SARS-CoV-2 screening in patients in need of urgent inpatient treatment in the Emergency Department (ED) by digitally integrated point-of-care PCR: A clinical cohort study

Patients in need of urgent inpatient treatment were recruited prospectively. A rapid point of care PCR test (POC-PCR; Liat) for SARS-CoV2 was conducted in the ED and a second PCR-test from the same swab was ordered in the central laboratory (CL-PCR). POC-PCR analyzers were digitally integrated in the laboratory information system. Overall, 160 ED patients were included. A valid POC-PCR-test result was available in 96.3% (n=154) of patients. N=16 patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (10.0%). The POC PCR test results were available within 102 minutes (median, IQR: 56-211), which was significantly earlier compared to the CL PCR (811 minutes; IQR: 533-1289, p < 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of the POC- PCR test was 100%. The implementation and digital LIS integration was successfully done. Staff satisfaction with the POC process was high. The POC-PCR testing in the emergency department is feasible and shows a very high diagnostic performance. Trial registration: DRKS00019207

Sustainable Production Enhancement of Valuable Products Via Operational Rectification

ADNOC LNG lies in the middle stream of the value chain, receiving and processing LP and HP gases from ADNOC Offshore. Supporting ADNOC Upstream's current oil production and future growth strategy while reducing its associated emissions of the process by delivering the associated gases to ADNOC LNG battery limit ADNOC LNG processes associated and non-associated gases to produce LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), Propane, Butane, Paraffinic Naphtha (P. Naphtha) and Sulfur. LNG constitutes Methane, Ethane and a little Propane and butane, with minimum constraints on GHV and density. In order to deal with market competitiveness in the context of a potentially prolonged low-price environment, ADNOC LNG has embarked on various initiatives to maximize its production by driving agility and efficiency throughout the value chain process. Delivering upon efficiency improvements, one of the contributing studies included optimizing the propane content i.e. reducing the C3 content, in LNG Propane content in LNG has been varied, within operational limits, to maximize production of propane, which is more valuable/profitable when compared to LNG, whilst maintaining minimum LNG specification. In addition, slighting higher feed gas has been processed, to maintain LNG production rate. This has been achieved without hampering the plant stability. The extensive review and analysis of the rectification units has been conducted as well as optimization in terms of temperature profiles and reflux flow rates was able to generate overall better product purification, thereby increasing production of desired and more valuable products. This study has driven the investigation of additional benefits in production enhancement and quality improvements as the market value of Propane is relatively higher than that of LNG and thus yielding greater benefits. The overall performance trial basis deduced a total added benefit equivalent to 9 MMUSD/year YTD for train 3.

The Role of Visual and Auditory Communication in the Performance of a Joint Team Task

Objective This study examines visual, auditory, and the combination of both (bimodal) coupling modes in the performance of a two-person perceptual-motor task, in which one person provides the perceptual inputs and the other the motor inputs. Background Parking a plane or landing a helicopter on a mountain top requires one person to provide motor inputs while another person provides perceptual inputs. Perceptual inputs are communicated either visually, auditorily, or through both cues. Methods One participant drove a remote-controlled car around an obstacle and through a target, while another participant provided auditory, visual, or bimodal cues for steering and acceleration. Difficulty was manipulated using target size. Performance (trial time, path variability), cue rate, and spatial ability were measured. Results Visual coupling outperformed auditory coupling. Bimodal performance was best in the most difficult task condition but also high in the easiest condition. Cue rate predicted performance in all coupling modes. Drivers with lower spatial ability required a faster auditory cue rate, whereas drivers with higher ability performed best with a lower rate. Conclusion Visual cues result in better performance when only one coupling mode is available. As predicted by multiple resource theory, when both cues are available, performance depends more on auditory cueing. In particular, drivers must be able to transform auditory cues into spatial actions. Application Spotters should be trained to provide an appropriate cue rate to match the spatial ability of the driver or pilot. Auditory cues can enhance visual communication when the interpersonal task is visual with spatial outputs.

Effect of feed supplementation on growth performance and plasma minerals and metabolites in hair lambs grazing Panicum maximum

Forty-eight hair lambs (12.7 ± 1.9 kg BW) that grazed Panicum maximum pasture in the daytime and were kept in yards overnight were used to evaluate the influence of a feed supplement on growth performance, plasma minerals and metabolites. Lambs were randomly assigned to two treatments: no feed supplement (control) and feed supplement (300 g/head per day). The growth performance trial lasted 77 days. At the end of the trial, blood samples were collected to determine plasma minerals and metabolites. Feed supplementation improved total BW gain, ADG and feed conversion as compared to no supplementation. Supplemented lambs had higher serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, globulin and glucose than lambs not supplemented. Packed blood cell volume, haemoglobin, urea and cholesterol, as well as blood mineral values in lambs not supplemented were similar to those of supplemented lambs. Feed supplementation of growing lambs grazing pasture in the daytime and kept in yards overnight is an important management strategy for improving growth performance and some blood metabolites related to health and nutritional status.

Dogmatism manifests in lowered information search under uncertainty

When knowledge is scarce, it is adaptive to seek further information to resolve uncertainty and obtain a more accurate worldview. Biases in such information-seeking behavior can contribute to the maintenance of inaccurate views. Here, we investigate whether predispositions for uncertainty-guided information seeking relate to individual differences in dogmatism, a phenomenon linked to entrenched beliefs in political, scientific, and religious discourse. We addressed this question in a perceptual decision-making task, allowing us to rule out motivational factors and isolate the role of uncertainty. In two independent general population samples (n= 370 andn= 364), we show that more dogmatic participants are less likely to seek out new information to refine an initial perceptual decision, leading to a reduction in overall belief accuracy despite similar initial decision performance. Trial-by-trial modeling revealed that dogmatic participants placed less reliance on internal signals of uncertainty (confidence) to guide information search, rendering them less likely to seek additional information to update beliefs derived from weak or uncertain initial evidence. Together, our results highlight a cognitive mechanism that may contribute to the formation of dogmatic worldviews.

Critical speed, D’ and pacing in swimming: Reliability of a popular critical speed protocol applied to all four strokes

Purpose: The validity of the critical speed (CS) concept has been investigated in front crawl swimmers using protocols involving multiple performance trials. The reliability and practical feasibility of CS protocols with strong face validity remain unknown in all four swimming strokes. This study aimed to assess reliability and practical feasibility of a widely used CS protocol in all four strokes. Methods: 32 national-level swimmers (butterfly n=7, 19 ± 2 years old; backstroke n=8, 18 ± 2 years old; breaststroke n=7, 18 ± 2 years old; front crawl n=10, 17 ± 2 years old) performed three 200-m and three 400-m performance trials in their specialist stroke over a three-week period. CS and supra-CS distance capacity (D’) were modelled from the linear relationship between distance and time. At the end of the three weeks, all swimmers were asked whether they felt they could or would want to complete an 800-m performance trial as part of a CS protocol. Results: CS derived from 200-m and 400-m performance trials is reliable (typical error ≤ 0.04 m.s-1; coefficient of variation < 4% for all strokes) while D’ is not (typical error between 4 to 9 m; coefficient of variation 13-45%) . Response rate to the follow-up questions was 100%. Only a few butterfly swimmers would want to (14%) or felt they could (29%) complete an 800-m performance trial with more positive responses for breaststroke (57% and 71%), backstroke (75% and 100%), and front crawl swimmers (90% and 100%).Conclusion: Using 200-m and 400-m performance trials is a reliable and practical method for determining CS in backstroke, breaststroke and front crawl swimmers. Including an 800-m performance trial would not be practical with butterfly swimmers, would be challenging with breaststroke swimmers, but would be feasible with front crawl and backstroke swimmers.

Field Pea Can Be Included in Fattening Concentrate without Deleterious Effects on the Digestibility and Performance of Lambs

The inclusion of different proportions of field pea (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) for partially replacing soybean in the fattening concentrate of lambs was studied for its impact on apparent digestibility and performance during fattening. In the in vivo digestibility trial, 12 lambs (33 kg body weight) were placed in metabolic crates for two periods and received restricted amounts of concentrate and straw. The performance trial involved 54 lambs (13.4 kg body weight) that received concentrate plus straw ad libitum from weaning to slaughter. The intake of crude protein was higher in the 0% pea group than in the other groups (p < 0.05). The inclusion of field pea did not affect the digestibility, N retained or blood metabolites. In the performance trial, most traits were not affected, although a cubic effect of field pea inclusion on hot carcass weight and dressing percentage was observed (p < 0.05). The inclusion of field pea did not affect total protein, urea or β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations but it affected creatinine and cholesterol concentrations (p < 0.05). In conclusion, field pea can constitute up to 30% of the fattening concentrate of lambs without deleterious effects on the digestibility and performance during fattening, and with minor effects on carcass characteristics.

Wafer-type biscuit waste in meat-quail diets

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the nutritional composition and effect of different levels of inclusion of wafer-type biscuit waste (WW) in the diet of European quail on production performance, carcass yield and economic viability. In the metabolizability trial, WW showed 87.45% DM, 4,128.53 kcal/kg GE, 3,833.14 kcal/kg AME, 3,818.92 kcal/kg AMEn, 9.37% CP and 17% EE. The metabolizability coefficients of DM, GE, EE and CP were 93.20, 92.85, 93.01 and 47.16%, respectively. In the performance trial, feed intake decreased linearly (P<0.05) from 22 to 42 and from one to 42 days of age. Weight gain and feed conversion were not influenced (P>0.05) by WW inclusion. The WW inclusion levels did not influence (P>0.05) carcass yield. The diet with 20% inclusion of WW provided the best financial return. Wafer-type biscuit waste can be included up to the level of 20% in quail diets without compromising production performance, carcass yield or the economic viability of the activity.

PSVII-31 Animal acceptability and performance trail of olive pomace on Gallus gallus domesticus

With feed being a costly input, the goal of any producer is to find feed sources that provide a balance of nutrients that meet the requirements for maintenance, growth, and performance while efficiently contributing to favorable carcass attributes at a low cost. Olive pomace is a by-product of the olive oil industry which can serve as a source of fat (14%), protein (3.6%), and fiber (44.5%). This by-product has potential as a supplemental source of energy and other essential nutrients to be blended into livestock rations. The objective of this study was to conduct an animal acceptability and performance trial using a mixture of olive pomace and commercial poultry feed to determine which blend of feed and pomace would be most acceptable or most desired by broilers. Two pens, consisting of 20 broilers at 34d of age when put on trial, were provided three mixtures of feed in separate feeders. Feeders were filled with either a 1:3, 1:1, or 3:1 olive pomace to commercial broiler feed mixture. Daily consumption rates were used to determine ration preference. The troughs were rotated, twice daily, within each pen to eliminate location preference. The broilers found the 1:3 ratio to be the most preferred (P &lt; 0.01), while the 3:1, and 1:1 ratio did not differ (P &lt; 0.39). In the performance trial, the same broilers were fed the same rations along with a control group for 27d. No difference was detected in body weight at either d0 (P = 0.98) or d27 (P = 0.78) across treatment groups. In comparison to control, 1:1 had a 3% decrease, and 3:1 had a 13% decrease in cost, while, 1:3 had a 4.2 % increase per bird in cost when compared to control. In conclusion, olive pomace can be a cost effective feed supplement for broilers and maintain efficiency of gain.