1,822,455 results
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2. Chronic pancreatitis for the clinician. Part 2: Treatment and follow-up. Interdisciplinary position paper of the Societat Catalana de Digestologia and the Societat Catalana de Pàncrees
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Xavier Molero, Àngels Ginès, Lucas Ilzarbe, Teresa Serrano, Juli Busquets, Anna Casteràs, Carme Loras, Juan Ramón Ayuso, Gloria Fernàndez Esparrach, Mar Concepción, Esther Fort, Silvia Salord, Jorge J. Olsina, Miquel Masachs, Borobia Fg, Xavier Merino, Eva Cristina Vaquero, Joaquim Balsells, Jaume Boadas, Valentí Puig-Diví, and Míriam Cuatrecasas
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Abdominal pain ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency ,Interventional radiology ,General Medicine ,Evidence-based medicine ,medicine.disease ,Genetic mutations ,Therapeutic approach ,Diabetes mellitus ,Quality of life (healthcare) ,Health care ,medicine ,Pancreatitis ,Position paper ,Intensive care medicine ,business ,Chronic pancreatitis - Abstract
Chronic pancreatitis is associated with impaired quality of life, high incidence of comorbidities, serious complications and mortality. Healthcare costs are exorbitant. Some medical societies have developed guidelines for treatment based on scientific evidence, but the gathered level of evidence for any individual topic is usually low and, therefore, recommendations tend to be vague or weak. In the present position papers on chronic pancreatitis from the Societat Catalana de Digestologia and the Societat Catalana de Pàncrees we aimed at providing defined position statements for the clinician based on updated review of published literature and on multidisciplinary expert agreement. The final goal is to propose the use of common terminology and rational diagnostic/therapeutic circuits based on current knowledge. To this end 51 sections related to chronic pancreatitis were reviewed by 21 specialists from 6 different fields to generate 88 statements altogether. Statements were designed to harmonize concepts or delineate recommendations. Part 2 of these paper series discuss topics on treatment and follow-up. The therapeutic approach should include assessment of etiological factors, clinical manifestations and complications. The complexity of these patients advocates for detailed evaluation in multidisciplinary committees where conservative, endoscopic, interventional radiology or surgical options are weighed. Specialized multidisciplinary units of Pancreatology should be constituted. Indications for surgery are refractory pain, local complications, and suspicion of malignancy. Enzyme replacement therapy is indicated if evidence of exocrine insufficiency or after pancreatic surgery. Response should be evaluated by nutritional parameters and assessment of symptoms. A follow-up program should be planned for every patient with chronic pancreatitis. © 2021 Elsevier España, S.L.U.
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- 2022
3. Soil phosphorus fractionation after co-applying biochar and paper mill biosolids
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Bernard Gagnon, Xiangru Zhang, Noura Ziadi, and Eric Manirakiza
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Soil conditioner ,Biosolids ,business.industry ,Biochar ,Soil phosphorus ,Soil Science ,Environmental science ,Paper mill ,Fractionation ,business ,Pulp and paper industry - Abstract
In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the recycling of organic materials such as paper mill biosolids (PB) and biochar for use as soil amendments. However, the benefits of co-application of PB and biochar and its effects on soil phosphorus (P) availability remain unknown. An incubation study was conducted on two acidic soils to assess the effect of two PB types (2.5% w/w) co-applied with three rates (0%, 2.5%, and 5% w/w) of pine (Pinus strobus L.) biochar on soil P fractions. An unfertilized control and a mineral NP fertilizer were used as a reference. Soil P fractions were determined by Hedley procedure after 2 and 16 wk of incubation. Material fractionation indicated that the PB containing the highest total P and the lowest Al content had the highest proportion of labile P, whereas most P in the biochar was in a stable form. The incubation study revealed that the P-rich PB increased P availability in both soils to a level comparable to mineral fertilizer at the end of the incubation. The addition of biochar to PB, however, did not affect soil P availability, but the highest rate induced a conversion of P fixed to Al and Fe oxides towards recalcitrant forms, particularly in the sandy loam soil. We conclude that co-applying biochar and PB could be more beneficial than application biochar alone and soils amended with such a mixture would be expected to release part of their P slowly over a longer period of time.
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- 2022
4. Management of Incidental Thyroid Nodules on Chest CT: Using Natural Language Processing to Assess White Paper Adherence and Track Patient Outcomes
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Benjamin Wildman-Tobriner, Steven Dondlinger, and Ryan G. Short
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Thyroid nodules ,Chest ct ,Thyroid ultrasound ,computer.software_genre ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,White paper ,Chart review ,medicine ,Humans ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Thyroid Nodule ,Natural Language Processing ,Retrospective Studies ,Incidental Findings ,business.industry ,Ultrasound ,Nodule (medicine) ,medicine.disease ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Artificial intelligence ,medicine.symptom ,Tomography, X-Ray Computed ,business ,computer ,Natural language processing - Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to develop a natural language processing (NLP) pipeline to identify incidental thyroid nodules (ITNs) meeting criteria for sonographic follow-up and to assess both adherence rates to white paper recommendations and downstream outcomes related to these incidental findings. Methods 21583 non-contrast chest CT reports from 2017 and 2018 were retrospectively evaluated to identify reports which included either an explicit recommendation for thyroid ultrasound, a description of a nodule ≥ 1.5 cm, or description of a nodule with suspicious features. Reports from 2018 were used to train an NLP algorithm called fastText for automated identification of such reports. Algorithm performance was then evaluated on the 2017 reports. Next, any patient from 2017 with a report meeting criteria for ultrasound follow-up was further evaluated with manual chart review to determine follow-up adherence rates and nodule-related outcomes. Results NLP identified reports with ITNs meeting criteria for sonographic follow-up with an accuracy of 96.5% (95% CI 96.2-96.7) and sensitivity of 92.1% (95% CI 89.8-94.3). In 10006 chest CTs from 2017, ITN follow-up ultrasound was indicated according to white paper criteria in 81 patients (0.8%), explicitly recommended in 46.9% (38/81) of patients, and obtained in less than half of patients in which it was appropriately recommended (17/35, 48.6%). Discussion NLP accurately identified chest CT reports meeting criteria for ITN ultrasound follow-up. Radiologist adherence to white paper guidelines and subsequent referrer adherence to radiologist recommendations showed room for improvement.
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- 2022
5. Co-application of wood biochar and paper mill biosolids affects yield and short-term nitrogen and phosphorus availability in temperate loamy soils
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Eric Manirakiza, Bernard Gagnon, and Noura Ziadi
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Biosolids ,business.industry ,Phosphorus ,Land management ,Soil Science ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Paper mill ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Nitrogen ,Agronomy ,chemistry ,Loam ,Biochar ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,Temperate climate ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Environmental science ,business ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
Amending croplands with forest residues may help in restoring soil properties in fields subject to intensive land management. Despite their known benefits when applied separately, co-application of wood biochar with paper mill biosolids (PB) has seen little investigation under field conditions. A study was initiated in Québec, QC, Canada, to determine the effect of a single application of wood biochar with and without PB on the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability of two pH-neutral to alkaline loamy soils. Biochar at 0, 10, and 20 Mg dry weight·ha−1 and PB at 30 Mg wet weight·ha−1 were applied before planting of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in 2018. Residual effect of this co-application was determined under soybean and corn in the subsequent year. In both years, corn received supplemental N and P from mineral fertilizers according to local agronomic recommendations. Co-applying biochar and PB reduced soil NO3-N availability in the year of application and decreased corn yield by 1.0 Mg·ha−1 compared with biochar or PB applied alone, but these amendments did not affect soybean yields. In the following year, the previous biochar addition increased soybean yield by 0.6 Mg·ha−1 but had little effect on corn. For both years, biochar addition induced a large increase in soil Mehlich-3 P. This study revealed that wood biochar positively impacted P status of these soils but was not a source of N to crops even when co-applied with PB.
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- 2022
6. Changes in soil pH and nutrient extractability after co-applying biochar and paper mill biosolids
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Noura Ziadi, Hani Antoun, Antoine Karam, Mervin St. Luce, Eric Manirakiza, and Chantal Hamel
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Nutrient ,Biosolids ,business.industry ,Soil pH ,Environmental chemistry ,Biochar ,Soil Science ,Environmental science ,Paper mill ,business - Abstract
Acidification and metal mobility may present challenges in soil receiving paper mill biosolids (PB). Co-applying biochar and PB could help prevent these issues, but its effect must be assessed. The objective of this 224 d incubation study was to evaluate the effect of amending two acidic soils, a clay and sandy loam, with two PB types varying in pH (PB1, pH = 7.80; and PB2, pH = 4.51) co-applied with three rates (0%, 2.5%, and 5% w/w) of pine (Pinus strobus L.) biochar on soil pH and macro- (P, K, Ca, and Mg) and micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn). In both soils, co-applying biochar and PB significantly increased soil pH and extractable K concentration compared with PB-only application, whereas amending with PB significantly increased soil extractable P concentration compared with the unamended soil. In comparison with PB only, co-applying 5% biochar and PB decreased extractable Cu concentration in both soils and extractable Fe concentration in the sandy loam soil. This study showed that co-applying biochar and PB can be more beneficial to agricultural soils than application of PB alone by supplying nutrients and helping prevent metal toxicity by raising pH, especially in acidic sandy soils.
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- 2022
7. A Distance-Based Microfluidic Paper-Based Biosensor for Glucose Measurements in Tear Range
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Mohsen Rabbani and Samira Allameh
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Paper ,Materials science ,business.industry ,Microfluidics ,Glucose Measurement ,Bioengineering ,Biosensing Techniques ,General Medicine ,Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology ,Biochemistry ,Glucose Oxidase ,Paper based biosensor ,Glucose ,Range (statistics) ,Optoelectronics ,business ,Molecular Biology ,Horseradish Peroxidase ,Distance based ,Biotechnology - Abstract
The prevalence of diabetes has increased over the past years. Therefore, developing minimally invasive, user-friendly and cost-effective glucose biosensors is necessary especially in low-income and developing countries. Cellulose paper-based analytical devices have attracted the attention of many researchers due to affordability, not requiring trained personnel, and complex equipment. This paper describes a microfluidic paper-based analytical device for the detection of glucose in tear with the naked eye. The paper-based biosensor fabricated by laser CO2, and GOx/HRP enzymatic solution coupled with TMB was utilized as reagents. A sample volume of 10 µl was needed for the biosensor operation and the results were observable within 5 minutes. To evaluate the device performance, color intensity-based and distance-based results were analyzed by ImageJ and Tracker. Distance-based results showed a linear behavior in the range of 0.1–0.6 mM with an R2 = 0.967 and LOD of 0.2 mM. The results could be perceived by the naked eye without any need to further equipment or trained personnel in a relatively short time (3–5 minutes). Moreover, glucose concentration could be obtained non-invasively by tears collected by this µPAD.
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- 2022
8. Randomized Controlled Trial of Paper-Based at a Hospital versus Continual Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes at Home for Metastatic Cancer Patients: Does Electronic Measurement at Home Detect Patients' Health Status in Greater Detail?
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Naruto Taira, Kojiro Shimozuma, Takashi Fukuda, Takuya Kawahara, Takeru Shiroiwa, Shinichi Noto, Yasuhiro Hagiwara, Tetsuya Iwamoto, and Keiko Konomura
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medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Health Policy ,Health Status ,Cancer ,Paper based ,medicine.disease ,Outcome (game theory) ,Eortc qlq c 30 ,Hospitals ,law.invention ,Randomized controlled trial ,Quality of life ,law ,Neoplasms ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Physical therapy ,Quality of Life ,Medicine ,Humans ,Patient-reported outcome ,Patient Reported Outcome Measures ,Electronics ,business - Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to determine whether continual electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) measurements at home can capture the fluctuations in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores between visits. Methods We performed a randomized controlled trial to compare the scores obtained by standard practice (paper-based measurements in the hospital) to scores by continuous measurement of ePRO at home. Metastatic cancer patients were randomly assigned to either the paper-based ( n = 50) or the ePRO group ( n = 52). EQ-5D-5L and EORTC QLQ C-30 scores were obtained on 3 different chemotherapy days in the paper-based group. Meanwhile, scores were obtained on the chemotherapy day and on days 3, 7, 10, and 14 in the ePRO group during 2 cycles. The first hypothesis of our study was that both scores at the same time points would be equivalent despite different measurement frequency, place, or mode of measurement. The second hypothesis was that PRO score–adjusted time would be different between the groups. For equivalence, the endpoint was the mean EQ-5D-5L index value on the chemotherapy day before the outpatient treatment. Only if equivalence was shown, quality-adjusted life-days (QALDs) were considered using all the data. Results The adjusted mean difference in the EQ-5D-5L index was determined to be −0.013 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.049 to 0.022); the 95% CI did not exceed the equivalence margin. Similarly, the mean difference in global health status (2.28 [95% CI: −2.55 to 7.11]) also showed equivalence. However, the QALD by EQ-5D-5L was significantly lower in the ePRO group by 1.36 per 30 d (95% CI: −2.22 to −0.51; P = 0.0021). Conclusions Continual measurements of the HRQOL at home by ePRO may yield more detailed profiles of the HRQOL.
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- 2022
9. In-situ joule heating-triggered nanopores generation in laser-induced graphene papers for capacitive enhancement
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Fu Liu, Guantao Wang, Meihong He, Yanan Wang, Yuxiang Zhu, and Sida Luo
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Fabrication ,Materials science ,business.industry ,Graphene ,Capacitive sensing ,General Chemistry ,Capacitance ,law.invention ,Nanopore ,Amorphous carbon ,law ,Optoelectronics ,General Materials Science ,business ,Joule heating ,Graphene oxide paper - Abstract
Laser-induced graphene (LIG) technology featuring low-cost, high-efficiency and scalability has presented great advantages in micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) fabrication. However, the limited capacitance of LIG based MSCs is still hindering their further development. Herein, we introduce joule heating as a critical in-situ treatment merged with the assembly of laser-induced graphene paper based MSCs (LIGP-MSCs) toward capacitive enhancement. By increasing heating-treatment temperature from ∼20 to 500 °C, the number of nanopores in LIGP continuously increases, attributed to the gradual decomposition of amorphous carbon components. The resulting joule-heated LIGP (J-LIGP) with improved specific surface area (160.97–533.49 m2/g) and pore volume (0.179–0.553 cm3/g) as well as superhydrophilic surface is highly suitable to be employed as J-LIGP-MSCs microelectrodes. By investigating process dependent performance, the J-LIGP-MSCs heated at 500 °C for 60 min delivers a significantly improved specific areal capacitance (CA) of 13.71 mF/cm2 at 10 mV/s, which is approximately six-fold higher than that of unheated LIGP-MSCs. By further exploring and optimizing the process efficiency, J-LIGP-MSCs with a CA of 12.61 mF/cm2 has been achieved by 550 °C heating for only 5 min. Along with superior mechanical flexibility, cyclability and structural modularity, the proposed in-situ joule heating treatment is finally proved to be a universal approach for consistently enhancing the CA of LIG based MSCs processed under various chemical modifications.
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- 2022
10. White paper on antimicrobial stewardship in solid organ transplant recipients
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Deborah Levine, Michael Spinner, Margaret R. Jorgenson, Jennifer Pisano, Dilek Ince, Helen S. Te, Sarah Kabbani, Miranda So, Stephanie M Pouch, Gopi Patel, Darshana Dadhania, Elizabeth C. Verna, Shahid Husain, Jonathan Hand, Linda Ohler, Graeme Forrest, Erika D. Lease, Lilian M. Abbo, Monica I. Ardura, Rachel Bartash, and Jeffrey D. Edelman
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Transplantation ,medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Risk of infection ,MEDLINE ,Immunosuppression ,Organ Transplantation ,Tissue Donors ,Transplant Recipients ,United States ,Article ,Anti-Bacterial Agents ,Antimicrobial Stewardship ,White paper ,medicine ,Humans ,Immunology and Allergy ,Antimicrobial stewardship ,Pharmacology (medical) ,Stewardship ,Antibiotic prophylaxis ,Solid organ transplantation ,Intensive care medicine ,business - Abstract
Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) have made immense strides in optimizing antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral use in clinical settings. However, although ASPs are required institutionally by regulatory agencies in the United States and Canada, they are not mandated for transplant centers or programs specifically. Despite the fact that solid organ transplant recipients in particular are at increased risk of infections from multidrug-resistant organisms, due to host and donor factors and immunosuppressive therapy, there currently are little rigorous data regarding stewardship practices in solid organ transplant populations, and thus, no transplant-specific requirements currently exist. Further complicating matters, transplant patients have a wide range of variability regarding their susceptibility to infection, as factors such as surgery of transplant, intensity of immunosuppression, and presence of drains or catheters in situ may modify the risk of infection. As such, it is not feasible to have a “one-size-fits-all” style of stewardship for this patient population. The objective of this white paper is to identify opportunities, risk factors, and ASP strategies that should be assessed with solid organ transplant recipients to optimize antimicrobial use, while producing an overall improvement in patient outcomes. We hope it may serve as a springboard for development of future guidance and identification of research opportunities.
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- 2022
11. Pulp and paper industry in energy transition: Towards energy-efficient and low carbon operation in Finland and Sweden
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Satu Lipiäinen, Ekaterina Sermyagina, Esa Vakkilainen, and Katja Kuparinen
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Environmental Engineering ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,business.industry ,020209 energy ,Fossil fuel ,02 engineering and technology ,Energy security ,Energy consumption ,010501 environmental sciences ,Energy transition ,Pulp and paper industry ,7. Clean energy ,01 natural sciences ,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,Renewable energy ,Climate change mitigation ,13. Climate action ,Biofuel ,8. Economic growth ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,Environmental Chemistry ,Environmental science ,business ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Efficient energy use - Abstract
Mitigation of global warming, energy security and industrial competitiveness urge the energy-intensive pulp and paper industry (PPI) to transform energy use practices. This study investigates how the PPI has responded to the need for the energy transition in the 2000s. Finland and Sweden as forerunners of energy-efficient operation and decarbonization of the PPI are used as target countries. Understanding of changes in energy consumption is complemented using decomposition analysis (Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index Method) and the energy efficiency index approach. Analysis of companies’ investments in energy technologies is used for explaining changes in energy production. Evidence of significant development towards the more sustainable operation of the PPI was found. Energy consumption per produced unit has decreased, i.e., energy efficiency has improved. Fossil fuels have been partially replaced with bio-based alternatives. Thus, the CO2 intensity has decreased substantially. The generation of renewable electricity has increased in both countries. Examples of Finland and Sweden indicate that the PPI has great potential to contribute to CO2 emission reduction worldwide in the future as energy efficiency can be further improved, and the share of fossil fuels can be decreased increasing the use of biofuels and self-generated green electricity at least in kraft pulp mills.
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- 2022
12. Application of spruce wood flour as a cellulosic-based wood additive for recycled paper applications— A pilot paper machine study
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Sandro Zier and Klaus Dölle
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Paper machine ,business.product_category ,Cellulosic ethanol ,Mechanical Engineering ,General Chemical Engineering ,Media Technology ,Environmental science ,General Materials Science ,Wood flour ,General Chemistry ,business ,Pulp and paper industry - Abstract
This study gives a first insight into the use of wood flour as a plant-based and cellulosic-based alter-native additive for newsprint and paperboard production using 100% recycled fibers as a raw material. The study compares four varieties of a spruce wood flour product serving as cellulosic-based additives at addition rates of 2%, 4%, and 6% during operation of a 12-in. laboratory pilot paper machine. Strength properties of the produced newsprint and linerboard products were analyzed. Results suggested that spruce wood flour as a cellulosic-based additive represents a promising approach for improving physical properties of paper and linerboard products made from 100% recycled fiber content. This study shows that wood flour pretreated with a plant-based polysaccharide and untreated spruce wood flour product with a particle size range of 20 μm to 40 μm and 40 μm to 70 μm can increase the bulk and tensile properties in newsprint and linerboard applications.
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- 2021
13. The palliative clinical specialist radiation therapist: A CAMRT White Paper
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Nicole Harnett, Natalie Rozanec, and Carrie Lavergne
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Radiological and Ultrasound Technology ,Palliative Radiation Therapy ,business.industry ,Radiation Therapist ,media_common.quotation_subject ,medicine.medical_treatment ,food and beverages ,Cancer ,medicine.disease ,Radiation therapy ,White paper ,Health care ,medicine ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Quality (business) ,Incurable cancer ,Intensive care medicine ,business ,media_common - Abstract
Palliative radiation therapy (pRT) is an effective tool for people with incurable cancer, in the treatment of many cancer-related symptoms such as pain, bleeding and dyspnea. As utilization rates for palliative radiation therapy increase, the demands on the healthcare system continue to grow. Radiation Therapists with advanced knowledge, skills and judgements began demonstrating their ability to practice autonomously in 2004, with the development of the Clinical Specialist Radiation Therapist (CSRT) role. Since this time, CSRTs with a specific focus in pRT (pCSRT) have been increasing in both numbers as well as their positive effects on the cancer care system. Integrating a pCSRT into the existing pRT system has resulted in increased access to and quality of pRT being delivered to palliative cancer patients. The benefits of the addition of pCSRTs to the cancer care system include increasing system capacity and increasing quality of care. This white paper provides information related to the improvements that can be realized in a RT program related to the care and treatment of its palliative patients by adding a pCSRT to the interprofessional healthcare team and suggest it as one of many strategies that can be undertaken to make improvements to access and quality of care.
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- 2021
14. Diagnostic approach to neonatal and infantile cholestasis: A position paper by the SIGENP liver disease working group
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Maurizio Fuoti, Mara Cananzi, Giulia Paolella, Manila Candusso, Paola Francalanci, Lidia Monti, Emanuele Nicastro, Lorenzo D'Antiga, Carlo Dionisi Vici, Michele Pinon, Lorenza Matarazzo, Irene Degrassi, P. Gaio, Angelo Di Giorgio, Giusy Ranucci, Pier Luigi Calvo, Giuseppe Indolfi, Claudia Mandato, Fabio Mosca, Pietro Vajro, Maria Pia Bondioni, Maria Iascone, Maria Grazia Clemente, Federica Nuti, Marco Sciveres, Jean de Ville de Goyet, Claudia Della Corte, Marco Spada, Chiara Grimaldi, Federica Ferrari, Gabriella Nebbia, Giuseppe Maggiore, Fabio Fusaro, Daniele Serranti, Daniele Alberti, Fabiola Di Dato, Paola Roggero, Raffaele Iorio, and Giovanni Boroni
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Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Genetic liver disease ,Alagille syndrome ,Biliary atresia ,Diagnosis ,Inborn errors of metabolism ,Jaundice ,Monogenic liver disease ,Newborn ,Female ,Gastroenterology ,Humans ,Infant ,Infant, Newborn ,Cholestasis ,Evidence-Based Medicine ,Infant, Newborn, Diseases ,Practice Guidelines as Topic ,Diseases ,Disease ,Liver disease ,Epidemiology ,medicine ,Intensive care medicine ,Hepatology ,business.industry ,medicine.disease ,Etiology ,Position paper ,medicine.symptom ,business - Abstract
Neonatal and infantile cholestasis (NIC) can represent the onset of a surgically correctable disease and of a genetic or metabolic disorder worthy of medical treatment. Timely recognition of NIC and identification of the underlying etiology are paramount to improve outcomes. Upon invitation by the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), an expert working grouped was formed to formulate evidence-based positions on current knowledge about the diagnosis of NIC. A systematic literature search was conducted to collect evidence about epidemiology, etiology, clinical aspects and accuracy of available diagnostic tests in NIC. Evidence was scored using the GRADE system. All recommendations were approved by a panel of experts upon agreement of at least 75% of the members. The final document was approved by all the panel components. This position document summarizes the collected statements and defines the best-evidence diagnostic approach to cholestasis in the first year of life.
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- 2022
15. How Different Carryover Pitch Extractive Components are Affecting Kraft Paper Strength
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Jussi Antero Lahti, Roman Poschner, Andrea Hochegger, Ulrich Hirn, Stefan Spirk, Werner Schlemmer, and Erich Leitner
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Softwood ,business.industry ,Chemistry ,Starch ,General Chemical Engineering ,Papermaking ,Pulp (paper) ,Paper mill ,General Chemistry ,engineering.material ,Pulp and paper industry ,Article ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Kraft process ,engineering ,business ,QD1-999 ,Kraft paper ,Unsaturated fatty acid - Abstract
We present how harmful different wood extractives carried over to paper mill with unbleached softwood Kraft pulp are for the strength of packaging papers and boards. The investigations were done by simulating industrial papermaking conditions in laboratory-scale trials for handsheet production. It was found that fatty acids are the most relevant compounds in the carryover pitch extractives (CPEs), as they readily interfere in fiber–fiber bonding strength, control the properties of CPE micelles, and are furthermore the most abundant compounds. Addition of cationic starch improved strength and evened out the strength differences of handsheets with different CPE compounds. Oleic acid (unsaturated fatty acid) was an exception, as it was above average harmful for paper strength without cationic starch and also heavily impaired the functioning of cationic starch. As a whole, these findings demonstrate that fatty acids, especially unsaturated ones, are the most relevant CPE compounds contributing to the reduced efficiency of cationic starch and decreased strength of unbleached softwood Kraft paper. This makes the cleaning of process waters by precipitating CPEs on the pulp fibers harmful for paper strength.
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- 2021
16. Optimization of biodegradable paper cup packaging coated with whey protein isolate and rice bran wax as potential popcorn package
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Majid Javanmard Dakheli, Sedigheh Ganjizadeh Zavareh, and Behjat Tajeddin
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business.product_category ,Materials science ,biology ,Nutrition. Foods and food supply ,RSM ,food and beverages ,coating ,Paper cup ,engineering.material ,Whey protein isolate ,Coating ,engineering ,biology.protein ,TX341-641 ,Food science ,sense organs ,Rice bran wax ,business ,WVTR ,paper cup ,snacks ,Food Science ,Original Research - Abstract
Biodegradable paper cups coated with rice bran wax and whey protein isolate were designed to package popcorn. Coatings with different concentrations of whey protein isolate (5.5, 7.75, and 10% w/v) and rice bran wax (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% w/v) were applied on the outer surface of the paper cups. Thickness, color changes, Young's modulus and tensile strength, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the coated and uncoated cups, and also popcorns properties (pH, texture, and sensory properties) were evaluated. Water vapor transmission rate, Young's modulus, thickness, total color change index, and tensile strength of coated cups with the optimal coating formulation was 19.785 (g/m2 day), 11.810 (MPa), 276.583 (µm), 1.839, and 11.222 (MPa), respectively. The results showed that paper cup coating increased thickness and yellowness and reduced the brightness, Young's modulus, and WVTR. Coating had a positive effect on the pH and texture of popcorns packaged in coated cups than samples packed in uncoated cups (p, Biodegradable packaging is one of the best types of packaging that wishes not to harm the environment. Paper packaging coated with materials, such as rice bran wax and whey protein isolate, both of which are food waste, can improve paper color and resistance, and provide a good moisture barrier. This type of coating can be used in paper packaging of food such as snacks, noodle packaging, semi‐prepared foods, etc. This type of packaging can also maintain the physicochemical and sensory properties of food for a long time. Also, due to the edible nature of this type of coating, this coating can be used inside the package so that the printability of the packaging surface is not affected.
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- 2021
17. A new reinforcement method for the conservation of fragile, double-sided, printed paper cultural relics
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Zhihui Jia, Xiaolian Chao, Yuhu Li, Huiping Xing, Juanli Wang, Liu Jiaojiao, and Jing Cao
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Archeology ,Restoration and reinforcement ,QD71-142 ,Fine Arts ,business.industry ,Conservation ,Structural engineering ,Cotton mesh ,Durability ,Cultural heritage ,Double-sided printing ,Paper cultural relics ,Japanese washi paper ,Washi ,business ,Mesh reinforcement ,Reinforcement ,Analytical chemistry - Abstract
Paper cultural relics such as double-sided printed newspapers and periodicals represent modern cultural heritage. Severe damage such as embrittlement, decay, and dreg generally occur to paper; hence, it urgently needs conservation and restoration. Therefore, herein, a new reinforcement method for the fragile double-sided printed paper cultural relics is proposed with cotton mesh and adhesive PVA217 as reinforcement materials. Using a computer measured and controlled folding endurance tester, a pendulum tensile strength tester, pH meter, pulp viscosimeter, and other instruments, the physical properties of newspaper samples before and after aging were evaluated. In addition, the mechanical properties, chromatic aberration and surface morphology of simulated samples before and after the cotton mesh reinforcement and Japanese washi paper reinforcement were assessed. The experimental results indicate that this new reinforcement method could effectively improve the physical strength, chromatic aberration and durability of the simulated samples. Widespread applications of this cotton mesh reinforcement method for the reinforcement and protection of the red revolutionary cultural relics such as double-sided printed newspaper and periodicals during the Republic of China era are foreseeable.
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- 2021
18. Eucalyptus Pulp Fibers with In-Situ Precipitated Calcium Carbonate – A 12-Inch Laboratory Paper Machine Study
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Bardhyl Bajrami and Klaus Dölle
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In situ ,Materials science ,business.product_category ,Pulp (paper) ,engineering.material ,Pulp and paper industry ,Eucalyptus ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Calcium carbonate ,Paper machine ,chemistry ,Filler (materials) ,engineering ,Precipitated calcium carbonate ,business ,Refining (metallurgy) - Abstract
Paper manufacturing on a global scale is a highly competitive market which requires to constantly improve the manufacturing process to be competitive. To decrease production cost paper manufactures, add filler material prior to sheet forming to replace costly wood fiber based raw material. This research project investigates the use of in-situ precipitated calcium carbonate produced in the presence of eucalyptus fiber material at a 41.0% filler level prior to beating. The in-situ filler containing eucalyptus fiber suspension was used on a 12’ (304mm) wide Laboratory Fourdrinier Paper Machine together with non-filler containing eucalyptus fiber material, and a commercial precipitated calcium carbonate filler material. The manufactured in-situ fiber suspension resulted in a higher ash retention compared to the addition of the powdered commercial PCC filler material. In addition to commercial filler material retention is improved at higher filler addition above 30%. The increased ash retention is linked to the increased micro fibrillation fiber material of the in-situ filler-fiber suspension forming neckless like particles on the fibers microfibrils. Mechanical paper properties showed an improvement for in-situ precipitated filler material compared to commercial filler material addition. Optical properties could be improved in comparison to the eucalyptus fiber without filler addition for in-situ precipitated filler material and a combination of in-situ and commercial filler material.
- Published
- 2021
19. Cash Holdings, Commercial Paper and Liquidity
- Author
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Kelly Oniha
- Subjects
Commercial paper ,Cash holdings ,Business ,Monetary economics ,Market liquidity - Abstract
Managing Liquidity has seldom been being as vital as it has during the Covid-19 era. The financial impact of Covid-19 has left many firms on the brink of liquidation. This paper explores the effect cash holdings has had on Profitability of the firm and how it compares with commercial paper between the pre-Covid-19 era and the Covid-19 era. This paper employs and compares the ordinary least square regression between these eras. I find that firms are less liquid during the Covid-19 period compared to the pre-covid period. More importantly, I find that Liquidity has been more critical to a firm's Profitability during Covid-19 era compared to pre-covid 19 periods. Furthermore, Cash holdings represent a significant chunk of Liquidity. However, these Cash holdings dropped by a little in the covid-19 era. Finally, I find that both commercial paper and cash holdings are used as complements. However, this result is weakly supported during the pre-covid period.
- Published
- 2021
20. Energy efficiency challenges in pulp and paper manufacturing: A tutorial review
- Author
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Martin A. Hubbe
- Subjects
Exergy ,Environmental Engineering ,business.industry ,Computer science ,Pulp (paper) ,Bioengineering ,engineering.material ,Product (business) ,Cellulosic ethanol ,Process integration ,Pinch analysis ,engineering ,Electricity ,Process engineering ,business ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Efficient energy use - Abstract
The pulp and paper industry is highly energy-intensive. In mills that use chemical pulping, roughly half of the higher heating value of the cellulosic material used to manufacture the product typically is incinerated to generate steam and electricity that is needed to run the processes. Additional energy, much of it non-renewable, needs to be purchased. This review considers publications describing steps that pulp and paper facilities can take to operate more efficiently. Savings can be achieved, for instance, by minimizing unnecessary losses in exergy, which can be defined as the energy content relative to a standard ambient condition. Throughout the long series of unit operations comprising the conversion of wood material to sheets of paper, there are large opportunities to more closely approach a hypothetical ideal performance by following established best-practices.
- Published
- 2021
21. Quantitative assessment of AD markers using naked eyes: point-of-care testing with paper-based lateral flow immunoassay
- Author
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Liding Zhang, Xiaohan Liang, Yanqing Li, Haiming Luo, Xuewei Du, Shiqi Niu, and Ying Su
- Subjects
Paper ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Gold nanoparticle ,medicine.drug_class ,Point-of-care testing ,Biomedical Engineering ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Bioengineering ,Monoclonal antibody ,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology ,Mice ,Cerebrospinal fluid ,Alzheimer Disease ,Limit of Detection ,medicine ,Quantitative assessment ,Medical technology ,Animals ,Humans ,R855-855.5 ,Immunoassay ,Amyloid beta-Peptides ,business.industry ,Aβ42 monomer ,Research ,Antibodies, Monoclonal ,Paper based ,Aβ42 oligomer ,Peptide Fragments ,Visual detection ,Blood ,Point-of-Care Testing ,Elisa test ,Paper-based lateral flow immunoassay ,Magnetic nanoparticles ,Molecular Medicine ,business ,Alzheimer’s disease ,Biomarkers ,TP248.13-248.65 ,Lateral flow immunoassay ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Aβ42 is one of the most extensively studied blood and Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for the diagnosis of symptomatic and prodromal Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Because of the heterogeneity and transient nature of Aβ42 oligomers (Aβ42Os), the development of technologies for dynamically detecting changes in the blood or CSF levels of Aβ42 monomers (Aβ42Ms) and Aβ42Os is essential for the accurate diagnosis of AD. The currently commonly used Aβ42 ELISA test kits usually mis-detected the elevated Aβ42Os, leading to incomplete analysis and underestimation of soluble Aβ42, resulting in a comprised performance in AD diagnosis. Herein, we developed a dual-target lateral flow immunoassay (dLFI) using anti-Aβ42 monoclonal antibodies 1F12 and 2C6 for the rapid and point-of-care detection of Aβ42Ms and Aβ42Os in blood samples within 30 min for AD diagnosis. By naked eye observation, the visual detection limit of Aβ42Ms or/and Aβ42Os in dLFI was 154 pg/mL. The test results for dLFI were similar to those observed in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Therefore, this paper-based dLFI provides a practical and rapid method for the on-site detection of two biomarkers in blood or CSF samples without the need for additional expertise or equipment. Graphical Abstract
- Published
- 2021
22. Importance of public‐private partnerships for nutrition support research: An ASPEN Position Paper
- Author
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Van S. Hubbard, Elizabeth J. Dye, Faith Ottery, Mary E. Russell, Seema Kumbhat, Allison Blackmer, Charles M. Mueller, Justine M. Turner, Sandra Wolfe Citty, Satya Jonnalagadda, Yimin Chen, Wes Cetnarowski, Gordon S. Sacks, and Krysmaru Araujo Torres
- Subjects
Adult ,Parenteral Nutrition ,Government ,Nutrition and Dietetics ,business.industry ,Research ,Conflict of interest ,Infant ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Public relations ,Public-Private Sector Partnerships ,Transparency (behavior) ,United States ,Public–private partnership ,Enteral Nutrition ,Parenteral nutrition ,Development studies ,Public trust ,Humans ,Position paper ,Child ,business ,health care economics and organizations - Abstract
Parenteral and enteral nutrition support are key components of care for various medical and physiological conditions in infants, children, and adults. Nutrition support practices have advanced over time, driven by the goals of safe and sufficient delivery of needed nutrients and improved patient outcomes. These advances have been, and continue to be, dependent on research and development studies. Such studies address aspects of enteral and parenteral nutrition support: formulations, delivery devices, health outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and related metabolism. The studies are supported by public funding from the government and by private funding from foundations and from the nutrition support industry. To build public trust in nutrition support research findings, it is important to underscore ethical research conduct and reporting of results for all studies, including those with industry sponsors. In 2019, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition's (ASPEN's) Board of Directors established a task force to ensure integrity in nutrition support research that is done as collaborative partnerships between the public (government and individuals) and private groups (foundations, academia, and industry). In this ASPEN Position Paper, the Task Force presents principles of ethical research to guide administrators, researchers, and funders. The Task Force identifies ways to curtail bias and to minimize actual or perceived conflict of interests, as related to funding sources and research conduct. Notably, this paper includes a Position Statement to describe the Task Force's guidance on Public-Private Partnerships for research and funding. This paper has been approved by the ASPEN Board of Directors.
- Published
- 2021
23. Ireland's White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Support Service (2021) and the ‘sticky’ discourse of control
- Author
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Liam Coakley
- Subjects
Service (business) ,Direct Provision ,Government ,White paper ,Control (management) ,General Social Sciences ,Business ,Plan (drawing) ,Public administration - Abstract
The Government of Ireland has published its plan to reorder the infrastructure it uses to accommodate and support migrants seeking International Protection (IP) in Ireland. This policy document - entitled The White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Support Service - was published on 26th February, 2021. The White Paper proposes to replace Ireland's current but discredited system with a new IP accommodation and support process – to be entitled Ireland's International Protection Support Service. This new system is intended to “treat all applicants to the process with dignity and respect” (Government of Ireland, 2021: 7). Dissonances exist, however. The discursive framing of the IPSS and the spatialities inherent in the proposals suggest a potential rearticulation of state control rather that a diminution of same. I turn to the work of scholars inspired by Giorgio Agamben to help situate the spatialities of this shift, and suggest that the current ‘white paper’ should simply be seen as a mechanism deployed the Government of Ireland to ensure that its bio-political command and control processes can migrate from the spatially-defined set of control environments currently in effect to a diffuse construction of a spatially networked series of deterritorialised indistinctions.
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- 2021
24. Vaccination against COVID-19 for patients with primary immunodeficiency and hereditary angioedema: the position paper of the Russian Association of Allergology, Clinical Immunology, and the National Association of Experts in Primary Immunodeficiencies
- Author
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Elena A. Latysheva, Anna Shcherbina, Tatiana V. Latysheva, Musa R. Khaitov, Daria Fomina, Natalya I. Ilyina, Evgeniya V. Nazarova, Irina Kondratenko, and Irina A. Manto
- Subjects
Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Angioedema ,business.industry ,Context (language use) ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,medicine.disease_cause ,Vaccination ,Hereditary angioedema ,Pandemic ,Primary immunodeficiency ,Medicine ,Position paper ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Coronavirus - Abstract
Since the end of 2019, the whole world has been seized by the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus. To date, the infection has led to more than 4 million deaths worldwide, and to more than 140 thousand deaths in Russia. COVID-19 (abbreviation for COronaVIrus Disease 2019) is a potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Vaccination against COVID-19 plays a key role in stopping the pandemic. According to existing experience in infections prevention, mass vaccination will reduce the virus’s expansion and the risk of vaccine-resistant strains’ development. In the context of the COVID-19 the question of the feasibility and safety of vaccination of patients with Primary Immunodeficiency and Hereditary Angioedema arises. The Russian Association of Allergists and Clinical Immunologists and the National Association of Experts in Primary Immunodeficiencies have developed and approved a position paper on vaccination of patients with Primary Immunodeficiency and Hereditary Angioedema against COVID-19. This position paper provides answers to key questions regarding the vaccination of patients with these diseases.
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- 2021
25. Migrant workers occupational health research: an OMEGA-NET working group position paper
- Author
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Damien McElvenny, Mario Marinov, Evangelia Nena, Valentina Milenkova, Bertina Kreshpaj, Lode Godderis, Barbara Bergbom, Deborah Catherine Glass, Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum, Dana Mates, and Emine Aktas
- Subjects
MIGRATION ,Ethnic group ,Working conditions ,Review Article ,Migrant workers ,Occupational safety and health ,Health care ,Humans ,Sociology ,Work-related health ,Occupations ,Public, Environmental & Occupational Health ,RISK ,Transients and Migrants ,Science & Technology ,Occupational health ,business.industry ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,COVID-19 ,Study design ,social sciences ,Native workers ,female genital diseases and pregnancy complications ,PREVALENCE ,PRECARIAT ,Systematic review ,IMMIGRANT WORKERS ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Work (electrical) ,behavior and behavior mechanisms ,Position paper ,population characteristics ,Demographic economics ,business ,Life Sciences & Biomedicine ,MENTAL-HEALTH ,geographic locations ,Qualitative research ,Cohort study - Abstract
Objective The aims of the study were: (1) to clarify the definitions of “migrant” used in occupational health research; (2) to summarize migrant workers’ industry sectors, occupations and employment conditions; (3) to identify the occupational health and safety services available to migrant workers; (4) to summarize work-related health problems found among migrant workers; (5) to identify the methodological challenges to research into occupational health of migrant workers; and (6) to recommend improvements in migrant occupational health research. Methods This position paper was prepared by researchers from several European countries and Australia, working within the EU COST Action OMEGA-NET. The paper drew on two recent systematic reviews on the occupational health of international migrant workers and other literature, and also identified uncertainties and gaps in the research literature. Migrants may, for example, be temporary or permanent, moving for specific jobs migrants or other reasons. Their ethnicity and language capabilities will affect their work opportunities. Results The occupational health literature seldom adequately identifies the heterogeneity or characteristics of the migrant group being studied. Migrants tend to work in more physically and mentally demanding environments with higher exposures than native workers. Migrants tend to have an increased risk of physical and mental ill health, but less access to health care services. This has been demonstrated recently by high rates of COVID-19 and less access to health care. There have been a number of cross-sectional studies of migrant health but few long-term cohort studies were identified. Other study designs, such as registry-based studies, surveys and qualitative studies may complement cross-sectional studies. Mixed-methodology studies would be valuable in research on migrants’ occupational health. Language and lack of trust are barriers to migrant research participation. Conclusion Targeted research, especially longitudinal, identifying how these economically important but often-vulnerable workers can be best assisted is needed. Researchers should identify the characteristics of the migrant workers that they are studying including visa/migration circumstances (temporary, permanent, undocumented), racial and ethnic characteristics, existing skills and language abilities.
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- 2021
26. The Circular Economy: An Exploratory Case Study from the Paper and Retail Industries
- Author
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Daphne Comfort and Peter Jones
- Subjects
Consumption (economics) ,Enthusiasm ,Product design ,Circular economy ,Economic sector ,media_common.quotation_subject ,circular economy ,General Medicine ,retail industry ,economic growth ,greenwash ,ComputingMilieux_GENERAL ,Politics ,case study ,Regional economics. Space in economics ,paper industry ,Work (electrical) ,HF5001_Business ,HT388 ,Production (economics) ,Business ,Industrial organization ,media_common - Abstract
Recent decades have witnessed increasing interest in the concept of the circular economy within both the business world and political circles. The circular economy spans the entire life cycle of products from product design through production, marketing, and consumption, to waste management, recycling, and re-use, and enthusiasm for putting the concept into practice has been identified across different sectors of the economy. This exploratory case study reviews how some of the leading companies in the paper and retail industries, have publicly addressed the circular economy. The case study outlines the nature of the circular economy, provides a cameo literature review of published work on the circular economy, describes the approach adopted for the case study, reports the findings of the review of how the leading companies in the paper and retail industries have addressed the circular economy, and discusses some wider issues. Keywords: circular economy, case study, paper industry, retail industry, greenwash, economic growth
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- 2021
27. DYNAMICS OF THE BACTERIOPLANKTON STATE IN THE SHCHUCHIY BAY OF LAKE LADOGA AFTER THE CLOSURE OF THE PRIOZERSKY PULP AND PAPER MILL
- Author
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L. L. Kapustina, G. G. Mitrukova, and E. A. Kurashov
- Subjects
Hydrology ,Ecology ,business.industry ,Pulp (paper) ,Closure (topology) ,Paper mill ,Bacterioplankton ,engineering.material ,engineering ,Environmental science ,business ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Bay ,Water Science and Technology - Abstract
Introduction. The Shchuchiy Bay is located in the western part of the skerry area of Lake Ladoga near the town of Priozersk. For almost 20 years, the bay has experienced an anthropogenic impact from the ingress of untreated wastewater from the Priozersk Pulp and Paper Mill (PPM). Systematic microbiological studies of the Shchuchiy Bay ecosystem were started in the middle of the 1970s by the Institute of Limnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and continued after the PPM closure in 1986. Materials and methods. The ecosystem of the bay was studied in detail during the growing season of 2013–2014; periodic studies were carried out in 2015–2018. Retrospective data were also used for the analysis. Water samples were taken at four stations from the surface horizon. The following microbiological indicators were determined: the abundance of bacterioplankton and the percentages of various morphological types of bacterial cells. Results and discussion. A comparison of the quantitative level of development of the bacterial community in the bay in different periods showed a gradual decrease in the abundance of bacterioplankton as the anthropogenic impact weakened after the closure of the Priozersky PPM from 12.40 million cells ml–1 in 1987 to an average value of 2.62±1.03 million cells ml–1 in 2013–2018. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of bacteria and water temperature. The percentage of rod-shaped microorganisms in the water of the bay also decreased as the anthropogenic impact weakened from 73.4 % in 1987 to 53.1±7.6 % in 2013–2018, which indicated an improvement in water quality. Conclusion. A stable decrease in the abundance of bacteria from the level characteristic of highly polluted and eutrophic water bodies to the level characteristic of mesotrophic and mesotrophic-eutrophic water bodies is a reliable criterion for the restoration of the ecosystem of the Shchuchiy Bay to the state characteristic of similar bays of Lake Ladoga.
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- 2021
28. Performance of Modified Anaerobic Hybrid Baffled (MAHB) bioreactor treating recycled paper mill effluent: Effects of organic loading rates
- Author
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Siti Roshayu Hassan and Irvan Dahlan
- Subjects
business.industry ,Bioreactor ,Environmental science ,Paper mill ,business ,Pulp and paper industry ,Anaerobic exercise ,Effluent - Abstract
The performance of modified anaerobic hybrid baffled (MAHB) bioreactor treating recycled paper mill effluent (RPME) was investigated at various organic loading rates (OLR) of 1, 2, 3 and 4 g COD/ L.day. The bioreactor was operated continuously at constant hydraulic retention time (HRT) of a day without effluent recycled and chemicals adjustment/addition. Throughout 70 days of operation, a maximum removal efficiency up to 97% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 98% of volatile fatty acid, biogas production of 12.51 L/day equivalent to methane (CH4) yield of 0.108L CH4/ g COD and a stable pH system between 6.6 to 7.2 were achieved. Additionally, alkalinity of the bioreactor system shows a stable profile that indicates the whole system was well buffered with a quit high degradation of volatile solid (VS) up to 18%. These results indicated that MAHB bioreactor has been successfully treated RPME at various OLR.
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- 2021
29. Cr2O3–TiO2-Modified Filter Paper-Based Portable Nanosensors for Optical and Colorimetric Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide
- Author
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Sohail Nadeem, Yaqeen Ali, Muhammad Yaqoob Javed, Akhtar Hayat, Sidra Rashid, Sundas Jamil, and Muhammad Nasir
- Subjects
Detection limit ,Materials science ,Filter paper ,business.industry ,General Chemical Engineering ,General Chemistry ,Article ,Matrix (chemical analysis) ,Chemistry ,Transducer ,Linear range ,Nanosensor ,Figure of merit ,RGB color model ,Optoelectronics ,business ,QD1-999 - Abstract
In the present approach, a Cr2O3-TiO2-modified, portable, and biomimetic nanosensor was designed to meet the requirement of a robust and colorimetric sensing of hydrogen peroxide. Cr2O3-TiO2 nanocomposites prepared via the hydrothermal method were fabricated as a transducer surface on the filter paper using the sol-gel matrix. The color on the filter paper sensor changed from green to blue upon the addition of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of TMB. This change in the color intensity was linear with the concentration of H2O2. RGB software was used as a color analyzing model to evaluate the optical signals. This paper-based colorimetric platform provided us with an improved analytical figure of merit with a linear range of 0.005-100 μM with 0.003 μM limit of detection. The real sample analysis and excellent anti-interference potential results proved the good analytical performance of the proposed design, providing a more promising tool for colorimetric H2O2 detection. Introducing Cr2O3-TiO2 nanocomposite-based paper sensors, being a novel method for optical and colorimetric detection, can pave the way for the development of other sensing devices for the detection of different analytes.
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- 2021
30. Recommendations for photoprotection of parenteral nutrition for premature infants: An ASPEN position paper
- Author
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Austin Michalski, Liliia Gutsul, Phil Ayers, Gordon S. Sacks, Daniel T. Robinson, Barbara Fleming, Beverly Holcombe, and Kathleen M. Gura
- Subjects
Parenteral Nutrition ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Infant, Premature, Diseases ,Health outcomes ,Patient safety ,Enteral Nutrition ,medicine ,Humans ,Child ,Intensive care medicine ,Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ,Nutrition and Dietetics ,business.industry ,Infant, Newborn ,Infant ,Retinopathy of prematurity ,medicine.disease ,United States ,Parenteral nutrition ,Bronchopulmonary dysplasia ,Photoprotection ,Necrotizing enterocolitis ,Position paper ,business ,Infant, Premature - Abstract
Although crucial in improving health outcomes in the preterm infants, parenteral nutrition (PN) is not without risk, especially if handled improperly. A growing body of evidence suggests that components of PN admixtures, including lipid injectable emulsions (ILEs), are susceptible to degradation, including oxidation when exposed to light (ie, photo-oxidation), resulting in the production of reactive oxygen species. Infants, especially those born preterm, are considered more susceptible to consequences of oxidative stress than children and adults. Oxidative stress is associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, and intestinal failure-associated liver disease. The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) assembled a working group to provide recommendations on clinical practice surrounding photoprotection of PN.This Position Paper reviews the scientific literature on the formation of quantifiable peroxides and other degradation products when PN admixtures and ILEs are exposed to light and reports adverse clinical outcomes in premature infants exposed to PN. Recommendations for photoprotection of PN admixtures and ILEs are provided, as well as the challenges in achieving complete photoprotection with the equipment, supplies, and materials currently available in the US. ASPEN and the authors understand that the full implementation of complete photoprotection may not currently be feasible given current product availability; recommendations provided in this paper serve to represent the goal to which to strive as well as to highlight the importance of product availability to achieve these practices. This paper has been approved by the ASPEN Board of Directors.
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- 2021
31. Water Quality Assessment of Paper Mills Effluent Discharge Areas
- Author
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Md. Shakilur Zaman Shakil and M. G. Mostafa
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Pollution ,business.industry ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Aquatic ecosystem ,General Engineering ,Environmental engineering ,Paper mill ,Bioaccumulation ,Environmental science ,Water quality ,business ,Effluent ,Surface water ,Groundwater ,media_common - Abstract
The study attempted to assess the water quality around paper mill effluents discharge areas. Several physicochemical parameters and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality Index (WQI) were considered to determine the pollution level of surface and groundwater in the selected paper mills areas located in Saidpur, Gobindaganj, and Dupchanchia Upazilas of Bangladesh. Physicochemical characterization of the surface water around the paper mills areas showed that the concentration of EC, TSS, BOD5, COD, phenols, NO3−-N, and K+were exceeded the surface water standard, whereas the DO level ranged from 1.63 to 3.5 were found below the Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR), 1997 standard. Besides, the BOD, COD, and Mn ion concentrations of groundwater exceeded the drinking water standard. In most sampling sites, the WQI of the surface water showed ‘marginal’ category, and the groundwater quality showed 'fair' category. The study observed that the toxic effluents discharged from the paper mills caused harm to the aquatic ecosystem.
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- 2021
32. Preparation of paper-based conductive pattern for 3D printing
- Author
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Zhang Zhuoqing, Zhao Chenfei, Bo Qian, and Jun Wang
- Subjects
Materials science ,business.industry ,General Physics and Astronomy ,3D printing ,Nanotechnology ,Paper based ,business ,Electrical conductor - Abstract
With the development of printed electronics technology, the demand for printed conductive inks had also put forward higher standards. The shortcomings of traditional printed circuit boards, such as complex technology, consumables, and pollution, had also been resolved with the development of 3D printing technology. In this paper, low-content silver nanoparticles were blended with graphene alcohol slurry and dissolved in a non-polluting solvent such as absolute ethanol. The synergistic effect of the composite of the hexagonal structure of the graphene sheet and the silver nanoparticles improved the ink’s performance of electrical conductivity, adding water-based polyurethane/acrylic resin system to improve the adhesion between ink and paper. The conductive ink can be used to 3D print circuit circuits on paper. After drying, the resistance was measured. After the battery, diode, and switch were connected, a circuit diagram was made. After pressing the diode emits was lighted. This work is expected to be applied to flexible circuit boards to provide basic research.
- Published
- 2023
33. Implementation of lean tools and techniques in an ethical papers production industry
- Author
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Bhuvanesh Kumar M and Kukhan S
- Subjects
Engineering ,Engineering management ,5S ,Kaizen ,business.industry ,Lean manufacturing ,Production (economics) ,Continuous production process ,Paper manufacturing industry ,business - Abstract
Lean manufacturing (LM) is established as a best practice to improve the performance of manufacturing industries. Not all the manufacturing industries realize the benefits of LM practices specifically continuous process industries. The present research work is intended to study the advantages of implementing LM practices in an ethical paper industry which is a continuous production industry. Presently, the industry suffers with the problems such as lack of productivity, raw material wastes, underutilized resources, and lack of standard practices in the production. Gemba technique is adapted to record the information related to the present manufacturing environment. Based on the current state analysis, the feasible lean tools are selected and implemented such as 5S, Kaizen, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). The improvements have been noted as reduced tool change over time, reduced material wastes, effective utilization of resources and provide safety guidelines to workers and operations. The implications of these improvements increased the productivity also.
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapy: an EAACI Position Paper
- Author
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Patrizia Bonadonna, Emilio Alvarez-Cuesta, Adile Berna Dursun, Soledad Sanchez Sanchez, Mariana Castells, Josefina Cernadas, Mauro Pagani, Hamadi Sahar, Anca M. Chiriac, Ricardo Madrigal-Burgaleta, and Sevim Bavbek
- Subjects
Drug ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Allergy ,media_common.quotation_subject ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Immunology ,Provocation test ,Drug allergy ,Antineoplastic Agents ,Disease ,Drug Hypersensitivity ,Neoplasms ,Humans ,Immunology and Allergy ,Medicine ,Intensive care medicine ,Anaphylaxis ,Skin Tests ,media_common ,Desensitization (medicine) ,business.industry ,medicine.disease ,Desensitization, Immunologic ,Position paper ,business - Abstract
Chemotherapeutic drugs have been widely used in the treatment of cancer disease for about 70 years. The development of new treatments has not hindered their use, and oncologists still prescribe them routinely, alone or in combination with other antineoplastic agents. However, all chemotherapeutic agents can induce hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs), with different incidences depending on the culprit drug. These reactions are the third leading cause of fatal drug-induced anaphylaxis in the United States. In Europe, deaths related to chemotherapy have also been reported. In particular, most reactions are caused by platinum compounds, taxanes, epipodophyllotoxins and asparaginase. Despite their prevalence and relevance, the ideal pathways for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these reactions are still unclear, and practice remains considerably heterogeneous with vast differences from center to center. Thus, the European Network on Drug Allergy and Drug Allergy Interest Group of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology organized a task force to provide data and recommendations regarding the allergological work-up in this field of drug hypersensitivity reactions. This position paper aims to provide consensus on the investigation of HSRs to chemotherapeutic drugs and give practical recommendations for clinicians that treat these patients, such as oncologists, allergologists and internists. Key sections cover risk factors, pathogenesis, symptoms, the role of skin tests, in vitro tests, indications and contraindications of drug provocation tests and desensitization of neoplastic patients with allergic reactions to chemotherapeutic drugs. Statements, recommendations and unmet needs were discussed and proposed at the end of each section.
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- 2021
35. Peripheral blood RNA biomarkers for cardiovascular disease from bench to bedside: a position paper from the EU-CardioRNA COST action CA17129
- Author
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Stephanie Bezzina Wettinger, Maarten Vanhaverbeke, Costanza Emanueli, Johannes Grillari, Rosienne Farrugia, Monika Bartekova, Barbora Kalocayova, Soumaya Ben-Aicha, EU-CardioRNA Cost Action Ca, Markus Scholz, R. Attard, Yvan Devaux, Matthias Hackl, Fabio Martelli, David de Gonzalo-Calvo, Timo Brandenburger, and EU-CardioRNA COST Action (CA17129)
- Subjects
Cardiovascular system -- Diseases ,Physiology ,business.industry ,RNA ,Genomics ,Disease ,Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Diagnosis ,Bioinformatics ,medicine.disease ,Transcriptome ,Physiology (medical) ,Heart failure ,Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Treatment ,Gene expression ,medicine ,Biomarker (medicine) ,Position paper ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine ,business - Abstract
Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, recent calls have emphasized the unmet need to improve precision-based approaches in cardiovascular disease. Although some studies provide preliminary evidence of the diagnostic and prognostic potential of circulating coding and non-coding RNAs, the complex RNA biology and lack of standardization have hampered the translation of these markers into clinical practice. In this position paper of the CardioRNA COST action CA17129, we provide recommendations to standardize the RNA development process in order to catalyse efforts to investigate novel RNAs for clinical use. We list the unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular disease, such as the identification of high-risk patients with ischaemic heart disease or heart failure who require more intensive therapies. The advantages and pitfalls of the different sample types, including RNAs from plasma, extracellular vesicles, and whole blood, are discussed in the sample matrix, together with their respective analytical methods. The effect of patient demographics and highly prevalent comorbidities, such as metabolic disorders, on the expression of the candidate RNA is presented and should be reported in biomarker studies. We discuss the statistical and regulatory aspects to translate a candidate RNA from a research use only assay to an in-vitro diagnostic test for clinical use. Optimal planning of this development track is required, with input from the researcher, statistician, industry, and regulatory partners., peer-reviewed
- Published
- 2021
36. Vaccination of patients with allergic disease against novel coronavirus infection: position paper of the Russian Association of Allergology and Clinical Immunology
- Author
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O M Kurbacheva, N V Shartanova, Natalya I. Ilyina, Elena A. Latysheva, Musa R. Khaitov, Tatiana V. Latysheva, Evgeniya V. Nazarova, Natalia M. Nenasheva, and Elena S. Fedenko
- Subjects
Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Allergy ,Clinical immunology ,business.industry ,General Medicine ,Disease ,medicine.disease_cause ,medicine.disease ,Virus ,Vaccination ,Pandemic ,Medicine ,Position paper ,business ,Coronavirus - Abstract
One of the key tasks of the previous year is to stop the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which became a pandemic that led to the deaths of more than 4 million people worldwide and more than 140 thousand deaths in Russia. COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (2019-nCoV) virus of the coronavirus family. Vaccination plays a leading role in ending the pandemic. Currently, five vaccines against COVID-19 have been registered in Russia, namely, Sputnik V, Sputnik light, EpiVacCorona, EpiVacCorona-Н, and СoviVak. The short follow-up period and absence of randomized placebo-controlled trials of COVID-19 vaccines in certain patients with chronic diseases lead to several questions about the effectiveness/safety of vaccination in these patients. Given the wide spread of allergic diseases and the heterogeneity of patients with allergopathology, experts of the Russian Association of Allergology and Clinical Immunology have developed and approved a position paper on vaccination of patients with allergopathology.
- Published
- 2021
37. Paper and thread as media for the frugal detection of urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Author
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Hardik Ramesh Singhal, Amrutha Hasandka, Ankita Ramchandran Singh, Naresh Kumar Mani, M. S. Giri Nandagopal, and Anusha Prabhu
- Subjects
Burden of disease ,Paper ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Thread (network protocol) ,Microfluidics ,Review ,Biochemistry ,Analytical Chemistry ,Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ,Health care ,medicine ,Humans ,Intensive care medicine ,Cellulose ,Menstrual Hygiene Products ,Urinary tract infection ,Modalities ,Bacteria ,business.industry ,Public health ,Fungi ,Electrochemical Techniques ,Thread ,Culture Media ,Detection ,Urinary Tract Infections ,Colorimetry ,business - Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) make up a significant proportion of the global burden of disease in vulnerable groups and tend to substantially impair the quality of life of those affected, making timely detection of UTIs a priority for public health. However, economic and societal barriers drastically reduce accessibility of traditional lab-based testing methods for critical patient groups in low-resource areas, negatively affecting their overall healthcare outcomes. As a result, cellulose-based materials such as paper and thread have garnered significant interest among researchers as substrates for so-called frugal analytical devices which leverage the material’s portability and adaptability for facile and reproducible diagnoses of UTIs. Although the field may be only in its infancy, strategies aimed at commercial penetration can appreciably increase access to more healthcare options for at-risk people. In this review, we catalogue recent advances in devices that use cellulose-based materials as the primary housing or medium for UTI detection and chart out trends in the field. We also explore different modalities employed for detection, with particular emphasis on their ability to be ported onto discreet casings such as sanitary products. Graphical abstract
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- 2021
38. Oral corticosteroids stewardship for asthma in adults and adolescents: A position paper from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
- Author
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John Gornall, Laurence Ruane, Li Ping Chung, Anne E Holland, Helen K. Reddel, Philip G. Bardin, Sinthia Bosnic-Anticevich, Trudy Hopkins, Christopher Barton, Mark Hew, Vanessa M. McDonald, Peter G. Gibson, Lata Jayaram, John Blakey, John W. Upham, and John Harrington
- Subjects
Adult ,Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine ,Harm reduction ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,business.industry ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Administration, Oral ,medicine.disease ,Asthma ,Harm ,Adrenal Cortex Hormones ,Chronic Disease ,medicine ,Humans ,Position paper ,Smoking cessation ,Anti-Asthmatic Agents ,Stewardship ,Medical prescription ,Intensive care medicine ,business ,Adverse effect ,New Zealand - Abstract
Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are frequently used for asthma treatment. This medication is highly effective for both acute and chronic diseases, but evidence indicates that indiscriminate OCS use is common, posing a risk of serious side effects and irreversible harm. There is now an urgent need to introduce OCS stewardship approaches, akin to successful initiatives that optimized appropriate antibiotic usage. The aim of this TSANZ (Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand) position paper is to review current knowledge pertaining to OCS use in asthma and then delineate principles of OCS stewardship. Recent evidence indicates overuse and over-reliance on OCS for asthma and that doses >1000 mg prednisolone-equivalent cumulatively are likely to have serious side effects and adverse outcomes. Patient perspectives emphasize the detrimental impacts of OCS-related side effects such as weight gain, insomnia, mood disturbances and skin changes. Improvements in asthma control and prevention of exacerbations can be achieved by improved inhaler technique, adherence to therapy, asthma education, smoking cessation, multidisciplinary review, optimized medications and other strategies. Recently, add-on therapies including novel biological agents and macrolide antibiotics have demonstrated reductions in OCS requirements. Harm reduction may also be achieved through identification and mitigation of predictable adverse effects. OCS stewardship should entail greater awareness of appropriate indications for OCS prescription, risk–benefits of OCS medications, side effects, effective add-on therapies and multidisciplinary review. If implemented, OCS stewardship can ensure that clinicians and patients with asthma are aware that OCS should not be used lightly, while providing reassurance that asthma can be controlled in most people without frequent use of OCS.
- Published
- 2021
39. Protocols for multi‐site trials using hyperpolarized 129 Xe MRI for imaging of ventilation, alveolar‐airspace size, and gas exchange: A position paper from the 129 Xe MRI clinical trials consortium
- Author
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Jonathan H. Rayment, Bastiaan Driehuys, Chase S. Hall, G. Wilson Miller, Zackary I. Cleveland, Sarah Svenningsen, Rachel L. Eddy, Jim M. Wild, John P. Mugler, Ho-Fung Chan, Peter Niedbalski, Mario Castro, Neil J. Stewart, Sean B. Fain, Giles E. Santyr, Brandon Zanette, Jason C. Woods, Guilhem Collier, Grace Parraga, Robert P. Thomen, Matthew M. Willmering, and Jaime F. Mata
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Image quality ,Multi site ,Clinical trial ,Lung structure ,Breathing ,Medicine ,Image acquisition ,Position paper ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Medical physics ,business ,Pulmonary disorders - Abstract
Hyperpolarized (HP) 129 Xe MRI uniquely images pulmonary ventilation, gas exchange, and terminal airway morphology rapidly and safely, providing novel information not possible using conventional imaging modalities or pulmonary function tests. As such, there is mounting interest in expanding the use of biomarkers derived from HP 129 Xe MRI as outcome measures in multi-site clinical trials across a range of pulmonary disorders. Until recently, HP 129 Xe MRI techniques have been developed largely independently at a limited number of academic centers, without harmonizing acquisition strategies. To promote uniformity and adoption of HP 129 Xe MRI more widely in translational research, multi-site trials, and ultimately clinical practice, this position paper from the 129 Xe MRI Clinical Trials Consortium (https://cpir.cchmc.org/XeMRICTC) recommends standard protocols to harmonize methods for image acquisition in HP 129 Xe MRI. Recommendations are described for the most common HP gas MRI techniques-calibration, ventilation, alveolar-airspace size, and gas exchange-across MRI scanner manufacturers most used for this application. Moreover, recommendations are described for 129 Xe dose volumes and breath-hold standardization to further foster consistency of imaging studies. The intention is that sites with HP 129 Xe MRI capabilities can readily implement these methods to obtain consistent high-quality images that provide regional insight into lung structure and function. While this document represents consensus at a snapshot in time, a roadmap for technical developments is provided that will further increase image quality and efficiency. These standardized dosing and imaging protocols will facilitate the wider adoption of HP 129 Xe MRI for multi-site pulmonary research.
- Published
- 2021
40. Pulling-Force Spinning Top for Serum Separation Combined with Paper-Based Microfluidic Devices in COVID-19 ELISA Diagnosis
- Author
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Ji Qi, Anyuan Sun, Dan Zhao, Haopeng Fang, Baolong Wang, Jianping Weng, Fanwu Gong, Bofeng Li, Huan Ma, Qiangsheng Li, Lianxin Liu, Jinglong Han, Bowei Li, Tengchuan Jin, Hua-xing Wei, Liu Liu, Hongliang He, Cuichen Ma, and Xucai Zheng
- Subjects
COVID-19 diagnosis ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ,Microfluidics ,anti-RBD antibody ,Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ,Bioengineering ,Antibodies, Viral ,Sensitivity and Specificity ,Article ,COVID-19 Testing ,Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ,serum separation ,medicine ,Humans ,Pull force ,microfluidic devices ,Instrumentation ,Spinning ,Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Human blood ,SARS-CoV-2 ,business.industry ,Process Chemistry and Technology ,COVID-19 ,Paper based ,Immunoassay ,business ,paper-based ELISA ,Biomedical engineering - Abstract
The spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), resulting in a global pandemic with around four million deaths. Although there are a variety of nucleic acid-based tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2, these methods have a relatively high cost and require expensive supporting equipment. To overcome these limitations and improve the efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, we developed a microfluidic platform that collected serum by a pulling-force spinning top and paper-based microfluidic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantitative IgA/IgM/IgG measurements in an instrument-free way. We further validated the paper-based microfluidic ELISA analysis of SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific IgA/IgM/IgG antibodies from human blood samples as a good measurement with higher sensitivity compared with traditional IgM/IgG detection (99.7% vs 95.6%) for early illness onset patients. In conclusion, we provide an alternative solution for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in a portable manner by this smart integration of pulling-force spinning top and paper-based microfluidic immunoassay.
- Published
- 2021
41. Agricultural Residues as an Alternative Source of Fibre for the Production of Paper in Kenya-A Review
- Author
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Morelly Adalla, Boniface Oure, Fredrick Onyango Ogutu, John Odhiambo Otieno, and Treezer Nelly Okumu
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stomatognathic diseases ,stomatognathic system ,Chemistry ,Agriculture ,business.industry ,Management of Technology and Innovation ,Pulp (paper) ,engineering ,Production (economics) ,engineering.material ,Pulp and paper industry ,business - Abstract
The pulp and paper industry is primarily dependent on fibrous wood for pulp and paper production. However, this over-dependence on fibrous wood poses serious environmental challenges such as the diminishing of the fibrous wood stocks, deforestation, emission of greenhouse gases, and global warming. Therefore, to mitigate these environmental challenges associated with its utilization for paper and pulp production, other sustainable raw material sources can also be considered for the production of paper and pulp. There are enormous benefits associated with the utilization of non-wood fibres as an alternative and sustainable raw materials source for the production of paper and pulp. These benefits have in the recent past prompted millers in China, India, Brazil, and the USA to consider the utilization of non-wood fibres in paper and pulp production. In Kenya, the pulp and paper industry is very much dependent on fibrous wood for production and the industry is yet to fully embrace the utilization of nonwood fibres for paper and pulp production. Further, the dependence on fibrous wood has contributed significantly to the decline of paper pulp and paper production, deforestation, and rise in paper importations due to insufficient raw material supplies. The importation of paper and pulp products has further led to the collapse of the paper industry in Kenya. The sector stands a chance of revival and vibrancy through the utilization of the abundant agricultural residues and feedstocks lying in the agricultural fields across the country. Similar experiences elsewhere have proved that the abundance of agricultural waste can be utilized for the production of paper and pulp due to their excellent fibre content for specialty papers, and easy pulpability. The agricultural residues are therefore considered a quintessential alternative and sustainable source of raw materials for the pulp and paper industry. Moreover, their utilization will mitigate environmental impacts such as deforestation, climate change, and pollution .
- Published
- 2021
42. From wastes to functions: A paper mill sludge-based calcium-containing porous biochar adsorbent for phosphorus removal
- Author
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Rongrong Miao, Zhijuan Wang, Qingqing Guan, Liang He, and Ping Ning
- Subjects
Langmuir ,Municipal solid waste ,chemistry.chemical_element ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Biomaterials ,Colloid and Surface Chemistry ,Adsorption ,Biochar ,Sewage ,Carbonization ,Chemistry ,business.industry ,Phosphorus ,Paper mill ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Pulp and paper industry ,0104 chemical sciences ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Kinetics ,Wastewater ,Charcoal ,Calcium ,0210 nano-technology ,business ,Porosity ,Water Pollutants, Chemical - Abstract
With the increased awareness of reusing solid wastes for higher sustainability and the concern of water pollution associated with phosphorus over-emission, there are strong interests in developing solid waste based adsorbents for purifying phosphorus-containing wastewater. As a rich calcium resource, paper mill sludge (i.e., a major solid waste from pulping industry) can be used as phosphorus removal adsorbent after calcination. Thus, in this work, a simple and clean thermally treating route has been proposed for preparing calcium-containing biochar from paper mill sludge. The effect of the physicochemical properties of paper mill sludge and its carbonization condition on phosphorus adsorption has been analyzed. Moreover, the influence of some key adsorption parameters, e.g., biochar dosage, initial pH of solution, co-existing anions, initial phosphorus concentration and contact time has also been investigated. The results showed that the phosphorus adsorption data could be fitted well with pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isothermal models. The calculated maximum adsorption capacity of the as-prepared optimal calcium-containing biochar could reach to 68.49 mg·g−1 at 25 °C. Combined with the characterization results, it can be reasonably inferred that the adsorption process was chemisorption-dominated. Lastly, the application of this spent adsorbent in agriculture field has also been discussed. In brief, this work provided a feasible strategy for converting paper mill solid waste to an environmental functional material (i.e., calcium-rich biochar) for remediation of eutrophic water.
- Published
- 2021
43. Valorization of pulp and paper industry wastewater using sludge enriched with nitrogen‐fixing bacteria
- Author
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Ben D. Allen, Carolina Ospina-Betancourth, Janeth Sanabria, Thomas P. Curtis, Kishor Acharya, and Ian M. Head
- Subjects
Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria ,Paper ,Nitrogen ,Biofertilizer ,Industrial Waste ,chemistry.chemical_element ,02 engineering and technology ,Wastewater ,010501 environmental sciences ,Waste Disposal, Fluid ,complex mixtures ,01 natural sciences ,Bioreactors ,020401 chemical engineering ,RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ,Environmental Chemistry ,0204 chemical engineering ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Effluent ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Water Science and Technology ,Sewage ,business.industry ,Ecological Modeling ,food and beverages ,Paper mill ,Pulp and paper industry ,Pollution ,Activated sludge ,chemistry ,Nitrogen fixation ,Sewage treatment ,business - Abstract
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) can reduce nitrogen at ambient pressure and temperature. In this study, we treated effluent from a paper mill in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) and monitored the abundance and activity of NFB with a view to producing a sludge that could work as a biofertilizer. Four reactors were inoculated with activated sludge enriched with NFB and fed with a high C/N waste (100:0.5) from a paper mill. Though the reactors were able to reduce the organic load of the wastewater by up to 89%, they did not have any nitrogen-fixing activity and showed a decrease in the putative number of NFB (quantified with qPCR). The most abundant species in the reactors treating high C/N paper mill wastewater was identified by Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing as Methyloversatilis sp. (relative abundance of 4.4%). Nitrogen fixation was observed when the C/N ratio was increased by adding sucrose. We suspect that real-world biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) will only occur where there is a C/N ratio ≤100:0.07. Consequently, operators should actively avoid adding or allowing nitrogen in the waste streams if they wish to valorize their sludge and reduce running costs. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Efficient biological wastewater treatment of low nitrogen paper mill effluent was achieved without nutrient supplementation. The sludge was still capable of fixing nitrogen although this process was not observed in the wastewater treatment system. This high C/N wastewater treatment technology could be used with effluents from cassava flour, olive oil, wine and dairy industries.
- Published
- 2021
44. Potentials of lignocellulosic agricultural residues in paper production
- Author
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Valentina Radić Seleš, Irena Bates, Katja Petric Maretić, Maja Rudolf, and Ivana Plazonić
- Subjects
Materials science ,business.industry ,Environmental engineering ,Paper production ,laboratory paper ,straw pulp ,contact angle ,surface free energy ,sessile drop method ,food and beverages ,Environmental protection ,Surface energy ,Contact angle ,Sessile drop technique ,Agriculture ,TD169-171.8 ,business - Abstract
Surface characteristics of printing substrates are of the utmost importance to all types of paper that interact with ink. During all types of printing processes, the behaviour of the liquid phase (ink or dye) on the paper is directly defined by the paper cellulose-based surface. The printed ink spreads and penetrates more into paper fibres when the paper surface is rougher and more permeable. Contact angle measurements by sessile drop method are considered the most appropriate for determining the paper sheet surface energy. Paper as hydrophilic material has a high absorption rate resulting in a low contact angle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the surface free energy of laboratory-made papers containing straw pulp obtained from residues after the harvest of the most cultivated cereals in Croatia (wheat, barley and triticale). The obtained surface free energy results are promising for straw pulp usage in the manufacture of printing paper.
- Published
- 2021
45. Examining guidelines and new evidence in oncology nutrition: a position paper on gaps and opportunities in multimodal approaches to improve patient care
- Author
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Carla M. Prado, Michael D. Bastasch, Shila M. Newman, Maureen Gardner, Chelsia Gillis, Anthony D. Sung, Martin Chasen, Suayib Yalcin, Abby C. Sauer, Suzanne Dixon, Refaat Hegazi, and Alessandro Laviano
- Subjects
Oncology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Nursing research ,Pain medicine ,Prehabilitation ,Disease ,medicine.disease ,Malnutrition ,Quality of life (healthcare) ,Multidisciplinary approach ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Position paper ,business - Abstract
Malnutrition, muscle loss, and cachexia are prevalent in cancer and remain key challenges in oncology today. These conditions are frequently underrecognized and undertreated and have devastating consequences for patients. Early nutrition screening/assessment and intervention are associated with improved patient outcomes. As a multifaceted disease, cancer requires multimodal care that integrates supportive interventions, specifically nutrition and exercise, to improve nutrient intake, muscle mass, physical functioning, quality of life, and treatment outcomes. An integrated team of healthcare providers that incorporates societies’ recommendations into clinical practice can help achieve the best possible outcomes. A multidisciplinary panel of experts in oncology, nutrition, exercise, and medicine participated in a 2-day virtual roundtable in October 2020 to discuss gaps and opportunities in oncology nutrition, alone and in combination with exercise, relative to current evidence and international societies’ recommendations. The panel recommended five principles to optimize clinical oncology practice: (1) position oncology nutrition at the center of multidisciplinary care; (2) partner with colleagues and administrators to integrate a nutrition care process into the multidisciplinary cancer care approach; (3) screen all patients for malnutrition risk at diagnosis and regularly throughout treatment; (4) combine exercise and nutrition interventions before (e.g., prehabilitation), during, and after treatment as oncology standard of care to optimize nutrition status and muscle mass; and (5) incorporate a patient-centered approach into multidisciplinary care.
- Published
- 2021
46. Bio-mediated improvement process in a reinforced soil with waste paper fiber
- Author
-
Hitoshi Matsubara
- Subjects
business.industry ,Process (engineering) ,Environmental science ,Geotechnical engineering ,Waste paper ,Fiber ,Process engineering ,business - Published
- 2021
47. Update on bone health: the International Menopause Society White Paper 2021
- Author
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Steven R. Goldstein and T. J. de Villiers
- Subjects
Gerontology ,Population ageing ,business.industry ,Osteoporosis ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,Bone health ,Menopause ,White paper ,Bone Density ,Intervention (counseling) ,Sarcopenia ,medicine ,Global health ,Humans ,business ,Aged - Abstract
Osteoporosis and associated fractures present a major challenge in improving global health outcomes. Key clinical aspects are the definition of osteoporosis and associated fractures, fracture risk prediction, stratification of risk of fracture, intervention thresholds and the most appropriate intervention based on integration of aforementioned. Correct understanding and application of these concepts are essential to stem the increasing tide of fragility fractures associated with an aging population. The role of muscle strength and function, sarcopenia, and the newly emerging concept of osteosarcopenia in maintaining bone health are discussed in detail.
- Published
- 2021
48. All around suboptimal health — a joint position paper of the Suboptimal Health Study Consortium and European Association for Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine
- Author
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Olga Golubnitschaja, Bo Li, Zhaohua Zhong, Youxin Wang, Yulu Zheng, Yuxiang Yan, Xiuhua Guo, Enoch Odame Anto, Haifeng Hou, Zheng Guo, Timothy Kang, Monique Garcia, Gehendra Mahara, Xuerui Tan, and Wei Wang
- Subjects
Behavioural patterns ,Medical ethics ,Sleep medicine ,Artificial intelligence (AI) ,Drug Discovery ,Health care ,Periodontal health ,Body mass index (BMI) ,Individualised patient profile ,Risk assessment ,Big data management ,Dietary habits ,Glycan ,Cardiovascular disease ,Health policy ,Adolescence ,Mood disorders ,Cancers ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Suboptimal health status (SHS) ,Stress overload ,Communicable ,Multi-parametric analysis ,Neurologic diseases ,Omics ,Risk management tools ,behavioral disciplines and activities ,medicine ,Predictive preventive personalised medicine (PPPM/3PM) ,Modifiable preventable risks ,Non-communicable diseases ,Intensive care medicine ,Epidemics ,Health economy ,Pandemics ,Liquid biopsy ,business.industry ,Research ,Biochemistry (medical) ,COVID-19 ,Traditional medicine ,medicine.disease ,Lifestyle ,Multi-level diagnostics ,Position paper ,Eye disorder ,Microbiome ,business ,Natural substances - Abstract
First two decades of the twenty-first century are characterised by epidemics of non-communicable diseases such as many hundreds of millions of patients diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases and the type 2 diabetes mellitus, breast, lung, liver and prostate malignancies, neurological, sleep, mood and eye disorders, amongst others. Consequent socio-economic burden is tremendous. Unprecedented decrease in age of maladaptive individuals has been reported. The absolute majority of expanding non-communicable disorders carry a chronic character, over a couple of years progressing from reversible suboptimal health conditions to irreversible severe pathologies and cascading collateral complications. The time-frame between onset of SHS and clinical manifestation of associated disorders is the operational area for an application of reliable risk assessment tools and predictive diagnostics followed by the cost-effective targeted prevention and treatments tailored to the person.This article demonstrates advanced strategies in bio/medical sciences and healthcare focused on suboptimal health conditions in the frame-work of Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine (3PM/PPPM). Potential benefits in healthcare systems and for society at large include but are not restricted to an improved life-quality of major populations and socio-economical groups, advanced professionalism of healthcare-givers and sustainable healthcare economy. Amongst others, following medical areas are proposed to strongly benefit from PPPM strategies applied to the identification and treatment of suboptimal health conditions:Stress overload associated pathologiesMale and female healthPlanned pregnanciesPeriodontal healthEye disordersInflammatory disorders, wound healing and pain management with associated complicationsMetabolic disorders and suboptimal body weightCardiovascular pathologiesCancersStroke, particularly of unknown aetiology and in young individualsSleep medicineSports medicineImproved individual outcomes under pandemic conditions such as COVID-19.
- Published
- 2021
49. Overview of nanocellulose as additives in paper processing and paper products
- Author
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Jiuping Rao, Dezhong Xu, Yonghui Zhou, Mizi Fan, Lu Luo, Ao Li, Yalan Zhou, Wen Wei Yan, Xin Leng, Dai Dasong, and Hassan Ahmad
- Subjects
Engineering ,Technology ,Physical and theoretical chemistry ,QD450-801 ,Energy Engineering and Power Technology ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,nanocellulose bio-additive ,02 engineering and technology ,TP1-1185 ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Nanocellulose ,Biomaterials ,paper and paper-based product ,business.industry ,Process Chemistry and Technology ,Chemical technology ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Environmentally friendly ,0104 chemical sciences ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Paper recycling ,recycle ,functionalization ,Research development ,Biochemical engineering ,specialty paper ,Value added ,0210 nano-technology ,business ,Biotechnology - Abstract
The rapid economic growth and environmental concerns have led to high demands on paper and paper-based products in terms of variety, quantity, quality, and specialty. Enhancement and functionalization with additives are constantly required. Moving away from traditional petroleum-based additives, researchers have attempted to use “green” nanoadditives by introducing renewable environmentally friendly nanocellulose. This article studies the functions of nanocellulose as bio-additives (enhancer, retention and filtration reagent, and coating aid) in paper and paper products, and overviews the research development of nanocellulose-based additives and their applications in the paper industry for both efficient production and paper functionalization. The review shows that (1) a variety of nanocellulose-based bioadditives have been reported for various applications in paper and paper-based products, while commercially viable developments are to be advanced; (2) nanocellulose was mostly formulated with other polymer and particles as additives to achieve their synergistic effects; (3) major interests have concentrated on the nanocellulose in the specialty papers as representing more value added products and in the efficient utilization of recycled fibers, which remains most attractive and promising for future development. This report shall provide most useful database information for researchers and industries for paper recycling and enhancement, and paper-based products innovation and application.
- Published
- 2021
50. Group-Oriented Paper Recommendation With Probabilistic Matrix Factorization and Evidential Reasoning in Scientific Social Network
- Author
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Zhen Shao, Hanru Wang, Yan Chu, Xinyue Zhang, and Gang Wang
- Subjects
Human-Computer Interaction ,Social network ,Probabilistic matrix factorization ,Control and Systems Engineering ,Group (mathematics) ,business.industry ,Computer science ,Evidential reasoning approach ,Artificial intelligence ,Electrical and Electronic Engineering ,business ,Software ,Computer Science Applications - Published
- 2022
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