Pre-endoscopy SARS-CoV-2 testing strategy during COVID-19 pandemic: The care must go on

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, endoscopic societies have recommended reduction of endoscopic procedures. In particular non-urgent endoscopies should be postponed. However, this might lead to unnecessary delay in diagnosing gastrointestinal conditions.MethodsRetrospectively we analysed the gastrointestinal endoscopies performed at the Central Endoscopy Unit of Saarland University Medical Center during seven weeks from 23 March to 10 May 2020 and present our real-world single-center experience with an individualized rtPCR-based pre-endoscopy SARS-CoV-2 testing (“PECo”) strategy.ResultsAltogether 359 gastrointestinal endoscopies were performed. The PECo strategy enabled us to conservatively handle endoscopy program reduction (44% reduction as compared 2019). The results of COVID-19 rtPCR from nasopharyngeal swabs were available in 89% of patients prior to endoscopies. Apart from six patients with known COVID-19, all other tested patients were negative. The frequencies of endoscopic therapies and clinically significant findings did not differ between patients with or without SARS-CoV-2 tests.ConclusionA reasonable reduction of the endoscopy program in the setting of structured SARS-CoV-2 testing is feasible and safe. The PECo strategy allows continuation of endoscopic procedures in a region with intermediate frequency of COVID-19 when hospital capacities are not overwhelmed by the pandemic. Thus, the study might help to develop new strategies during future waves of COVID-19 or local outbreaks.

KECEMASAN ORANGTUA DALAM PENGASUHAN ANAK DENGAN HIV/AIDS

This study examines the parents’ anxiety in parenting children with HIV/AIDS at Yayasan Pelita Ilmu Jakarta. The purpose of this study to obtain an empirical description of the characteristics of respondents and the physical condition related anxiety. The method used in this research is quantitative approach. The sample size of this research is 30 people taken by cluster sampling technique. Data collection techniques used were questionnaires and documentation studies. The results show that parents who have children with HIV/AIDS experience anxiety in parenting. Respondents have severe anxiety on physical aspect equal to 53,33%, This anxiety is most dominantly triggered by fears of stigma and discrimination, as well as the health conditions of children with HIV / AIDS which are vulnerable. The results of the research problem analysis require problem-solving efforts so that researchers propose an anxiety program reduction for parents of children with HIV/AIDS. This program aims to improve the parents’ skills in dealing with situations that could be trigger their anxiety.

Comparison of Packed-Bed and Micro-Channel Reactors for Hydrogen Production via Thermochemical Cycles of Water Splitting in the Presence of Ceria-Based Catalysts

Hydrogen production via two-step thermochemical cycles over fluorite-structure ceria (CeO2) and ceria-zirconia (Ce0.75Zr0.25O2) materials was studied in packed-bed and micro-channel reactors for comparison purposes. The H2-temperature program reduction (H2-TPR) results indicated that the addition of Zr4+ enhanced the material’s reducibility from 585 µmol/g to 1700 µmol/g, although the reduction temperature increased from 545 to 680 °C. Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 was found to offer higher hydrogen productivity than CeO2 regardless of the type of reactor. The micro-channel reactor showed better performance than the packed-bed reactor for this reaction.

Effect of Calcination Heating Rate on Microstructure and Performances of NSR Catalyst

The Be/Ce/γ-Al2O3 compound catalysts were prepared by sol-gel process using γ-Al2O3, Ba (AC)2 and Ce (NO3)3·6H2O as raw materials, and the effect of calcination heating rate on microstructure and performance of the NOx storage and reduction (NSR) catalyst was investigated. The crystal structure, microstructure, absorption and reduction performances of the NSR catalyst were characterized and analyzed by X-Ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) and H2 temperature program reduction (H2-TPR). The experimental results show that the Ba and Ce elements mainly exist in the forms of BaCO3 and CeO2, respectively, and partial CeO2 is amorphous. The calcination heating rate can play a key role in the grain size and distribution of BaCO3 and CeO2, so that it can affect the surface area, pore volume and pore diameter of the NSR catalyst. Moreover, the reduction temperature of the NSR catalyst decrease first and then increase with the increase of calcination heating rate, and the reduction temperature of as-received NSR catalyst is the lowest as the reduction temperature is 6 °C/min, that is its reduction performance is the optimal.

Policy Watch: The Food Stamp Program and Welfare Reform

Major changes have been proposed for the Food Stamp Program, including replacing the program with block grants to the states, cashing out the benefits, and reducing program funding from baseline levels. This paper will explore the impacts of food stamp reform on food spending, income support, welfare reform, agriculture, and the rest of the economy. A comprehensive set of scenarios is used to examine the potential economic consequences. The analysis shows that the effect of cashing out the Food Stamp Program can be as much as four times larger than the effects of program reduction alone.