Optometric assessment and co-management of patients with inner ear disorders

Patients often present to the optometrist with symptoms of dizziness and imbalance. This article reviews the most common visual signs and symptoms of individuals suffering from peripheral vestibular disorders. It also explains the five most common peripheral vestibular disorders-benign paroxysmal positional vertigo/nystagmus, Meniere\u27s disease, secondary hydrops, perilymph fistula, and vestibular neuritis. A vestibular screening battery that can be performed by optometrists in office is presented. Management and treatment options such as lenses, prisms and vision therapy are explored. In addition, proper referral guidelines to neuro-otologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists are discussed

Using change trajectories to study the impacts of multi-annual habitat loss on fledgling production in an old forest specialist bird

The loss and subdivision of habitat into smaller and more spatially isolated units due to human actions has been shown to adversely affect species worldwide. We examined how changes in old forest cover during eight years were associated with the cumulative number of fledged offspring at the end of study period in Eurasian treecreepers (Certhia familiaris) in Central Finland. We were specifically interested in whether the initial level of old forest cover moderated this relation. We applied a flexible and powerful approach, latent growth curve modelling in a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework, to create trajectories describing changes in old forest cover through time, and studied how this change at both the territory core and landscape scales impacted fledging numbers. Our main finding was that at the territory core scale the negative impact of habitat loss on fledging numbers was lessened by the higher levels of initial forest cover, while no association was found at the landscape scale. Our study highlights a powerful, but currently under-utilised methodology among ecologists that can provide important information about biological responses to changes in the environment, providing a mechanistic way to study how land cover dynamics can affect species responses

Экологическое состояние животноводства и птицеводства в приграничных районах России и Юго-Восточной Финляндии

Intensifi cation of agricultural production increases the burden on the environment. Modern management and planning of agricultural activity requires a comprehensive assessment of the environmental status of the industry. (Research purpose) To develop recommendations for improving the environmental safety of agricultural production based on the implementation of the best available technologies, methods for monitoring and controlling technological processes for the disposal of organic animal waste. (Materials and methods) The authors studied agricultural enterprises, their specialization and production capacities, technologies for manure and litter utilization. The studies included an assessment of enterprises according to the criteria approved in the recommendations of Helsinki Commission for the Baltic Sea. The authors used standard methods for processing statistical, fi eld and personal data. (Results and discussion) The authors conducted a state analysis of the agro-industrial complex of Leningrad Region in terms of the organic waste formation from animal husbandry and poultry farming, and evaluated the potential for their use. They studied 142 large complexes, which produce more than 90 percent of livestock and poultry products. The average livestock density in Leningrad Region is 2.2 conventional heads per hectare of cultivated agricultural land. They showed that there are 22,200 households in southern Finland, 79 percent of which are plant growing enterprises that are engaged in small-scale production. They took into account the specifi c features of the studied territories in terms of nutrient load and proposed a system of environmental impact regulation. (Conclusions) The authors developed 4 main recommendation sections to reduce the risks of biogenic environmental pollution: the development of an industrial environmental control system based on technological regulations; mastering the system of regional monitoring and coordination of work with organic fertilizers; adoption and implementation of a program of livestock enterprises technological and technical modernization in terms of the organic waste disposal; creation of demonstration platforms for environmental specialists advanced training in the implementation of modern technological solutions.Интенсификация аграрного производства увеличивает нагрузку на окружающую среду. Современное управление и планирование сельскохозяйственной деятельности требует комплексной оценки экологического состояния отрасли. (Цель исследования) Разработать рекомендации для повышения экологической безопасности сельхозпроизводства на основе внедрения наилучших доступных технологий, методов мониторинга и управления технологическими процессами утилизации органических отходов животноводства. (Материалы и методы) Изучили сельскохозяйственные предприятия, их специализацию и производственные мощности, технологии утилизации навоза и помета. Включили в исследования оценку предприятий по критериям, утвержденным в рекомендациях Хельсинской комиссии по Балтийскому морю. Применили стандартные методы обработки статистических, натурных и анкетных данных. (Результаты и обсуждение) Провели анализ состояния агропромышленного комплекса Ленинградской области в части образования органических отходов животноводства и птицеводства, оценили потенциал их использования. Исследовали 142 крупных комплекса, на которых производится более 90 процентов продукции животноводства и птицеводства. Средняя плотность поголовья животных в Ленинградской области составляет 2,2 условной головы на один гектар обрабатываемых сельскохозяйственных земель. Показали, что в Южной Финляндии насчитывается 22200 хозяйств, из них 79 процентов – растениеводческие, которые занимаются мелкотоварным производством. Учли особенности исследуемых территорий по биогенной нагрузке и предложили систему регулирования воздействия на окружающую среду (Выводы) Разработали 4 основных раздела рекомендаций по снижению рисков биогенного загрязнения окружающей среды: освоение системы производственного экологического контроля на основе технологических регламентов; освоение системы регионального мониторинга и координации работы с органическими удобрениями; принятие и выполнение программы технологической и технической модернизации животноводческих предприятий в части утилизации органических отходов; создание демонстрационных площадок для повышения квалификации специалистов по экологическим вопросам внедрения современных технологических решений

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of A=9,10A=9,10 nuclei

We report on quantum Monte Carlo calculations of the ground and low-lying excited states of $A=9,10$ nuclei using realistic Hamiltonians containing the Argonne $v_{18}$ two-nucleon potential alone or with one of several three-nucleon potentials, including Urbana IX and three of the new Illinois models. The calculations begin with correlated many-body wave functions that have an $\alpha$-like core and multiple p-shell nucleons, $LS$-coupled to the appropriate $(J^{\pi};T)$ quantum numbers for the state of interest. After optimization, these variational trial functions are used as input to a Green's function Monte Carlo calculation of the energy, using a constrained path algorithm. We find that the Hamiltonians that include Illinois three-nucleon potentials reproduce ten states in $^9$Li, $^9$Be, $^{10}$Be, and $^{10}$B with an rms deviation as little as 900 keV. In particular, we obtain the correct 3$^+$ ground state for $^{10}$B, whereas the Argonne $v_{18}$ alone or with Urbana IX predicts a 1$^+$ ground state. In addition, we calculate isovector and isotensor energy differences, electromagnetic moments, and one- and two-body density distributions.Comment: 28 pages, 12 tables, 7 figure

Removal of sulphate and arsenic from wastewater using calcium sulfoaluminate (ye’elimite)

Chemical precipitation is one of the most widely known methods for treatment of industrial wastewaters with high sulphate content, where sulphate can be precipitated as practically insoluble ettringite (Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12·26H2O). This treatment method is also widely recognised for solidifying hazardous components and toxic elements e.g. arsenic in wastewater. In the ettringite precipitation process, lime and aluminium salts are typically used as starting materials, in stoichiometric amounts to form ettringite from the sulphate-containing water, leading to a pH rise to ∼11.5 and ettringite precipitation. In the current study, for the first time, ye’elimite mineral (Ca4Al6O12SO4), also known as calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) in cements, is used in order to investigate its suitability to form ettringite precipitate from sulphate and arsenic containing synthetic wastewater and industrial wastewater solutions. The dissolution of ye’elimite prior to dosing, optimal precipitation pH, and arsenic co-precipitation were studied. The effluent and precipitates were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM-EDS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The results showed that high percentage of sulphate removal (98% in the synthetic wastewater and 87% in the industrial wastewater) can be achieved using ye’elimite as the aluminium source in ettringite precipitation. Additionally, up to 95% arsenic removal was achieved in arsenic co-precipitation experiments from the synthetic wastewater. The current developed technology can be used as a novel ecological and cost-effective approach for removal of sulphate and toxic elements from wastewater

Prompt D-0, D+, and D*(+) production in Pb-Pb collisions at root S-NN=5.02 TeV

The production of prompt D-0, D+, and D*(+) mesons was measured at midrapidity (vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.5) in Pb-Pb collisions at the centre-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon pair root S-NN = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The D mesons were reconstructed via their hadronic decay channels and their production yields were measured in central (0-10%) and semicentral (30-50%) collisions. The measurement was performed up to a transverse momentum (p(T)) of 36 or 50 GeV/c depending on the D meson species and the centrality interval. For the first time in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC, the yield of D-0 mesons was measured down to p(T) = 0, which allowed a model-independent determination of the p(T)-integrated yield per unit of rapidity (dN/dy). A maximum suppression by a factor 5 and 2.5 was observed with the nuclear modification factor (R-AA) of prompt D mesons at p(T) = 6-8 GeV/c for the 0-10% and 30-50% centrality classes, respectively. The D-meson R-AA is compared with that of charged pions, charged hadrons, and J/psi mesons as well as with theoretical predictions. The analysis of the agreement between the measured R-AA, elliptic (v(2)) and triangular (v(3)) flow, and the model predictions allowed us to constrain the charm spatial diffusion coefficient D-s. Furthermore the comparison of R-AA and v(2) with different implementations of the same models provides an important insight into the role of radiative energy loss as well as charm quark recombination in the hadronisation mechanisms.Peer reviewe

Forward rapidity J/psi production as a function of charged-particle multiplicity in pp collisions at root s=5.02 and 13 TeV

The production of J/psi is measured as a function of charged-particle multiplicity at forward rapidity in proton-proton (pp) collisions at center-of-mass energies root s = 5.02 and 13 TeV. The J/psi mesons are reconstructed via their decay into dimuons in the rapidity interval (2.5 ), at both the colliding energies. Measurements are compared with available ALICE results at midrapidity and theoretical model calculations. First measurement of the mean transverse momentum () of J/psi in pp collisions exhibits an increasing trend as a function of dN(ch)/d eta/ showing a saturation towards high charged-particle multiplicities.Peer reviewe

Investigating charm production and fragmentation via azimuthal correlations of prompt D mesons with charged particles in pp collisions at root s=13 TeV

Angular correlations of heavy-flavour and charged particles in high-energy proton-proton collisions are sensitive to the production mechanisms of heavy quarks and to their fragmentation as well as hadronisation processes. The measurement of the azimuthal-correlation function of prompt D mesons with charged particles in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 13 TeV with the ALICE detector is reported, considering D-0, D+, and D*(+) mesons in the transverse-momentum interval 3 0.3 GeV/c and pseudorapidity vertical bar eta vertical bar < 0.8. This measurement has an improved precision and provides an extended transverse-momentum coverage compared to previous ALICE measurements at lower energies. The study is also performed as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity, showing no modifications of the correlation function with multiplicity within uncertainties. The properties and the transverse-momentum evolution of the near- and awayside correlation peaks are studied and compared with predictions from various Monte Carlo event generators. Among those considered, PYTHIA8 and POWHEG+PYTHIA8 provide the best description of the measured observables. The obtained results can provide guidance on tuning the generators.Peer reviewe

Measurement of inclusive charged-particle b-jet production in pp and p-Pb collisions at root S-NN =5.02 TeV

Peer reviewe