8 research outputs found
Relationship between Root Apices and the Mandibular Canal: A Cone-beam Computed Tomographic Comparison of 3 Populations
No full textThe Amplatzer duct occluder II additional sizes device for transcatheter PDA closure: Initial experience
No full textViral and Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel
No full textBackground: previous worldwide reports indicated a substantial short-term reduction in various respiratory infections during the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Aims: exploring the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on respiratory pathogens. Methods: retrospective analysis of bacterial and viral positivity rate in respiratory samples, between 1 January 2017–30 June 2022 in a tertiary hospital in Jerusalem, Israel. Results: A decline in overall respiratory tests and positivity rate was observed in the first months of the pandemic. Respiratory isolations of Hemophilus influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae were insignificantly affected and returned to their monthly average by November 2020, despite a parallel surge in COVID-19 activity, while Mycoplasma pneumoniae was almost eliminated from the respiratory pathogens scene. Each viral pathogen acted differently, with adenovirus affected only for few months. Human-metapneumovirus and respiratory-syncytial-virus had reduced activity for approximately a year, and influenza A virus resurged in November 2021 with the elimination of Influenza-B. Conclusions: After an immediate decline in non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infections, each pathogen has a different pattern during a 2-year follow-up. These patterns might be influenced by intrinsic factors of each pathogen and different risk reduction behaviors of the population. Since some of these measures will remain in the following years, we cannot predict the timing of return to pre-COVID-19 normalcy
The Amplatzer duct occluder (ADOII) and Piccolo devices for patent ductus arteriosus closure: a large single institution series
No full textPurposeEvaluate Piccolo and ADOII devices for transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure. Piccolo has smaller retention discs reducing risk of flow disturbance but residual leak and embolization risk may increase.MethodsRetrospective review of all patients undergoing PDA closure with an Amplatzer device between January 2008 and April 2022 in our institution. Data from the procedure and 6 months follow-up were collected.Results762 patients, median age 2.6 years (range 0–46.7) years and median weight 13 kg (range 3.5–92) were referred for PDA closure. Overall, 758 (99.5%) had successful implantation: 296 (38.8%) with ADOII, 418 (54.8%) with Piccolo, and 44 (5.8%) with AVPII. The ADOII patients were smaller than the Piccolo patients (15.8 vs. 20.5 kg, p < 0.001) and with larger PDA diameters (2.3 vs. 1.9 mm, p < 0.001). Mean device diameter was similar for both groups. Closure rate at follow-up was similar for all devices ADOII 295/296 (99.6%), Piccolo 417/418 (99.7%), and AVPII 44/44 (100%). Four intraprocedural embolizations occurred during the study time period: two ADOII and two Piccolo. Following retrieval the PDA was closed with an AVPII in two cases, ADOI in one case and with surgery in the fourth case. Mild stenosis of the left pulmonary artery (LPA) occurred in three patients with ADOII devices (1%) and one patient with Piccolo device (0.2%). Severe LPA stenosis occurred in one patient with ADOII (0.3%) and one with AVPII device (2.2%).ConclusionsADOII and Piccolo are safe and effective for PDA closure with a tendency to less LPA stenosis with Piccolo. There were no cases of aortic coarctation related to a PDA device in this study
Russians abroad in postcommunist cinema
No full textThis study seeks to analyse cinematic representations of Russian characters that are portrayed as existing outside the Russian Federation,or ‘abroad’, by focusing on postcommunist cinema and the way it depicts the changing identities that occurred with the fall of the Soviet Union. The assertion of the thesis is that by depicting Russian characters abroad, filmmakers and their films are able to express, or comment on, global issues – such as labour migration, female prostitution, transnational crime and human trafficking, which have risen since the fall of communism. Examining the prevailing discourses (economic, social and political) concerning issues of migration and cross-border travel, the thesis identifies how the cultural capital of Russians traveling abroad comes under scrutiny from receiving countries. The range of films examined spans more than ten years of filmmaking and the study includes an examination of diverse contemporary filmmakers: Nikita Mikhalkov, Aleskei Balabanov, Yuri Mamin, Sergei Bodrov, Leonid Gorovets, Arik Kaplun, Pawel Pawlikowski, and Lukas Moodysson. These filmmakers and their films are selected from various cinematic contexts and filmmaking practices that are considered postcommunist. By asking the questions – who is speaking?, what is said? and to whom is it said? – the investigation is able to reveal the genre conventions, mode of address and specific ideological concerns that underpin the construction of onscreen cinematic ‘Russians abroad.’The cross-cultural analysis is divided into three parts: first a consideration of Russian filmmakers and their onscreen characters abroad; then Russian transnational cinema, where the focus switches to the investigation of filmmakers who are either floating
IIfreely between national film industries or producing films in diaspora; and, lastly, non-Russian cinema where the emphasis is on filmmakers who have no claims to Russian nationality but who nonetheless make Russian ‘themed’ films. The theoretical framework that upholds the analysis is drawn from cross-cultural studies, postcolonial studies and studies in cinematic representation
The use of passive telemetry in rotor fault diagnosis
No full textThe sensors most commonly used for monitoring machine health are wired accelerometers because of their high performances and good stability. However, these transducers are usually large in size; require an external power source. Hence, there is a need for cheaper and reliable alternative for the conventional accelerometers. This thesis reports the development of a wireless accelerometer based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) inertial sensor and off-the-shelf digital RF communication modules. It is small enough to be installed on the rotating shaft of a machine. In addition, it has a high enough resolution to be used to analyse the dynamic behaviour of rotating shaft. The wireless sensor is mounted with its sensitive axis in the tangential direction with respect to the centre of the rotor. This position allows the sensor to perform high resolution tangential acceleration measurements and nullifies the centripetal acceleration. To assist in the validation of the wireless sensor, a mathematical model was derived to simulate the vibration signals from the test rig. Experimental and simulated results both confirmed the effectiveness of the wireless sensor in detecting different degrees of misalignments and unbalance of a flexible rotor system. The wireless sensor has been confirmed to possess the capability of detecting small degrees of misalignment using the spectral amplitude of the peak at 2X running speed compared to other conventional sensors (wired accelerometers, laser vibrometers). In addition, the results of the experiment and simulation have also confirmed the capacity of the wireless sensor to detect different shaft unbalance grades at 1X running speed using spectral and order magnitudes. However, the wired sensors used for comparison failed to show any clear separation of the different grades of shaft unbalance. Moreover, it has been observed that the instantaneous angular speed (IAS) derived directly from the wireless sensor correlates well with that obtained from a shaft encoder and showed the capacity to detect the main features of rotor dynamics. An advanced algorithm has been developed to remove the gravity effect. The application of the algorithm has made the IAS computed from the wireless sensor more indicative to that obtained by a shaft encoder
Incidence of severe critical events in paediatric anaesthesia (APRICOT): a prospective multicentre observational study in 261 hospitals in Europe
No full textBackground Little is known about the incidence of severe critical events in children undergoing general anaesthesia in Europe. We aimed to identify the incidence, nature, and outcome of severe critical events in children undergoing anaesthesia, and the associated potential risk factors. Methods The APRICOT study was a prospective observational multicentre cohort study of children from birth to 15 years of age undergoing elective or urgent anaesthesia for diagnostic or surgical procedures. Children were eligible for inclusion during a 2-week period determined prospectively by each centre. There were 261 participating centres across 33 European countries. The primary endpoint was the occurence of perioperative severe critical events requiring immediate intervention. A severe critical event was defined as the occurrence of respiratory, cardiac, allergic, or neurological complications requiring immediate intervention and that led (or could have led) to major disability or death. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01878760. Findings Between April 1, 2014, and Jan 31, 2015, 31â127 anaesthetic procedures in 30â874 children with a mean age of 6·35 years (SD 4·50) were included. The incidence of perioperative severe critical events was 5·2% (95% CI 5·0â5·5) with an incidence of respiratory critical events of 3·1% (2·9â3·3). Cardiovascular instability occurred in 1·9% (1·7â2·1), with an immediate poor outcome in 5·4% (3·7â7·5) of these cases. The all-cause 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 10 in 10â000. This was independent of type of anaesthesia. Age (relative risk 0·88, 95% CI 0·86â0·90; p<0·0001), medical history, and physical condition (1·60, 1·40â1·82; p<0·0001) were the major risk factors for a serious critical event. Multivariate analysis revealed evidence for the beneficial effect of years of experience of the most senior anaesthesia team member (0·99, 0·981â0·997; p<0·0048 for respiratory critical events, and 0·98, 0·97â0·99; p=0·0039 for cardiovascular critical events), rather than the type of health institution or providers. Interpretation This study highlights a relatively high rate of severe critical events during the anaesthesia management of children for surgical or diagnostic procedures in Europe, and a large variability in the practice of paediatric anaesthesia. These findings are substantial enough to warrant attention from national, regional, and specialist societies to target education of anaesthesiologists and their teams and implement strategies for quality improvement in paediatric anaesthesia. Funding European Society of Anaesthesiology
Incidence of severe critical events in paediatric anaesthesia (APRICOT) : a prospective multicentre observational study in 261 hospitals in Europe
No full textBackground: Little is known about the incidence of severe critical events in children undergoing general anaesthesia in Europe. We aimed to identify the incidence, nature, and outcome of severe critical events in children undergoing anaesthesia, and the associated potential risk factors.
Methods: The APRICOT study was a prospective observational multicentre cohort study of children from birth to 15 years of age undergoing elective or urgent anaesthesia for diagnostic or surgical procedures. Children were eligible for inclusion during a 2-week period determined prospectively by each centre. There were 261 participating centres across 33 European countries. The primary endpoint was the occurence of perioperative severe critical events requiring immediate intervention. A severe critical event was defined as the occurrence of respiratory, cardiac, allergic, or neurological complications requiring immediate intervention and that led (or could have led) to major disability or death. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01878760.
Findings: Between April 1, 2014, and Jan 31, 2015, 31 127 anaesthetic procedures in 30 874 children with a mean age of 6.35 years (SD 4.50) were included. The incidence of perioperative severe critical events was 5.2% (95% CI 5.0-5.5) with an incidence of respiratory critical events of 3.1% (2.9-3.3). Cardiovascular instability occurred in 1.9% (1.7-2.1), with an immediate poor outcome in 5.4% (3.7-7.5) of these cases. The all-cause 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 10 in 10 000. This was independent of type of anaesthesia. Age (relative risk 0.88, 95% CI 0.86-0.90; p<0.0001), medical history, and physical condition (1.60, 1.40-1.82; p<0.0001) were the major risk factors for a serious critical event. Multivariate analysis revealed evidence for the beneficial effect of years of experience of the most senior anaesthesia team member (0.99, 0.981-0.997; p<0.0048 for respiratory critical events, and 0.98, 0.97-0.99; p=0.0039 for cardiovascular critical events), rather than the type of health institution or providers.
Interpretation: This study highlights a relatively high rate of severe critical events during the anaesthesia management of children for surgical or diagnostic procedures in Europe, and a large variability in the practice of paediatric anaesthesia. These findings are substantial enough to warrant attention from national, regional, and specialist societies to target education of anaesthesiologists and their teams and implement strategies for quality improvement in paediatric anaesthesia
