430 research outputs found
Reconstruction of the existing bridge structure
Diplomová práce se zabývá zesílením a rozšířením trámového mostu (spojitý most o třech polích) přes řeku Jihlavu v Ivančicích a jeho zesílením na zatěžovací třídu A. To je provedeno pomocí dodatečného předpětí vnějšími kabely a spřažené monolitické desky. Zesílení je ověřeno výpočtem zatížitelnosti.Master's thesis deals with the reinforcement and expansion of girder bridge (continuous bridge with three spans) across the river Jihlava in Ivančice and reinforcement on the load class A. This is done by using an additional external prestressing cables and composite monolithic slab. Amplification is verified by calculation of load capacity.
Draft Genome Sequence of Alteromonas Macleodii Strain MIT1002, Isolated from an Enrichment Culture of the Marine Cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus
Alteromonas spp. are heterotrophic gammaproteobacteria commonly found in marine environments. We present here the draft genome sequence of Alteromonas macleodii MIT1002, which was isolated from an enrichment culture of the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus NATL2A. This genome contains a mixture of features previously seen only within either the “surface” or “deep” Alteromonas ecotype.Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Grant GBMF495)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant OCE-1356460)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Center for Microbial Oceanography Research and Education (Grant DBO-0424599)Simons Foundation (Grant 337262
Guidance for the treatment of adult growth hormone deficiency with somapacitan, a long-acting growth hormone preparation
Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by an abnormal body composition, metabolic abnormalities associated with increased cardiovascular diseases, bone loss, and impaired quality of life. Daily subcutaneous injections with recombinant growth hormone (GH) can alleviate the abnormalities associated with AGHD. Several long-acting GH (LAGH) preparations are currently in development that aim to reduce treatment burden for patients receiving daily GH injections. Somapacitan (Sogroya®; Novo Nordisk, Denmark) is the first LAGH preparation that has been approved for treatment of AGHD in the United States, Europe, and Japan. The recent approval of somapacitan and anticipated approval of other LAGH molecules presents new questions for physicians planning to treat AGHD with LAGH in the future. Differences in the technologies used to prolong the half-life of recombinant GH are expected to result in variations in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles between preparations. Therefore, it is essential that physicians understand and consider such variations when treating patients with these novel GH replacement therapies. Here, we present a set of treatment recommendations that have been created to guide physicians initiating therapy with somapacitan in patients with AGHD who are eligible for GH replacement. Furthermore, we will review the published data that underlie these recommendations to explain the rationale for the treatment and monitoring advice provided
A Survey for Massive Giant Planets in Debris Disks with Evacuated Inner Cavities
The commonality of collisionally replenished debris around main sequence
stars suggests that minor bodies are frequent around Sun-like stars. Whether or
not debris disks in general are accompanied by planets is yet unknown, but
debris disks with large inner cavities - perhaps dynamically cleared - are
considered to be prime candidates for hosting large-separation massive giant
planets. We present here a high-contrast VLT/NACO angular differential imaging
survey for eight such cold debris disks. We investigated the presence of
massive giant planets in the range of orbital radii where the inner edge of the
dust debris is expected. Our observations are sensitive to planets and brown
dwarfs with masses >3 to 7 Jupiter mass, depending on the age and distance of
the target star. Our observations did not identify any planet candidates. We
compare the derived planet mass upper limits to the minimum planet mass
required to dynamically clear the inner disks. While we cannot exclude that
single giant planets are responsible for clearing out the inner debris disks,
our observations constrain the parameter space available for such planets. The
non-detection of massive planets in these evacuated debris disks further
reinforces the notion that the giant planet population is confined to the inner
disk (<15 AU).Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
Screening Refusal Associated with Choice of Colorectal Cancer Screening Methods. A Cross-sectional Study Among Swiss Primary Care Physicians
Guidelines recommend primary care physicians (PCPs) offer patients a choice of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening methods, including colonoscopy and fecal occult blood tests (FOBT). However, in countries like the USA and Switzerland, patients are screened almost exclusively with colonoscopy. When offered both tests, patients appear as likely to choose one as the other; the predominance of colonoscopy may largely be explained by physician preference and local medical culture. Offering only colonoscopy might explain why screening rates are low.
We sought to determine the proportions of patients who opted for screening with colonoscopy or FOBT and who refused testing among 50–75 year olds eligible for screening at a PCP visit. We described variation in care between PCPs and tried to identify PCP-level factors associated with testing method and refusal
Model Reporting for Certifiable AI: A Proposal from Merging EU Regulation into AI Development
Despite large progress in Explainable and Safe AI, practitioners suffer from
a lack of regulation and standards for AI safety. In this work we merge recent
regulation efforts by the European Union and first proposals for AI guidelines
with recent trends in research: data and model cards. We propose the use of
standardized cards to document AI applications throughout the development
process. Our main contribution is the introduction of use-case and operation
cards, along with updates for data and model cards to cope with regulatory
requirements. We reference both recent research as well as the source of the
regulation in our cards and provide references to additional support material
and toolboxes whenever possible. The goal is to design cards that help
practitioners develop safe AI systems throughout the development process, while
enabling efficient third-party auditing of AI applications, being easy to
understand, and building trust in the system. Our work incorporates insights
from interviews with certification experts as well as developers and
individuals working with the developed AI applications.Comment: 54 pages, 1 figure, to be submitte
Manifestations of early brain recovery associated with abstinence from alcoholism
Chronic alcohol abuse results in morphological, metabolic, and functional brain damage which may, to some extent, be reversible with early effects upon abstinence. Although morphometric, spectroscopic, and neuropsychological indicators of cerebral regeneration have been described previously, the overall amount and spatial preference of early brain recovery attained by abstinence and its associations with other indicators of regeneration are not well established. We investigated global and local brain volume changes in a longitudinal two-timepoint study with T1-weighted MRI at admission and after short-term (6-7 weeks) sobriety follow-up in 15 uncomplicated, recently detoxified alcoholics. Volumetric brain gain was related to metabolic and neuropsychological recovery. On admission and after short-term abstinence, structural image evaluation using normalization of atrophy (SIENA), its voxelwise statistical extension to multiple subjects, proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and neuropsychological tests were applied. Upon short-term sobriety, 1H-MRS levels of cerebellar choline and frontomesial N-acetylaspartate (NAA) were significantly augmented. Automatically detected global brain volume gain amounted to nearly two per cent on average and was spatially significant around the superior vermis, perimesencephalic, periventricular and frontal brain edges. It correlated positively with the percentages of cerebellar and frontomesial choline increase, as detected by 1H-MRS. Moreover, frontomesial NAA gains were associated with improved performance on the d2-test of attention. In 10 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects, no significant brain volume or metabolite changes were observed. Although cerebral osmotic regulations may occur initially upon sobriety, significant increases of cerebellar choline and frontomesial NAA levels detected at stable brain water integrals and creatine concentrations, serum electrolytes and red blood cell indices in our patient sample suggest that early brain recovery through abstinence does not simply reflect rehydration. Instead, even the adult human brain and particularly its white matter seems to possess genuine capabilities for regrowth. Our findings emphasize metabolic as well as regionally distinct morphological capacities for partial brain recovery from toxic insults of chronic alcoholism and substantiate early measurable benefits of therapeutic sobriety. Further understanding of the precise mechanisms of this recovery may become a valuable model of brain regeneration with relevance for other disorder
Planets Around Low-Mass Stars (PALMS). II. A Low-Mass Companion to the Young M Dwarf GJ 3629 Separated By 0.2"
We present the discovery of a 0.2" companion to the young M dwarf GJ 3629 as
part of our high contrast adaptive optics imaging search for giant planets
around low-mass stars with the Keck-II and Subaru telescopes. Two epochs of
imaging confirm the pair is co-moving and reveal signs of orbital motion. The
primary exhibits saturated X-ray emission, which together with its UV
photometry from GALEX point to an age younger than ~300 Myr. At these ages the
companion lies below the hydrogen burning limit with a model-dependent mass of
46 +/- 16 Mjup based on the system's photometric distance of 22 +/- 3 pc.
Resolved YJHK photometry of the pair indicates a spectral type of M7 +/- 2 for
GJ 3629 B. With a projected separation of 4.4 +/- 0.6 AU and an estimated
orbital period of 21 +/- 5 yr, GJ 3629 AB is likely to yield a dynamical mass
in the next several years, making it one of only a handful of brown dwarfs to
have a measured mass and an age constrained from the stellar primary.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
ERIS: revitalising an adaptive optics instrument for the VLT
ERIS is an instrument that will both extend and enhance the fundamental
diffraction limited imaging and spectroscopy capability for the VLT. It will
replace two instruments that are now being maintained beyond their operational
lifetimes, combine their functionality on a single focus, provide a new
wavefront sensing module that makes use of the facility Adaptive Optics System,
and considerably improve their performance. The instrument will be competitive
with respect to JWST in several regimes, and has outstanding potential for
studies of the Galactic Center, exoplanets, and high redshift galaxies. ERIS
had its final design review in 2017, and is expected to be on sky in 2020. This
contribution describes the instrument concept, outlines its expected
performance, and highlights where it will most excel.Comment: 12 pages, Proc SPIE 10702 "Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation
for Astronomy VII
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