Testing and Validating Against Historic Spills

To validate the predictive capability of ERA Acute, a study was carried out using data from two well-studied historic oil spills, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DHOS) incidents. Results from the case studies with ERA Acute were compared to the impact estimates and recovery observations that have been reported in the extensive research following the two incidents. Resource data relevant for each of the two incidents were reconstructed within the analysis area. Performance boundaries were set up for evaluating the ERA Acute results, based on the ranges of the impact and recovery estimates reported in the post-spill assessments. Validation of an oil spill ERA model against post-spill assessments of historic spills is a challenging exercise due to scientific limitations of both. ERA Acute performed satisfactorily compared to the performance boundaries and the study gave useful insight into the predictive capabilities of ERA Acute. The results from the study were used to evaluate between two different impact models and to increase the individual vulnerability of cetaceans.

Safety, efficacy, and reproducibility of cavotricuspid isthmus ablation guided by the ablation index: acute results of the FLAI study

Aims Ablation index (AI) is a marker of lesion quality during catheter ablation that incorporates contact force, time, and power in a weighted formula. This index was originally developed for pulmonary vein isolation as well as other left atrial procedures. The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the AI for the ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) in patients presenting with typical atrial flutter (AFL). Methods and results This prospective multicentre non-randomized study enrolled 412 consecutive patients with typical AFL undergoing AI-guided cavotricuspid isthmus ablation. The procedure was performed targeting an AI of 500 and an inter-lesion distance measurement of ≤6 mm. The primary endpoints were CTI ‘first-pass’ block and persistent block after a 20-min waiting time. Secondary endpoints included procedural and radiofrequency duration and fluoroscopic time. A total of 412 consecutive patients were enrolled in 31 centres (mean age 64.9 ± 9.8; 72.1% males and 27.7% with structural heart disease). The CTI bidirectional ‘first-pass’ block was reached in 355 patients (88.3%), whereas CTI block at the end of the waiting time was achieved in 405 patients (98.3%). Mean procedural, radiofrequency, and fluoroscopic time were 56.5 ± 28.1, 7.8 ± 4.8, and 1.9 ± 4.8 min, respectively. There were no major procedural complications. There was no significant inter-operator variability in the ability to achieve any of the primary endpoints. Conclusion AI-guided ablation with an inter-lesion distance ≤6 mm represents an effective, safe, and highly reproducible strategy to achieve bidirectional block in the treatment of typical AFL.

Systematic review of the evidence for sustained efficacy of dietary interventions for reducing appetite or energy intake

Introduction:In the broad literature on the effects of ingredients, foods and diets on appetite and energy intake (EI), most trials involve a single acute intervention. It is unclear whether these acute results are generally sustained over longer periods. Researchers and regulators therefore lack an objective basis to judge the appropriate duration of efficacy trials in appetite control, to have confidence that acute effects are likely to be maintained. This gap creates uncertainty in requirements and study designs for the substantiation of satiety-enhancing approaches to help in controlling eating behaviour.Materials and Methods:A systematic search of literature (Prospero registration number CRD42015023686) identified studies testing both the acute and chronic effects of food-based interventions aimed at reducing appetite or EI. From 9680 unique records identified from titles and abstracts, 178 papers were selected for full screening. Twenty-six trials met the inclusion criteria and provided data sufficient for use in this analysis, and were also scored for risk of bias (RoB) indicators.Results:Most of these trials (21/26) measured appetite outcomes and over half (14/26) had objective measures of EI. A significant acute effect of the intervention was retained in 10 of 12 trials for appetite outcomes, and six of nine studies for EI. Initial effects were most likely retained where these were more robust and studies adequately powered. Where the initial, acute effect was not statistically significant, a significant effect was later observed in only two of nine studies for appetite and none of five studies for EI. The main sources of RoB were lack of a priori power calculations and failure to report analyses based on intention-to-treat. Furthermore, 12/26 studies were not adequately powered to detect a meaningful reduction in appetite (~10%).Discussion:Maintenance of acute intervention effects on appetite or EI need to be confirmed, but seems likely where the initially observed effects are robust and replicable in adequately powered studies.

Linguistic methodical and lexicographical aspects of terminology

The research of construction machinery term system has been carried out in systematic functional and lexicographical aspect in the context of extra linguistic factors which influence the formation of any branch term system. Linguistic means of the terms nomination have been investigated in a complex way. The main paradigmatic characteristics of the construction machinery term system have been defined. It should be noted that a branch term system is the kind of a mirror. It reflects the character, the mentality and the activity of the community. It is the most adaptable and responsive to changes in a sphere of production. The rapid advances which are being made in construction, the appearance of new machines and tools create a continual demand for the formation of new terms to express new ideas and to name new objects. Terms are the necessary tools which help us to convey thoughts or a new name to an item. When a new product, new conception comes into the life of people it definitely finds a name in their language. To obtain better and more acute results different methods have been used. Combinatory methods of T. Lomtev along with some elements of generic and aspectual methods of T. Kandelaki were used to single out microsystems of different levels in the investigated term system. These methods have also contributed to the possibility to define differential and integral features of term meanings. Various reference books and manuals in construction machinery («Earth moving machines», «Hoisting machines and equipment» etc.) were used to conduct research of term definitions. The types of terminological thematic groups and the peculiarities of synonymic and antonymic relations have been determined and analyzed. Enriching the building terminology by the semantic method and by borrowing words from general language in the process of nominating a new item has been examined in the article. Taking into consideration our experience of compiling term dictionaries, we propose a special training dictionary containing an alphabetical and field arrangement of terms with their definitions and translation. It will be of great help for students and it can be considered as the main linguistic component in a process of professionally-oriented teaching of foreign languages.

Toxicity Studies of Aqueous-Methanol Extract of Dennettia tripetala (Pepper fruit) Fresh Ripe Fruits in Experimental Rats

Traditional medicine still remains the main recourse for a large majority of people for treating health problems in African. Therefore, the aim of this work is to assess the toxicological effect of the fresh ripe fruits using two solvents for extraction. The toxicological evaluation of aqueous-methanol extract of Dennettia tripetala fresh ripe fruits at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight for 14 days on some biochemical parameters in wistar rats was investigated. The extract at all the doses tested show non-significant (p > 0.05) increase from the control in ALT, AST, ALP, total protein, albumin, direct bilirubin, creatinine, Na+ and K+, while the level of total bilirubin and urea show significant (p < 0.05) increase from the control at 400mg/kg body weight. The levels of SOD, GPx, GST, and GSH in the serum were significantly (p < 0.05) decrease in the treated rats at 200 and 400mg/kg body weight, whereas the level of MDA and CAT showed non-significant (p > 0.05) increase in all the animals. The results of this finding indicated that the aqueous-methanol extract may not have serious effect on the liver and the kidney at 100 mg/kg b.d., but may be toxic at high doses as observed in the acute toxicity, sub-acute results and antioxidant parameters where it shows a dose-specific effects.

Efeitos de Protocolos de Treinamento Intervalado e Contínuo na Reabilitação de Indivíduos Cardiopatas

O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar os resultados agudos e crônicos dos métodos e protocolos de exercício contínuo moderado - ECM e intermitente de alta intensidade -HIIT como investidas reabilitativas para indivíduos com intercorrências cardiovasculares, principalmente, em indivíduos com alto risco de infarto do miocárdio - IAM e compará-los em função de sua eficácia e segurança. Os estudos analisados proporcionaram resultados agudos semelhantes entre os protocolos HIIT e ECM, principalmente, quando comparados ao principal objetivo, neste caso, preservar a integridade física dos indivíduos praticantes e incrementar sua reserva funcional. Quanto às respostas crônicas, os protocolos de treinamento HIIT apresentaram resultados adaptativos positivos nas funções fisiológicas e morfológicas se mostrando como uma alternativa de grande efetividade para a reabilitação cardíaca, em função de seu baixo volume total de treinamento, podendo ser de grande ajuda se incluído como alternativa de trabalho para reabilitação de patologias e intercorrências cardiovasculares.Palavras-chaves: Reabilitação Cardíaca. Treinamento Intervalado. Cardiopatas.AbstractThe objective of the present study was to investigate the acute and chronic outcomes of the methods and protocols of continuous training (CT) and high intensity interval training (HIIT) as rehabilitative interventions for individuals with cardiovascular events, especially in individuals at high risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to compare them for their efficacy and safety. The analyzed studies provided similar acute results between the HIIT and ECM protocols, mainly when compared to the main objective, in this case, to preserve the physical integrity of the practicing individuals and to increase their functional reserve. Regarding the chronic responses, the HIIT training protocols presented positive adaptive results in the physiological and morphological functions, showing itself as a highly effective alternative for cardiac rehabilitation due to its low total training volume, and could be of great help if included as a work alternative for the rehabilitation of pathologies and cardiovascular intercurrences.Keywords: Cardiac Rehabilitation. Interval Training. Cardiovascular Diseases.