Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation Profile, Unrelated to Homocysteinemia, in Obese Children

To investigate in prepubertal obese children (POC) the profile of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation (CLGSI) and its relation to homocysteinemia, 72 POC were evaluated for serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and amyloid A (SAA) levels, both markers of CLGSI, and plasma levels of total homocysteine (tHcy), an independent risk factor for adult atherosclerosis, in comparison to 42 prepubertal lean children (PLC). The main observations in POC were higher CRP levels compared to PLC, positive association of SAA levels to CRP levels, no association of CRP or SAA levels to tHcy levels. Thus, in POC, positively interrelated to each other, elevated CRP and unaltered SAA levels reveal a unique profile of the CLGSI, not explaining homocysteinemia-induced risk for future atherosclerosis

Meloneis Gen. Nov., a New Epipsammic Genus of Rhaphoneidaceae (Bacillariophyceae)

The diatom family Rhaphoneidaceae is characterized by high generic diversity and low species diversity with most genera known to have long stratigraphic ranges. The genera within this family are neritic marine, and mostly epipsammic. A new modern and epipsammic genus, Meloneis gen. nov., is described herein and is compared to all genera within Rhaphoneidaceae and especially to Rhaphoneis Ehrenberg s.l. Within Meloneis three new species and one variety are distinguished and described herein: M. mimallis sp. nov., M. mimallis var. zephyria var. nov., M. akytos sp. nov., and M. gorgis sp. nov

Στάση νοσηλευτικού προσωπικού στην παροχή φροντίδας ασθενών ανάλογα με την ηλικία σε καρδιολογικές μονάδες

ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗΑπό το 1969 όπου ο Butler έθεσε τον ορισμό του γεροντικού ιδεασμού -ageism έως και το 2016 όπου ο Π.Ο.Υ. όρισε ως θέμα της Παγκόσμιας ΗμέραςΗλικιωμένων το σύνθημα «Πάρε θέση ενάντια στην διάκριση των ηλικιωμένων»,έχουν περάσει 47 χρόνια. Είναι ένα αρκετά μεγάλο διάστημα στο οποίο το πρόβληματου γεροντικού ιδεασμού διογκώθηκε και προβλέπεται να αυξηθεί και άλλο, αν δεναντιμετωπιστεί αποτελεσματικά. Ο πληθυσμός των ηλικιωμένων σε παγκόσμιοεπίπεδο αυξάνεται και θα συνεχίσει να αυξάνεται με γοργό ρυθμό. Το γεγονός αυτόκρούει τον κώδωνα του κινδύνου για την βελτίωση των συστημάτων υγείας ώστε ναείναι σε θέση να διαχειριστούν τον μεγάλο όγκο ηλικιωμένων ασθενών. Ο χώρος της καρδιολογίας δέχεται και αναμένεται να δεχτεί ακόμαπερισσότερους ηλικιωμένους ασθενείς. Επομένως ο καρδιολογικός νοσηλευτικόςτομέας που παρέχει φροντίδα στους ηλικιωμένους, επιβάλλεται να είναι εντοπισμένοςστις ιδιαίτερες ανάγκες τους. Η παροχή της φροντίδας εξαρτάται σε πολύ μεγάλοβαθμό από την συμπεριφορά και την στάση των νοσηλευτών απέναντι στηνσυγκεκριμένη ηλικιακή ομάδα. Η επίγνωση των προβλημάτων υγείας πουπαρουσιάζουν οι καρδιολογικοί ηλικιωμένοι και ο τρόπος διαχείρισής αυτών, θαενισχύσει την παροχή της θετικής στάσης των νοσηλευτών. Οι ανάγκες της τρίτηςηλικίας περιλαμβάνουν εκτός από καλή γνώση της καρδιολογικής παθοφυσιολογίαςτων προβλημάτων υγείας και την γνώση γηριατρικής. Η αρνητική στάση των νοσηλευτών που χαρακτηρίζεται από αρνητικέςπροκαταλήψεις θα πρέπει να επαλειφθεί το συντομότερο. Η αντιμετώπιση τηςηλικιακής διάκρισης θα παρέχει μόνο οφέλη στον χώρο της υγείας. Απαραίτητο όπλοστην αντιμετώπιση του γεροντικού ιδεασμού αποτελεί η έρευνα της στάσης τουνοσηλευτικού προσωπικού, του πρώτου αποδέκτη του ασθενή στο νοσοκομείο. Μέσωτης έρευνας και της διαπίστωσης της θετικής ή αρνητικής στάσης, θα έχουμε τηνδυνατότητα για βελτίωση με παρεμβάσεις όπως η γηριατρική εκπαίδευση.ABSTRACTSince 1969 where Butler put the definition “ageism” up to 2016 where W.H.O.set a theme for the International Day of Older People “Take A Stand Against Ageism”,they have passed 47 years. It is quite a long time in which the problem of ageism grewout and it is provided to increase further more if not treated effectively. Thepopulation of elderly worldwide is increasing and it will continue to grow rapidly.This has sounded the alarm for the improvement of Health Systems that it should beable to manage the large population of elderly patients. Cardiology is already dealing and is also expected to deal with even moreelderly patients. Therefore cardiology nurses who provide care for older peopleshould focus on their special needs. The provision of nursing care depends on thebehavior and attitude of nurses towards this age group. Awareness and management ofhealth problems that elderly people have to face will enhance positive attitude ofnurses. The special needs of the older people includes besides a good knowledge ofcardiology pathology and physiology, also knowledge of geriatrics.Nurse’s negative attitude which is characterized by negative prejudices shouldbe swabbed as soon as possible. Tackling age discrimination will only providebenefits to Health Systems. Essential weapon in management of ageism isinvestigation of nursing staff attitude, as nurses are the first ones to meet patients asthey arrive at the hospital. Through research and revealing positive or negativeattitude we will have the ability to improve, making interventions such as geriatricseducation

Anaerobic Digestion Remediation in Three Full-Scale Biogas Plants through Supplement Additions

Additives can improve the efficiency of anaerobic digestion by increasing biogas production, reducing air pollution, and preventing ammonia inhibition. Biological or chemical supplementation can also improve the economic efficiency of anaerobic digestion. However, the effects of specific additives on biogas production can vary, depending on the type of supplement used. This research utilizes the additives on an industrial scale and monitors the optimization of the anaerobic digestion operating parameters after their addition. The various AD additives were examined in a sufficient cycle of operation for three biogas plants located in northern Greece. In this manner, the effectiveness was investigated in multiple initial feeds and unstable operating situations caused by the seasonality of specific feedstocks. The existing operation state in the three biogas plants was recorded before and after adding the supplements. The addition of zeolite contributed to the reduction in the total ammoniacal nitrogen values in BG01 and BG03 plants. 8.4 tn of zeolite were added to the BG01 and BG03 plants over a period of two months. Low levels of trace element concentrations were observed in the BG02 plant; this issue was addressed by adding 5 kg of a trace element mixture every week over a period of 60 days. Introducing additives proved to be a stabilization factor in AD performance and an inhibition mediator

Internal valve views of <i>Meloneis mimallis</i> sp. nov. and <i>Meloneis akytos</i> sp. nov. under SEM.

<p><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0032198#pone-0032198-g003" target="_blank"><b>Figure 3A</b></a><b>.. </b><i>M. mimallis</i> with diagonally positioned rimoportulae in relation to the apical axis. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0032198#pone-0032198-g003" target="_blank"><b>Figure 3B</b></a><b>.</b> Detail of the apex showing the elongated slit-like internal opening of the rimoportula (black arrow), and the pseudocellus consisting of 4 fine pores (black arrow with white outline). <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0032198#pone-0032198-g003" target="_blank"><b>Figure 3C</b></a><b>.</b> A specimen of <i>M. akytos</i> with distant striae and diagonally positioned rimoportulae in relation to the apical axis. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0032198#pone-0032198-g003" target="_blank"><b>Figure 3D</b></a><b>.. </b><i>M. akytos</i> showing the elongated slit-like internal opening of the rimoportula (white arrow), and the pseudocellus with 2 fine pores (black arrow). <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0032198#pone-0032198-g003" target="_blank"><b>Figure 3E</b></a><b>.</b> Tilted specimen of <i>M. akytos</i>; note the two (white arrow) or three (black arrowhead) struts of the rotae in the areolae. [Scale bars: <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0032198#pone-0032198-g003" target="_blank">Figures 3A, C</a> = 10 µm, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0032198#pone-0032198-g003" target="_blank">Figure 3B</a> = 1 µm, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0032198#pone-0032198-g003" target="_blank">Figures 3D, E</a> = 2 µm].</p

Valve morphology - according to the available literature and photodocumentation cited in this paper - differentiating <i>Meloneis</i> from the related genera of the family Rhaphoneidaceae (for the genus <i>Rhaphoneis s.s.</i> characters of the type species <i>Rhaphoneis amphiceros</i> were considered).

1<p>Fo = fossil, R = recent.</p>2<p>Mu = multipolar, La = lanceolate, Rh = rhomboid, Ell = elliptic, Li = linear, Elo = elongate.</p>3<p>So = solid, Pe = perforate, Co = concentric.</p>4<p>SRa = presence of a single row of areolae even around the apices, SRna = presence of a single row of areolae but not around the apices.</p>5<p>Ps = pseudocellus, RP₁ = apical pore field reduced to 1 pore.</p>6<p>x = number, M = many, F = few.</p>7<p>Ci = rather circular, Di = rather disorganised, Rd = rather radiating.</p>8<p>Rimoportula (R) and Apical Pore Field (Ps, RP₁) in relation to vE = valve edge, and in relation to Lr = last transverse row of areolae. For instance: (R-Lr) = rimoportula positioned between the areolae of the last transverse row, vE→ Ps = pseudocellus positioned next to the valve edge. The question marks indicate unclear position of the rimoportula in relation to pseudocellus and to the last transverse row.</p>9<p>P = presence, A = absence.</p>10<p>Sp = spines, Pa = papillae, A = absence of protrusions.</p

Characters of valve morphology differentiating the four taxa of <i>Meloneis</i>.

<p>Characters of valve morphology differentiating the four taxa of <i>Meloneis</i>.</p