Actual Percentage Research Articles

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for identification of sugar adulterants in mulberry molasses (pekmez)

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and chemometrics were successfully used in this research in conjunction with the Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) technique to determine bulberry molasses (MM) canesugar adulteration. Mulberry molasses was adultered by incorporating two fructose syrups (FS), one glucose syrup (GS), one sucrose syrup (SS), and two specific high fructose corn syrups (HFCS). Calibration sets were developed for mulberry molasses by spiking sugar syrups. The actual percentage of adulteration linked to FTIR predicted results by partial least square (PLS). The preferred spectral range was 1184-944 cm-1 for prediction of adulteration levels of F20, F30, HFCS50, HFCS55 and 1090-950 cm-1 for sucrose. This method was employed to distinguish between mulberry molasses and adulterated samples. According to the findings, the FTIR technique is an accurate and affordable method that can rapidly detect sugar adulteration in mulberry molasses.

A Comparison of Three Camera Technology Predictions of Intramuscular Fat Percentage in F1 Wagyu

The prevalence of highly marbled cattle breeds, such as Wagyu, has increased in the US due to consumer demand for higher-quality beef. The ability to grade highly marbled carcasses accurately and consistently, particularly with quantifying intramuscular fat content for validation, remains a challenging task for the Wagyu beef industry. New camera grading technologies have been proposed by VIAS VBG 2000 (e+v Technology GmbH & Co. KG, 2021), Meat Image Japan (MIJ), and MasterBeef (MB) for Wagyu-influenced beef carcass assessment based on advanced image analysis. However, the intramuscular fat measurements of these camera technologies and the actual percent intramuscular fat (%IMF) in the longissimus at the 12/13th rib have yet to be investigated. Chilled carcasses (n = 173) from F1 Wagyu cattle were ribbed between the 12th and 13th ribs, and the left carcass sides were imaged with the E+V, MIJ, and MB cameras. Additionally, the marbling score was assigned by a team of 3 US Department of Agriculture (USDA) graders. Samples from the longissimus thoracis were collected, and the %IMF of the muscle was determined in triplicate. Linear regressions and descriptive statistics were done using JMP (Statistical Discovery, NC, USA) software. Camera fat-related measurements were linearly correlated, and R2 was calculated. The E+V camera had the highest %IMF predictability of all cameras (P < 0.0001) using the marbling score (R2 = 0.6450) estimate. The MIJ camera presented prediction accuracy between the other 2 technologies (P < 0.0001) of %IMF with identical R2 for fat percent and fat score estimates (R2 = 0.5952). The MB camera had the lowest predictability (P < 0.0001) of %IMF using the measured marbling score (R2 = 0.3269), marbling area (R2 = 0.3333), and marbling percent (R2 = 0.3269) estimates from the instrument. As technology advances, new technologies will provide alternative means for grading Wagyu-influenced carcasses. Additionally, these findings could aid the implementation of the USDA pilot program for remote carcass grading.

The effects of variability in catch effort on the precision of statistical population reconstruction

Statistical population reconstruction (SPR) models have emerged as a robust and versatile framework for estimating the demographic dynamics of harvested wildlife populations using commonly collected age‐at‐harvest and catch‐effort data. Although numerous studies have suggested that higher interannual variability in catch effort may improve the accuracy and precision of reconstructed estimates, particularly in the absence of auxiliary data on annual abundance or survival, the extent and magnitude of these effects has not been explored. We examined the influence of catch‐effort variability, as measured by the ratio between years of highest and lowest effort, on the relative absolute deviation of reconstructed estimates of population abundance, as well as on the actual percent coverage and width of the corresponding confidence intervals. We used a Monte Carlo simulation to generate catch‐effort data with different levels of variability for populations experiencing a wide range of demographic and harvest conditions. For similar amounts of age‐at‐harvest data, using catch‐effort data with higher interannual variability resulted in reconstructed estimates of annual abundance that had significantly lower deviations from reality, better coverage, and narrower confidence intervals (as measured by the margin of error). These improvements were consistent and linear at low to medium levels of catch‐effort variability, but leveled off and became substantially less pronounced at higher levels. We found that the inclusion of auxiliary data largely mediated this relationship, although higher catch‐effort variability still resulted in more accurate and precise estimates of annual abundance even when these data were included. Our research highlights the need to include a thorough investigation of the available catch‐effort data alongside the established practices of assessing the number of years of available data, the average number of animals harvested each year, and the availability of auxiliary data from radio‐telemetry studies or other sources.

3D quantitative CT study to assess rotator cuff muscle fatty infiltration.

Fatty infiltration is a degenerative condition of the tendon-muscle unit of rotator cuff muscles, characterized by fatty accumulation within and around the muscles. This study compares a 3D method to the Goutallier classification for evaluating fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff muscles. Employing a retrospective study design, four researchers performed 3D segmentation of the rotator cuff muscles on 65 CT scans of patients with rotator cuff arthropathy. The Goutallier classification was graded on screenshots of the Y view and two axial slices. Measurements, including HU, volume, cross-sectional area, and Goutallier grade, were performed on the 3D segmentations and the respective 2D slices. The inter- and intra-rater variability for 2D and 3D methods were calculated using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). The ICC for 2D and 3D methods was excellent (ICC: 0.90-0.95 and 0.81-0.99, respectively) and good for the Goutallier classification (ICC: 0.62-0.81). Overall, the relative 3D fatty infiltration was 0% for Goutallier grade 0 muscles, 7% for grade 1, 19% for grade 2, 33% for grade 3, and 37% for grade 4. The relative 2D fatty infiltration was 0%, 8%, 25%, 37%, and 43%, respectively. We conclude that 3D segmentation on CT scans is better reproducible and evaluates the muscle entirely. However, the time-intensive nature of the 3D method currently limits its clinical practicality. Quantitive 2D evaluation is excellently reproducible but may overestimate the actual fatty infiltration percentage of the whole muscle.

Machine Learning Analysis of Enhanced Biodegradable Phoenix dactylifera L./HDPE Composite Thermograms.

Worldwide, environmental groups and policymakers are focusing on waste recycling to create economic value and on the decomposition of waste by leveraging on scarce resources. This work, therefore, explores the thermal decomposition of enhanced biodegradable polymer matrices made from a mixture of discarded Phoenix dactylifera L./high-density polyethylene (PD/HDPE) using the machine learning analysis of experimental data. The experimental results of these samples were obtained via thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis under an oxidation-free environment, with heating rates of 10, 20, and 40 °C·min-1 and a degradation temperature range from 25 to 600 °C. The TGA analyses revealed the continued dependence of the actual percentage weight loss by these materials as a test function of the degradation temperature, shifting thermograms to temperature maxima consistent with increasing heating rates. Although high-density polyethylene (HDPE) materials were found to be thermally more stable than Phoenix dactylifera L. (PD) materials, PD/HDPE composite materials contained a significant amount of residual ash. Using a machine learning deep neural network approach for this process, significantly improved learning algorithms have been developed, which reduces the overall cost function (residual error) to almost zero (0.025) after just over a million iterations (epochs) and provides predictions that overlap with the experimental results (R2~1). Learning algorithms, along with optimized synaptic weights and biases, were employed to predict the behaviour of PD materials based on experimental thermograms conducted at higher degradation temperatures, typically ranging between 600 and 1000 °C. Predicted data using the enhanced learning algorithms completely overlapped the experiments (R2~1) for these higher degradation temperatures with near unity correlation if the decomposition of the materials continued until the residue was attained. With this approach, it is possible to predict and optimize the thermal characteristics of PD and HDPE with greater efficiency, which reduces the need for multiple design iterations and experimentation.

Correlation between the expected risk of malignancy according to FNA and the actual percentage of malignancy found on pathological anatomy in thyroidectomies and hemithyroidectomies

Correlation between the expected risk of malignancy according to FNA and the actual percentage of malignancy found on pathological anatomy in thyroidectomies and hemithyroidectomies

Race, Ethnicity, and Sex Representation Trends Among Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship Trainees and Graduates

Study ObjectiveTo study the race, ethnicity, and sex representation and annual trends of AAGL FMIGS fellows and graduates. DesignA retrospective cross-sectional study. SettingAAMC databases were queried for demographic information between 2011 and 2023. Patients/subjectsAAGL FMIGS fellows and graduates. InterventionsN/A Measurements and Main ResultsDescriptive statistical analysis and the actual-to-expected (AE) ratio of each race, ethnicity, and sex were performed. AE ratio was calculated by dividing the 13-year average actual percentage of FMIGS trainees and graduates by the expected percentage based demographics of OBGYN residents and the US general population.477 fellows graduated or were in training between 2011 and 2023; race and ethnicity information was obtained for 347 (72.7%) individuals, and sex information was available for 409 (85.7%). Representation of females ranged from 66.7% in 2017 to 93.3% in 2022. There was a significantly increasing slope for the representation of females (+1.3% per year; 95% CI 0.00–0.03; p = .027). Compared to their distribution among US OBGYN residents, White fellows’ representation was lower [AE ratio, 95% CI 0.60 (0.44–0.81)] and of Asian fellows was higher [AE ratio, 95% CI 2.17 (1.47–3.21)]. Female fellows’ representation was lower than expected [AE ratio, 95% CI 0.68 (0.48–0.96)] compared to their distribution among US OBGYN residents.Compared to the general US population, White fellows [AE ratio, 95% CI 0.65 (0.48–0.87)] and Hispanic fellows [AE ratio, 95% CI 0.53 (0.34–0.83)] representation was lower. Asian fellows’ representation was higher compared to the general US population [AE ratio, 95% CI 5.87 (3.48–9.88)]. ConclusionWhite and Hispanic fellows’ representation was lower than expected, while Asian fellows’ representation was higher in AAGL-accredited FMIGS programs. Female representation increased throughout the years, but overall, female fellows’ representation was lower than expected compared to their distribution among OBGYN residents. These findings may help develop equitable recruitment strategies for FMIGS programs and reduce health disparities within complex gynecology.

Looking under the lamp-post: quantifying the performance of contact tracing in the United States during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Contact tracing forms a crucial part of the public-health toolbox in mitigating and understanding emergent pathogens and nascent disease outbreaks. Contact tracing in the United States was conducted during the pre-Omicron phase of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This tracing relied on voluntary reporting and responses, often using rapid antigen tests due to lack of accessibility to PCR tests. These limitations, combined with SARS-CoV-2’s propensity for asymptomatic transmission, raise the question “how reliable was contact tracing for COVID-19 in the United States”? We answered this question using a Markov model to examine the efficiency with which transmission could be detected based on the design and response rates of contact tracing studies in the United States. Our results suggest that contact tracing protocols in the U.S. are unlikely to have identified more than 1.65% (95% uncertainty interval: 1.62-1.68%) of transmission events with PCR testing and 1.00% (95% uncertainty interval 0.98-1.02%) with rapid antigen testing. When considering a more robust contact tracing scenario, based on compliance rates in East Asia with PCR testing, this increases to 62.7% (95% uncertainty interval: 62.6-62.8%). We did not assume presence of asymptomatic transmission or superspreading, making our estimates upper bounds on the actual percentages traced. These findings highlight the limitations in interpretability for studies of SARS-CoV-2 disease spread based on U.S. contact tracing and underscore the vulnerability of the population to future disease outbreaks, for SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens.

Understanding changes in pulmonary function and functional status in breast cancer patients after systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy: a prospective study

BackgroundRespiratory complications in breast cancer (BC) patients after chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) have been well acquainted and these complications should be investigated to prevent secondary problems and/or improve BC patients’ clinical outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the potential acute effect of systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy on respiratory function and functional status of patients with breast cancer.MethodsA total of 25 BC patients who were candidates for systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy were recruited after oncological examination and included in this study. Respiratory function and functional status were assessed with the Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) and the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), respectively. Patients were assessed before CT (c0), after CT (c1), and after RT (r1).Results25 BC patients were assessed in c0 and c1 while only 15 out of 25 patients (60%) were assessed in r1. The actual values of Forced vital capacity (FVC) (t = 2.338, p =.028), Forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1 (t = 2.708, p =.012), and the forced expiratory flow of between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (FEF25-75%) (t = 2.200, p =.038) were found significantly different after systemic CT. Inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) muscle strength also did not show a significant change from c0 to c1. A significant effect of the type of surgery was found (Wilks’ lambda, F [1, 19] = 6.561, p =.019, ηp2 = 0.25) between c0 and c1 in actual FVC value. The main effect of time was found significant in FVC (F [2, 28] = 4.840, p =.016, ηp2 = 0.25) from c0 to r1. Pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction showed that there was a significant difference between c0 and r1 (p =.037).DiscussionThe present study showed decreased FVC and FEV1 actual values and percent predicted rates from baseline to the completion of treatment. Since the interactional effect of the type of surgery was significant, we suggest that clinical and demographic factors such as age should be considered when interpreting the early changes in PFT. In addition, the significant linear trend of decreasing in some specific outcomes in respiratory function also highlighted the need for continuous monitoring of potential respiratory problems in patients with BC from baseline to the completion of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Standard Area Diagrams for Pecan Leaf Scab: Effect of Rater Experience, Location, and Leaf Size on Reliability and Accuracy of Visual Estimates.

Assessments of the severity of scab (Venturia effusa), an economically significant disease of pecan, are critical for determining pecan cultivar susceptibility, disease epidemiology, and integrated disease management approaches. We developed a standard area diagram (SAD) set to aid in assessments of pecan leaflet scab. Leaflets with scab lesions were harvested and scanned using a flatbed scanner at 600 dpi, and Fiji (ImageJ) was used to determine the actual percent disease severity. The SADs had 10 leaflets ranging in severity from 0.2 to 48.9%. Forty "small" (1.34 to 7.43 cm2) and 40 "large" (7.67 to 25.9 cm2) leaflet images were randomized for rater assessments. The images were assessed twice by 36 raters, first without and then with the SADs as a guide. Data were subjected to analysis using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (LCC, pc) to determine the accuracy of ratings and by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis to determine interrater reliability. The effects of rater experience, rater location, and leaflet size were also determined. The SADs significantly improved the agreement between raters and the actual values (LCC, pc = 0.70 and 0.84 without and with the SADs, respectively). The reliability of estimates was improved (ICC = 0.54 and 0.82 without and with the SADs, respectively). The effect of rater location on overall concordance was significant without and with the SADs based on an analysis of variance using a generalized linear model and lsmeans separation (P < 0.05). A generalized linear mixed model analysis revealed that there was a significant interaction between rater location, experience, and the use of the SADs, with some raters having greater improvement in generalized bias and concordance. Raters had a significantly better accuracy when rating "small" leaves (LCC, pc = 0.86) compared with "large" leaves (LCC, pc = 0.82) when using the SADs, highlighting the impact of psychophysics on field evaluations of plant disease severity. The proposed SADs will serve as an improved tool for performing pecan leaflet scab assessments by the pecan research community.

Simulation of Urban Dynamic Traffic Network Based on Greedy Algorithm

This study explores the intricate dynamics of urban traffic flow under varying degrees of intersection and road section carrying capacity. We simulate a city-wide traffic network and examine the impact of extreme situations such as a decline in urban road carrying capacity on the entire traffic system. Our experimental procedure involved simulating traffic flow through intersections and road sections, artificially reducing their maximum carrying capacity, and observing the resultant changes in traffic patterns. Our data reveals a robust correlation between the decrease in carrying capacity and the actual flow percentage across intersections and adjacent sections, with a marked decrease in flow observed when the capacity reduction exceeds 40%. The actual flow percentage of nearby intersections increased significantly under the same conditions, suggesting a degree of redistribution of traffic flow. This study contributes to the broader understanding of urban traffic dynamics, offering valuable insights for urban planning and traffic management strategies.

Estimation of building project completion duration using a natural gradient boosting ensemble model and legal and institutional variables

Estimation of building project completion duration using a natural gradient boosting ensemble model and legal and institutional variables

Life expectancy of patients with diabetic foot sepsis post-lower extremity amputation at a regional hospital in a South African setting. A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundDiabetes foot sepsis (DFS) is the leading cause of amputation of lower extremities. Over 50 % of patients who have had major lower extremity amputation due to DFS are dead within 4 years following the procedure. AimTo determine the life expectancy of patients following amputation for DFS at a regional hospital in South Africa. MethodsWe conducted an audit of patients who had DFS and were admitted over a 5-year period. The duration from admission to time of death was recorded in days. Occurrence of death was confirmed from family members of the deceased using structured telephonic interview questionnaires. Categorical findings were summarized using actual counts and percentages and compared using either the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. We used the mean with standard deviation or median and range to compare parametric and non-parametric continuous data, respectively. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test normality of data. Multivariate logistic regression was done to establish factors that were strongly associated with the mortalities. Adjusted survival curves were added to compare the rate of occurrence of mortality between males and females with age as a confounder. Statistical significance was set at a p-value below 0.05. Results197 were found of which 100 % of participants had Type 2 diabetes mellitus and 63.5 % were males. Associated comorbidities included hypertension in 73.6 %, obesity in 66 %, alcohol use in 64.5 % and smoking in 58.4 %. 190 participants had an amputation and 19.3 % died. ConclusionDFS was more common in males and 96 % of the patients had an amputation. Mortality rate within 4 years following amputation was 19.3 % and was higher in females and individuals with multiple comorbidities.

Thermal Comfort Analysis on the Residential Buildings in Sarawak

Thermal comfort is a subjective response that reflects the contentment between one’s state of mind and the current environment. The energy consumption of the building sector has rapidly increased due to improved living standards and rising expectations of residents regarding thermal comfort. Mechanical ventilation, especially air conditioning systems, is essential for hot and humid countries aiming to achieve an ideal indoor comfort condition. However, such cooling systems often consume a significant amount of electricity, which contradicts the concept of energy conservation. Therefore, thermal comfort assessment is a method that can be employed to address this issue. Evaluating the thermal perception of occupants can subsequently facilitate more efficient electricity usage, aligning with the goal of energy conservation. In this study, a thermal comfort analysis was conducted on free-running residential buildings in Sarawak. These buildings were naturally ventilated with minimal use of mechanical ventilation systems. Physical measurements and subjective assessments were employed to evaluate the thermal responses of the residents based on various sensation and comfort scales, including the ASHRAE scale, Bedford scale, thermal acceptability scale, and thermal preference scale. Additionally, the widely used PMV model was utilized to predict the thermal sensation experienced by the residents. The results of the study indicated that the Bedford scale exhibited the highest percentage of acceptable responses, followed by the ASHRAE scale, thermal acceptability scale, and thermal preference scale. The PMV model was observed to overpredict the residents’ thermal responses. The comfort temperatures derived from the study were 27.5 ∘C, 28.1 ∘C, and 26.2 ∘C according to the ASHRAE scale, Bedford scale, and PMV model, respectively. Based on the actual percentage of dissatisfaction that ensures 80% satisfaction, the acceptable indoor temperature range was found to be 27.3 ∘C to 29.6 ∘C. Similarly, the acceptable range for relative humidity was 74.0% to 92.0%, and for air velocity, it was 0.18 m/s to 0.66 m/s.&#x0D; Keywords: thermal comfort, thermal perception, sensation, comfort scales

An analysis of the wool characteristics that determine wool price for Merino wool in South Africa

Globally, wool characteristics determine wool price. As a result, wool that does not match the standards for fibre diameter, clean yield and staple length at auctions are sold at cheaper prices. At global level, very few studies in the literature of wool characteristics that determine wool price have attempted to evaluate the actual percentage of clean yield that is required at a wool auction. The actual percentage of clean yield that is required at the wool auction for Merino wool is important to consider for methods that can be applied to improve clean yield. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of wool characteristics (fibre diameter, clean yield and staple length) on the determination of Merino wool price in South Africa. The data of wool prices from 2009 to 2019 wool seasons was used for analysis. A multiple regression analysis of price (Rand/kg) of Merino wool was applied to three variables (fibre diameter, clean yield and staple length). Taken each variable separately, fibre diameter, clean yield and staple length made a statistically significant (p < 0.05) contribution to the determination of wool price, after controlling all other independent variables. Considering each variable separately, a one unit (µ) increase in fibre diameter was associated with a 30.236 unit decrease in wool price (Rand/kg). A one decimal unit increase in clean yield (%) was associated with 1.353 unit increase in wool price (Rand/kg). A one unit (mm) increase in staple length was associated with 0.912 unit increase in wool price (Rand/kg). The results indicated that clean yield is a challenge for Merino wool farmers. It is important that the Merino sheep breeds are shorn first at the shearing sheds to avoid contamination of wool with coloured fibres, kemp or crossbreed wool.

Effects of a front-of-package disclosure on accuracy in assessing children's drink ingredients: two randomised controlled experiments with US caregivers of young children.

Test effects of a standardised front-of-package (FOP) disclosure statement (indicating added sugar, non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) and juice content) on accuracy in assessing ingredients and perceived healthfulness of children's drinks. In two randomised controlled experiments, the same participants viewed drink packages and indicated if products contained added sugar or NNS and percent juice and rated drink healthfulness. Experiment 1 (E1) included novel (non-US) children's drinks with a) product claims only (control), b) claims and disclosure, or c) disclosure only. Experiment 2 (E2) included existing children's drinks (with claims) with a) no disclosure (control) or b) disclosure. Both experiments evaluated sweetened (fruit drink and flavoured water) and unsweetened (100 % juice and juice/water blend) drinks. Potential individual differences (education level and race/ethnicity) in effects were explored. Online survey. Six hundred and forty-eight US caregivers of young children (1-5 years). FOP disclosures significantly increased accuracy for most ingredients and drink types, including identifying presence or absence of NNS in sweetened drinks, no added sugar in juice/water blends, and actual percent juice in fruit drinks and juice/water blends in both experiments. Disclosures also increased recognition that the novel 100 % juice and juice/water blend did not contain NNS or added sugar (E1) and existing sweetened drinks contained added sugar (E2). Disclosures reduced perceived healthfulness of sweetened drinks but did not increase unsweetened drink healthfulness ratings. Some differences by participant socio-demographic characteristics require additional research. FOP disclosures on children's drink packages can increase caregivers' understanding of product ingredients and aid in selecting healthier children's drinks.

Respondent-specific randomized response technique to estimate sensitive proportion

In estimating the proportion of people bearing a stigmatizing characteristic in a community of people, randomized response techniques are plentifully available in the literature. They are implemented essentially using boxes of similar cards of two distinguishable types. In this paper, we propose a more general procedure using five different types of cards. A respondent-specific randomized response technique is also proposed, in which respondents are allowed to build up the boxes according to their own choices. An immediate objective for this change is to enhance, sense of protection of privacy of the respondents. But as by-products, higher efficiency in terms of actual coverage percentages of confidence intervals and related features are demonstrated by a simulation study, and superior jeopardy levels against divulgence of personal secrecy are also reported to be achievable. AMS subject classification: 62D05

48 Evaluation of Regional Anaesthesia Practice in Plastic Surgery; a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Aim Our project aimed at assessing the regional anaesthesia practice in plastic surgery department Buckinghamshire trust and finding out ways to improve the service in collaboration with the anaesthesia team. Method It is a retrospective study associated with a questionnaire filled by plastic surgeons and anaesthetists to get the full picture behind the numbers. The study period was between 1/3/2022 and 23/5/2022 (12 weeks). Criteria of suitable candidates for regional block were put by the consultant anaesthetists. Results For 12 weeks, 1061 operations were performed by plastic surgeons. Local cases were excluded leaving 319 cases. Of the 319, 102 patients were suitable candidates for regional block after applying the criteria. However only 7 patients had their operations under regional block and the rest had general anaesthesia that could have been easily avoided. An online questionnaire was filled by both plastic surgeons and anaesthetists of different training level to find out the reasons behind the obvious preference of general over regional anaesthesia even if this was against the patients’ interest. Forty-four clinicians filled the questionnaire, among which was 23 plastic surgeons and 21 anaesthetists. The actual percentage of patients who were good candidates for RA but had GA instead is 93%. Conclusions The recommendations were in 5 main accesses which areProtocols and pathways for regional blocksMore training opportunities for anaesthetists on regional blocksProviding a separate block room in the hospitalBetter communication between surgeons and anaesthetistsPatient education about the benefits of regional blocks

North America's Amish-Mennonites Adopt Abroad: The Ideologies and Institutional Conditions that Cracked the Homogeneity of an Ethnic Religion.

Under what social conditions would ethnic sectarians in developed countries engage in inter-country adoption, grafting ethnically-racially diverse children into their homogenous contexts? In this article, we present a case study of Amish-Mennonite adoption-oriented children's homes in underdeveloped countries. As the ethnic-sectarian, family-oriented, evangelical Amish-Mennonites meet little success proselytizing adults, adoption-oriented children's home allowed adoptive parents to demonstrate their commitment to mission while maintaining sectarian-style control over a child's socialization. Ultimately, the children's homes were short-lived, coming and going based on larger geo-political dynamics, signaling that this unusual international adoption project is internally motivated but enabled and constrained by larger institutional contexts. Though the actual percent of inter-country adoptees to Amish-Mennonite homes is small, this case demonstrates that the right combination of values and broader political dynamics create conditions facilitating migration of children from lesser developed countries into wealthy contexts, a process cracking - even if not fully opening - Amish-Mennonite ethnic/racial homogeneity.

Investigation of spent caustic effluent treatment by electro-peroxone process; cost evaluation and kinetic studies

Spent caustic is an extremely polluted industrial wastewater with quite complex chemistry and various environmental negative impacts. Conventional wastewater treatment methods are not adequately efficient for the remediation of spent caustic. In the present work, for the first time, the treatment of spent caustic effluent was investigated by the Electro-Peroxone (EP) method as a subdivision of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs). The Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed to optimize the operational parameters, including initial COD, applied current, pH, and ozone flow rate in the removal of COD. The statistical investigations showed an acceptable determination coefficient and a suitable second-order model. The predicted optimal circumstances were as the following: initial COD = 1076 mg. L-1, applied current = 0.79 A, pH = 7.9 and O3 flow rate = 1.68 L.min−1. At optimum points, the predicted and actual COD removal percentages were 96.3 and 95.0 %, respectively. The kinetic investigations showed that the removal of COD followed the first-order kinetic with the half-life and constant reaction rate at 18 min and 0.038 min−1, respectively. The specific energy consumption (SEC) value in the EP process was calculated at 33.96 kWh/Kg COD removal, showing that the combined EP process could be a cost-effective technique for the treatment of spent caustic effluent on an industrial scale.