Chest CT Diagnosis of COVID-19: Accuracy using CO-RADS and CT-Involvement Scoring.

Objectives: Both Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) and CT-involvement scores (CTIS) have been proposed for evaluation of COVID-19 on chest CT. The purpose of this single-center, retrospective study was to evaluate both scoring systems to diagnose COVID-19 infection in a high-prevalence area.

Materials And Methods: Chest CT datasets (n = 200) and available reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal swab were included.

Protein-Rich Biomass Waste as a Resource for Future Biorefineries: State of the Art, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Protein-rich biomass provides a valuable feedstock for the chemical industry. This Review describes every process step in the value chain from protein waste to chemicals. The first part deals with the physicochemical extraction of proteins from biomass, hydrolytic degradation to peptides and amino acids, and separation of amino acid mixtures.

Reliability of MR Imaging-Based Posterior Fossa and Brain Stem Measurements in Open Spinal Dysraphism in the Era of Fetal Surgery.

Background And Purpose: Fetal MR imaging is part of the comprehensive prenatal assessment of fetuses with open spinal dysraphism. We aimed to assess the reliability of brain stem and posterior fossa measurements; use the reliable measurements to characterize fetuses with open spinal dysraphism versus what can be observed in healthy age-matched controls; and document changes in those within 1 week after prenatal repair.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective evaluation of 349 MR imaging examinations took place, including 274 in controls and 52 in fetuses with open spinal dysraphism, of whom 23 underwent prenatal repair and had additional early postoperative MR images.

Highly selective one-step dehydration, decarboxylation and hydrogenation of citric acid to methylsuccinic acid.

The one-step dehydration, decarboxylation and hydrogenation of the bio-based and widely available citric acid is presented. This reaction sequence yields methylsuccinic acid with yields of up to 89%. Optimal balances between the reaction rates of the different steps were found by varying the hydrogenation catalyst and the reaction parameters (H pressure, pH, temperature, time and catalyst-to-substrate ratio).

Controlled defunctionalisation of biobased organic acids.

The production of chemicals from biomass is of large interest to the sustainable chemistry community. While the main focus in the literature is on compounds that can be directly obtained from carbohydrates via fermentation and on the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass, the production of chemicals via the controlled defunctionalisation of highly functional biobased compounds is largely undervalued. This feature article intends to highlight the recent progress in heterogeneous chemocatalytic defunctionalisation of the widely available citric and amino acids, focusing on the different chemical routes available and identifying the most promising defunctionalisation strategies based on atom economy and functionality index.

Ruthenium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative decarboxylation of amino acids: a green, zero-waste route to biobased nitriles.

Oxidative decarboxylation of amino acids into nitriles was performed using molecular oxygen as terminal oxidant and a heterogeneous ruthenium hydroxide-based catalyst. A range of amino acids was oxidized in very good yield, using water as the solvent.

European first aid guidelines.

Aim: Our objectives were to determine the most effective, safe, and feasible first aid (FA) techniques and procedures, and to formulate valid recommendations for training. We focussed on emergencies involving few casualties, where emergency medical services or healthcare professionals are not immediately present at the scene, but are available within a short space of time. Due to time and resource constraints, we limited ourselves to safety, emergency removal, psychosocial FA, traumatology, and poisoning.