Evaluation of the trade-off between water use efficiency and nutrient use efficiency in two semiarid coniferous tree species growing on an organic amended metalliferous mine tailing substrate.

We evaluated the ecophysiological responses of two semiarid coniferous tree species, Pinus halepensis and Tetraclinis articulata, growing on a nutrient-poor metalliferous mine tailings substrate to organic amendments (biochar and/or organic municipal waste). The trees were grown in mesocosms under irrigated conditions for 20 months. Then, a comprehensive characterization of soil and plant parameters (including stable isotopes) was carried out.

Epidemiology of mid-buccal gingival recessions according to the 2018 Classification System in South America: Results from two population-based studies.

Aim: The aim of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence, severity and extent of mid-buccal gingival recessions (GRs; classified according to the 2018 Classification System) and to identify their risk indicators in the South American population.

Materials And Methods: Epidemiological data from two cross-sectional studies-performed on 1070 South American adolescents and 1456 Chilean adults-were obtained. All participants received a full-mouth periodontal examination by calibrated examiners.

A Virtual Instrument for Measuring the Piezoelectric Coefficients of a Thin Disc in Radial Resonant Mode.

In this paper, we describe and present a , a tool that allows the determination of the electromechanical, dielectric, and elastic coefficients in polarised ferroelectric ceramic discs (piezoceramics) in the linear range, including all of the losses when the piezoceramics are vibrating in radial mode. There is no evidence in the recent scientific literature of any automatic system conceived and implemented as a based on an iterative algorithm issued as an alternative to solve the limitations of the ANSI IEEE 176 standard for the characterisation of piezoelectric coefficients of thin discs in resonant mode. The characterisation of these coefficients is needed for the design of ultrasonic sensors and generators.

A Virtual Instrument for Road Vehicle Classification Based on Piezoelectric Transducers.

This paper describes a virtual instrument capable of the automatic and quasi-instantaneous classification of a vehicle according to category when it is driving along the road. The vehicle's classification is based on accurate measurements of both the vehicle's speed and its wheelbase. Our research is focused on achieving accurate speed and wheelbase measurements and then determining the category of the vehicle through the developed software.

A Modified Iterative Automatic Method for Characterization at Shear Resonance: Case Study of BaCaTiZrO Eco-Piezoceramics.

Coupling between electrically excited electromechanical resonances of piezoelectric ceramics is undesirable for the purpose of their characterization, since the material models correspond to monomodal resonances. However, coupling takes place quite often and it is unavoidable at the shear resonance of standard in-plane poled and thickness-excited rectangular plates. The piezoelectric coefficient , the elastic compliance and the dielectric permittivity component for a piezoelectric ceramic can be determined, including all losses, using the automatic iterative method of analysis of the complex impedance curves for the shear mode of an appropriated resonator.

A New Prospect in Road Traffic Energy Harvesting Using Lead-Free Piezoceramics.

In this paper, a new prospect using lead-free piezoelectric ceramics is presented in order to determine their behavior in piezoelectric-based road traffic energy harvesting applications. This paper will describe the low-cost and fully programmable novel test bench developed. The test bench includes a traffic simulator and acquires the electrical signals of the piezoelectric materials and the energy harvested when stress is produced by analogous mechanical stimuli to road traffic effects.

[Does endoscopist fatigue play a role in incomplete colonoscopies and detection of polypoid lesions?].

Introduction: Nowadays, the possible effect of endoscopist fatigue on the results of colonoscopies is under discussion. We aimed to analyze possible differences in cecal intubation and the polyp and adenoma detection rate, depending on whether colonoscopies were performed at the beginning or at the end of the daily endoscopy session and to analyze the influence of the queue position on the detection rate.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study was performed with 1,000 ambulatory and consecutive colonoscopies, divided into 2 groups: «early» and «late» procedures.

Partially covered self-expanding metal stent for unresectable malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction: results of a large prospective series.

Background: Endoscopic biliary stenting is a well-established palliative treatment in patients with unresectable malignant biliary strictures. Obstruction of uncovered self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) due to tumor ingrowth is the most frequent complication. Partially covered SEMS might increase stent patency but could favor complications related to stent covering, such as pancreatitis, cholecystitis, and migration.

Achievement of treatment goals for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in clinical practice across Europe: the EURIKA study.

Aims: Most studies on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been limited to patients at high CVD risk. We assessed the achievement of treatment goals for CVD risk factors among patients with a substantial variation in CVD risk.

Methods And Results: This study was conducted with 7641 outpatients aged ≥50 years, free of clinical CVD and with at least one major CVD risk factor, selected from 12 European countries in 2009.

Endoscopic and anesthetic feasibility of EUS and ERCP combined in a single session versus two different sessions.

Aim: To discuss the feasibility of single session endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) to discuss and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) execution.

Methods: Retrospective endoscopic and anesthetic outcome comparison of performing both EUS and ERCP in a single endoscopic session (Group I) versus performing each procedure in two different sessions (Group II) was made. The following variables were evaluated: epidemiological variables, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (ASA) level, procedural time, propofol dose, anesthetic complications, endoscopic complications and diagnostic yield, and therapeutic procedures on both groups.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of pelvic collections and abscesses.

Pelvic abscesses are usually the end stage in the progression of an infection. They may occur from surgical complications, generalized abdominal infections such as appendicitis or diverticulitis, or from localized infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease or inflammatory bowel disease. Although surgery has been considered as the treatment of choice by some authors, pelvic abscesses can be managed by non-invasive methods such as ultrasound and computed tomography-guided drainage.

Rationale and methods of the European Study on Cardiovascular Risk Prevention and Management in Daily Practice (EURIKA).

Background: The EURIKA study aims to assess the status of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) across Europe. Specifically, it will determine the degree of control of cardiovascular risk factors in current clinical practice in relation to the European guidelines on cardiovascular prevention. It will also assess physicians' knowledge and attitudes about CVD prevention as well as the barriers impeding effective risk factor management in clinical practice.

Immunonutrition in the intensive care unit. A systematic review and consensus statement.

Objective: To systematically review the effects of enteral nutrition with pharmaconutrients-enriched diets in critically ill patients and to establish recommendations for their use.

Data Sources: Computerized bibliographic search of published research and citation review of relevant articles.

Study Selection: Randomized clinical trials of critically ill patients treated with enteral nutrition comparing diets enriched with pharmaconutrients vs not enriched diets were included.

Safety and metabolic tolerance of a concentrated long-chain triglyceride lipid emulsion in critically ill septic and trauma patients.

Background: A concentrated fat emulsion (Intralipid 30%) with a phospholipid/triglyceride ratio of 0.04 was tested for clinical tolerance and metabolic effects in the short-term parenteral nutrition of septic and trauma critically ill patients and compared with Intralipid 20% (phospholipid/triglyceride ratio of 0.06).