Organotin pollution in Malta coastal zone

The speciation of organotins in seawater, surface microlayer and sediments in the marine environment of Malta is described. Concentrations of tributyltin (TBT) in bulk seawater inside the harbours were as high as 0.3 μg Sn L‐1 but were below detection limits (5 ng Sn L‐1) in open sea, 1.6 km offshore. In sediments, TBT levels were highest for the yacht marinas and ranged between 0.03 and 1.5 ug Sn g‐1. Dibutyltin is more common in the surface microlayer than TBT. Diphenyl and monophenyltin were found infrequently in bulk seawater and in sediments. Tetrasubstituted organotins, namely, MenBu(4_n)Sn, where n = 1, 2, and 3, were found frequently in TBT‐contaminated sediments (0.1–9μg Sng‐1), in seawater and in the microlayer where concentrations as high as 140 μg Sn L‐1 (Me3BuSn) were measured. Direct environmental methylation of TBT and that of its debutylated analogues may play a significant role in the geochemical cycling of tin under certain environmental conditions.peer-reviewe

The impact of first wave of COVID-19 on referrals to Mtarfa Mental Health Clinic and evaluation of service response

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated social distancing measures to curb the spread of disease. This disrupted daily activities and social interaction with attendant impact on mental well-being, as well as mental health service provision.METHOD: The study aims to investigate first contact community psychiatry referrals to the Mtarfa mental health clinic before and after the onset of COVID -19 and the adequacy of the service response. Following necessary approvals an index of new case appointments was constructed from the register at Mtarfa MHC from 11 March 2019 to 31 December 2020. This was cross referenced with eMR. The imposition of social distancing on 12 March 2020 was used to separate the date into before and after the onset of COVID-19.RESULTS: A total of 236 new case appointments were identified, 92 of these records preceded the onset of COVID-19 and 144 records followed. The date of referral was available in 105 of the 136 appointments attended. The waiting time could be calculated in 77.2% of these appointments, 76.4% before the onset of COVID-19 and 77.8.% after. The mean number of new case referrals received per month increased from 7.4 before the first wave to 21.2 after, a three-fold increase. Mean waiting time was 21.6 weeks prior to the onset of COVID-19 which decreased to 7.4 weeks when a steady state was observed after the first wave.CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges to community mental health services resulting in major service restructuring. These challenges were met through staff redeployment and increased clinic frequency. The service increase successfully met a threefold increase in new case appointments at the clinic and decreased waiting time by two thirds.peer-reviewe

Ecstasy use and its association with sexual behaviors among drug users in new york city

ABSTRACT: In the past two decades, recreational use of ecstasy has become a growing concern in the United States, although most studies assessing ecstasy use have focused on white, middle-class adolescents who use ecstasy during raves and in clubs. We assessed the prevalence of recent ecstasy use among predominantly minority heroin, cocaine, and crack users in New York City and the association between ecstasy and sexual risk above and beyond that of the other drugs. Between 2002 and 2004, injection and non-injection heroin, crack and cocaine users (N = 534) completed a risk behavior questionnaire that included items on ecstasy use. Logistic regression was used to investigate the relation between current ecstasy use and sexual behaviors. Of 534 illicit drug users, 69.7% were aged 25 years or older, 65.2% were Hispanic, 27.9% Black and 77.4% male; 36.7% were injectors. 17.2% of respondents reported recent (last six months) ecstasy use. In a multivariable logistic regression model, current ecstasy use was associated both with initiating sex before age 14 (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.51) and having two or more partners in the past two months (AOR = 1.86) after adjusting for age at study entry, current cocaine and marijuana use and being an injection drug user. This study suggests that ecstasy use may be more prevalent among urban drug users. Ecstasy use in urban settings, beyond clubs and raves, should continue to be monitored.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40285/2/Novoa_Ecstasy Use and Its Association With Sexual_2005.pd

Design Trade-Offs and Feasibility Assessment of a Novel One-Body, Laminated-Rotor Flywheel Switched Reluctance Machine

In a bid to respond to the challenges being faced in the installation of flywheel-based electric energy storage systems (EESSs) in customer-side facilities, namely high safety, high energy/power densities and low cost, research work towards the development of a novel, one-body, laminated-rotor flywheel, based on a switched reluctance machine (OBOLAR-Fly SR machine) is presented, where the laminated rotor provides both the energy storage and motor/generator functions. The one-body architecture improves compactness and robustness. Besides, the rotor’s laminated body ensures inherently high safety. From the design perspective, the rotor’s dual purpose causes the traditional electrical machines design aspects, such as power development, cooling, losses, torque ripple, etc., to clash with the typical requirements of a flywheel, namely in-vacuum operation and moment of inertia. This results in six main trade-offs to be addressed during the design process: rotor material, speed ratio, number of drive phases, split ratio, optimal vacuum level, and controller hysteresis band. A 60 kW, 2.2 kWh OBOLAR-Fly SR system is developed with a twofold objective: (1) provide an in-depth description of the six bespoke design trade-offs and give some useful guidelines to tackle them; (2) prove the OBOLAR-Fly concept and compare the prototype’s performance with the current state of the art flywheels. Preliminary experimental results prove the viability of the OBOLAR idea and show its competitiveness in terms of efficiency and power density. On the other hand, a gap in energy density to be filled in future research works is highlighted

Optimal Advance Angle for Aided Maximum-Speed-Node Design of Switched Reluctance Machines

In the design processes of Switched Reluctance Machines that operate in wide constant power speed ranges, the maximum power available at maximum speed must be evaluated for every machine candidate. This is critical to ensure compliance with the power requirement. Important parameters to include in the design routine include the duration of the energizing period and the advance of the turn-on instant (i.e. advance angle). The latter is highly related to the machine geometry and is usually evaluated through time-consuming finite-element based iterative methods. In this paper, a simple, yet novel analytical model is proposed to cater for the torque-maximising advance angle in a closed-form analytical expression, directly from the machine geometry. The goal is to provide a non-iterative design tool that speeds up the design process. Successful validations against finite element analyses and experimental results on an SR machine prototype are reported. The main outcome of this paper is shown by the improvement in computation time, without any significant loss of accuracy

Coronary computed tomography angiography in acute chest pain: a sustainable model with remote support

Purpose: To propose a sustainable model of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) use in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in emergency department (ED) using a partially based teleradiology reporting model. We also analyzed impact of the protocol on short- and long-term patient's outcome. Methods: During a 12-month period, 104 consecutive patients admitted to the ED for acute chest pain (ACP) with low-to-intermediate risk of ACS were selected and underwent CCTA. Medical reporting was based on a model combining on-site physician and a remote radiologist supported by a web client-based teleradiology system, covering a 24/7 service. CCTA findings were correlated with the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) over a 5-year follow-up. Results: CCTA ruled-out CAD in 76 patients (73.1%). Moderate (7.7%) to severe (19.2%) CAD was identified in 28 patients who were directly referred to functional tests or invasive angiography. The mean discharge time was 10.8 ± 5.8 h; patients with absent to mild disease were safely and quickly discharged. Remote reporting using a teleradiology platform was performed in 82/104 cases (78.9%), with slight impact on patient's discharge time (10.4 ± 5.6 vs. 12.1 ± 6.1 h, p: 0.24). MACEs at 6-month and at 5-year follow-up were 0.96% (n = 1/104) and 15.5% (n = 14/90). Conclusion: CCTA assessment of patients with ACP enables to quickly rule-out ACS, avoiding waste of time and resources, to identify patients with obstructive CAD which should be referred to subsequent tests and to stratify the risk of MACEs at short and long time. A partial teleradiology based 24/7 CCTA service is feasible and sustainable, even in small ED

Additive manufacturing and testing of a soft magnetic rotor for a switched reluctance motor

Additive manufacturing is acknowledged as a key enabling technology, although its adoption is still constrained to niche applications. A promising area for this technology is the production of electrical machines (EMs) and/or their main components (e.g. magnetic cores, windings, heat exchangers, etc.) due to the potential of creating lightweight, highly efficient rotating motors, suitable for applications requiring a low moment of inertia. This work investigates the readiness of metal additive manufacturing, specifically Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), applied to the field of EMs to bridge the gaps of how to use this technological approach in this field. A soft magnetic material featuring high silicon content (Fe-5.0%w.t.Si) has been developed for LPBF and a rotor has been 3D-printed for a switched reluctance machine. The printed rotor was assembled into a conventionally laminated stator and the performance of the whole machine was evaluated. Its performance was compared against an identical machine equipped with a laminated rotor of the same dimensions made of conventional non-oriented silicon steel. A comparative study was carried out through both finite element simulations and experimental tests. The efficiency of the two machines was assessed together with the principal electrical and mechanical quantities under several operating conditions

Diabetic cardiomiopathy progression is triggered by miR122-5p and involves extracellular matrix: a 5-year prospective study

The purpose of this study was to follow the long-term progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy by combining cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and molecular analysis

Towards the new Thematic Core Service Tsunami within the EPOS Research Infrastructure

Tsunamis constitute a significant hazard for European coastal populations, and the impact of tsunami events worldwide can extend well beyond the coastal regions directly affected. Understanding the complex mechanisms of tsunami generation, propagation, and inundation, as well as managing the tsunami risk, requires multidisciplinary research and infrastructures that cross national boundaries. Recent decades have seen both great advances in tsunami science and consolidation of the European tsunami research community. A recurring theme has been the need for a sustainable platform for coordinated tsunami community activities and a hub for tsunami services. Following about three years of preparation, in July 2021, the European tsunami community attained the status of Candidate Thematic Core Service (cTCS) within the European Plate Observing System (EPOS) Research Infrastructure. Within a transition period of three years, the Tsunami candidate TCS is anticipated to develop into a fully operational EPOS TCS. We here outline the path taken to reach this point, and the envisaged form of the future EPOS TCS Tsunami. Our cTCS is planned to be organised within four thematic pillars: (1) Support to Tsunami Service Providers, (2) Tsunami Data, (3) Numerical Models, and (4) Hazard and Risk Products. We outline how identified needs in tsunami science and tsunami risk mitigation will be addressed within this structure and how participation within EPOS will become an integration point for community development