Naphthalene crystal shape prediction from molecular dynamics simulations

We used molecular dynamics simulations to predict the steady state crystal shape of naphthalene grown from ethanol solution. The simulations were performed at constant supersaturation by utilizing a recently proposed algorithm [Perego et al., J. Chem. Phys., 142, 2015, 144113]. To bring the crystal growth within the timescale of a molecular dynamics simulation we applied Well-Tempered Metadynamics with a spatially constrained collective variable, which focuses the sampling on the growing layer. We estimated that the resulting steady state crystal shape corresponds to a rhombic prism, which is in line with experiments. Further, we observed that at the investigated supersaturations, the $\{00\bar{1}\}$ face grows in a two step two dimensional nucleation mechanism while the considerably faster growing faces $\{1\bar{1}0\}$ and $\{20\bar{1}\}$ grow new layers with a one step two dimensional nucleation mechanism

Aerobic capacity and respiratory patterns are better in recreational basketball-engaged university students than age-matched untrained males

Study aim: To asses and compare the aerobic capacity and respiratory parameters in recreational basketball-engaged university students with age-matched untrained young adults. Material and methods: A total of 30 subjects were selected to took part in the study based on recreational-basketball activity level and were assigned to a basketball (BG: N = 15, age 22.86 ± 1.35 yrs., body height 185.07 ± 5.95 cm, body weight 81.21 ± 6.15 kg) and untrained group (UG: N = 15, age 22.60 ± 1.50 yrs., body height 181.53 ± 6.11 cm, body weight 76.89 ± 7.30 kg). Inspiratory vital capacity (IVC), forced expiration volume (FEV1), FEV1/IVC ratio, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), ventilatory threshold (VO2VT) and time to exhaustion, were measured in all subjects. Student T-test for independent Sample and Cohen's d as the measure of the effect size were calculated. Results: Recreational basketball-engaged students (EG) reached significantly greater IVC (t = 7.240, p < 0.001, d = 1.854), FEV1 (t = 10.852, p < 0.001, d = 2.834), FEV1/IVC ratio (t = 6.370, p < 0.001, d = 3.920), maximal oxygen consumption (t = 9.039, p < 0.001, d = 3.310), ventilatory threshold (t = 9.859, p < 0.001, d = 3.607) and time to exhaustion (t = 12.361, p < 0.001, d = 4.515) compared to UG. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to recreational basketball leads to adaptive changes in aerobic and respiratory parameters in male university students

Einstellungen von Studenten des Lehrerstudiums zur Realisierung des Unterrichtsfachs Musikkultur

Cilj je ovog rada utvrditi stavove studenata Učiteljskog studija o realizaciji nastave Glazbene kulture. Uzorak čini skupina studenata prve godine Učiteljskog studija Filozofskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Banjoj Luci. Za prikupljanje podataka korišten je instrument s trostupanjskom skalom procjene (Likertovog tipa) koje su autorice samostalno izradile. Potvrđene su hipoteze: prva, da su studenti svjesni važnosti glazbenog obrazovanja u razrednoj nastavi i da imaju pozitivan stav o nastavi Glazbene kulture, i druga, da istodobno imaju i izražajnije preferencije prema drugim nastavnim predmetima. Rezultati provedenog istraživanja ukazuju na neophodnost djelovanja u cilju promjene statusne pozicije Glazbene kulture na razini osnovnoškolskog i srednjoškolskog obrazovanja, te potrebu osmišljavanja preciznijih kriterija pri provjeri glazbenih sposobnosti kandidata za upis na Učiteljski studij. Na taj način budući bi se studenti bolje pripremili za upis, usavršavajući svoja glazbena znanja i umijeća. Njihove glazbene kompetencije pomogle bi im u praćenju nastave, realizaciji nastavnih zadataka na fakultetu, ali i u izvođenju nastave Glazbene kulture u školi. Time bi se pridonijelo rješavanju aktualnih praktičnih problema glazbene nastave. Istodobno, potrebna su longitudinalna istraživanja o ovoj temi, čiji bi ishodi dodatno ukazali na izvjesne potrebe za promjenama u nastavnim planovima i programima učiteljskog studija, te na potrebu proučavanja stavova učitelja o nastavi Glazbene kulture.The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes of students on the realization of lessons in Music culture. The sample is consisted of first-year students of Teaching study program of Faculty of Philosophy, University of Banja Luka. An instrument with three stage evaluation scale (Likert type) independently developed by authors was used for data collection. There were two confirmed hypotheses: first, that the students are aware of the importance of music education in the elementary grades and that they have a positive attitude about music teaching, and the second, that they, at the same time, have a more expressive preferences for other school subjects. The findings of this research suggest a necessity acting to change the status position of Musical culture in primary and secondary education, and the necessity of designing more precise criteria on checking musical ability of the candidates for enrollment on Teaching study. Thus, students would better prepare for subscription, developing their musical knowledge and skills. Their musical compentences would help them in following teaching, the realization of lessons at the university, but also in teaching Music culture in the school. This would contribute to resolving of practical problem of musical teaching. At the same time, we consider that is necessary longitudinal researches about this subject whose findings could further point to need for certain changes in the curriculum and programs of the Teaching study, as well as the need to study attitudes of teacher about the Music lessons.Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Bestimmung der Einstellungen von Studenten des Lehrerstudiums zur Realisierung des Unterrichtsfachs Musikkultur. Die Stichprobe bildet eine Studentengruppe des ersten Studienjahres des Lehrerstudiums an der Philosophischen Fakultät der Universität in Banja Luka. Für die Datenerfassung wurde ein von der Autorin selbstständig erstelltes Instrument mit dreistufiger Einschätzungsskala (Likert-Typ) verwendet. Es wurden folgende Hypothesen bestätigt: Erste, dass die Studenten sich der Bedeutung der musikalischen Ausbildung in der Primarstufe bewußt sind und dass sie eine positive Einstellung gegenüber Musikunterricht haben, und Zweite, dass sie gleichzeitig auch stärkere Präferenzen für andere Unterrichtsfächer haben. Die erhaltenen Untersuchungsergebnisse weisen auf den Handlungsbedarf hin, um die Statuspositionen der Musikkultur auf der Ebene der primären und sekundären Bildung zu ändern, sowie auf die Notwendigkeit der Herausarbeitung genauer Kriterien bei der Prüfung der musikalischen Fähigkeiten der Kandidaten bei der Einschreibung an das Lehrerstudium. Auf diese Weise würden sich die zukünftigen Studenten besser für die Immatrikulation vorbereiten, indem sie ihre musikalischen Kenntnisse und Fertigkeiten perfektionieren. Ihre musikalischen Kompetenzen würden ihnen nicht nur bei den Vorlesungen und der Realisation der Lehrverpflichtungen an der Fakultät helfen, sondern auch beim Unterrichten des Schulfaches Musikkultur in der Schule. Dies würde dazu beitragen, die aktuellen praktischen Probleme des Musikunterrichts zu lösen. Zugleich sind die longitudinalen Studien zu diesem Thema erforderlich, deren Ergebnisse zusätzlich auf die Notwendigkeit nach Änderungen in Lehrplänen und Programmen des Lehrerstudiums hingeweisen würden, sowie auf den Bedarf nach einer Studie der Einstellungen der Lehrer zum Musikunterricht

Contemporary review on spontaneous coronary artery dissection: insights into the angiographic finding and differential diagnosis

2023 Kovacevic, Jarakovic, Milovancev, Cankovic, Petrovic, Bjelobrk, Ilic, Srdanovic, Tadic, Dabovic, Crnomarkovic, Komazec, Dracina, Apostolovic, Stanojevic and Kunadian.Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), although in the majority of cases presents as an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), has different pathophysiology from atherosclerosis that influences specific angiography findings and enables most patients to be solved by optimal medical therapy rather than percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, accurate diagnosis is essential for adequate treatment of each patient as management of SCAD differs from that of ACS of atherosclerotic aetiology. So far, invasive coronary angiography remains the most important diagnostic tool in suspected SCAD. However, there are ambiguous cases that can mimic SCAD. In this review, the authors summarize current knowledge about the diagnostic algorithms, particularly angiographic features of SCAD, pitfalls of angiography, and the role of intracoronary imaging in the context of SCAD diagnosis. Finally, apart from the pathognomonic angiographic features of SCAD that are thoroughly discussed in this review, the authors focus on obscure angiography findings and findings that can mimic SCAD as well. Differential diagnosis and the timely recognition of SCAD are crucial as there are differences in the acute and long-term management of SCAD and other causes of ACS

Genetic determinants of clinical phenotype in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

© 2020, The Author(s). Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiovascular disease that affects approximately one in 500 people. HCM is a recognized genetic disorder most often caused by mutations involving myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3) and β-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) which are responsible for approximately three-quarters of the identified mutations. Methods: As a part of the international multidisciplinary SILICOFCM project (www.silicofcm.eu) the present study evaluated the association between underlying genetic mutations and clinical phenotype in patients with HCM. Only patients with confirmed single pathogenic mutations in either MYBPC3 or MYH7 genes were included in the study and divided into two groups accordingly. The MYBPC3 group was comprised of 48 patients (76%), while the MYH7 group included 15 patients (24%). Each patient underwent clinical examination and echocardiography. Results: The most prevalent symptom in patients with MYBPC3 was dyspnea (44%), whereas in patients with MYH7 it was palpitations (33%). The MYBPC3 group had a significantly higher number of patients with a positive family history of HCM (46% vs. 7%; p = 0.014). There was a numerically higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the MYH7 group (60% vs. 35%, p = 0.085). Laboratory analyses revealed normal levels of creatinine (85.5 ± 18.3 vs. 81.3 ± 16.4 µmol/l; p = 0.487) and blood urea nitrogen (10.2 ± 15.6 vs. 6.9 ± 3.9 mmol/l; p = 0.472) which were similar in both groups. The systolic anterior motion presence was significantly more frequent in patients carrying MYH7 mutation (33% vs. 10%; p = 0.025), as well as mitral leaflet abnormalities (40% vs. 19%; p = 0.039). Calcifications of mitral annulus were registered only in MYH7 patients (20% vs. 0%; p = 0.001). The difference in diastolic function, i.e. E/e′ ratio between the two groups was also noted (MYBPC3 8.8 ± 3.3, MYH7 13.9 ± 6.9, p = 0.079). Conclusions: Major findings of the present study corroborate the notion that MYH7 gene mutation patients are presented with more pronounced disease severity than those with MYBPC3