Mass/Heat Transfer Analogy Method in the Research on Convective Fluid Flow through a System of Long Square Mini-Channels

The paper presents the results of experimental investigations of mass transfer processes with the use of the limiting current technique. This experimental work analyzed the not fully developed entrance laminar region. The tested case refers to the convective fluid flow through a system of nine long, square mini-channels that are 2 mm wide and 100 mm long. The method used in the measurements allows one to determine mass transfer coefficients during the electrolyte flow by utilizing electrochemical processes. The received mass transfer coefficients were applied to the analogous heat transfer case. The Chilton–Colburn analogy between mass and heat transfer was applied. The obtained results, in the form of the dependence of Nusselt number within the function of Reynolds and Prandtl numbers, can be a useful formula in the design and analysis of heat transfer processes in mini heat exchangers.     

The past,present, and future of sleep measurement in mild cognitive impairment and early dementia—towards a core outcome set: a scoping review

Study ObjectivesSleep abnormalities emerge early in dementia and may accelerate cognitive decline. Their accurate characterization may facilitate earlier clinical identification of dementia and allow for assessment of sleep intervention efficacy. This scoping review determines how sleep is currently measured and reported in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and early dementia, as a basis for future core outcome alignment.MethodsThis review follows the PRISMA Guidelines for Scoping Reviews. CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Psychinfo, and British Nursing Index databases were searched from inception—March 12, 2021. Included studies had participants diagnosed with MCI and early dementia and reported on sleep as a key objective/ outcome measure.ResultsNineteen thousand five hundred and ninety-six titles were returned following duplicate removal with 188 studies [N] included in final analysis. Sleep data was reported on 17 139 unique, diagnostically diverse participants (n). “Unspecified MCI” was the most common diagnosis amongst patients with MCI (n = 5003, 60.6%). Despite technological advances, sleep was measured most commonly by validated questionnaires (n = 12 586, N = 131). Fewer participants underwent polysomnography (PSG) (n = 3492, N = 88) and actigraphy (n = 3359, N = 38) with little adoption of non-PSG electroencephalograms (EEG) (n = 74, N = 3). Sleep outcome parameters were reported heterogeneously. 62/165 (37.6%) were described only once in the literature (33/60 (60%) in interventional studies). There was underrepresentation of circadian (n = 725, N = 25) and micro-architectural (n = 360, N = 12) sleep parameters.ConclusionsAlongside under-researched areas, there is a need for more detailed diagnostic characterization. Due to outcome heterogeneity, we advocate for international consensus on core sleep outcome parameters to support causal inference and comparison of therapeutic sleep interventions.     

Palliative Care Consultation Service and Palliative Care Unit: Why Do We Need Both?

Background.

Palliative care (PC) infrastructure has developed differently around the globe. Whereas some institutions consider the palliative care unit (PCU) a valuable component, others report that the sole provision of a state-of-the art palliative care consultation service (PCCS) suffices to adequately care for the severely ill and dying.

Objective.

To aid institutional planning, this study aimed at gathering patient data to distinguish assignments of a concomitantly run PCU and PCCS at a large hospital and academic medical center.

Methods.

Demographics, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, symptom/problem burden, discharge modality, and team satisfaction with care for all 601 PCU and 851 PCCS patients treated in 2009 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results.

Patients admitted to the PCU versus those consulted by the PCCS: (a) had a significantly worse performance status (odds ratio [OR], 1.48); (b) were significantly more likely to suffer from severe symptoms and psychosocial problems (OR, 2.05), in particular concerning physical suffering and complexity of care; and (c) were significantly much more likely to die during hospital stay (OR, 11.03). For patients who were dying or in other challenging clinical situations (suffering from various severe symptoms), self-rated team satisfaction was significantly higher for the PCU than the PCCS.

Conclusion.

This study presents a direct comparison between patients in a PCU and a PCCS. Results strongly support the hypothesis that the coexistence of both institutions in one hospital contributes to the goal of ensuring optimal high-quality PC for patients in complex and challenging clinical situations.     

Uredinorubellins and caeruleoramularin, photodynamically active anthraquinone derivatives produced by two species of the genus ramularia

Both the phytopathogenic fungus Ramularia collo-cygni and the hyperparasite R. uredinicola biosynthesize a number of red and yellow anthraquinone derivatives called rubellins. The new compounds uredinorubellins I and II, which were isolated from R. uredinicola, contribute to understanding the biosynthesis pathway that leads from simple anthraquinones to the rubellins. In addition, we isolated for the first time such simple compounds as chrysophanol and helminthsporin from both Ramularia species. A blue compound isolated from the mycelium of R. collo-cygni was revealed to be a unique 9,4-anthracenedione derivative. Structure elucidation by (1)H and (13)C NMR of the new but unstable compound caeruleoramularin was possible only by feeding the fungus different labeled (13)C acetates. The photodynamic activity of the uredinorubellins was comparable to rubellin D, whereas chrysophanol and caeruleoramularin did not display such activity.     

Weight gain in pregnancy according to maternal height and weight

Abstract Weight gain during pregnancy is of great importance for the health of mother and child. There is considerable individual variability with regard to the weight gain, with maternal height and pre-pregnancy body weight being important determinants. We aim to assess the usefulness of the maternal body mass index (BMI) and other ways of combining maternal weight and height in predicting weight gain during pregnancy. We analyzed data of more than 2.2 million pregnancies taken from the German perinatal statistics of 1995-2000. We found that BMI is not useful as a predictor of weight gain during pregnancy. We developed an alternative system of using maternal weight and height to predict weight gain by classifying pregnant women according to their weight and height. This allows an assessment of weight gain by comparing a given pregnant woman to other women with similar weights and heights.     

Impaired renal H+ secretion and NH3 production in mineralocorticoid-deficient glucocorticoid-replete dogs.

When the administration of exogenous mineralocorticoid hormones was discontinued in adrenalectomized dogs maintained on glucocorticoid, net acid excretion decreased due largely to a reduction in urinary ammonium excretion (UNH4+V), and hyperchloremic hyperkalemic metabolic acidosis occurred and persisted. The reduction in UNH4+V was not associated with an increase in urine pH (UpH) or a decrease in urine flow, but correlated with the severity of hyperkalemia and was mitigated by dietary potassium restriction. UpH decreased to values as low as 5.3. During acidosis, UpH varied directly with UNH4+V, but in relation to UNH4+V, UpH exceeded that in acid-fed mineralocorticoid-replete dogs. Extrapolated to UNH4+V=0, however, UpH was not significantly different in the two groups (5.27 vs. 5.44). When distal delivery of sodium was increased by infusion of sodium phosphate, titratable acid excretion increased in both groups but pateaued at lower rates in the mineralocorticoid-deficient dogs. These results suggest that in mineralocorticoid-deficient dogs, renal ammonia production is diminished, in part due to potassium retention and hyperkalemia; renal hydrogen ion secretory capacity is reduced even when sodium and buffer delivery to the distal nephron is not reduced; and the ability of the kidney to generate normally steep urine-to-blood hydrogen ion concentration gradients is unimpaired.     

Decision heuristic or preference? Attribute non‐attendance in discrete choice problems

This paper investigates if respondents' choice to not consider all characteristics of a multiattribute health service may represent preferences. Over the last decade, an increasing number of studies account for attribute non‐attendance (ANA) when using discrete choice experiments to elicit individuals' preferences. Most studies assume such behaviour is a heuristic and therefore uninformative. This assumption may result in misleading welfare estimates if ANA reflects preferences. This is the first paper to assess if ANA is a heuristic or genuine preference without relying on respondents' self‐stated motivation and the first study to explore this question within a health context. Based on findings from cognitive psychology, we expect that familiar respondents are less likely to use a decision heuristic to simplify choices than unfamiliar respondents. We employ a latent class model of discrete choice experiment data concerned with National Health Service managers' preferences for support services that assist with performance concerns. We present quantitative and qualitative evidence that in our study ANA mostly represents preferences. We also show that wrong assumptions about ANA result in inadequate welfare measures that can result in suboptimal policy advice. Future research should proceed with caution when assuming that ANA is a heuristic.