Peripartum hysterectomy incidence, risk factors and clinical characteristics in Ireland

Background: The incidence of peripartum hysterectomy (PH) shows fifty-fold variation worldwide (0.2–10.5/1000 deliveries) and risk factors include advancing maternal age and parity, previous caesarean section (CS) and abnormal placentation. Objectives: In this first national study of PH in Ireland, our objectives were threefold: to describe the national trend in PH incidence over 15 years since 1999; to assess risk of PH associated with morbidly adherent placenta (MAP), placenta praevia and postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) during 2005–2013; and to describe the causes, interventions and outcomes of PH cases during 2011–2013. Study design: For the 15-year time-trend analysis, PH cases and denominator data were extracted from Ireland’s Hospital In-Patient Enquiry database. Multivariate Poisson regression analysis assessed risk of PH associated with MAP, placenta praevia and PPH. In collaboration with the 20 Irish maternity units we carried out a three-year national clinical audit of severe maternity morbidity. PH was a notifiable morbidity and the audit included detailed review of MOH cases. Results: In 1999–2013 there were 298 PH cases, a rate of 0.32/1000 deliveries. During the period 2005–2013, the PH rate was 50 times higher in deliveries involving PPH, 100 times higher with placenta praevia and 1000 times higher with MAP. During the clinical audit (2011–2013) there were 65 PH cases, a rate of 0.33/1000 deliveries, increasing with advancing age and parity. The reporting of abnormal placentation, primarily the co-occurrence of placenta praevia and MAP, was linked with previous CS. Fifty-six of the 65 cases suffered MOH, most commonly associated with placenta praevia, MAP and uterine atony. Prophylactic and therapeutic uterotonic agents were appropriately used in the majority of cases. Conclusions: The incidence of PH in Ireland has been consistently low over 15 years, averaging one case every 3000 deliveries. The recognised risk factors of MAP, placenta praevia and PPH were independently associated with PH, with MAP being by far the strongest predictor. The vast majority of PH cases in our clinical audit were associated with MOH. Some deficiencies were noted in antenatal care, in certain elements of treatment and clinical governance protocols but adherence to guidelines was generally high

The Dublin Declaration::Gain for the Meat Industry, Loss for Science

We critically analyzed the "Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Livestock" (DD), a document promoting animal farming, and its implications for public discourse and policy. Our analysis reveals that the DD is scientifically problematic, particularly in its neglect of issues such as meat overconsumption in high-income countries and the dominance of industrial animal production, thereby downplaying associated risks and harms. We also show that the DD’s authors essentially suggest that societies should simply rely on technological progress to fix any “challenges” associated with the sector, a suggestion that aligns with the authors’ private interests. We identify several academically questionable practices, including denial of credentials to dissenting actors, omission of significant conflicts of interest, and excessive self-edition and self-citation, all while purporting to provide a scientific and balanced overview. Relatedly, we bring into view conflicts of interests of the Irish semi-state authority Teagasc, which hosted a DD-related summit, and of Animal Frontiers and the animal production science associations behind it, which published a special issue edited by the DD’s authors containing the DD. We explore potential responsibilities by these organizations, the DD’s authors, and Nature Food, which published a follow-up correspondence by two of the DD’s authors. Our perspective contributes to the growing literature exposing the influence of the meat industry on science and its representation in public discourse. We discuss broader policy measures to mitigate and counteract this influence. <br/

Views from the coalface: chemo-sensors, sensor networks and the semantic sensor web

Currently millions of sensors are being deployed in sensor networks across the world. These networks generate vast quantities of heterogeneous data across various levels of spatial and temporal granularity. Sensors range from single-point in situ sensors to remote satellite sensors which can cover the globe. The semantic sensor web in principle should allow for the unification of the web with the real-word. In this position paper, we discuss the major challenges to this unification from the perspective of sensor developers (especially chemo-sensors) and integrating sensors data in real-world deployments. These challenges include: (1) identifying the quality of the data; (2) heterogeneity of data sources and data transport methods; (3) integrating data streams from different sources and modalities (esp. contextual information), and (4) pushing intelligence to the sensor level

Effect of Different Wheat Sprouting Conditions on the Characteristics of Whole-Wheat Flour

Fil: Navarro, José Luis. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina.Fil: Navarro, José Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: Losano Richard, Pedro. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina.Fil: Losano Richard, Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: Moiraghi, Malena. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina.Fil: Moiraghi, Malena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: Bustos, Mariela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: Bustos, Mariela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina.Fil: León, Alberto Edel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina.Fil: León, Alberto Edel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: Steffolani, María Eugenia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina.Fil: Steffolani, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Research background. Controlled sprouting promotes physiological and biochemical changes in whole grains, improves their nutritional value and offers technological advantages for breadmaking as an alternative to traditional whole grains. The aim of this study is to find sprouting conditions for the grains of Klein Valor wheat variety (Triticum aestivum L.) that would increase the nutritional value without significantly affecting the gluten proteins, which are essential in wholegrain baked goods. Experimental approach. The chemical and nutritional composition, enzymatic activity and pasting properties of the suspensions of unsprouted and sprouted whole-wheat flour were evaluated. Results and conclusions. This bioprocess allowed us to obtain sprouted whole-wheat flour with different degrees of modification in its chemical composition. Sprouting at 25 °C resulted in an observable increase in enzymatic activity and metabolic processes, particularly α-amylases, which significantly affect the starch matrix and the associated pasting properties. Additionally, there was a smaller but still notable effect on the structure of the cell walls and the protein matrix due to the activation of endoxylanases and proteases. In contrast, sprouting at 15 and 20 °C for 24 h allowed for better process control as it resulted in nutritional improvements such as a higher content of free amino acid groups, free phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity, as well as a lower content of phytates. In addition, it provided techno-functional advantages due to the moderate activation of α-amylase and xylanase. A moderate decrease in peak viscosity of sprouted whole-wheat flour suspensions was observed compared to the control flour, while protein degradation was not significantly prolonged. Novelty and scientific contribution. Sprouted whole-wheat flour obtained under milder sprouting conditions with moderate enzymatic activity could be a promising and interesting ingredient for wholegrain baked goods with improved nutritional values and techno-functional properties. This approach could avoid the use of conventional flour improvers and thus have a positive impact on consumer acceptance and enable the labelling of the product with a clean label.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionFil: Navarro, José Luis. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina.Fil: Navarro, José Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: Losano Richard, Pedro. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina.Fil: Losano Richard, Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: Moiraghi, Malena. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina.Fil: Moiraghi, Malena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: Bustos, Mariela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: Bustos, Mariela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina.Fil: León, Alberto Edel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina.Fil: León, Alberto Edel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: Steffolani, María Eugenia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina.Fil: Steffolani, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina

Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess Healthcare personnel competence in cardiac arrest and resuscitation in pregnancy

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