Measurement and subjective assessment of water generated sounds

YesThere is increasing concern with protecting quiet and tranquil areas from intrusive noise. Noise reduction at source and barriers to transmission are mitigation measures often considered. An alternative is to attempt to mask or distract attention away from the noise source. The masking or distracting sound source should be pleasant so that it does not add to any irritation caused by the noise source alone. The laboratory measurements described in this paper consisted of capturing under controlled conditions the third octave band spectra of water falling onto water, gravel, bricks and small boulders and various combinations. These spectra were then matched with typical traffic noise spectra to assess the degree of masking that could be expected for each option. Recordings were also taken during each measurement and these were used later to enable the subjective assessment of the tranquility of the sounds. It was found that there were differences between water sounds both in terms of masking and their subjective impact on tranquility

A full conformational characterization of antiandrogen cortexolone- 17α-propionate and related compounds through theoretical calculations and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Cortexolone-17\u3b1-propionate is a topical antiandrogen under investigation for the treatment of androgen-related skin disorders. A full conformational characterization was realized, in comparison with other steroidal androgens and antiandrogens, by means of theoretical calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level supported by high-field NMR analyses. All of the studied molecules showed a good overlay; nevertheless, the different functional groups present in the skeleton of the molecules drive the individual biological profile. \ua9 2014 the Partner Organisations

A healthy start : promoting mental health and well-being in the early primary school years

This study was in part funded by the University of Malta.Mental health problems in children represent a significant international health concern, with up to one in five children using mental health services during the course of any given year. Identifying the processes of what prevents social, emotional and behaviour difficulties (SEBD) and promotes healthy development from an early age can make a significant contribution to the promotion of positive mental health in children. This article describes a longitudinal study which sought to identify the risk and promotive factors as young children move from the early to junior years in primary school. Multilevel analysis was used to identify the individual, classroom, school, home and community factors that predict change in SEBD and in prosocial behaviour in the early school years. It also calculated the cumulative effect of the various risk and promotive factors on the pupils’ well-being and mental health. The article presents the windows of vulnerability and opportunity for young children’s healthy development, proposing a trajectory for healthy development in early and middle childhood.peer-reviewe

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

Test beam performance measurements for the Phase I upgrade of the CMS pixel detector

A new pixel detector for the CMS experiment was built in order to cope with the instantaneous luminosities anticipated for the Phase I Upgrade of the LHC. The new CMS pixel detector provides four-hit tracking with a reduced material budget as well as new cooling and powering schemes. A new front-end readout chip mitigates buffering and bandwidth limitations, and allows operation at low comparator thresholds. In this paper, comprehensive test beam studies are presented, which have been conducted to verify the design and to quantify the performance of the new detector assemblies in terms of tracking efficiency and spatial resolution. Under optimal conditions, the tracking efficiency is (99.95 ± 0.05) %, while the intrinsic spatial resolutions are (4.80 ± 0.25) μm and (7.99 ± 0.21) μm along the 100 μm and 150 μm pixel pitch, respectively. The findings are compared to a detailed Monte Carlo simulation of the pixel detector and good agreement is found.Peer reviewe

Crescimento intra-uterino retardado: aspectos atuais

Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de TocoginecologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de TocoginecologiaSciEL

Lipase-catalyzed preparation of corticosteroid 17alpha-esters endowed with antiandrogenic activity

Several 17alpha-monoesters of cortexolone and its delta 9-derivative are endowed with antiandrogenic activity. Their synthesis can be accomplished by means of a lipase-catalyzed chemoselective alcoholysis of the corresponding 17alpha,21-diesters

Surgical implications of 3D vs 2D endoscopic ear surgery: a case–control study

Purpose: To compare 3D to 2D technology in endoscopic ear surgery (EES); to report surgeons’ feedback on the use of 3D in EES; to describe the operative setting for 3D EES. Methods: A case–control study on EES was performed at a tertiary university center. All consecutive cases of 3D EES (case group) were matched to a control group operated with the standard 2D technique. Data on surgical approach, type of surgery, operative time, outcomes, and complications were compared between the two groups. After each surgery, the operating surgeons were asked to give a feedback on the use of 3D endoscopy, filling in a questionnaire based on 5-point Likert scales. Results: None of the 3D procedures was switched to 2D. Nor intraoperative or long-term complications were recorded. The operative time was similar in both groups. Postoperative hearing function did not show any statistically significant difference between 3 and 2D patients. Ninety-six percent of participants agreed or strongly agreed on better views of anatomy and pathology with the 3D technique. Discomfort induced by 3D vision was rarely reported. Conclusion: Surgical and functional results from EES respectively performed with 3D and 2D systems are overall similar, suggesting that both techniques are safe and effective. According to the surgeons’ feedback, 3D provides better depth perception and improved view of anatomy and pathology. Several surgeons are willing to use the 3D system for future EES. To guarantee the best 3D EES experience, the setting in the operating room plays a crucial role