Food allergy management from the perspective of patients or caregivers, and allergists: a qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Research has shown that the long term management of food allergy is suboptimal. Our study aims to provide direction for improvement, by evaluating food allergy management from the perspective of, food allergic patients or their caregivers, and allergists in selected outpatient settings in Ontario.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This two-part study included an anonymous questionnaire completed by patients or their caregivers in allergy clinics, and a qualitative interview with allergists. In Part A, food allergic patients or their caregivers were surveyed about information they received on food allergy, their level of confidence with self-management, and their learning needs. In Part B, allergists were interviewed about teaching priorities and the challenges and strategies that currently exist in food allergy management. The questionnaire was developed and piloted at the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation-McMaster University Medical Center Site. Using convenience sampling, participants were recruited from 6 allergy clinics in 5 Ontario cities. Patients of any age with food allergy who were evaluated by an allergist were considered for inclusion. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency analysis. Audio recorded interviews with allergists were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis of grounded theory methodology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ninety-two food allergic families in the care of 6 allergists in Toronto, Hamilton, London, Kitchener, and Kingston participated in the study. Key areas requiring improvement in food allergy management were identified: 33% of families were not shown how to use an epinephrine auto-injector with a trainer, only 57% were asked to demonstrate an auto-injector, despite being on average at their 5th visit, and only about 30% felt very confident about when and how to give an auto-injector. Fifty percent of families did not receive sufficient information on medical identification and 21% did not receive information about support groups. Interviews with allergists revealed limitations in time and nursing resources.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study highlights the educational gaps and overall experiences of food allergic families in Ontario, and the challenges faced by the allergists managing them.</p

Controls on zooplankton methane production in the central Baltic Sea

Several methanogenic pathways in oxic surface waters were recently discovered, but their relevance in the natural environment is still unknown. Our study examines distinct methane (CH4) enrichments that repeatedly occur below the thermocline during the summer months in the central Baltic Sea. In agreement with previous studies in this region, we discovered differences in the methane distributions between the western and eastern Gotland Basin, pointing to in situ methane production below the thermocline in the latter (concentration of CH4 14.1±6.1&thinsp;nM, δ13C CH4 −62.9&thinsp;‰). Through the use of a high-resolution hydrographic model of the Baltic Sea, we showed that methane below the thermocline can be transported by upwelling events towards the sea surface, thus contributing to the methane flux at the sea–air interface. To quantify zooplankton-associated methane production rates, we developed a sea-going methane stripping-oxidation line to determine methane release rates from copepods grazing on 14C-labelled phytoplankton. We found that (1) methane production increased with the number of copepods, (2) higher methane production rates were measured in incubations with Temora longicornis (125±49&thinsp;fmol&thinsp;methane&thinsp;copepod−1&thinsp;d−1) than in incubations with Acartia spp. (84±19&thinsp;fmol&thinsp;CH4&thinsp;copepod−1&thinsp;d−1) dominated zooplankton communities, and (3) methane was only produced on a Rhodomonas sp. diet, and not on a cyanobacteria diet. Furthermore, copepod-specific methane production rates increased with incubation time. The latter finding suggests that methanogenic substrates for water-dwelling microbes are released by cell disruption during feeding, defecation, or diffusion from fecal pellets. In the field, particularly high methane concentrations coincided with stations showing a high abundance of DMSP/DMSO-rich Dinophyceae. Lipid biomarkers extracted from phytoplankton- and copepod-rich samples revealed that Dinophyceae are a major food source of the T. longicornis dominated zooplankton community, supporting the proposed link between copepod grazing, DMSP/DMSO release, and the build-up of subthermocline methane enrichments in the central Baltic Sea.</p

COVID-19: Rapid antigen detection for SARS-CoV-2 by lateral flow assay: A national systematic evaluation of sensitivity and specificity for mass-testing

Background Lateral flow device (LFD) viral antigen immunoassays have been developed around the world as diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection. They have been proposed to deliver an infrastructure-light, cost-economical solution giving results within half an hour. Methods LFDs were initially reviewed by a Department of Health and Social Care team, part of the UK government, from which 64 were selected for further evaluation from 1st August to 15th December 2020. Standardised laboratory evaluations, and for those that met the published criteria, field testing in the Falcon-C19 research study and UK pilots were performed (UK COVID-19 testing centres, hospital, schools, armed forces). Findings 4/64 LFDs so far have desirable performance characteristics (orient Gene, Deepblue, Abbott and Innova SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test). All these LFDs have a viral antigen detection of >90% at 100,000 RNA copies/ml. 8951 Innova LFD tests were performed with a kit failure rate of 5.6% (502/8951, 95% CI: 5.1–6.1), false positive rate of 0.32% (22/6954, 95% CI: 0.20–0.48). Viral antigen detection/sensitivity across the sampling cohort when performed by laboratory scientists was 78.8% (156/198, 95% CI 72.4–84.3). Interpretation Our results suggest LFDs have promising performance characteristics for mass population testing and can be used to identify infectious positive individuals. The Innova LFD shows good viral antigen detection/sensitivity with excellent specificity, although kit failure rates and the impact of training are potential issues. These results support the expanded evaluation of LFDs, and assessment of greater access to testing on COVID-19 transmission. Funding Department of Health and Social Care. University of Oxford. Public Health England Porton Down, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, National Institute of Health Research

Metoda propagacji fal w analizie kompozytowych paneli cylindrycznych z delaminacją

Prezentowany artykuł dotyczy wykrywania delaminacji w cylindrycznych laminatach epoksydowych wzmacnianych włóknem szklanym w oparciu o metodę propagacji fal sprężystych. Badania prowadzone na strukturach kompozytowych ze sztucznie wprowadzonym defektem obejmowały analizę numeryczną metodą elementów skończonych oraz weryfikację eksperymentalną z użyciem czujników piezoelektrycznych. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników możliwe jest określenie wpływu delaminacji na globalne zachowanie dynamiczne analizowanej struktury. Metoda propagacji fal sprężystych może być wykorzystana do określenia wpływu różnych parametrów na uzyskane wyniki dla struktur bez uszkodzeń i z uszkodzeniami. Bezpośrednie porównanie dynamicznej odpowiedzi struktury nieuszkodzonej i uszkodzonej może być wykorzystane do zlokalizowania i oszacowania rozmiaru uszkodzenia.The presented paper is focused on the identification of delamination in cylindrical glass/epoxy lamina based on the elastic wave propagation method. The current analysis of composite structures with the artificial square delamination was conducted numerically with the help of the finite element method and verified experimentally using piezoelectric sensors. Based on the computed results it is possible to determine the effect of delamination on the overall structural dynamic behaviour. The wave propagation technique can be used to quantify the difference between the results related to various parameters in the cases of intact and defected structures. The direct comparison of the dynamic response of the intact and defected structure can be applied to localize and size assessment of the structural damage

Budowa zewnętrznych powierzchni zgorzelin tworzących się na stali CROFER 22APU w atmosferze H2/H2S

The paper presents results of structural tests carried out for scale formed during high-temperature sulphurisation of Crofer 22APU steel within temperature range 600-900°C, in atmosphere containing H2/H2S, at partial pressure of sulphur vapours: pS210-7 up to 10-1 Pa. Non-preoxidated and preoxidated (preliminarily oxidated in air atmosphere) samples were put through sulphurisation process. The SEM, EDX and XRD methods were employed to examine scale surface morphology, including its chemical constitution and phase composition. The SEM tests allowed to find that scale structure depends on atmosphere content and temperature. In conditions of high sulphur vapour pressure values (exceeding iron sulphide dissociation pressure), scale has two layers and consists of a mixture of iron sulphides (FenSm) and chromium sulphides (CrxSy). Outer scale layer is built of large, column-shaped grains with composition corresponding to (FenSm), whereas its inner layer - fine-grained and porous - is a mixture of chromium sulphides, iron sulphides and sulphospinels. Occurrence of internal oxidation zone has been observed at the temperatures of 800°C and 900°C. Scale has single layer at low sulphur vapour pressure values, that is under FeS dissociation pressure. Preoxidated steel samples undergo sulphurisation process also after incubation period. This period is changeable and depends on sulphur vapour temperature and pressure. The structure and chemical constitution of scale formed on pre-oxidated samples depends on sulphurisation process parameters. Morphology of outer scale surface on preoxidated samples is complicated, because sulphides of all steel constituents are forming on the surface of oxides.W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań strukturalnych zgorzelin otrzymanych w trakcie wysokotemperaturowego siarkowania stali Crofer 22APU w zakresie temperatur 600-900°C w atmosferze H2/H2S przy ciśnieniu parcjalnym par siarki pS210-7 do 10-1 Pa. Procesowi siarkowania poddano próbki nie preoksydowane oraz próbki preoksydowane (wstępnie utlenione w atmosferze powietrza). Badania morfologii powierzchni zgorzelin wraz z ich składem chemicznym i fazowym wykonano przy zastosowaniu SEM, EDX i XRD. Na podstawie badań SEM stwierdzono, że budowa zgorzelin zależy od składu atmosfery oraz temperatury. W warunkach wysokich prężności par siarki (powyżej prężności rozkładowej siarczku żelaza) zgorzeliny są dwuwarstwowe i są zbudowane z mieszaniny siarczków żelaza (FenSm) i siarczków chromu (CrxSy). Zewnętrzna warstw zgorzeliny jest zbudowana z dużych kolumnowych ziaren o składzie odpowiadającej (FenSm), natomiast wewnętrzna drobno ziarnista, porowata jest mieszaniną siarczków chromu, żelaza oraz sulfospineli. W temperaturze 800°C i 900°C stwierdzono występowanie strefy wewnętrznego utleniania. W niskich ciśnieniach par siarki tzn. poniżej prężności rozkładowej FeS, zgorzeliny są jednowarstwowe. próbki stali preoksydowane ulegają również procesowi siarkowania po okresie inkubacji. Okres ten jest zmienny i zależy od temperatury i prężności par siarki. Budowa i skład chemiczny zgorzelin otrzymanych na preoksydowanych próbkach zależy od parametrów siarkowania. Morfologia zewnętrznej powierzchni zgorzeliny utworzonej na próbkach preoxydowanych jest skomplikowana, gdyż na powierzchni tlenków tworzą się siarczki składników stali

Autonomous vehicle high-accuracy position and integrity engine performance results

International audienc