31 research outputs found

    The comparison of the results of a full scale evacuation test to the calculation method of Hungarian regulations to the Pathfinder softwaren

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    Action of people in different building has large scale of uncertainty and there is poor availability of experimental data describing it. Evacuation software might be a solution of the problem, but their validation is a key issue. To analyze these key questions,  a full scale test was conducted with more than 200 persons participating in it. The test was divided to two phases, first the comparison to Hungarian regulations with a numerical method taking the speed, the width of doors and stairs into consideration and then the comparison to three calculation methods of Pathfinder software. The criteria of calculation defined by the AHJ resulted two different egress scenarios. There were interesting differences between the results of the full scale test, the calculation and the three simulation methods, and also the reasons of the differences were interesting

    Numerical reconstruction of pulsatile blood ow 4D computer tomography data

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    We present a novel numerical algorithm developed to reconstuct pulsatile blood ow from ECG-gated CT angiography data. A block-based optimiza- tion method was constructed to solve the inverse problem corresponding to the Riccati-type ordinary di�erential equation that can be deduced from conserva- tion principles and Hook's law. Local ow rate for 5 patients was computed in 10 cm long aorta segments that are located 1 cm below the heart. The shapes of the local ow rate curves seem to be very realistic. Our approach is suitable for estimating characteristics of pulsatile blood ow in aorta based on ECG gated CT scan thereby contributing to more accurate description of several cardiovascular lesions

    Interprofessional spiritual care education in pediatric hematology-oncology: A pilot study.

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    Background Evidence and clinical guidelines call care team members to address the spiritual well-being of pediatric patients, especially adolescents and young adults (AYA), with cancer and blood disorders. However, the lack of relevant training in generalist spiritual care has been a key barrier. Therefore, we aimed to improve clinicians’ capabilities by utilizing the Interprofessional Spiritual Care Education Curriculum (ISPEC) to close this gap in pediatric hematology-oncology. A model of interprofessional spiritual care entails that all team members attend to patients’ spirituality by employing generalist spiritual care skills and collaborating with spiritual care specialists such as chaplains. Methods Interdisciplinary team members providing care for AYA with cancer and blood disorders were recruited to participate in interprofessional spiritual care education. Our intervention combined an evidence-based online curriculum and in-person discussion groups. Pretest-posttest study examined changes in participants’ skills and practices to identify, address, and discuss spiritual concerns. Surveys were conducted at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention. Results Participants (n = 21) included physicians, advanced practice providers, nurse coordinators, and psychosocial team members. We observed positive changes in participants’ ability (36%, P < 0.01), frequency (56%, P = 0.01), confidence (32%, P < 0.01), and comfort (31%, P = 0.02) providing generalist spiritual care baseline versus one month, with significant gains maintained through six months (Omnibus P < 0.05). Conclusions Utilizing ISPEC, interprofessional spiritual care education has a strong potential to develop pediatric hematology-oncology team members’ capabilities to attend to the spiritual aspect of whole-person care and thus contribute to the well-being of AYA with cancer and blood disorders

    Interprofessional spiritual care education in pediatric hematology-oncology: A pilot study

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    Background Evidence and clinical guidelines call care team members to address the spiritual well-being of pediatric patients, especially adolescents and young adults (AYA), with cancer and blood disorders. However, the lack of relevant training in generalist spiritual care has been a key barrier. Therefore, we aimed to improve clinicians’ capabilities by utilizing the Interprofessional Spiritual Care Education Curriculum (ISPEC) to close this gap in pediatric hematology-oncology. A model of interprofessional spiritual care entails that all team members attend to patients’ spirituality by employing generalist spiritual care skills and collaborating with spiritual care specialists such as chaplains. Methods Interdisciplinary team members providing care for AYA with cancer and blood disorders were recruited to participate in interprofessional spiritual care education. Our intervention combined an evidence-based online curriculum and in-person discussion groups. Pretest-posttest study examined changes in participants’ skills and practices to identify, address, and discuss spiritual concerns. Surveys were conducted at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention. Results Participants (n = 21) included physicians, advanced practice providers, nurse coordinators, and psychosocial team members. We observed positive changes in participants’ ability (36%, P < 0.01), frequency (56%, P = 0.01), confidence (32%, P < 0.01), and comfort (31%, P = 0.02) providing generalist spiritual care baseline versus one month, with significant gains maintained through six months (Omnibus P < 0.05). Conclusions Utilizing ISPEC, interprofessional spiritual care education has a strong potential to develop pediatric hematology-oncology team members’ capabilities to attend to the spiritual aspect of whole-person care and thus contribute to the well-being of AYA with cancer and blood disorders

    Multivariate Analysis of Dopaminergic Gene Variants as Risk Factors of Heroin Dependence

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    BACKGROUND: Heroin dependence is a debilitating psychiatric disorder with complex inheritance. Since the dopaminergic system has a key role in rewarding mechanism of the brain, which is directly or indirectly targeted by most drugs of abuse, we focus on the effects and interactions among dopaminergic gene variants. OBJECTIVE: To study the potential association between allelic variants of dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2), ANKK1 (ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1), dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4), catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) and dopamine transporter (SLC6A3) genes and heroin dependence in Hungarian patients. METHODS: 303 heroin dependent subjects and 555 healthy controls were genotyped for 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs4680 of the COMT gene; rs1079597 and rs1800498 of the DRD2 gene; rs1800497 of the ANKK1 gene; rs1800955, rs936462 and rs747302 of the DRD4 gene. Four variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) were also genotyped: 120 bp duplication and 48 bp VNTR in exon 3 of DRD4 and 40 bp VNTR and intron 8 VNTR of SLC6A3. We also perform a multivariate analysis of associations using Bayesian networks in Bayesian multilevel analysis (BN-BMLA). FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: In single marker analysis the TaqIA (rs1800497) and TaqIB (rs1079597) variants were associated with heroin dependence. Moreover, -521 C/T SNP (rs1800955) of the DRD4 gene showed nominal association with a possible protective effect of the C allele. After applying the Bonferroni correction TaqIB was still significant suggesting that the minor (A) allele of the TaqIB SNP is a risk component in the genetic background of heroin dependence. The findings of the additional multiple marker analysis are consistent with the results of the single marker analysis, but this method was able to reveal an indirect effect of a promoter polymorphism (rs936462) of the DRD4 gene and this effect is mediated through the -521 C/T (rs1800955) polymorphism in the promoter

    Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

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    Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

    Learning programming with interactive Android application

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    The aim of this study was to learn to use the Android Studio and prepare an application which could offer a novelty. The mobiles are nearly as advanced as some computers and a programming environment or a programming assistant app could not be found to the mobile platform which would enable user-friendly coding. In the first steps, existing similar programs were collected, familiarized with and compared. These programs provided some opportunities, for example, the operation, function and objectives that could help the development. In the next step, the designs, plans and implementations were made, e.g. the user interface, objects, interactive objects, lines, side menu, class, function, main menu options and submenu options. Finally, some example programs were created to help with the use and understanding. In a Hungarian national scientific competition, the app was entered into the "learning methodology section" and it took first place. The actual created application tries to help programming on the mobile platform in an interactive way. It could be used by an amateur, a learner or even by someone who has some knowledge about coding. The main aim of this report is to demonstrate a major project initiation and implementation for beginner programmers who want to learn a new technology and create software with it

    Chaplain Development in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in Healthcare Settings in England: A Mixed Methods Study

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    Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is the predominant specialised training for healthcare chaplains in several national contexts. CPE is spiritual care education that uses experiential and action-reflection learning methods to train diverse participants. However, CPE is not established for chaplaincy training in England. Currently, chaplaincy education in England lacks standardisation, leading to inequalities in entry into the profession and inconsistent training and career pathways. CPE has the potential to address these issues. We examined changes associated with participating in CPE and participants’ perceptions about their learning experience. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of CPE as a viable chaplaincy education model in healthcare settings in England. Convergent mixed methods involved pre-post surveys and focus group sessions to examine the experiences and development of seven chaplains, with diverse experience levels and backgrounds, who participated in the pilot CPE unit in NHS England. We integrated thematic analysis and survey results. We identified four overarching themes: Development pathways, Catalysts for development, Advantages of CPE for chaplaincy education, and Experiences with CPE course structure. Participants developed along various pathways: confidence, reflective practice, emotional intelligence, listening and attending skills, diversity in chaplaincy care, and spiritual assessment. Survey results confirmed several themes, indicating gains in chaplaincy capabilities, emotional intelligence, and counselling self-efficacy. Participants emphasised the advantages and effectiveness of the CPE model. Quantitative and qualitative findings converged to provide rich evidence that CPE generated personal and professional development, improving chaplaincy practice. General learning pathways moved from personal development, through the interpersonal learning context, and translated into chaplain competency. Participants endorsed CPE, as a robust and effective training model for chaplaincy in the English context, for those entering the profession and experienced chaplains alike. We conceptualised preliminary models for chaplain development and learning pathways in CPE that need validation and refinement by future research

    Maternal plasma concentration of magnesium, calcium, zinc and copper in normal and patological pregnancies

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    In this study, plasma levels of magnesium, calcium, zinc and copper were simultaneously determined in pregnancies complicated by either abortion, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), diabetes or EPH (edema, proteinuria, hypertension) gestosis. The levels of the four cations in non-pregnant women and in healthy, pregnant women were also determined. Compared with controls, a significant decrease in magnesium, with increase of the Ca/Mg ratio, was found in spontaneous abortions, but not when patients had a successful continuation of pregnancy. In EPH gestosis, total calcium was reduced, with a significant decrease of the plasma Ca/Mg ratio. A slight, but significant, increase in plasma zinc was observed in women affected by either diabetes or IUGR, probably as a result of reduced zinc uptake by the fetus. In addition, higher copper levels were found in the pathologies studied, with the exception of missed abortions. The possible role of an altered Ca/Mg ratio homeostasis in relation to gestational pathologies is discussed
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