Determining the operation limits of two distillation columns

The two distillation columns of Wacker Institute pilot plant at the Chattanooga State Community College are investigated for stable operating regions, flooding phenomena that occurs in the bubble-cap tray distillation column, weeping phenomena that occurs in the sieve tray distillation column, and comparison of operation between the two distillation columns. With the use of a distributed control system (DCS) and glass equipment in the pilot plant, these phenomena are analyzed visually and with the help of instrumentation readings. The energy usage and production limits of both distillation columns are discussed. The flooding of bubble-cap trays occur before reaching production goals due to a flaw inside the column. The weeping of sieve trays does not allow the distillation column to operate efficiently at low flow rates. The bubble-cap tray distillation column uses less energy to achieve the same production goals as the sieve tray distillation column

Effect of Body Mass Index on work related musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational stress of computer workers in a developed ergonomic setup

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Work urgency, accuracy and demands compel the computer professionals to spend longer hours before computers without giving importance to their health, especially body weight. Increase of body weight leads to improper Body Mass Index (BMI) may aggravate work related musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational-psychosocial stress. The objective of the study was to find out the effect of BMI on work related musculoskeletal discomforts and occupational stress of computer workers in a developed ergonomic setup.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A descriptive inferential study has been taken to analyze the effect of BMI on work related musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational-psychosocial stress. A total of 100 computer workers, aged 25-35 years randomly selected on convenience from software and BPO companies in Bangalore city, India for the participation in this study. BMI was calculated by taking the ratio of the subject's height (in meter) and weight (in kilogram). Work related musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational stress of the subjects was assessed by Cornell University's musculoskeletal discomfort questionnaire (CMDQ) and occupational stress index (OSI) respectively as well as a relationship was checked with their BMI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A significant association (p < 0.001) was seen among high BMI subjects with their increase scores of musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational stress.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>From this study, it has been concluded that, there is a significant effect of BMI in increasing of work related musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational-psychosocial stress among computer workers in a developed ergonomic setup.</p

CORRELATION OF CHOROIDAL THICKNESS AND BODY MASS INDEX

Purpose:To evaluate the possible changes in the microvascular structure of the choroid by measuring choroidal thickness (CT) in four different body mass index (BMI) groups of healthy individuals.Methods:One hundred and sixty eyes of 160 healthy individuals (70 females and 90 males) were included in this cross-sectional study. Healthy individuals were divided into 4 groups according to their BMIs. Cases with BMI 18.50 formed Group 1, cases with BMI between 18.50 and 24.99 formed Group 2, cases with BMI between 25.00 and 29.99 formed Group 3, and cases with BMI between 30.00 and 34.99 formed Group 4. The CT was measured by the enhanced depth imaging technique of the spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The CT was measured at subfoveal area and at 500-m intervals to the nasal and temporal to the fovea up to 2,000 m. The measurements were then statistically compared among the four groups.Results:The mean ages were 26.5 6.9 years (range: 18-39 years) in Group 1, 27.2 +/- 5.0 (range: 21-38 years) in Group 2, 28.5 +/- 5.9 (range: 20-40 years) in Group 3, and 29.25 +/- 5.6 (range: 20-40 years) in Group 4. The mean subfoveal CT (in micrometers) was 378 +/- 86 (range: 189-563) in Group 1, 384 +/- 102 (range: 225-643) in Group 2, 314 +/- 66 (range: 160-455) in Group 3, and 317 +/- 63 (range: 220-411) in Group 4. There was a statistically significant difference among the 4 groups in regard to CT in all locations (P < 0.05).Conclusion:We have demonstrated that BMI may have an influence on the CT of healthy persons. Individuals in both Group 3 and Group 4 have thinner choroids than the individuals in both Group 1 and Group 2

Cryptosporidiosis: A rare and severe infection in a pediatric renal transplant recipient

Acikgoz Y, Ozkaya O, Bek K, Genc G, Sensoy SG, Hokelek M. Cryptosporidiosis: A rare and severe infection in a pediatric renal transplant recipient. Abstract: Cryptosporidium is an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes gastroenteritis in human. In immunocompromised individuals, cryptosporidium causes far more serious disease. There is no effective specific therapy for cryptosporidiosis, and spontaneous recovery is the rule in healthy individuals. However, immunocompromised patients need effective and prolonged therapy. Here, we present our clinical experience in a six-yr-old boy who underwent living-related donor renal transplantation and who was infected with Cryptosporidium spp. Our patient was successfully treated with antimicrobial agents consisting of spiramycin, nitazoxanide, and paromomycin. At the end of second week of therapy, his stool became negative for Cryptosporidium spp. antigen and spiramycin was discontinued. Nitazoxanide and paromomycin treatment was extended to four wk. With this case, we want to emphasize that cryptosporidiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of severe or persistent diarrhea in solid organ transplant recipients where rigorous antimicrobial therapy is needed

Serum procalcitonin levels together with clinical features and inflammatory markers in women with tubo-ovarian abscess for discriminating requirements for surgery for full recovery

Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) coexists in 15% of cases with pelvic inflammatory disease. Medical treatment is the first line of approach in women with TOA, however, 25% of cases fail to respond to antibiotics, therefore, these cases need to undergo surgical intervention. We aimed to determine factors leading to failure of medical treatment in women diagnosed with TOA. According to our results among 144 women, 27 cases required surgical intervention for full recovery. None of the demographic, sonographic or laboratory findings, including procalcitonin level, had significant predictive value for the failure of medical treatment in women with TOA.Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) coexists in 15% of cases with pelvic inflammatory disease. Medical treatment is the first line approach in women with TOA, however, 25% of cases fail to respond to antibiotics, therefore, these cases need to undergo surgical intervention. Several risk factors have been evaluated in order to predict the failure of medical treatment. What do the results of this study add? None of the variables, including age, parity, mass diameter, serum CRP, procalcitonin levels and sedimentation rate had significant value for predicting TOA cases that required surgical intervention for full recovery. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In clinical practice, identification of risk factors leading to the failure of medical treatment helps clinicians to inform patients and help surgeons predict those who need surgical intervention

Serum Lipid Profile and Inflammatory Status in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Korkmazer, Engin/0000-0001-8318-2329WOS: 000382752700007Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased risk of postpartum type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and systemic inflammation. We aimed to evaluate the lipid profile and inflammatory status assessed by high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and TNF-alpha levels. We also evaluated insulin resistance for all participants. Methods: This study was performed including the pregnant with normal glucose challenge test (GCT) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) (n: 20), abnormal GCT and NGT (n: 27), and GDM (n: 29) defined by Carpenter and Coustan criteria. Results: In our study, we could not find significantly differences by means of hsCRP levels and lipid profile parameters between groups. But, TNF-alpha levels increased significantly in the GDM or abnormal GCT NGT groups as compared to the normal GCT NGT group. hsCRP was correlated independently with LDL-cholesterol and parity in the abnormal GCT NGT group and atherogenic index of the plasma (AIP) in GDM group. In addition, there was not an independent relationship between AIP and hsCRP in the GDM group when multiple linear regression analysis was performed after adjustment for maternal age was evaluated at 29.49 years. Conclusion: In conclusion, gestational insulin resistance was apparently associated with TNF-alpha, whereas dyslipidemia was slightly associated with hsCRP because of the possible effects of maternal age on lipid markers

The inappropriate use of HbA1c testing to monitor glycemia: is there evidence in laboratory data?

Rationale, aims and objectives Diabetes is a chronic illness and have relatively high prevalence. Glycemic control is fundamental to the management of diabetes. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a commonly used laboratory test to monitor glycemia and to manage diabetes. This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of the frequency of HbA1c test order with respect to the commonly approved guidelines for monitoring glycaemia of patients