Contamination source detection in water distribution networks

Numeričkim hidrauličkim simulacijama mreže cijevi računaju se piezometrične visine i protoci u unutarnjim točkama cijevi i drugim hidrauličkim elementima mreže. Osim tih proračuna, cilj simulacije također može biti i širenje polutanata ili otopine u cijevnoj mreži. Širenje polutanata kroz vodnodistribucijsku mrežu cijevi uglavnom je uvjetovano svojstvima procesa miješanja u križnim cijevnim spojevima. Realno miješanje u križnom spoju nalazi se unutar pretpostavke modela potpunoga miješanja i modela nepotpunoga miješanja. U ovom radu pokazan je postupak inverznoga modeliranja kako bi se odredio izvor zagađenja unutar mreže cijevi. Pretpostavljamo situaciju u kojem se koncentracije zagađenja mjere u jednom, dva ili više čvorova mreže. Rezultati mjerenja koriste se kao polazište za postupak inverznoga traganja za izvorom zagađenja. Taj je postupak pokazan i verificiran na jednom eksperimentalnom modelu.The numerical hydraulic simulation of pipe networks calculates the heads and discharges at the inner points of pipes and other non-pipe elements of the network. Besides these calculations, contaminant and solutes spreading in the pipe network can be of interest, too. The contamination spreading through the water-distribution pipe networks is controlled mainly by mixing properties at pipe junctions. Real mixing that can occur within a pipe junction lies between the complete-mixing model and incomplete-mixing model assumptions. In this paper, we demonstrate the inverse modeling in trying to detect the source of contamination within the pipe network. We assume a scenario where contaminant concentrations are measured in one, two or more nodes of the pipe network. These results are used as a starting point for the inverse source detecting procedure. The inverse source detection procedure is shown and verified on an experimental model

DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES ON VACCINATION BETWEEN HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND GENERAL POPULATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Cilj: Cilj ovoga istraživanja je utvrditi postoje li razlike u stavovima o programu obveznog cijepljenja između zdravstvenih radnika i opće populacije u Republici Hrvatskoj. Metode: Korišten je internetski upitnik, konstruiran za potrebe ovog istraživanja, na koji se odgovaralo putem društvenih mreža. Anketa je sadržavala 20 pitanja, a rezultati su obrađeni statističkim računalnim programom GraphPadPrism. Rezultati: Zdravstveni radnici imaju više povjerenja u sigurnost i učinkovitost cijepljenja, te pokazuju veće znanje u odnosu na ispitanike iz opće populacije. Također, opća populacija je sklonija vjerovati da je nastanak autizma povezan sa cijepljenjem te da cijepljenje uzrokuje slabljenje imunološkog sustava. Navedene razlike u mišljenju o cijepljenju nisu bile povezane sa socio-demografskim čimbenicima ni sa stupnjem obrazovanja. Nadalje, rezultati ovog istraživanja su utvrdili da bi ukidanje zakonski obveznog cijepljenja imalo negativne utjecaje na procijepljenost populacije, jer veliki udio ispitanika svoju djecu ne bi cijepio. Zaključak: Zdravstveni radnici imaju pozitivnije stavove o cijepljenju od opće populacije. Bolja edukacija roditelja o cijepljenju mogla bi pridonijeti višoj razini procijepljenosti populacije.Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate whether there are differences in attitudes about the compulsory vaccination program between healthcare workers and general population in the Republic of Croatia. Methods: An internet questionnaire constructed for the purposes of this research was used and answered via social networks. The questionnaire ontained 20 questions and the results were processed by Graph Pad Prism statistical software. Results: Study results showed healthcare professionals to have more confi dence in and better knowledge about vaccination safety and effi cacy compared to respondents from the general population. Also, the latter were more likely to believe that the onset of autism is associated with vaccination and that vaccination causes weakening of the immune system. These differences in the opinion on vaccination were not related to socio-demographic factors or level of education. Furthermore, the results of this study found that abolition of legally mandatory vaccination would have negative effects on vaccination of the population, as a large proportion of respondents would not vaccinate their children. Conclusion: Healthcare workers have more positive attitudes about vaccination than the general population. Better education of parents about vaccination could contribute to a higher level of vaccination of the population

DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES ON VACCINATION BETWEEN HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND GENERAL POPULATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Cilj: Cilj ovoga istraživanja je utvrditi postoje li razlike u stavovima o programu obveznog cijepljenja između zdravstvenih radnika i opće populacije u Republici Hrvatskoj. Metode: Korišten je internetski upitnik, konstruiran za potrebe ovog istraživanja, na koji se odgovaralo putem društvenih mreža. Anketa je sadržavala 20 pitanja, a rezultati su obrađeni statističkim računalnim programom GraphPadPrism. Rezultati: Zdravstveni radnici imaju više povjerenja u sigurnost i učinkovitost cijepljenja, te pokazuju veće znanje u odnosu na ispitanike iz opće populacije. Također, opća populacija je sklonija vjerovati da je nastanak autizma povezan sa cijepljenjem te da cijepljenje uzrokuje slabljenje imunološkog sustava. Navedene razlike u mišljenju o cijepljenju nisu bile povezane sa socio-demografskim čimbenicima ni sa stupnjem obrazovanja. Nadalje, rezultati ovog istraživanja su utvrdili da bi ukidanje zakonski obveznog cijepljenja imalo negativne utjecaje na procijepljenost populacije, jer veliki udio ispitanika svoju djecu ne bi cijepio. Zaključak: Zdravstveni radnici imaju pozitivnije stavove o cijepljenju od opće populacije. Bolja edukacija roditelja o cijepljenju mogla bi pridonijeti višoj razini procijepljenosti populacije.Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate whether there are differences in attitudes about the compulsory vaccination program between healthcare workers and general population in the Republic of Croatia. Methods: An internet questionnaire constructed for the purposes of this research was used and answered via social networks. The questionnaire ontained 20 questions and the results were processed by Graph Pad Prism statistical software. Results: Study results showed healthcare professionals to have more confi dence in and better knowledge about vaccination safety and effi cacy compared to respondents from the general population. Also, the latter were more likely to believe that the onset of autism is associated with vaccination and that vaccination causes weakening of the immune system. These differences in the opinion on vaccination were not related to socio-demographic factors or level of education. Furthermore, the results of this study found that abolition of legally mandatory vaccination would have negative effects on vaccination of the population, as a large proportion of respondents would not vaccinate their children. Conclusion: Healthcare workers have more positive attitudes about vaccination than the general population. Better education of parents about vaccination could contribute to a higher level of vaccination of the population

The “Big Bang” in obese fat: Events initiatingobesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation

Obesity is associated with the accumulation of pro-inflammatory cells in visceral adiposetissue (VAT), which is an important underlying cause of insulin resistance and progres-sion to diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Although the role of pro-inflammatory cytokinesin disease development is established, the initiating events leading to immune cell acti-vation remain elusive. Lean adipose tissue is predominantly populated with regulatorycells, such as eosinophils and type 2 innate lymphocytes. These cells maintain tissuehomeostasis through the excretion of type 2 cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13,which keep adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) in an anti-inflammatory, M2-like state.Diet-induced obesity is associated with the loss of tissue homeostasis and developmentof type 1 inflammatory responses in VAT, characterized by IFN-γ. A key event is a shiftof ATMs toward an M1 phenotype. Recent studies show that obesity-induced adipocytehypertrophy results in upregulated surface expression of stress markers. Adipose stressis detected by local sentinels, such as NK cells and CD8+T cells, which produce IFN-γ,driving M1 ATM polarization. A rapid accumulation of pro-inflammatory cells in VATfollows, leading to inflammation. In this review, we provide an overview of events lead-ing to adipose tissue inflammation, with a special focus on adipose homeostasis and theobesity-induced loss of homeostasis which marks the initiation of VAT inflammation

Kronična pseudo-opstrukcija sigmoidnog kolona - prikaz slučaja

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare syndrome characterized by signs of intestinal obstruction lasting for 6 months or more, in the absence of a definitive cause of obstruction. We report a case of CIPO in a 49-year-old female patient with a 6-month history of ongoing irregular bowel movements, manifested as constipation and diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain and bloated feeling. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance enterography revealed focal thickening of a segment of the lienal flexure and intermittent areas of wider and narrower caliber along the sigmoid colon. No signs of a definitive cause of obstruction were found, but evidence for dolichosigma was revealed, which was later confirmed with colonoscopy. Due to persisting symptoms, the patient agreed to elective resection of the sigmoid colon. Following the procedure, symptoms regressed with a significant improvement in the quality of life. The patient has been regularly monitored in an outpatient setting and reports absence of the symptoms since the procedure. Pathophysiology of the resected section revealed more prominent lymphatic tissue, follicular arrangement, and reactively altered germinal centers, which can suggest CIPO.Kronična intestinalna pseudo-opstrukcija (KIPO) je vrlo rijedak sindrom obilježen znakovima intestinalne opstrukcije koji traju 6 mjeseci ili duže, a u odsutnosti definitivnog jasnog uzroka. U našem prikazu slučaja radi se o 49-godišnjoj bolesnici koja je više od 6 mjeseci imala stalne nepravilne stolice koje su se manifestirale izmjenom proljeva i konstipacije, a bile su praćene nadutošću i bolovima u trbuhu. Učinjenom obradom koja je uključivala kontrastnu kompjutoriziranu tomografiju i magnetsku enterografiju kod bolesnice je utvrđeno žarišno zadebljanje segmenta lienalne fleksure i isprekidana područja šireg i užeg kalibra duž sigmoidnog kolona. Nije nađen jasni uzrok opstrukcije, ali je otkrivena anatomska varijanta dolihosigme koja je kasnije potvrđena i kolonoskopijom. Zbog vrlo izraženih dugotrajnih simptoma koji nisu regredirali na konzervativne metode liječenja bolesnica je pristala na preporučenu elektivnu resekciju sigmoidnog kolona. Nakon zahvata simptomi su se povukli uz značajno poboljšanje kvalitete života, a bolesnica se redovito prati u gastroenterološkoj ambulanti. Patohistološki nalaz reseciranog dijela sigmoidnog kolona otkrio je istaknutije limfno tkivo, folikularni raspored i reaktivno promijenjene germinativne centre, što ide u prilog dijagnoze KIPO-a

NK cell receptor NKG2D sets activation threshold for the NCR1 receptor early in NK cell development

The activation of natural killer (NK) cells depends on a change in the balance of signals from inhibitory and activating receptors. The activation threshold values of NK cells are thought to be set by engagement of inhibitory receptors during development. Here, we found that the activating receptor NKG2D specifically set the activation threshold for the activating receptor NCR1 through a process that required the adaptor DAP12. As a result, NKGD2-deficient (Klrk1-/-) mice controlled tumors and cytomegalovirus infection better than wild-type controls through the NCR1-induced production of the cytokine IFN-γ. Expression of NKG2D before the immature NK cell stage increased expression of the adaptor CD3ζ. Reduced expression of CD3ζ in Klrk1-/- mice was associated with enhanced signal transduction through NCR1, and CD3ζ deficiency resulted in hyper-responsiveness to stimulation via NCR1. Thus, an activating receptor developmentally set the activity of another activating receptor on NK cells and determined NK cell reactivity to cellular threats

Interactions between adipose tissue and the immune system in health and malnutrition

Adipose tissue provides the body with a storage depot of nutrients that is drained during times of starvation and replenished when food sources are abundant. As such, it is the primary sensor for nutrient availability in the milieu of an organism, which it communicates to the body through the excretion of hormones. Adipose tissue regulates a multitude of body functions associated with metabolism, such as gluconeogenesis, feeding and nutrient uptake. The immune system forms a vital layer of protection against micro-organisms that try to gain access to the nutrients contained in the body. Because infections need to be resolved as quickly as possible, speed is favored over energy-efficiency in an immune response. Especially when immune cells are activated, they switch to fast, but energy-inefficient anaerobic respiration to fulfill their energetic needs. Despite the necessity for an effective immune system, it is not given free rein in its energy expenditure. Signals derived from adipose tissue limit immune cell numbers and activity under conditions of nutrient shortage, whereas they allow proper immune cell activity when food sources are sufficiently available. When excessive fat accumulation occurs, such as in diet-induced obesity, adipose tissue becomes the site of pathological immune cell activation, causing chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. Obesity is therefore associated with a number of disorders in which the immune system plays a central role, such as atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. In this review, we will discuss the way in which adipose tissue regulates activity of the immune system under healthy and pathological condition