International Social Survey Programme: Religion I-III ADD ON - ISSP 1991-1998-2008

The International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) is a continuous programme of cross-national collaboration running annual surveys on topics important for the social sciences. The programme started in 1984 with four founding members - Australia, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States – and has now grown to almost 50 member countries from all over the world. As the surveys are designed for replication, they can be used for both, cross-national and cross-time comparisons. Each ISSP module focuses on a specific topic, which is repeated in regular time intervals. Please, consult the documentation for details on how the national ISSP surveys are fielded. The present study focuses on questions about religion and religious identity.The release of the cumulated ISSP ´Religion´ modules for the years 1991, 1998 and 2008 consists of two separate datasets: ZA5070 and ZA5071. This documentation deals with the supplementary dataset ZA5071. It contains all those, mainly national-specific background variables that belong to the current ISSP standard, but could not be cumulated for various reasons. The variables, however, can be matched easily to the cumulated file if necessary. A comprehensive overview on the contents, the structure and basic coding rules of both data files can be found in the following guide: Guide for the ISSP ´Religion´ cumulation of the years 1991, 1998 and 2008 Religion I-III - Add On: Variables for all countries and modules if available: country-specific education and degree; country-specific occupation (respondent as well as partner); earnings of respondent (country specific); family income (country-specific); country-specific party affiliation; size of community (country-specific); country of origin or ethnic group affiliation (country-specific); type of community: urban-rural area. Single variables: spouse’s working for private or public sector or self-employed 2008; self-placement on a top-bottom scale 2008, administrative mode of data-collection 2008, case substitution flag 2008.Das International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) ist ein länderübergreifendes, fortlaufendes Umfrageprogramm, das jährlich Erhebungen zu Themen durchführt, die für die Sozialwissenschaften wichtig sind. Das Programm begann 1984 mit vier Gründungsmitgliedern - Australien, Deutschland, Großbritannien und den Vereinigten Staaten - und ist inzwischen auf fast 50 Mitgliedsländer aus aller Welt angewachsen. Da die Umfragen auf Replikationen ausgelegt sind, können die Daten sowohl für länder- als auch für zeitübergreifende Vergleiche genutzt werden. Jedes ISSP-Modul konzentriert sich auf ein bestimmtes Thema, das in regelmäßigen Zeitabständen wiederholt wird. Details zur Durchführung der nationalen ISSP-Umfragen entnehmen Sie bitte der Dokumentation. Die vorliegende Studie konzentriert sich auf Fragen zu Religion und religiöser Identität.Der kumulierte Datensatz ISSP ´Religion´ für die Jahre 1991, 1998 und 2008 besteht aus zwei getrennten Datensätzen: ZA5070 und ZA5071. Dieser hier beschriebene Datensatz enthält hauptsächlich die Variablen mit länder-spezifischem Hintergrund, die deswegen nicht in die allgemeine Kumulation (ZA-Studien-Nr. 5070) aufgenommen wurden. Die Variablen können jedoch bei Bedarf leicht mit der kumulierten Datei verbunden werden. Ein umfassender Überblick über den Inhalt, die Struktur und die grundlegenden Regeln der Kodierung der beiden Dateien ist im folgenden Leitfaden dokumentiert: Guide for the ISSP ´Religion´ cumulation of the years 1991, 1998 and 2008 Religion I-III - Add On: Variablen für alle Länder, falls verfügbar: länderspezifische Bildung und Studium; länderspezifische Beschäftigung (Befragter sowie Partner), das Einkommen der Befragten (länderspezifisch); Familieneinkommen (länderspezifisch), länderspezifische Parteizugehörigkeit; Größe der Gemeinde (länderspezifisch), Herkunftsland oder ethnische Gruppenzugehörigkeit (länderspezifisch), Urbanisierungsgrad. Einzelne Variablen wie: Ehepartner arbeitet im privaten oder öffentlichen Sektor oder Selbständigkeit (2008); Selbsteinschätzung auf einer Oben-Unten-Skala (2008), Art der Datenerhebung (2008), case substitution flag (2008)

International Social Survey Programme: Religion I-III - ISSP 1991-1998-2008

The International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) is a continuous programme of cross-national collaboration running annual surveys on topics important for the social sciences. The programme started in 1984 with four founding members - Australia, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States – and has now grown to almost 50 member countries from all over the world. As the surveys are designed for replication, they can be used for both, cross-national and cross-time comparisons. Each ISSP module focuses on a specific topic, which is repeated in regular time intervals. Please, consult the documentation for details on how the national ISSP surveys are fielded. The present study focuses on questions about religion and religious identity.The release of the cumulated ISSP ´Religion´ modules for the years 1991, 1998 and 2008 consists of two separate datasets: ZA5070 and ZA5071. This documentation deals with the main dataset ZA5070. It contains all the cumulated variables, while the supplementary data file ZA5071 contains those variables that could not be cumulated for various reasons. However, they can be matched easily to the cumulated file if necessary. A comprehensive overview on the contents, the structure and basic coding rules of both data files can be found in the following guide: Guide for the ISSP ´Religion´ cumulation of the years 1991, 1998 and 2008 Religion I-III: Assessment of personal happiness; responsibility of government for providing jobs and reduction of the difference between rich and poor; attitudes towards pre-marital sexual intercourse; attitudes towards committed adultery; attitudes towards homosexual relationships between adults; attitudes towards abortion in case of serious disability or illness of the baby or low income of the family; attitudes towards gender roles in marriage; attitude towards tax fraud and incorrect information to get benefits from government; trust in institutions (parliament, business and industry, churches and religious organizations, courts and the legal system, schools and the educational system); attitudes towards the influence of religious leaders on voters and government; judgement on the power of churches and religious organizations; doubt or firm belief in God (deism, scale); belief in: a life after death, heaven, hell, religious miracles; attitudes towards the Bible (or appropriate holy book); attitudes towards a higher truth and towards meaning of life (scale: God is concerned with every human being personally, little that people can do to change the course of their lives (fatalism), life is meaningful only because God exists, life does not serve any purpose, life is only meaningful if someone provides the meaning himself); we each make our own fate; turning point in life and new commitment to religion; religious preference (affiliation) of mother, father and spouse/partner; religion respondent was raised in; frequency of church attendance (of attendance in religious services) of father and mother when the respondent was a child; personal frequency of church attendance at the age of 11-12; frequency of prayers and participation in religious activities; self-assessment as religious; belief in lucky charms, fortune tellers, faith healers and horoscopes; born again experience; concept of God (semantic differential scale: mother - father, master - spouse, judge - lover, friend - king); world image: much evil vs. much good, man is good vs. corrupt; people can be trusted; attitudes towards the benefits of science and religion (scale: modern science does more harm than good, too much trust in science and not enough in religious faith, religions bring more conflicts than peace, intolerance of people with very strong religious beliefs); attitude towards truth in religion (very litte truth in any religion, basic truths in many religions or truth only in one religion); attitude if law conflicts with religious principles. Demography: sex; age; marital status; steady life partner; years of schooling; highest education level; current employment status (respondent and partner); hours worked weekly; occupation (ISCO 1988) (respondent and partner); supervising function at work; working for private or public sector or self-employed; number of employees; trade union membership; size of household; household composition; party affiliation (left-right); participation in last election; attendance of religious services; religious main groups; subjective social class; region (country-specific). Additionally coded: weighting factor.Das International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) ist ein länderübergreifendes, fortlaufendes Umfrageprogramm, das jährlich Erhebungen zu Themen durchführt, die für die Sozialwissenschaften wichtig sind. Das Programm begann 1984 mit vier Gründungsmitgliedern - Australien, Deutschland, Großbritannien und den Vereinigten Staaten - und ist inzwischen auf fast 50 Mitgliedsländer aus aller Welt angewachsen. Da die Umfragen auf Replikationen ausgelegt sind, können die Daten sowohl für länder- als auch für zeitübergreifende Vergleiche genutzt werden. Jedes ISSP-Modul konzentriert sich auf ein bestimmtes Thema, das in regelmäßigen Zeitabständen wiederholt wird. Details zur Durchführung der nationalen ISSP-Umfragen entnehmen Sie bitte der Dokumentation. Die vorliegende Studie konzentriert sich auf Fragen zu Religion und religiöser Identität.Die Kumulation der ISSP-Studien aus den Jahren 1991, 1998 und 2008 besteht aus zwei Datensätzen: ZA5070 und ZA5071. Die vorliegende Studienbeschreibung bezieht sich auf den Datensatz ZA5070. Er enthält alle kumulierten inhaltlichen sowie Demographievariablen. Der Zusatzdatensatz ZA5071 enthält dagegen jene, meist länderspezifischen Variablen, die aus den verschiedensten Gründen nicht kumulierbar waren. Diese Variablen können jedoch, wenn nötig, sehr leicht in den Hauptdatensatz integriert werden. Einen umfassenden Überblick über den Aufbau der Kumulation, die Variablen und die wichtigsten Kodierungsentscheidungen bietet das nachfolgende pdf-Dokument: Guide for the ISSP ´Religion´ cumulation of the years 1991, 1998 and 2008 Religion I-III: Einschätzung des persönlichen Glücksgefühls; Verantwortung des Staates für die Bereitstellung von Arbeitsplätzen und den Abbau von Unterschieden zwischen Reich und Arm; Einstellung zu vorehelichem Geschlechtsverkehr und zu außerehelichem Geschlechtsverkehr (Ehebruch); Einstellung zu homosexuellen Beziehungen zwischen Erwachsenen; Einstellung zu Abtreibung im Falle von Behinderung oder Krankheit des Babys und im Falle geringen Einkommens der Familie; Rollenverständnis in der Ehe; Einstellung zum Steuerbetrug und zur Angabe falscher Informationen zum Erhalt staatlicher Sozialleistungen; Institutionenvertrauen (Parlament, Unternehmen und Industrie, Kirche und religiöse Organisationen, Gerichte und Rechtssystem, Schulen und Bildungssystem); Einstellung zum Einfluss von religiösen Führern auf Wähler und Regierung; Beurteilung der Macht von Kirchen und religiösen Organisationen im Lande; Zweifel oder fester Glaube an Gott (Skala Deismus); Glaube an: ein Leben nach dem Tod, Himmel, Hölle, Wunder; Einstellung zur Bibel; Einstellung zu einer höheren Wahrheit und zum Sinn des Lebens (Gott kümmert sich um jeden Menschen persönlich, nur wenig persönlicher Einfluss auf das Leben möglich (Fatalismus), Leben hat nur einen Sinn aufgrund der Existenz Gottes, Leben dient keinem Zweck, eigenes Tun verleiht dem Leben Sinn); jeder gestaltet sein Schicksal selbst; Bekehrung zum Glauben nach einem Schlüsselerlebnis; Religion der Mutter, des Vaters und des Ehepartners bzw. Partners; Religion, mit der der Befragte aufgewachsen ist; Kirchgangshäufigkeit des Vaters und der Mutter in der Kindheit des Befragten; persönliche Kirchgangshäufigkeit in der Jugend; Häufigkeit des Betens und der Teilnahme an religiösen Aktivitäten; Selbsteinschätzung der Religiosität und Spiritualität; Glaube an Glücksbringer, Wahrsager, Gesundbeter und Horoskope; Erlebnis von Wiedergeburt; Konzept von Gott (semantisches Differential: Mutter/Vater, Herr und Meister/Ehepartner, Richter/Liebender, Freund/König); Weltimage: Schlechtes versus Gutes, der Mensch ist gut versus korrupt; Personenvertrauen; Einstellung zu Wissenschaft und Religion (Skala: moderne Wissenschaft bringt mehr Schaden als Nutzen, zu viel Vertrauen in die Wissenschaft und zu wenig religiöses Vertrauen, Religionen bringen mehr Konflikte als Frieden, Intoleranz von Menschen mit starken religiösen Überzeugungen); Wahrheit in einer oder in allen Religionen; demokratische oder göttliche Gesetze als Grundlage für Entscheidungen zwischen richtig und falsch. Demographie: Geschlecht; Alter; Familienstand; Zusammenleben mit einem Partner; Jahre der Schulbildung, höchster Bildungsabschluss; derzeitiger Beschäftigungsstatus des Befragten und seines Partners; Wochenarbeitszeit; Beruf (ISCO-88) des Befragten und seines Partners; Vorgesetztenfunktion; Beschäftigung im privaten oder öffentlichen Dienst oder Selbständigkeit; Selbständige wurden gefragt: Anzahl der Beschäftigten; Gewerkschaftsmitgliedschaft; Haushaltsgröße; Haushaltszusammensetzung; Parteipräferenz (links-rechts), länderspezifische Parteipräferenz; Wahlbeteiligung bei der letzten Wahl; Kirchgangshäufigkeit; Konfession (länderspezifisch); Selbsteinstufung auf einer Oben-Unten-Skala; Region (länderspezifisch). Zusätzlich verkodet wurde: Gewichtungsfaktoren