A Stochastic Mobility-Driven Spatially Explicit SEIQRD covid-19 Model with VOCs, Seasonality, and Vaccines.

In this work, we extend our previously developed compartmental SEIQRD model for sars-cov-2 in Belgium. We introduce sars-cov-2 variants of concern, vaccines, and seasonality in our model, as their addition has proven necessary for modelling sars-cov-2 transmission dynamics during the 2020-2021 covid-19 pandemic in Belgium. The model is geographically stratified into eleven spatial patches (provinces), and a telecommunication dataset provided by Belgium's biggest operator is used to incorporate interprovincial mobility.

Mobility and the spatial spread of sars-cov-2 in Belgium.

We analyse and mutually compare time series of covid-19-related data and mobility data across Belgium's 43 arrondissements (NUTS 3). In this way, we reach three conclusions. First, we could detect a decrease in mobility during high-incidence stages of the pandemic.

Novel bioengineered collagen with Manuka honey and hydroxyapatite sheet for the treatment of lower extremity chronic wounds in an urban hospital wound care setting.

Introduction: A novel BCMH sheet has been shown to achieve improved wound closure rates in chronic and acute wounds when compared with SOC.

Objective: This retrospective evaluation assessed chronic wound closure rates with SOC or treatment with the BCMH sheet in an urban hospital wound clinic.

Methods: Forty-seven chronic wounds were treated with SOC or the BCMH sheet.

Screening and evaluation of biomass upgrading strategies for sustainable transportation fuel production with biomass-derived volatile fatty acids.

Biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals is crucial to decarbonization, but choosing an advantageous upgrading pathway out of many options is challenging. Rigorously evaluating all candidate pathways (process simulation, product property testing) requires a prohibitive amount of research effort; even simple upgrading schemes have hundreds of possible permutations. We present a method enabling high-throughput screening by approximating upgrading unit operations and drop-in compatibility of products (, fuel properties) and apply it to volatile fatty acid (VFA) conversion to liquid transportation fuels via a MATLAB script, VFA Upgrading to Liquid Transportation fUels Refinery Estimation (VULTURE).

A new prediction model for giant cell arteritis in patients with new onset headache and/or visual loss.

Objective: The gold standard for diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a temporal artery biopsy (TAB). We sought for a clinical useful model to predict when an invasive TAB is not necessary to confirm GCA.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted with patients > 50 years with possible GCA, presenting with newly onset headache and/or visual loss.

Dutch injection versus surgery trial in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (DISTRICTS): protocol of a randomised controlled trial comparing two treatment strategies.

Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral neuropathy. The optimal treatment strategy is still unknown. The objective of the Dutch Injection versus Surgery TRIal in patients with CTS (DISTRICTS) is to investigate if initial surgery of CTS results in a better clinical outcome and is more cost-effective when compared with initial treatment with corticosteroid injection.

Cost-Effectiveness of COVID-19 Policy Measures: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on our society, with drastic policy restrictions being implemented to contain the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. This study aimed to provide an overview of the available evidence on the cost-effectiveness of various coronavirus disease 2019 policy measures.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.

Assessing the effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Belgium by means of an extended SEIQRD model and public mobility data.

We present a compartmental extended SEIQRD metapopulation model for SARS-CoV-2 spread in Belgium. We demonstrate the robustness of the calibration procedure by calibrating the model using incrementally larger datasets and dissect the model results by computing the effective reproduction number at home, in workplaces, in schools, and during leisure activities. We find that schools and home contacts are important transmission pathways for SARS-CoV-2 under lockdown measures.

Performance-advantaged ether diesel bioblendstock production by a priori design.

Lignocellulosic biomass offers a renewable carbon source which can be anaerobically digested to produce short-chain carboxylic acids. Here, we assess fuel properties of oxygenates accessible from catalytic upgrading of these acids a priori for their potential to serve as diesel bioblendstocks. Ethers derived from C and C carboxylic acids are identified as advantaged fuel candidates with significantly improved ignition quality (>56% cetane number increase) and reduced sooting (>86% yield sooting index reduction) when compared to commercial petrodiesel.

Trace metal behavior during in-situ iron removal tests in Leuven, Belgium.

Subsurface iron removal (SIR) is an in-situ technique to lower the iron content of extracted groundwater. Through cyclic injection of oxygenated water ferrous iron oxidises and precipitates as iron hydroxide in a zone surrounding the extraction well, enhancing the sorptive capacity of the aquifer. During subsequent pumping phases, groundwater traverses the oxidation zone and ferrous iron sorbs to available and newly formed exchange and sorption sites, thereby retarding the breakthrough of dissolved iron.

Do not fear the Framingham: Practical application to properly evaluate and modify cardiovascular risk in commercial divers.

Introduction: In April 2016 the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) consensus guidelines began recommending annual cardiovascular risk stratification of commercial divers using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). For those at elevated risk, further testing is recommended. This approach has raised concerns about potential operational and financial impacts.

Quantifying the emission benefits of opacity testing and repair of heavy-duty diesel vehicles.

The objective of this study was to begin to quantify the benefits of a smoke opacity-based (SAE J1667 test) inspection and maintenance program. Twenty-six vehicles exhibiting visible smoke emissions were recruited: 14 pre-1991 vehicles and 12 1991 and later model year vehicles. Smoke opacity and regulated pollutant emissions via chassis dynamometer were measured, with testing conducted at 1609 m above sea level.

Impact of biodiesel source material and chemical structure on emissions of criteria pollutants from a heavy-duty engine.

Biodiesel is an oxygenated diesel fuel made from vegetable oils and animal fats by conversion of the triglyceride fats to esters via transesterification. In this study we examined biodiesels produced from a variety of real-world feedstocks as well as pure (technical grade) fatty acid methyl and ethyl esters for emissions performance in a heavy-duty truck engine. The objective was to understand the impact of biodiesel chemical structure, specifically fatty acid chain length and number of double bonds, on emissions of NOx and particulate matter (PM).

Idle emissions from heavy-duty diesel and natural gas vehicles at high altitude.

Idle emissions of total hydrocarbon (THC), CO, NOx, and particulate matter (PM) were measured from 24 heavy-duty diesel-fueled (12 trucks and 12 buses) and 4 heavy-duty compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled vehicles. The volatile organic fraction (VOF) of PM and aldehyde emissions were also measured for many of the diesel vehicles. Experiments were conducted at 1609 m above sea level using a full exhaust flow dilution tunnel method identical to that used for heavy-duty engine Federal Test Procedure (FTP) testing.

Simultaneous analysis of grain and grain-based products for ethylene dibromide, carbon tetrachloride, and ethylene dichloride.

A method is described for the simultaneous measurement of parts per billion levels of the fumigants ethylene dibromide, carbon tetrachloride, and ethylene dichloride in grain and grain-based products. The fumigants are isolated by hexane co-distillation, separated by capillary gas chromatography, and detected with a mass spectrometer in the selected ion monitoring mode. Recoveries are greater than 90% and standard deviations are approximately 10% of the quantity measured.