Laboratory Drill Rig Design for Bit Wear & Vibration Study

Drilling operations is a costly operation and any factors that contribute to the delaying of work operation would be unwanted by the industry. Among the many factors that contribute to problems are bit wear and vibration. Besides currently there are no real time monitoring of bit wear in the oil and gas industry. The main objective of this project here is to design a safe laboratory scale test rig that is capable of assimilating the actual drilling operations and conditions out in the field. Thorough study of material selections and decision making processes such as the weighted evaluation matrix and also analytic hierarchy process (AHP) are used in order to complete the study and thus providing a proper conceptual design of the laboratory scale test rig. A design concept is also generated together with general static analysis of the designed concept. With the lab scale test rig, studies on the bit wear and also vibrations could be done and thus further optimization of drilling practices could be done at a lower cost rather than practicing out in actual drilling operations. This work would illustrate the advantages of varying the parameters for better drilling results in the oil field

Laboratory Drill Rig Design for Bit Wear & Vibration Study

Drilling operations is a costly operation and any factors that contribute to the delaying of work operation would be unwanted by the industry. Among the many factors that contribute to problems are bit wear and vibration. Besides currently there are no real time monitoring of bit wear in the oil and gas industry. The main objective of this project here is to design a safe laboratory scale test rig that is capable of assimilating the actual drilling operations and conditions out in the field. Thorough study of material selections and decision making processes such as the weighted evaluation matrix and also analytic hierarchy process (AHP) are used in order to complete the study and thus providing a proper conceptual design of the laboratory scale test rig. A design concept is also generated together with general static analysis of the designed concept. With the lab scale test rig, studies on the bit wear and also vibrations could be done and thus further optimization of drilling practices could be done at a lower cost rather than practicing out in actual drilling operations. This work would illustrate the advantages of varying the parameters for better drilling results in the oil field

Predicting Future Years of Life, Health, and Functional Ability: A Healthy Life Calculator for Older Adults

Introduction Planning for the future would be easier if we knew how long we will live and, more importantly, how many years we will be healthy and able to enjoy it. There are few well-documented aids for predicting our future health. We attempted to meet this need for persons 65 years of age and older. Methods Data came from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a large longitudinal study of older adults that began in 1990. Years of life (YOL) were defined by measuring time to death. Years of healthy life (YHL) were defined by an annual question about self-rated health, and years of able life (YABL) by questions about activities of daily living. Years of healthy and able life (YHABL) were the number of years the person was both Healthy and Able. We created prediction equations for YOL, YHL, YABL, and YHABL based on the demographic and health characteristics that best predicted outcomes. Internal and external validity were assessed. The resulting CHS Healthy Life Calculator (CHSHLC) was created and underwent three waves of beta testing. Findings A regression equation based on 11 variables accounted for about 40% of the variability for each outcome. Internal validity was excellent, and external validity was satisfactory. As an example, a very healthy 70-year-old woman might expect an additional 20 YOL, 16.8 YHL, 16.5 YABL, and 14.2 YHABL. The CHSHLC also provides the percent in the sample who differed by more than 5 years from the estimate, to remind the user of variability. Discussion The CHSHLC is currently the only available calculator for YHL, YABL, and YHABL. It may have limitations if today’s users have better prospects for health than persons in 1990. But the external validity results were encouraging. The remaining variability is substantial, but this is one of the few calculators that describes the possible accuracy of the estimates. Conclusion The CHSHLC, currently at http://diehr.com/paula/healthspan, meets the need for a straightforward and well-documented estimate of future years of healthy and able life that older adults can use in planning for the future

Oral health of community dwelling elders in Hong Kong

Introduction: The world’s population is ageing and the elders are vulnerable to oral health problems. This project aimed to observe the oral health status of community dwelling elders in Hong Kong, investigate the oral health impact on their quality of life and nutritional status, and provide oral health education and preventive service. Methods: Community dwelling elders (65 or above) were recruited from five community centers. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was completed to collect information on their socio-demographic background and oral health perception/practice. Their oral health related quality of life (OHQoL) and nutritional status were measured by using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), respectively. Their tooth and periodontal status, oral hygiene and soft tissues were examined. Individualized advice, oral health education and scaling were provided. Results: A total of 195 elders participated. Despite their sound knowledge on dental caries, their awareness of the causes and risk factors of periodontal diseases was low. Several misconceptions of oral health were common and their expectation towards oral health was low. Although 81% brush their teeth at least twice a day, over 75% did not perform interdental cleaning mainly due to unawareness of the necessity (32%) and lack of skills (42%). Their dental visits were treatment-driven and mainly for pain-relieving and emergency care. Only 19% were regular dental attendees. The mean (SD) DMFT was 8.9 (7.8). Over 60% had periodontal pockets; 6% were edentulous and 38% had fewer than 20 teeth. The mean (SD) total GOHAI score was 56.4 (8.0); 60% reported negative impact of oral health on their quality of life. The mean (SD) MNA score was 25.2 (2.9); 30% had malnutrition or were at risk. Multivariate analysis showed that tooth loss and untreated decayed teeth (DT) were significant determinants of poor OHQoL; older age, higher education level, and poorer OHQoL were significantly associated with higher risk of malnutrition (all p<0.05). Conclusions: Oral health problems are common among community dwelling elders in Hong Kong. Their oral health awareness and practice are yet to be improved. Tooth loss and unmet treatment need for dental caries significantly compromise elders’ quality of life, which in turn increases their risk for malnutrition. Outreach oral health education and service are well received by the community.published_or_final_versio

Life cycle of oil palm bunch moth, Tirathaba mundella walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) reared under laboratory conditions on artificial diet

Tirathaba mundella Walker is an important pest in many oil palm plantations especially those established on peatland. The life cycle of T. mundella has not been described in detail despite its economic importance. This study aimed to describe the bionomic characteristics of T. mundella, rearing on an artificial diet, at 25 oC. The duration of a complete metamorphosis cycle of T. mundella was about 51.63 ± 3.80 days. The incubation period was the shortest (3.33 ± 0.80 days.), The most detrimental stage of the pest to oil palm is at larval stage, which took 33.90 ± 2.60 days before pupating. The pupal period took about 5 to 11 days with a mean ± SD period of 8.53 ± 1.48 days. The average of the adult’s longevity was about 6.05 ± 1.81 days. There is no statistical difference between the duration of male and female longevity. Adult male and female moths reared in captivity feeded with 10% sucrose solution would mate readily and produce fertile eggs. The mean preoviposition period were 4 days. Successful of rearing T. mundella using artificial diet under laboratory conditions promises laboratory assessment for pesticide development which is less tedious and time consuming than conventional field experiments

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Electrocardiogram for Heart Failure With Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction

Current heart failure (HF) guidelines recommend electrocardiography (ECG) as an essential initial investigation in a patient's workup. 1 However, these recommendations were based on studies primarily including patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). 1 , 2 , 3 Guidelines do not distinguish HFrEF from HF with preserved and mid-range ejection fraction (HFpEF and HFmrEF) in their ECG recommendations. We hypothesized that a normal ECG does not exclude HFpEF and has a considerably lower sensitivity for diagnosing HFpEF than HFrEF

Subclinical Vascular Disease Burden and Longer Survival

OBJECTIVES: Subclinical vascular disease (SVD) contributes to the aging process and may decrease life expectancy. We aimed to determine the contribution of gradations of SVD to the likelihood of achieving longer survival, and to determine what allows some individuals to achieve longer survival in the presence of high SVD. DESIGN: Cohort Study SETTING: Cardiovascular Health Study PARTICIPANTS: Adults who were born after June 30th, 1918 and before June 30th, 1921 (n=2,082); participants were age 70-75 years at baseline visit (1992-1993). MEASUREMENTS: A SVD index was scored as 0, 1, or 2 for no, mild, or severe abnormalities on ankle-arm index, electrocardiogram, and common carotid intima-media thickness measured at baseline. Survival groups were categorized as <80, 80-84, 85-89, and 90+ years. RESULTS: A one point lower SVD score was associated with a 1.22 (95% confidence interval: 1.14, 1.31) higher odds of achieving longer survival, independent of potential confounders. This association was unchanged after adjustment for intermediate incident cardiovascular events. There was suggestion of an interaction of kidney function, smoking, and CRP with SVD; the association of SVD and longer survival appeared modestly increased in persons with poor kidney function, inflammation, or a history of smoking. CONCLUSION: A lower burden of SVD is associated with longer survival, and this association was independent of intermediate cardiovascular events. Abstinence from smoking, better kidney function, and lower inflammation may attenuate the effects of higher SVD and further promote longer survival.This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The article is copyrighted by the authors; the Journal compilation is copyrighted by the American Geriatrics Society and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291532-5415Keywords: kidney function, inflammation, smoking, survival, cardiovascular disease, subclinical diseas

Efficacy and safety of transcranial pulse stimulation in young adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial

BackgroundThis is the first study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among young adolescents in Hong Kong.MethodsThis double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial included a TPS group and a sham TPS group, encompassing a total of 30 subjects aged 12–17 years who were diagnosed with ADHD. Baseline measurements SNAP-IV, ADHD RS-IV, CGI and executive functions (Stroop tests, Digit Span) and post-TPS evaluation were collected. Both groups were assessed at baseline, immediately after intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups. Repeated-measures ANOVAs were used to analyze data.ResultsThe TPS group exhibited a 30% reduction in the mean SNAP-IV score at postintervention that was maintained at 1- and 3-month follow-ups.ConclusionTPS is an effective and safe adjunct treatment for the clinical management of ADHD.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.Gov, identifier NCT05422274

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London