Summary
Background
The incidence of acute pancreatitis has increased sharply in many European countries and the USA in recent years.
Aim
To establish trends in incidence and mortality for acute ...pancreatitis in Wales, UK, and to assess how incidence may be linked to factors including social deprivation, seasonal effects and alcohol consumption.
Methods
Use of record linked inpatient, mortality and primary care data for 10 589 hospitalised cases of acute pancreatitis between 1999 and 2010.
Results
The incidence of acute pancreatitis was 30.0 per 100 000 population overall, mortality was 6.4% at 60 days. Incidence increased significantly from 27.6 per 100 000 in 1999 to 36.4 in 2010 (average annual increase = 2.7% per year), there was little trend in mortality (0.2% average annual reduction). The largest increases in incidence were among women aged <35 years (7.9% per year) and men aged 35–44 (5.7%) and 45–54 (5.3%). Incidence was 1.9 times higher among the most deprived quintile of patients compared with the most affluent (3.9 times higher for alcoholic acute pancreatitis and 1.5 for gallstone acute pancreatitis). Acute pancreatitis was increased significantly during the Christmas and New Year weeks by 48% (95% CI = 24–77%) for alcoholic aetiology, but not for gallstone aetiology (9%). Alcoholic admissions were increased with higher consumption of spirits and beer, but not wine.
Conclusions
The study shows an elevated rate of alcoholic acute pancreatitis during the Christmas and New Year period. Acute pancreatitis continues to rise, most rapidly for young women, while alcoholic acute pancreatitis is linked strongly with social deprivation.
In this study, the interface microstructure evolutions of the explosively welded cp-Titanium/AISI 304 stainless steel composites due to heat treatment are presented. The composites were subjected to ...heat treatment process at temperature ranges of 650–950°C in argon atmosphere for 1h. The investigations were carried out by using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results reveal the presence of reaction layers in the diffusion zone. The compositions of the reaction products were determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Furthermore, the composition–penetration plots for Ti, Fe, Cr and Ni across the interface were obtained from EDS microanalysis. Concentration of discontinuities in the profiles indicating the formation of intermetallics in the diffusion zone that were also detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method, on the Ti-side of fractured surfaces. The results show that post-heating of the composite layers in these temperatures causes to form different intermetallic phases at the joint interface. Moreover, post-heating increases the width of interfacial layers of the composite.
A subregular solution thermodynamic model was used to calculate the stacking fault energies (SFEs) of high-manganese (10 to 35 wt pct) steels with carbon contents of 0 to 1.2 wt pct. Based on these ...calculations, composition-dependent diagrams were developed showing the regions of different SFE values for the mentioned composition range. These diagrams were called SFE maps. In addition, variations in the SFE maps were observed through increasing the temperature, aluminum content, and austenite grain size. These changes were seen either as an increasing trend of SFE caused by raising the temperature and aluminum content, or as a decreasing behavior caused by increasing the grain size. The SFE value of 20 mJ/m
2
within these diagrams was introduced as the upper limit for the strain-induced martensite formation. The variations in this limit caused by increasing the temperature and aluminum content were mathematically evaluated to find out the minimum amount of manganese that was required to avoid the martensitic transformation. By introducing the isocarbon and isomanganese diagrams of the SFE, it was seen that both temperature and aluminum had a greater effect on the SFE when added to the steels with the lower manganese contents. Moreover, by adding more aluminum to the composition of the high-manganese steels, its influence on the SFE decreased continuously.
In this investigation, quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) modelling of adsorption coefficients of 69 aromatic compounds on multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was studied using the ...Monte Carlo method. QSPR models were calculated with CORAL software, and optimal descriptors were calculated with the simplified molecular input line entry system (SMILES) and hydrogen-suppressed molecular graphs (HSGs). The aromatic compound data set was randomly split into training, invisible training, calibration and validation sets. Analysis of three probes of the Monte Carlo optimization with three random splits was done. The results from three random splits displayed robust, very simple, predictable and reliable models for the training, invisible training, calibration and validation sets with a coefficient of determination (r
2
) equal to 0.9463-0.8528, 0.9020-0.8324, 0.9606-0.9178 and 0.9573-0.8228, respectively. As a result, the models obtained help to identify the hybrid descriptors for the increase and the decrease of the adsorption coefficient of aromatic compounds on MWCNTs. This simple QSPR model can be used for the prediction of the adsorption coefficient of numerous aromatic compounds on MWCNTs.
Thermodynamic stacking fault energy (SFE) maps were developed using the subregular solution model for the Fe-Mn-Al-C system. These maps were used to explain the variations in the work-hardening ...behavior of high-manganese steels, both through experiments and by comparison with the published data. The suppression of the transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) mechanism, the similarity between the shape of the work-hardening rate diagrams for the produced iso-SFE materials, and an earlier onset of stage C of work hardening by decreasing SFE were shown to be efficiently predictable by the given mechanism maps. To overcome the limitations arising from studying the deformation response of high-manganese steels by SFE values alone, for example, the different work-hardening rate of iso-SFE materials, an empirical criterion for the occurrence of short-range ordering (SRO) and the consequently enhanced work-hardening, was proposed. The calculated values based on this criterion were superimposed on the thermodynamics-based mechanism maps to establish a more accurate basis for material design in high-manganese iron-based systems. Finally, the given methodology is able to clarify the work-hardening behavior of high-manganese twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) steels across an extensive range of chemical compositions.
Quadrotors Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Review Ghazbi, S. Norouzi; Aghli, Y.; Alimohammadi, M. ...
International journal on smart sensing and intelligent systems,
03/2016, Letnik:
9, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Quadrotors are Vertical Take-Off and Landing aerial vehicles with many potential applications ranging from mapping to supporting rescue operations. This paper aims to provide an overview on various ...works carried out on the quadrotor, from the perspective of control and dynamic modelling. Also in this paper, based on the information summarized from 160 researches available, different control targets and flight missions are analysed and classified, and according to it, a general flight mission map is introduced. In addition, history of advances in development of quadrotors and set-ups proposed when performing experimental researches on quadrotors is presented
Summary
Background
There is little up‐to‐date review evidence on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori across Europe.
Aim
To establish regional and national patterns in H. pylori prevalence across ...Europe. Secondly, to establish trends over time in H. pylori prevalence and gastric cancer incidence and, thirdly, to report on the relationship between H. pylori prevalence and age group across Europe.
Methods
A review of H. pylori prevalence from unselected surveys of adult or general populations across 35 European countries and four European regions since 1990. Secondly, an analysis of trends over time in H. pylori prevalence and in gastric cancer incidence from cancer registry data.
Results
Helicobacter pylori prevalence was lower in northern and western Europe than in eastern and southern Europe (P < 0.001). In 11 of 12 European studies that reported on trends, there were sharp reductions in H. pylori prevalence (mean annual reduction = 3.1%). The mean annual reduction in the incidence of gastric cancer across Europe from 1993 to 2007 was 2.1% with little variation regionally across Europe (north 2.2%, west 2.3%, east 1.9% and south 2.0%). Sharp increases in age‐related prevalence of H. pylori often levelled off for middle age groups of about 50 years onwards, especially in areas with high prevalence.
Conclusions
This review shows that H. pylori prevalence is much higher in less affluent regions of Europe and that age‐related increases in prevalence are confined to younger age groups in some areas. There were sharp reductions in both H. pylori prevalence and gastric cancer incidence throughout Europe.
Partial discharge (PD) detection in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) range is state of the art. One of the most critical points in this detection method is adopting proper and suitable antenna design. ...In this paper, a new design of UHF antennas is introduced which is suitable to be used on the transformers in the HV laboratories of the manufacturers. To ensure the applicability of the new antenna, experimental UHF PD measurements are carried out on a transformer tank model as well as on the real power transformers. Installing several UHF antennas on the transformer tank to perform defect localization is also an important issue. There are rigorous limitations and lack of the places to install the antennas. This problem is almost solved by using the mentioned new antenna design. The proper positioning of the antennas is the other critical point in the UHF method. Placing the antennas in improper positions will damage the localization accuracy. In this paper, an automatic algorithm is introduced to determine the best installation positions for the antennas to enhance the localization accuracy. The efficacy of this algorithm is investigated by using the results of experimental measurements on power transformers.
Reconstruction of the lip is a necessary procedure when lip tumors are excised. Although many good techniques have been described, they often have disadvantages such as necrosis and extensive suture ...lines. In our approach, we aim to minimize the suture line and avoid tissue necrosis for medium-sized lip defects (30–80 %). This is a surgical technique report from a single center. After tumor resection, we made a bilateral 15 mm horizontal skin and mucosa incision from the angles of the lip to the lateral sides. The mucosa and skin were dissected from the underlying muscle, and the muscle was cut approximately 15 mm on each side. The lip defect was then closed and sutured in four layers. Finally, the released mucosa was sutured to the corner of the incised skin. We followed the patients for 36 months and found that their speech intelligibility, sensation, mobility, and aesthetic satisfaction were preserved. The scars were also less pronounced compared to flaps, and there were no signs of edema or drooling. In conclusion, our technique offers many advantages for moderate defects of lower lip tumors. By avoiding the use of flaps, we eliminate the complications associated with flap surgery while achieving aesthetically satisfactory results. However, further evaluation by other surgeons is necessary to fully examine the technique's benefits.
Reduced rates of help seeking by those who self-harmed during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported.
To understand changes in healthcare service contacts for self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic ...across primary, emergency and secondary care.
This retrospective cohort study used routine electronic healthcare data for Wales, United Kingdom, from 2016 to March 14, 2021. Population-based data from primary care, emergency departments and hospital admissions were linked at individual-level. All Welsh residents aged ≥10 years over the study period were included in the study. Primary, emergency and secondary care contacts with self-harm at any time between 2016 and March 14, 2021 were identified. Outcomes were counts, incidence, prevalence and proportion of self-harm contacts relative to all contacts in each and all settings, as well as the proportion of people contacting one or more settings with self-harm. Weekly trends were modelled using generalised estimated equations, with differences between 2020 (to March 2021) and comparison years 2016-2018 (to March 2017-2019) quantified using difference in differences, from which mean rate of odds ratios (μROR) across years was reported.
The study included 3,552,210 individuals over the study period. Self-harm contacts reduced across services in March and December 2020 compared to previous years. Primary care contacts with self-harm reduced disproportionately compared to non-self-harm contacts (μROR = 0.7, p<0.05), while their proportion increased in emergency departments during April 2020 (μROR = 1.3, p<0.05 in 2/3 comparison years) and hospital admissions during April-May 2020 (μROR = 1.2, p<0.05 in 2/3 comparison years). Despite this, those who self-harmed in April 2020 were more likely to be seen in primary care than other settings compared to previous years (μROR = 1.2, p<0.05). A lower proportion of those with self-harm contacts in emergency departments were subsequently admitted to hospital in December 2020 compared to previous years (μROR = 0.5, p<0.05).
These findings suggest that those who self-harmed during the COVID-19 pandemic may have been less likely to seek help, and those who did so faced more stringent criteria for admission. Communications encouraging those who self-harm to seek help during pandemics may be beneficial. However, this needs to be supported by maintained provision of mental health services.
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