A longitudinal analysis of violence and healthcare service utilization in Mexico

Objectives We analyze the degree to which community violence in Mexico, largely due to organized crime violence, affects health care service utilization. Methods This study exploits temporal and geographic variation in monthly county-level homicide rates, matching outpatient service utilization from individual longitudinal measures. Sensitivity analyses test for an age specific concentration of violence, respiratory conditions that are likely unrelated to violence, insurance status and health center availability per capita. We test for distributional responses to violence by urban and rural localities. Results The likelihood of service utilization increases by 5.2% with each additional homicide per 100,000. When we include self-reported health conditions in the model, our main coefficient remains significant at 4.5%. We find no added effect to our results from interaction terms for age specific concentration of violence, respiratory conditions, insurance status, or health center availability. A substantial increase of 11.7% in the likelihood of service utilization occurs in localities with > = 100,000 inhabitants, suggesting that service utilization is sensitive to the location of violence. Conclusions Results highlight the relationship between and increase in violence at the local level and an increase in health care service utilization. This study is among the first to examine this relationship empirically in Mexico. Future research is needed to shed more light on this relationship and its mechanisms.

Comparative Analysis of Probabilistic Analysis and Deterministic Analysis by RESRAD Code

The decommissioning of nuclear facilities indicates that the site is finally released according to a limited or unlimited site reuse purpose. In this process, the assessment of exposure dose to decommissioning workers and nearby residents is essential. Based on MARSSIM, a widely used decommissioning guideline in the United States, derivation of the exposure dose and derived concentration guideline level (DCGL) is mandatory using the probabilistic analysis of the RESRAD code. Here, DCGL is the radionuclide-specific concentration that satisfies the site release criteria. By applying the priority 1 parameter, which has the greatest effect on the dose, the dose is derived through deterministic and probabilistic analyses. The results were compared and analyzed. The purpose of this study was to provide a basic database that can be applied to the development of parameter lists and distributions suitable for the characteristics of nuclear facilities in South Korea. In addition, the process of deriving the dose by applying the deterministic and probabilistic analyses of RESRAD was assessed.

Using Mobile– iPhone as New Visible Colour Detector for Determination of Pharmaceutical (Potassium Permanganate)

In this work the use of a mobile phone as a spectrophotometer using camera resolution by installing the software (application store AAP) on the phone (i Phone 6), which analyzes the colour images (RGB) in results with a colour length where it was possible to calculate the colour value of each image representing a specific concentration of the solution under study. A calibration curve with a range of (1 × 10-3 - 6.25 × 10-4) mmole.L-1 using optical image analysis with the concentration of the preparation of potassium permanganate (KMnO4). A calibration curve for statistical correlation range of 0.993 (R2) was found.

Size-Dependent Rheological Variability of Levan Produced by Gluconobacter Albidus TMW 2.1191

Levan is a fructan-type exopolysaccharide, which is produced by many microbes from sucrose via extracellular levansucrases. The hydrocolloid properties of levan depend on its molecular weight, while it is unknown why and to which extent levan is functionally diverse in dependence of its size. The aim of our study was to get deeper insights into the size-dependent, functional variability of levan. For this purpose, levans of different sizes were produced using the water kefir isolate Gluconobacter albidus TMW 2.1191 and subsequently rheologically characterized. Three levan types could be identified, which are similarly branched, but significantly differ in their molecular size and rheological properties among each other. The smallest levan (< 107 Da) produced without adjustment of the pH exhibited Newton-like flow behavior up to a specific concentration of 25% (w/v). On the contrary, larger levans (> 108 Da) produced at pH ≥ 4.5 were shear-thinning and showed a gel like behavior at ≥ 5% (w/v). A third (intermediate) levan variant was obtained via production in buffers at pH 4.0 and exhibited the properties of a viscoelastic fluid at ≥ 5% (w/v). Our study reveals that the variable size and composition of levan are controllable and more decisive for its functionality than the amount of exerted levan.

New Technological Scheme for Dredging Process

The present investigation aims to propose adevelopment of new technology for marine dredging operations. The main problem of dredging process connected with profit increase and reduction of time required to produce the necessary amount of soil. It is shown in the article that these can be achieved by changing the technology of slurryprocessing and transporting only. The specific concentration of water in the slurry reductionleads to an increase of the most important working indicator - the productivity of the dredger. Under the same conditions the dredging vessel’s operating time can be reduced by increasing the concentration of soil in the slurry. For this purpose, a new technological scheme was developed. It was describedhow to use the schemefor two typical operational modes of the vessel.The first one describes the process of slurry extraction and transportation through a nearshore deflate pipeline, and the second one, when the extracted soil enters the cargo hold of the dredger

Calculation of SS, TN and TP Specific Concentration Factors for Land-Use Types Using a Simple Watershed Model

To contribute to the prediction of rainfall-related disasters, specific concentration factors that indicate the suspended solid (SS), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) load intensities to river water for each land-use type were calculated using a simple watershed land-use model across Japan by applying the following multiple regression equation, according to the land-use ratios and published SS, TN and TP data. C=i=14aixi C: SS, TN and TP concentrations (mg L-1); ai: SS, TN and TP specific concentration factor for land use i; xi: ratio of land use i; land use: 1 paddy fields, 2 upland fields, 3 forests, 4 urban areas. The land-use ratios for watersheds, whose lower ends were observation points of river water quality, were determined by the GIS technique using a published database of DEM and LULC mesh data. The SS specific concentration factor was 15.4 (from a 95% lower limit value of 12.0 to a 95% upper limit value of 18.8), 11.5 (7.4 to 15.6), 3.9 (2.6 to 5.1), and 11.2 (9.2 to 13.2) for paddy fields, upland fields, forests and urban areas, respectively (n=5103). The TN specific concentration factor was 1.67 (from a 95% lower limit value of 1.34 to a 95% upper limit value of 2.01), 4.08 (3.64 to 4.51), 0.76 (0.67 to 0.90), and 3.57 (3.38 to 3.76) for paddy fields, upland fields, forests and urban areas, respectively (n=3256). The TP specific concentration factor was 0.146 (from a 95% lower limit value of 0.119 to a 95% upper limit value of 0.172), 0.172 (0.138 to 0.206), 0.044 (0.033 to 0.055), and 0.267 (0.253 to 0.282) for paddy fields, upland fields, forests and urban areas, respectively (n=3256). These specific concentration factors had regional tendencies, such as suburban or rural, intensive or extensive agriculture, and so on.

The Effect of Polydeoxyribonucleotide Extracted from Salmon Sperm on the Restoration of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Bisphosphonates (BPs) used for treating skeletal diseases can induce bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). Despite much effort, effective remedies are yet to be established. In the present study, we investigated the feasibility of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) extracted from salmon sperm for the treatment of BRONJ, in a BRONJ-induced rat model. Compared with BRONJ-induced samples, PDRN-treated samples exhibited lower necrotic bone percentages and increased numbers of blood vessels and attached osteoclast production. Moreover, local administration of PDRN at a high concentration (8 mg/kg) remarkably resolved the osteonecrosis. Findings from this study suggest that local administration of PDRN at a specific concentration may be considered clinically for the management of BRONJ.