Assessment of the risk of Hepatitis E virus occurrence in pork carcasses at slaughter in the UK

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a RNA virus of the genus Hepevirus. HEV genotype 3 is zoonotic and pigs are the main reservoir. This genotype has been identified in the United Kingdom, in sporadic locally-acquired cases without recent history of foreign travel to endemic countries. The number of HEV-confirmed human cases in the UK has increased significantly, from 124 cases in 2003 to 661 in 2013. Non-travel cases now account for the majority (69%) of cases observed annually in the UK. Our aim was to assess the risk of HEV occurrence in pork carcases at slaughter in the UK. We performed a quantitative exposure assessment using Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the number of carcasses contaminated with HEV produced in a high throughput porcine abattoir during one year. The input data used were: a) true prevalence in British pigs, b) probability of viral shedding in bile and faeces c) number of pig carcases with bile and/or faecal contamination detected during post-mortem inspection. The following assumptions were made when data were unavailable: a) sensitivity and specificity of the RP-PCR diagnostic test; b) meat from viraemic pigs was considered HEV-positive; c) visual faecal and bile contamination only considered since microscopic contamination would not be detected through visual inspection. We estimated through our model that 175,152 (2.4%) of carcases produced in high throughput abattoirs would be infected with HEV in one year period. The number of viraemic pigs slaughtered at the abattoir was the largest driver of the uncertainty in carcass contamination. Variations in this parameter would change the output from 62,982 carcasses up to 306,320. Mitigation strategies at farm level should be explored, as it appears that control at this level would likely result in a higher reduction in HEV contamination in pork meat

Quality and durability properties and life-cycle assessment of high volume biomass fly ash mortar

The effect of using biomass fly ash (BFA) on the quality, durability and sustainability of mortars was studied. Using high amounts of BFA does not lead to a production of mortars with better performance than a plain cement mortar. However, when BFA is used in small amounts mixed with coal fly ash, mortars with similar compressive strength, to that of a cement mortar, but with less carbonation and with better environmental performance are obtained. Using BFA in the concrete industry can lead to a minimisationof issues related to the high volume fly ash concrete.The authors wish to thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Eco-Construction and Rehabilitation Doctoral Program for supporting the PhD scholarship (reference PD/BD/52661/2014). This work was also financed by FEDER funds through the Competitivity Factors Operational Programme – COMPETE and by national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of the project POCI-01- 0145-FEDER- 007633 and through the Regional Operational Programme CENTRO2020 within the scope of the project CENTRO-01- 0145-FEDER- 000006.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hubungan Faktor Lingkungan Rumah dengan Kejadian Tb Paru di Kota Magelang

In Magelang, the source infection of TB is still high. Previous research about TB in association with environmental risk factors showed controvercial results. The objective of this study is to analyze the association between environmental house factors with TB incidence in Magelang. A case control design with observational analytic method was applied for this study with a total of 120 respondents matched using purposive sampling. Chi square statistic and multivariate tests were applied for data analysis with significance level of p≤0,05 and 95% confidence interval.Multivariate analysis showed the type of wall OR=3,819 (95%CI=1,467-9,884,p=0,006), the floor type OR=4,034 (95%CI=1,217-13,367,p=0,022), the humidity level OR=2,846 (95%CI=1,124-7,204,p=0,027), the source of infection OR=2,890 (95%CI=0,872-9,580,p=0,083). It can be concluded that there is an association between wall substance, temperature and humidity with TB cases in Magelang. It is expected that the window function to be optimized so that the air circulation from outside to inside of the house can occur

Interplate versus intraplate strike-slip deformed belts: examples from SW Iberia

A complete transition in tectonic style between pure thrust belts and pure strike-slip beltscan be envisaged, both in interplate and intraplate settings, by a combination of thrust and strike-slipcomponents of displacement. The accommodation of shortening components in strike-slip deforma-tion belts has been discussed recently on the basis of two alternative perspectives: (1) the “sub-horizon-tal attachment model”, where discrete strike-slip faulting of rigid blocks in the schiszosphere evolves tocontinuous movement in plastosphere through a bottom-up driving mechanism controlled by verticalcoupling across the lithosphere, and (2) the “accommodation model” that considers decoupling with-in a heterogeneous and anisotropic plastosphere. Two examples of variable shortening componentaccommodation in strike-slip deformation belts of the SW Iberia Variscides are reported and discussed.In the Tomar-Badajoz-Córdoba shear zone, an important shortening component is accommodated inflat-lying bends around the horizontal axis within a WNW-ESE flower-structure with sinistral strike-slip component; the geodynamic evolution points to an intraplate setting for this structure. In the N-S, Porto-Tomar-Ferreira do Alentejo, dextral shear zone, the shortening component is restricted torestraining bends around the vertical axis; the geodynamic evolution allows inferring a transformnature for this structure, thus indicating an interplate setting. For these examples, the “accommodationmodel” is preferred to the “sub-horizontal attachment model”info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influencia del Estado Metabólico Preoperatorio sobre los Cambios en el Gasto Energético en Reposo después del Transplante Hepático en Adultos

Introduction: The resting energy expenditure (REE) evolution after liver transplantation is not fully understood. Objective: To assess longitudinally the REE evolution in adults undergoing liver transplantation, in association with other nutritional measurements that characterize the metabolic profile. Methods: A single-center cohort of consecutive end-stage liver disease patients with indication for liver transplantation was recruited. REE, subjective global assessment (SGA), handgrip strength and body composition measurements were assessed before transplantation (T0) and at median nine (T1) and 36 (T2) days after transplantation. Mixed effects regression models were used for analysis. Results: Fifty-six patients with a mean age of 53.7 (8.5) years were included; 87.5% were males. In T0, 41% of patients were normometabolic, 37.5% were hypometabolic and 21.4% were hypermetabolic. After transplantation, the mean REE decreased progressively in patients initially hypermetabolic and the opposite occurred in those initially hypometabolic. The REE evolution was positively associated with body weight (β = 9.6, p < 0.001) and energy intake (β= 13.6, p = 0.005) in the whole sample; it was positively associated with body weight (β= 7.1, p = 0.018) and percentage of energy intake from lipids (β= 18.9, p = 0.003) in initially hypometabolic patients, and positively associated with body weight (β= 14.1, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with SGA-undernourishment (β = -171, p = 0.007) in initially normometabolic patients. Conclusion: Different REE evolutions after liver transplantation are associated with the preoperative metabolic status. In patients initially hypometabolic, the REE evolution is positively associated with body weight and percentage of energy intake from lipids, and in those initially normometabolic, it is positively associated with body weight and negatively associated with SGA-undernourishment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Thermal performance and comfort condition analysis in a vernacular building with a glazed balcony

The increase in global environmental problems requires more environmentally efficient construction. Vernacular passive strategies can play an important role in helping reducing energy use and CO2 emissions related to buildings. This paper studies the use of glazed balconies in the North of Portugal as a strategy to capture solar gains and reduce heat losses. The purpose is understanding thermal performance and comfort conditions provided by this passive heating strategy. The methodology includes objective (short and long-term monitoring), to evaluate the different parameters affecting thermal comfort and air quality, and subjective assessments to assess occupants? perception regarding thermal sensation. The results show that the use of glazed balconies as a passive heating strategy in a climate with cold winters is viable. During the mid-seasons, the rooms with balcony have adequate comfort conditions. In the heating season, it is possible to achieve comfort conditions in sunny days while in the cooling season there is a risk of overheating. Regarding indoor air quality, carbon dioxide concentrations were low, but the average radon concentration measured was high when the building was unoccupied, rapidly decreasing to acceptable values, during occupation periods when a minimum ventilation rate was promoted. Occupants? actions were essential to improving building behavior.The authors would like to acknowledge the support granted by the FEDER funds through the Competitively and Internationalization Operational Programme (POCI) and by national funds through FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) within the scope of the project with the reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029328, and of the Ph.D. grant with the reference PD/BD/113641/2015, that were fundamental for the development of this study

TiO2 thin film synthesis from complex precursors by CVD, its physical and photocatalytic properties

Photocatalytic TiO2 films on glass and quartz plates were obtained by the chemical vapour deposition using Ti(dpm)(2)(Opr(i))(2) complex compound (CC-CVD method) in a standard vacuum apparatus at 1.2-2.0 x 10(-4) mbar. The substrate temperature was stabilised in the range of 450-600 degreesC. The growth rate varied from several nanometres to several dozen of nanometres per minute. Structural information on TiO2 thin films was obtained from synchrotron radiation experiments. High-resolution grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) experiments were performed at the high-resolution powder diffractometer at the DESY/HASYLAB beamline B2 (Hamburg, Germany). Thin films deposited on either single-crystal Si wafers or on amorphous quartz substrates were analysed. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 thin films was studied using a photocatalytic reactor. The fungicide Fenarimol was chosen as chemical indicator and its degradation kinetics was followed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Tuberculose em Transplantados Hepáticos: Uma Série de Oito Casos Durante um Período de Cinco Anos

Introduction: Tuberculosis incidence in Portugal ranged from 20 to 22 cases per 100 000 inhabitants between 2010 and 2014. Tuberculosis incidence in liver transplant recipients is not precisely known, but it is estimated to be higher than among the general population. Tuberculosis in liver transplant recipients is particularly challenging because of the atypical clinical presentation and side effects of the antibacillary drugs and their potential interactions with immunosuppressive therapies. Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of liver transplant recipients with post-transplant tuberculosis occurring from January 2010 to December 2014 at a liver transplantation unit in Lisbon, Portugal. Demographic data, baseline and clinical features, as well as treatment regimen, toxicities and outcomes, were analyzed. Results: Among 1005 recipients, active tuberculosis was diagnosed in eight patients between January 2010 and December 2014 (frequency = 0.8%). Late onset tuberculosis was more frequent than early tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was isolated from cultures in almost every case (7; 87.5%). Extra-pulmonary involvement and disseminated tuberculosis were frequent. Two patients developed rejection without allograft loss. Crude mortality was 37.5%, with 2 deaths being related to tuberculosis. Discussion: Despite the uncertainty regarding treatment duration in liver transplant recipients, disease severity, as well as number of active drugs against TB infection, should be taken into account. There was a need for a rifampin-free regimen and immunosuppression adjustment in patients who experienced acute graf rejection. Conclusion: Although the number of cases of tuberculosis is low, its post-transplant frequency is significant and the observed mortality rate is not to be neglected. The cases of hepatotoxicity and graft rejection seen in this case series demonstrate the challenges associated with tuberculosis diagnosis in liver transplant recipients and management of the interactions between immunosuppressors and rifampin. This study strengthens the recommendation of latent tuberculosis infection screening and treatment in liver transplant candidates or recipients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Molecular dynamics simulation of the nanoindentation process in Cr/CrN and (Cr/CrN)2 thin films

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carries out for studying the influenceof nanoindentation in the atomistic deformation mechanisms of Cr/CrN and(Cr/CrN)2 coatings with BCC and FCC crystalline structures for Cr and CrN,respectively. The Morse potential was employed in order to determine the atomicinteraction forces of the Cr-Cr and Cr-N atoms. A non-deformable potential solidsphere was implemented for determining the role of the nanoindenter. The OliverParr method (OP) was used to obtain the hardness and elastic modulus of the Cr/CrN and (Cr/CrN)2 layers, resulting in values of 18 and 20 GPa for Cr/CrN and (Cr/CrN)2, respectively. The Cheng method was used for correcting the hardness values obtained by the OP method. The Cheng correction showed higher hardness values since it avoids the influence of the scale effect. Regarding the elasticity modulus, Cr/CrN and (Cr/CrN)2 exhibited values of 217.86 GPa and 258.9 GPa, respectively. Simulations of the temperature influence on the hardness were carried out over a range of 300-1000 K. Results indicate that the hardness decreased as a function of the temperature.Fil: Amaya Roncancio, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; ArgentinaFil: Arias Mateus, D. F.. Universidad Católica de Pereira; ColombiaFil: Segura Giraldo, B.. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: de la Roche, J.. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Restrepo Parra, E.. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Colombi