85 research outputs found
Case Studies of Indoor Air Quality and Sustainability Management
No full textThe European Union strategy on air quality management is based on an articulated legislation. In spite of that, some criticalities can emerge in specific cases. The present article focuses on case studies that point out potential criticalities of indoor air quality, in some cases related to outdoor conditions, in other ones depending only on indoor phenomena. For each case, some considerations useful for improving the indoor air quality management are presented. The analyzed cases refer both to the private and to the public sectors, both to health effects and to discomfort conditions. Two specific groups of criticalities have been focused: one concerns particulate matter (zooming on some problems related to different effects that granulometric classes can have on the human health), the other related to the accumulation of CO2 in indoor environments. Solutions for a sustainable management of indoor air quality are discussed case by case. Potentialities of intervention are different depending on the kind of case: theoretical (still at design level) or applied (if the indoor environment of interest already exists)
Shape change and shape coexistence in134Pr
No full textThe band structure of doubly odd nucleus134Pr has been studied by means of the reaction119Sn(19F,4n) at 87 MeV bombarding energy. Rotational bands built on pgrh11/2otimesvh11/2 and pgrh7/2otimesvh11/2 configurations has been observed. A band consisting of quadrupole transitions, probably involving the vi13/2[600]1/2+ orbital was also weakly populated
Proton radioactivity
No full textAlso published in: Ivascu, M.; Poenaru, D.N. (eds.): Particle emission from nuclei, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL (USA)SIGLEAvailable from Gesellschaft fuer Schwerionenforschung m.b.H. (GSI), Darmstadt (DE) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman
Evaluation Protocols for the Optimization of Water Treatment Plants
No full textIn recent years, water treatment is becoming more important and in the future the number of water treatment plants (WTPs) is destined to increase. However, plants often operate less than optimally from a resource management point of view. This lack of efficiency in WTPs can lead to a drop in pollutants removal yields, an increase in operating costs as well as a waste of resources, in opposition to the concept of circular economy. In this work, a methodological approach useful to identify the critical treatment phases and evaluate the effectiveness of the diverse upgrade interventions has been proposed. Performance indicators useful for the characterization of the WTPs, after a preliminary monitoring phase, are presented. In addition, examples of functionality tests applied to real WTPs are shown
Incidence and Impact of a Single-Unit Red Blood Cell Transfusion: Analysis of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database 2010-2019
No full textBackground: As the adverse effects of blood transfusions are better understood, recommendations support single-unit red blood cell (RBC) transfusions (SRBCT). However, an isolated SRBCT across the entire index admission suggests even the single unit may be avoidable. We sought to identify the characteristics of cardiac surgery patients receiving an isolated SRBCT and analyze the impact on outcomes. Methods: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was queried for the period between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019. Patients aged >18 years undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting or isolated aortic valve replacement were included. A total of 2,151,430 encounters were analyzed. Results: Of the 847,442 patients (39.3%) receiving any RBC transfusion during their index admission, 206,555 (24.4%) received only 1 unit. Propensity-matching analysis determined SRBCT patients were significantly older (67.26 vs 64.02 years; odds ratio [OR], 1.02; P < .001), female (39.1% vs 17.8%; OR, 1.57; P < .001), non-White (18.2% vs 13.1%; OR, 0.81; P < .001), and had a smaller body surface area (1.94 vs 2.07 m2; OR, 0.20; P < .001). They also had higher mortality (1.4% vs 1.0%, P < .001), stroke (1.7% vs 1.2%, P < .001), prolonged ventilation (6.4% vs 3.4%, P < .001), renal failure (1.8% vs 0.9%, P < .001), and reoperations (1.3% vs. 0.5%, P < .001) than patients who received 0 RBCs. Conclusions: SRBCT is a common occurrence in adult cardiac surgery. This low-volume transfusion is strongly associated with higher morbidity, even after controlling for preoperative risk factors
Business Model for the University-industry Collaboration in Open Innovation
No full textAbstractThe present paper proposes a preliminary business model for collaboration between universities and industrial partners (through projects). Imperatives and dimensions of this model are the analysis result of data obtained by observation applied to public information and market research. The study was conducted nationwide. This model is the companies’ response to market demand. This model proposes a general framework for the creation of successful collaboration between universities and businesses. The industrial partners do not necessarily have all the competencies to perform each operation in-house for the development of competitive products. Therefore, collaboration with universities helps them in researching the problems that cannot be solved individually. In this sense, universities could be considered as partners for industries. The analysis undertaken shows that how the two entities, the university and industry collaborate, very much fits with the framework for collaboration shown. Although the open innovation model does not apply significantly and primarily in these entities, there is a high potential for its implementation and the creation of added value
Past, present and future of hay-making structures in Europe
No full textHay-making structures are part of the agricultural landscape of meadows and pastures. Hay meadows are still used and found all over Europe, but their distribution patterns as well as their characteristics and regional features depend on geographical area, climate, culture, and intensity of agriculture. Intensively used hay meadows are the most dominant, using heavy machinery to store hay mostly as rounded or square bales. Traditional hay-making structures represent structures or constructions, used to quickly dry freshly cut fodder and to protect it from humidity. The ‘ancient’ forms of traditional hay-making structures are becoming a relic, due to mechanisation and the use of new technologies. Both the need for drying hay and the traditional methods for doing so were similar across Europe. Our study of hay-making structures focuses on their current state, their development and history, current use and cultural values in various European countries. Regarding the construction and use of hay-making structures, we have distinguished three different types, which correlate to natural and regional conditions: (1) temporary hay racks of various shapes; (2) hay barracks, a special type of shelters for storing hay and (3) different types of permanent construction and buildings for drying and storing hay. Hay-making structures have been mostly preserved in connection with traditional agricultural landscapes, and particularly in the more remote regions or where associated with strong cultural identity
Improving the Managerial Performance in Health Care Systems
No full textAbstractThe unsatisfactory performance of health care workers is a very prevalent issue, especially in countries which lack resources. In such cases the distribution of health interventions by health workers is crucial. The aim of this paper is to indicate these concerns as well as to provide evidence about the factors of performance and the strategies utilized for improving this issue. The practices of health care workers are viewed as intricate activities with influential prospects. Studies have shown that the simple delivery of written strategies or procedures is unsuccessful more often than not, managerial supervision along with adequate feedback is generally regarded as being the more effective method. Complex interventions can also be considered to be more effective than simple ones, the implementation of urgent cost effective trials is necessary in establishing a more efficient guiding policy. Our intention is to propose an international plan based on collaboration in order to generate information about the exact determinant factors of performance and the subsequent efficacy of the policies used to enhance health-worker management. Additionally, the active support of international organizations as well as the ministry of health can aid greatly in converting research findings into accomplishments in order to increase health-worker performance thus improving the health care system all together
Estimation of the alpha decay half-lives
No full textImproved up to date versions of the known α decay half-lives formulae (Fröman, Wapstra et al., Viola-Seaborg, Hornshøj et al., Taagepera-Nurmia and Keller-Münzel) are obtained by changing the additive parameters in order to have a vanishing mean value of the absolute errors. A new semiempirical relationship is derived on the grounds of the fission theory of alpha decay. It takes into consideration explicitly the dependence on the difference from magicity both of the neutron and proton numbers. allowing us to obtain better agreement with experimental data.Des versions améliorées des formules utilisées pour estimer les durées de vie de la désintégration α (Fröman, Wapstra et al., Viola-Seaborg, Hornshøj et al., Taagepera-Nurmia et Keller-Münzel) ont été obtenues en modifiant les paramètres additifs pour annuler la valeur moyenne des erreurs absolues. Une nouvelle relation semiempirique est obtenue en utilisant la théorie de la fission. Elle dépend explicitement de l'écart du nombre de protons, ainsi que du nombre de neutrons, aux nombres magiques voisins et permet d'obtenir un meilleur accord avec les résultats expérimentaux
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