Plate waste increases with the number of foods proposed: An exploratory experimental study in adolescents' school canteens.

The objective of this exploratory study was to examine whether the number of foods offered has an impact on plate waste and meal satisfaction in adolescents' school canteens. The plate waste of 247 French students was estimated during two school lunches, the only variation being the number of starters offered (3 versus 6). Plate waste was assessed by the weight of food left on the tray.

Dynamic Gate Control of Aryldiazonium Chemistry on Graphene Field-Effect Transistors.

As graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) are becoming increasingly valued for sensor applications, efficiency and control of their surface functionalization become critical. Here, we introduce an innovative method using a gate electrode to precisely modulate aryldiazonium functionalization directly on graphene devices. Although this covalent chemistry is well-known, we show that its spontaneous reaction on GFETs is highly heterogeneous with a low overall yield.

Late results after mitral valve replacement with Mosaic bioprosthesis in patients aged 65 years or younger.

Objectives: Although in younger patients indications for biological prosthesis implantation in mitral valve replacement remain controversial, recently bioprostheses use increased considerably. We present late results obtained with the Medtronic Mosaic bioprosthesis in patients aged 65 years or younger.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2017, 67 mitral Mosaic bioprostheses were implanted in patients aged 65 years or younger (58.

Graphene field-effect transistors as bioanalytical sensors: design, operation and performance.

Graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) are emerging as bioanalytical sensors, in which their responsive electrical conductance is used to perform quantitative analyses of biologically-relevant molecules such as DNA, proteins, ions and small molecules. This review provides a detailed evaluation of reported approaches in the design, operation and performance assessment of GFET biosensors. We first dissect key design elements of these devices, along with most common approaches for their fabrication.

Bill covering and nape feather ruffling as indicators of calm states in the Sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).

Parrots are highly social birds that are recognized for their primate-like cognitive abilities but their way to express emotions remain overlooked. Herein we explored potential facial indicators of emotions in cockatoos. We predicted that facial feather ruffling is an indicator of a cockatoo's emotional state and hypothesized that specific facial feather positions would be present more during positive valence and low arousal situations.

Biatrial remodelling in atrial fibrillation: A three-dimensional and strain echocardiography insight.

Background: Atrial remodelling has been poorly investigated in atrial fibrillation (AF), and few studies have focused on biatrial remodelling.

Aim: To evaluate right atrial (RA) and left atrial (LA) remodelling in AF using global atrial reservoir strain and three-dimensional (3D) atrial volumes, according to rhythm outcome at mid-term follow-up.

Methods: Two-dimensional and 3D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were performed within 24hours after admission (M0) and at 6-month follow-up (M6) in patients admitted for AF.

Facial display and blushing: Means of visual communication in blue-and-yellow macaws (Ara Ararauna)?

Mainly recognized for their cognitive performance, the visual communication system and, particularly, the potential function of facial displays in parrots remain thus far unexplored. Here, we provide the first descriptive study of facial display use in captive blue-and-yellow macaws. We observed the feather position (sleeked or ruffled) on the crown, nape and cheek at the group level during the macaws' daily routine and individually while interacting with a familiar animal caretaker.

Renovascular hypertension: results in adulthood of renal autotransplantation performed in children.

Background: This study describes the long-term results of renal autotransplantation for renovascular hypertension performed in children who are now 21 years of age or older.

Methods: Sixteen children (4 boys, 12 girls) with a mean age of 11.2 years at the time of the procedure underwent ex-vivo surgery at the university hospital of Saint-Etienne between 1992 and 2008.

Critical Care Basic Ultrasound Learning Goals for American Anesthesiology Critical Care Trainees: Recommendations from an Expert Group.

Objective: In this review, we define learning goals and recommend competencies concerning focused basic critical care ultrasound (CCUS) for critical care specialists in training.

Design: The narrative review is, and the recommendations contained herein are, sponsored by the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists. Our recommendations are based on a structured literature review by an expert panel of anesthesiology intensivists and cardiologists with formal training in ultrasound.

Pocket-sized focused cardiac ultrasound: strengths and limitations.

Focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU) has emerged in recent years and has created new possibilities in the clinical assessment of patients both in and out of hospital. The increasing portability of echocardiographic devices, with some now only the size of a smartphone, has widened the spectrum of potential indications and users, from the senior cardiologist to the medical student. However, many issues still need to be addressed, especially the acknowledgment of the advantages and limitations of using such devices for FCU, and the extent of training required in this rapidly evolving field.

Tissue near infra red spectroscopy change is not correlated with patients' outcome in elective cardiac surgery.

Background: Microcirculatory disturbances following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are thought to be at the origin of organ dysfunction, although few studies have correlated microvascular alterations with outcome. We aimed to assess the microcirculation with near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and correlate NIRS parameters with intensive care length of stay and organ dysfunction.

Methods: Forty patients at increased risk of postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome after an elective cardiac surgery with CPB were included in this prospective observational study.

Bedside assessment of right atrial pressure in critically ill septic patients using tissue Doppler ultrasonography.

Purpose: Right atrial pressure (RAP) is considered a surrogate for right ventricular filling pressure or cardiac preload. It is an important parameter for fluid management in patients with septic shock. It is commonly approximated by the central venous pressure (CVP) either invasively using a catheter placed in the superior vena cava or by bedside ultrasound, in which the size and respiratory variations of the inferior vena cava (IVC) are measured from the subcostal view.

Efficacy of transthoracic echocardiography for diagnosing heart failure in septic shock.

Background: Cardiac dysfunction occurs in up to 80% of patients with septic shock. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is an ideal tool for the detailed characterization of cardiac function. Its feasibility is perceived to be poor in critically ill patients, but this has never been studied.

Focused transthoracic echocardiography during critical care medicine training: curriculum implementation and evaluation of proficiency*.

Objectives: We designed and implemented a focused transthoracic echocardiography curriculum for critical care medicine fellows participating in 1- and 2-year training programs. We quantitatively evaluated their proficiency in focused transthoracic echocardiography.

Design: Prospective study evaluating curriculum implementation and objective assessment of focused transthoracic echocardiography proficiency.

Focused cardiac ultrasound training: how much is enough?

Background: Focused transthoracic echocardiography (F-TTE) is an important tool to assess hemodynamically unstable patients in the Emergency Department. Although its scope has been defined by the American College of Emergency Physicians, more research is needed to define an optimal F-TTE training program, including assessment of proficiency.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of current standards in post-residency training to reach proficiency in F-TTE.

David valve-sparing aortic root replacement: equivalent mid-term outcome for different valve types with or without connective tissue disorder.

Objective: Although implicitly accepted by many that the durability of valve-sparing aortic root replacement in patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease and connective tissue disorders will be inferior, this hypothesis has not been rigorously investigated.

Methods: From 1993 to 2009, 233 patients (27% bicuspid aortic valve, 40% Marfan syndrome) underwent Tirone David valve-sparing aortic root replacement. Follow-up averaged 4.

Phonons of the anomalous element cerium.

Many physical and chemical properties of the light rare-earths and actinides are governed by the active role of f electrons, and despite intensive efforts the details of the mechanisms of phase stability and transformation are not fully understood. A prominent example which has attracted a lot of interest, both experimentally and theoretically over the years is the isostructural γ - α transition in cerium. We have determined by inelastic X-ray scattering, the complete phonon dispersion scheme of elemental cerium across the γ → α transition, and compared it with theoretical results using ab initio lattice dynamics.

MRI guides diagnostic approach for ischaemic stroke.

Background And Aim: Identification of ischaemic stroke subtype currently relies on clinical evaluation supported by various diagnostic studies. The authors sought to determine whether specific diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) patterns could reliably guide the subsequent work-up for patients presenting with acute ischaemic stroke symptoms.

Methods: 273 consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke symptoms were enrolled in this prospective, observational, single-centre NIH-sponsored study.

[Intrahospital mortality during acute exacerbations of COPD. Study EABPCO-CPHG of the College of the Lung specialists of General hospitals (CPHG)].

Introduction: The objective of the present study was to determine the in-hospital mortality rate in the EAPCO-CPHG cohort and to identify risk factors.

Methods: All patients with COPD acute exacerbation admitted to the pneumology department of 68 French general hospitals between October 2006 and June 2007 were included in the EABPCO-CPHG cohort.

Results: At discharge, vital status was known for 1817 patients.

Multiplanar reconstruction of three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography improves the presurgical assessment of mitral prolapse.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value and accuracy of multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) of three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiographic data sets in assessing mitral valve pathology in patients with surgical mitral valve prolapse (MVP).

Methods: Sixty-four patients with surgical MVP and preoperative two-dimensional (2D) and 3D transthoracic echocardiography were analyzed. The descriptions obtained by 3D MPR and 2D were compared in the context of the surgical findings.

A novel non-invasive method of estimating pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: The assessment of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The main objective of this study was to determine whether the noninvasive index of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP) to heart rate (HR) times the right ventricular outflow tract time-velocity integral (TVI(RVOT)) (SPAP/[HR x TVI(RVOT)]) provides clinically useful estimations of PVR in PAH.

Methods: Doppler echocardiography and right-heart catheterization were performed in 51 consecutive patients with established PAH.

Influence of pressure on the boson peak: stronger than elastic medium transformation.

We study the changes in the low-frequency vibrational dynamics of poly(isobutylene) under pressure up to 1.4 GPa, corresponding to a density change of 20%. Combining inelastic neutron, x-ray, and Brillouin light scattering, we analyze the variations in the boson peak, transverse and longitudinal sound velocities, and the Debye level under pressure.