What One Can Learn From the Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) Size Distributions as Monitored by the BEO Moussala?

In this proceeding we report initial studies into the big data set acquired by the Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) counter of the Basic Environmental Observatory (BEO) Moussala over the whole 2016 year at a frequency of 1 Hz. First, we attempt to reveal correlations between the results for CCN number concentrations on the timescale of a whole year (2016) as averaged over 12 month periods with the meteorological parameters for the same period and with the same time step. Then, we zoom into these data and repeat the study on the timescale of a month for two months from 2016, January and July, with a day time step. For the same two months we show the CCN size distributions averaged over day periods. Finally, we arrive at our main result: typical, in terms of maximal and minimal number concentrations, CCN size distributions for chosen hours, one hour for each month of the year, hence 24 distributions in total. These data show a steady pattern of peaks and valleys independent of the concrete number concentration which moves up and down the number concentrations (y-axis) without significant shifts along the sizes (x-axis).Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure, The 10th Jubilee Conference of the Balkan Physical Union (BPU10), 26-30 August, Sofia, Bulgari

SEXUAL ACTIVITY BEFORE AND AFTER CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING

Improved functional capacity after coronary surgery implies that a better level of any aspects of quality of life, sexual activity inclusive, could be expected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the sexual activity in the patients with coronary artery disease having undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The mean age of the contingent of 18 male and 2 female patients was 58 ±5,6 (range 44-66) years. After clinical examination the patients completed a sexual activity questionnaire and an exercise test 20 ±14 (range 4—52) months after CABG. All the patients were married and had permanent sexual partner. At the time of the observation 6 patients (30%) were symptomatic. Data about angina pectoris was available for 5 patients, and one patient experienced symptoms of heart failure. The NYHA class of the patients increased significantly after CABG (1,9 ±0,8 vs 3,1 ±0,5, p 0,001). Only 5 (25%) patients reported increased sexual activity after CABG. Fourteen (70%) patients reported no change in the sexual activity and one (5%) patient had decreased sexual intercourse frequency. After CABG, 16 patients (80%) used beta-blockers. Although the NYHA class of the patients increased significantly after CABG, a few of them experienced an improved sexual activity. Possible reasons were the psychological problems (depression, fear of sexual failure, lack of appreciation and support by the sexual partner), diabetes mellitus, beta-blocker usage, etc. The physician in charge of the CABG patient should ask actively for sexual problems and refer the patient to specialized evaluation when needed

Quantitative determination of ochratoxin A in wine after the clarification and filtration

Through the use of the analytical method known as HPLC-FD and previously used the method for extraction of ochratoxin A by immunoaffinity columns, we have analyzed the possible effect of the clarification and filtration process on 54 samples of 2013 newly fermented wine, which have finished alcoholic fermentation process and racking, without knowing in advance whether there and how is the amount of OTA in wine. The racking of the wine before clarification and filtration followed by adequate clarification and filtration process during winemaking seems to be crucial in the reduction or complete elimination of the analyzed mycotoxin (OTA).The results of all analyzed samples have been below the limit allowed by the EU for ochratoxin A i.e. 2 ng/ml, and as such does not represent a risk to human health

QT DISPERSION AND DIPYRIDAMOLE-INDUCED MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA

The relationship between QT interval dispersion and dipyridamole-induced, transient myocardial ischemia was assessed in 32 male patients with ischemic heart disease. A standardized, high dose dipyridamole-ECG stress test was used as dipyridamole infusion of 0,56 mg/kg applied i. v. for 4 min followed by 4 min interval of no-dose with E C G and blood pressure monitoring, and in negative test - by a dipyridamole infusion of 0,28mg/kg i. v. for 2 min. Seventeen patients (53%) developed a transient myocardial ischemia with duration of 20 ±7 (4-40) min during the dipyridamole infusion while 15 ones (47%) did not. No regular dynamics and significant differences in the values of total QT interval dispersion and maximum adjacent QT interval dispersion estimated before, during and after the dipyridamole infusion could be established. It was supposed that the severity, duration and time for development of dipyridamole-induced transient myocardial ischemia were not sufficient to generate a dispersion in ventricular repolarization detectable as changes in QT dispersion parameters on surface ECG. The combination of QT dispersion with various non-invasive markers of arrhythmogenic mechanisms could help the estimation of arrhythmogenic risk in the patients with ischemic heart disease

High-energy lasers: principles, types, indications in periodontial practices

Investigations in the area of laser application in dental practices date back to 1964. Shortly after lasers came to being, they were introduced both in medicine and in dental medicine where they were successfully used for the diagnostics and treatment of a number of diseases. The current literature review presents the nature and properties of lasers and laser beams. Their biological and healing action is discussed. The most common lasers that are employed in dental practices are indicated. The accent is on high-energy lasers used in operative dentistry and periodontology, namely the Er:Cr:YSGG и Er:YAG lasers, and their emission characteristics. The focus in this literature review is on laser application in periodontal practices. The properties and indications of the most frequently applied lasers are indicated and their advantages are outlined. The latter are due to their specific biological and therapeutic effects both on healthy and on pathologically altered periodontal tissues.The paper also comprises clinical reports by renowned experts in periodontology about laser application in the treatment of different periodontial diseases. Twenty-seven articles are cited.Scripta Scientifica Medica 2011;43(2): 87-9

Measurements of the group delay and the group delay dispersion with resonance scanning interferometer

We developed a method for group delay and group delay dispersion measurements, based on location of interference resonance peaks. Such resonance peaks can be observed in transmittance or in reflectance when two mirrors are placed parallel to each other and separated by a thin air spacer. By using a novel approach, based on simultaneous processing of the data acquired for different spacer distances we obtained reliable results with high resolution. Measurements were performed both in transmittance and reflectance layouts depending on the reflectivity of the mirror to be measured. The developed method allows dispersion measurements of ultraviolet mirrors and ultra-broadband mirrors spanning more than one optical octave to be performed

Automated generation of test units for diagnosis and development of cognitive skills

The paper presents the architecture of a web-based system for automated generation of test units for diagnostics and development of cognitive skills. The system supports a database (DB) containing information objects of different type (text, images), including metadata used in the generation process. The database is updated through queries to external information sources (to supply the objects themselves) and with next addition of attributes. For example, an image can be accompanied by a textual description and metadata (as part of an e-learning process), a Bulgarian lexema - with automatically generated phonetic transcription and syllabicate, and so on. The supported and updated specific image metadata system (including color, size, purpose, etc.) and for lexams (composite sounds, syllables, etc.) provides an opportunity to generate test units for diagnosis and cognitive development. The selection of objects from DB suitable for insertion in a test unit of a certain type (for example, to distinguish objects with different characteristics) is performed by a query to the database for extraction of objects according to the value of the accompanying metadata