227 research outputs found
Automated Measures of Hand Hygiene Compliance among Healthcare Workers Using Ultrasound: Validation and a Randomized Controlled Trial
No full textObjective.The primary objective of this study was to validate a novel method of assessing hand hygiene compliance using ultrasound transmitters in patient zones and staff tagged with receivers. The secondary objective was to assess the impact of audio reminders and quantified individual feedback.Design.An observational comparison against manual assessment followed by assessment using an open-label randomized control method.Setting.Patient zones were established in 3 wards of 2 large teaching hospitals, including 88 general and 18 intensive care unit ward beds.Participants.Consented regular ward nursing, medical, and allied health staff.Methods.Concordance between 40 hours of manual observation using trained hand hygiene auditors and automated measures of opportunities and compliance. Subsequent measured interventions were reminder beeps and written individual feedback.Results.When compared with manual observations, ultrasound monitoring underestimated percentage compliances by a nonsignificant mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) difference of 5.2% (--20.1% to 9.8%; ). After the intervention, adjusted multivariate analysis showed mean (95% CI) overall compliance in the intervention arm was 6.8% (2.5%--11.1%; ) higher than in the control arm. Results stratified by compliance at entry and exit showed that the effect of intervention was stronger for compliance at exit than at entry.Conclusions.Our automated measure of hand hygiene compliance is valid when compared with the traditional gold standard of manual observations. As an interventional tool, ultrasound-based automated hand hygiene audits have significant benefit that can be built upon with enhancements and find increasing acceptance with time
Comparative toxicity of nano-ZnO and bulk ZnO suspensions to zebrafish and the effects of sedimentation, (center dot)OH production and particle dissolution in distilled water
No full textWith the common application of nanoscale zinc oxide (nZnO) and significant potential for its release directly into aquatic environments, it is urgent to carry out research on ecotoxicological impact of nZnO. The characterization of nZnO, the amount of (center dot)OH in suspensions in the presence of light and the acute toxicity of nZnO and its bulk counterpart suspensions, as well as the acute toxicity of Zn(2+) solution to zebrafish (Danio rerio) at 96 h were studied. It was found that nZnO aggregated into irregular shapes in suspensions, and showed a relationship between its size distribution and concentration. In the presence of light, nZnO suspensions could generate (center dot)OH, the concentration of which increased with time. Although it was generally thought that (center dot)OH played a role in the biotoxicity to zebrafish, similar toxicity was observed for the nZnO and bulk ZnO suspensions (96 h LC(50) 3.969 mg L(-1), 2.525 mg L(-1), respectively). Furthermore, the sedimentation of nZnO and bulk ZnO in suspensions, and the accumulation of Zn in zebrafish were studied. The results showed that dissolved Zn(2+), from nZnO and bulk ZnO in suspensions, were toxic to zebrafish, while the aggregation and sedimentation of nZnO suspensions reduced the toxicity of nZnO. However, Zn(2+) may not be the main source of acute toxicity of nZnO and bulk ZnO to zebrafish. The experimental results highlight the importance of a systematic assessment of toxicity mechanisms of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) to determine definitively whether their toxicity is caused by nano-effects
Modelling risk in high hazard operations: Integrating technical, organisational and cultural factors
No full textRecent disasters in high hazard industries such as Oil and Gas Exploration (The Deepwater Horizon) and Petrochemical production (Texas City) have been found to have causes that range from direct technical failures through organizational shortcomings right up to weak regulation and inappropriate company cultures. Risk models have generally concentrated upon technical failures, which are easier to construct and for which there is more concrete data. The primary causes, as identified by the US Chemical Safety Board for Texas City and the Presidential Commission for the Deepwater Horizon, lie firmly rooted in the culture of the organization and determine the way in which individuals go about risky activities. Modelling human activities, especially collectively rather than individual human errors as is done in most human models, is a quite different proposition, in which complex interactions between different individuals and levels change over time as success and failure alter the pattern of payoffs. This paper examines the development of an integrated model for risk in a real-time environment for the hydrocarbon industry. It is based originally on the CATS model for commercial aviation safety, that first attempted to address some of these problems in a relatively simple way. Aviation is, however, a relatively simple activity, with large numbers of common components in a constrained environment. The Oil and Gas industry is significantly more diverse, covering the gamut from exploration, drilling, production, transport, refining and chemical production, each with its own potential for large scale disaster, but in the case of an integrated oil company all run by individuals within a common company culture. Other papers will cover the details of specific issues; this paper covers the integration of the model as a whole.Values and TechnologyTechnology, Policy and Managemen
Seeing beauty in a face: a framework for poetry translation & its criticism
Get PDFThe thesis aims to propose a framework for poetry translation and its criticism. It is demonstrated how criticism on poetry translation can discuss the source text and target text in a way that they may well be two pieces of prose and miss a very important point: their aesthetic value as poetry. The thesis goes on to investigate an important issue of poetry translation: what makes �·poetry poetry. For if poetry is to be translated into poetry and criticized as poetry, this will be a highly relevant issue. An investigation into both Chinese and Western traditions shows that the common ground shared is that poetry in a poem is something holistic and coming from those aesthetically effective contextual relations from the poem. Gestalt Theory is introduced as the backbone of the framework to embody how those contextual relations function and a new term for the poetry one reads in a poem is coined, poestalt-combining poem and gestalt. The framework then is applied to investigate three issues and its significance to the criticism of poetry translation: Firstly, how poestalt may emerge mid the condition for this to happen, i.e. aesthetic coherence. Secondly, the significance of the creative involvement of the reader/translators, which is an important element of poetry reading/translation. Thirdly, the nature of the contextual relation and poestalt, which is highly related to the former two.issues. With this framework, the thesis shows that the poestalt emerging from the source text is the relevant object of poetry translation and its comparison with the poestalt emerging from the target text is the object for the criticism of poetry translation
Syntheses, Structure, and Luminescent Properties of Novel Hydrated Rare Earth Borates Ln(2)B(6)O(10)(OH)(4)center dot H2O (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, and Y)
No full textLn(2)B(6)O(10)(OH)(4)center dot H2O (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm-Gd, Dy, Ho, and Y), a new series of hydrated rare earth borates, have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. A single crystal of Nd analogue was used for the structure determination by X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with lattice constants a = 21.756(4), b = 4.3671(9), c = 12.192(2) angstrom, and beta = 108.29(3)degrees. The other compounds are isostructural to Nd2B6O10(OH)(4)center dot H2O. The fundamental building block (FBB) of the polyborate anion in this structure is a three-membered ring [B3O6(OH)(2)](5-). The FBBs are connected by sharing oxygen atoms forming an infinite [B3O5(OH)(2)](3-) chain, and the chains are linked by hydrogen bonds, establishing a two-dimensional (2-D) [B-610(OH)(4)center dot H2O](6-) layer. The 2-D borate layers are thus interconnected by Ln(3+) ions to form the complex three-dimensional structure. Ln(2)B(6)O(10)(OH)(4)center dot H2O dehydrates stepwise, giving rise to two new intermediate compounds Ln(2)B(6)O(10)(OH)(4) and Ln(2)B(6)O(11) (OH)(2). The investigation on the luminescent properties of Gd2-2xEu2xB6O10(OH)(4)center dot H2O (x = 0.01-1.00) shows a high efficiency of Eu3+ f-f transitions and the existence of the energy transfer process from Gd3+ to Eu3+. Eu2B6O10(OH)(4)center dot H2O and its two dehydrated products, Eu2B6O10(OH)(4) and Eu2B6O11(OH)(2), present the strongest emission peak at 620 nm (D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition), which may be potential red phosphors.Chemistry, Inorganic & NuclearSCI(E)PubMed10ARTICLE51767-17745
Fe5O5[B6O10(OH)3] x nH2O: wave-layered iron borate and frustrated antiferromagnetism.
No full textThe first layered iron borate, Fe(5)O(5)[B(6)O(10)(OH)(3)] x nH(2)O, has been prepared by the boric acid flux method. Its structure, determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, contains a double FeO(6)-octahedral layer and an unusual [B(6)O(13)] chain. The rigid and cambered [B(6)O(13)] chains bend the octahedral layers, resulting in a wave-like and sandwiched structure. Crystallographic study indicates the structural modulation is mainly from the [B(6)O(13)] chains because of the insertion of water molecules in between. Nevertheless, FeO(6) layers in the average structure, which are well separated by borate chains, is still a reasonable model to understand the two-dimensional magnetism. The strong antiferromagnetic interactions and the complex Fe(3+)-net suggest a possible geometrically magnetic frustration, which may be the reason for the second-order temperature-induced magnetic transition at approximately 125 K. The condensed Fe(3+) layers and the relatively low redox potential at about 1.25 V versus Li(+)/Li show its potentials as an anodic material
Immunogenicity and Tolerability of an As03(a)-Adjuvanted Prepandemic Influenza Vaccine: A Phase Iii Study in a Large Population of Asian Adults
No full textEvidence synthesis and pooled analysis of vaccine effectiveness for COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 as a heterologous booster after inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccines
No full textIntroduction of primary COVID-19 vaccination has helped reduce severe disease and death caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Understanding the protection conferred by heterologous booster regimens informs alternative vaccination strategies that enable programmatic resilience and can catalyze vaccine confidence and coverage. Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are among the most widely used vaccines worldwide. This review synthesizes the available evidence identified as of May 26, 2022, on the safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of a heterologous BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) mRNA vaccine booster dose after an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine primary series, to help protect against COVID-19. Evidence showed that the heterologous BNT16b2 mRNA vaccine booster enhances immunogenicity and improves vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19, and no new safety concerns were identified with heterologous inactivated primary series with mRNA booster combinations
[[alternative]]Characterization for Interaction of Antitumor-active Metal Complexes with Oligonucleotide by Electroespray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
No full text[[abstract]]The gentle nature of the ESI proess, however, means that ESI-MS is also finding application for the study of noncovalent and other fragile biomolecular complexes.
The thesis included three section:
First section: Determination of Binding Location Preference between Short Oligonucleotide and Ru-complexes Analyzed by Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry
The interaction of two ruthenium (II) complexes, [Ru(terpy)(bpy)Cl]Cl and cis-[Ru(bpy)]Cl2, with single-stranded DNA wereinvestigated by electrospry ionization mass spectrometry. The DNA binding sits preference of [Ru(terpy)(bpy)Cl]Cl and cis-[Ru(bpy)]Cl2 were located at central guanine, which was determined by tandem mass spectrometry technique. The Ru-complexes bounds to guanine also enhanced the loss of guanine-Ru, and gave a-B and w fragments.
Second section: Factors Influence on Gas-Phase Stability of Double Stranded Oligonucletoides Studied by Electrospray Mass Spectrometry
The topic studied in relativity between gas-phase stability of double stranded oligonucletides and experimental system. According to this experimental results: the experimental system was set up at capillary temperature at 120-140℃; adding concentration of NH4OAc is 200-500 times over concentration of oligonucletides; the volatile solvent- isopropanol have been used as and the compositions again water 75%.
Third stction: Kinetic of the DNA binding Azole-Bridged Dinuclear Platinum(II) compounds by Electrospray ionization Mass Spectrometry
The kinetics of the reaction between three new derivatives of azole-bridged dinuclear platinum (Ⅱ) complex , (1), [{cis-Pt(NH3)2}2(μ-OH)-(μ-pyrazolate)][NO3]2 (2), [{cis-Pt(NH3)2}2(μ-OH)-(μ-1,2,3-triazolate)][NO3]2 and (3), [{cis-Pt(NH3)2}2(μ-OH)-(μ-phenyltriazolate)][NO3]2 and complementary double-stranded DNA was investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Products with different binding modes were observed and shows competition at different time intervals. Ionic/electrostatic binding products dominate at early stage of reaction and gradually transform into covalently modified adduct by removal of hydroxyl leaving group. We proposed that the binding of the dinuclear platinum complexes to the double-stranded nucleic acids may be considered as a three-step process: rapid initial electrostatic binding followed by covalent attachment of the drug by sequential displacement of the leaving group to the N7 position of guanosines, giving first monofunctional and subsequently bifunctional adducts. The binding affinity of three derivatives to complementary 12-mer oligonucleotides are in the order of 3>1?2, which are determined by the ratio of intensity of electrostatic adduct to that of unbound free DNA. On the hand, comparison of the relative intensities of mono- and difunctional platinum covalent adduct suggested that the reactivity for these Pt(Ⅱ) complexes are in the order 2 > 1 > 3, parallel to the trend of cytotoxicity.
Compared to other technique, the study shows that ESI is a sensitive and fast tool for confirmation of binding and determination of stoichometry for both covalent and noncovalent systems.
SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Neutralizing Antibody Kinetics 90 Days after Three Doses of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine in Singapore
No full textBackground: We evaluated the post-booster (BNT162b2) antibody responses in Singapore. Methods: Participants (n = 43) were tested pre-booster and 20/30/60/90 days post-booster. Participants were boosted 120–240 days (mean 214 days) after their second dose and had no history or serologic evidence of prior COVID-19 infection; all participants had undetectable SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies throughout the study. Total nucleocapsid and spike antibodies (S-Ab) were assessed on the Roche Elecsys e802 and neutralizing antibody (N-Ab) on the Snibe quantitative N-Ab assay. Results: Pre-booster median S-Ab/N-Ab titers were 829 BAU/mL/0.83 µg/mL; 2 participants were below manufacturer’s N-Ab cut-offs of 0.3 µg/mL (0.192 and 0.229). Both S-Ab and N-Ab titers peaked at 30 days post-booster (median S-Ab 25,220 BAU/mL and N-Ab 30.3 µg/mL) at 30–37× pre-booster median levels. These peak post-booster S-Ab/N-Ab titers were 11× (25,220 vs. 2235 BAU/mL) and 9× (30.3 vs. 3.52 µg/mL) higher than the previously reported peak post-second dose levels. Antibody titers declined to 12,315 BAU/mL (51% decrease) and 14.3 µg/mL (53% decrease) 90 days post-booster. Non-linear regression estimates for S-Ab/N-Ab half-lives were 44/58 days. At 180 days post-booster, S-Ab/N-Ab are estimated to be 2671 BAU/mL/4.83 µg/mL. Conclusions: Both S-Ab and N-Ab show a good response following post-booster vaccination, with half-lives that may provide a prolonged antibody response
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