Covid-19 and its Impact on Hospitals: A Content Analysis of the Effects on Emergency Department Wait Times Due to Covid-19

This qualitative study explored the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted Canadian hospitals and emergency department (ED) wait times. A purposive sampling procedure was used for this study to conduct a content analysis on a sample of 50 of the most recent and relevant comments that included reactions, personal experiences, and possible solutions towards ED wait times from a CBC News article. A coding procedure examined any frequent themes and subcategories in the comments. Results showed six consistently present categorical themes: Wait Times, Shortage of Workers, Underfunded Healthcare System, Unrelated Covid-19 Symptoms, Avoidance, and Solutions. Furthermore, additional subcategories were determined from the themes. This study analyzes the intense backlogs of surgical cases and waiting rooms, resulting in adverse patient outcomes. Additionally, this study explores the underfunded and understaffed healthcare system, the stresses healthcare workers face daily, and possible solutions to mend this broken healthcare system

Ferulic acid derivatives and avenanthramides modulate endothelial function through maintenance of nitric oxide balance in huvec cells

Wholegrain oats contain a variety of phenolic compounds thought to help maintain healthy vascular function, through the maintenance of local levels of the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO). Thus, the full molecular mechanisms involved are not yet clear. With this work we aim to understand the possible cellular mechanisms by which avenanthramides and ferulic acid derivatives, present in oats, may help maintain a healthy vascular function through the modulation of the NO pathway. Primary Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) were exposed to ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, hydroferulic acid, ferulic acid 4-O-glucuronide, isoferulic acid 3-O-sulfate, dihydroferulic acid 4-O-glucuronide, avenanthramide A, avenanthramide B and avenanthramide C (1 µM) or vehicle (methanol) for 24 h. Apocynin and Nω-Nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) were additionally included as controls. NO and cyclic GMP (cGMP) levels, superoxide production and the activation of the Akt1/eNOS pathway were assessed. The statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey post-hoc t-test. Apocynin and all phenolic compounds increased NO levels in HUVEC cells (increased DAF2-DA fluorescence and cGMP), and significantly reduced superoxide levels. Protein expression results highlighted an increase in the Akt1 activation state, and increased eNOS expression. Overall, our results indicated that the glucuronide metabolites do not enhance NO production through the Akt1/eNOS pathway, thus all compounds tested are able to reduce NO degradation through reduced superoxide formation

Smart Cities: Impact on Environment

A smart city is an unknown development vision to integrate multiple information and communication technology (ICT) and internet of things (IOT) solutions in a secure fashion to manage a city’s assets. Making a city “Smart” is emerging as a strategy to mitigate the problem generated by the urban population growth and rapid urbanization. The paper proposes a framework to understand the concept of smart cities and its impacts on the environment. There are four critical factors of smart city initiatives management and organisation, technology economy and natural environment. These factors determine the frame work of the smart cities

Comparison of norepinephrine and dopamine in the management of septic shock using impedance cardiography

Objective: Vasoconstrictors are one of the therapeutic modalities in the treatment of septic shock. In the present study, we have compared the effects of dopamine and norepinephrine in the treatment of septic shock with pre-defined end-points and continuous non-invasive cardiac output monitoring using impedance cardiography. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Settings: Sixteen-bedded mixed intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching institution. Materials and Methods: The study included 50 consecutive patients presenting with septic shock and divided randomly into two groups with 25 patients in each group. Group I patients were treated with dopamine and those in Group II were treated with norepinephrine. They were optimized with fluid resuscitation upto CVP>10 cm of H 2 O, packed red cells transfusion upto hematocrit> 30, oxygenation and ventilation upto PaO 2 >60 mmHg before the inotropes were started. The goal of therapy was to achieve and maintain for six hours, all of the following: (1) SBP> 90 mm Hg, (2) SVRI> 1100 dynes.s/cm 5 m 2 , (3) Cardiac Index> 4.0L/min/m 2 , (4) IDO 2 > 550 ml/min/m 2 and (5) IVO 2 > 150 ml/min/m 2 . Measurements: The demographic data, baseline parameters and post-treatment parameters were statistically analyzed by using t-test. Results: The post-treatment parameters were statistically significant showing the superiority of norepinephrine over dopamine in optimization of hemodynamics and patient survival. Significant improvement in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac index, SVRI, IVO 2 and urine output were found in norepinephrine group than the dopamine group. Dopamine showed a response in 10 out of 25 patients up to a maximum dose of 25 mcg/kg/min while with norepinephrine, 19 patients responded up to a maximum dose of 2.5 mcg/kg/min The hemodynamic parameters were preserved in norepinephrine group with better preservation of organ perfusion and oxygen utilization with maintenance of splanchnic and renal blood flow as evidenced by significant increase in O2 uptake and urine flow. Conclusion: Norepinephrine was more useful in reversing the hemodynamic and metabolic abnormalities of septic shock compared to dopamine at the doses tested

Recycling waste bakelite as an alternative carbon resource for ironmaking applications

In-depth investigations were carried out on the thermal degradation and structural evolution of bakelite by heat treatment at different temperatures; the structural transformation to graphitic carbon at 1 450°C was confirmed through X-ray diffraction. High amounts of residual carbon were obtained after the high temperature charring of bakelite. The reduction behavior of iron oxide/bakelite composite pellets was studied at 1 450°C to investigate waste bakelite as a carbon resource in ironmaking towards a partial replacement of traditional carbon sources. These studies were carried out for raw bakelite as well as for bakelite char. The reduction of iron oxide by raw bakelite resulted in the non-separation of metal, slag and in the formation of direct reduced iron pellets. On the other hand, bakelite char pellet showed clear separation of iron nuggets from slag. This study has established bakelite as an alternative carbonaceous resource for reduction reactions in new ironmaking processes. © 2014 ISIJ

Study of structural evolution of chars during rapid pyrolysis of waste CDs at different temperatures

In this paper, the work dealt with the characterisation of chars obtained by rapid pyrolysis of waste compact discs (CDs) at different temperatures and its application as reductant in ironmaking industries. The rapid pyrolysis was performed at atmospheric pressure and temperatures ranging from 550 to 1550 °C. The obtained chars were characterised by ultimate analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), N2 isothermal adsorption method and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that char structure changed upon different pyrolysis temperature. The char yield decreased from 22% to 18% and gradual increase in carbon/oxygen ratio was observed with increase in pyrolysis temperature from 550 to 1550 °C. The porosity in chars increased progressively with pyrolysis temperature, and maximum development of pores appeared at 850 °C with surface area 334 m2/g. At higher pyrolysis temperature, the chars became more aromatic and ordered, and aliphatic structures decreased significantly. The loss of functional groups at higher temperature such as carbonyl, aliphatic CH was evident by FTIR, XPS and Raman results. The ordered char structure obtained at 1550 °C was used as reductant carbon for iron oxide reduction process, and 90% reduction was achieved. The waste CD char obtained during pyrolysis indicates as a valuable supplementary carbon source for ironmaking industries. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

New visualization agents to reveal the hidden secrets of latent fingerprints

Abstract Background Forensic scientists have exposed number of ways for recovering usable finger marks that divulge the identity of the person involved or linked to the felony. Numerous incremental progresses were made over decades by introducing different powder formulations for development of latent fingerprints which overcome the use of chemicals which are toxic and pose potential health jeopardies. Result In the present study, a less expensive, simple and easily accessible household materials such as cumin, Coriander powder, coriander, turmeric, black pepper, etc. have been used to disclose the mysteries of latent fingerprints on an aluminum foil by dusting method which gives good results. The best results were shown by limestone and Fuller’s earth. Conclusions Our original study has come up with more of such novel and innovative dusting powders that has shown momentous outcomes with the metal substrate. This type of work has not been reported previously and can provide beneficial information to the sleuths in cases of dearth or non-availability of orthodox fingerprint development powders and chemicals

Irradiation induced effects on Ni<SUB>3</SUB>N/Si bilayer system

The irradiation effect in Ni3N/Si bilayers induced by 100 MeV Au ions at fluence 1.5 × 1014 ions/cm2 was investigated at room temperature. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction determined the formation of Ni2Si and Si3N4 phases at the interface. The roughness of the thin film was measured by atomic force microscopy. X-ray reflectivity was used to measure the thickness of thin films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has provided the elemental binding energy of Ni3N thin films. It was observed that after irradiation (Ni 2p3/2) peak shifted towards a lower binding energy. Optical properties of nickel nitride films, which were deposited onto Si (100) by ion beam sputtering at vacuum 1.2 × 10-4 torr, were examined using Au ions. In-situ I-V measurements on Ni3N/Si samples were also undertaken at room temperature which showed that there is an increase in current after irradiation

Ferulic Acid Derivatives and Avenanthramides Modulate Endothelial Function through Maintenance of Nitric Oxide Balance in HUVEC Cells

Wholegrain oats contain a variety of phenolic compounds thought to help maintain healthy vascular function, through the maintenance of local levels of the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO). Thus, the full molecular mechanisms involved are not yet clear. With this work we aim to understand the possible cellular mechanisms by which avenanthramides and ferulic acid derivatives, present in oats, may help maintain a healthy vascular function through the modulation of the NO pathway. Primary Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) were exposed to ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, hydroferulic acid, ferulic acid 4-O-glucuronide, isoferulic acid 3-O-sulfate, dihydroferulic acid 4-O-glucuronide, avenanthramide A, avenanthramide B and avenanthramide C (1 μM) or vehicle (methanol) for 24 h. Apocynin and Nω-Nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) were additionally included as controls. NO and cyclic GMP (cGMP) levels, superoxide production and the activation of the Akt1/eNOS pathway were assessed. The statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey post-hoc t-test. Apocynin and all phenolic compounds increased NO levels in HUVEC cells (increased DAF2-DA fluorescence and cGMP), and significantly reduced superoxide levels. Protein expression results highlighted an increase in the Akt1 activation state, and increased eNOS expression. Overall, our results indicated that the glucuronide metabolites do not enhance NO production through the Akt1/eNOS pathway, thus all compounds tested are able to reduce NO degradation through reduced superoxide formation