42 research outputs found
A Preliminary Study on Ensiling Aspen Bark
A preliminary study was conducted on the ensiling of aspen bark in laboratory silos for the production of animal food. Several types of silo, both with and without an enzyme preparation, were tested. Results of physical and chemical tests on the contents indicate that definite changes occur when bark is ensiled, and that these changes differ with ensiling conditions. Several of these changes suggest possibilities for future research
Fibromuscular dysplasia presenting as a renal infarction: a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Fibromuscular dysplasia is a non-atherosclerotic, non-inflammatory disease that most commonly affects the renal and internal carotid arteries.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 44-year-old Caucasian man who was admitted with complaints of loin pain and hypertension. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a right renal infarction with a nodular aspect of the right renal artery. Subsequent renal angiography revealed a typical 'string of beads' pattern of the right renal artery with thrombus formation. Oral anticoagulation was started and the secondary hypertension was easily controlled with anti-hypertensive drugs. At follow-up, our patient refused percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty as a definitive treatment.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Fibromuscular dysplasia is the most common cause of renovascular hypertension in patients under 50 years of age. Presentation with renal infarction is rare.</p> <p>In fibromuscular dysplasia, angioplasty has been proven to have, at least for some indications, an advantage over anti-hypertensive drugs. Therefore, hypertension secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia is the most common cause of curable hypertension.</p
Clinical characteristics and role of early cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with suspected ST-elevation myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteries
A variety of conditions other than acute myocardial infarction may cause ST-elevation. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) on differential diagnosis from a prospective series of patients with suspected ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and completely normal coronary arteries. Among 1,145 patients with suspected STEMI, 49 patients had completely normal coronary arteries and entered a prospective registry. CMR was done within 24 h, if possible, and included function analyses, T2-weighted imaging (T2 ratio), T1-weighted imaging before and after gadolineum administration (global relative enhancement; gRE), and late gadolineum enhancement (LGE). All patients were asked for a follow-up CMR after approximately 3 months. The incidence of patients with suspected STEMI and normal coronary arteries was 4.3% and mean age was 45 ± 14 years (STEMI group 64 ± 13 years; P < 0.001). 55% had a recent history of infection. Cardiac biomarkers showed a moderate elevation on admission. There was a significant change from baseline to follow-up for LV end-diastolic volumes (EDV) (P < 0.001), LV mass (P < 0.05), mean T2 ratio (P < 0.05), and LGE volume (P < 0.05). Major diagnostic groups were myocarditis (29%), pericarditis (27%), and takotsubo cardiomyopathy (10%). 18% were regarded as non-diagnostic. The study showed an incidence of 4.3% of patients with suspected STEMI and completely normal coronary arteries. Early CMR was valuable in the evaluation of the differential diagnoses and to exclude myocardial abnormalities in patients with uncertain aetiology. Further studies are needed for the assessment of long-term outcome
Cardiac magnetic resonance visualizes acute and chronic myocardial injuries in myocarditis
Our objective was to evaluate the ability of CMR to visualize myocardial injuries over the course of myocarditis. We studied 42 patients (39 males, 3 females; age 37 ± 14 years) with myocarditis during the acute phase and after 12 ± 9 months. CMR included function analyses, T2-weighted imaging (T2 ratio), T1-weighted imaging before and after i.v. gadolinium injection (global relative enhancement; gRE), and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). In the acute phase, the T2 ratio was elevated in 57%, gRE in 31%, and LGE was present in 64% of the patients. In 32 patients (76%) were any two (or more) out of three sequences abnormal. At follow-up, there was an increase in ejection fraction (57.4 ± 11.9% vs. 61.4 ± 7.6; P < 0.05) while both T2 ratio (2.04 ± 0.32 vs. 1.70 ± 0.28; P < 0.001) and gRE (4.07 ± 1.63 vs. 3.11 ± 1.22; P < 0.05) significantly decreased. The LGE persisted in 10 patients. Dilated cardiomyopathy was present in 3 patients and 4 patients received a defibrillator or a pacemaker. A comprehensive CMR approach is a useful tool to visualize myocardial tissue injuries over the course of myocarditis. CMR may help to differentiate acute from healed myocarditis, and add information for the differential diagnoses
Patient Discomfort Associated with the Use of Intra-arterial Iodinated Contrast Media: A Meta-Analysis of Comparative Randomized Controlled Trials
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Discomfort characterized by pain and warmth are common adverse effects associated with the use of intra-arterial iodinated contrast media (CM). The objective of this review was to pool patient-reported outcomes available from head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and to compare the discomfort rates associated with iso-osmolar contrast media (IOCM; i.e., iodixanol) to those reported with various low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A review of the literature published between 1990 and 2009 available through Medline, Medline Preprints, Embase, Biological Abstracts, BioBase, Cab Abstracts, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Life Sciences Collection, Inside Conferences, Energy Database, Engineering Index and Technology Collection was performed to compare rates of discomfort associated with the use of the IOCM (iodixanol) vs. various LOCM agents in head-to-head RCTs. All trials with a Jadad score â„2 that reported patient discomfort data following intra-arterial administration of CM were reviewed, coded, and extracted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 22 RCTs (n = 8087) were included. Overall discomfort (regardless of severity) was significantly different between patients receiving IOCM and various LOCMs (risk difference [RD] -0.049; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.076, -0.021; p = 0.001). IOCM was favored over all LOCMs combined with a summary RD value of -0.188 (95% CI: -0.265, -0.112; p < 0.001) for incidence of pain, regardless of severity. A greater reduction in the magnitude of pain was observed with IOCM (iodixanol), particularly with selective limb and carotid/intracerebral procedures. Similarly, the meta-analysis of warmth sensation, regardless of severity, favored IOCM over LOCMs with an RD of -0.043 (95% CI: -0.074, -0.011; p = 0.008). A positive linear relationship was observed between the discomfort effect size and age and a negative relationship with increasing proportion of women. The opposite trends were observed with warmth sensation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>IOCM was associated with less frequent and severe patient discomfort during intra-arterial administration. These data support differences in osmolality as a possible determinant of CM discomfort.</p
The Future Force and Insurgents: A Need For Balance in Force Transformation
Force Transformation is a continuing process to reform the U.S. Army into a smaller, more lethal force utilizing the latest technologies, resulting in the Future Force. The process would create vulnerabilities that would increase the number of unnecessary casualties, degrading their combat capabilities over time when dealing with insurgents. The first weakness will be an over-reliance on light and medium forces which in most cases lack sufficient armor protection, combat endurance, and tactical mobility. Second, changing the overall force structure from division to smaller brigade-sized units of action may not be adequate for dealing with current security threats. Third, the Future Force will rely to heavily on emerging technologies that may be inadequate to deal with rising insurgencies. Even though the Future Force has some advantages, it is still geared towards fighting enemies with large formations of tanks. Without some balance made between the technologies of the Future Force and the capabilities of the current force, the Army would be unable to fulfill future missions
Barn till förstÄndshandikappade förÀldrar -riskerar rÀttens LVU-beslut att ÄsidosÀtta barns rÀtt att vara barn?
Föreliggande uppsats Ă€r ett examensarbete i socialrĂ€tt pĂ„ juris kandidat- programmet. Uppsatsen syftar till att utreda vilka regler och förhĂ„llanden som rĂ€tten lĂ€gger vikt vid i sĂ„dana LVU-fall som rör barn med förstĂ„ndshandikappade förĂ€ldrar. Som en konsekvens av denna frĂ„gestĂ€llning vĂ€cks Ă€ven frĂ„gan om huruvida rĂ€ttens beslut tenderar att prioritera förĂ€lderns intresse av att vara förĂ€lder framför barnets rĂ€tt att vara barn. Uppsatsens Ă€mnesomrĂ„de Ă€r alltsĂ„ inte strikt juridiskt utan tangerar flera andra vetenskapsomrĂ„den. Metoden som anvĂ€nds för att nĂ„ uppsatsens syften bestĂ„r dels av en rĂ€ttsdogmatisk metod och dels av en empirisk undersökning. Den empiriska undersökningen genomfördes genom att jag valde ut för uppsatsen relevanta LĂ€nsrĂ€ttsdomar frĂ„n Malmö LĂ€nsrĂ€tt frĂ„n en viss tidsperiod och analyserade domskĂ€len i dessa. Den empiriska undersökningen syftade frĂ€mst till att hitta svaret pĂ„ vilka förhĂ„llanden rĂ€tten i praktiken lĂ€gger vikt vid dĂ„ den ska fatta beslut om dylika tvĂ„ngsomhĂ€ndertagande. Den rĂ€ttsdogmatiska undersökningen visade, att den specifika situationen (att barnet har minst en förstĂ„ndshandikappad förĂ€lder) Ă€r reglerad i liten mĂ„n. Det Ă€r i stĂ€llet de mer allmĂ€nna LVU-reglerna som Ă€r till störst vĂ€gledning. Tydligt och grundlĂ€ggande Ă€r dock det faktum att förĂ€lderns förstĂ„ndshandikapp i sig aldrig utgör ett tillrĂ€ckligt skĂ€l för omhĂ€ndertagande. RĂ€tten Ă€r i stĂ€llet alltid tvungen att studera förĂ€ldrarnas förĂ€ldraförmĂ„ga samt barnets psykiska och fysiska hĂ€lsa, precis som i övriga LVU-fall. Den rĂ€ttsdogmatiska undersökningen visade Ă€ven att rĂ€tten sĂ€llan anvĂ€nder sig av sakkunniga i förhandlingen, trots att LVU-fall som involverar förstĂ„ndshandikappade förĂ€ldrar stĂ€ller högre krav pĂ„ rĂ€ttens kunskap inom andra vetenskapsomrĂ„den. RĂ€ttens resonemang i t.ex. RĂ
-praxis liknar till största del det resonemang som förs i mer sedvanliga LVU-förhandlingar, vilket inte Àr helt korrekt eftersom situationerna mellan sÄdana fall och uppsatsens fall skiljer sig Ät pÄ mÄnga sÀtt. Den empiriska undersökningen underströk pÄ flera vis det resultat som den rÀttsdogmatiska undersökningen visade pÄ. LÀnsrÀttsdomarnas domskÀl var ofta rutinmÀssiga och endast i ett par av fallen tog rÀtten upp vikten av ett barnperspektiv eller principen om barnets bÀsta. LÀnsrÀtten var dock, i jÀmförelse med praxis, hÄrdare i sin bedömning gentemot förÀldrarna och dÀrför finns inget som tyder pÄ att barnens rÀtt att vara barn har Äsidosatts i förmÄn för förÀldrarnas intressen. RÀttens val av viktiga omstÀndigheter i domskÀlen var dock ibland förvÄnade. Exempelvis diskuterades sÀllan förÀldrarnas handikapp samt konsekvenser av detta handikapp, pÄ ett tydligt sÀtt. Sammantaget visade undersökningarna att eftersom information och riktlinjer om Àmnet Àr mycket begrÀnsat behandlas dylika LVU-fall pÄ samma sÀtt som de LVU-fall dÀr förÀldrarna inte Àr förstÄndshandikappade, trots att förÀldrar som Àr förstÄndshandikappade har helt andra förutsÀttningar att förstÄ abstrakta ting eller att öva upp sin förÀldraförmÄga. I praxis har det visat sig att denna felbedömning riskerar att hindra barn frÄn att vara barn och ha en god hÀlsa. Försummelsen av rÀttsomrÄdet bör upphöra till gagn för bÄde barn och förÀldrar. Dessutom bör det tydligare markeras att det endast Àr barnets behov och intressen som ska ligga till grund i beslutet
Det gröna dilemmat : En kvalitativ studie om konsumenters uppfattning och agerande kring hÄllbar konsumtion
HaÌllbarhet aÌr ett viktigt aÌmne som inkluderar och paÌverkar alla, baÌde i nutid och framtid. FoÌr att en foÌraÌndring ska ske maÌste fler engagera sig och anta ett haÌllbart konsumentbeteende. Individer bryr sig mer om sin miljoÌpaÌverkan vilket har gjort att haÌllbara produkter nu efterfraÌgas mer och det saÌtter stoÌrre press baÌde paÌ individer och foÌretag. Syftet med studien aÌr att faÌ oÌkad foÌrstaÌelse foÌr hur individer reflekterar och agerar vid haÌllbar konsumtion genom att ta reda paÌ vilka faktorer det aÌr som paÌverkar dem att anta ett haÌllbart alternativt icke haÌllbart konsumentbeteende. Studien har haft en utgaÌngspunkt i en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi med en deduktiv ansats och genomfoÌrdes med aÌtta semistrukturerade intervjuer. Den insamlade empiriska data har staÌrkt stora delar av teorin och har resulterat i att det finns flera olika dilemman som konsumenter upplever vid haÌllbar konsumtion. FoÌr att underlaÌtta ett haÌllbart konsumentbeteende aÌr det viktigt utifraÌn ett foÌretagsperspektiv att ge relevant och relaterbar information samt att vara transparent kring miljoÌpaÌverkan oavsett utfall. Sustainability is an important topic that includes and affects everyone, both in the present and the future. For change to happen, more people need to get involved and adopt sustainable consumer behaviour. Individuals care more about their environmental impact which has led to a greater demand for sustainable products, putting more pressure on both individuals and companies. The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of how individuals reflect and act on sustainable consumption by finding out what factors influence them to adopt sustainable or non-sustainable consumer behaviour. The study was based on a qualitative research strategy with a deductive approach and was conducted with eight semi-structured interviews. The empirical data collected has strengthened large parts of the theory and has resulted in the existence of several different dilemmas that consumers experience when consuming sustainably. In order to facilitate sustainable consumer behaviour, it is important from a business perspective to provide relevant and relatable information and to be transparent about environmental impacts regardless of the outcome.
Det gröna dilemmat : En kvalitativ studie om konsumenters uppfattning och agerande kring hÄllbar konsumtion
HaÌllbarhet aÌr ett viktigt aÌmne som inkluderar och paÌverkar alla, baÌde i nutid och framtid. FoÌr att en foÌraÌndring ska ske maÌste fler engagera sig och anta ett haÌllbart konsumentbeteende. Individer bryr sig mer om sin miljoÌpaÌverkan vilket har gjort att haÌllbara produkter nu efterfraÌgas mer och det saÌtter stoÌrre press baÌde paÌ individer och foÌretag. Syftet med studien aÌr att faÌ oÌkad foÌrstaÌelse foÌr hur individer reflekterar och agerar vid haÌllbar konsumtion genom att ta reda paÌ vilka faktorer det aÌr som paÌverkar dem att anta ett haÌllbart alternativt icke haÌllbart konsumentbeteende. Studien har haft en utgaÌngspunkt i en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi med en deduktiv ansats och genomfoÌrdes med aÌtta semistrukturerade intervjuer. Den insamlade empiriska data har staÌrkt stora delar av teorin och har resulterat i att det finns flera olika dilemman som konsumenter upplever vid haÌllbar konsumtion. FoÌr att underlaÌtta ett haÌllbart konsumentbeteende aÌr det viktigt utifraÌn ett foÌretagsperspektiv att ge relevant och relaterbar information samt att vara transparent kring miljoÌpaÌverkan oavsett utfall. Sustainability is an important topic that includes and affects everyone, both in the present and the future. For change to happen, more people need to get involved and adopt sustainable consumer behaviour. Individuals care more about their environmental impact which has led to a greater demand for sustainable products, putting more pressure on both individuals and companies. The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of how individuals reflect and act on sustainable consumption by finding out what factors influence them to adopt sustainable or non-sustainable consumer behaviour. The study was based on a qualitative research strategy with a deductive approach and was conducted with eight semi-structured interviews. The empirical data collected has strengthened large parts of the theory and has resulted in the existence of several different dilemmas that consumers experience when consuming sustainably. In order to facilitate sustainable consumer behaviour, it is important from a business perspective to provide relevant and relatable information and to be transparent about environmental impacts regardless of the outcome.