A working place has to be designed in order to offer with minimum cost adequate working conditions. The labor yield is much influenced by environmental measurable parameters like temperature, ...humidity, noise and the luminosity at the working place. In this paper we present a graphical application that could be used to investigate which is the best combination for the values of these input parameters from the point of view of work efficiency. The relationship between the input parameters and the work efficiency is nonlinear. Therefore, we used a neural network to model these nonlinearities. The neural network is simulated using Java programming language.
Spain is one of the European countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Serological surveys are a valuable tool to assess the extent of the epidemic, given the existence of asymptomatic cases ...and little access to diagnostic tests. This nationwide population-based study aims to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Spain at national and regional level.
35 883 households were selected from municipal rolls using two-stage random sampling stratified by province and municipality size, with all residents invited to participate. From April 27 to May 11, 2020, 61 075 participants (75·1% of all contacted individuals within selected households) answered a questionnaire on history of symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and risk factors, received a point-of-care antibody test, and, if agreed, donated a blood sample for additional testing with a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Prevalences of IgG antibodies were adjusted using sampling weights and post-stratification to allow for differences in non-response rates based on age group, sex, and census-tract income. Using results for both tests, we calculated a seroprevalence range maximising either specificity (positive for both tests) or sensitivity (positive for either test).
Seroprevalence was 5·0% (95% CI 4·7–5·4) by the point-of-care test and 4·6% (4·3–5·0) by immunoassay, with a specificity–sensitivity range of 3·7% (3·3–4·0; both tests positive) to 6·2% (5·8–6·6; either test positive), with no differences by sex and lower seroprevalence in children younger than 10 years (<3·1% by the point-of-care test). There was substantial geographical variability, with higher prevalence around Madrid (>10%) and lower in coastal areas (<3%). Seroprevalence among 195 participants with positive PCR more than 14 days before the study visit ranged from 87·6% (81·1–92·1; both tests positive) to 91·8% (86·3–95·3; either test positive). In 7273 individuals with anosmia or at least three symptoms, seroprevalence ranged from 15·3% (13·8–16·8) to 19·3% (17·7–21·0). Around a third of seropositive participants were asymptomatic, ranging from 21·9% (19·1–24·9) to 35·8% (33·1–38·5). Only 19·5% (16·3–23·2) of symptomatic participants who were seropositive by both the point-of-care test and immunoassay reported a previous PCR test.
The majority of the Spanish population is seronegative to SARS-CoV-2 infection, even in hotspot areas. Most PCR-confirmed cases have detectable antibodies, but a substantial proportion of people with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 did not have a PCR test and at least a third of infections determined by serology were asymptomatic. These results emphasise the need for maintaining public health measures to avoid a new epidemic wave.
Spanish Ministry of Health, Institute of Health Carlos III, and Spanish National Health System.
AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the infection fatality risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), based on deaths with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) and ...excess deaths from all causes.DesignNationwide seroepidemiological study.SettingFirst wave of covid-19 pandemic in Spain.ParticipantsCommunity dwelling individuals of all ages.Main outcome measuresThe main outcome measure was overall, and age and sex specific, infection fatality risk for SARS-CoV-2 (the number of covid-19 deaths and excess deaths divided by the estimated number of SARS-CoV-2 infections) in the community dwelling Spanish population. Deaths with laboratory confirmed covid-19 were obtained from the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network (RENAVE) and excess all cause deaths from the Monitoring Mortality System (MoMo), up to 15 July 2020. SARS-CoV-2 infections in Spain were derived from the estimated seroprevalence by a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay for IgG antibodies in 61 098 participants in the ENE-COVID nationwide seroepidemiological survey between 27 April and 22 June 2020.ResultsThe overall infection fatality risk was 0.8% (19 228 of 2.3 million infected individuals, 95% confidence interval 0.8% to 0.9%) for confirmed covid-19 deaths and 1.1% (24 778 of 2.3 million infected individuals, 1.0% to 1.2%) for excess deaths. The infection fatality risk was 1.1% (95% confidence interval 1.0% to 1.2%) to 1.4% (1.3% to 1.5%) in men and 0.6% (0.5% to 0.6%) to 0.8% (0.7% to 0.8%) in women. The infection fatality risk increased sharply after age 50, ranging from 11.6% (8.1% to 16.5%) to 16.4% (11.4% to 23.2%) in men aged 80 or more and from 4.6% (3.4% to 6.3%) to 6.5% (4.7% to 8.8%) in women aged 80 or more.ConclusionThe increase in SARS-CoV-2 infection fatality risk after age 50 appeared to be more noticeable in men than in women. Based on the results of this study, fatality from covid-19 was greater than that reported for other common respiratory diseases, such as seasonal influenza.
Abstract
The condensation process represents the phase change phenomenon through which the water vapours from air are transformed into liquid together with heat release. The phenomenon can take place ...either in the bulk of the fluid and it’s named homogeneous condensation, or it can appear on a solid surface and it is heterogeneous condensation. This paper proposes to provide an insight into the condensation phenomenon through the lens of experimental and numerical approach in different configurations. The focus is set on the condensation/evaporation process inside vehicles’ cabin as the evolution towards electric vehicles is starting to make a mark on the industry. The paper presents the impact of the HVAC system on both, energy consumptions and driving security. As the electric vehicles are prone to a general driving range of around 200 km depending on the battery systems, this driving range can be significantly reduced up to 40% by the usage of the HVAC system 1. Therefore, the methods for reducing and maintaining the condensation phenomenon away from the glazing surfaces of the vehicles’ cabin, especially on the windshield are going to be tackled in order to provide a general view of the actual state of this subject.
In recent decades, naturally growing mosses have been used successfully as biomonitors of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and nitrogen. Since 1990, the European moss survey has been repeated ...at five-yearly intervals. In 2010, the lowest concentrations of metals and nitrogen in mosses were generally found in northern Europe, whereas the highest concentrations were observed in (south-)eastern Europe for metals and the central belt for nitrogen. Averaged across Europe, since 1990, the median concentration in mosses has declined the most for lead (77%), followed by vanadium (55%), cadmium (51%), chromium (43%), zinc (34%), nickel (33%), iron (27%), arsenic (21%, since 1995), mercury (14%, since 1995) and copper (11%). Between 2005 and 2010, the decline ranged from 6% for copper to 36% for lead; for nitrogen the decline was 5%. Despite the Europe-wide decline, no changes or increases have been observed between 2005 and 2010 in some (regions of) countries.
•In 2010, heavy metal and nitrogen concentrations in mosses were determined at up to 4400 sites across Europe.•Moss concentrations complement deposition measurements at high spatial resolution.•For most metals, concentrations in mosses have significantly declined since 1990.•Heavy metal pollution remains high in (South-)eastern Europe.•Nitrogen pollution remains high in the central European belt.
Heavy metal pollution remains high particularly in (south-)eastern Europe, whereas nitrogen pollution remains high in the central belt of Europe.
Chronic treatment with oral levodopa is associated with an increased frequency of motor complications in the late stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Continuous administration of levodopa–carbidopa ...intestinal gel (LCIG—Duodopa
®
, Abbott Laboratories), which has been available in Romania since 2009, represents an option for treating patients with advanced PD. Our primary objective was to report changes in motor complications after initiation of LCIG therapy. The secondary objectives were as follows: to determine the impact of LCIG therapy on the daily levodopa dose variation before/and after LCIG, to collect patient self-assessments of quality of life (QoL), and to study the overall tolerability and safety of LCIG administration. A retrospective analysis (2009–2013) of LCIG therapy and the experience in nine neurology centers in Romania was performed. The impact of LCIG therapy was evaluated by analyzing changes in motor fluctuations, dyskinesia and the patients’ QoL after initiating therapy. The safety of LCIG therapy was estimated by noting agent-related adverse events (AEs) and medical device-related AEs. In the 113 patients included, we observed a significant improvement in PD symptoms after initiation of LCIG therapy. The “on” period increased, with a mean value of 6.14 h, and the dyskinesia period was reduced, with a mean value of 29.4 %. The quantified non-motor symptoms subsided. The patients exhibited significant improvements in QoL scores. There were few AEs and few cases of LCIG therapy discontinuation. LCIG is an important and available therapeutic option for managing patients with advanced PD.
This article is about a topical theme, namely that of leaving a workplace, by an employee. The paper proposes that on the basis of input data, to make an estimate of the probability of leaving a job ...by a particular employee. In order to make such a prediction, the authors of the paper propose the use of artificial intelligence elements, namely artificial neural networks. Artificial neural networks have the ability to generalize, based on a history. The probability of abandonment of a job, is determined empirically, because there is not an exact mathematical formula. When we do not know the equation after which a particular process takes place, to make an estimation, neural networks are excellent tools.
The inflatable modular systems are currently used in training and instruction specific to maritime applications. The main requirements imposed to this kind of systems are represented by: water and ...air impermeability; high resistance to the UV radiation action, to hydrolysis and to abrasion; resistance both to chemicals contained in seawater, and to the action of microorganisms, bacteria, mildews etc. For the accomplishment of the modular system was develop a composite material having the following physical and mechanical characteristics: mass: 173 gsqm −1; breaking resistance: min.72 daN5cm −1 (for both systems); breaking elongation: min. 40% for weft and warp; air permeability: 0 cfm, resistance to water penetration: 1000 mm H 2O col. The floating target was designed considering the minimum requirements imposed to the system, regarding the maximum tension of the basic supports that must not exceed the allowed tension, for the wind speeds of 31 ms −1, a sea agitation of 7 bf. The experimental programme performed in collaboration with the maritime authorities demonstrated that the inflatable modular system has the dimensional, gravimetric and functional characteristics that correspond to the requirements imposed by the final application.
The assimilation of synthetic macromolecular compounds in the interdisciplinary fields represented by the medicine and therapeutics, must address the complexity of the problems imposed by the ...application field, mainly resulting from the temporary or long-term contact of the polymeric materials with the tissues and biological substances. In this context, polymeric biomaterials are defined as polymers or polymeric composite types certified as biocompatible in contact with the biostructures. Comparing to conventional procedures, ultrasonic welding is a domain with a lower overall weight, but with exceptional development and dissemination perspectives in different industrial branches (automotive, electrotechnical, electronics, microelectronics, medical devices), which involves techniques of combining new materials, biocompatible, intelligent composites, with shape memory, etc. Through their geometric, technical, bio functional and biomedical characteristics, the implantable medical devices must meet the imposed requirements, mainly represented by: chemical inertia, resistance to infections, adequate ratio between flexibility and dimensional stability, adaptability to the defect geometry and high bursting resistance etc.
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