On characterization of Poisson and Jacobi structures

We characterize Poisson and Jacobi structures by means of complete lifts of the corresponding tensors: the lifts have to be related to canonical structures by morphisms of corresponding vector bundles. Similar results hold for generalized Poisson and Jacobi structures (canonical structures) associated with Lie algebroids and Jacobi algebroids.Comment: LaTeX, 14 page

Tulczyjew triples in the constrained dynamics of strings

We show that there exists a natural Tulczyjew triple in the dynamics of objects for which the standard kinematic configuration space $TM$, i.e. the tangent bundle, is replaced with its $n$-th exterior power, i.e. the bundle of tangent $n$-vectors. In this framework, which is fully covariant, we geometrically derive phase equations, as well as Euler-Lagrange equations, including nonholonomic constraints into the picture. Dynamics of strings and a constrained Plateau problem in statics are particular cases of this framework.Comment: 14 pages. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1401.697

Structural and productivity changes of Central and Eastern Europe

Svrha ovog rada je analizirati strukturalne i produktivne promjene zemalja srednje i istočne Europe (CEE). Razdoblje istraživanja obuhvaća godine nakon pristupanja Europskoj uniji, od 2004. do 2018. godine. Ova studija želi odgovoriti na sljedeće pitanje: Koji su učinci rezultat integracije s Europskom unijom u području produktivnosti? Analiza pokriva dvije glavne kategorije rasta produktivnosti rada: čisti rast produktivnosti rada i strukturalni rast produktivnosti rada. Nadalje, ispituju se čimbenici koji mogu utjecati na čiste i strukturne promjene produktivnosti. Glavne metode istraživanja primijenjene u ovom radu su analiza pomaka udjela i metode panel podataka. Analiza pokazuje da su se u promatranom razdoblju sve zemlje središnje i istočne Europe poboljšale i u smislu čiste i strukturalne produktivnosti. Međutim, utjecaj čiste produktivnosti rada bio je znatno manji od utjecaja strukturalne produktivnosti rada; to znači da se glavna promjena na razini produktivnosti više može pripisati promjenama u zapošljavanju između sektora, nego li modernizaciji tehnoloških procesa. Produktivnost se povećala u svim sektorima, ali najznačajniji rast dogodio se u uslužnim sektorima, posebno u financijskim i osiguravajućim djelatnostima i nekretninama. Istodobno, smanjila se zaposlenost u manje produktivnim sektorima, poput poljoprivrede, šumarstva i ribarstva. Nadalje, rezultati analize panel podataka potvrđuju značajan utjecaj procijenjenih faktora na čisti i strukturalni rast produktivnosti. Stoga, ukupna promjena produktivnosti na području Srednje i Istočne Europe može imati pozitivan utjecaj na oba oblika rasta produktivnosti. I strukturalni i čisti rast produktivnosti potiču ulaganje u istraživanje i razvoj, uvoz roba informacijske i komunikacijske tehnologije (IKT) i otvorenost trgovine. Nadalje, ovo istraživanje potvrđuje pozitivan utjecaj koje ima povećanje ulaganja u istraživanje i razvoj poslovnih poduzeća i porast broja istraživača na omjer radne snage na produktivnost sektora, iako postoje bitne razlike između sektora. Ovo istraživanje mogu koristiti vladine agencije u izradi politika industrijskog razvoja.The purpose of this paper is to analyse the structural and productivity changes of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The research period covers the years following accession into the European Union, from 2004 until 2018. This study aims to answer the following question: What effects have resulted from the integration with the European Union in terms of the sphere of productivity? The analysis covers two main categories of labour productivity growth: pure labour productivity growth and structural labour productivity growth. Moreover, factors that may affect both pure and structural productivity changes are examined. The main research techniques are shift-share analysis and panel data methods. The analysis shows that all the CEE countries in the studied period improved in terms of both pure and structural productivity. The impact of pure labour productivity, however, was much smaller than that of structural labour productivity; this means that the main change in productivity level was more attributable to changes in employment between sectors than to the modernisation of technological processes. Productivity increased in all sectors, but the most significant growth occurred in service sectors, specifically in financial and insurance activities and real estate activities. Simultaneously, employment decreased in less productive sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Furthermore, the results of the panel data analysis confirm a significant impact of the evaluated factors on pure and structural productivity growth. Thus, aggregate productivity change in the CEE area can have a positive impact on both forms of productivity growth. Both structural and pure productivity growth are stimulated by research and development expenditures, information and communication technology (ICT) goods imports, and trade openness. Moreover, this research confirms the positive impacts of business enterprise research and development expenditure growth and an increase in the number of researchers to the workforce ratio on sector productivity, although there are substantial differences between sectors. This research can be used by government agencies in establishing industrial development policies

Influence of beta-blockers on endothelial function: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) frequently precedes cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and is a well-established risk factor of major adverse cardiac events. Beta-blockers are the fundamental drugs used in CVD treatment. Methods: A systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials investigating influence of beta-blockers on endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was performed in the PubMed and Cochrane Databases. Results: Sixteen full-text studies involving a total of 1,273 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean age of participating patients ranged from 44.9 to 63.2 years, the follow-up duration from 1 to 12 months. The comparison of FMD change between the beta-blockers and placebo groups showed a statistically significant effect of beta-blockers on endothelial function (mean difference [MD] 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11–1.55; p = 0.02). Third generation beta-blockers improved FMD in a statistically significant manner compared with second generation beta-blockers (MD 1.65; 95% CI 0.17–3.11; p = 0.03). Beta-blockers gave an FMD change similar to that obtained with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), calcium channel blockers (CCB) or hydrochlorothiazide. The FMD value in the beta-blocker group was significantly lower compared with the group treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) (MD –0.79; 95% CI –1.37–(–0.21); p = 0.008) and higher than in the ivabradine group (1.6 ± 3.61 vs –0.3 ± 1.66; p = 0.02). Conclusions: Beta-blockers improve the endothelial function compared with placebo. More­over, third generation beta-blockers improve FMD values significantly better than the second generation ones. Beta-blockers had similar effect on endothelial function as did ARB, CCB or diuretics. However, the beneficial effect of beta-blockers was lower when confronted with ACEI

The eukaryotic leading and lagging strand DNA polymerases are loaded onto primer-ends via separate mechanisms but have comparable processivity in the presence of PCNA

Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA polymerase δ (Pol δ) and DNA polymerase ε (Pol ε) are replicative DNA polymerases at the replication fork. Both enzymes are stimulated by PCNA, although to different levels. To understand why and to explore the interaction with PCNA, we compared Pol δ and Pol ε in physical interactions with PCNA and nucleic acids (with or without RPA), and in functional assays measuring activity and processivity. Using surface plasmon resonance technique, we show that Pol ε has a high affinity for DNA, but a low affinity for PCNA. In contrast, Pol δ has a low affinity for DNA and a high affinity for PCNA. The true processivity of Pol δ and Pol ε was measured for the first time in the presence of RPA, PCNA and RFC on single-stranded DNA. Remarkably, in the presence of PCNA, the processivity of Pol δ and Pol ε on RPA-coated DNA is comparable. Finally, more PCNA molecules were found on the template after it was replicated by Pol ε when compared to Pol δ. We conclude that Pol ε and Pol δ exhibit comparable processivity, but are loaded on the primer-end via different mechanisms

Kardia Mobile applicability in clinical practice: A comparison of Kardia Mobile and standard 12-lead electrocardiogram records in 100 consecutive patients of a tertiary cardiovascular care center

Background: Mobile devices are gaining a rising number of users in all countries around the globe. Novel solutions to diagnose patients with out-of-hospital onset of arrhythmic symptoms can be easily used to record such events, but the effectiveness of these devices remain unknown.Methods: In a group of 100 consecutive patients of an academic cardiology care center (mean age 68 ± 14.2 years, males: 66%) a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and a Kardia Mobile (KM) record were registered. Both versions were assessed by three independant groups of physicians.Results: The analysis of comparisons for standard ECG and KM records showed that the latter is of lower quality (p < 0.001). It was non-inferior for detection of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, showed weaker rhythm detection in pacemaker stimulation (p = 0.008), and was superior in sinus rhythm detection (p = 0.02), though. The sensitivity of KM to detect pathological Q-wave was low compared to specificity (20.6% vs. 93.7%, respectively, p < 0.001). Basic intervals measured by the KM device, namely PQ, RR, and QT were significantly different (shorter) than those observed in the standard ECG method (160 ms vs. 180 ms [p < 0.001], 853 ms vs. 880 ms [p = 0.03] and 393 ms vs. 400 ms[p < 0.001], respectively).Conclusions: Initial and indicative value of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter detection in KM is comparable to results achieved in standard ECG. KM was superior in detection of sinus rhythm than eye-ball evaluation of 12-lead ECG. Though, the PQ and QT intervals were shorter in KM as compared to 12-lead ECG. Clinical value needs to be verified in large studies, though

Fifteen-year differences in indications for cardiac resynchronization therapy in international guidelines—insights from the heart failure registries of the European Society of Cardiology

[Abstract] Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) applied to selected patients with heart failure (HF) improves their prognosis. In recent years, eligibility criteria for CRT have regularly changed. This study aimed to investigate the changes in eligibility of real-life HF patients for CRT over the past fifteen years. We reviewed European and North American guidelines from this period and applied them to HF patients from the ESC-HF Pilot and ESC-Long-Term Registries. Taking into consideration the criteria assessed in this study (including all classes of recommendations i.e., class I, IIa and IIb, as well as patients with AF and SR), the 2013 (ESC) guidelines would have qualified the most patients for CRT (266, 18.3%), while the 2015 (ESC) guidelines would have qualified the least (115, 7.9%; p-value for differences between all analyzed papers <0.0001). There were only 26 patients (1.8%) who would be eligible for CRT using the class I recommendations across all of the guidelines. These results demonstrate the variability in recommendations for CRT over the years. Moreover, this data indicates underuse of this form of pacing in HF and highlights the need for more studies in order to improve the outcomes of HF patients and further personalize their management

Differences in clinical characteristics and 1-year outcomes of hospitalized patients with heart failure in ESC-HF Pilot and ESC-HF-LT registries

[Abstract] INTRODUCTION The management of heart failure (HF) has changed significantly in recent decades. OBJECTIVES We analyzed the clinical profile, 1‑year outcomes, predictors of mortality, and hospital readmissions in hospitalized patients enrolled in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Pilot Survey (ESC‑HF Pilot) and Heart Failure Long‑Term Registry (ESC‑HF‑LT). PATIENTS AND METHODS The analysis included hospitalized Polish patients from both registries. The primary endpoint was all‑cause death at 1 year, while the secondary endpoint was all‑cause death or hospitalization for worsening HF at 1 year. RESULTS The study included a total of 1415 hospitalized patients (650 from ESC‑HF Pilot; 765 from ESC‑HF‑LT). The primary endpoint occurred in 89 of the 650 patients (13.7%) and in 120 of the 711 patients (16.9%) from ESC‑HF Pilot and ESC‑HF‑LT, respectively (P = 0.11). The secondary endpoint was more frequent in ESC‑HF Pilot than in ESC‑HF‑LT (201 of 509 [39.5%] vs 222 of 663 [33.5%]; P = 0.04). Compared with ESC‑HF Pilot, patients from the ESC‑HF‑LT registry were older and more often had hypertension, atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease, and chronic kidney disease, while the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was lower. The percentage of patients receiving drugs for HF (diuretics, angiotensin‑converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, β‑blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists), anticoagulants, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and implantable cardioverter‑defibrillator were higher in the ESC‑HF‑LT group in comparison with the ESC‑HF Pilot group. CONCLUSIONS Patients from the ESC‑HF‑LT registry had a lower risk of death or hospitalization for worsening HF despite the fact that they were older and had more comorbidities. The results might suggest an improvement in physicians’ adherence to the guidelines on the management of HF in the ESC‑HF‑LT registry