Monitoring of Collapsed Built-Up Areas with High Resolution SAR Images

A 16-year-old male with cystic fibrosis (CF) was admitted to hospital with a severe infective exacerbation. Despite standard management, including conventionally selected intravenous antibiotics for Pseudomonas aeruginosa chest physiotherapy, and institution of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) for progressive hypercapneic respiratory failure, he continued to deteriorate. Direct sputum sensitivity testing (DSST) revealed a novel combination of antibiotics that resulted in a rapid and remarkable clinical improvement. DSST is a form of "whole" sputum sensitivity testing that provides information on antibiotic synergy, and may more accurately reflect in vivo antibiotic sensitivity patterns in cystic fibrosis.</p

The potential for aflatoxin predictive risk modelling in sub-Saharan Africa: a review

This review presents the current state of aflatoxin risk prediction models and their potential for value actors throughout the food chain in sub-Saharan Africa, with a specific focus on improving smallholder farmer management practices. Several empirical and mechanistic models have been developed either in academic research or by private sector aggregators and processors in high-income countries including Australia, the USA, and Southern Europe, but these models have been only minimally applied in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is significant potential and increasing need due to climate variability. Predictions can be made based on historic occurrence data using either a mechanistic microbiological framework for aflatoxin accumulation or an empirical model based on statistical correlations with climate conditions and local agronomic factors. Model results can then be distributed to smallholders through private, public, or mobile extension services, used by policymakers for strategy or policy, or utilised by private sector institutions for management decisions. Specific agricultural advice can be given during the three most critical points in the phenological cycle: preseason insight including sowing timing and crop varieties, preharvest advice about management and harvest timing, and postharvest optimal practices including storage, drying, and market information. Model development for sub-Saharan Africa is limited by a dearth of georeferenced aflatoxin occurrence data and real-time high resolution climate data; the wide diversity of farm typologies each with significant information and technology gaps; a prevalence of informal market structures and lack of economic incentives systems; and general lack of awareness around aflatoxins and best management practices to mitigate risk. Given advancements towards solving these challenges, predictive aflatoxin models can be integrated into decision support platforms to focus on optimisation of value for smallholders by minimising yield and nutritional losses, which can propagate value throughout the production and postharvest phases

Protocol for a systematic review and thematic synthesis of patient experiences of central venous access devices in anti-cancer treatment

Background: Three types of central venous access devices (CVADs)—peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), skin-tunnelled central catheters (Hickman-type devices), and implantable chest wall Ports (Ports)—are routinely used in the intravenous administration of anti-cancer treatment. These devices avoid the need for peripheral cannulation and allow for home delivery of treatment. Assessments of these devices have tended to focus on medical and economic factors, but there is increased interest in the importance of patient experiences and perspectives in this area. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesise existing research regarding patient experiences of these CVADs to help clinicians guide, prepare, and support patients receiving CVADs for the administration of anti-cancer treatment. Method: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL research databases will be carried out along with a supplementary reference list search. This review will include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies published in peer-review journals, reporting some aspect(s) of patient experiences or perspectives regarding the use of PICC, Hickman, or Port CVADs for the administration of anti-cancer drugs. The methodological quality and risk of bias of included papers will be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Relevant outcome data will be extracted from included studies and analysed using a thematic synthesis approach. Discussion: The results section of the review will comprise thematic synthesis of quantitative studies, thematic synthesis of qualitative studies, and the aggregation of the two. Results will aim to offer an account of current understandings of patient experiences and perspective regarding PICC, Hickman-type, and Port devices in the context of anti-cancer treatment. Confidence in cumulative evidence will be assessed using the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (CERQual) approach

Dealing with daily emotions—supportive activities for the elderly in a municipal care setting

There are diverse descriptions of supportive activities in nursing to be found in the literature. What they have in common is their association with good care outcomes, but they may differ depending on the context in which the care is given. In a Swedish municipal elderly care setting, registered nurses (RN) work in a consultative way and they describe a part of their tasks as comprising supportive activities without specifying what kind of supportive activities they mean. The aim of the study was to explore the main concern of the support given by RN to a group of patients in an elderly home care setting. The study was conducted using Grounded Theory. Data were collected using nonparticipant observations regarding the supportive activities of 12 RN at the home of 36 patients between the ages of 80 and 102. Most of the home visit lasted about 40 min but some lasted for 90 min. The central category was about dealing with daily emotions. This was done by encouraging the situation and reducing the patient's limitations, but situations also occurred in which there was a gap of support. Support was about capturing the emotions that the patient expressed for a particular moment, but there were also situations in which RN chose not to give support. To develop a holistic eldercare, more knowledge is needed about the factors causing the RN to choose not to provide support on some occasions

Increased Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMPs) Levels Do Not Predict Disease Severity or Progression in Emphysema

Rationale: Though matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are critical in the pathogenesis of COPD, their utility as a disease biomarker remains uncertain. This study aimed to determine whether bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF) or plasma MMP measurements correlated with disease severity or functional decline in emphysema. Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and luminex assays measured MMP-1, -9, -12 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in the BALF and plasma of non-smokers, smokers with normal lung function and moderate-to-severe emphysema subjects. In the cohort of 101 emphysema subjects correlative analyses were done to determine if MMP or TIMP-1 levels were associated with key disease parameters or change in lung function over an 18-month time period. Main Results: Compared to non-smoking controls, MMP and TIMP-1 BALF levels were significantly elevated in the emphysema cohort. Though MMP-1 was elevated in both the normal smoker and emphysema groups, collagenase activity was only increased in the emphysema subjects. In contrast to BALF, plasma MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were actually decreased in the emphysema cohort compared to the control groups. Both in the BALF and plasma, MMP and TIMP-1 measurements in the emphysema subjects did not correlate with important disease parameters and were not predictive of subsequent functional decline. Conclusions: MMPs are altered in the BALF and plasma of emphysema; however, the changes in MMPs correlate poorly with parameters of disease intensity or progression. Though MMPs are pivotal in the pathogenesis of COPD, these findings suggest that measuring MMPs will have limited utility as a prognostic marker in this disease. © 2013 D'Armiento et al

Prospectus, March 7, 1984

CONGRESS RETURNS TO A \u27MOST IMPORTANT\u27 STUDENT AID DEBATE; News Digest; Four paintings stolen from Parkland; \u27Job Training and Partnership Act\u27: JTPA \u27good opportunity for dedicated\u27; PC Happenings: TV programs for busy parents, Parkland announces registration, Polish folk arts at Parkland; Sargent talks to Lifelong Learners\u27 Club; Yaxley scholarship; Stu-Go News; \u27Planned Parenthood\u27--pro choice organization; In the Library--Paperbacks; Nolen enjoys differences; What is Sadie Hawkins Day?; Did You Know...; Scholarship news for real estate students; Tuexdo styles are changing; What did you thinnk of the Grammy Awards?; Classifieds; \u27Good looking coed\u27 hunt draws lots of photos; Urbana construction will increase; Learning to relax can kill stress; \u27Women\u27s History Week\u27 honored; Parkland Christian Fellowship to sponsor conference; Weather conditions force closing; Math contest at Parkland; Financia; aid for summer and fall; The latest in swimwear; \u27Western look\u27 changing; Creative Corner...Especially for you!!: Believe..., Creed, Dream, The End, Darkness...; All Up to Me, Listening to an old..., Father to Son, How to know just what is real..., For Larry, Hi, I\u27m crazy ...; Bite the Bullet, Answer, Why can\u27t we see?, Love sparked nu the heat of summer...,Keg, A low rumble starts..., Oh, Mothers..., Has the human race forgot to look at a sunset..., I tried to play your game..., You\u27ve let me down...; Jackson leads the way at this year\u27s Grammy awards; Dexter--valuable asset; $50,000 and silence \u27cheap way for MSU to avoid lawsuit\u27; In the Library--; Channel 12 fund drive stresses \u27TV worth paying for\u27; Woody Allen\u27s latest hilarious; \u27Foghat\u27 hits C/U March 18; Predictions for the upcoming Academy Awards; \u27Big Country\u27 to appear; \u27Full Metal Jacket\u27 talent search; \u27The Right Stuff\u27 finally opens in area; Energetic movie should do well; Baseball Schedule; Bank president--NFL referee; High School Notes; Softball Schedule; Cobra baseball to start; Women win tournament; Lake Land advances in sectional; Mens basketball scores; I.M. News; Cobra men advance to sectional; Cobras end up with last year\u27s record; Tae Kwon Do showed display; Cooper remembers 6 good years; First basketball coach tells how it was; NJCAA meethttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1984/1029/thumbnail.jp