ScanGraph: A Novel Scanpath Comparison Method Using Visualisation of Graph Cliques

The article describes a new tool for analyses of eye-movement data. Many different approaches to scanpath comparison exist. One of the most frequently used approaches is String Edit Distance, where the gaze trajectories are replaced by the sequences of visited Areas of Interest. In cartographic literature, the most commonly used software for scanpath comparison is eyePatterns. During the analysis of eyePatterns functionality, we have found that tree-graph visualization of its results is not reliable. Thus, we decided to develop a new tool called ScanGraph. Its computational algorithms are modified to work better with the sequences with different lengths. The output is visualized as a simple graph, and similar groups of sequences are displayed as cliques of this graph. The article describes ScanGraph’s functionality on the example of a simple cartographic eye-tracking study. Differences of the reading strategy of a simple map between cartographic experts and novices were investigated. The paper should serve to the researchers who would like to analyze differences between groups of participants, and who would like to use our tool - ScanGraph, available at www.eyetracking.upol.cz/scangraph

Takayasu arteritis in childhood: retrospective experience from a tertiary referral centre in the United Kingdom.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an idiopathic large-vessel vasculitis affecting the aorta and its major branches. Although the disease rarely affects children, it does occur, even in infants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical features, disease activity, treatment and outcome of childhood TA in a tertiary UK centre

Foreign direct investments in the Czech automotive industry : a case study of Hyundai Motor Company

This thesis is a strategic analysis of the 2006 greenfield investment in the Czech Republic, by the global automotive manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. We analyse the factors that made Czech Republic an advantageous location for automotive FDIs, and how this influenced Hyundai when they decided to open a production plant in Europe. Through applying relevant theories, our thesis aims to show that Czech Republic is an attractive location for automotive FDIs due to strong industrial traditions of automotive manufacturing, high labour productivity and a cheap workforce, wide range of automotive parts and components suppliers, a favourable geographical location with access to both Western and Eastern European markets and a stable investment climate. Furthermore, investment in the Czech Republic was beneficial to Hyundai in particular, due to the close proximity to sister company Kia’s factory in Slovakia, and access to the European market which at the time were limited by trade barriers between Korea and the EU. In addition, favourable investment incentives from the Czech government were important to Hyundai when deciding to invest in the Czech Republic.nhhma

Case History of an Open-Pit Coalmine Loaded by Artesian Water Pressure

Jiri Open-Pit Coalmine with highly productive coal measure is located in a famous and protected spa region with artesian thermal springs. A pressurized aquifer underlies the mine and the mining advance is limited by hydraulic fracturing hazard, which could result not only in flooding the mine, but also in dangerous changes of the hydro-geological conditions of the whole region. To prevent this hazard, the aquifer pressure has been reduced by flowing wells. To estimate the feasibility of the mining advance at a minimum pressure head reduction, i.e. at minimum environmental impact, an interactive procedure with numerical models calibrated according to field measurements and monitoring system updated according to numerical solutions has been applied since 1976 up to the present time. The predicted and observed performance of the mine in safe and critical conditions, the estimated failure mechanisms and the accidents occurred, as well as different approaches to the assessment of hydraulic fracturing hazard in varying mining conditions are described in the paper

Cryopreservation of pancreatic islets

Pancreatic islet transplantation is a curative treatment for diabetes but access to this therapy is limited by the availability of islets. Long-term cryopreservation of islets could partially address this limitation but current cryopreservation protocols, which use the toxic cryoprotectant dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), achieve suboptimal cryosurvival and are not clinically used. The aim of this project was to develop an improved and clinically-relevant method for cryopreservation of islets. The project examined the efficacy of the non-toxic cryoprotectant trehalose in combination with (1) membrane-permeabilising biopolymers PP-50 and PP-75 to increase intracellular uptake, and (2) antioxidants MitoQ and salidroside to reduce cryopreservation-induced oxidative stress. Due to the complex architecture of pancreatic islets, human mononuclear cells were first used to optimise the use of permeabilising polymers. Current methods of viability assessment were critically examined and improved, followed by systematic screening of cryopreservation conditions. The efficacy of promising cryopreservation protocols were subsequently confirmed for mouse pancreatic islets using viability and functional assays. PP-50 and PP-75 polymers were shown to be unsuitable for trehalose-based cryopreser- vation of mononuclear cells and islets due to potential toxicity and need for long incubation. Investigation of diffusion kinetics demonstrated that a minimal incubation time of 6 h at 37 °C is required to enable diffusion of solutes into the islet core. This finding implies that current clinical viability assessment protocols only survey the periphery of islets. A range of imaging modalities were used to confirm that islet core viability can be dramatically different from the islet periphery. Using these insights, a novel cryopreservation protocol was developed in which islets are pre-incubated for 6 h at 37 °C with trehalose and antioxidants, followed by addition of DMSO, resulting in significantly greater viability of cryopreserved islets. In conclusion, this study identified important limitations of the current cryobiological viability assessment of mononuclear cells and pancreatic islets. Permeabilising biopolymers did not improve trehalose-based cryopreservation in primary cells. An improved method for cryopreservation of pancreatic islets was developed which combines DMSO and trehalose in a novel manner and can be further improved by addition of antioxidants.W. D. Armstrong Fun

Levels and risks of antineoplastic drugs in households of oncology patients, hospices and retirement homes

Background Contamination of the indoor environment by antineoplastic drugs (ADs) is known to pose health risks to the exposed staff in hospitals or pharmacies. ADs may also contaminate households of the patients receiving chemotherapy, but the exposure levels and potential risks to family members have not been studied. The objective was to provide an in-depth research of surface contamination by ADs inside homes focusing on the households of oncology patients, hospices, and retirement houses. Methods The study was carried out in 17 patient households, 2 hospices, and 3 retirement homes. Surfaces were sampled using a standardized approach and the wipe samples were analyzed by UPLC-MS for 11 organic ADs and by ICP-MS/MS for total Pt as a marker of Pt-based ADs. Results The main study included repeated samplings of surfaces (floors, desktops) in households of 17 ambulant oncology patients receiving different chemotherapies with cyclophosphamide (CP), platinum-based drugs (Pt), doxorubicin (DOX), 5-fluorouracil (FU) and others. Patients treated with chemotherapy were found to serve as a source of contamination for their households, representing thus a risk to sensitive family members such as children or elderly people. Carcinogenic CP was commonly found at relatively high concentrations, especially during the first 6 days after the chemotherapy (maximum 511 pg/cm(2)). Sweat seems to be a major medium for the spread of the contamination, and high and long-time persisting CP levels (traces still found after 6 months post-chemotherapy) were found on various desktops including kitchen dining tables. The pilot studies in hospices and retirement homes indicated rather lower exposure risks of the personnel but pointed to potential long-lasting contamination by Pt or some other persistent ADs such as ifosfamide (IF). Conclusions This is one of the first studies investigating the contamination by ADs in indoor environments outside of hospitals or pharmacies. Peak concentrations of the carcinogenic CP in households were comparable to those observed in hospitals, but the temporal exposures are likely to cause lower risks to family members and caregivers compared to the long-time occupationally exposed health care personnel. The information guidance flier with practical recommendations was prepared improving thus information as well as prevention of eventual risks for family members

Understanding the recovery of rare-earth elements by ammonium salts

While the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from aqueous solution by ionic liquids (ILs) has been well documented, the metal compounds that are formed in the organic phase remain poorly characterized. Using spectroscopic, analytical, and computational techniques, we provide detailed chemical analysis of the compounds formed in the organic phase during the solvent extraction of REEs by [(n-octyl)3NMe][NO3] (IL). These experiments show that REE recovery using IL is a rapid process and that IL is highly durable. Karl-Fischer measurements signify that the mode of action is unlikely to be micellar, while ions of the general formula REE(NO3)4(IL)2− are seen by negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Additionally, variable temperature 139La nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy suggests the presence of multiple, low symmetry nitrato species. Classical molecular dynamics simulations show aggregation of multiple ILs around a microhydrated La3+ cation with four nitrates completing the inner coordination sphere. This increased understanding is now being exploited to develop stronger and more selective, functionalized ILs for REE recovery