Critical Level Research Articles

Population viability analysis on the Iranian endangered goat breeds

Because of the downward trend of breeding goats and flocks, habitat loss, using other breeds in reproduction, and the presence of survival-threatening factors, Iranian goat breeds, including Markhoz, Adani, and Najdi, are considered endangered populations. This research aims to investigate the current status and provide the necessary information to conserve these three endangered populations. For this purpose, the census data and the required parameters were collected from the available resources and flocks during the years of the project implementation. Then, two scenarios, the past and future dynamics of the population assuming continuing existing conditions, were simulated using the population viability analysis (PVA) method. Finally, the sensitivity analyses of parameters affecting the viability criteria were done. PVA was conducted using the Vortex simulation program version 10.5.6. The past dynamics simulation of the population showed that the biological parameters and assumptions used in the model have valid and reliable values and frequencies, and they can be used in the simulation of different management scenarios. Based on this scenario, the inbreeding rates (∆F) for the Markhoz and Adani populations have reached above the critical level of 0.5%. The future dynamics simulation of the population showed that the process of increasing inbreeding and decreasing genetic diversity would accelerate, and the breeds' extinction probability would start in 2026, 2033, and 2031 for Markhoz, Adani, and Najdi, respectively. The mean time to the first extinction was also 15.4 ± 2.53, 26.68 ± 3.75, and 13.96 ±1.78 years, respectively. The sensitivity analyses indicated that adult does overharvest, the frequency of feed limitation, and competition with other breeds had the highest effect on the population viability criteria of the investigated breeds. Markhoz, Najdi, and Adani goats need urgent conservation measures. The results obtained in this research may prepare a suitable framework for providing conservation programs.

Irrigation of young grapefruits with desalinated seawater: agronomic and economic outcomes

Given the current scarcity of freshwater resources, it is imperative to explore new agricultural management options to sustainably enhance food production. Desalinated seawater (DSW) presents a promising solution for irrigation in water-stressed regions. However, its application in perennial crops has been poorly assessed, potentially posing challenges to existing cultivation practices due to higher associated costs, salinity, and the presence of potentially harmful elements, notably boron (B). To address these uncertainties, a three-year experiment was conducted to evaluate the short-term effects of irrigation with DSW on a ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit orchard. Four irrigation treatments were assessed: DSW, freshwater (FW), a 1:1 mixture of DSW and FW (MW), and DSW with reduced B concentration (DSW–B). At present, the young age of the trees (3.5 years) and their grafting onto a five-year-old rootstock at the beginning of the experiment likely facilitated rapid foliar mass development and prevented the accumulation of phytotoxic elements up to critical levels. However, local DSW consistently exceeded recommended citrus thresholds for B (0.5mgL–1), sodium (Na+; 115mgL–1), and chloride (Cl–; 250mgL–1) in irrigation water, resulting in significant concentrations of B (2.1mgkg–1), Na+ (504mgL–1) and Cl– (476mgL–1) in soil. Moreover, these levels led to concentrations in leaves close to defined thresholds in the case of Na+ (0.25g 100g–1), and exceeded them in the case of B (>250mgkg–1). Although fruit quality remained unaffected, variability in yield among trees and the cost disparity between water resources, resulted in slight fluctuations in the income-outcome balance during initial cultivation years. Our findings offer insights into the irrigation of sensitive crops with DSW, aimed at mitigating potential soil and plant harm from early accumulation of phytotoxic elements. Further research is warranted to explore the impact of both single and sustained DSW usage for irrigation purposes.

A systematic reliability-centred maintenance framework with fuzzy computational integration – a case study of manufacturing process machinery

PurposeThis study presents a systematic framework for maintenance strategy development of manufacturing process machinery. The framework is developed based on the reliability-centred maintenance (RCM) approach to minimise the high downtime of a production line, thus increasing its reliability and availability. A case study of a production line from the ghee and soap manufacturing industry in Taiz, Yemen, is presented for framework validation purposes. The framework provides a systematic process to identify the critical system(s) and guide further investigation for functional significant items (FSIs) based on quantitative and qualitative analyses before recommending appropriate maintenance strategies and specific tasks.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed framework integrates conventional RCM procedure with the fuzzy computational process to improve FSIs criticality estimation, which is the main part of failure mode effect criticality analysis (FMECA) applications. The framework consists of four main implementation stages: identification of the critical system(s), technical analysis, Fuzzy-FMECA application for FSIs criticality estimation and maintenance strategy selection. Each stage has its objective(s) and related scientific techniques that are applied to systematically guide the framework implementation.FindingsThe proposed framework validation is summarised as follows. The first stage results demonstrate that the seaming system (top and bottom systems) caused 50% of the total production line downtime, indicating it is a critical system that requires further analysis. The outcomes of the second stage provide significant technical information on the subject (seaming system), helping team members to identify and understand the structure and functional complexities of the seaming system. This stage also provides a better understanding of how the seaming system functions and how it can fail. In stage 3, the application of FMECA with the fuzzy computation integration process presents a systematic way to analyse the failure mode, effect and cause of items (components of the seaming system). This stage also includes items’ criticality estimation and ranking assessment. Finally, stage four guides team members in recommending the appropriate countermeasures (maintenance strategies and task selection) based on their priority level.Originality/valueThis paper proposes an original maintenance strategies development framework based on the RCM approach for production system equipment. Specifically, it considers a fuzzy computational process based on the Gaussian function in the third stage of the proposed framework. Adopting the fuzzy computational process improves the risk priority number (RPN) estimation, resulting in better criticality ranking determination. Another significant contribution is introducing an extended item criticality ranking assessment process to provide maximum levels of criticality item ranking. Finally, the proposed RCM framework also provides detailed guidance on maintenance strategy selection based on criticality levels, unique functionality and failure characteristics of each FSI.

Bibliometric Analysis of Nitrogen Removal in Constructed Wetlands: Current Trends and Future Research Directions

Nitrogen pollution in water environments has reached critical levels globally, primarily stemming from agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and untreated sewage. The excessive presence of nitrogen compounds poses a significant threat to water quality, leading to adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health. Reaching a breakthrough in the technology of constructed wetlands (CWs) for mitigating nitrogen pollution is hindered by existing knowledge gaps regarding the mechanisms involved in the removal process. Reaching this understanding, we offer a comprehensive summary of current advancements and theories in this research field. Initially, bibliometric techniques were employed to identify yearly patterns in publications and areas of research focus. Subsequently, the chosen documents underwent statistical analysis using VOSviewer_1.6.20 to determine countries’ annual productivity, significant publication years, influential authors, keyword clustering analysis, and more. Finally, a comprehensive overview is provided on the elimination of nitrogen through CWs, encompassing insights into microbial communities and structure types. This analysis aims to uncover potential strategies for optimizing the rate of nitrogen removal. Furthermore, this study elucidates the current research trend concerning the nitrogen removal performance of CWs and identifies challenges and future research directions in this field.

Beyond the basics: mapping the inflation response to fiscal deficit in India with smooth transition autoregressive model

PurposeIndia’s historical fiscal performance has featured elevated deficit levels. Driven by the imperative need for fiscal stimulus measures in response to the crisis, efforts toward fiscal consolidation from 2003 to 2008 were reversed in 2008–2009 due to the financial crisis. These stimulus actions are believed to have wielded a notable influence on inflation dynamics. Presumably, a high inflation rate hinders growth and inflicts severe welfare costs. Accordingly, the principal objective of this paper is to scrutinise the threshold effects of fiscal deficit on inflation within the context of the Indian economy.Design/methodology/approachWe employed the Smooth Transition Autoregressive (STAR) Model, a robust tool for capturing non-linear relationships, to discern the specific threshold level of fiscal deficit. Our analysis encompasses annual data spanning from 1971 to 2020. Additionally, we have leveraged the Toda-Yamamoto causality test to establish the existence and direction of a causal connection between fiscal deficit and inflation in the Indian economy.FindingsOur analysis pinpointed a critical threshold level of 3.40% for fiscal deficit, a value beyond which inflation dynamics in India undergo a marked transition, signifying the presence of significant non-linear effects. Moreover, the results derived from the Toda-Yamamoto causality test offer substantiating evidence of a causal relationship originating from the fiscal deficit and leading to inflation within the Indian economic framework.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of our study carry significant implications, particularly for the formulation and execution of both fiscal and monetary policies. Understanding the threshold effects of fiscal deficit on inflation in India provides policymakers with valuable insights into achieving a harmonious balance between these two critical economic variables.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to empirically investigate threshold effects of fiscal deficit on inflation in India from a non-linear perspective using the Smooth Transition Autoregression (STAR) model.

Friction and Wear of Hard Yet Tough TiN Coatings Deposited Using High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering

The friction and wear response of hard coatings is complex, which largely depends on a good combination of hardness and toughness, and their service life is difficult to predict. Hence, in this work, hard yet tough TiN coatings were deposited using high-power impulse magnetron sputtering at 5–10 kW. With increasing sputtering power, the coatings showed a transition in crystal texture from (200) to (111), along with a refinement in microstructure, leading to an improvement in hardness (H) of 29.8–31.2 GPa and an effective Young’s modulus (E*) of 310–365 GPa. The hard yet tough TiN coatings deposited at 6.5 kW exhibited the highest H/E* and H3/E*2 ratios of 0.097 and 0.29, respectively, as well as the highest fracture toughness of 2.1 MPa·m1/2 and elastic recovery of 42.5%. Accordingly, the coatings possessed an enhanced adhesion and cohesion, in terms of micro-scratch critical load (LC3 = 19.67 N) and HF Rockwell HF1 level. The friction and wear response of hard yet tough TiN coatings under the normal load of 1–10 N were investigated to explore their durability and predict their critical load up to failure. Wear mechanisms changed from oxidative to severe abrasive wear, with load increasing from 1 to 10 N. At 2–5 N, a combination of oxidative and abrasive wear was observed. The coatings maintained their integrity up to the critical load of 9.4 N before failure event, with a maximum wear track depth of 1.8 μm, indicating their durability under the loading conditions.

Modeling of a Solar Thermal Plant to Produce Hot Water and Steam for a Brewery Factory

The environmental impact caused by the intensive exploitation of fossil fuels to generate heat and electricity has already reached a critical level. Also, as the industrial sector is the largest energy consumer, mainly in the form of heat, it has then become compulsive to implement the use of renewable solar heat in industrial processes, such as those found in the food processing and beverages industries, which do not require high temperatures. Consequently, this study examines the viability of supplying heat as hot water at 80 °C and saturated steam at 160 °C to a medium-sized brewery factory through a hybrid solar plant composed of flat plate and parabolic trough collectors and sensible thermal energy storage. The study was conducted numerically using the meteorological conditions of a city different from that where the factory is located because it benefits from higher insolation levels. The mean annual solar fractions achieved were 49.9% for hot water production and 37.3% for steam generation, at a levelized cost of heat of 0.032 USD/kWh, which can be considered competitive if compared against the values reported in other similar solar projects. Also, the decrease in fossil fuel consumption allowed an annual reduction of 252 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Association between COVID-19 Severity and Expression of Viral Nucleic Acid Sensor Genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Nasopharyngeal Epithelial Cells.

This study examined expression of key viral nucleic acid sensor genes MDA5, ZBP1, and AIM2 in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 153 COVID-19 patients across a spectrum of disease severity (mild, severe, and critical) and 42 healthy controls. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify and compare sensor transcript levels. The COVID-19 cohort had a mean age of 53.6 years. All three sensor genes including MDA5 (3.2-fold), ZBP1 (5.1-fold), and AIM2 (4.7-fold) exhibited significantly higher messenger RNA expression in both nasopharyngeal and PBMC samples from infected patients compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, sensor transcript upregulation positively correlated with escalating disease severity. During early stages, ZBP1 and AIM2 transcripts were selectively elevated within the nasopharyngeal compartment, suggesting a localized antiviral response. Whereas later during critical disease stages, ZBP1 and AIM2 levels became preferentially heightened within circulating PBMCs, indicating systemic immune cell activation. By comparison, MDA5 elevation manifested within nasopharyngeal epithelial cells during both early- and late-phase infection. Intriguingly, males displayed higher ZBP1 and AIM2 expression compared with females, whereas MDA5 transcript levels were conversely higher among females. Overall, escalation of these key viral sensor genes appears closely linked to COVID-19 progression, with initial nasal mucosal upregulation transitioning to widespread blood cell activation in severe systemic disease. These patterns of sensor expression suggest frontline immunological efforts to constrain early viral invasion and combat severe late-stage COVID-19 illness through innate detection of replicating SARS-CoV-2.

Hydrogen-enhanced densified deformation twins in 304L austenitic stainless steel fabricated by selective laser melting

Twin boundaries are the preferred site for crack nucleation and propagation in a hydrogen-rich environment. The relationship among hydrogen, cellular structure, and deformation twins is significant in further enhancing the resistance to hydrogen embrittlement of austenitic stainless steels produced by SLM. It has been demonstrated that cellular structures with high dislocation densities play a positive role in increasing stress above a critical level for deformation twin formation. The cellular structure affects the distribution of hydrogen, with hydrogen presence at cellular boundaries reducing its accumulation at grain boundaries. Hydrogen increases the density of deformation twins and reduces the thickness of individual deformation twins. This phenomenon can be attributed to an increase in nucleation sites for the deformation twin, which is closely related to the decrease in stacking fault energy and the increase in dislocation density caused by hydrogen. Both cellular structure and deformation twins play a positive role in improving the hydrogen embrittlement resistance of austenitic stainless steels.

Non-Additive Axiologies in Large Worlds

Is the overall value of a world just the sum of values contributed by each value-bearing entity in that world? Additively separable axiologies (like total utilitarianism, prioritarianism, and critical level views) say 'yes', but non-additive axiologies (like average utilitarianism, rank-discounted utilitarianism, and variable value views) say 'no'. This distinction appears to be practically important: among other things, additive axiologies generally assign great importance to large changes in population size, and therefore tend to strongly prioritize the long-term survival of humanity over the interests of the present generation. Non-additive axiologies, on the other hand, need not assign great importance to large changes in population size. We show, however, that when there is a large enough `background population' unaffected by our choices, a wide range of non-additive axiologies converge in their implications with additive axiologies—for instance, average utilitarianism converges with critical-level utilitarianism and various egalitarian theories converge with prioritarianism. We further argue that real-world background populations may be large enough to make these limit results practically significant. This means that arguments from the scale of potential future populations for the astronomical importance of avoiding existential catastrophe, and other arguments in practical ethics that seem to presuppose additive separability, may succeed in practice whether or not we accept additive separability as a basic axiological principle.

Protective Effect of Prunetin on Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Infarction in Wistar Rats via Biochemical Characterization.

The development of MI following ischemia damage is influenced by oxidative stress. Myocardial Infarction (MI) generates myocardial ischemia injury, which damages the cardiomyocytes. Ischemia builds up to a critical level over time in MI, causing permanent myocardial cell damage or death. The current study sought to determine whether Prunetin (PRU) could protect against Isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac heart failure in rats by examining cardiac diagnostic markers, lipid peroxidation products, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels, and histological changes. PRU (20 mg/kg bwt) was orally administered for 19 days to rats, and after the treatment, ISO (85 mg/kg bwt) was subcutaneously administered with an intermission of 24 h for a couple of days to induce myocardial infarction on 20th and 21st days. ISO-treated rats exhibited considerable alterations in cardiac-sensitive markers in the serum. The levels of lipid peroxidation markers augmented drastically in the plasma and myocardium. Enzymatic antioxidant levels in erythrocytes and myocardium and the states of non-enzymatic antioxidants were diminished in the plasma and heart tissue of ISO-treated rats. The histopathological examination of heart tissue exhibited cardiac damage in ISO-induced rats. The oral administration of PRU significantly lowered the levels of lipid peroxidation and biochemical indicators, while significantly improving the antioxidant system function of ISO-interposed rats. In PRU-treated ISO-injected rats, histological examinations revealed suppressed myocardial destruction. Our research shows that oral pretreatment of PRU prevented ISO-induced oxidative stress in MI.

A microelement plastic strain accumulation model for fatigue life prediction

In this article, we present a novel approach to fatigue life prediction based on a Jenkin–Masing model. The Jenkin–Masing model describes the mechanical response of a material through a large number of parallel microelements, which are taken to be elastic-perfectly plastic with different yield strengths. Even below the macroscopic yield of the material, plastic strain is accumulated in the weaker microelements during cyclic loading. These microelements are taken to fail when a critical level of plastic strain is accumulated in them. We study the monotonic response, cyclic behavior and fatigue life of this model. In particular, the model shows how different realizations of distributions of microelement strengths may show similar monotonic behavior but very different fatigue behavior. This model provides insight into the origin of the large scatter in fatigue life widely observed in experimental results.

Lipodystrophy in insulin users: a literature review

Diabetes is a metabolic syndrome of multiple origins, resulting from lack of insulin and/or the inability of insulin to adequately exercise its insulin. Since 1921, drug therapy by subcutaneous insulin has helped the diabetic patient. Although there are benefits, it is necessary to report that insulin therapy can lead to complications such as lipodystrophy. This is a literature review aimed at evaluating the characteristics of lipodystrophy in insulin users. The first step was to assess the profile of people who develop lipohypertrophy from using insulin. The authors report that most patients who reach a critical level of LH self-administer insulin, a fact that can lead users to settle for the correct administration of therapy. Some reported that the stains had already appeared for years, but patients felt embarrassed to look for someone else to apply. In many who already had prominences in the subcutaneous tissue, the report was that the site was painless. As an expected result, the absence of rotation at the application sites is the main cause for the appearance of LH. From the moment the patients were diagnosed by the professionals and started to be instructed about the rotation of the application sites, the LH rate dropped to 8% of the people. Therefore, insulin users need

A study on Awareness and Knowledge of Surgical Site Infection among Dental Patients in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Background: Risk of surgical site infection (SSI) can be reduced or eliminated if its awareness and knowledge is optimal among patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness and knowledge of SSI among dental patients in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study design conducted in hospital setting on adult Nigerian population visiting a tertiary hospital between December, 2022 and February, 2023. The data was collected with a pretested 36-item, structured, close-ended, self-administered and interviewer -administered questionnaires. The data collected were socio demographic characteristics, past admission, days of hospitalization, reason for admission and history of SSI. Other collected data were awareness and knowledge of SSI. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed. The data was entered and analyzed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS), version 26 (IBM, Armonk, NY, United States of America). A critical probability level (p-value) of <0.05 was used as the cut-off level for statistical significance. Results: A total of 102 dental patients were interviewed in this study. The age range and the mean age were 20 -76 years and 45.3± 5.1 years respectively. There was slight (55.9%) preponderance of female gender. Only 24(23.5%) respondents had heard of SSI and this was mainly through medical personnel. The majority (76.5%) of the respondents had never seen anyone diagnosed of SSI. Few (6.9%) respondents claimed they were enlightened about SSI prior to surgery. Overall, half (50%) of the respondent had poor knowledge while only 13(12.7%) had good knowledge. Marital status, level of education and previous admission were significantly associated with poor knowledge (p<0.05). Conclusions: The awareness and knowledge of surgical site infection among patients in this study were relatively poor. Therefore, awareness campaign among Nigerian population can help improved the level of knowledge for better wound care and quality care.

Forest Disturbance Thresholds and Cumulative Hydrological Impacts

AbstractForest disturbance threshold is defined as a critical disturbance level (e.g., % of forest cover change) in forested landscapes above which significant hydrological impacts are detected. Determining disturbance thresholds is critically important for supporting forest management to ensure the sustaining of ecological and hydrological functions. However, there are very few quantitative evaluations of forest disturbance thresholds globally. In this study, we applied a well‐tested methodology (the modified double mass curve) to derive the long‐term, continuous hydrological response curves and then to quantify forest disturbance thresholds on annual streamflow in 42 forested watersheds in British Columbia, Canada. The results show that forest disturbance thresholds for significant and cumulative hydrological impacts vary from 7% to 52% of cumulative equivalent clear‐cut area with an average of 17% or from 8% to 52% of disturbed area with an average of 19%. Climate (inter‐annual and intra‐annual) and watershed properties exert critical controls on forest disturbance thresholds. Watersheds with greater snowfall proportions (more annual precipitation falling as snow), more desynchronizations (temporal mismatching) of energy demand and water supply at the intra‐annual scale, less diverse ecosystems, and larger watershed sizes have lower forest disturbance thresholds. Given the present forest disturbance levels in the central interior of British Columbia, about half (53%) of the forested watersheds have already crossed the average disturbance threshold. These results highlight that watershed planning and management using forest disturbance thresholds must carefully consider local climate and watershed properties. The methodology can be effectively and robustly extended elsewhere around the globe.

Experimental Investigation on Gallium and Germanium Migration in Coal Gangue Combustion

Gallium (Ga) and germanium (Ge) critical elements have a wide range of applications and market value. Extracting critical elements from coal gangue and combustion products can alleviate pressures on primary mining resources. Understanding the transformation behavior of Ga and Ge during coal gangue combustion processes is significant for resource utilization and environmental protection. Coal gangue from Xing’an League, Inner Mongolia, was chosen to explore how combustion temperatures (600 °C to 1000 °C) and particle sizes (50, 80, 10, 140, and 200 mesh) influence Ga and Ge migration during combustion. Techniques such as ICP-MS, XRD, XRF, SEM, TG-DSC, and sequential chemical extraction were employed to analyze the transformation of minerals and to quantify the contents and occurrence forms of Ga and Ge. Smaller gangue particle sizes were associated with higher concentrations of Ga and Ge. Approximately 99.19% of Ga and Ge in coal gangue were found in the residual, organic/sulfide-bound, and metal-oxide-bound modes. High temperatures promoted element volatilization and changed the reactions and interactions between elements and minerals. As combustion temperatures rose from 600 °C to 1000 °C, Ga and Ge contents in the products declined progressively. Under high temperatures, minerals like kaolinite, illite, and pyrite in gangue converted to silicate glass phases, mullite, and hematite. Minerals like kaolinite, calcite, and pyrite melted, leading to increased cohesion and agglomeration in the products. Over 90% of Ga and Ge in the combustion products existed in the residual, organic/sulfide-bound, and metal-oxide-bound forms. Moreover, Ga was enriched in combustion products, with its content exceeding critical extraction levels. The results may provide a useful reference for developing critical elements enrichment, extraction, and separation technologies from coal gangue.

A multilayer integrative approach for diagnosis, classification and severity detection of electrical faults in photovoltaic arrays

Early detection of faults in photovoltaic (PV) systems is crucial for improving their lifespan and reliability. Conventional protection devices may not be able to detect electrical faults under critical conditions. This usually occurs due to (i) the current-limiting nature and non-linear output characteristics of PV arrays, (ii) the changing environmental conditions (such as irradiance and temperature variations), and (iii) the influence of the maximum power point tracker (MPPT), particularly in the presence of critical fault impedance values or mismatch levels. Therefore, modern data-driven methods are required for fault detection and classification in PV arrays. However, careful investigation in previous studies reveals the existing gaps and limitations, such as poor accuracy, and incomprehensive models which have not considered various electrical faults, low mismatch levels, and critical fault impedance values. To this end, in this study, a comprehensive multilayer model is proposed which consists of six layers for diagnosis, classification and severity identification of electrical faults in PV arrays. Each layer adopts a weighted ensemble learning (WEL) algorithm consisting of three classifiers namely Support Vector Machine (SVM), Naïve Bayes (NB) and Logistic Regression (LR). Besides, a genetic algorithm (GA) is employed in each layer to find the optimal weights for each classifier (i.e., SVM, NB and LR). The initial dataset is acquired through an investigation into the PV array current–voltage (I-V) characteristic curve and extraction of several features under various faulty and normal conditions. To reduce the dataset dimensionality thus computationally simplifying the training process, the sequential floating forward selection (SFFS) algorithm is utilized in each layer as a powerful feature selection technique. The results show a highly accurate performance in fault diagnosis, classification, and severity assessment, with an average simulation and experimental accuracies of 98.9% and 98.37%, respectively.

Pain intensity profile after a single injection of the peptide analgesic taphalgin in traumatology and orthopedic patients: prospective observational cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Multimodal analgesia is the main management strategy for postoperative pain. One component of this approach is opioid agonists. OBJECTIVE: Assessment of pain intensity profile after a single administration of the new selective µ1-opioid receptor agonist taphalgin in traumatology and orthopedic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational program analyzed data from 100 patients whom were prescribed the drug taphalgin for pain relief after traumatological and orthopedic surgery. All patients were treated with 50 mg dexketoprofen when moderate pain appeared after surgery. If the pain reached moderate or high intensity again, 4 mg of taphalgin was administered subcutaneously and then the change in pain intensity at rest and during movement was observed after 15, 30, 45, 60 min, as well as 2 and 4 h, using numerical rating scale (NRS). In this study physicians’ satisfaction by taphalgin was estimated. Satisfaction was assessed using Likert scale, where 1 — very bad, 2 — unsatisfactory, 3 — satisfactory, 4 — good, 5 — excellent. Repeated measures analysis of variance and dependent samples t-test were used for statistical analysis. The critical level of significance for accepting significant differences was set at 0.05. RESULTS: The average value of pain intensity before drug administration at rest was 5.9 ± 0.5 points and pain in movement was 8.4 ± 0.8 points. After just 15 min, significant pain reduction was achieved to 4.9 ± 0.8 and 7.3 ± 1.1 points (p < 0.001), respectively, after 30 min — to 3.6 ± 1.1 and 5.7 ± 1.1 points (p < 0.001), respectively, and after 60 min — to 2.2 ± 0.8 и 4.2 ± 0.8 points (p < 0.001), respectively. Doctor’s satisfaction with treatment showed that a positive assessment was given in 83 % of cases, and complete dissatisfaction was revealed in 1 % of cases. Impotently, no observations of respiratory depression or postoperative nausea and vomiting syndrome have been recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The drug taphalgin is an effective analgesic for the postoperative period in traumatology and orthopedics.

A method for estimating the outer exposure of dairy cows to deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) as a precondition for risk assessment based on inner exposure with toxin residue levels in blood and urine as indicators.

DON and ZEN residues in the blood and urine of dairy cows can be used to predict the outer exposure to DON and ZEN expressed per kilogram diet for a risk evaluation based on comparisons to critical dietary concentrations. This method was used to evaluate the exposure of dairy cows from 12 farms located in Brandenburg, Germany, fed rations with unknown DON and ZEN concentrations (N = 244). The corresponding diet concentrations predicted by different methods from analyzed blood and urine samples varied significantly amongst farms from 0 to 1.6mg/kg for DON and 0 to 3.0mg/kg for ZEN at a reference dry matter content of 88% but independently of lactational state (post-partum vs. early lactation). This significant variation was noticed below the critical dietary DON concentration of 5mg/kg, while the ZEN concentration in one farm exceeded the critical ZEN level of 0.5mg/kg markedly. Predicted DON concentrations of rations increased with the proportion of maize silage, while the high ZEN concentration found in one farm was most likely related to a higher proportion of sugar beet pulp supposedly highly contaminated by ZEN. Exceeding the critical dietary ZEN concentration and significant variations in DON contents below the critical level was not related to performance, reproductive performance, and health-related traits of cows. For a more consistent evaluation of possible associations between the inner exposure of cows to DON and ZEN, more frequent longitudinal observations of both mycotoxin residue levels and performance and health traits are required.

Augmented reality integrated education game using problem-based learning model to improve critical thinking skills

Limited students' critical thinking skills in learning can be strengthened by using augmented reality technology applications. The main objective of this research is to analyze the problem-based learning model with integrated augmented reality educational games in improving students' critical thinking abilities. This quasi-experimental research used a nonequivalent control group design. The research sample consisted of 60 students from SD Muhammadiyah 09 Surabaya who were selected using purposive sampling. Data was collected by observing the implementation of learning and testing students' critical thinking levels. The data obtained in the research was processed statistically based on research obtained with a significant value of 0.000 < 0.05, confirming that Ho was rejected and H1 was accepted. Thus, the probability value is 0.000 < 0.05, so all coefficients have meaning. Applying the PBL model with integrated augmented reality educational games on critical thinking skills has a significant effect. From the ANOVA test or F-test, Fcount was 45,348 with a significance level of 0.000. This probability is smaller than 0.05, so the learning model to predict the level of participation in learning with a problem-based learning model through educational games integrated with augmented reality influences students' critical thinking skills.