Sheehanmerritt9964

Few studies have examined the impact of urban greenspace exposure on lung function in children-adolescents, and the available evidence is still inconsistent. The aim of the current study was to verify the hypothesis that the effects of greenspace exposure vary with differing levels of lung function of children-adolescents.

Between November 2005 and May 2006, 2150 children-adolescents (age-range 10-15 years) living in the city of Palermo were enrolled in a cross-sectional survey. Parents were interviewed through a modified version of the Italian Studies on Respiratory Disorders in Children and the Environment (SIDRIA) questionnaire. All children-adolescents performed spirometry and were tested for allergic sensitization. Exposures to greenspace and grey space at the home addresses were measured using the CORINE land-cover classes. Parametric quantile regression models were applied for assessing the association between greenspace exposure and spirometry parameters, accounting for possible confounders and efmay help implementing policies for planning sustainable housing and surrounding greenspaces.

Quantile regression techniques may provide new insights into the evaluation of the association between greenspace exposure and lung function in children-adolescents, showing substantially heterogeneous effects from lower to higher quantiles of spirometry parameters. These results may help implementing policies for planning sustainable housing and surrounding greenspaces.Constructing hierarchical structure is an effective strategy to boost the electrochemical performance of layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials, but the rational design of such delicate architectures is still challenging. Herein, a unique hierarchical core/shell homostructure with NiCo-LDH nanorods (NCNRs) as core and NiCo-LDH nanosheets (NCNSs) as shell is constructed via in-situ ZIF shell growth and subsequent ion exchange-coprecipitation process. Such novel hierarchical structure provides a large accessible surface area and more exposed electrochemical active sites. The in-situ growth and conversion process contribute to the formation of robust adhesion between the core and the shell, which could facilitate the effective charge and ion diffusion, as well as improve the mechanical stability. Benefiting from the unique structure, the NCNRs@NCNSs electrode exhibits a high capacitance of 2640.2 F g-1, along with the good rate performance and cyclic stability. Furthermore, the as-assembled asymmetric supercapacitor of NCNRs@NCNSs//AC device displays a high energy density of 22.81 Wh kg-1 at the power density of 374.95 W kg-1. This work demonstrates a new strategy for designing hierarchical LDH with core/shell structure as electrode materials for superior electrochemical energy storage.The single-crystal Ni-rich Li(NixCoyMn1-x-y)O2 cathode (NCM) demonstrates better cycle performance, enhanced tap density and improved mechanical structure stability, compared with polycrystalline NCM.However, limited Li+ transports, (003) plane slips and microcracks in large single particles hinder rate capability and cycle performance. To overcome these shortcomings,single-crystal NCM cathodes have been modified by nanosized tetragonal BaTiO3. Due to the dielectric properties, BaTiO3 particles induce electric field concentration at the BaTiO3-NCM-electrolyte interface. Thus, a large amount of lithium vacancies can be formed, providing sufficient sites for the hopping diffusion of lithium ions, thereby significantly enhancing the diffusion coefficient of Li+. Moreover, the redistribution of charges can inhibit the formation and accumulation of cathode-electrolyte-interface. Owing to the synergetic effect of BaTiO3, the BT-modified single-crystal NCM with the optimized loading shows a remarkable initial discharge capacity of 138.5 mAh g-1 and maintains 53.8% of its initial discharge capacity after 100 cycles under 5C at 4.5 V cut-off voltage. Overall, the proposed dielectric cathode-electrolyte-interface strategy can enhance Li+ ion transport and stabilize the interface structure, leading to improved rate performance. Meanwhile, the diffusion-induced state of charge gradient can also be inhibited, resulting in high structure stability of single-crystal NCMs under high rate and cut-off voltage cycling.Metal sulfides have attracted much attentions as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of the high theoretical capacity. However, the poor electronic conductivity and large volume variation usually give rise to the rapid capacity decay and undesirable rate performance, severely hampering their practical application. Herein, a gradient selenium-doped hollow sandwich structured zinc sulfide/carbon (ZnS/C) composite (Se-HSZC) is designed and fabricated as long life-span and stable anode material for LIBs. The gradient Se-doping enhances the interfacial charge transfer in Se-HSZC, while the unique double carbon shell sandwich structure further greatly reduces the volume expansion and ensures the electron fast transportation. Consequently, the Se-HSZC anode presents outstanding rate capability (654 mAh g-1 at 2 A g-1) with remarkable reversible capacity (567 mAh g-1 after 1500 cycles at 4 A g-1) for the half battery. In particular, a reversible capacity of 457 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 is achieved after 50 cycles for the full battery with LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 as cathode. This work offers a promising design route of novel metal sulfides nanostructures for high performance LIBs.Herein, we have developed Ln2Ce2O7 (Ln = Er, Ho) ceramic nanostructures through a rapid and green sonochemical approach and scrutinized their photocatalytic efficiency toward degradation of toxic pollutants under sunlight. Salvia rosmarinus extract is utilized as a morphology-directing agent in the sono-synthesis of the nanostructured Ln2Ce2O7 (Ln = Er, Ho), for the first time. Comprehensive characterization utilizing different techniques demonstrated that introducing of rare-earth metals, erbium and holmium, affected the textural, morphological, and optical features of the nanostructured ceria. The energy gap for pure cerium dioxide nanostructure was estimated to be 3.09 eV, while the energy gap for Ho2Ce2O7 and Er2Ce2O7 nanostructure was estimated at 2.9 and 2.66 eV, respectively. The narrowing of the energy gap was observed as a result of the introduction of rare-earth metals, erbium and holmium, especially erbium, into the nanostructured ceria. Investigation of the photocatalytic decomposition of various contaminants revealed that the introduction of erbium has remarkably enhanced the photocatalytic activity of nanostructured ceria. High photocatalytic performance (98.9%) and rate constant (0.0727 min-1) was observed for the Er2Ce2O7 nanostructure in the removal of eriochrome Black T. Improving the optical features of ceria nanostructure as well as enhancing its specific area were reasons that could increase the photocatalytic efficiency. The photocatalytic decomposition reactions in the removal of toxic contaminants were well accorded with the Pseudo-first order reaction kinetics. Besides, the nanostructured Er2Ce2O7 maintained its efficiency after ten reaction cycles and did not denote any notable decline in efficiency. The use of this novel porous nanostructure can be a potentially efficient solution for water treatment.

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD) is a rare pregnancy related disorder and the most curable of all gynaecological malignancies. GTD comprises the premalignant conditions of complete or partial hydatidiform mole known as molar pregnancy and a spectrum of malignant disorders termed gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Clinical management and treatment in specialist centres is essential to achieve high cure rates and clinical guidelines recommend registration with a GTD centre as a minimum standard of care. National GTD registries are valuable repositories of epidemiological data and facilitate clinical audit, centralised pathology review and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) monitoring. This study sought the opinion of women enrolled on the Irish National GTD registry to inform future service development and establish a knowledge base for molar pregnancy in Ireland.

A cross-sectional survey using an anonymised questionnaire was distributed by post to all women on the GTD registry. The questionnaire w Irish National GTD registry. It highlights the specific needs of women with molar pregnancy in terms of psychological support, bereavement counselling and peer support groups. It reveals a knowledge gap in molar pregnancy amongst healthcare professionals which should be considered in future planning of medical and nursing curricula.

This study is unique in being the first survey of women on the Irish National GTD registry. It highlights the specific needs of women with molar pregnancy in terms of psychological support, bereavement counselling and peer support groups. It reveals a knowledge gap in molar pregnancy amongst healthcare professionals which should be considered in future planning of medical and nursing curricula.Delirium prevalence and aetiology in older people in hospital or community settings in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is largely unknown. Cognitive screening tools designed for high-income countries (HICs) may be inappropriate due to cultural and educational differences, and delirium-specific measures lack validation in this context. The 'Identification and Intervention for Dementia in Elderly Africans' (IDEA) screen is a low-literacy tool developed and validated for dementia and delirium screening in Tanzania and Nigeria. This study aims to determine the prevalence and aetiology of delirium and dementia in older hospitalised patients in Zambia and to assess the utility of the IDEA screen for identification of major cognitive impairment in this setting. EN460 solubility dmso This was a blinded 4-month validation study which took place February-June 2015. Consecutive inpatient admissions of a rural mission hospital aged ≥60 years were administered the IDEA screen onadmission. Individuals were evaluated for dementia or delirium based on clinical examination, notes review and the Confusion Assessment Method. Delirium aetiological factors were recorded and classified (infectious/non-infectious). Of 136 patients recruited, dementia, delirium and major cognitive impairment were identified in 37 (27.2%), 45 (33.1%) and 62 (45.6%) respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of the IDEA screen for dementia and delirium was 0.661-0.795 (AUROC). Of those with delirium, 18 (40%) were classified infectious and 26 (57.8%) were classified non-infectious aetiologies. Dementia and delirium prevalence in older Zambian inpatients is comparable tohigh-income countries. The IDEA screen ispotentially clinically useful in this setting though diagnostic accuracy was lower than in initial validation studies. Non-infectious diseases are more highly represented amongst delirium precipitants than anticipated.

To verify the association of the isometric strength of the shoulder external rotators (ER) and serratus anterior (SA) with the performance of functional tests CKCUEST, SMB-T, and USSP-T in overhead athletes.

Cross-sectional study.

Eighty overhead athletes with no history of surgery in the upper and lower limbs and trunk in the past year, and no painful symptoms in the upper body during the physical assessment were included.

Preseason assessment included isometric strength of shoulder ER and SA, and performance of the CKCUEST, SMB-T, and USSP-T. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify if the isometric strength of the shoulder ER and SA could explain the performance during the tests after controlling for sex.

The isometric strength of SA was associated (p<0.05) with the SMB-T and USSP-T with 4% of explain. The isometric strength of the SA was not associated (p>0.05) with the CKCUEST. The isometric strength of the ER was not associated (p>0.05) with any of the tests.

The isometric strength of the SA predicted the SMB-T and USSP-T performance.