Interactive voice response system (IVRS): Data quality considerations and lessons learned during a microbicide placebo adherence trial with young men who have sex with men.

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/106616/1/Interactive voice response system IVRS Data quality considerations and lessons learned during a microbicide placebo adherence trial with young men who have sex with men.pd

Effect of Chronic Inhibition of Converting Enzyme on Renal Handling of Salt and Water: A Study on a Pediatric Population

Background/Aims: The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEi) is amply documented in several pathological conditions. However, there are few reports about the effect of chronic ACEi on salt and water balance. The present work evaluates the effect of chronic ACEi on salt and water balance in a population of children receiving enalapril chronically in order to reduce albuminuria elicited by a uremic hemolytic syndrome. Methods: Nine children aged from 9 to 19 years with normal glomerular filtration rate, normotension and with urinary concentration capacity preserved were treated with enalapril with doses ranging between 0.1 and 0.30 mg/kg/day. Diuresis, urinary absolute and fractional excretion of Na+, K+ and urea, creatinine clearance, osmolal clearance and tubular water reabsorption were measured under three experimental procedures: (1) with free access to water; (2) with a water load and (3) with water restriction. In the last group urinary antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was measured. These tests were performed in a paired way, just before starting ACEi treatment and after 6 months of enalapril treatment. Results: Enalapril treatment diminished the urinary concentration capacity without affecting Na+ and K+ urinary excretion. Creatinine clearance was not modified except in the condition of water load where a fall in it was found after ACEi. ADH increased after enalapril treatment in children under water restriction. Conclusion: In these children chronic ACEi decreases urinary concentration capacity.Fil: Dieguez, S. M.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Álvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Cnepa, C. A.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Álvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Amorena, Carlos Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de General San Martn; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

A synthesis and characterization of lanthanum potassium niobate oxide with tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) type structure

The main aim of this study is to lower the reaction and sintering temperatures of K2LaNb5O15 in order to improve the quality of this material. The K2LaNb5O15 compound has been synthetized by soft chemistry (coprecipitation) and its physico-chemical properties were studied.This method permits the synthesis of chemical purty, fine powder materials with good crystallization at low temperatures.The main aim of this study is to lower the reaction and sintering temperatures of K2LaNb5O15 in order to improve the quality of this material. The K2LaNb5O15 compound has been synthetized by soft chemistry (coprecipitation) and its physico-chemical properties were studied.This method permits the synthesis of chemical purty, fine powder materials with good crystallization at low temperatures

Building A Health Administration Program: Strategies For Success

Nearly 200 students have now graduated from the University of Baltimore’s (UB’s) six-year-old undergraduate Health Systems Management program (HSMG). With a total student enrollment of 113, the program is one of the larger health administration programs in the United States. The program, an affiliate member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration, is a unique weekend program that allows working professionals with an Associate’s degree to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in 2½ years. The students have, on average, 10–15 years of experience in the heath industry either as nurses or radiology technicians, thus bringing extensive practical experience to the classroom. By any academic measure, the program has been a success. Recruitment is strong and steady, the retention rate and graduation rate (over 80 percent) is high compared to both the university and national averages, and over 90 percent of the graduating students finish in the 2½ years. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the issues and strategies involved in implementing the program, as well as some of the unique features of this program. We believe our success can be replicated in other university and program settings. The health care employment market in the greater Baltimore region provided a significant student population base from which we were able to draw for enrollment in our HSMG program. Other regional markets can be addressed in a similar fashion to meet the educational needs of students and enhance the achievement of university enrollment goals

Experience-based Auditory Predictions Modulate Brain Activity to Silence as do Real Sounds.

Interactions between stimuli's acoustic features and experience-based internal models of the environment enable listeners to compensate for the disruptions in auditory streams that are regularly encountered in noisy environments. However, whether auditory gaps are filled in predictively or restored a posteriori remains unclear. The current lack of positive statistical evidence that internal models can actually shape brain activity as would real sounds precludes accepting predictive accounts of filling-in phenomenon. We investigated the neurophysiological effects of internal models by testing whether single-trial electrophysiological responses to omitted sounds in a rule-based sequence of tones with varying pitch could be decoded from the responses to real sounds and by analyzing the ERPs to the omissions with data-driven electrical neuroimaging methods. The decoding of the brain responses to different expected, but omitted, tones in both passive and active listening conditions was above chance based on the responses to the real sound in active listening conditions. Topographic ERP analyses and electrical source estimations revealed that, in the absence of any stimulation, experience-based internal models elicit an electrophysiological activity different from noise and that the temporal dynamics of this activity depend on attention. We further found that the expected change in pitch direction of omitted tones modulated the activity of left posterior temporal areas 140-200 msec after the onset of omissions. Collectively, our results indicate that, even in the absence of any stimulation, internal models modulate brain activity as do real sounds, indicating that auditory filling in can be accounted for by predictive activity

Calculation methods of Radon-222 radiological activity for NORM plant with ventilation

A procedure is proposed to determine the radiological activity of air present in the working area of a NORM (Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Materials) plant. This NORM plant is located in the United Arab Emirates and is dedicated to the recycling of material and equipment used in oil extraction facilities. Substantial quantities of NORM waste will be present inside the enclosed plant facilities and will exhale significant amounts of Radon-222 into the working environment. The continued inhalation of this gas and its progeny has been shown to cause lung cancer. In order to reduce the concentration level of the aforementioned gas to an acceptable regulatory value, the best solution is by means of mechanical ventilation. The two calculation methods used to analysis the relationship between the ventilation rate and the degree of radioactive contamination are considered. The first being ventilation by perfect dilution, commonly employed in industrial environments with radiological contamination. The second method of analysis is by means of a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) which permits a more precise calculation of the required fresh air quantity and spatial concentrations. Validation was carried out in a small experimental plant space, obtaining results reasonable approximate to those predicted by the computational analysis. The similarities and differences between the respective calculation methods and their respective fields of application are analyzed. It is concluded that for lower air change rates, less than five air changes per hour, the CFD analysis is the most appropriate method. By contrast, when using a higher rate of outside air changes in the plant, the perfect dilution method should be sufficient enough to control the presence of radon and its progeny. Both calculation methods consider the activity of radon and the activity of the most significant radioisotopes of its progeny

Effect of implantoplasty on the elastic limit of dental implants of different diameters

Background Implantoplasty reduces both implant diameter and the thickness of its walls, subsequently reducing the ability of the implant to resist fracture in response to functional load. In combination with an increase in the crown-implant ratio due to bone loss, this could increase the lever effect, which in presence of high masticatory forces or parafunctional habits, could lead to complications such as fracture of the implant or loosening of the prosthetic screw. Objectives To determine the elastic limits of internal connection, dental implants of different designs and diameters after an implantoplasty. Materials and methods This in vitro study included 315 tapered internal connection titanium dental implants, the threads of which were removed with an industrial milling machine-for standardized implantoplasty (IMP1; n = 105)-or with the conventional approach-manually, using high-speed burs (IMP2; n = 105). The remaining 105 implants were used as controls. The final implant diameters were recorded. The quality of the newly polished surfaces was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. All implants were subjected to a mechanical pressure resistance test. A Tukey''s test for multiple comparisons was used to detect differences in the elastic limit and final implant diameters between the implant groups. Results There were statistically significant differences in the elastic limit between the IMP1, IMP2, and control groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the implant diameter was significantly smaller in the IMP1 and IMP2 groups (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy revealed smooth implant surfaces in the IMP1 and IMP2 groups, with some titanium particles visible in the IMP1 group. Conclusions Implantoplasty significantly decreased the elastic limit of internal connection titanium dental implants, especially in those with a smaller diameter (3-3.5 mm)

Air diffusion system design in large assembly halls. Case study of the Congress of Deputies parliament building, Madrid, Spain

The paper describes and analyses the air distribution solution adopted in the refurbishment of the Spanish Congress of Deputies assembly hall. A new approach is proposed for the design of displacement ventilation systems. The system performance is methodically validated both with laboratory tests, computational fluid dynamics analysis and experimental field measurements related to the environmental performance of the built environment. In assembly halls, microclimate and displacement ventilation systems, which supply air by means of floor mounted outlets, have been shown to perform adequately. In this case study floor air supply is not feasible. The solution adapted uses parapet mounted diffusers, using a confluent jet flow parallel to the floor plane above the occupied area. All the tools used to analyse the performance of this system showed that the admixing overhead supply, with ceiling return, and flowing parallel to and above the occupied zone is drawn back into the occupied zone, creating a plume effect similar to that of floor mounted displacement outlets. Thus, this confirms that the displacement effect can be accomplished using a high induction turbulent overhead supply with ceiling return. Therefore supplying air directly into the occupied zone, at or near to floor level, is not a prerequisite to achieve the desired displacement effect. This report concludes that, using the correct design parameters, as set out in this paper, the displacement ventilation effect is independent of the plane of air supply. The conclusions suggest that accepted criteria for the definition and design of displacement systems should be redefined

Reducing scrap and improving an air conditioning pipe production line

30th International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing (FAIM2021) -15-18 June 2021, Athens, GreeceThe automotive industry is considered one of the most demanding and competitive sectors in the global market. This increasingly implies having a stable and optimized production process, always with a view to continuous improvement. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of all the waste that is generated in all production and logistics operations and take action to reduce them. In this regard and considering the process of producing air conditioning pipes for the automotive industry, a high scrap value was detected mainly due to soldering process. Therefore, the entire production process is analyzed in order to identify the main causes behind the high scrap value. Several Lean and quality tools are used to reduce not only the amount of scrap but also to increase the line productivity. In order to face this challenge, after elaborating the action plan and corresponding implementation, the scrap value is reduced by 12% in general, and productivity increased by 29%, 55% and 22.5% in three different references produced by the same machine. Although this solution is a bit expensive, the corresponding payback is reduced, so it can easily be applied transversally to other similar machines allowing extremely interesting gains in the short term.Andresa Baptista acknowledges the financial support of CIDEM- Research Center of Mechanical Engineering, FCT –Portuguese Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher ducation, under the Project UID/EMS/0615/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio