Severe Paediatric Asthma Collaborative in Europe (SPACE):protocol for a European registry

The development of new asthma biologics and receptor blockers for the treatment of paediatric severe asthma raises challenges. It is unclear whether there are sufficient children in Europe to recruit into randomised placebo-controlled trials to establish efficacy and safety in this age group. In February 2016, the European Respiratory Society funded a clinical research collaboration entitled “Severe Paediatric Asthma Collaborative in Europe” (SPACE). We now report the SPACE protocol for a prospective pan-European observational study of paediatric severe asthma. Inclusion criteria are: 1) age 6–17 years, 2) severe asthma managed at a specialised centre for ≥6 months, 3)clinical and spirometry evidence of asthma, and 4) reaching a pre-defined treatment threshold. The exclusion criterion is the presence of conditions which mimic asthma symptoms. Eligible children will be prospectively recruited into a registry, recording demographics, comorbidities, quality of life, family history, neonatal history, smoking history, asthma background, investigations, and treatment. Follow-up will provide longitudinal data on asthma control and treatment changes. The SPACE registry, by identifying well-phenotyped children eligible for clinical trials, and the amount of overlap in eligibility criteria, will inform the design of European trials in paediatric severe asthma, and facilitate observational research where data from single centres are limited

Selection of the solvent and extraction conditions for maximum recovery of antioxidant phenolic compounds from coffee silverskin

The extraction of antioxidant phenolic compounds from coffee silverskin (CS) was studied. Firstly, the effect of different solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone, and distilled water) on the production of antioxidant extracts was evaluated. All the extracts showed antioxidant activity (FRAP and DPPH assays), but those obtained with methanol and ethanol had significantly higher (p < 0.05) DPPH inhibition than the remaining ones. Due to the lower toxicity, ethanol was selected as extraction solvent, and further experiments were performed in order to define the solvent concentration, solvent/solid ratio, and time to maximize the extraction results. The best condition to produce an extract with high content of phenolic compounds (13 mg gallic acid equivalents/g CS) and antioxidant activity [DPPH = 18.24 μmol Trolox equivalents/g CS and FRAP = 0.83 mmol Fe(II)/g CS] was achieved when using 60 % ethanol in a ratio of 35 ml/g CS, during 30 min at 60–65 °C.This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). The authors gratefully acknowledge Teresa Conde, student of Biological Engineering, for the help and interest in this work

Synthesis of an ordered mesoporous carbon with graphitic characteristics and its application for dye adsorption

An ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) was prepared by a chemical vapor deposition technique using liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as the carbon source. During synthesis, LPG was effectively adsorbed in the ordered mesopores of SBA-15 silica and converted to a graphitic carbon at 800 °C. X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption/desorption data and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) of the OMC confirmed its ordered mesoporous structure. The OMC was utilized as an adsorbent in the removal of dyes from aqueous solution. A commercial powder activated carbon (AC) was also investigated to obtain comparative data. The efficiency of the OMC for dye adsorption was tested using acidic dye acid orange 8 (AO8) and basic dyes methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RB). The results show that adsorption was affected by the molecular size of the dye, the textural properties of carbon adsorbent and surface-dye interactions. The adsorption capacities of the OMC for acid orange 8 (AO8), methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RB) were determined to be 222, 833, and 233 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption capacities of the AC for AO8, MB, and RB were determined to be 141, 313, and 185 mg/ g, respectively. The OMC demonstrated to be an excellent adsorbent for the removal of MB from wastewater.Web of Scienc

Dye lasing in optically manipulated liquid aerosols

We report lasing in airborne, rhodamine B-doped glycerol–water droplets with diameters ranging between 7.7 and 11.0 µm, which were localized using optical tweezers. While being trapped near the focal point of an infrared laser, the droplets were pumped with a Q-switched green laser. Our experiments revealed nonlinear dependence of the intensity of the droplet whispering gallery modes (WGMs) on the pump laser fluence, indicating dye lasing. The average wavelength of the lasing WGMs could be tuned between 600 and 630 nm by changing the droplet size. These results may lead to new ways of probing airborne particles, exploiting the high sensitivity of stimulated emission to small perturbations in the droplet laser cavity and the gain medium.© 2013 Optical Society of AmericaThis paper was published in Optics Letters and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ol/abstract.cfm?uri=ol-38-10-1669. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law

Migration-refugees and open-green spaces: Kilis case, Turkey

Today most important migration movement is taking place in Syria due to the civil war. Most of the Syrian asylum-seekers have sought refuge in Turkey. The migration has led to many problems in the areas such as physical, social, cultural and economical in the country. One of these areas is urban open and green spaces. This research was conducted in Kilis city in Turkey as one of the the most affected places by this mass migration.The quantitative characteristics of the open and green areas in the study area were evaluated on the basis of legal standards and social sustainability. The findings show that the existing open and green spaces in the study area are insufficient in terms of social integration against the increasing population. As a result, open and green spaces, especially in the settlements located at the border, should be planned and designed taking into consideration the migration situation. © 2019, Scibulcom Ltd.. All rights reserved

La Relación Entre la Motivación Docente y Variables de la Organización: Revisión de la Literatura

Abstract Teacher motivation plays a central role in education because ofitsimpacton student motivation. Previous reviews of teacher motivation have focused on individual variables and psychopathology indicators. However, it is also important to understand the effect of organizational variableson teacher motivationbecause these highlightthe contextthat the teacher is a part of(i.e.,the school). The literature review in this paper analysed studies related to teacher motivation and a pre-defined group of organizational variablesthat werepublished between 1990 and 2014 in several electronic databases.The study found that organizational culture was the most studied variable associated with teacher motivationand most studies in this area were published between 2010 and 2014.Further,there was a prevalence of quantitative studies. This paper concludes with the theoreticaland practical implications of the results,as well assuggestions for future research directions

DETERMINATION OF SENSITIVE LANDSCAPES FOR LANDFILL: SIVAS CASE/TURKEY

Due to the increase of the world population and changing living conditions, the waste amount is increasing exponentially. This situation threatens landscape. This study aims to determine sensitive landscapes in terms of landfills. Sensitive landscapes are the areas with low capacity to absorb innovation and change caused by space use. The study was conducted in Sivas. In this study, were evaluated 10 criteria as follows: rock type, proximity to fault lines, hydrological soil groups in order to protect underground water resources; proximity to water resources in order to protect water surface; erosion risk areas to prevent erosion; slope in terms of erosion and groundwater; land capability classes and large soil groups to protect soils of high agricultural value; aspect to prevent bad odour and fast decay; vegetation cover terms of protecting habitats, preventing erosion and infiltration. The results showed that the area has very high sensitivity with 3.16%, high sensitivity with 28.76%, moderate sensitivity with 51.85%, low sensitivity with 15.77% and very low sensitivity with 0.46%. As a result, landscapes sensitive to landfill should not be treated as waste disposal sites and should be protected. In addition, these criteria should be considered as a criterion in the landfill site selection process

MIGRATION-REFUGEES AND OPEN-GREEN SPACES: KILIS CASE, TURKEY

Today most important migration movement is taking place in Syria due to the civil war. Most of the Syrian asylum-seekers have sought refuge in Turkey. The migration has led to many problems in the areas such as physical, social, cultural and economical in the country. One of these areas is urban open and green spaces. This research was conducted in Kilis city in Turkey as one of the the most affected places by this mass migration.The quantitative characteristics of the open and green areas in the study area were evaluated on the basis of legal standards and social sustainability. The findings show that the existing open and green spaces in the study area are insufficient in terms of social integration against the increasing population. As a result, open and green spaces, especially in the settlements located at the border, should be planned and designed taking into consideration the migration situation

Defining activities in neurovascular microsurgery training : entrustable professional activities for vascular neurosurgery

Background Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) represent an assessment framework with an increased focus on competency-based assessment. Originally developed and adopted for undergraduate medical education, concerns over resident ability to practice effectively after graduation have led to its implementation in residency training but yet not in vascular neurosurgery. Subjective assessment of resident or fellow performance can be problematic, and thus, we aim to define core EPAs for neurosurgical vascular training. Methods We used a nominal group technique in a multistep interaction between a team of experienced neurovascular specialists and a medical educator to identify relevant EPAs. Panel members provided feedback on the EPAs until they reached consent. Results The process produced seven core procedural EPAs for vascular residency and fellowship training, non-complex aneurysm surgery, complex aneurysm surgery, bypass surgery, arteriovenous malformation resection, spinal dural fistula surgery, perioperative management, and clinical decision-making. Conclusion These seven EPAs for vascular neurosurgical training may support and guide the neurosurgical society in the development and implementation of EPAs as an evaluation tool and incorporate entrustment decisions in their training programs.Peer reviewe