Moderate or Intense Low Oxygen Dilution (MILD) combustion is a regime in which fuels burn in a distributed reaction zone generating ultra-low emissions and no visible flame front. Also known as ...flameless combustion, it can be achieved by recirculating flue gases into the reaction zone. A recirculation factor based on the mass recirculated is used to characterize a flameless regime. However, the original definition of MILD is based on the temperature levels of a reactor. This work connects both criteria by introducing a parameter called recirculation ratio derived theoretically from a mass balance. The ratio was numerically calculated by simulating a network of perfectly stirred reactors and performing an energy balance using open-source software. This methodology was validated against experimental and simulated data from the literature. Simulations were carried out for methane, ethane, propane, and hydrogen under adiabatic conditions and equivalence ratios from 0.6 to 1. Results indicate that a critical recirculation ratio is required for establishing unconditional MILD combustion, which changes with fuel type and equivalence ratio. In all cases studied, the critical ratio diminishes as the equivalence ratio is reduced. Hydrogen and methane require the highest and lowest critical ratio, respectively. Results suggest that externally diluting hydrogen with carbon dioxide could potentially reduce recirculation requirements for MILD combustion.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an important zoonotic disease caused by the cestode parasite Echinococcus granulosus. It occurs in many parts of the world where pastoral activities predominate, ...including the Rio Negro province of Argentina. Although CE control activities have been undertaken in the western regions of Rio Negro for more than two decades, the disease continues to remain prevalent in both the human and livestock animal populations. Vaccination of animal intermediate hosts of CE with the EG95 vaccine may provide a new opportunity to improve the effectiveness of CE control measures, although data are lacking about field application of the vaccine.
Evaluate the impact of EG95 vaccination in sheep on the transmission of Echinococcus granulosus in a field environment.
Two trial sites were established in western Rio Negro province within indigenous communities. Vaccination of lambs born into one trial site was introduced and continued for 6 years. Prior to initiation of the trial, and at the end of the trial, the prevalence of CE in sheep was determined by necropsy. Weaned lambs received two injections of EG95 vaccine, approximately one month apart, and a single booster injection one year later. Vaccination was not implemented at the second trial site. A total of 2725 animals were vaccinated in the first year. Animals from this cohort as well as age-matched sheep from the control area were evaluated by necropsy.
Introduction of the vaccine led to a statistically significant in the number and size of hydatid cysts in comparison to the situation prior to the introduction of the vaccine, or compared to CE prevalence in the control area where the vaccine was not applied. The prevalence of infection in the vaccinated area was also significantly reduced by 62% compared to the re-intervention level, being lower than the prevalence seen in the control area, although the difference from the control area after the intervention was not significant possibly due to limitations in the numbers of animals available for necropsy.
Vaccination of sheep with the EG95 vaccine provides a valuable new tool which improves the effectiveness of CE control activities. Vaccination was effective even in a difficult, remote environment where only approximately half the lambs born into the communities were fully vaccinated.
Abstract Objectives Heart failure (HF) is associated with changes in myocardial metabolism that lead to impairment of contractile function. Trimetazidine (TMZ) modulates cardiac energetic efficiency ...and improves outcomes in ischemic heart disease. We evaluated the effects of TMZ on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac metabolism, exercise capacity, O2 uptake, and quality of life in patients with nonischemic HF. Methods and Results Sixty patients with stable nonischemic HF under optimal medical therapy were included in this randomized double-blind study. Patients were randomized to TMZ (35 mg orally twice a day) or placebo for 6 months. LVEF, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), maximum O2 uptake in cardiopulmonary exercise test, different markers of metabolism, oxidative stress, and endothelial function, and quality of life were assessed at baseline and after TMZ treatment. Left ventricular peak glucose uptake was evaluated with the use of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) by 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18 FDG-PET). Etiology was idiopathic in 85% and hypertensive in 15%. Both groups were similar in age, functional class, LVEF, and levels of N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide at baseline. After 6 months of TMZ treatment, no changes were observed in LVEF (31 ± 10% vs 34 ± 8%; P = .8), 6MWT (443 ± 25 m vs 506 ± 79 m; P = .03), maximum O2 uptake (19.1 ± 5.0 mL kg−1 min−1 vs 23.0 ± 7.2 mL kg−1 min−1 ; P = .11), functional class (percentages of patients in functional classes I/II/III/IV 10/3753/0 vs 7/40/50/3; P = .14), or quality of life (32 ± 26 points vs 24 ± 18 points; P = .25) in TMZ versus placebo, respectively. In the subgroup of patients evaluated with18 FDG-PET, no significant differences were observed in SUV between both groups (7.0 ± 3.6 vs 8.2 ± 3.4 respectively; P = .47). Conclusions In patients with nonischemic HF, the addition of TMZ to optimal medical treatment does not result in significant changes of LVEF, exercise capacity, O2 uptake, or quality of life.
Este estudio analiza el impacto sobre una muestra de empresas chilenas que han utilizado la franquicia tributaria SENCE para capacitar a sus trabajadores. El impacto del programa se evalúa con el ...método cuasi-experimental de datos de panel utilizando la primera, segunda y tercera rondas de la Encuesta Longitudinal de Empresas, realizada por el Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Chile. A pesar de que diversos estudios previos muestran efectos positivos y estadísticamente significativos sobre los trabajadores capacitados en términos de empleabilidad y/o remuneraciones, los resultados de este estudio muestran que no ocurre necesariamente lo mismo a nivel de empresas, ya que no existen impactos significativos sobre las ventas ni crecimiento de las ventas, pero se observa un incremento en las ventas por empleado y la contratación de trabajadores de producción calificados.
This study analyses the impact that a tax credit known as ‘franquicia SENCE’ for labor training has on a sample of Chilean firms. A quasi-experimental method is used to evaluate the impact of this program, using data from the first, second and third wave of the Longitudinal Survey of Firms, applied by the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas of Chile. Although several previous studies show positive and statistically significant effects on treated workers (employability and/or wages), the results of this study show that this is not completely true at the firm level, since there are no significant impacts on sales and sales growth. However, there is an increase in sales per employee and in hiring skilled production workers.
Este estudo analisa o impacto sobre uma amostra de empresas chilenas que usaram a isenção fiscal SENCE para treinar seus trabalhadores. O impacto do programa é avaliado com o método quase-experimental de dados em painel usando a primeira, segunda e terceira rodada da Pesquisa Longitudinal Negócios, realizado pelo Instituto Nacional de Estatísticas do Chile. Embora vários estudos anteriores mostram efeitos positivos e estatisticamente significativos sobre os trabalhadores qualificados em termos de empregabilidade e/ou remuneração, os resultados deste estudo mostram que não necessariamente ocorre a mesma coisa ao nível da empresa, já que não existem impactos significativos sobre vendas nem crescimento de vendas, mas um aumento nas vendas por empregado e contratação de trabalhadores de produção qualificados é observado.
At present, there is a proliferation of virtualization technologies (VTs), which are part of the basic and underlying infrastructure of popular cloud computing. Those interested in VTs are faced with ...a non-unified volume of information and various approaches to modes of operation, classification structures, and the performance implications of these technologies. This makes it difficult to decide which type of VT is appropriate for a particular context. Therefore, this paper reviews the state of the art on VT taxonomic models. Methodologically, a literature review is carried out to identify VT classification models, recognizing their features and weaknesses. With this in mind, a new taxonomy of virtualization technologies is proposed, which responds to the weaknesses identified in the analyzed schemes. The new VT taxonomy combines the Abstraction Level and Virtual Machine Type approaches, providing the reader with a means to visualize VTs. In doing so, the reader can locate the level of abstraction at which each VT is developed, in addition to the type of machine projected, whether it is a complete system or an execution environment for processes. The proposed taxonomy can be used in the academic environment to facilitate teaching processes or in the business environment to facilitate decision-making when implementing VTs.
La dieta y los hábitos mediáticos de las comunidades inmigrantes han sido estudiados desde una perspectiva alejada de las propias interpretaciones de los protagonistas. En este artículo pondremos la ...mirada en la experiencia mediática de estos nuevos miembros de la sociedad de acogida desde la percepción que construyen de dichos hábitos. El trabajo de campo incluye 8 grupos de discusión con individuos de 5 nacionalidades hispanoamericanas. Asimismo, se realizaron 18 entrevistas en profundidad a diferentes perfiles representativos de la comunidad hispanoamericana. Los resultados nos permiten mostrar cómo la dieta y los hábitos mediáticos son reconstruidos a través de las interacciones, creando una experiencia y una identidad que dotan a la comunidad diaspórica de un nuevo sentido del proceso migratorio. Se activan mecanismos de solidaridad entre hispanoamericanos; se impulsan espacios de encuentro y comunicación y se establecen canales más sólidos para la articulación de la acción cívica, política y cultural dentro del propio grupo.
Ventricular dyssynchrony is a common finding in patients with heart failure (HF), especially in the presence of conduction delays. The loss of ventricular synchrony leads to progressive impairment of ...contractile function, which may be explained in part by segmental abnormalities of myocardial metabolism. However, the association of these metabolic disarrangements with parameters of ventricular dyssynchrony and electrocardiography (ECG) findings has not yet been studied.
Our aim was to determine the correlation between the presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) with left ventricular (LV) mechanical synchrony assessed by multiple-gated acquisition scan (MUGA) and with patterns of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) uptake in patients with non-ischemic heart failure. Twenty-two patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤45% and New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class II or III symptoms under standard medical therapy were included, along with 10 healthy controls matched for age and gender. A 12-lead ECG was obtained to measure the length of the QRS. Mechanical LV synchrony was assessed by MUGA using phase analysis. All patients and controls underwent positron emission tomography with 18FDG to determine the distribution of myocardial glucose uptake. The standard deviation of peak (18)FDG uptake was used as an index of metabolic heterogeneity. Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation were used for statistical analysis.
The mean age of the patients with HF was 54 ± 12 years and 72% were male. The length of the QRS was 129 ± 31 milliseconds and LBBB was present in 9 patients. Patients with HF had decreased LV 18FDG uptake compared with controls (7.56 ± 3.36 vs. 11.63 ± 4.55 standard uptake value; p = 0.03). The length of the QRS interval correlated significantly with glucose uptake heterogeneity (r = 0.62; p = 0.002) and mechanical dyssynchrony (r = 0.63; p = 0.006). HF patients with LBBB showed marked glucose uptake heterogeneity compared with HF patients without LBBB (41.4 ± 10 vs 34.7 ± 4.9 ml/100 g/min, respectively; p = 0.01).
Patients with non-ischemic heart failure exhibit a global decrease in myocardial glucose uptake. Within this group, subjects who also have LBBB exhibit a marked heterogeneity in segmental glucose uptake, which directly correlates with QRS duration.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, often presenting with regional lymph node or bone metastasis and rarely with supradiaphragmatic lymph node involvement. Most metastatic cancers ...involving the cervical lymph nodes are from cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract. In this report, we describe two cases with cervical lymph node enlargement due to metastatic prostate cancer as the initial clinical presentation: a 43-year-old male, initially misdiagnosed with a tumor of the upper aerodigestive tract and an 87-year-old male with right lobe pneumonia and cervical lymph node enlargement, initially attributed to be an acute inflammatory lymph node reaction. To the best of our knowledge, there are less than 50 cases reported in the literature of adenocarcinoma of prostate metastatic to the cervical lymph nodes and only one case presenting in men younger than 45 years. The authors intend to highlight the importance of digital rectal exam and PSA test in case of persistent left cervical lymph node enlargement, including men younger than 45 years of age.
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