Search results for "policy"

Gestational surrogacy. Current view

2019

Surrogate motherhood is an assisted procreation practice by which a woman gestates an embryo with which she has no biological relationship on behalf of a contracting couple or individual, having to relinquish the child to them after its birth. This practice normally entails a financial remuneration for the pregnant woman; when this is not the case, it is called altruistic surrogacy. From a medical perspective, potential problems for the surrogate and for children born through this practice should be taken into account, especially the existence of possible disabilities in the child. The bioethical aspects are of most interest because the practice of surrogacy objectifies the expectant mother…

A procedure to calculate the I–V characteristics of thin-film photovoltaic modules using an explicit rational form

2015

Abstract Accurate models of the electrical behaviour of photovoltaic modules are effective tools for system design. One or two diode equivalent circuits have been widely used even though some mathematical difficulties were found dealing with implicit equations. In this paper, a new model based on a simple rational function, which does not contain any implicit exponential form, is presented. The model was conceived in order to be used with thin-film photovoltaic modules, whose current–voltage curves are characterised by very smooth shapes. The parameters of the model are evaluated by means of the derivatives of the issued characteristics in the short circuit and open circuit points at standa…

[IC‐P‐152]: ASSOCIATION OF CORTICAL AMYLOID LOAD WITH RESTING‐STATE EEG FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY IN SUBJECTIVE MEMORY COMPLAINERS FROM THE INSIGHT‐PRE…

2017

Microsporidia and Its Relation to Crohn's Disease. A Retrospective Study

2013

Background: The cause of Crohn's Disease (CD) remains unknown. Recently a decrease in the global lymphocyte population in the peripheral blood of CD patients has been reported. This decrease was more evident in gamma delta T lymphocytes, especially gamma delta CD8+T subsets. Furthermore, a decrease of IL-7 was also observed in these patients. We propose the hypothesis that microsporidia, an obligate intracellular opportunistic parasite recently related to fungi, in CD patients can take advantage of the lymphocytes and IL-7 deficits to proliferate and to contribute to the pathophysiology of this disease. Methods and Findings: In this case-control study, serum samples were collected from 36 C…

Evaluation of Microbiological and Physico-Chemical Quality of Raw Milk from Sibiu Dairy Farm Province of Romania

2011

Research aims at benchmarking the quality of raw milk supplied by four private farms in the county of Sibiu at a distance of about 25 km each for a period of three months (April, May, June 2010). Samples were subject to particularly microbiological measurements (total number of germ and somatic cells), physico-chemical (acidity, fat density, non-fat dry matter, protein and freezing point titre) by international standard methods. The results of the four farms show different variations of the parameters analyzed as follows: 55.5% of the samples fall in physico-chemical parameters of standard quality and 79% of the samples fall within the parameters of microbiological quality standard and with…

The effects of forest management on wood-inhabiting fungi occupying dead wood of different diameter fractions

2014

Forest management has caused severe ecological degradation throughout the Globe. One of its most prominent consequences is the drastic change in dead wood profile and consequently in the dead wood dependent biota. Wood-inhabiting fungi are, considering ecosystem functions, the most important species group utilizing dead wood, because they take care of majority of the decaying process. The earlier research focusing on the effects of forest management on wood-inhabiting fungi has strongly focused on large dead wood pieces (i.e. coarse woody debris, CWD), even though it has been shown that a major part of fungal diversity utilizes (also) small dead wood pieces (i.e. [very] fine woody debris, […

Efficacy and safety of bempedoic acid for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2020

Background Bempedoic acid is a first-in-class lipid-lowering drug recommended by guidelines for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Our objective was to estimate its average effect on plasma lipids in humans and its safety profile. Methods and findings We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of phase II and III randomized controlled trials on bempedoic acid (PROSPERO: CRD42019129687). PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases were searched, with no language restriction, from inception to 5 August 2019. We included 10 RCTs (n = 3,788) comprising 26 arms (active arm [n = 2,460]; control arm [n = 1,328]). Effect sizes for changes in lipids and high-…

The effects of a subvention scheme for e-bikes on mode share and active mobility

2022

Hanne Beate Sundfør, Aslak Fyhri, The effects of a subvention scheme for e-bikes on mode share and active mobility, Journal of Transport & Health, Volume 26, 2022, 101403, ISSN 2214-1405, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2022.101403 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140522000755) Introduction Previous studies show substantial mode share effects from e-bikes. E-bike owners cycle more and drive less car than they would without access to an e-bike. Support schemes for e-bikes exist in a number of countries, but knowledge about the effect of subsidies on active transport is limited. The aim of this study is to assess the mode change and active mobility effects of a subvention…

Effects of a brief pre‑admission telephone reminder on no‑show and dropout rates in substance use disorder treatment: a quasi‑experimental study

2022

Abstract Background Appointment no-show and early dropout from treatment represent major challenges in outpatient substance use disorder treatment, adversely affecting clinical outcomes and health care productivity. In this quasi-experimental study, we examined how a brief reminder intervention for new patients before their first appointment affected treatment participation and retention. No-shows (not attending any sessions) and dropouts (discontinuation of initiated treatment because of three consecutively missed appointments) were compared between a period with pre-admission telephone calls (intervention) and a period without such reminders (non-intervention). Methods Participants were a…

Toward sustainable environmental quality : Priority research questions for Europe

2018

P.J. Van den Brink et al.