Design of a neutron monitor for measurements in space scientific report no. 1

Neutron detection system for space measurement

Risk Factors for the Development of Cataract in Children with Uveitis

PURPOSE: To determine the risk factors for the development of cataract in children with uveitis of any etiology. DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: Two hundred forty-seven eyes of 140 children with uveitis were evaluated for the development of vision-affecting cataract. Demographic, clinical, and treatment data were collected between the time of presentation and the first instance cataract was recorded or findings at final follow-up. Main outcome measures included the prevalence of cataract and distribution by type of uveitis, incidence of new onset cataract time to cataract development, and risk factors for the development of cataract. RESULTS: The prevalence of cataract in our cohort was 44.2% and was highest among eyes with panuveitis (77.1%), chronic anterior uveitis (48.3%), and intermediate uveitis (48.0%). The overall incidence of newly diagnosed cataract was 0.09 per eye-year, with an estimated 69% to develop uveitis-related cataract with time. The main factors related with cataract development were the number of uveitis flares per year (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.06 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.15–4.35], P < .001), cystoid macular edema (HR = 2.87 [95% CI, 1.41–5.82], P = .004), posterior synechia at presentation (HR = 2.85 [95% CI, 1.53–5.30], P = .001), and use of local injections of corticosteroids (HR = 2.37 [95% CI, 1.18–4.75], P = .02). Treatments with systemic and topical corticosteroids were not significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that development of cataract is common among pediatric eyes with uveitis and is most strongly related to the extent of inflammation recurrences and ocular complications. We suggest that controlling the inflammation, even using higher doses of systemic and topical corticosteroids, is of importance in preventing ocular complications, such as cataract. Uveitis accounts for 10–15% of blindness in the developed world.1 Although pediatric uveitis is relatively uncommon, accounting for only 5–10% of all uveitis cases,2 it affects young patients, who in most cases are otherwise healthy. Vision loss results from ongoing inflammation that leads to ocular structural changes, such as cataract, corneal opacities, optic neuropathy, and retinal lesions. The most common causes of vision loss in children with uveitis are cataract, glaucoma, and chronic cystoid macular edema (CME).2, 3 In addition, any chronic visual obstruction can result in the development of amblyopia in younger children, with vision loss persisting after the inciting cause is treated.4 Such changes, together with the need for long-term treatment and continuous monitoring, can have a profound impact on their development, independence, and education. The prevalence of cataract in eyes with uveitis ranges from 20–64%,4, 5, 6, 7 and it is the most common complication of uveitis in children,8 occurring in approximately 35% of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis9 and increasing ≤80% in adults.10, 11 Cataract progression can be the result of persistent intraocular inflammation,12, 13 can be caused by surgery for uveitis complications (eg, trabeculectomies and repair of retinal detachments), or can be a consequence of uveitis treatment, particularly the use of local or systemic corticosteroids.14, 15, 16, 17 It results in reduced visual acuity and can have a detrimental effect on the development and academic achievements of these children.18 Studies have examined risk factors for the development of cataract among children with JIA-associated uveitis, identifying risk factors such as the presence of posterior synechiae (PS) at presentation,12, 19 the use of systemic corticosteroids,13 topical corticosteroid therapy exceeding 3 drops a day,12 or persistent, uncontrolled active inflammation,3 while early treatment with methotrexate delayed cataract progression.19 However, JIA is a unique cause of uveitis, often localized to the anterior chamber, with frequent intraocular structural changes and the early use of systemic immunosuppressive agents. It may not represent the same risks as other causes of pediatric uveitis. We examined disease- and treatment-related risk factors for cataract development in children with uveitis of any etiology. We investigated clinical and ophthalmologic characteristics, as well as treatment strategies in relation to the time interval between the first presentation with uveitis and cataract development

Activation of Retinoid X Receptor increases dopamine cell survival in models for Parkinson's disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Parkinson's disease (PD) is caused by degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral midbrain (vMB) and results in severely disturbed regulation of movement. The disease inflicts considerable suffering for the affected and their families. Today, the opportunities for pharmacological treatment are meager and new technologies are needed. Previous studies have indicated that activation of the nuclear receptor Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) provides trophic support for DA neurons. Detailed investigations of these neurotrophic effects have been hampered by the lack of readily available DA neurons <it>in vitro</it>. The aim of this study was to further describe the potential neurotrophic actions of RXR ligands and, for this and future purposes, develop a suitable <it>in vitro</it>-platform using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We studied the potential neurotrophic effects of the RXR ligand LG100268 (LG268) and the RXR-Nurr1 ligand XCT0139508 (XCT) in neuronal cultures derived from rat primary vMB and mESCs. RXR ligands protect DA neurons from stress, such as that induced by the PD-modeling toxin 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA) and hypoxia, but not from stress induced by oxidative hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) or the excitotoxic agent kainic acid (KA). The neurotrophic effect is selective for DA neurons. DA neurons from rat primary vMB and mESCs behaved similarly, but the mESC-derived cultures contained a much higher fraction of DA cells and thus provided more accessible experimental conditions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>RXR ligands rescue DA neurons from degeneration caused by the PD simulating 6-OHDA as well as hypoxia. Thus, RXR is a novel promising target for PD research. mESC-derived DA cells provide a valid and accessible <it>in vitro</it>-platform for studying PD inducing toxins and potential trophic agents.</p

Hypertrofisk kardiomyopati hos Maine coon katter

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease in cats. Maine coon is one of the breeds where the disease is overrepresented. Studies have shown that HCM is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in Maine Coon cats. This finding has led to cardiac screening using ultrasound in the breed. The results of the screening are used in a national breeding program constructed to reduce the spread and incidence of HCM in Maine Coon cats. The disease is characterized by a broad range of phenotypic patterns which leads to difficulties in interpretation of the ultrasonographic findings and classification of cats in the breeding program. This study reports of different phenotypes in Maine Coon cats which were screened at the Department of Medicine and Surgery during the period January until November 2003. A screening protocol designed by M. D. Kittleson was used to evaluate the cats. It includes a physical examination, ultrasound examination and provides guidelines for the diagnosis of HCM. Thus, depending on the findings in a particular cat, it may be classified as normal, equivocal or HCM. In total, seventeen cats were examined. Four of these cats were diagnosed as equivocal regarding HCM, indicating that the changes in the heart are either an early stage of HCM or a normal phenotype. All the four cats in the equivocal group were classified based on the finding of papillary muscle hypertrophy. The thirteen remaining cats where diagnosed as normal. Nine of these thirteen cats had cardiac anatomical changes interpreted as a normal phenotype. Thus, the proportions cats in which some form of cardiac change were noted (most of them non-pathological changes) or were classified as equivocal were high. Obviously, this complicates the diagnosis. To decide on diagnosis in equivocal cats, several cardiac examinations over time are often required. During this time period, the use of this particular cat for breeding is restricted. Heart changes in equivocal cats can be a normal phenotype and accordingly, there is a potential risk of keeping healthy cats from breeding. When animals are excluded from breeding, this limits the genetic material and increases the risk of selection of cats with other genetic disease. Thereby, it is appropriate as a first step towards a healthier breed, that only cats with diagnosis HCM are excluded from breed.Hypertrofisk kardiomyopati är det vanligaste hjärtsjukdomen hos katt och Maine coon är en av de kattraser hos vilken sjukdomen är överrepresenterad. Studier har visat ärftlighet för sjukdom hos rasen vilket har lett till att Maine coon katter världen över screenas genom undersökning med ultraljud. I Sverige används screeningsresultaten i rasklubbens avelsprogram som nyligen konstruerats för bekämpning av HCM. Sjukdomen karakteriseras av en stor variation fenotyper och problem har därför uppstått vid tolkning av ultraljudsfynd och därmed klassificering av katter i avelsprogrammet. Vi sammanställde screeningsresultat under tidsperioden januari t.o.m. november 2003 för att beskriva de ultraljudfynd som påträffats. Som bakgrund till undersökningen användes ett formulär utformat av M. D. Kittleson som innefattar klinisk undersökning och undersökning med ultraljud samt fastställande av diagnos. Totalt screenades sjutton katter och fyra av dessa fick oviss diagnos. Det innebär att hjärtförändringarna är ett tidig stadie av HCM alt. normal fenotyp. Alla fyra katterna fick oviss diagnos p.g.a. papillarmuskelhypertrofi. Resterande tretton katter fick diagnosen normal. Nio av de tretton katterna i gruppen normala hade hjärtförändringar som tolkades vara normal fenotyp. Studien visade att antalet katter med oviss diagnos var förhållandevis många. Ofta hade katterna någon form av hjärtförändringar (de flesta dock icke patologiska förändringar) vilket försvårar diagnostiseringen. För att säkerställa diagnosen hos katt med oviss diagnos krävs flera screeningar under en längre tidsperiod. Under denna tid har katten restriktioner i avel (enligt rasklubbens avelsprogram). Då hjärtförändringarna hos katt med oviss diagnos kan vara en normal fenotyp finns risk att friska katter hålls från avel. När man på detta sätt väljer att selektera djur och begränsa avelsmaterialet ökar risken för selektion till annan sjukdom. Det är därför lämpligt, som ett första steg mot en friskare ras, att endast katter med diagnosen HCM tas ur avel

Moderne Flachornamente entwickelt aus dem Pflanzen und Thierreich : Ideen für Textiles musterzeichnen und decorative Malereien aller Art ...

Copia digital. España : Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte. Subdirección General de Coordinación Bibliotecaria, 2018Fechas 1897-1898 tomadas de BVB (Union Catalog Bavaria

Implementação de uma solução inteligente de controlo de estores

Mestrado de dupla diplomação com a Associação Educativa Evangélica - UniEvangélicaOs sistemas de proteção solar cumprem um importante papel no controlo seletivo de radiação solar no ambiente interior, interferindo, portanto, no desempenho luminoso, térmico e energético das edificações. Este trabalho tem como propósito estudar fatores que influenciam o aproveitamento da radiação solar incidente em superfícies vidradas e como estores elétricos podem atuar em momentos estratégicos, com o propósito de potencializar este aproveitamento. As estratégias metodológicas propostas envolvem analise da relação entre valores de luminosidade avaliados por sensores, comparados com valores de radiação solar auferidos por uma estação meteorológica, com o intuito de obter uma correlação proveitosa para operar pontos de ajuste mais favoráveis de abertura e de fecho dos estores. A fim de poder aplicar esses apuramentos dá-se o desenvolvimento de um protótipo para controlo automatizado das funcionalidades de abertura e de fecho, por meio da integração de sensores, microcontrolador e todo o sistema eletrónico e de lógica que assegura tais funcionalidades. Este protótipo foi idealizado para ser compacto e de fácil instalação, podendo ser montado nas caixas de aparelhagem de interruptores mais comuns.Solar protection systems compose an important role in selective control of solar radiation in the interior environment, thus interfering with the luminous, thermal and energetic performance of buildings. This work aims to study factors that influence a better use of incident solar radiation on glazed surfaces and how electric blinds can act at strategic moments in order to potentiate this utilization. The proposed methodological strategies involve analysing the relationship between luminosity values evaluated by sensors, compared to solar radiation values measured by a weather station, in order to obtain a useful correlation to operate most favourable the blinds opening and closing adjustment points. In order to be able to apply this analysis a prototype was developed for automated control of the opening and closing features, through the integration of sensors, microcontroller and the entire electronic and control logic that ensures such functionality. This prototype is designed to be compact and easy to install and can be assembled in the most common switch boxes

Digital hjemmeoppfølging og mestring hos hjemmeboende voksne med kronisk obstruktiv lungesykdom

Bakgrunn: Det blir stadig flere eldre og pleietrengende i Norge. Det norske helsevesenet vil i fremtiden ha færre menneskelige ressurser per pasient, noe som vil kunne være en utfordring når man i større grad ønsker å gjennomføre oppfølging i hjemmet. Aktiv brukermedvirkning er samtidig et mål for sykepleiere i deres helsefremmende funksjon. Brukere med kronisk obstruktiv lungesykdom (KOLS) er i dag en av de mest ressurskrevende brukergruppene for helsetjenesten, og har et stort behov for støtte til egenmestring. Det er stor tro på at velferdsteknologi i form av digital hjemmeoppfølging (DHO) kan bidra til mestring, det er dermed interessant å undersøke brukere med KOLS sine opplevelser etter bruk av tjenesten. Hensikt: Hensikten med oppgaven er å undersøke hjemmeboende voksne med KOLS sine opplevelser av mestring relatert til digital hjemmeoppfølging og å diskutere hvordan tjenesten kan bidra til mestring. Metode: Et litteraturstudium gjennomført våren 2022 basert på syv forskningsartikler. Resultat: Digital hjemmeoppfølging kan bidra til at brukere med KOLS opplever økt kunnskap om KOLS og en større forståelse av eget sykdomsbilde. Digital hjemmeoppfølging bidrar til en opplevelse av trygghet gjennom at brukerne blir holdt øye med, og muligheten til å roe egne subjektive symptomer. Bruk av digital kommunikasjon kan bidra til bedret samarbeid med helsetjenesten, men visuell representasjon, kontinuitet i pleiepersonellet og at tjenesten ikke erstatter fysisk oppfølging trekkes fram som viktige faktorer. For brukere med moderat KOLS kan DHO oppleves som en belastning i hverdagen. Konklusjon: Implementering av digital hjemmeoppfølging kan under de riktige forutsetningene bidra til økt mestring ved å tilrettelegge for styrking av brukerens ressurser gjennom empowerment og redusere stress som oppstår i forbindelse med sykdommen. Sykepleiers veiledende rolle er avgjørende i prosessen. Litteraturstudien aktualiserer nødvendigheten av å legge brukeres individuelle behov og opplevelser av DHO til grunn i videre utvikling og implementering av tjenesten. Nøkkelord: sykepleie, digital hjemmeoppfølging, helsefremming, empowerment, KOLSBackground: The elderly population in Norway is continuously growing and in need of care. A deficiency of healthcare professionals challenges the ability to follow up patients at home, which has been an ambition for the Norwegian government and health care service. User participation in care is simultaneously an aim for health promotion nursing. Users with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) is today some of the most resource consuming users in Norway, needing extensive support for self-management. There is confidence in welfare technology such as telemonitoring being a contributor to self-management. It is therefore interesting to explore COPD patients’ experiences with telemonitoring. Aim: The aim of this paper is to explore the experiences of self-management in relation to home telemonitoring among adults with COPD living at home, and to discuss how telemonitoring can contribute to self-management. Method: A literature review conducted in the spring of 2022 based on seven research papers. Results: Telemonitoring can contribute to users with COPD experiencing increased knowledge of COPD and a greater understanding of their own disease. Telemonitoring contributes to a feeling of safety due to users being under surveillance by health care professionals and users being able to relieve their own subjective symptoms. Digital communication can improve collaboration with health care services, but visuality, continuity in health care professionals and the service not fully substituting traditional physical contact in care are highlighted as important aspects of the service. Users with moderate COPD can experience telemonitoring as a burden in everyday life. Conclusion: Implementation of telemonitoring can under the right preconditions contribute to increased self-management among users with COPD by facilitating a strengthening of self-management resources through empowerment and reducing stress related to the disease. Guidance and education from nurses are essential in the process. The literature review highlights the importance of making users’ individual needs and experiences with telemonitoring the foundation for future development and implementation of the service. Key words: nursing, telemonitoring, health promotion, empowerment, COP

Implementação de uma solução inteligente de controlo de estores

Os sistemas de proteção solar cumprem um importante papel no controle seletivo de radiação solar no ambiente interior, interferindo, portanto, no desempenho luminoso, térmico e energético das edificações. Buscando melhorar este controlo com a finalidade de obter um melhor aproveitamento desta radiação solar é estudado valores de luminosidade, avaliados por sensores, com o intuito de obter uma correlação proveitosa para operar pontos de ajuste mais favoráveis. E para aplicar esses apuramentos dá se o desenvolvimento de um protótipo para controle automatizado das funcionalidades.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Implementação de uma solução inteligente de controlo de estores

Os sistemas de proteção solar cumprem um importante papel no controle seletivo de radiação solar no ambiente interior, interferindo, portanto, no desempenho luminoso, térmico e energético das edificações. Este trabalho tem como propósito estudar fatores que influenciam o aproveitamento da radiação solar incidente em superfícies vidradas e como os estores elétricos podem atuar em momentos estratégicos, com o propósito de potencializar este aproveitamento. A estratégia metodológica proposta envolve a análise da relação entre valores de luminosidade, avaliados por sensores, comparada com valores de radiação solar auferidos por uma estação meteorológica, com o intuito de obter uma correlação proveitosa para operar pontos de ajuste mais favoráveis de abertura e fecho dos estores. A fim de poder aplicar esses apuramentos, efetuou-se o desenvolvimento de um protótipo para controle automatizado das funcionalidades de abertura e de fecho, por meio da integração de sensores, microcontrolador e todo o sistema eletrónico e de lógica que assegura tais funcionalidades. Este protótipo foi idealizado para ser compacto e de fácil instalação, podendo ser montado nas caixas de aparelhagem mais comuns de interruptores.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Risk factors for the development of macular edema in children with uveitis

AimTo determine the risk factors for macular edema (ME) in children with uveitis.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted of 150 pediatric patients (264 eyes) with uveitis attending 2 tertiary medical centers. Data were collected from the medical files on demographics, type of uveitis, etiology, clinical findings, treatment, and time to development of ME. Risk factors for the development of ME were identified.ResultsME developed in 63 eyes (23.9%) over a mean period of 15.3 ± 2.95 months from diagnosis of uveitis, at a rate of 0.08 eyes per eye-year. On univariate analysis, risk factors for the development of ME were the non-anterior location of the inflammation (p=0.002), band keratopathy (p &lt;0.0001), posterior synechiae (p=0.003), cataract (p=0.002), and vision impairment at presentation (p &lt;0.0001). On multivariate analysis, non-anterior uveitis, which includes intermediate, pan, and posterior-uveitis, and vision impairment retained significance as independent risk factors of ME.ConclusionWithin the pediatric population with uveitis, non-anterior location is associated with the highest risk of ME, followed by the presence of complications, such as band keratopathy and posterior synechiae. These findings indicate a need for close follow-up in children with uveitis for early detection of ME