Understanding the magnitude of food loss and waste (FLW), and where in the value chain it occurs, can provide policy perspectives for targeting innovations and business opportunities to reduce FLW. ...Since the seminal 2011 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report on global FLW and the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3 (By 2030, halve per capita global food waste), there has been a surge of research efforts quantifying FLW in recent years. However, there is disagreement over how best to measure FLW. Without reliable data, it will be challenging to derive policy and action that target FLW hotspots. In this synthesis, we review the available tools for measuring FLW, their advantages and disadvantages, and comprehensively assess their ranking in terms of accuracy, cost, and meaningfulness. The methods for quantifying FLW may vary according to the stages and types of a food supply chain, for which different resources and technical capabilities are required. Therefore, a strong call to standardize FLW quantification methodologies is imperative in order to harmonize measurement tools and methods.
X-ray observations have revealed that many microquasars and low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) exhibit narrow absorption features identified with resonant absorption from Fe XXV and Fe XXVI and other ...abundant ions. In many well studied systems there is evidence for blue-shifts, indicating outflowing plasmas. We succesfully model the changes in both the X-ray continuum and the Fe absorption features during dips from all the bright dipping LMXBs observed by XMM-Newton (EXO 0748-676, XB 1254-690, X 1624-490, MXB 1659-298, 4U 1746-371 and XB 1916-053) as resulting primarily from an increase in column density and a decrease in the ionization state of a highly-ionized absorber in a similar way as was done for XB 1323-619. This implies that the complex spectral changes in the X-ray continua observed from the dip sources as a class can be most simply explained primarily by changes in the highly ionized absorbers present in these systems. There is no need to invoke unusual abundances or partial covering of extended emission regions. Outside of the dips, the absorption line properties do not vary strongly with orbital phase. This implies that the ionized plasma has a cylindrical geometry with a maximum column density close to the plane of the accretion disk. Since dipping sources are simply normal LMXBs viewed from close to the orbital plane this implies that ionized plasmas are a common feature of LMXBs.
Cedecea neteri is a gram-negative, oxidase-negative bacillus, a rare pathogen. Few reports are emerging globally about its antimicrobial resistance pattern especially in immunocompromised individuals ...with comorbidities. C. neteri is a rare and unusual pathogen, unlike routine gram-negative urinary tract pathogens from the family of Enterobacteriaceae and therefore may be missed or misidentified by routine laboratories using conventional microbiology identification techniques. Hence, Cedecea infections may be under-reported. Physicians and microbiology technicians must be aware of such a rare pathogen, as most of the isolates are multi-drug-resistant and require combined antibiotic treatment with beta-lactamase inhibitors and hence pose a treatment challenge especially in immunocompromised patients with comorbidities. In recent years, it has been reported as an emerging opportunistic pathogen.
A theoretical investigation of the thermal conductivity of lightly Sr- and Zn-doped La
2
CuO
4
high temperature superconductor cuprates has been analyzed auspiciously. We used a quantum dynamical ...technique to develop the symbol of relaxation time and other scattering processes from frequency (energy) line widths in this formulation. The primary focus of this study is the effect of phonon-dopant atom scattering on the thermal conductivity of doped La
2
CuO
4
, as well as other dominant scattering mechanisms such as electron–phonon, cubic and quartic anharmonic phonon, cubic and quartic phonon interference, and phonon-magnon, among others. An acceptable level of agreement between theory and experiment has been reached.
Despite recent improvements in perinatal care, the incidence of neonatal brachial plexus palsy remains relatively common. CT myelography is currently considered to be the optimal imaging technique ...for evaluating nerve root integrity. Recent improvements in MR imaging techniques have made it an attractive alternative to evaluate nerve root avulsions (preganglionic injuries). We aim to demonstrate utility of MR imaging in the evaluation of normal and avulsed spinal nerve roots.
All study patients with clinically diagnosed neonatal brachial plexus palsy underwent MR imaging by use of a high-resolution, heavily T2-weighted (driven equilibrium) sequence. MR imaging findings were reviewed for presence of nerve root avulsion from C5-T1 and for presence of pseudomeningocele. The intraoperative findings were reviewed and compared with the preoperative MR imaging findings.
Thirteen patients (9 male, 4 female) underwent MR imaging; 6 patients underwent nerve reconstruction surgery, during which a total of 19 nerve roots were evaluated. Eight avulsions were noted at surgery and in the remainder, the nerve injury was more distal (rupture/postganglionic injury). Six of the 8 nerve root avulsions identified at surgery were at C5-6 level, whereas 1 nerve root avulsion was identified at C7 and C8 levels, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of MR imaging for nerve root avulsions was 75% and 82%, respectively.
Our preliminary results demonstrate that high-resolution MR imaging offers an excellent alternative to CT myelography for the evaluation of neonatal brachial plexus palsy with similar sensitivity compared with CT myelography.
•Aqueous mixed systems of Pluronics® with cationic surfactants were studied.•Pluronic®–surfactant systems were found to be more efficient for HCT loading.•Drug release rates can be tune by the ...addition of varying amounts of cationic surfactant.•Different kinetic models are used to explain the in vitro drug release profile.
Moderately hydrophobic poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) block copolymers Pluronics® with 20>% PEO<80 form micelles in water with a hydrodynamic diameter of about 20nm. The aqueous mixed systems of Pluronics® P103, P104 and P105 Pluronics® with molecular weight of PPO=3250, and % of PEO 30, 40 and 50 respectively with cationic surfactants of the type alkyltrimethylammonium bromide (CnTAB, n=10, 12, 14 and 16) were studied in water and salt solution. It is apparent that the presence of trace amounts of cationic surfactant induces a charge on nonionic Pluronics® micelles and leads to a decrease in their size. The efficiency of surfactants to decrease micellar size depends on the alkyl chain length of the surfactants. A representative system, P103-C14TAB was chosen to investigate and the feasibility of using Pluronic®–surfactants systems compared with pure Pluronic® micelle as an in vitro release vehicle for hydrochlorothiazide (HCT); a hydrophobic diuretic drug with poor aqueous solubility. Pluronic®–surfactant systems were found to be more efficient for HCT loading; their loading capacity can be tuned by changing the surfactant concentration and pH. Drug release profiles were established for P103 and P103-C14TAB mixed systems. The rate of controlled release of HCT from micelles was explained by employing different kinetic models to examine the in vitro release profile.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome: a review Madnani, Nina; Khan, Kaleem; Chauhan, Phulrenu
Indian journal of dermatology, venereology, and leprology,
03/2014, Volume:
80, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Open access
The topic of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is vast and complex with many gray areas. It is extremely difficult to include all aspects of this condition in an article but we have tried to present ...as much data as possible. We appreciate the comments made after reading our article and give the following explanations.
MAXI J1659−152 is a bright X-ray transient black-hole candidate binary system discovered in September 2010. We report here on MAXI, RXTE, Swift, and XMM-Newton observations during its 2010/2011 ...outburst. We find that during the first one and a half week of the outburst the X-ray light curves display drops in intensity at regular intervals, which we interpret as absorption dips. About three weeks into the outbursts, again drops in intensity are seen. These dips have, however, a spectral behaviour opposite to that of the absorption dips, and are related to fast spectral state changes (hence referred to as transition dips). The absorption dips recur with a period of 2.414 ± 0.005 h, which we interpret as the orbital period of the system. This implies that MAXI J1659−152 is the shortest period black-hole candidate binary known to date. The inclination of the accretion disk with respect to the line of sight is estimated to be 65–80°. We propose the companion to the black-hole candidate to be close to an M5 dwarf star, with a mass and radius of about 0.15–0.25 M⊙ and 0.2–0.25 R⊙, respectively. We derive that the companion had an initial mass of about 1.5 M⊙, which evolved to its current mass in about 5–6 billion years. The system is rather compact (orbital separation of ≳1.33 R⊙), and is located at a distance of 8.6 ± 3.7 kpc, with a height above the Galactic plane of 2.4 ± 1.0 kpc. The characteristics of short orbital period and high Galactic scale height are shared with two other transient black-hole candidate X-ray binaries, i.e., XTE J1118+480 and Swift J1735.5−0127. We suggest that all three are kicked out of the Galactic plane into the halo, rather than being formed in a globular cluster.
The radiographic rectus width to hernia width ratio (RDR) has been shown to predict ability to close fascial defect without additional myofascial release in open Rives-Stoppa abdominal wall ...reconstruction (AWR), but it has not been studied in robotic AWR. We aimed to examine various CT measurements to determine their usability in predicting the need for transversus abdominis release (TAR) in robotic AWR.
We performed a single-center retrospective review of 137 patients with midline ventral hernias over a 5-year period who underwent elective robotic retrorectus AWR. We excluded patients with M1 or M5 hernias, lateral/flank hernias, and hybrid repairs. The CT measurements included hernia width (HW), hernia width/abdominal width ratio (HW/AW), and RDR. Univariate, multivariate and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were performed.
58/137 patients required TAR (32 unilateral, 26 bilateral). Patients undergoing TAR had a significantly higher average HW and HW/AW and lower RDR. Multivariate analysis revealed that prior hernia repair was independently associated with need for TAR (p = 0.03). ROC analysis and AUC values showed acceptable diagnostic ability of HW, HW/AW and RDR in predicting need for TAR. Cutoffs of RDR ≤ 2, HW/AW > 0.3, and HW > 10 cm yielded high specificity in determining need for any TAR (97.5% vs. 96.2% vs. 92.4%) or bilateral TAR (95.5% vs. 94.6% vs. 92.8%).
History of prior hernia repair was a risk factor for robotic TAR. CT measurements have some predictive value in determining need for TAR in robotic AWR. Further prospective analysis is needed in this patient population.
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► Interaction of ILs with Pluronic micelles is proposed. ► Interaction studied by DLS, SANS, NMR technique. ► NOESY indicates PPO block interaction with alkyl group of IL. ► Through ...this kind of interactions, Cnmim BF4 and P103 can form mixed micelles.
The effect of three ionic liquids (ILs) 1-alkyl 3-methyl imidazlolium tetraflouroborates (Cnmim BF4n=4, 6, 8) on micellar solutions of an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer (PEO–PPO–PEO), Pluronic® P103 was examined from scattering and NMR techniques. The ILs alter the cloud point and micelle size dependant on their alkyl chain length and the results are discussed in terms of their behavior as cosolvent/cosurfactant. Cloud point data support the hydrogen bonding between the imidazolium cation and P103 while dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) reveal that presence of ionic liquid is not conducive to the micelle formation of P103. The selective nuclear Overhauser effect (NOESY) indicates that the PPO block of the P103 interacts with the alkyl group of the Cnmim+ cation by hydrophobic interaction. Through this kind of interactions, Cnmim BF4 and P103 can form mixed micelles. This result indicates that the presence of ILs hinders the micelle formation of P103 in solution and promotes P103 to orient at air/water interface.
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