Stress Calculations of Heat Storage Tanks

Stress calculations are necessary to determine the feasibility and profitability of a heat storage tank’s construction. The article presented normative methods of stress calculations for a heat storage tank. Results were verified by finite element analysis. These stress calculations enabled us to determine wall and weld thickness. The calculations were made on the example of a tank with a nominal pressure of 10 bar. The work undertook an extensive analysis of the stresses occurring in a pressure tank, described the finite element method and showed examples of ways in which it could be used. During stress analysis, three types of materials were compared: carbon steel St0 (S185), stainless steel (304) and boiler steel (P 265 GH). A brief overview of types of thermal energy storages was also provided.     

Psychological Interventions and Bariatric Surgery among People with Clinically Severe Obesity—A Systematic Review with Bayesian Meta-Analysis

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of perioperative psychological interventions provided to patients with clinically severe obesity undergoing bariatric surgery regarding weight loss, BMI, quality of life, and psychosocial health using the Bayesian approach. Methods: We considered randomised trials that assessed the beneficial and harmful effects of perioperative psychological interventions in people with clinically severe obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. We searched four data sources from inception to 3 October 2021. The authors independently selected studies for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. We conducted a meta-analysis using a Bayesian approach. PROSPERO: CRD42017077724. Results: Of 13,355 identified records, we included nine studies (published in 27 papers with 1060 participants (365 males; 693 females, 2 people with missing data)). Perioperative psychological interventions may provide little or no benefit for BMI (the last reported follow-up: MD [95% credible intervals] = −0.58 [−1.32, 0.15]; BF₀₁ = 0.65; 7 studies; very low certainty of evidence) and weight loss (the last reported follow-up: MD = −0.50 [−2.21, 0.77]; BF₀₁ = 1.24, 9 studies, very low certainty of evidence). Regarding psychosocial outcomes, the direction of the effect was mainly inconsistent, and the certainty of the evidence was low to very low. Conclusions: Evidence is anecdotal according to Bayesian factors and uncertain whether perioperative psychological interventions may affect weight-related and psychosocial outcomes in people with clinically severe obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. As the results are ambiguous, we suggest conducting more high-quality studies in the field to estimate the true effect, its direction, and improve confidence in the body of evidence.     

Analysis of Material-Characterization Properties of Post-Production Waste—The Case of Apple Pomace

The paper presents the material-characterization properties of apple pomace—the post-production waste of juice pressing. Tests were carried out on the basic physical properties of apple pomace: color, specific-density, and energy properties. Extensive material-composition analyses based on DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and TGA (thermogravimetry) methods were also performed. It has been shown that pomace, due to its energy value, can be a good fuel. The obtained thermal data confirm the presence of cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignins and pectins in the analyzed pomace. The results confirm that dried apple pomace is microbiologically stable with good health-promoting properties.     

Hippocampal Inputs in the Prelimbic Cortex Curb Fear after Extinction

In contrast to easily formed fear memories, fear extinction requires prolonged training. The prelimbic cortex (PL), which integrates signals from brain structures involved in fear conditioning and extinction such as the ventral hippocampus (vHIP) and the basolateral amygdala (BL), is necessary for fear memory retrieval. Little is known, however, about how the vHIP and BL inputs to the PL regulate the display of fear after fear extinction. Using functional anatomy tracing in male rats, we found two distinct subpopulations of neurons in the PL activated by either the successful extinction or the relapse of fear. During the retrieval of fear extinction memory, the dominant input to active neurons in the PL was from the vHIP, whereas the retrieval of fear memory, regardless of the age of a memory and testing context, was associated with greater BL input. Optogenetic stimulation of the vHIP–PL pathway after one session of fear extinction increased conditioned fear, whereas stimulation of the vHIP inputs after several sessions of extinction decreased the conditioned fear response. This latter effect was, however, transient, as stimulation of this pathway 28 d after extinction increased conditioned fear response again. The results show that repeated fear extinction training gradually changes vHIP–PL connectivity, making fear suppression possible, whereas in the absence of fear suppression from the vHIP, signals from the BL can play a dominant role, resulting in high levels of fear.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Behavioral therapies of fear are based on extinction learning. As extinction memories fade over time, such therapies produce only a temporary suppression of fear, which constitutes a clinical and societal challenge. In our study, we provide a framework for understating the underlying mechanism by which extinction of fear memories fade by demonstrating the existence of two subpopulations of neurons in the prelimbic cortex associated with low and high levels of fear. Insufficient extinction and exposure to the context in which fear memory was formed promoted high fear neuronal activity in the prelimbic cortex, leading to fear retrieval. Extensive extinction training, on the other hand, boosted low fear neuronal activity and, as a result, extinction memory retrieval. This effect was, however, transient and disappeared with time.     

Nutritional and Non-Nutritional Predictors of Low Spot Urinary Creatinine Concentration in Patients with Heart Failure

Low spot urinary creatinine concentration (SUCR) is a marker of muscle wasting and clinical outcome. The risk factors for low SUCR in heart failure (HF) remain poorly understood. We explored the risk factors for low SUCR related to poor outcomes. In 721 HF patients (age: 52.3 ± 11 years, female: 14%, NYHA: 2.7 ± 0.7) SUCR and Dexa body composition scans were performed. BMI prior HF-onset, weight loss, and appendicular muscle mass were obtained. Each patient was classified as malnutrition or normal by GLIM criteria and three other biochemical indices (CONUT, PNI, and GRNI). Sarcopenia index (SI) as creatinine to cystatin C ratio was also calculated. Within 1 year, 80 (11.1%) patients died. In ROC curve we identified a SUCR value of 0.628 g/L as optimally discriminating surviving from dead. In low SUCR group more advanced HF, higher weight loss and catabolic components of weight trajectory (CCWT), more frequent under-nutrition by GLIM, and lower SI were observed. In multivariate analysis the independent predictors of low SUCR were SI, CCWT, and GNRI score. In conclusion: the risk of low SUCR was associated with a worse outcome. Low SUCR was associated with greater catabolism and sarcopenia but not with biochemical indices of malnutrition.     

Excess Body Mass—A Factor Leading to the Deterioration of COVID-19 and Its Complications—A Narrative Review

Currently, the world is facing two serious pandemics: obesity and COVID-19. It is well-established that the prevalence of obesity has risen dramatically, causing a deterioration in the health quality of the population and increasing susceptibility for the unfavourable course of acute infections. It has been observed that excess body mass significantly influences the COVID-19 outcome. The aim of this review is to present the latest scientific reports on the impact of excess body mass on the course and complications of COVID-19. The Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were searched. Only studies reporting patients stated to be COVID-19 positive based on the results of a nasopharyngeal swab and the ribonucleic acid test were included. It is shown that thromboembolic and ischemic complications, namely stroke, disseminated intravascular coagulation, severe hyperglycaemia, and leukoencephalopathy are more likely to appear in COVID-19 positive patients with obesity compared to non-obese subjects. COVID-19 complications such as cardiomyopathy, dysrhythmias, endothelial dysfunction, acute kidney injury, dyslipidaemia, lung lesions and acute respiratory distress syndrome have a worse outcome among obese patients.     

Inhibitory effect of antidepressants on B16F10 melanoma tumor growth

BackgroundAntidepressant drugs, like fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, desipramine, a nonselective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, and mirtazapine, an antagonist of noradrenaline α₂ auto- and heteroreceptors, are widely used for the treatment of depressive symptoms in cancer patients. Since these antidepressants have different activities targeting the immune system, they might also modulate tumor growth in cancer patients.MethodsIn the present study, we investigated the effects of administration of antidepressant drugs: fluoxetine, desipramine and mirtazapine on B16F10 melanoma tumor growth. These drugs were administered intraperitoneally (ip) for 17 days after subcutaneous injection of B16F10 melanoma cells to male C57BL/6J mice.ResultsFluoxetine significantly inhibited melanoma solid tumor growth and desipramine tended to decrease this parameter whereas mirtazapine had no effect.ConclusionThe inhibitory effect of fluoxetine on melanoma growth was associated with an increased mitogen-induced T cell proliferation which may at least partly participate in the mechanism of the antitumor effect of this antidepressant. It appears that the inhibitory effect of fluoxetine on tumor growth is not related with changes in cytokine levels except for IL-10.     

Six-month outcomes of customized adherence enhancement (CAE) therapy in bipolar disorder

Sajatovic M, Levin J, Tatsuoka C, Micula‐Gondek W, Fuentes‐Casiano E, Bialko CS, Cassidy KA. Six‐month outcomes of customized adherence enhancement (CAE) therapy in bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2012: 14: 291–300. © 2012 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Background: There are few psychosocial interventions specifically focused on improved treatment adherence in people with bipolar disorder (BD). Customized adherence enhancement (CAE) is a needs‐based, manualized approach intended to improve medication adherence in individuals with BD. This was a six‐month prospective trial of a CAE among 43 medication non‐adherent individuals with BD who were receiving treatment in a community mental health clinic (CMHC). Methods: CAE was flexibly administered in modules applied as indicated by an initial adherence vulnerabilities screening. Screening identified reasons for non‐adherence and modules were then administered using pre‐set criteria. CAE effects were evaluated at six‐week, three‐month, and six‐month follow‐up. The six‐month follow‐up was our primary time point of interest. The primary outcome was change from baseline in adherence using the Tablets Routine Questionnaire (TRQ) and pill counts. Secondary outcomes included change from baseline in BD symptoms [Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM‐D), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)]. Results: Subjects completed 86% of scheduled sessions, with only two individuals (5%) not participating in any sessions. The number of dropouts at six months was 12 (28%). Mean baseline non‐adherence by TRQ was 48% [standard error (SE) 4.8%] missed tablets within the previous week and 51% (4.1%) missed tablets within the previous month. At six‐month follow‐up, mean TRQ non‐adherence improved to 25% (6.8%) missed tablets for the previous week (p = 0.002) and 21% (5.5%) for the previous month (p < 0.001). Symptoms improved, with a change in the baseline mean (SE) BPRS of 43.6 (1.8) versus an endpoint of 36.1 (2.3) (p = 0.001), and baseline mean (SE) HAM‐D of 17.8 (1.1) versus an endpoint of 15.3 (1.6) (p = 0.044). Conclusion: CAE was associated with improvements in adherence, symptoms, and functional status. Controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.     

Functional TLR9 modulates bone marrow B cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients

TLR9 recognizes unmethylated CpG‐rich, pathogen‐derived DNA sequences and represents the component of the innate immune system that heavily influences adaptive immunity and may contribute to the immunological disturbances in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Accumulating data indicate that BM of RA patients participates in the pathogenesis of this disease as a site of proinflammatory cytokines overproduction and lymphocytes activation. Here, we investigated the functionality of TLR9 and its role in the modulation of RA BM B‐cell functions. We report that BM B cells isolated from RA patients express TLR9 at the mRNA and protein levels acquired at the stage of preB/immature B‐cell maturation. Stimulation of BM CD20⁺ B cells by CpG‐containing oligodeoxynucleotide‐enhanced expression of activation markers (CD86 and CD54) triggered IL‐6 and TNF‐α secretion and cell proliferation. Significantly higher levels of eubacterial DNA encoding 16S‐rRNA were found in BM samples from RA than osteoarthritis patients. Moreover, RA BM B cells exerted higher expression of CD86 than their osteoarthritis counterparts, suggesting their in situ activation via TLR9. Thus, our data indicate that TLR9 may participate in direct activation and proliferation of B cells in BM, and therefore could play a role in the pathogenesis of RA.