This work reports a combined coagulation-electrocoagulation process using a biocoagulant from the
Opuntia ficus-indica
for treatment of cheese whey wastewater. The process parameters as pH, ...biocoagulant dosage, and current density were evaluated from the chemometric tools. A Box-Behnken design was used, having as responses the removal percentages of turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results showed that for the studied variable ranges, linear models were obtained and the pH was parameter more significant for treatment proposed. The pH showed synergic effect with the investigated parameters, while the biocoagulant dosage and density current showed antagonistic effects. The desirability function was used to optimization of process, and suggested values were pH 10.0, biocoagulant dosage of 4.4 g L
−1
, and current density of 31.5 mA cm
−2
, which showed removals of turbidity and COD of 98.9 and 83.8%, respectively.
A South African beef quality survey van Wyngaard, B.E.; Strydom, P.E.; Hugo, A.
Meat science,
April 2023, 2023-Apr, 2023-04-00, 20230401, Letnik:
198
Journal Article
Recenzirano
In this study a survey of various meat quality characteristics of beef loin cuts was conducted in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (Gauteng Province of South Africa) to determine the ...variation and consistency of beef quality of products purchased over time. Four hundred and twenty beef loin samples were collected on 20 occasions over 308 days from 13 outlets of 2 supplier types (butcher and supermarket). Packaging type, label information and price were considered for the evaluation of meat tenderness, colour, cooking loss, tissue composition and steak thickness. The results demonstrate that large variation in characteristics relevant to consumers' choice and satisfaction among and within different products sold as porterhouse steak in South Africa. In particular, muscle tenderness varied (P < 0.0001) across the 20 products and also showed significant inconsistency over the 20 purchasing events for certain products.
•Inconsistency in quality of beef likely will negatively impact beef consumption.•Twenty percent of beef loin samples were on par with Food Service tenderness levels.•Price and packaging are poor indicators of quality, particular tenderness.•Labels claiming extended aging accomplished the lowest shear force results.
Beta-blocking agents reduce the risk of hospitalization and death in patients with mild-to-moderate heart failure, but little is known about their effects in severe heart failure.
We evaluated 2289 ...patients who had symptoms of heart failure at rest or on minimal exertion, who were clinically euvolemic, and who had an ejection fraction of less than 25 percent. In a double-blind fashion, we randomly assigned 1133 patients to placebo and 1156 patients to treatment with carvedilol for a mean period of 10.4 months, during which standard therapy for heart failure was continued. Patients who required intensive care, had marked fluid retention, or were receiving intravenous vasodilators or positive inotropic drugs were excluded.
There were 190 deaths in the placebo group and 130 deaths in the carvedilol group. This difference reflected a 35 percent decrease in the risk of death with carvedilol (95 percent confidence interval, 19 to 48 percent; P=0.00013, unadjusted; P=0.0014, adjusted for interim analyses). A total of 507 patients died or were hospitalized in the placebo group, as compared with 425 in the carvedilol group. This difference reflected a 24 percent decrease in the combined risk of death or hospitalization with carvedilol (95 percent confidence interval, 13 to 33 percent; P<0.001). The favorable effects on both end points were seen consistently in all the subgroups we examined, including patients with a history of recent or recurrent cardiac decompensation. Fewer patients in the carvedilol group than in the placebo group withdrew because of adverse effects or for other reasons (P=0.02).
The previously reported benefits of carvedilol with regard to morbidity and mortality in patients with mild-to-moderate heart failure were also apparent in the patients with severe heart failure who were evaluated in this trial.
Abstract Purpose To explore the course of psychological distress and body image at long-term follow-up (6–9 years) after prophylactic mastectomy and breast reconstruction (PM/BR) in women at risk for ...hereditary breast cancer, and to identify pre-PM risk factors for poor body image on the long-term. Methods Psychological distress (general and breast cancer specific) and body image (general and breast specific) were assessed in 36 high-risk women before PM (T0), at 6 months (T1) and 6–9 years (T2) after PM/BR. Investigated predictive variables (assessed at T0) for long-term body image (assessed at T2) included psychological distress, body image and coping styles. Results Breast cancer specific and general distress significantly decreased from T0 to T1 as well as from T1 to T2. Problems regarding breast related and general body image were significantly higher at T1 than at T0. Subsequently, breast related body image scores significantly decreased from T1 to T2, while the decrease in general body image scores were not significant. Active coping and seeking social support were predictive of lower scores (i.e. less problems) on breast related and general body image at long-term follow-up. Furthermore, higher scores on general body image before PM/BR were predictive for increased general body image scores at long-term follow-up. Conclusion Our findings indicate that psychological distress is decreased after PM/BR, at the cost of persistent problems regarding body image. Exploration of coping styles and body image perception before PM/BR may help to identify vulnerable women who may benefit from additional support.
In this paper, we report the synthesis of CuWO
4
, MnWO
4
, and FTO|CuWO
4
|MnWO
4
as type II heterojunction thin film prepared by the drop-casting method. These thin films were synthesized by ...microwave-hydrothermal method with pure phase formation confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The photoelectrochemical response of these films was investigated under simulated illumination with AM 1.5 G type filter. The heterojunction displayed photocurrent density values two times higher than the FTO|CuWO
4
film, reaching 39 μA/cm
2
at 1.23 V versus normal hydrogen electrode. Optical and electrochemical characterizations revealed superior visible light absorption and lower charge transfer resistance for the FTO|CuWO
4
|MnWO
4
heterojunction thin film. Low photoluminescence emission and transient photocurrent data confirmed a decreased electronic charge transfer between the valence and the conduction band, besides a reduced electron–hole recombination rate for the FTO|CuWO
4
|MnWO
4
heterojunction film. Mott-Schottky photocurrent response investigation revealed that the FTO|CuWO
4
|MnWO
4
heterojunction thin film can be considered an excellent photoanode for photoelectrocatalytic applications under solar irradiation. Finally, the heterojunction exhibited better performance for the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB), corresponding to 55.5% at 165 min.
Graphical abstract
To investigate Dutch women’s attitudes and preferences towards hysterectomy or uterus preservation in surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.
Women’s attitude was assessed by a structured ...questionnaire in one university hospital and one non-university teaching hospital in the Netherlands. Between December 2013 and November 2014, 102 women referred with prolapse complaints, without previous prolapse surgery, responded to the questionnaire received by mail prior to gynaecological consultation. Main outcome was the preference for uterus preserving surgery versus hysterectomy. Furthermore we studied the impact of uterus preservation and hysterectomy on body image and sexual function and the importance of treatment success, risk of urinary incontinence after surgery, complication risk, recovery time, length of hospital stay, costs and the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
Assuming that functional and anatomical outcomes after hysterectomy and uterus preserving surgery were equal, more women expressed preference for uterus preservation (43%, 44 out of 102 women) compared to hysterectomy (27%, 27 out of 102 women). The majority of women expected a similar improvement in sexuality and body image after the two treatment modalities. Treatment success, risk for urinary incontinence after surgery and complication risk were the most important factors. Taken the future risk of endometrial cancer into account, 18% of the women preferred hysterectomy because of this risk.
This study demonstrated that women referred with prolapse complaints have a preference for uterus preservation in case outcomes after both interventions are expected to be equal. The majority of women expected that body image and sexual function would equally improve after both interventions.
Article 59.1, of the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (ICN; Melbourne Code), which addresses the nomenclature of pleomorphic fungi, became effective from 30 July 2011. ...Since that date, each fungal species can have one nomenclaturally correct name in a particular classification. All other previously used names for this species will be considered as synonyms. The older generic epithet takes priority over the younger name. Any widely used younger names proposed for use, must comply with Art. 57.2 and their usage should be approved by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). In this paper, we list all genera currently accepted by us in
Dothideomycetes
(belonging to 23 orders and 110 families), including pleomorphic and non-pleomorphic genera. In the case of pleomorphic genera, we follow the rulings of the current ICN and propose single generic names for future usage. The taxonomic placements of 1261 genera are listed as an outline. Protected names and suppressed names for 34 pleomorphic genera are listed separately. Notes and justifications are provided for possible proposed names after the list of genera. Notes are also provided on recent advances in our understanding of asexual and sexual morph linkages in
Dothideomycetes
. A phylogenetic tree based on four gene analyses supported 23 orders and 75 families, while 35 families still lack molecular data.
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) affects up to 40% of parous women which adversely affects the quality of life. During a life time, 20% of all women will undergo an operation. In general the guidelines ...advise a vaginal operation in case of uterine descent: hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament plication (VH), sacrospinous hysteropexy (SSH) or a modified Manchester operation (MM). In the last decade, renewed interest in uterus sparing techniques has been observed. Previous studies have shown non-inferiority between SSH and VH. Whether or not SSH and MM are comparable concerning anatomical and functional outcome is still unknown. The practical application of both operations is at least in The Netherlands a known cause of practice pattern variation (PPV). To reveal any difference between both techniques the SAM-study was designed.
The SAM-study is a randomized controlled multicentre non-inferiority study which compares SSH and MM. Women with symptomatic POP in any stage, uterine descent and POP-Quantification (POP-Q) point D at ≤ minus 1 cm are eligible. The primary outcome is the composite outcome at two years of absence of prolapse beyond the hymen in any compartment, the absence of bulge symptoms and absence of reoperation for pelvic organ prolapse. Secondary outcomes are hospital parameters, surgery related morbidity/complications, pain perception, further treatments for prolapse or urinary incontinence, POP-Q anatomy in all compartments, quality-of-life, sexual function, and cost-effectiveness. Follow-up takes place at 6 weeks, 12 and 24 months. Additionally at 12 weeks, 6 and 9 months cost-effectiveness will be assessed. Validated questionnaires will be used and gynaecological examination will be performed. Analysis will be performed following the intention-to-treat and per protocol principle. With a non-inferiority margin of 9% and an expected loss to follow-up of 10%, 424 women will be needed to prove non-inferiority with a confidence interval of 95%.
This study will evaluate the effectiveness and costs of SSH versus MM in women with primary POP. The evidence will show whether the existing PPV is detrimental and a de-implementation process regarding one of the operations is needed.
Dutch Trial Register (NTR 6978, http://www.trialregister.nl ). Date of registration: 29 January 2018. Prospectively registered.
Abstract Background A small percentage of neonates with sacrococcygeal teratoma die shortly after birth from haemorrhagic complications. The incidence of and risk factors associated with haemorrhagic ...mortality are unknown. In this multicentre study we determined the incidence of early death in neonates born with SCT and evaluated potential risk factors for haemorrhagic mortality. Methods 235 children with SCT treated from 1970 to 2010 in the Netherlands were retrospectively included. The following candidate risk factors for haemorrhagic mortality were examined: sex, prematurity, Altman type, tumour-volume, tumour-histology, necessity of emergency operation and time of diagnosis. Results Eighteen patients (7.7%) died at a median age of 163.5 days (range 1.7–973 days). Nine patients died of a malignancy. Nine others (3.8%) died postnatally (age 1–27 days), six even within two days after birth. In seven of these nine patients death was related to tumourhaemorrhage and/or circulatory failure. Risk factors for haemorrhagic mortality were prematurity, tumour volume > 1000 cm3 and performance of an emergency operation. Conclusions Haemorrhagic mortality of neonates with SCT is relatively high (3.8%) representing almost 70% of the overall mortality in the neonatal period. High-output cardiac failure, internal tumour haemorrhage and perioperative bleeding were the most common causes of early death and were all strongly associated with larger tumour sizes.
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