Infection control in dental health care during and after the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak

COVID-19 is an emerging infectious disease caused by the widespread transmission of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Some of those infected become seriously ill. Others do not show any symptoms, but can still contribute to transmission of the virus. SARS-CoV-2 is excreted in the oral cavity and can be spread via aerosols. Aerosol generating procedures in dental health care can increase the risk of transmission of the virus. Due to the risk of infection of both dental healthcare workers and patients, additional infection control measures for all patients are strongly recommended when providing dental health care. Consideration should be given to which infection control measures are necessary when providing care in both the current situation and in the future

Simulating the Role of Axial Flow in Stay Cable Vibrations via a Perforated Wake Splitter Plate”, ASCE Special Edition: Wind Engineering in Natural Hazards

Cable-stayed bridges have become progressively popular since 1955, mainly because of their modest requirement on ground anchorage condition, efficient use of structural material, higher stiffness, and economy compared to suspension bridges. The inclined and/or yawed orientation of bridge stay cables results in the formation of secondary axial flow on the leeward side of cable surface, which is believed to be one of the contributing factors exciting some unique wind-induced cable vibration phenomena. To clarify the role of axial flow in triggering aerodynamic instability of stay cables, a numerical study has been conducted to indirectly examine the axial flow effect via a perforated splitter plate placed along the central line of a circular cylinder wake. Results show that the presence of a perforated wake splitter plate would play a similar role as the axial flow in affecting the strength of von Kármán vortex shedding. Reductions on the fluctuating amplitude of the instantaneous lift and drag, as well as the mean drag, are also observed, which would ultimately affect the aerodynamic response of the studied cylinder

Multi-Species Test of Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating at High Altitudes

Observations of ion distributions and plasma waves obtained by the Dynamics Explorer 1 satellite in the high-altitude, nightside auroral zone are used to study ion energization for three ion species. A number of theoretical models have been proposed to account for the transverse heating of these ion populations. One of these, the ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) mechanism, explains ion conic formation through ion cyclotron resonance with broadband electromagnetic wave turbulence in the vicinity of the characteristic ion cyclotron frequency. The cyclotron resonant heating of the ions by low-frequency electromagnetic waves is an important energy source for the transport of ions from the ionosphere to the magnetosphere. In this paper we test the applicability of the ICRH mechanism to three simultaneously heated and accelerated ion species by modelling the ion conic formation in terms of a resonant wave-particle interaction in which the ions extract energy from the portion of the broadband electromagnetic wave spectrum which includes the ion cyclotron frequency. Using a Monte Carlo technique we evaluate the ion heating produced by the electromagnetic turbulence at low frequencies and find that the wave amplitudes near the ion cyclotron frequencies are sufficient to explain the observed ion energies

Multi-Species Test of Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating at High Altitudes

Observations of ion distributions and plasma waves obtained by the Dynamics Explorer 1 satellite in the high-altitude, nightside auroral zone are used to study ion energization for three ion species. A number of theoretical models have been proposed to account for the transverse heating of these ion populations. One of these, the ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) mechanism, explains ion conic formation through ion cyclotron resonance with broadband electromagnetic wave turbulence in the vicinity of the characteristic ion cyclotron frequency. The cyclotron resonant heating of the ions by low- frequency electromagnetic waves is an important energy source for the transport of ions from the ionosphere to the magnetosphere. In this paper we test the applicability of the ICRH mechanism to three simultaneously heated and accelerated ion species by modelling the ion conic formation in terms of a resonant wave-particle interaction in which the ions extract energy from the portion of the broadband electromagnetic wave spectrum which includes the ion cyclotron frequency. Using a Monte Carlo technique we evaluate the ion heating produced by the electromagnetic turbulence at low frequencies and find that the wave amplitudes near the ion cyclotron frequencies are sufficient to explain the observed ion energies

International course on water and water management in the Philippines 2013

Since 2011, the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSW) and the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) of Leiden University, in cooperation with Isabela State University and the Mabuwaya Foundation in the Philippines organize an annual month–long international, interdisciplinary field course on sustainable development, water issues and water management in the Cagayan River basin and Sierra Madre Mountains in Northeast Luzon in the Philippines. Thirty students usually participate in this course, 15 through Leiden University and 15 through Isabela State University. The students are enrolled in different studies, encompassing social, natural and applied sciences. The annual report contains background information about that year’s course, all student reports and the online blog that the students maintained during the course.Environmental BiologyConservation Biolog

International course on water and water management in the Philippines: 5 January - 31 January 2016

Since 2011, the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSW) and the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) of Leiden University, in cooperation with Isabela State University and the Mabuwaya Foundation in the Philippines organize an annual month–long international, interdisciplinary course on sustainable development, water issues and water management in the Cagayan River basin in Northeast Luzon in the Philippines. Thirty students participate in this course, 15 through Leiden University and 15 through Isabela State University. The students are enrolled in different studies, encompassing social, natural and applied sciences. The annual report contains background information, all student reports and the online blog that the students maintained during the courseGlobal Challenges (FSW)Environmental BiologyConservation Biolog

A critical review of the research literature on Six Sigma, Lean and StuderGroup's Hardwiring Excellence in the United States: the need to demonstrate and communicate the effectiveness of transformation strategies in healthcare

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>U.S. healthcare organizations are confronted with numerous and varied transformational strategies promising improvements along all dimensions of quality and performance. This article examines the peer-reviewed literature from the U.S. for evidence of effectiveness among three current popular transformational strategies: Six Sigma, Lean/Toyota Production System, and Studer's Hardwiring Excellence.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The English language health, healthcare management, and organizational science literature (up to December 2007) indexed in Medline, Web of Science, ABI/Inform, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and ERIC was reviewed for studies on the aforementioned transformation strategies in healthcare settings. Articles were included if they: appeared in a peer-reviewed journal; described a specific intervention; were not classified as a pilot study; provided quantitative data; and were not review articles. Nine references on Six Sigma, nine on Lean/Toyota Production System, and one on StuderGroup meet the study's eligibility criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The reviewed studies universally concluded the implementations of these transformation strategies were successful in improving a variety of healthcare related processes and outcomes. Additionally, the existing literature reflects a wide application of these transformation strategies in terms of both settings and problems. However, despite these positive features, the vast majority had methodological limitations that might undermine the validity of the results. Common features included: weak study designs, inappropriate analyses, and failures to rule out alternative hypotheses. Furthermore, frequently absent was any attention to changes in organizational culture or substantial evidence of lasting effects from these efforts.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Despite the current popularity of these strategies, few studies meet the inclusion criteria for this review. Furthermore, each could have been improved substantially in order to ensure the validity of the conclusions, demonstrate sustainability, investigate changes in organizational culture, or even how one strategy interfaced with other concurrent and subsequent transformation efforts. While informative results can be gleaned from less rigorous studies, improved design and analysis can more effectively guide healthcare leaders who are motivated to transform their organizations and convince others of the need to employ such strategies. Demanding more exacting evaluation of projects consultants, or partnerships with health management researchers in academic settings, can support such efforts.</p