Identifying the Sources of Ferromagnetism in Sol-Gel Synthesized Zn\u3csub\u3e1-x\u3c/sub\u3eCo\u3csub\u3ex\u3c/sub\u3eO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) Nanoparticles

We have carefully investigated the structural, optical and electronic properties and related them with the magnetism of sol-gel synthesized Zn1-xCoxO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) nanoparticles. Samples with x ≤ 0.05 were pure and free of spurious phases, whereas ZnCo2O4 was identified as the impurity phase for samples with x ≥ 0.08. Samples with x \u3c 0.05 were found to be true solid solutions with only high spin Co2+ ions into ZnO structure, whereas sample with x = 0.05, exhibited the presence of high spin Co2+ and low spin Co3+. For the impurity-free samples we found that as Co concentration increases, a and c lattice parameters and Zn–O bond length parallel to the c-axis decrease, the band gap drastically decreases, and the average grain size and distortion degree increases. In all samples there are isolated Co2+ ions that do not interact magnetically at room temperature, bringing about the observed paramagnetic signal, which increases with increasing Co concentration. M vs T curves suggest that some of these disordered Co2+ ions in Zn1−xCoxO are antiferromagnetically coupled. Moreover, we also found that the intensity of the main EPR peak associated to Co2+ varies with the nominal Co content in a similar manner as the saturation magnetizations and coercive fields do. These results point out that the ferromagnetism in these samples should directly be correlated with the presence of Co2+. Bound magnetic polaron model is insufficient to explain the Room temperature ferromagnetism in these Co doped ZnO samples and the charge transfer model seems not influence considerably the FM properties of Zn1-xCoxO nanoparticles. The FM behavior may be originated from a combination of several factors such as the interaction of high spin Co2+ ions, the formation of defect levels close to the valence band edge and grain boundaries effects

Malnutrition as assessed by nutritional risk index is associated with worse outcome in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure: an ACAP-HF data analysis

Malnutrition is common at hospital admission and tends to worsen during hospitalization. This controlled population study aimed to determine if serum albumin or moderate and severe nutritional depletion by Nutritional Risk Index (NRI) at hospital admission are associated with increased length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Serum albumin levels and lymphocyte counts were retrospectively determined at hospital admission in 1740 consecutive patients admitted with primary and secondary diagnosis of ADHF. The Nutrition Risk Score (NRI) developed originally in AIDS and cancer populations was derived from the serum albumin concentration and the ratio of actual to usual weight, as follows: NRI = (1.519 × serum albumin, g/dL) + {41.7 × present weight (kg)/ideal body weight(kg)}. Patients were classified into four groups as no, mild, moderate or severe risk by NRI. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine the association between nutritional risk category and LOS

The Cholecystectomy As A Day Case (CAAD) Score: A Validated Score of Preoperative Predictors of Successful Day-Case Cholecystectomy Using the CholeS Data Set

Background Day-case surgery is associated with significant patient and cost benefits. However, only 43% of cholecystectomy patients are discharged home the same day. One hypothesis is day-case cholecystectomy rates, defined as patients discharged the same day as their operation, may be improved by better assessment of patients using standard preoperative variables. Methods Data were extracted from a prospectively collected data set of cholecystectomy patients from 166 UK and Irish hospitals (CholeS). Cholecystectomies performed as elective procedures were divided into main (75%) and validation (25%) data sets. Preoperative predictors were identified, and a risk score of failed day case was devised using multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to validate the score in the validation data set. Results Of the 7426 elective cholecystectomies performed, 49% of these were discharged home the same day. Same-day discharge following cholecystectomy was less likely with older patients (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), higher ASA scores (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), complicated cholelithiasis (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.48), male gender (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58–0.74), previous acute gallstone-related admissions (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.48–0.60) and preoperative endoscopic intervention (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.34–0.47). The CAAD score was developed using these variables. When applied to the validation subgroup, a CAAD score of ≤5 was associated with 80.8% successful day-case cholecystectomy compared with 19.2% associated with a CAAD score >5 (p < 0.001). Conclusions The CAAD score which utilises data readily available from clinic letters and electronic sources can predict same-day discharges following cholecystectomy

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Agricultura, Conservação Ambiental e a reforma do Código Florestal

Por que deve haver mudanças no Código Florestal? Essa pergunta esta na cabeça de muitos brasileiros que acompanham, basicamente pela mídia, os calorosos debates sobre alterações no marco legal que regulamenta o uso da terra no país. Em meio a tantas informações e opiniões contraditórias sobre o assunto, o Instituto de Estudos do Comercio e Negociações Internacionais- ICONE elaborou este documento de recomendações para contribuir com o debate de maneira efetiva, clara e pragmática. A visão do documento pauta-se pela necessidade de debater a reforma do Código Florestal com racionalidade. Para isso, apresenta propostas e sugere soluções para que a ocupação e o uso da terra sejam feitos de forma a equilibrar a conservação ambiental, produção agrícola e desenvolvimento econômico. O texto a seguir foi organizado em grandes tópicos, que compreendem: (1) a linha do tempo relacionada à proteção das florestas no Brasil e como as inúmeras alterações na lei geraram um cenário de insegurança jurídica; (2) os pontos centrais necessários na mudança do Código e sugestões ligadas à criação de um mercado de compensação da Reserva Legal; (3) as oportunidades que a reforma do Código devem trazer para consolidar o Brasil como importante exemplo no combate ao aquecimento global e na conservação da biodiversidade, e, ao mesmo tempo, um grande produtor de alimentos de energia; e (4) recomendações para que o Brasil tenha um Código Florestal moderno, que equilibre o desenvolvimento agrícola e a conservação ambiental

Agricultura, Conservação Ambiental e a reforma do Código Florestal

Por que deve haver mudanças no Código Florestal? Essa pergunta esta na cabeça de muitos brasileiros que acompanham, basicamente pela mídia, os calorosos debates sobre alterações no marco legal que regulamenta o uso da terra no país. Em meio a tantas informações e opiniões contraditórias sobre o assunto, o Instituto de Estudos do Comercio e Negociações Internacionais- ICONE elaborou este documento de recomendações para contribuir com o debate de maneira efetiva, clara e pragmática. A visão do documento pauta-se pela necessidade de debater a reforma do Código Florestal com racionalidade. Para isso, apresenta propostas e sugere soluções para que a ocupação e o uso da terra sejam feitos de forma a equilibrar a conservação ambiental, produção agrícola e desenvolvimento econômico. O texto a seguir foi organizado em grandes tópicos, que compreendem: (1) a linha do tempo relacionada à proteção das florestas no Brasil e como as inúmeras alterações na lei geraram um cenário de insegurança jurídica; (2) os pontos centrais necessários na mudança do Código e sugestões ligadas à criação de um mercado de compensação da Reserva Legal; (3) as oportunidades que a reforma do Código devem trazer para consolidar o Brasil como importante exemplo no combate ao aquecimento global e na conservação da biodiversidade, e, ao mesmo tempo, um grande produtor de alimentos de energia; e (4) recomendações para que o Brasil tenha um Código Florestal moderno, que equilibre o desenvolvimento agrícola e a conservação ambiental.Forests & forestry, Environmental Policy, Agricultura Conservação Ambiental Reforma Código Florestal