Degradation of organic pollutants in photocatalytic reactors

Titanium dioxide-mediated photocatalytic mineralization of oxalic acid and formic acid as model compounds were studied in a laboratory-scale reactor and in a pilot equipment to promote the development of procedures for wastewater treatment. Experimental results obtained by using various TiO2 catalysts indicate that the adsorption of the pollutant substrates on the surface of the semiconductor particles is not directly correlated with the specific surface area of the adsorbent. The initial rate of the photocatalytic degradation of the model compounds is enhanced by increasing the adsorption capability of the titanium dioxide applied, but the overall mineralization efficiency is jointly determined by several factors such as the crystal structure, the mean value and the distribution of the particle size, as well as the number of the hydroxyl groups on the particle surface. The VP P90 TiO2 proved to be the most efficient photocatalyst for degradation of both model compounds studied. Application of static mixer in the pilot equipment enhanced the rate of the photocatalytic mineralization of formic acid by about 27%. This effect can be attributed to the increased interfacial mass transfer facilitating the movement of photogenerated HO* radicals from the catalyst surface or the boundary layer to the bulk solution

Earthworm assemblages in urban habitats across biogeographical regions

In urban landscapes, humans are the most significant factor determining belowground diversity, including earthworms. Within the framework of the Global Urban Soil Ecology and Education Network (GLUSEEN), a multi-city comparison was carried out to assess the effects of soil disturbance on earthworms. In each of five cities (Baltimore, USA; Budapest, Hungary; Helsinki and Lahti, Finland; Potchefstroom, South Africa), covering four climatic and biogeographical regions, four habitat types (ruderal, turf/lawn, remnant and reference) were sampled. The survey resulted in 19 species belonging to 9 genera and 4 families. The highest total species richness was recorded in Baltimore (16), while Budapest and the Finnish cities had relatively low (5–6) species numbers. Remnant forests and lawns supported the highest earthworm biomass. Soil properties (i.e. pH and organic matter content) explained neither earthworm community composition nor abundance. Evaluating all cities together, earthworm communities were significantly structured by habitat type. Communities in the two adjacent cities, Helsinki and Lahti were very similar, but Budapest clearly separated from the Finnish cities. Earthworm community structure in Baltimore overlapped with that of the other cities. Despite differences in climate, soils and biogeography among the cities, earthworm communities were highly similar within the urban habitat types. This indicates that human-mediated dispersal is an important factor shaping the urban fauna, both at local and regional scales.Peer reviewe

A Novel PARP Inhibitor L-2286 in a Rat Model of Impact Acceleration Head Injury: An Immunohistochemical and Behavioral Study

We examined the neuro/axono-protective potential of a novel poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor L-2286 in a rat impact acceleration brain injury model. Male Wistar rats (n = 70) weighing 300–350 grams were used to determine the most effective intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) dose of L-2286 administered 30 min after injury, and to test the neuroprotective effect at two time points (immediately, and 30 min after injury). The neuroprotective effect of L-2286 was tested using immunohistochemical (amyloid precursor protein and mid-sized mouse anti-neurofilament clone RMO-14.9 antibody) and behavioral tests (beam-balance, open-field and elevated plus maze). At both time-points, a 100 μg/rat dose of i.c.v. L-2286 significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the density of damaged axons in the corticospinal tract and medial longitudinal fascicle compared to controls. In the behavioral tests, treatment 30 min post-injury improved motor function, while the level of anxiety was reduced in both treatment protocols

Kutatási füzetek 06. : Európa külső és belső határai a XIX. és a XX. században

Szerkesztők: Garai Ildikó; Gál Zoltán; Huszár Zoltán | További szerzők: Ormos Mária; Tóth József; Nagy J. Endre; Hahner Péter; Laczkóné Тukа Ágnes; Kunszt Márta; Szécsényi László; Majdán János; Fischer Ferenc; Sági Zsolt; Lakatos Judit; Miletics Péter; Pap Norbert; Gál Zoltán; Huszár Zoltán; Szalayné Sándor Erzsébet; Schmidt Andrea; Sokcsevits Dénes; Göncz László; Schadt Mária | Cím: Kutatási füzetek 6. Alcím: Európa külső és belső határai a XIX. és a XX. században : Történelem doktori program | Megjelenési adatok: Janus Pannonius Tudományegyetem, Pécs, 1999. | Megjegyzés: A Kutatási Füzetek a Janus Pannonius Tudományegyetem Európa és Magyarország a 19-20. században című történelem doktori (Ph.D.) programjának sorozata.(1) Ormos Mária: Európa: Mikor, hol, miként, miért? 7-11 | (2) Tóth József: Tér és határ, ország és állam 12-14 | (3) Nagy J. Endre: Vázlat az Európa-eszme történetéhez 15-21 | (4) Hahner Péter: Az európai egység eszméje a XVIII. században 22-27 | (5) Laczkóné Тukа Ágnes: Európa határai az Európai Unió határai? 28-34 | (6) Kunszt Márta: Politikai rendszerek Európában а XX. században 35-40 | (7) Szécsényi László: Az EK-jog területi hatálya - Adalékok a Közös Piac jogi földrajzához 41-51 | (8) Majdán János: A vasút által kirajzolható belső európai határok 52-64 | (9) Fischer Ferenc: A német-angol geopolitikai metszéspont: Вréma-Berlin-Bizánc-Bagdad-Basra kontra Kairó-Kuvait-Karachi (1898-1918) 65-75 | (10) Sági Zsolt: Kelet-Európa a különböző térmodellekben 76-90 | (11) Lakatos Judit: Az orosz állam pszeudomorfózisa а XX. század elején 91-97 | (12) Miletics Péter: Közép-Európa: egy vitatott térkategória 98-118 | (13) Pap Norbert: Korridorok Köztes-Európában 119-129 | (14) Gál Zoltán: Duna-táj, Duna-régió, Duna-tér: a Duna szerepe Közép-Európa és a magyarság történeti és térszemléletében 130-142 | (15) Huszár Zoltán: A Duna mint integráló tényező Közép-Európában a XIX-XX. században a DGT/DDSG története tükrében 143-151 | (16) Szalayné Sándor Erzsébet: Huszadik századi nemzetközi jogi kisebbségvédelem 152-165 | (17) Schmidt Andrea: A „végek” - A lengyel államtér szemléletének és határainak változásai а XX. században 166-172 | (18) Sokcsevits Dénes: A horvát Bosznia: mítosz, vagy egy kudarcba fulladt nemzeti integrációs kísérlet? 173-182 | (19) Göncz László: A Mura mente társadalmi jellemzői a századfordulón, valamint az első világháború után bekövetkezett értékrendszerváltás és nemzettudatválság 183-190 | (20) Schadt Mária: Az MDP nőpolitikája az 1949-53-as években 191-199 | Az „Európa külső és belső határai” c. konferencia előadói (1997. december 3.) 20

Machine learning algorithms performed no better than regression models for prognostication in traumatic brain injury

Objective: We aimed to explore the added value of common machine learning (ML) algorithms for prediction of outcome for moderate and severe traumatic brain injury. Study Design and Setting: We performed logistic regression (LR), lasso regression, and ridge regression with key baseline predictors in the IMPACT-II database (15 studies, n = 11,022). ML algorithms included support vector machines, random forests, gradient boosting machines, and artificial neural networks and were trained using the same predictors. To assess generalizability of predictions, we performed internal, internal-external, and external validation on the recent CENTER-TBI study (patients with Glasgow Coma Scale <13, n = 1,554). Both calibration (calibration slope/intercept) and discrimination (area under the curve) was quantified. Results: In the IMPACT-II database, 3,332/11,022 (30%) died and 5,233(48%) had unfavorable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale less than 4). In the CENTER-TBI study, 348/1,554(29%) died and 651(54%) had unfavorable outcome. Discrimination and calibration varied widely between the studies and less so between the studied algorithms. The mean area under the curve was 0.82 for mortality and 0.77 for unfavorable outcomes in the CENTER-TBI study. Conclusion: ML algorithms may not outperform traditional regression approaches in a low-dimensional setting for outcome prediction after moderate or severe traumatic brain injury. Similar to regression-based prediction models, ML algorithms should be rigorously validated to ensure applicability to new populations

Variation in Structure and Process of Care in Traumatic Brain Injury: Provider Profiles of European Neurotrauma Centers Participating in the CENTER-TBI Study.

INTRODUCTION: The strength of evidence underpinning care and treatment recommendations in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is low. Comparative effectiveness research (CER) has been proposed as a framework to provide evidence for optimal care for TBI patients. The first step in CER is to map the existing variation. The aim of current study is to quantify variation in general structural and process characteristics among centers participating in the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study. METHODS: We designed a set of 11 provider profiling questionnaires with 321 questions about various aspects of TBI care, chosen based on literature and expert opinion. After pilot testing, questionnaires were disseminated to 71 centers from 20 countries participating in the CENTER-TBI study. Reliability of questionnaires was estimated by calculating a concordance rate among 5% duplicate questions. RESULTS: All 71 centers completed the questionnaires. Median concordance rate among duplicate questions was 0.85. The majority of centers were academic hospitals (n = 65, 92%), designated as a level I trauma center (n = 48, 68%) and situated in an urban location (n = 70, 99%). The availability of facilities for neuro-trauma care varied across centers; e.g. 40 (57%) had a dedicated neuro-intensive care unit (ICU), 36 (51%) had an in-hospital rehabilitation unit and the organization of the ICU was closed in 64% (n = 45) of the centers. In addition, we found wide variation in processes of care, such as the ICU admission policy and intracranial pressure monitoring policy among centers. CONCLUSION: Even among high-volume, specialized neurotrauma centers there is substantial variation in structures and processes of TBI care. This variation provides an opportunity to study effectiveness of specific aspects of TBI care and to identify best practices with CER approaches

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Primary versus early secondary referral to a specialized neurotrauma center in patients with moderate/severe traumatic brain injury: a CENTER TBI study

Funder: ZNS - Hannelore Kohl Stiftung; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100007731Funder: Integra LifeSciences CorporationFunder: OneMindAbstract: Background: Prehospital care for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) varies with some emergency medical systems recommending direct transport of patients with moderate to severe TBI to hospitals with specialist neurotrauma care (SNCs). The aim of this study is to assess variation in levels of early secondary referral within European SNCs and to compare the outcomes of directly admitted and secondarily transferred patients. Methods: Patients with moderate and severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale < 13) from the prospective European CENTER-TBI study were included in this study. All participating hospitals were specialist neuroscience centers. First, adjusted between-country differences were analysed using random effects logistic regression where early secondary referral was the dependent variable, and a random intercept for country was included. Second, the adjusted effect of early secondary referral on survival to hospital discharge and functional outcome [6 months Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE)] was estimated using logistic and ordinal mixed effects models, respectively. Results: A total of 1347 moderate/severe TBI patients from 53 SNCs in 18 European countries were included. Of these 1347 patients, 195 (14.5%) were admitted after early secondary referral. Secondarily referred moderate/severe TBI patients presented more often with a CT abnormality: mass lesion (52% vs. 34%), midline shift (54% vs. 36%) and acute subdural hematoma (77% vs. 65%). After adjusting for case-mix, there was a large European variation in early secondary referral, with a median OR of 1.69 between countries. Early secondary referral was not associated with functional outcome (adjusted OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.78–1.69), nor with survival at discharge (1.05, 0.58–1.90). Conclusions: Across Europe, substantial practice variation exists in the proportion of secondarily referred TBI patients at SNCs that is not explained by case mix. Within SNCs early secondary referral does not seem to impact functional outcome and survival after stabilisation in a non-specialised hospital. Future research should identify which patients with TBI truly benefit from direct transportation