Continuous thoracic paravertebral nerve blocks in pediatric patients

Studies that evaluate the use of ultrasound-guided continuous paravertebral nerve blocks in pediatric patients are scarce, although the use of peripheral nerve blocks has indeed increased in popularity in the adult demographic. The present study aims to describe the epidemiology, safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided continuous thoracic paravertebral nerve blocks as an everyday practice on a large scale in pediatric patients at a busy, academic, tertiary-care hospital. In all patients studied, a linear ultrasound transducer was used via the transverse in-line technique for catheter placement. Transducer configuration (frequency of oscillation and probe length) was varied based on individual patient factors, such as age, weight and body mass index. A descriptive, retrospective chart review of all patients who received a continuous paravertebral nerve block within a two-year time frame, from 10/2012 to 10/2014, was conducted, resulting in a sample size of 238 paravertebral catheters placed in 214 patients. In regards to patient demographics, the median age was 2 years (IQR 0.8 years - 12 years), with a range of 1 day to 18 years; and the average weight was 25.3 kg ± 23.6 kg, with a range of 1.8 kg to 113.7 kg. The median catheter duration was 3 days (IQR 2 days - 5 days), with 88.8% of catheters placed unilaterally, and 11.2% placed bilaterally. Median postoperative pain scores, intubation time, morphine equivalent consumption, and midazolam consumption were measured for all patients. The overall complication rate was 16.8% (n = 36 patients) with a minor catheter complication rate of 16.4% (n = 35). 6.1% (n = 13) of complications were due to catheter leakage, 4.7% (n = 10) due to catheter dislodgement, 2.8% (n = 6) due to skin irritation, 1.9% (n = 4) due to catheter occlusion and 0.9% (n = 2) due to minor bleeding at the site of catheter insertion. Only one patient experienced a major complication (0.5% of total patients), manifested as a self-resolving, 30-second seizure after a bolus administration of 2% chloroprocaine to manage postoperative pain. The patient was bag-mask ventilated for 60 seconds and the catheter was discontinued. No long-term sequelae were present in this case. Lastly, 98.1% (n = 210) of patients experienced sufficient pain coverage, yielding a failed block rate of 1.9% (n = 4). These results demonstrate safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided transverse in-line continuous, thoracic paravertebral nerve block in pediatric patients, especially small infants and children. This technique provides an analgesic alternative to the thoracic epidural for postoperative pain treatment in pediatric patients

Fecundity Allocation in Some European Weed Species Competing with Crops

Seed production is an important element of weed population dynamics, and weed persistence relies upon the soil seed bank. In 2017 and 2018, we studied the relationship between the aboveground dry biomass of common weed species and their seed production. Weeds were selected randomly in the fields, and we surrounded the plants with a porous net to collect shed seeds during the growth season. Just before crop harvest, weeds were harvested, the plants’ dry weights were measured, and the number of seeds retained on the weeds was counted. A linear relationship between the biomass and the number of seeds produced was estimated. This relationship was not affected by year for Avena spica-venti, Chenopodium album, Galium aparine, or Persicaria maculosa. Therefore, the data of the two seasons were pooled and analysed together. For Alopecurus myosuroides, Anagallis arvensis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Geranium molle, Polygonum aviculare, Silene noctiflora, Sonchus arvensis, Veronica persica, and Viola arvensis, the relationship varied significantly between the years. In 2017, the growing season was cold and wet, and the slope of the regression lines was less steep than in the dry season in 2018 for most species. Capsella bursa-pastoris was the most prolific seed producer with the steepest slope.Fecundity Allocation in Some European Weed Species Competing with CropspublishedVersio

Choosing the best urban tunnels as safe space in crisis using AHP method: a case study in Iran

In recent decades, experiences resulted from Modern wars have shown that aggressive armies have targeted vital and sensitive resources of the other countries in order to decrease their expenses in one hand and increase damages in other hand, defending countries transmit their critical and sensitive facilities to safe underground spaces in order to reduce damages, and experience has shown that underground spaces receive the least damage. This study tries to examine and prioritize Tehran tunnels as undergroundsafe spaces at crisis times regarding their structural parameters and also civil defense arrangements. It could accelerate the selection and creation of underground-safe spaces at crisis and it also can decrease construction and maintenance costs. This study has used AHP method to evaluate Tehran tunnels. In this regard five indices have been chosen by asking experts in the related fields and to evaluate and select a proper way to choose the best one as an urban-safe space. Finally, the investigated tunnels are prioritized as Tohid weighted as 0.349, Niyayesh weighted as 0.279, Resalat weighted as 0.197 and finally Amir Kabir weighted as 0.164 respectively that showed Tohid tunnel is the best urban-safe space and, Niyayesh, Resalat and Amir Kabir tunnels take the next places in the ranking, respectively

Exploiting waste heat from combine harvesters to damage harvested weed seeds and reduce weed infestation

Weeds are mainly controlled with herbicides in intensive crop production, but this has resulted in increasing problems with herbicide-resistant weeds and public concerns about the unwanted side-effects of herbicide use. Therefore, there is a need for new alternative methods to reduce weed problems. One way to reduce weed infestation could be to collect or kill weed seeds produced in the growing season. Crop and weeds are harvested simultaneously with the combine harvester, but most of the weed seeds are returned with the chaff to the field creating new problems in future growing seasons. During the harvesting process, the harvester produces heat. Under normal harvest conditions, the exhaust gas temperature measured directly behind the turbocharger of the engine of a combine harvester may reach between 400 °C and 480 °C depending of the size of the engine. These high temperatures indicate that there is a potential for developing a system which perhaps could be utilized to kill or damage the weeds seeds. We investigate how much heat is needed to damage weed seeds significantly and focuses on the germination patterns over time in response to these treatments. We investigated if heat treatment of weed seeds could kill the seeds or reduce seed vigour or kill the seeds before they are returned to the field. The aim is to avoid harvested viable weed seeds being added to the soil seed bank. During the threshing and cleaning process in the combine harvester, most weed seeds and chaff are separated from the crop grains. After this separation, we imagine that the weed seeds could be exposed to a high temperature before they are returned to the field. Seeds of nine common weed species were treated with temperatures of 50 °C, 100 °C, 150 °C, 200 °C, and 250 °C for 0, 2, 5, 10, and 20 s, respectively. Afterwards, the seeds were germinated for fourteen days. Seeds were differently affected by the heat treatments. We found that 50 °C and 100 °C was insufficient to harm the seeds of all species significantly at all durations. Heating with a temperature of 50 °C and 100 °C showed a slight tendency to break the dormancy of Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. and Papaver rhoeas L., but the results were not statistically significant. Seeds treated with 150 °C gave varying results depending on the duration and the weed species. The germination of A. myosuroides was significantly repressed when seeds were exposed to 250 °C for 5 s. Most species were significantly damaged when they were exposed to 250 °C for more than 10 s. Our results showed that there is a potential to explore how the waste heat energy produced by combine harvesters can be exploited to either kill or reduce the vigour of weed seeds before they are returned to the field with the chaff

An analytical study on ministerial organizations status in the historiography of Ravandi, Iran

The ministry organization as a symbol of Iranian sreaming is the important element in Iranian historiography. Reproduction of many of Iranshahri thoughts teachings in Seljuk\u27s period provided background for note historians to ministry organization. With the domination of Turks on Iran was established ministry s status until free rulers of the art of government benefit of ministry\u27s knowledge. Ravandi was one of the important historians in Seljuk\u27s period. However, he extracted his historical narratives from Saljuknameh, but with the completion of them with other sources and analyzing of dates. His book was changed to an important source with a different style. Ministry organization was High-Frequency concept in Ravandi historiography. His historiography has been set as useful epistle for express reasons. The ministry in his historiography was a symbol of foresight that was a cause of stable government. This article is going to enter a descriptive and analytical methodology to analyzed Ravandi\u27s approach to ministerial organization and answered to these questions what impact of ministry status on Seljuk\u27s period in Ravandi\u27s historiography? And this approach has been influenced by what factors shape

Seed Yield and Lodging Assessment in Red Fescue (<i>Festuca rubra</i> L.) Sprayed with Trinexapac-Ethyl

Red fescue (Festuca rubra) is used in seed mixtures for lawns and pastures. It is prone to lodge at flowering, and plant growth regulators (PGRs) are used to prevent lodging, ensuring sufficient pollination. Seed yield and lodging were studied over three years in a red fescue field established with four seeding rates (2, 4, 6 and 8 kg ha&minus;1) and sprayed each year with three doses of the PGR trinexapac-ethyl (250 g L&minus;1) (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 1.2 L ha&minus;1). Half of each plot was sprayed with the PGR and the other half was left unsprayed as control. The degree of lodging was assessed by analysing drone images in the second year of the experiment and using a 10-point scale for scoring lodging at the ground. Generally, application of PGR increased the seed yield but the effect varied between years. There was no interaction between the PGR dosage and seeding rate. We found a positive correlation between the blue intensity of the images and lodging. PGR dosage significantly affected lodging evaluated by visual ranking and the blue intensity of the images, while the seeding rates did not affect lodging. Lodging affected seed yield negatively

Clopyralid applied to winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) contaminates the food products nectar, honey and pollen

Clopyralid is a systemic herbicide used in oilseed rape and other crops. It was found in Danish honey from 2016 in concentrations exceeding the maximum residue level (MRL) of 0.05 mg kg−1. About 50% of the Danish honey is based on nectar from winter oilseed rape. In 2019 and 2020, winter oilseed rape fields were sprayed with clopyralid just before the assigned spraying deadline. At flowering, nectar and pollen samples were collected and the content of clopyralid was measured. Honey and pollen samples were also collected from beehives next to ten conventional winter oilseed rape fields sprayed with clopyralid. Clopyralid was found in nectar and pollen from the experimental fields, and in honey and pollen from beehives next to the conventional fields. For most samples the content in nectar and honey exceeded the MRL. The concentrations found, may not pose any health risk for consumers, as the MRL is based on the original detection limit and not on toxicological tests. However, it can have a significant economical consequence for the beekeepers, who are not allowed to sell the honey if the concentration of clopyralid exceeds 0.1 mg kg−1. Reducing the acceptable applicable rate of clopyralid or implementing an earlier deadline for spraying of clopyralid may reduce the risk of contaminating bee food products. However, if it is not possible to obtain a satisfactory effect of clopyralid on the weed flora under these conditions, spraying with pesticides containing clopyralid should be restricted in winter oilseed rape. Determination of an MRL value based on toxicological tests might result in a higher value and make it acceptable selling the honey containing higher levels of clopyralid.Clopyralid applied to winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) contaminates the food products nectar, honey and pollenpublishedVersio

The Global Equity Market Reactions of the Oil & Gas Midstream and Marine Shipping Industries to COVID-19: An Entropy Analysis

oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/152This article quantifies the information flow between major equities in the Oil & Gas Midstream and Marine Shipping industries, on the basis of the effective transfer entropy methodology. In addition, the article provides the first analysis of investor fear and market expectations in these sectors, according to the Rényi entropy approach. The period of study was extended over five years to fully capture the pre/post-COVID situations. The entropy results reveal a major change in the underlying information flow pattern among equities in the Oil & Gas Midstream and Marine Shipping sectors in the aftermath of COVID-19. According to the new (post-COVID) paradigm, the stocks in the Oil & Gas Midstream and Integrated Freight & Logistics industries have gained momentum in occupying six of the ten positions within the list of the most influential equities in the market, in terms of information transmission. The disorder and randomness have decreased for over 89% of the studied equities, after virus outbreak. For the equities detected with high information-transmission standing, the Rényi entropy results indicate that investors more likely showed a higher level of future expectations and a lower level of fear regarding frequent market events within the post-COVID timeline. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2021-02-04-07 Full Text: PD