Mechanical properties of epoxy/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composites

In this paper, two types of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were dispersed into two different epoxy resins b high - shear mixing. Dispersion and homogenisation of nanofillers was analysed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Microhardness of epoxy/MWCNTs nanocomposites, as well as of neat epoxy resins, is measure by Vickers method. The evolution of nanocomposites microhardness values were studied in function of curing time takin in account the influence of two different epoxy matrix and MWCNTs. Asymptotic values were analysed and compare with those of pure epoxy resin

Adverse events related to low dose corticosteroids in autoimmune hepatitis

Background: Autoimmune hepatitis requires long-term therapy, and systemic corticosteroids are the backbone of therapeutic management. Prolonged use of corticosteroids may lead to adverse events but data from long-term studies are mainly derived from studies in rheumatic diseases. Aim: To assess cataract, diabetes and fractures in relation to corticosteroid doses in the long-term maintenance treatment of patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Methods: We retrospectively collected data on 476 patients (77% women) with an established diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. Binary logistic regression with a generalised estimating equation was used to analyse the association between current corticosteroid use and the incidence of cataract, diabetes and fractures with onset after autoimmune hepatitis diagnosis. We corrected for sex, age, cirrhosis at diagnosis and predniso(lo)ne use in the prior 3 years to account for possible ongoing effects. Results: A total of 6634 years, with a median of 13 (range 1-40) per patient were recorded. The median age at diagnosis was 44 years (range 2-88). Adverse events were documented in 120 (25%) patients. Low-dose predniso(lo)ne (0.1-5.0 mg/d) increased the odds of fractures whereas higher doses (>5.0 mg/d) increased the odds of cataracts and diabetes. Budesonide increased the odds of cataract and fractures; this effect was independent of predniso(lo)ne use in the prior 1, 2 or 3 years. Conclusions: Even low doses of corticosteroids frequently lead to substantial adverse events refuting the assumption that adverse events are prevented by administering low doses

Validation of the Transition Readiness and Appropriateness Measure (TRAM) for the Managing the Link and Strengthening Transition from Child to Adult Mental Healthcare in Europe (MILESTONE) study

OBJECTIVE: Young people moving from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS) are faced with significant challenges. To improve this state of affairs, there needs to be a recognition of the problem and initiatives and an urgent requirement for appropriate tools for measuring readiness and outcomes at the transfer boundary (16-18 years of age in Europe). The objective of this study was to develop and validate the Transition Readiness and Appropriateness Measure (TRAM) for assessing a young person's readiness for transition, and their outcomes at the transfer boundary. DESIGN: MILESTONE prospective study. SETTING: Eight European Union (EU) countries participating in the EU-funded MILESTONE study. PARTICIPANTS: The first phase (MILESTONE validation study) involved 100 adolescents (pre-transition), young adults (post-transition), parents/carers and both CAMHS and AMHS clinicians. The second phase (MILESTONE cohort study and nested cluster randomised trial) involved over 1000 young people. RESULTS: The development of the TRAM began with a literature review on transitioning and a review of important items regarding transition by a panel of 34 mental health experts. A list of 64 items of potential importance were identified, which together comprised the TRAM. The psychometric properties of the different versions of the TRAM were evaluated and showed that the TRAM had good reliability for all versions and low-to-moderate correlations when compared with other established instruments and a well-defined factor structure. The main results of the cohort study with the nested cluster randomised trial are not reported. CONCLUSION: The TRAM is a reliable instrument for assessing transition readiness and appropriateness. It highlighted the barriers to a successful transition and informed clinicians, identifying areas which clinicians on both sides of the transfer boundary can work on to ease the transition for the young person. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN83240263 (Registered 23 July 2015), NCT03013595 (Registered 6 January 2017); Pre-results

The effects of improving sleep on mental health (OASIS): a randomised controlled trial with mediation analysis

BACKGROUND: Sleep difficulties might be a contributory causal factor in the occurrence of mental health problems. If this is true, improving sleep should benefit psychological health. We aimed to determine whether treating insomnia leads to a reduction in paranoia and hallucinations. METHODS: We did this single-blind, randomised controlled trial (OASIS) at 26 UK universities. University students with insomnia were randomly assigned (1:1) with simple randomisation to receive digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for insomnia or usual care, and the research team were masked to the treatment. Online assessments took place at weeks 0, 3, 10 (end of therapy), and 22. The primary outcome measures were for insomnia, paranoia, and hallucinatory experiences. We did intention-to-treat analyses. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN61272251. FINDINGS: Between March 5, 2015, and Feb 17, 2016, we randomly assigned 3755 participants to receive digital CBT for insomnia (n=1891) or usual practice (n=1864). Compared with usual practice, the sleep intervention at 10 weeks reduced insomnia (adjusted difference 4·78, 95% CI 4·29 to 5·26, Cohen's d=1·11; p<0·0001), paranoia (-2·22, -2·98 to -1·45, Cohen's d=0·19; p<0·0001), and hallucinations (-1·58, -1·98 to -1·18, Cohen's d=0·24; p<0·0001). Insomnia was a mediator of change in paranoia and hallucinations. No adverse events were reported. INTERPRETATION: To our knowledge, this is the largest randomised controlled trial of a psychological intervention for a mental health problem. It provides strong evidence that insomnia is a causal factor in the occurrence of psychotic experiences and other mental health problems. Whether the results generalise beyond a student population requires testing. The treatment of disrupted sleep might require a higher priority in mental health provision. FUNDING: Wellcome Trust

Suicide trends in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time-series analysis of preliminary data from 21 countries

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is having profound mental health consequences for many people. Concerns have been expressed that at its most extreme, this may manifest itself in increased suicide rates.MethodsWe sourced real-time suicide data from around the world via a systematic internet search and recourse to our networks and the published literature. We used interrupted time series analysis to model the trend in monthly suicides prior to COVID-19 in each country/area-within-country, comparing the expected number of suicides derived from the model with the observed number of suicides in the early months of the pandemic. Countries/areas-within countries contributed data from at least 1 January 2019 to 31 July 2020 and potentially from as far back as 1 January 2016 until as recently as 31 October 2020. We conducted a primary analysis in which we treated 1 April to 31 July 2020 as the COVID-19 period, and two sensitivity analyses in which we varied its start and end dates (for those countries/areas-within-countries with data beyond July 2020).OutcomesWe sourced data from 21 countries (high income [n=16], upper-middle income [n=5]; whole country [n=10], area(s)-within-the-country [n=11]). In general, there does not appear to have been a significant increase in suicides since the pandemic began in the countries for which we had data. In fact, in a number of countries/areas-within-countries there appears to have been a decrease.InterpretationThis is the first study to examine suicides occurring in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple countries. It offers a consistent picture, albeit from high- and upper-middle income countries, of suicide numbers largely remaining unchanged or declining in the early months of the pandemic. We need to remain vigilant and be poised to respond if the situation changes as the longer-term mental health and economic impacts of the pandemic unfold

Control de "Pseudococcus longispinus" (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) con imidacloprid aplicado al follaje o al tronco en naranjos en Chile

Se evaluó el control de pseudocóccidos en naranjos usando una nueva formulación de imidacloprid. Las aplicaciones fueron hechas con pulverizadora, en tres dosis, al follaje, o con pistola aplicadora, en dos dosis, sobre el tronco a aproximadamente 80 cm del suelo. Los tratamientos realizados en enero intentaron evitar la colonización de la cavidad calicinal aproximadamente 5 meses antes de la cosecha (junio). Ellos se contrastaron con tratamientos al follaje con clorpirifos aplicado sólo y un programa con clorpirifos (enero) e imidacloprid (60 días antes de la cosecha). El ensayo se realizó en un huerto comercial de 5 años (Quillota, V Región, Chile Central) severamente infestado con Pseudococcus longispinus. Se evaluó el número de individuos vivos antes y, periódicamente, después de las aplicaciones, mediante revisiones de frutos y trampas de agregación (cartón corrugado) hasta la cosecha. Se concluyó que una única aplicación de imidacloprid al follaje proporcionó un control similar al logrado con una aplicación de clorpirifos y con el programa que incluyó ambos insecticidas. Todos los tratamientos con insecticidas fueron significativamente superiores al testigo, pero ninguno fue capaz de evitar la infestación a cosecha. Las aplicaciones al tronco no fueron efectivas contra P. longispinus aparentemente debido a la reducida o nula absorción y/o movimiento de imidacloprid desde el sitio de aplicación hacia los frutos, no obstante hubo actividad local por algunas semanas en el punto de aplicación