The value of multimodal ultrasonography in evaluating therapeutic response of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis to anti-tuberculosis drugs

PurposeIn order to research the value of multimodal ultrasonography in evaluating therapeutic response of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis to anti-tuberculosis drugs.Materials and methodsSixty-one patients with cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound examination was performed before systemic standard anti-tuberculosis treatment and within 1–2 months after treatment, and the patients were divided into effective group and ineffective group according to the follow-up at the sixth month. The multimodal ultrasound signs of the two groups were compared and analyzed.ResultsIn the effective group, there were significant differences in the maximum diameter of lymph nodes, the echo of the surrounding tissue and the enlargement of the contrast area before and after treatment (p < 0.05). At 1–2 months after treatment, there were significant differences in the maximum diameter, pus changes, CDFI, elasticity scores, echo of surrounding tissues, changes in enlarged and non-enhanced areas after contrast enhancement between the effective group and the ineffective group (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe multimodal ultrasound signs of the appearance of internal pus or non-enhancement area enlargement, enhanced echo of the surrounding tissue and enlargement after CEUS are related to poor prognosis, and may be used to evaluate the response of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy when the size change of lymph node is not obvious in individual treatment

Vaccines for African swine fever: an update

African swine fever (ASF) is a fatal infectious disease of swine caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV). Currently, the disease is listed as a legally notifiable disease that must be reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). The economic losses to the global pig industry have been insurmountable since the outbreak of ASF. Control and eradication of ASF are very critical during the current pandemic. Vaccination is the optimal strategy to prevent and control the ASF epidemic, but since inactivated ASFV vaccines have poor immune protection and there aren’t enough cell lines for efficient in vitro ASFV replication, an ASF vaccine with high immunoprotective potential still remains to be explored. Knowledge of the course of disease evolution, the way of virus transmission, and the breakthrough point of vaccine design will facilitate the development of an ASF vaccine. In this review, the paper aims to highlight the recent advances and breakthroughs in the epidemic and transmission of ASF, virus mutation, and the development of vaccines in recent years, focusing on future directions and trends

Development of novel polyethylene air-cathode material for microbial fuel cells

Air-cathode fabrication is currently a key factor that hinders the scaling up of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. A new type of cathode material that contains porous polyethylene (PE) sheet and a blended activated carbon (AC) and highly conductive carbon back (CB) layer was developed for the first time. The PE sheet functions as both gas diffusion layer (GDL) and cathode supporting material. The blended AC and CB layer eliminates expensive current collector. Among different types of PE sheets and AC and CB blending ratios, the cathode with Type I PE sheet (75-110 mu m pore size) and a CB/AC ratio of 1: 0.5 demonstrated the best performance (8.4 A M-2 at 0 V) in electrochemical cells. MFCs with this cathode generated more stable and higher power densities compared with those using PTFE cathodes. Simulation of ohmic potential drops across this cathode material suggests that using a two-parallel terminal connection design would result in only 0.04 V potential drop at 1 m(2) scale. This study suggests that this new PE cathode material has great potential for use in scaled up MFC systems due to its decent performance, simple fabrication process, and use of low-cost material. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

A stable nanoporous silicon anode prepared by modified magnesiothermic reactions

Porous silicon prepared by low-cost and scalable magnesiothermic reactions is a promising anode material for Li-ion batteries; yet, retaining good cycling stability for such materials in electrodes of practical loading remains a challenge. Here, we engineered the nanoporous silicon from a modified magnesiothermic reaction by controlled surface oxidization forming a <5 nm oxide layer on the 10–20 nm Si nanocrystallites. High loading electrodes of ~3 mAh/cm² demonstrates stable cycling with ~80% capacity retention over 150 cycles. The specific discharge capacity based on the total electrode weight is ~1000 mAh/g at the lithiation/delithiation current density of 0.5/0.75 mA/cm². This work reveals the importance of the surface treatment on nanostructured Si, which will lead to a well-controlled ratio of silicon and surface oxide layer and provide guidance on further improvement on silicon-based anode materials.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nano-energy/Keywords: Silicon anode, Lithium ion batteries, Magnesiothermic reaction, Porous silico

A manutenção preventiva das edificações: o olhar dos gestores

Dissertação (mestrado profissional) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Sócio-Econômico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Administração Universitária, Florianópolis, 2017.A presente Dissertação foi desenvolvida com o objetivo de compreender como os gestores do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Santa Catarina (FSC) concebem, diante da Política Pública de Expansão da Rede Federal de Educação Profissional e Tecnológica (BRASIL, 2005), a Política Institucional de Manutenção Preventiva das Edificações. Foi elaborada com base em um estudo de caso, de natureza qualitativa, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Os resultados da pesquisa apontam a Política Institucional de Manutenção Preventiva das Edificações como a ferramenta necessária para a preservação do patrimônio imobiliário do IFSC, bem como a para a manutenção do processo histórico e cultural vivenciado pela Instituição. Os gestores reconhecem a importância da Política Pública de Expansão (BRASIL, 2005) no desenvolvimento do Departamento de Obras e Engenharia, assim como a importância deste para a expansão da Instituição. Na visão dos sujeitos da pesquisa, o IFSC não possui um Política Institucional de Manutenção Preventiva formalizada, mas possui uma prática de manutenção, a qual é de responsabilidade do Departamento de Obras e Engenharia. A Política Pública de Expansão (BRASIL, 2005) apesar de grande relevância para a Educação Nacional, na concepção dos gestores, trouxe desafios para com a manutenção do patrimônio imobiliário proveniente desta. Contudo, no desenvolvimento deste Estudo, uma contradição se evidenciou, ao mesmo tempo que a manutenção preventiva das edificações é uma prática da gestão, esta é negada, pela falta de uma concepção de gestão, de uma Política Institucional de Manutenção Preventiva das Edificações. Com vistas a tentar superar esta contradição, destacam-se ações que fomentem a capacitação dos gestores sobre a importância da manutenção preventiva das edificações e a priorização do desenvolvimento de diretrizes para uma Política Institucional de Manutenção Preventiva das Edificações do IFSC.Abstract : The present research aims at undertanding how the managers of the Instituto Federal de Ciência e Tecnologia de Santa Catarina (IFSC) conceive the Institucional Policy of Preventive Maintenance of Buildings, before the Public Expansion Policy of Federal Network of Professional and Technological Education (BRASIL, 2005). It was elaborated based on a qualitative case study, by means of a semi-estructured interviews. The results of research indicate the Institutional Policy of Preventive Maintenance of Buildings like a required tool to preserve the real estate heritage of IFSC as, it is important for the preservation of historic and cultural process experienced by the Institution. The managers recognize the importance of Public Expansion Policy (BRASIL, 2005) in the developement of Building and Engineering Department of IFSC as well as, the importance of this Department for the institutional expansion. In the view of the research participants, IFSC has not formalized an institutional policy of preventive maintenance of the buildings. On the other hand, it has a maintenance practice, which is the responsability of Building and Engineering Department. The Public Expansion Policy (BRASIL, 2005) is relevant to the National Education according to the managers conception but, it brounght some dare to the maintenance of the real estate heritage originated from this expansion. However, the development of this study disclosed a contradiction, at the same time the preventive maintenance of buildings is a management practice, it is denied by the lack of a management conception of an institutional policy of preventive maintenance of buildings. In order to overcome this contradiction, some evident actions are highlignted, which promote a training to teach the comunity and managers about the importance of preventive maintenance of buildings and actions that prioritize the development of guidelines for an institutional policy of preventive maintenance of buildings of IFSC

Silicon-Based Thermoelectrics Made from a Boron-Doped Silicon Dioxide Nanocomposite

We report a method for preparing p-type silicon germanium bulk alloys directly from a boron-doped silica germania nanocomposite. This is the first successful attempt to produce and characterize the thermoelectric properties of SiGe-based thermoelectric materials prepared at temperatures below the alloy’s melting point through a magnesiothermic reduction of the silica-germania nanocomposite. We observe a thermoelectric power factor that is competitive with the literature record obtained for high energy ball milled nanocomposites. The large grain size in our hot pressed samples limits the thermoelectric figure of merit to 0.5 at 800 °C for an optimally doped Si_(80)Ge_(20) alloy

Changes in pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence: Evidence from the 2010 population survey in a populous province of China

Background: This paper reports findings from the prevalence survey conducted in Shandong China in 2010, a province with a population of 94 million. This study aimed to estimate TB prevalence of the province in 2010 in comparison with the 2000 survey; and to compare yields of TB cases from different case finding approaches. Methods: A population based, cross-sectional survey was conducted using multi-stage random cluster sampling. 54,279 adults participated in the survey with a response rate of 96%. Doctors interviewed and classified participants as suspected TB cases if they presented with persistent cough, abnormal chest X-ray (CXRAY), or both. Three sputum specimens of all suspected cases were collected and sent for smear microscopy and culture. Results: Adjusted prevalence rate of bacteriologically confirmed cases was 34 per 100,000 for adults in Shandong in 2010. Compared to the 2000 survey, TB prevalence has declined by 80%. 53% of bacteriologically confirmed cases did not present persistent cough. The yield of bacteriologically confirmed cases was 47% by symptom screening and 95% by CXRAY. Over 50% of TB cases were among over 65's. Conclusions: The prevalence rate of bacteriologically confirmed cases was significantly reduced compared with 2000. The survey raised challenges to identify TB cases without clear symptoms

Adapting a generic tuberculosis control operational guideline and scaling it up in China: a qualitative case study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The TB operational guideline (the <it>deskguide</it>) is a detailed action guide for county TB doctors aiming to improve the quality of DOTS, while the China national TB policy guide is a guide to TB control that is comprehensive but lacks operational usability for frontline TB doctors. This study reports the process of deskguide adaptation, its scale-up and lessons learnt for policy implications.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The deskguide was translated, reviewed, and revised in a working group process. Details of the eight adaptation steps are reported here. An operational study was embedded in the adaptation process. Two comparable prefectures were chosen as pilot and control sites in each of two participating provinces. In the pilot sites, the deskguide was used with the national policy guide in routine in-service training and supervisory trips; while in the control sites, only the national policy guide was used. In-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted with 16 county TB doctors, 16 township doctors, 17 village doctors, 63 TB patients and 57 patient family members. Following piloting, the deskguide was incorporated into the national TB guidelines for county TB dispensary use.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Qualitative research identified that the deskguide was useful in the daily practice of county TB doctors. Patients in the pilot sites had a better knowledge of TB and better treatment support compared with those in the control sites.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The adaptation process highlighted a number of general strategies to adapt generic guidelines into country specific ones: 1) local policy-makers and practitioners should have a leading role; 2) a systematic working process should be employed with capable focal persons; and 3) the guideline should be embedded within the current programmes so it is sustainable and replicable for further scale-up.</p