Histopathological diagnoses on pleural biopsy specimens over a 15-year period at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa: A retrospective review

Background. Pleural effusions are a common reason for presentation to healthcare facilities. Blind closed pleural biopsy can be a useful tool to diagnose their cause, especially in resource-limited settings.Objectives. To determine the aetiology, frequency and change in profile of histopathological diagnoses made at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH), Johannesburg, South Africa, over the period 1 January 2001 - 31 December 2015.Methods. Pleural biopsies performed at CHBAH and analysed by  histopathologists from the National Health Laboratory Service at the hospital over the study period were retrospectively reviewed by accessing reports from two databases (DISA and TrakCare). The subjects’ ages, genders, HIV status and histopathological diagnoses as well as adenosine deaminase and Ziehl-Neelsen results were recorded.Results. A total of 1 013 samples were included in the study, with 780 considered adequate for assessment. The most common diagnosis was granulomatous inflammation (48.1%, n=375), with the most common type being necrotising granulomatous inflammation (73.6%, n=276). Ten percent of biopsies (n=78) showed malignancy, most commonly  adenocarcinoma, with 46.2% (n=36) metastatic and 23.1% (n=18) primary lung adenocarcinoma. The odds of being diagnosed with malignancy  showed increasing statistical significance above the age of 40 years: 40 - 49 years odds ratio (OR) 8.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1 - 66.9 (p=0.038); 50 - 59 years OR 12.4, 95% CI 1.6 - 95.0 (p=0.015); ≥60 years OR 23.0, 95% CI 3.1 - 171.3 (p=0.002). HIV seropositivity was associated with lower odds of being diagnosed with malignancy compared with HIV-negative patients (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2 - 0.9; p=0.040), with greater odds of a ‘non-cancer’ diagnosis in HIV positive patients (including granulomatous inflammation and pleuritis (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.03 - 4.51; p=0.040)).Conclusions. Blind closed pleural biopsy has a role to play in the diagnosis of exudative pleural effusions in resource-limited settings, particularly for patients suspected to have tuberculosis (TB) or malignancy. TB remains a common cause of exudative pleural effusions. Patients aged >40 years presenting with an exudative pleural effusion should routinely have pleural biopsy performed. However, this study showed a high  frequency of   inadequate specimens from closed pleural biopsy. Training in the   performance of this procedure to increase diagnostic rates is   recommended

The importance of the mixed phase in hybrid stars built with the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model

We investigate the structure of hybrid stars based on two different constructions: one is based on the Gibbs condition for phase coexistence and considers the existence of a mixed phase (MP), and the other is based on the Maxwell construction and no mixed phase is obtained. The hadron phase is described by the non-linear Walecka model (NLW) and the quark phase by the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model (NJL). We conclude that the masses and radii obtained are model dependent but not significantly different for both constructions.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 3 table

Quons as su(2) Irreducible Tensor Operators

We prove that, for the quon algebra, which interpolates between the Bose and Fermi statistics and depends on a free parameter q,it is possible to build an su(2) irreducible representation. One of the consequences of this fact is that the quons couple via the same angular momentum coupling rules obeyed by ordinary bosons and fermions.Comment: 8 pages,Late

Quons Restricted to the Antisymmetric Subspace: Formalism and Applications

In this work we develop a formalism to treat quons restricted to the antisymmetric part of their many-body space. A model in which a system of identical quons interact through a pairing force is then solved within this restriction and the differences between our solution and the usual fermionic model solution are then presented and discussed in detail. Possible connections to physical systems are also considered.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Efeitos do beneficiamento na qualidade de sementes de milho infectadas por Fusarium moniliforme sheld

In order to evaluate processing effects on the quality of corn seeds infected by Fusarium moniliforme Sheld seeds were submitted to screen classification yielding 4 fractions (24/64; 22/64; 20/64; 18/64 of the inch) and the other part was separated by weight in a gravity separator. The separator originated three fractions that in turn were individually submitted to the same equipment generating, each one, three other fractions. All fractions were evaluated for germination, vigor, density, weight of a thousand seeds, and sanity. The width classification is not effective in the selection of infected seeds; however, the increase of seed width is followed by higher germination and vigor values.Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos do beneficiamento na qualidade de lotes com sementes de milho infectadas com Fusarium moniliforme Sheld, sementes foram submetidas à classificação por peneiras, originando 4 frações (24/64; 22/64; 20/64; 18/64 de polegada) e à separação por peso através da ação da mesa gravitational, originando três frações que foram individualmente submetidas ao mesmo equipamento gerando, cada uma, mais três frações. Todas as frações foram avaliadas quanto à germinação, ao vigor, à densidade, ao peso de mil sementes e à sanidade. A classificação por largura não é eficaz para separar as sementes infectadas; no entanto, o aumento da largura das sementes é acompanhado pela elevação dos valores da germinação e do vigor

Fontes orgânicas de nutrientes em sistemas de produção de batata.

Nos últimos anos, diminuiu muito o número de bataticultores na região da Quarta Colônia, no centro do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), devido ao elevado risco econômico na produção da batata. A partir de uma demanda da Associação dos Produtores de Batata da Região Central do Rio Grande do Sul (ASBAT), foram instalados experimentos visando a avaliar, técnica e economicamente, fontes orgânicas alternativas à adubação mineral tradicional dos produtores de batata, objetivando diminuir os custos de produção e o impacto do seu cultivo no ambiente. Foram estabelecidas rotações envolvendo culturas comerciais e plantas de cobertura de solo para o cultivo da batata na safra e na safrinha. As fontes de nutrientes foram camas de frango e de suínos e adubo mineral tradicionalmente utilizado pelos bataticultores. Os resultados mostraram que a utilização de fontes orgânicas de nutrientes no cultivo da batata é uma alternativa viável técnica e economicamente. Contudo, sua eficiência pode ser maximizada quando associada com a adubação mineral, especialmente para aumentar a quantidade de nitrogênio disponível desde o início do ciclo da cultura e isso é particularmente importante quando do uso da cama de suínos. A cama de frango, por conter maior quantidade de nutrientes, é uma alternativa melhor do que a cama de suínos, tanto técnica quanto economicamente

Building Performance Assessment Protocol for Timber Dwellings – Conducting Thermography Tests on Live Construction sites

This paper introduces the pan-Wales (UK) Home-Grown Homes (HGH) project (2018 to 2020) which focusses on three areas of improvement for delivering high performance, affordable and healthy homes. The HGH project is funded by Powys County Council, through the European Regional Development Fund’s Agricultural Stream. The HGH project is being delivered by Woodknowledge Wales in a consortium with Cardiff Metropolitan University (CMU), TRADA and Coed Cymru, with seven work packages. ‘More and Better Homes from Wood’ (work package (WP) WP3) focusses on the assessment of building performance for dwellings using timber, and is being delivered by a multi-disciplinary team at CMU through the Sustainable and Resilient Built Environment (SuRBe) group. This paper discusses the context and need for the HGH project as Wales launched its low carbon agenda in March 2019. The focus of this paper on introducing the building performance assessment (BPA) protocol to be implemented by SuRBe across several housing case studies in Wales, through the design, in-construction and occupancy phases, to address thermal and fire (TaF) performance issues, and impacts on occupants’ quality of life, comfort and safety. Preliminary results of in-construction testing on a live construction site are presented, with the challenges of conducting thermography tests whilst construction is in progress and weather conditions in spring in the UK (April 2019). This paper will be useful for academics, architects, building contractors, housing developers and professionals undertaking building performance assessment and evaluation on live construction sites

Synthesis of the Stationary Phase IS-Anionic (Internal Surface-Anionic) for Extraction of Ochratoxin A and B from Samples of Beers

A new IS-anionic stationary phase was synthesized to make on-line extraction of the ochratoxin A and B from samples of beer for HPLC. The propyltriethylammonium chloride stationary phase was characterized affecting it’s elementary determination and RI specter, respectively. Evaluation of the IS-anionic column for the extraction and quantification of OTA and OTB in beer has shown that the column is suitable for efficient extraction (recovery >76.5%) and precise analysis. The detection limits for OTA and OTB were 0.03 and 0.07 μgL−1, respectively. The range of detector linearity was 0.03 at 20 μgL−1

Generalized Global Defect Solutions

We investigate the presence of defect structures in generalized models described by real scalar field in $(1,1)$ space-time dimensions. We work with two distinct generalizations, one in the form of a product of functions of the field and its derivative, and the other as a sum. We search for static solutions and study the corresponding linear stability on general grounds. We illustrate the results with several examples, where we find stable defect structures of modified profile. In particular, we show how the new defect solutions may give rise to evolutions not present in the standard scenario in higher spatial dimensions.Comment: RevTex, 10 pages, 2 figures; version to appear in EPJ

Family-Friendly Management, Organizational Performance and Social Legitimacy

Research on family-friendly practices has concentrated on the predictors of their use, particularly from the perspective of either institutional theory or the high involvement or commitment management vogue. This paper first shows how such perspectives can be used to generate hypotheses about the link between family-friendly management and organizational performance. Second, the paper reports research designed to test these, using data from a national representative sample of workplaces across the British economy, the Workplace Employment Relations Survey of 2004 (WERS2004). The results support the high commitment thesis that family-friendly management will strengthen the relationship between commitment and key economic outcomes, as the relationships between workforce commitment and productivity or quality are stronger in organizations when friendly management is high, which is consistent with social exchange theory. Family-friendly management is not, however, related to the human resource outcomes of labour turnover and absenteeism. Nor does the study find support for the argument that its use in conjunction with high involvement management enhances the performance effects of both. Equally, there is no support for the hypothesis from the institutional thesis that family-friendly management has positive effects on the legitimacy of the organization