STUDIES AND RESEARCH REGARDING THE UNITARY ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF A RECIRCULATING AQUACOL SYSTEM

This paper aims to highlight the consumption of electricity and caloric energy consumed by a recirculating aquaculture system for the growth of aquatic life. The energy needed to operate a recirculating aquaculture system for fish farming is divided into two categories, namely the electricity needed to operate various technological equipment, the main equipment in a recirculating aquaculture system that uses electricity being recirculation pumps, mechanical filters (some types), UV sterilization facilities and aeration systems. The second category of energy consumed is the caloric energy required for heating / cooling the water in the system and the hall

Single center experience of over 130 pancreatic resection between 2015 and 2019 – „Saint Mary” surgery and transplant department

Clinica de Chirurgie și Transplant, Spitalul „Sf. Maria”, Clinica de Chirurgie, Institutul Clinic Fundeni, București, România, Al XIII-lea Congres al Asociației Chirurgilor „Nicolae Anestiadi” și al III-lea Congres al Societății de Endoscopie, Chirurgie miniminvazivă și Ultrasonografie ”V.M.Guțu” din Republica MoldovaIntroducere: Acest studiu a fost propus pentru a putea aduce noi informații despre centrul nostru de chirurgie hepato-bilio-pancreatică, mai cu seama deoarece în ce privește rezecțiile pancreatice (propuse și efectuate pentru tumori cefalopancreatice, ale ampulei Vater, ale corpului sau cozii de pancreas cât si ale coledocului distal). Evoluția în timp a echipei operatorii a avut un rol important în menținerea rezultatelor apropiate de cele din marile centre de chirurgie hepato-bilio-pancreatică din lume. Material și metode: Scopul acestui studiu este de a prezenta experiența clinicii in rezecțiile pancreatice, dar și să analizeze și să compare rezultatele noastre cu cele din literatură. Inițial, numărul mediu anual de rezecții pancreatice a fost relativ mic, însa în ultimii doi ani, am efectuat cu mai mult de 40% de rezecții pancreatice. Prezentarea această are, de asemenea, rolul de a evidenția importanța unei baze de date naționale ce facilitează urmărirea postoperatorie a pacienților și calcularea ratei de supraviețuire. Rezultate: Am analizat numărul total de rezecții pancreatice (cefalice, centrale, distale) țn perioada 2014-2019, efectuate de mai mulți operatori pentru patologii pancreatice și de calea biliară principală distală, țn cadrul centrului de Chirurgie Generală si Transplant a Spitalului Clinic “Sfânta Maria”, București. Pe baza analizei acestora, am obținut rezultate mult similare cu cele din literatură. Concluzii: Recuperarea postoperatorie a unui pacient ce a suferit o rezectie pancreatică este țn mod cert influențata de comorbiditățile preexistente și de experiența chirurgului. Analizând rezultatele obținute în clinica noastră si comparându-le cu cele din literatură, considerăm ca nivelul nostru de performanța este unul mediu-mare, în special deoarece numărul de rezecții pancreatice anuale a crescut considerabil în ultimii doi ani.Background: This study is meant to bring new pieces of information regarding our hepato-biliary and pancreatic surgical center, especially regarding pancreatic resections (suggested and conducted for cephalopancreatic tumors, ampullary tumors, tumors of the body and tail of the pancreas or distal choledocus tumors). Our team’s evolution and progress has an important role in keeping our results similar to those of the large international hepato-biliary and pancreatic surgical centers. Methods and materials: The aim of this study is to present our clinic’s experience with pancreatic resections, as well as to analyze and compare our results with those described in literature. At the beginning, the mean number of pancreatic resections was small, but in the last two years, we have performed at least 40% more pancreatic resections. The presentation is also meant to emphasize the importance of a national database to facilitate patient follow-up and survival rate calculus). Results: We analyzed a number of patients who underwent pancreatic resections (cephalic, central, distal) performed in our clinic for malignant and benign pathologies of the pancreas, but also biliary pathologies, between 2014 and 2019. After studying the results, the morbidity and mortality rates obtained in our surgical clinic can be compared to those described in literature. Conclusion: The postoperative recovery of a patient that underwent a pancreatic resection is definitely influenced by the preexistent comorbidities and the experience of the main surgeon. By analyzing the results obtained in our clinic and comparing them with those mentioned in literature, we think that our performance level can be considered medium-large, particularly since the number of annual pancreatic resections has grown considerably in the last two years

THE INFLUENCE OF HAMMERS` PERIPHERAL SPEED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE HAMMER MILLS

Cereal milling is a complex process resulting in a wide variety of particles that differ in size, surface or composition. Ensuring a rational regime regarding the technological process of hammer mills operation, actually refers to the correlation of the indices to ensure the functioning of the mills at optimal values. The peripheral speed of hammers is one of the decisive factors in the milling process. Speed limitation is determined by fodder resistance, the construction of working parts and their durability. In the paper we study the influence of hammers` peripheral speed on the product subjected to milling, through a series of experiments under exploitation conditions

SILVER GREEN SYNTHESIS ON BACTERIAL CELLULOSE MEMBRANES USING TANNIC ACID

Silver nanoparticles were deposed on bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes using tannic acid as reducing agent. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy with X-ray (EDX) and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of BC-silver films was tested against E. coli K12-MG1655, all the composites having a good antimicrobial activity. These composites could be used for antimicrobial wound dressings

An unusual case of gout in the wrist: the importance of monitoring medication dosage and interaction. A case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gouty arthritis of the wrist is uncommon although gout itself is the most common inflammatory arthritis in older patients. Some known risk factors for the development of gout include trauma, alcohol use, obesity, hyperuricaemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. As well, certain medications have been shown to promote the development of gout. These include thiazide diuretics, low dose salicylates and cyclosporine. We present a case of gouty wrist pain possibly precipitated by a medication dosage increase as well as medication interactions.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 77 year old male presented with right wrist pain. Redness and swelling was present at the dorsal aspect of his wrist and range of motion was full with pain at end range upon examination. One week prior, his anti-hypertensive medication dosage had been increased. The patient's situation continued to worsen. Radiographic examination revealed changes consistent with gouty arthritis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is important for clinicians treating joint conditions to be aware of patients' comorbidities, medication usage and changes in dosages. Education of patients with gout is of prime importance. Clinicians should educate patients that gout may occur at any joint in the body not only the lower limb. Patients should be aware of the signs and symptoms of an acute gouty attack and be made aware that changes in certain medication dosages may precipitate an attack. Awareness of radiographic changes associated with gout is still of importance although these changes are not seen as frequently as they have been in the past due to better control of the disease.</p

SALIVARY PARAMETERS ALTERED IN SMOKERS AND POSSIBLE CORRELATIONS WITH THE CARIOGENIC ACTIVITY

Objectives. Our research team aimed to evaluate the effects smoking has on several salivary parameters and to assess if there are any correlations between smoking and the cariogenic activity. Material and method. The present research included a total of 35 participants. Saliva was collected from every participant to the study. Salivary chloride, calcium and potassium levels, as well as salivary flux and pH were determined for all subjects. Results. Our results showed significantly lower salivary flux and pH levels in smokers compared to nonsmokers (p < 0.01). Chloride, calcium and potassium we found to have higher concentrations in smokers compared to the control group. However, a statistical significance could be found only for calcium (p = 0.02). Moreover, we were able to find in the smokers group a positive correlation in smokers between salivary chloride levels and cariogenic activity as well as a negative correlation could be found in smokers between salivary calcium levels and the cariogenic activity Conclusions. The results of the present study show that smoking alters salivary parameters and that these modifications can favour the development of dental caries

Multi-stage pulsed laser deposition of aluminum nitride at different temperatures

We report on multi-stage pulsed laser deposition of aluminum nitride (AlN) on Si (1 0 0) wafers, at different temperatures. The first stage of deposition was carried out at 800 °C, the optimum temperature for AlN crystallization. In the second stage, the deposition was conducted at lower temperatures (room temperature, 350 °C or 450 °C), in ambient Nitrogen, at 0.1 Pa. The synthesized structures were analyzed by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). GIXRD measurements indicated that the two-stage deposited AlN samples exhibited a randomly oriented wurtzite structure with nanosized crystallites. The peaks were shifted to larger angles, indicative for smaller inter-planar distances. Remarkably, TEM images demonstrated that the high-temperature AlN "seed" layers (800 °C) promoted the growth of poly-crystalline AlN structures at lower deposition temperatures. When increasing the deposition temperature, the surface roughness of the samples exhibited values in the range of 0.4-2.3 nm. SE analyses showed structures which yield band gap values within the range of 4.0-5.7 eV. A correlation between the results of single- and multi-stage AlN depositions was observed. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Calcium phosphates grown on bacterial cellulose template

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. Bacterial cellulose membranes were employed as templates for calcium phosphates deposition by successive immersion in solutions of Ca(NO 3 ) 2 ·4H 2 O and (NH 4 ) 2 HPO 4 , under ultrasonication. During the wet chemical reaction, mineral phases were loaded on bacterial cellulose fibrils, leading to precursor hybrid composites. These were subjected to a lyophilisation procedure in order to preserve the 3D porous aspect and afterwards to a thermal treatment with the aim of removing the polymeric phase and generating well crystallized structures. Different types of morphologies were achieved by varying the heating rate, as well as the calcination temperature and period. The as-prepared samples and the final ones were investigated from compositional and structural point of view through X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and morphologically concerning by scanning electron microscopy. The magnetic properties were also evaluated in order to demonstrate the suitability of the obtained materials for the development of magnetic scaffolds dedicated to hard tissue applications

SERUM AND SALIVARY ENZYMES – POSSIBLE INDICATOR OF THE INCIDENCE OF TOOTH DECAY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS

Objectives. Determination of correlations between the cariogenic index, as quantifying element for the frequency of tooth decay, and some salivary and serum enzymes in patients who had been diagnosed with chronic alcoholic hepatitis. Materials and methods. The study group consisted of 25 patients diagnosed with chronic alcoholic hepatitis. The following salivary enzymes were determined: AST, ALT and the AST/ALT ratio. Also, the following plasma enzymes were determined: AST, ALT, amylase, LDH, GGT, ALP, AST/ALT and GGT/ALP ratios. Results. The determined average values were: cariogenic index 1,8±0,96, salivary AST 72,52±46,21 U/L, salivary ALT 80,28±40,34 U/L, salivary AST/ALT ratio 1,03±0,63, plasma AST 115,80±79,16 U/L, plasma ALT 114,76±116,01 U/L, plasma LDH 546,88±444,08 U/L, plasma amylase 53,04±18,12U/L, plasma GGT 212,32±198,12 U/L, plasma ALP 98,76±30,88 U/L, plasma AST/ALT ratio 1,58±1,17, plasma GGT/ALP ratio 2,15±1,76. Conclusions. Statistically significant correlations were determined between the cariogenic index and the salivary AST/ALT ratio, plasma AST, plasma ALT, plasma AST/ALT ratio