Simulation-Optimization Approach for Siting Injection Wells in Urban Area with Complex Hydrogeology.

Managed aquifer recharge has become a standard water resources management practice to promote the development of locally sustainable water supplies and combat water scarcity. However, installation of injection wells for replenishment purposes in urban areas with complex hydrogeology faces many challenges, such as limited land availability, potential impacts on municipal production wells and known subsurface contamination plumes, and complex spatially variable hydraulic connections between aquifer units. To assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of injecting advanced treated water (ATW) into a complex urban aquifer system, a Simulation-Optimization (SO) model was developed to automate a systematic search for the most cost-effective locations to install new wells for injecting various quantities of ATW, if feasible.

The Impact of Peer Support Group Programs on Psychosocial Outcomes for Burn Survivors and Caregivers: A Review of the Literature.

Peer support group programs are often recommended for burn survivors as a way to facilitate their psychosocial recovery and reintegration into the community. Such programs provide opportunities for burn patients and their caretakers to access emotional and informational support from healthcare providers and other survivors in inpatient or outpatient settings. Despite their popularity, however, there is little information currently available on the efficacy of these groups.

Optimizing Nurse Staffing During a Pandemic.

This article describes how a health care organization optimized staffing during the COVID-19 crisis by capitalizing on the expertise of nursing professional development practitioners to create a rapid deployment onboarding plan. The rapid onboarding training plan provided Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health with a sense of stability in an uncertain time. Designing a plan that easily could be modified allowed the organization to be prepared during the pandemic and at a point where staffing needs must meet surge capacity.

Comparison Analysis of Machine Learning Techniques for Photovoltaic Prediction Using Weather Sensor Data.

Over the past few years, solar power has significantly increased in popularity as a renewable energy. In the context of electricity generation, solar power offers clean and accessible energy, as it is not associated with global warming and pollution. The main challenge of solar power is its uncontrollable fluctuation since it is highly depending on other weather variables.

Influence of sex steroid hormones on the adolescent brain and behavior: An update.

This review explains the main effects exerted by sex steroids and other hormones on the adolescent brain. During the transition from puberty to adolescence, these hormones participate in the organizational phenomena that structurally shape some brain circuits. In adulthood, this will propitiate some specific behavior as responses to the hormones now activating those neural circuits.

The Role of Kisspeptin in the Onset of Puberty and in the Ovulatory Mechanism: A Mini-review.

The onset of puberty has been a fascinating topic for reproductive endocrinologists for decades; however, its underlying physiological mechanisms have remained elusive until recently. The discovery and understanding of the effects exerted by the peptide hormone kisspeptin have shed light on this research area. This review is aimed to discuss the functions of kisspeptin, with special focus on its role in the onset of puberty and in the ovulatory mechanism.

[Neuromuscular syndromes of the critically ill].

With the continuous improvement in the survival of critical patients, new neuromuscular syndromes are being described. The clinical finding is an acute-subacute onset of generalised weakness with difficulty in weaning the patient from the ventilator, due to polyneuropathy, myopathy, prolonged neuromuscular blockade or a combination of these disorders. Although having a multifactorial ethiopathology, the major risk factors in the development of these disorders are multiple organ failure and sepsis for polyneuropathy; corticosteroids and neuromuscular junction blocking agents (NMB) for myopathy; and NMB and renal and liver failure for prolonged neuromuscular blockade.

[Clinical and neuropathological study of two brothers with Cockayne syndrome].

Introduction: Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease which is characterized by physical and mental retardation, progressive neurological disfunction, photosensitivity and other cutaneous features. Usually they present ophthalmologic abnormalities as well as other heterogenous clinical, radiological and pathologic features as leucodistrophy and calcifications in central nervous system and segmental demyelination in peripheral nervous system.

Clinical Cases: Two brothers, sons of healthy unrelated parents, are presented.

Heterozygosity for the H63D mutation in the hereditary hemochromatosis (HFE) gene may lead into severe iron overload in beta-thalassemia minor: observations in a thalassemic kindred.

Heterozygosity for beta-thalassemia (minor) by itself does not lead into iron overload; however, when it is inherited together with a homozygous state for either the H63D or the C282Y mutations of the hereditary hemochromatosis gene (HFE gene), iron overload may ensue. We describe here a kindred in which the propositus, being heterozygote for beta-thalassemia and the H63D mutation of the HFE gene, developed severe iron overload and in turn, chronic liver failure with portal hypertension. Other members of the family with either beta-thalassemia or heterozygous for the H63D gene mutation did not develop iron overload.

[Familial benign partial epilepsy of early infancy].

Introduction And Clinical Cases: We present two patients who at the ages of 5 and 17 months respectively presented with convulsive crises with motor signs, of partial onset and secondary generalization, which eventually became normal. Both patients had a family history of first degree relatives with similar illnesses and are at present-five years later-well and with normal development, school achievement and neurological examination findings. The clinical characteristics, normal biochemical and neuroimaging investigations and EEG characteristics suggest the diagnosis of benign partial epilepsy of early infancy.

[Neuromuscular disorders in critically ill patients].

Introduction And Objective: Critically ill patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) often develop neuromuscular disorders. The objective of this study was to diagnose these and determine the causes.

Material And Methods: We present a series of 13 critically ill patients who developed weakness or paresia, reduced or absent ROT and normal brain stem reflexes, in whom ENG and EMG studies were done in EESS and II which were considered together with data from general laboratory analysis, radiological and microbiological examinations, medication given and posterior clinical course of the patient.

[Andermann syndrome: presentation of a case].

Introduction: Peripheral neuropathy with agenesis of the corpus callosum (or Andermann's syndrome) is a hereditary autosomal recessive disorder rarely found outside certain regions of Quebec Province (Canada). It is associated with mental retardation and various dysmorphic changes. Deterioration is usually progressive with loss of motor skills, development of scoliosis during adolescence, tendency to behaviour disorders and death during the third decade (approximately).

The medical and economic impact of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy in a large, metropolitan, not-for-profit hospital.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the medical and economic impact of of operative laparoscopy on the surgical approach to hysterectomy for benign disease in a large, metropolitan, not-for-profit hospital.

Study Design: Retrospective analyses were performed on 2563 hysterectomies (without vaginal or bladder repair) for benign disease, performed by 37 gynecologists between January 1991 and December 1993. Disposable laparoscopic instruments and stapling devices were not used at any time during the study period.