Improving universal prenatal screening for human immunodeficiency virus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of implementation of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) educational intervention on universal screening for HIV in a prenatal clinic setting. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, frequencies of offering and acceptance of HIV testing were compared before and after an educational intervention performed by an HIV-focused nurse. The records of 293 women seeking prenatal care before the intervention and 206 women seeking prenatal care after the intervention were reviewed for offering and acceptance of HIV testing. Fisher's exact test and logistic regression were used to evaluate the relationship between the educational intervention and the offering and acceptance of HIV testing. RESULTS: The frequency of HIV test offering at first visit and test acceptance before the educational intervention were 96.5% and 74.8%, respectively, and after the intervention were 99.5% and 84.3%, respectively. This improvement in offering (3% change) and acceptance (9.5% change) was statistically significant (offering at first visit: OR = 7.27, 95% CI = 1.02 to 316.9; test acceptance: OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.14 to 2.88). Test acceptance was statistically significantly improved in the post-intervention group after controlling for confounding variables (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.2 to 3.39). CONCLUSION: The addition of an HIV-focused nurse to a clinic setting improved the frequency of test offering at first visit and of acceptance of HIV testing by pregnant women

Lipase-Mediated Synthesis of Oleoyl Ethanolamide Starting from High-Oleic Sunflower Oil Soapstock

This work describes the lipase-mediated synthesis of oleoyl ethanolamide, a dietary supplement for body weight loss recently approved by FDA. The target compound is prepared by conversion of the oleic acid contained in a mixture of fatty acids recovered by enzymatic hydrolysis of soapstock, a side-product of high oleic sunflower oil refinement. The use of a packed-bed reactor (a glass column loaded with the commercial lipase Lipozyme 435) in continuous flow mode improves the space-time yield of the reaction and the catalyst productivity. The nontoxic, bioderived, and renewable solvent limonene is used in the reaction medium. The process has been run for more than 157 h of continuous operation, demonstrating the stability and efficiency of the biocatalyst. Additionally, at the end of the reaction, only oleoyl ethanolamide crystallizes from the reaction mixture, thus, it is collected by simple filtration of the outlet solution in 53% isolation yield, showing 99% chemical purity, while all the byproducts of the reaction are left behind in the mother liquors

Agro-environmental aspects of conservation agriculture compared to conventional systems : A 3-year experience on 20 farms in the Po valley (Northern Italy)

An evaluation of the effect of the conservation agriculture (CA) on agro-environmental aspects is needed at the farm scale in intensive production systems, which are likely prone to reduce soil fertility. Here, as part of the HelpSoil LIFE+ Project and involving 20 farms in the Po valley (Northern Italy), we have estimated the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, SOC stock, crop yield, biological fertility, soil biodiversity, and economic efficiency under different agricultural systems (CA and conventional, CvtA) at the beginning (March 2014) and end (October 2016) of the experimental period. CA was mostly represented by no-till practice (NT) coupled with the cultivation of winter cover crops. Minimum tillage (MT) was considered as CA or CvtA practice according to the farm design. The CA practices have been implemented on the monitored farms at different times (Long-term = before 2006, Medium-term = between 2006 and 2013, Short-term = after 2013). A direct comparison between CA and CvtA of soil-related variables, yields, and costs was performed on 14 out of the 20 farms; data were statistically treated with a linear mixed model. Overall, CA resulted in significantly higher SOC content, SOC stock, biological fertility, QBS-ar, and earthworms for the Medium-term group. Considering the effect of tillage practices observed on the 20 farms, SOC content was the highest in NT for the Long-term group. The biological fertility index was higher in NT and MT compared to CvtA within the Long-term and Medium-term groups in 2016. QBS-ar was the higher in MT and NT than CvtA for the Long-term and Medium-Term groups. The number of earthworms was the highest under NT for the Long-term group. Maize, winter wheat, and soybeans yields were generally 1 t ha 121 higher in CvtA than in CA, but this did not reach statistical significance. The cost for herbicides was 18% more expensive in NT, whereas the fuel consumption and total costs for weeding operations did not differ between NT and CvtA. The overall outcome of the analysis was that CA is a viable solution for intensive farms in the monitored area, but further skills need still to be acquired in to enhance its economic feasibility

Recent Advances in the Use of Green Corrosion Inhibitors to Prevent Chloride-Induced Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete

Inhibitors for the prevention of corrosion in reinforced concrete are chemical substances able to reduce carbon steel reinforcements corrosion without altering the overall properties of concrete. Today, many commercially available substances have a negative impact on human safety during either the inhibitor synthesis, their handling or application in field. Green corrosion inhibitors are nontoxic, biodegradable and environmentally biocompatible substances. They are generally made of extracts from natural plants or waste, which are abundantly available in several countries. The majority of green inhibitor molecules usually contain multiple bonds, aromatic rings, polar functional groups and electronegative atoms as P, N, S or O; the latter are able to coordinate with metal cations to form protective layers on the metallic surface of the reinforcements, so as to inhibit the development (initiation and/or propagation) of the corrosion process. In this review, the most recent achievements on the study and investigation of green corrosion inhibitors for concrete structures are presented and discussed. Inhibitors are classified based on their nature and inhibition mechanism. The inhibition effectiveness of the substances is compared with the well-established effective nitrite-based inhibitor, distinguishing between accelerated and long-term tests. Based on the available data, a summary of corrosion inhibitors efficiency is reported

Parental environments and interactions with conspecifics alter salinity tolerance of offspring in the annual medicago truncatula

Summary: Based on expectations of the stress-gradient hypothesis for conspecific interactions, stress-sensitive genotypes may be able to persist in stressful environments when positive interactions between individuals occur under stressful environments. Additionally, we test how parental environmental effects alter responses to stress and outcomes of conspecific interactions in stress. While the stress-gradient hypothesis focuses on plant growth, earlier flowering may provide stress avoidance in short-lived organisms. We studied responses to soil salinity and conspecific neighbour using genotypes of Medicago truncatula (Fabaceae) originating from saline or non-saline environments, utilizing seeds from parental plants grown in saline or non-saline environments. During the early stages of reproduction, we quantified leaf number, as a measure of vegetative growth, and number of flowers, as a measure of early reproduction potential. Based on leaf counts, non-saline genotypes were better competitors than saline-origin genotypes and benefited from neighbouring plants in saline environments. This positive interaction was detected only when seeds were matured on parental plants grown in non-saline environments. Saline-origin genotypes displayed greater salinity tolerance in early flowering than non-saline genotypes. Plants with neighbours had greater early flowering, regardless of origin, consistent with facilitative interactions in stressful environments. Transgenerational plastic responses influenced neighbouring plant interactions on plant growth, and results suggest that facilitative interactions may be transient only persisting for one generation. However, earlier flowering of non-saline genotypes when grown with a neighbouring plant is consistent with facilitative interactions resulting in reproductive benefits in saline environments, if earlier flowering is favoured in saline environments. Synthesis. Adaptation to stressful environments allows tolerant genotypes to persist in these environments. Less appreciated is that stress-sensitive genotypes lacking such adaptations may persist in stressful environments via positive interactions with other individuals. Thus, positive interactions between individuals may explain the persistence of stress-sensitive genotypes within a population adapted to stressful environments. © 2013 British Ecological Society

Identification of Factors Causing Sudden Coagulation in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) evolving to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is due to the thrombotic occlusion of coronary vessels in the presence of destabilized atheroma, rich in inflammatory cells secreting proteolytic enzymes that induce the development of thrombosis. The aim of this study was to analyse the plasma of AMI patients for the detection of proteases or factors that may cause fast coagulation. Methods: The patients were analysed for the presence in plasma of cardiac troponin T (c-TnT) or proteases as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) using ELISA method and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) utilising flow cytometry technique and interleukin-8 (IL-8) using flow cytometry methodology. Results: The presence of AMI was demonstrated by high levels of c-TnT; in comparison with controls the AMI patients displayed a significant increase in the values of MMP-9 and low levels of antithrombin III: these markers were negatively correlated: MMP-9 appeared to cause the coagulation activity documented by the consumption of antithrombin III. The same patients also showed high levels of NGAL, which is known to modulate MMP-9 activity and to be involved in coagulation process: patients also exhibited an increased amount of IL-8 which appears to be associated with high levels of NGAL: this cytokine seems to affect the values of NGAL which is linked to coagulation process. Conclusion: The high levels of MMP-9, NGAL and IL-8 in AMI patients seemed to be interrelated and connected with the process leading to rapid coagulation. These markers may be measured in absence of AMI, particularly in CAD patients, as their detection may reveal a risk of sudden coronary coagulation

Project Vestia: Future of Martian Habitats

Project Vestia’s main goal is to design and test a floor for inflatable habitat modules (IHM) in Martian or Lunar environments. Currently, there is no method for creating a stable floor in an IHM that does not inhibit the benefits of using that module, as there is for a hard shell habitat. The scope of this project is to: design and simulate three designs; manufacture and test scale models of the top two performing models; design, manufacture, and test different hinge constructions. Each final scale model must withstand 1668.2 N of downwardly applied force, a scaled down representation of what could be typical use modified to account for difference in gravitational pull. Three folding designs were created with Fusion 360 computer modeling software, and simulation was performed using ANSYS software. The hinges used in each model are all of one design but multiple different construction methods. Hinges were manufactured using each method, and then were subsequently tested to determine each method’s tensile strength and flexibility. The parts are all manufactured and tested by the student researchers in house, with materials obtained externally. Preliminary results show that with current design methodology, all models have a minimum factor of safety of 1.5 at the weakest point, compared to at least 5 across the rest of each design. The end goal of this project is to confirm a design and create a scale model of the best design with the best hinge construction method and publish the findings to encourage further research and apply this technology in future IHMs

A survey of abnormalities in the colon and rectum in patients with haemorrhoids

Abstract Background Haemorrhoids are a common problem in daily practice. However, symptoms may also be caused by other abnormalities in the rectum or colon. Data on the presence of these abnormalities in patients with haemorrhoids is sparse. To examine the prevalence of abnormalities of the colon or rectum in patients with and without haemorrhoids, stratified for age. Methods In a 17-year period 1910 consecutive patients with haemorrhoids and 7936 patients without haemorrhoids were analysed retrospectively. All of these patients had an endoscopic examination for different clinical reasons. All significant endoscopic co-findings (diverticuli, polyps, cancer, angiodysplasia and varices, or colitis) were recorded. Results The patients were divided in 2 groups. Group 1 (n = 861 (45.1%)) consisted of patients with only haemorrhoids, group 2 (n = 1049 (54.9%)) consisted of patients with haemorrhoids and another endoscopic diagnosis. Patients in group 1 were significantly younger, mean age 55.3 ± 14.1 years versus 67.4 ± 12.1 years (p Conclusion In patients with haemorrhoids other abnormalities can be present. Especially in older patients the clinician must be cautious to attribute complaints solely to haemorrhoids.</p