In this research an electrochemical technique in combination with powdered activated carbon (PAC) for the removal of micropollutants by adsorption as an advanced stage purification step from effluents of pilot plant wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The effluents of sedimentation tank comprised of wastewater plus PAC (WWPAC). The pilot plant mainly consists of two parts; the first one consists of electrocoagulation (EC) reactor and the second consists of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) discs and electroflotation (EF) setup. The electrocoagulation (EC) reactor is a fiber box consisting of two chambers and thirty four plates of one material (either Fe or Al) on the whole in one EC reactor while one cell has seventeen plates. Both types of electrodes have been tested with the outflow of sedimentation tank. The outflow from the sedimentation tank has been entered into the EC reactor for the determination of EC reactor efficacy for the successful accomplishment of EC process at the designed pilot plant for WW treatment. The effect of different operational parameters; PAC dosage (20 mg), electrode nature (Fe and Al), current density (0.34–2.02 A/m2) has been studied to find out the optimum conditions. Sludge volume index (SVI) of the sludge, thermogravimetric (TG), differential thermal analyses (DTA) and particle size distribution (PSD) of the flocs generated after the EC process has also been studied. The turbidity, pH and conductivity of effluents before and after EC treatment has also been carried out. This pilot plant research gave promising results for future work in advance wastewater treatment direction.

We evaluated the performance of 11 SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests using a reference set of heat-inactivated samples from 278 unexposed persons and 258 COVID-19 patients, some of whom contributed serial samples. The reference set included samples with a variation in SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titers, as determined by an in-house immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The five evaluated rapid diagnostic tests had a specificity of 99.0% and a sensitivity that ranged from 56.3 to 81.6% and decreased with low IFA IgG titers. The specificity was > 99% for five out of six platform-based tests, and when assessed using samples collected ≥ 22 days after symptom onset, two assays had a sensitivity of > 96%. These two assays also detected samples with low IFA titers more frequently than the other assays. In conclusion, the evaluated antibody tests showed a heterogeneity in their performances and only a few tests performed well with samples having low IFA IgG titers, an important aspect for diagnostics and epidemiological investigations.

Lysine-selective molecular tweezers are promising drug candidates against proteinopathies, viral infection, and bacterial biofilm. Despite demonstration of their efficacy in multiple cellular and animal models, important questions regarding their mechanism of action, including cell penetrance and intracellular distribution, have not been answered to date. The main impediment to answering these questions has been the low intrinsic fluorescence of the main compound tested to date, called CLR01. Here, we address these questions using new fluorescently labeled molecular tweezers derivatives. We show that these compounds are internalized in neurons and astrocytes, at least partially through dynamin-dependent endocytosis. In addition, we demonstrate that the molecular tweezers concentrate rapidly in acidic compartments, primarily lysosomes. Accumulation of molecular tweezers in lysosomes may occur both through the endosomal-lysosomal pathway and via the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Moreover, by visualizing colocalization of molecular tweezers, lysosomes, and tau aggregates we show that lysosomes likely are the main site for the intracellular anti-amyloid activity of molecular tweezers. These findings have important implications for the mechanism of action of molecular tweezers in vivo, explaining how administration of low doses of the compounds achieves high effective concentrations where they are needed, and supporting the development of these compounds as drugs for currently cureless proteinopathies. Li et al. design and synthesize fluorescently labeled molecular tweezers to explore their internalization, intracellular localization, and mechanism of endocytosis in brain cells including neurons and astrocytes. The authors find that MTs are internalized in neurons and astrocytes, at least partially through dynamin-dependent endocytosis, and concentrate rapidly in acidic compartments, primarily lysosomes.

Im Rahmen dieses Aufsatzes werden einige wichtige Aspekte des ästhetischen Lernens bei der transkulturellen Vermittlung von Literatur dargestellt, mit dem Ziel zu zeigen, wie die systematische Interpretation ausgezeichneter literarischer Werke in der Ausbildung von Lehrenden zur humanistischen Bildung bzw. transkulturellen Vermittlung humanistischer Werte beiträgt, während gleichzeitig die Sprachkompetenzen der Lernenden gefördert werden. Die vorliegende Untersuchung fand im Rahmen eines universitären Unterrichtsprojektes statt. Sie zeigt auf, wie die ästhetische Erfahrung bei der literarischen Übersetzung durch den spielerischen Umgang mit Sprache ermöglicht wird sowie durch die Auseinandersetzung mit gelungenen sprachlich vermittelten Bildern, Sinnbildern und Metaphern, die nicht unbedingt kulturologisch geprägt sind, sondern vielmehr mit der Transformation von der persönlichen zur universal-menschlichen Erfahrung zu tun haben.

Purpose This paper aims to examine the state of the art in electronic records management (ERM) with the goal of identifying the prevailing research topics, gaps and issues in the field. Design/methodology/approach First, a wide search was performed on academic research databases, limited to the period between 2008–2018. Second, the search results were reviewed for relevance and duplicates. Finally, the study sources were checked against the list of journals and conferences ranked by computing research and education and JourQual. The final sample of 55 selected studies was analyzed in depth. Findings ERM has lost some research momentum due to being deeply embedded in affiliate information systems areas and the changing records management landscape. Additionally, the requirement models specified by Governmental/National Archives might have constrained technology innovation in ERM. A lack of application was identified for the social media research area. Research limitations/implications Limitations were encountered in available search tool functionality and keyword confusion leading to inflated search results. While effort has been made to obtain optimal search results, some relevant articles may have been omitted. Originality/value The last ERM state-of-the-art review was in 1997. A lot has changed since then. This paper will help researchers understand the current state of ERM research, its understudied areas and identify gaps for future studies.

Maintaining item banks that continually reflect the measured construct can be achieved through periodically removing obsolete items and adding validated items.

AIM To critically evaluate the reporting quality of a random sample of clinical trials published in Endodontics against the PRIRATE 2020 checklist and to analyse the association between the quality of reported trials and a variety of parameters. METHODOLOGY Fifty randomized clinical trials relating to Endodontics were randomly selected from the PubMed database from 2015 to 2019 and evaluated by two independent reviewers. For each trial, a score of '1' was awarded when it fully reported each item in the PRIRATE guidelines whereas a score of '0' was awarded when an item was not reported; when the item was reported inadequately a score of '0.5' was awarded. For the items that were not relevant to the trial, 'Not Applicable (NA)' was given. Based on the interquartile range of the overall scores received, trials were categorized into 'Low' (0-58.4%), 'Moderate' (58.5-72.8%) and 'High' (72.9-100%) quality. The associations between characteristics and quality of clinical trials were investigated. Descriptive statistics, frequency analysis and percentage analyses were used to describe the data. To determine the significance of categorical data, the chi-square test was used. The probability value 0.05 was considered as the level of significance. RESULTS Based on the overall scores, 13 (26%), 25(50%) and 12 (24%) of the reports of clinical trials were categorized as 'High', 'Moderate' and 'Low' quality, respectively. Three items (1b, 6d, 11e) were adequately reported in all manuscripts whilst two items (5k, 5m) were scored 'NA' in all the reports. The reports published from Europe had a significantly greater percentage of 'High'-quality scores, compared to Asia, Middle East, North America and South America (P = 0.0002). The 'High'-quality reports were published significantly more often in impact factor journals (P = 0.045). Reports of clinical trials published in journals that adhered to the CONSORT guidelines had significantly more 'High' scores compared to those that did not (P = 0.008). Clinical trials with protocols registered a priori had a significantly greater percentage of 'High' scores compared to the trials that were not registered in advance (P = 0.003). No significant difference occurred between the quality of clinical trials and the number of authors, journal (Endodontic specialty vs. Non-Endodontic specialty) or year of publication. CONCLUSIONS Reports of randomized clinical trials published in the speciality of Endodontics had a substantial number of deficiencies. To create high-quality reports of clinical trials, authors should comply with the PRIRATE 2020 guidelines.

ABSTRACT Introduction: There are growing concerns among European health authorities regarding increasing prices for new cancer medicines, prices not necessarily linked to health gain and the implications for the sustainability of their healthcare systems. Areas covered: Narrative discussion principally among payers and their advisers regarding potential approaches to the pricing of new cancer medicines. Expert opinion: A number of potential pricing approaches are discussed including minimum effectiveness levels for new cancer medicines, managed entry agreements, multicriteria decision analyses (MCDAs), differential/tiered pricing, fair pricing models, amortization models as well as de-linkage models. We are likely to see a growth in alternative pricing deliberations in view of ongoing challenges. These include the considerable number of new oncology medicines in development including new gene therapies, new oncology medicines being launched with uncertainty regarding their value, and continued high prices coupled with the extent of confidential discounts for reimbursement. However, balanced against the need for new cancer medicines. This will lead to greater scrutiny over the prices of patent oncology medicines as more standard medicines lose their patent, calls for greater transparency as well as new models including amortization models. We will be monitoring these developments.

Fagus sylvatica is widely distributed across Europe thanks to its high adaptability in a wide variety of soils and climate. Microbial communities are essential for maintaining forest soil quality a...

Introduction/Objectives: Health authorities are facing increasing challenges to the sustainability of their healthcare systems because of the growing expenditures on medicines, including new, high-priced oncology medicines, and changes in disease prevalence in their ageing populations. Medicine prices in European countries are greatly affected by the ability to negotiate reasonable prices. Concerns have been expressed that prices of patented medicines do not fall sufficiently after the introduction of lower-cost generic oncology medicines. The objective of this study was to examine the associations over time in selected European countries between the prices of oral oncology medicines, population size, and gross domestic product (GDP) before and after the introduction of generic versions. Evidence of periodic reassessments of the price, value, and place in treatment of these medicines was also looked for. The goal of this review was to stimulate debate about possible improvements in approaches to reimbursement negotiations. Methodology: Analysis was performed of reimbursed prices of three oral oncology medicines (imatinib, erlotinib and fludarabine) between 2013 and 2017 across Europe. Correlations were explored between GDP, population size, and prices. Findings were compared with previous research regarding prices of generic oral oncology medicines. Results: The prices of imatinib, erlotinib and fludarabine varied among European countries, and there was limited price erosion over time in the absence of generics. There appeared to be no correlation between population size and price, but higher prices of on-patent oral cancer medicines were seen among countries with higher GDP per capita. Conclusion: Limited price erosion for patented medicines contributed to increases in oncology medicine budgets across the region. There was also a concerning lack of evidence re-assessments of the price, value, and place in treatment of patented oncology medicines following the loss of patent protection of standard medicines. The use of such proactive re-assessments in negotiating tactics might positively impact global expenditures for oncology medicines.

In the teaching process, the relationship between students and university teachers is an important determinant of the quality learning and teaching process. The concepts of didactic theories provide a different approach to the didactic - methodical determination of teaching, and the position of students in the scientific - teaching process in relation to the concept of the old school and the traditional pedagogical paradigm of teaching. The student is observed and experienced as a collaborator, learning partner, authoritarian teaching styles are abandoned, democratically oriented communication and interaction are developed, with mutual respect, tolerance and respect for all participants in the teaching process. The analytical - descriptive method, comparative analysis and content analysis were used. The relationship and position of students and university teachers in the teaching process through the prism of didactic theories advocated by Christina Moller and Felix von Cube are presented. The issues of selectivity, cooperation and competitiveness as a starting point for defining the position of students in teaching, purposes and goals of learning, based on the modern pedagogical paradigmatic orientation of the “learning society”, and the analysis of the position and position of students and university teachers through the prism of cyber-information didactic theories and curriculum theories.

This review paper offers a definition and explanation of the self-care concept as one of the basic ways of developing and nurturing professional and personal capacities and maintaining healthy boundaries between the professional and personal life of helpers. The paper also emphasizes the ethical components of self-care as an imperative of helpers to take care of their own mental and physical health. Challenges for the development and maintenance of skills and conditions for the sustainability of self-care in the helping professions are described and analyzed from the perspective of personal responsibility and the institution’s obligation to ensure healthy working conditions and professional growth and development. Introduction to the self-care concept and comparative analysis is presented through the presentation of various, mostly foreign studies that have monitored the effects of self-care on the overall health of helpers and their professional effects. The paper also describes the adverse consequences of the lack of self-care skills and activities that encourage it. It also emphasizes the negative effects on the health of the helpers and their work potential. In conclusion, guidelines are defined for the development and maintenance of the helper's self-care, important both for his satisfaction in personal life and especially in professional success and self-actualization.