Microeconomics of the materials and energents consumption in a simulated copper casting process

An analytical model for the optimization of the consumption of materials and energents in a typical coppercasting process based on a standard simulation procedure is presented. The proposed microeconomic analysisin correlation with the virtual manufacture of castings enabled a shortening of the time required to developa product, as well as the fabrication of high quality castings, which could be a crucial contributionto the achievement of increased engineering adequacy and economic competitiveness.In this sense, the article demonstrates the beneficial employment of mathematical programming withina systematic economic analysis. The analyzed casting process is a part of the metallurgical manufacturingoperations of the Copper Smelter and Refinery Bor, Serbia

HD 178892 - a cool Ap star with extremely strong magnetic field

We report a discovery of the Zeeman resolved spectral lines, corresponding to the extremely large magnetic field modulus =17.5 kG, in the cool Ap star HD 178892. The mean longitudinal field of this star reaches 7.5 kG, and its rotational modulation implies the strength of the dipolar magnetic component Bp>=23 kG. We have revised rotation period of the star using the All Sky Automated Survey photometry and determined P=8.2478 d. Rotation phases of the magnetic and photometric maxima of the star coincide with each other. We obtained Geneva photometric observation of HD 178892 and estimated Teff=7700+/-250 K using photometry and the hydrogen Balmer lines. Preliminary abundance analysis reveals abundance pattern typical of rapidly oscillating Ap stars.Comment: Accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics; 4 pages, 4 figure

ADAPTIVE MODE OF THE MSS BTA

The study of instability of the Main stellar spectrograph of the 6-m Telescope together with system of registration of a spectrum by means of the CCD shows that there is a drift of a spectrum along a dispersion, corresponding to the tenth of a pixel (the hundredth part of Α) in an hour. To eliminate this drift, i.e. to keep a spectrum from displacement, the plane-parallel glass plate was installed behind a slit of the spectrograph. The angle of inclination of this plate changes depending on a mismatch of positions of the current and comparison basic spectra. A lamp of hollow cathode is used. The scheme of this device is described. The results of tests are presented. The time of correction takes about one minute that allows to keep the position of the ThAr spectrum within +-0.0006 Α.The study of instability of the Main stellar spectrograph of the 6-m Telescope together with system of registration of a spectrum by means of the CCD shows that there is a drift of a spectrum along a dispersion, corresponding to the tenth of a pixel (the hundredth part of Α) in an hour. To eliminate this drift, i.e. to keep a spectrum from displacement, the plane-parallel glass plate was installed behind a slit of the spectrograph. The angle of inclination of this plate changes depending on a mismatch of positions of the current and comparison basic spectra. A lamp of hollow cathode is used. The scheme of this device is described. The results of tests are presented. The time of correction takes about one minute that allows to keep the position of the ThAr spectrum within +-0.0006 Α

High Rates of Prescribing Antimicrobials for Prophylaxis in Children and Neonates: Results From the Antibiotic Resistance and Prescribing in European Children Point Prevalence Survey

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to assess the variation in prescription practices for systemic antimicrobial agents used for prophylaxis among pediatric patients hospitalized in 41 countries worldwide. METHODS: Using the standardized Antibiotic Resistance and Prescribing in European Children Point Prevalence Survey protocol, a cross-sectional point-prevalence survey was conducted at 226 pediatric hospitals in 41 countries from October 1 to November 30, 2012. RESULTS: Overall, 17693 pediatric patients were surveyed and 36.7% of them received antibiotics (n = 6499). Of 6818 inpatient children, 2242 (32.9%) received at least 1 antimicrobial for prophylactic use. Of 11899 prescriptions for antimicrobials, 3400 (28.6%) were provided for prophylactic use. Prophylaxis for medical diseases was the indication in 73.4% of cases (2495 of 3400), whereas 26.6% of prescriptions were for surgical diseases (905 of 3400). In approximately half the cases (48.7% [1656 of 3400]), a combination of 2 or more antimicrobials was prescribed. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics (BSAs), which included tetracyclines, macrolides, lincosamides, and sulfonamides/trimethoprim, was high (51.8% [1761 of 3400]). Broad-spectrum antibiotic use for medical prophylaxis was more common in Asia (risk ratio [RR], 1.322; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.202-1.653) and more restricted in Australia (RR, 0.619; 95% CI, 0.521-0.736). Prescription of BSA for surgical prophylaxis also varied according to United Nations region. Finally, a high percentage of surgical patients (79.7% [721 of 905]) received their prophylaxis for longer than 1 day. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of hospitalized children received prophylactic BSAs. This represents a clear target for quality improvement. Collectively speaking, it is critical to reduce total prophylactic prescribing, BSA use, and prolonged prescription

The worldwide antibiotic resistance and prescribing in european children (ARPEC) point prevalence survey : Developing hospital-quality indicators of antibiotic prescribing for children

Objectives: Previously, web-based tools for cross-sectional antimicrobial point prevalence surveys (PPSs) have been used in adults to develop indicators of quality improvement. We aimed to determine the feasibility of developing similar quality indicators of improved antimicrobial prescribing focusing specifically on hospitalized neonates and children worldwide. Methods: A standardized antimicrobial PPS method was employed. Included were all inpatient children and neonates receiving an antimicrobial at 8:00 am on the day of the PPS. Denominators included the total number of inpatients. A web-based application was used for data entry, validation and reporting. We analysed 2012 data from 226 hospitals (H) in 41 countries (C) from Europe (174H; 24C), Africa (6H; 4C), Asia (25H; 8C), Australia (6H), Latin America (11H; 3C) and North America (4H). Results: Of 17 693 admissions, 6499 (36.7%) inpatients received at least one antimicrobial, but this varied considerably between wards and regions. Potential indicators included very high broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing in children of mainly ceftriaxone (ranked first in Eastern Europe, 31.3%; Asia, 13.0%; Southern Europe, 9.8%), cefepime (ranked third in North America, 7.8%) and meropenem (ranked first in Latin America, 13.1%). The survey identified worryingly high use of critically important antibiotics for hospital-acquired infections in neonates (34.9%; range from 14.2% in Africa to 68.0% in Latin America) compared with children (28.3%; range from 14.5% in Africa to 48.9% in Latin America). Parenteral administration was very common among children in Asia (88%), Latin America (81%) and Europe (67%). Documentation of the reasons for antibiotic prescribing was lowest in Latin America (52%). Prolonged surgical prophylaxis rates ranged from 78% (Europe) to 84% (Latin America). Conclusions: Simple web-based PPS tools provide a feasible method to identify areas for improvement of antibiotic use, to set benchmarks and to monitor future interventions in hospitalized neonates and children. To our knowledge, this study has derived the first global quality indicators for antibiotic use in hospitalized neonates and children

The worldwide antibiotic resistance and prescribing in european children (ARPEC) point prevalence survey: developing hospital-quality indicators of antibiotic prescribing for children

Objectives: Previously, web-based tools for cross-sectional antimicrobial point prevalence surveys (PPSs) have been used in adults to develop indicators of quality improvement. We aimed to determine the feasibility of developing similar quality indicators of improved antimicrobial prescribing focusing specifically on hospitalized neonates and children worldwide. Methods: A standardized antimicrobial PPS method was employed. Included were all inpatient children and neonates receiving an antimicrobial at 8:00 am on the day of the PPS. Denominators included the total number of inpatients. A web-based application was used for data entry, validation and reporting. We analysed 2012 data from 226 hospitals (H) in 41 countries (C) from Europe (174H; 24C), Africa (6H; 4C), Asia (25H; 8C), Australia (6H), Latin America (11H; 3C) and North America (4H). Results: Of 17 693 admissions, 6499 (36.7%) inpatients received at least one antimicrobial, but this varied considerably between wards and regions. Potential indicators included very high broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing in children of mainly ceftriaxone (ranked first in Eastern Europe, 31.3%; Asia, 13.0%; Southern Europe, 9.8%), cefepime (ranked third in North America, 7.8%) and meropenem (ranked first in Latin America, 13.1%). The survey identified worryingly high use of critically important antibiotics for hospital-acquired infections in neonates (34.9%; range from 14.2% in Africa to 68.0% in Latin America) compared with children (28.3%; range from 14.5% in Africa to 48.9% in Latin America). Parenteral administration was very common among children in Asia (88%), Latin America (81%) and Europe (67%). Documentation of the reasons for antibiotic prescribing was lowest in Latin America (52%). Prolonged surgical prophylaxis rates ranged from 78% (Europe) to 84% (Latin America). Conclusions: Simple web-based PPS tools provide a feasible method to identify areas for improvement of antibiotic use, to set benchmarks and to monitor future interventions in hospitalized neonates and children. To our knowledge, this study has derived the first global quality indicators for antibiotic use in hospitalized neonates and children