Accuracy of early rapid ultrasound in shock (RUSH) examination performed by emergency physician for diagnosis of shock etiology in critically ill patients

Background: Rapid Ultrasound in Shock (RUSH) is a recently reported emergency ultrasound protocol designed to help clinicians better recognize distinctive shock etiologies in a short time. We tried to evaluate the accuracy of early RUSH protocol performed by emergency physicians to predict the shock type in critically ill patients. Materials and Methods: Our prospective study was approved by the ethics committee of trauma research center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Science, Iran. We enrolled 52 patients with shock state in the emergency department from April 2013 to October 2013. We performed early bed-side sonographic examination for participants based on RUSH protocol. Patients received all needed standard therapeutic and diagnostic interventions without delay and were followed to document their final diagnosis. Agreement (Kappa index) of initial impression provided by RUSH with final diagnosis, and also sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of RUSH for diagnosis of each shock type were calculated. Results: Fifty-two patients were enrolled in our study. Kappa index was 0.7 (P value = 0.000), reflecting acceptable general agreement between initial impression and final diagnosis. For hypovolemic and obstructive shocks, the protocol had sensitivity of 100 but had lower PPV. For shocks with distributive or mixed etiology, RUSH showed PPV of 100 but had low sensitivity. For cardiogenic shocks, all reliability indices were above 90. Conclusion: We highlight the role of RUSH examination in the hands of an emergency physician in making a rapid diagnosis of shock etiology, especially in ruling out obstructive, cardiogenic, and hypovolemic types

Density index and length scale of Pearl Oyster Pinctada radiata in two habitats around Hendorabi Island (Iran, the Persian Gulf)

As pearling has been banned in Iran since 2006, stocks of pearl oysters has not been investigated during these years; therefore, condition of natural habitats for Pinctada radiata in its old habitats was surveyed in present research. Shallow waters around Hendorabi Island were searched with diving and two habitats namely “Sooleh” and “Sahel-e-sheni”, were considered for study. The pearl oysters had most distribution in these habitats in depth ranges of 7 to 12 m and 8 to 11 m, respectively. Total stock in Sooleh and Sahel-e-sheni was surveyed near 35700 and 12563 Pinctada radiata, respectively, of which 22% and 67% were catchable, respectively. Catch Per Unit of Area (CPUA) in Sooleh and Sahel-e-sheni habitats was estimated equal to 0.3 N/m2 in both habitats, and Catch Per Unit of Effort (CPUE) in these habitats was calculated equal to 59.5 N/hr and 50.3 N/hr, respectively. Results of this study demonstrated that area, stocks and CPUA for studied habitats were less than previous years. Despite of interdict of pearling in this region since 7 years ago, stock revival has done slowly

A morphometric study of sea urchin Echinometra mathaei (de Blainville, 1825) on beaches of Lengeh Port, Persian Gulf

Some of valuable species of Persian Gulf, such as sea urchins, are accounted less scientific studies due to the lack of any position in the local food baskets. Therefore, this survey is investigated the biometrical parameters of sea urchin Echinometra mathaei for a period of seven months (March– September, 2014) in the intertidal zone of Lengeh Port (26˚32ʹ28̋ N, 54˚52ʹ29̋ E). Random samples were collected monthly during spring tides and transferred alive to the laboratory and then the dissection and the separation of different parts of the body were started. Each part of the body length and weight was measured. By a mathematical method the volume of samples was calculated as an elliptical object. This study illustrated the largest and smallest sample were 0.07 and 103.77 grams, respectively. Results showed that the relationships between Total wet weight and Test Diameter (Total Wet Weight = 0.0053 Test Diameter2.3933), Total Wet Weight and Height (Total Wet Weight = 0.0122 Height2.5872) and Total Wet Weight and Volume (Total Wet Weight= 0.0071 Volume0.8706). The correlation coefficient between volume and total wet weight of samples was r=0.94 which shows the accuracy of Disk method. On the other hand, the HDR index was more in compared with the HWR index and it illustrates larger values of Test Diameter in compare with Height. Statical analyses prove that higher values of DWR in compared with HWR are reasonable and accurate in both sexes

An automated coding and classification system with supporting database for effective design of manufacturing systems

The philosophy of group technology (GT) is an important concept in the design of flexible manufacturing systems and manufacturing cells. Group technology is a manufacturing philosophy that identifies similar parts and groups them into families. Beside assigning unique codes to these parts, group technology developers intend to take advantage of part similarities during design and manufacturing processes. GT is not the answer to all manufacturing problems, but it is a good management technique with which to standardize efforts and eliminate duplication. Group technology classifies parts by assigning them to different families based on their similarities in: (1) design attributes (physical shape and size), and/or (2) manufacturing attributes (processing sequence). The manufacturing industry today is process focused; departments and sub units are no longer independent but are interdependent. If the product development process is to be optimized, engineering and manufacturing cannot remain independent any more: they must be coordinated. Each sub-system is a critical component within an integrated manufacturing framework. The coding and classification system is the basis of CAPP and the functioning and reliability of CAPP depends on the robustness of the coding system. The proposed coding system is considered superior to the previously proposed coding systems, in that it has the capability to migrate into multiple manufacturing environments. This article presents the design of a coding and classification system and the supporting database for manufacturing processes based on both design and manufacturing attributes of parts. An interface with the spreadsheet will calculate the machine operation costs for various processes. This menu-driven interactive package is implemented using dBASE-IV. Part Family formation is achieved using a KAMCELL package developed in TURBO Pascal.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46606/1/10845_2004_Article_BF00123696.pd

Association between co-authorship network and scientific productivity and impact indicators in academic medical research centers: A case study in Iran

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We aimed to examine the co-authorship networks in three successful Iranian academic research centers, in order to find the association between the scientific productivity and impact indicators with network features in a case study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched for English articles of the three research centers. We drew co-authorship maps of each center and calculated social network measures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The collaboration networks in centers shared many structural features, including a "star-like" pattern of relations. Centers with more successful scientific profile showed denser and more cooperative networks. Key figures in each center were interviewed for their understandings of the reasons for the emergence of these patterns.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Star shape network structure and dependency on a single big member is a common feature observed in our case study. Scientific output measures correlate with the network structure of research centers. Network analysis seems a useful method to explore the subtle scientific contexts in research organizations.</p

Rickettsia felis, an emerging flea-transmitted human pathogen

Rickettsia felis was first recognised two decades ago and has now been described as endemic to all continents except Antarctica. The rickettsiosis caused by R. felis is known as flea-borne spotted fever or cat-flea typhus. The large number of arthropod species found to harbour R. felis and that may act as potential vectors support the view that it is a pan-global microbe. The main arthropod reservoir and vector is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, yet more than 20 other species of fleas, ticks, and mites species have been reported to harbour R. felis. Few bacterial pathogens of humans have been found associated with such a diverse range of invertebrates. With the projected increase in global temperature over the next century, there is concern that changes to the ecology and distribution of R. felis vectors may adversely impact public health

Achievable tolerances in robotic feature machining operations using a low-cost hexapod

Portable robotic machine tools potentially allow feature machining processes to be brought to large parts in various industries, creating an opportunity for capital expenditure and operating cost reduction. However, robots lack the machining capability of conventional equipment, which ultimately results in dimensional errors in parts. This work showcases a low-cost hexapod-based robotic machine tool and presents experimental research conducted to investigate how the widely researched robotic machining challenges, e.g. structural dynamics and kinematics, translate to achievable tolerance ranges in real-world production to highlight currently feasible applications and provide a context for considering technology improvements. Machining trials assess the total dimensional errors in the final part over multiple geometries. A key finding is error variation which is in the sub-millimetre range, although, in some cases, upper tolerance limits &lt; 100 μm are achieved. Practical challenges are also noted. Most significantly, it is demonstrated that dimensional machining error is mainly systematic in nature and therefore that the total error can be dramatically reduced with in situ measurement and compensation. Potential is therefore found to achieve a flexible, high-performance robotic machining capability despite complex and diverse underlying scientific challenges. Overall, the work presented highlights achievable tolerances in low-cost robotic machining and opportunities for improvement, also providing a practical benchmark useful for process selection

Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy

BACKGROUND: Vector-borne pathogens are the subject of several investigations due to the zoonotic concern of some of them. However, limited data are available about the simultaneous presence of these pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites. The aim of the present study was to define the species of ectoparasites found on cats as well as to investigate vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy. METHODS: Blood from 42 cats and fleas or flea pools (n = 28) and ticks (n = 73) collected from them were investigated by quantitative PCR for the detection of vector-borne pathogens. Feline serum samples were tested by IFAT to detect IgG antibodies against Leishmania infantum, Bartonella henselae, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia typhi, Babesia microti, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum antigens. RESULTS: Only one flea species (Ctenocephalides felis) and four tick species belonging to the genera Rhipicephalus and Ixodes were identified on cats from southern Italy. Molecular evidence of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., hemoplasmas, Babesia vogeli and L. infantum was found in ectoparasites (fleas and/or ticks) while DNA from Hepatozoon felis and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. was not detected. Likewise, DNAs from Bartonella, hemoplasma and Leishmania were the only pathogens amplified from feline blood samples. Cats had also antibodies against all the investigated pathogens with the exception of Rickettsia typhi. Agreement between serological and molecular results in individual cats and their ectoparasites was not found. The only exception was for Bartonella with a fair to moderate agreement between individual cats and their ectoparasites. Bartonella clarridgeiae was the species most frequently found in cats and their fleas followed by B. henselae. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, cats harboring ticks and fleas are frequently exposed to vector-borne pathogens. Furthermore, ticks and fleas harbored by cats frequently carry pathogens of zoonotic concern therefore appropriate feline ectoparasiticide preventative treatments should be used in cats