Representations of Arab Women in Hollywood Pre- and Post- 9/11

Many scholars argue that the image of Arabs in Hollywood has always been tainted by prejudice and stereotyping. However, little attention is paid to women\u27s representation in general or the influence of 9/11 on that representation. This paper compares portrayals of Arab women in popular Hollywood films before and after 9/11. A purposive sample of 76 Arab female characters from 40 popular Hollywood films is used to conduct a content analysis, comparing portrayals in films released before and after 9/11. Popular Hollywood films are defined as films with at least 50,000 reviews that score seven or more on the International Movie Database (IMDB). The results show that Arab women’s representation lacks diversity and Arab women remain unidentified in Hollywood films. Arab women’s portrayal shifts from one of the magical or sexualized characters to one of the violent terrorists. Despite the overall increase in the amount of violence depicted after 9/11, there is a shift in favor of the portrayal of Arab women, with more depicted as good or pure after 9/11. Finally, the results show that the morality of Arab female characters improves, with more characters depicted as evaluating options and making their own decisions

Predictors of survival in patients with ischemic heart disease depending on therapy

The aim of the study is to assess the prognostic value of the structural and functional echocardiographic indicators in IHD patients, depending on acute coronary syndrome management (revascularization vs medical therapy), during 60 months. Materials and methods: The total of 101 IHD patients were examined on the clinical bases of the Internal Medicine Department 2. Prior to the study. The 84 males and 17 females aged 58.6±4.2were split into the experimental group after myocardial revascularization (EG, n = 71) and control group with standard medical therapy (CG, n = 30). In addition to the protocol-prescribed clinical lab tests, during five years, the dynamics of the echocardiographic cardiac parameters has been assessed. The digital data was processed by the Kaplan–Meier estimator; the 60-month cumulative survival rate (%) was estimated and significance of the difference was assessed by Cox's F-test (p<0.05). Results and discussion. It appeared that the 5-year prognosis in IHD patients was unaffected by the dimensions of IVST, LVIDD and LVMMI. In 60 months after the surgery, a significantly better prognosis was observed for certain unfavourable initial conditions: enlarged RV ≥ 2.5 cm (37.5% vs 30.7%, р = 0.008), aortic diameter ≥ 3.0 cm (57.2% vs 34.3%, р = 0.02), enlarged LA ˃ 4.0 cm (43.8% vs 24.7%, р = 0.046). In addition, revascularization was associated with better survival rates for normal LVMM (<250 g; 75.8% vs 49.1%, р=0.05), without the thickening of the LV walls (66.9% vs 30.5%, р=0.047) and without LV systolic dysfunction (87.7% vs 59.9%, р=0.046). An important place among the echocardiographic criteria of unfavourable prognosis belongs to LV systolic dysfunction (EF ≤ 45%). Therefore, the experimental group patients were distributed according to the EF value, following the Ukrainian Association of Cardiology and EU guidelines, i.e. we singled out the so-called grey zone (EF=45-54%), where the patients featuring LV systolic dysfunction and preserved EF belonged. The analysis of the results showed the cumulative event-free survival to be 87.4% for EF ˃ 55%, 14.6% for EF = 45-54% and 42.9% for EF < 45% (р = 0.01). The patients after the myocardial revascularization with EF = 45-54% had a worse prognosis of event-free survival than those with LV systolic dysfunction. In the group of patients who had undergone only the medical therapy, the survival prognosis was significantly worse, which corresponded to a reduced EF (38.3% for EF ˃ 55%, 15.0% for EF = 45-54% and 0% for EF < 45%, p EG-CG = 0.01). A similar EF-based distribution was used in the study of patients with decompensated heart failure (REDINSCOR II, 2017), in which the authors revealed that the grey zone patients featured a higher risk of cardiovascular complications than patients with normal EF values did. Conclusions. Revascularization contributed to a considerably better 60-month survival prognosis for cases featuring the enlarged right ventricle (≥2.5 cm), enlarged left atrium (˃4.0 cm) and extended aortic root (≥3.0 cm), but with the normal left ventricular myocardial mass (< 250 g) and without ventricular hypertrophy or systolic dysfunction

ДО МЕТОДИКИ ВИВЧЕННЯ ВПЛИВУ ФУМОНІЗИНІВ НА ОРГАНІЗМ ТВАРИН ТА ПТИЦІ

  The article deals with the search on the influence of fumonizines on animals and poultry organism. It was analyzed literary data of foreign and native  scientists concerning the etiology and pathogenesis of mycotoxicoses in farm animals and poultry. The classification of mycotoxins was shown. It was established that after the consumption of feed production of farm animals, mycotoxins have a negative influence on productivity indices and physiological state of animals. Separately, it was solved the issue of fumonisine  pathogenesis of on the body of pigs, ruminants, horses and poultry. Fumonisines depending on their nature, concentration in the diet, animal species, age, feeding conditions and the state of immunity are demonstrated: reduction of productive options of farm animals  and poultry;  reduction of feed efficiency on production;  violation of reproductive and reproductive functions;  weakening of the immune system; increasing of susceptibility to the diseases of various etiologies; increase in material costs for treatment and preventive measures.Статья посвящена изучению влияния фумонизинов на организм животных и птицы. Проанализированы литературные источники зарубежных и отечественных ученых по этиологии и патогенеза микотоксикозов у сельскохозяйственных животных и птицы. Приведена классификация микотоксинов. Установлено, что при потреблении кормового продукта сельскохозяйственными животными микотоксины оказывают отрицательное  влияние на показатели производительности и физиологическое состояние животных. Осуществлен анализ фумонизинов. Отдельно раскрыто патогенез фумонизинов на организм свиней, жвачных, лошадей и птицы. Фуманизины в зависимости от их природы, концентрации в рационе, вида животного, возраста, условий кормления и состояния иммунитета проявляются: снижением производительных параметров сельскохозяйственных животных и птицы; снижением эффективности использования кормов на производство продукции; нарушением репродуктивно-воспроизводственных функций; ослаблением иммунной системы организма; повышением восприимчивости к заболеваниям различной этиологии; увеличением материальных затрат на лечение и профилактические мероприятия.У статті вивчено вплив фумонізинів на організм тварин і птиці. Проаналізовано літературні дані зарубіжних і вітчизняних  науковців стосовно етіології та патогенезу мікотоксикозів у сільськогосподарських тварин і птиці. Наведено класифікацію мікотоксинів. Встановлено, що після споживання кормового продукту сільськогосподарськими тваринами мікотоксини чинять негативний вплив на показники продуктивності і фізіологічний стан тварин. Здійснено детальний аналіз фумонізинів. Окремо розкрито питання патогенезу фумонізинів на організм свиней, жуйних, коней та птиці. Фуманізини залежно від їхньої природи, концентрації у раціоні, виду тварини, віку, умов годівлі та стану імунітету проявляються: зниженням продуктивних параметрів сільськогосподарських тварин і птиці; зниженням ефективності використання кормів на виробництво продукції; порушенням репродуктивно-відтворювальних функцій; ослабленням імунної системи організму; підвищенням сприйнятливості до захворювань різної етіології; збільшенням матеріальних витрат на лікування та профілактичні заходи

Corporate contact tracing as a pandemic response

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a steady stream of propositions from tech giants and start-ups alike has furnished us with the idea that GPS- or Bluetooth-enabled contact tracing apps are a vital part of the pandemic response. This commentary considers these apps as ‘corporate contact tracing’, emphasizing the private-sector role that such developments imply. We first discuss corporate contact tracing’s potential to de-center the power of public health authorities. Then, using the frames of surveillance capitalism and disaster capitalism, we suggest how corporate contact tracing might feed the rise of corporate power in the public sphere. We question its capacity to address structural inequalities and to foster a social justice vision of public health. And, we wonder whether corporate contact tracing might intensify the effects of discriminatory design and algorithmic oppression. We conclude by calling for a discussion of this technology beyond questions of privacy and efficacy

AI for Zero-Touch Management of Satellite Networks in B5G and 6G Infrastructures

Satellite Communication (SatCom) networks are become more and more integrated with the terrestrial telecommunication infrastructure. In this paper, we shows the current status of the still ongoing European Space Agency (ESA) project”Data-driven Network Controller Orchestration for Real time Network Management-ANChOR”. In particular, we propose a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)based methodology to drive the dynamic selection of the optimal satellite gateway station, which will be performed by combining different kinds of information (i.e. traffic profile, network and weather conditions). Some preliminary results on the real world dataset shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach

Atrial functional tricuspid regurgitation: a novel and underappreciated clinical entity

Abstract Functional or secondary tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) is a progressive disease with a significant negative impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Recently, atrial fibrillation (AF) has been recognized as a cause of FTR (with/without coexisting functional mitral regurgitation) by promoting right atrial (RA) remodeling and secondary tricuspid valve (TV) annulus dilation, even in the absence of right ventricular (RV) dilation or dysfunction. This distinct form of FTR has been called "atriogenic" or "atrial". Recent evidence suggests that the RA is an important player in FTR pathophysiology not only for patients with AF, but also for those in sinus rhythm. Preliminary reports on atrial FTR show that cardioversion with documented maintenance of sinus rhythm promotes TV annulus and RA reverse remodeling and may significantly reduce FTR severity at follow-up. Large-scale studies on the prognostic benefits of rhythm vs rate-control strategy in atrial FTR patients are needed to substantiate specific guidelines indications for this subset of patients

A Quantum Langevin Formulation of Risk-Sensitive Optimal Control

In this paper we formulate a risk-sensitive optimal control problem for continuously monitored open quantum systems modelled by quantum Langevin equations. The optimal controller is expressed in terms of a modified conditional state, which we call a risk-sensitive state, that represents measurement knowledge tempered by the control purpose. One of the two components of the optimal controller is dynamic, a filter that computes the risk-sensitive state. The second component is an optimal control feedback function that is found by solving the dynamic programming equation. The optimal controller can be implemented using classical electronics. The ideas are illustrated using an example of feedback control of a two-level atom

Експериментальна оцінка токсичності кардіологічного препарату на основі інгібітора фосфодиестерази-3 та етилметилгідроксипіридину сукцинату

The study aimed to establish the parameters of chronic toxicity of the newly developed drug based on phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor and ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate in experiments on laboratory animals. The analysis was performed on white sexually mature young male Wistar rats weighing 170–185 g. Four groups of white rats were formed. The first experimental group was administered Bendamine based on a phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor and ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate at a therapeutic dose. Rats of the second experimental group were injected with the experimental drug in a 5-fold dose. Rats of the third experimental group were administered the drug in a 10-fold dose. The fourth group served as control. The study of chronic toxicity of Bendamine in white rats indicates that long-term 30-day administration in therapeutic doses or 5-fold dose does not cause clinical signs of poisoning, as evidenced by the physiological limits of fluctuations in the studied morphological and biochemical parameters of blood rats. Prolonged administration of Bendamine to rats in a 10-fold dose is accompanied by a slight suppression of the body's physiological state, as indicated by a decrease in total erythrocytes and hemoglobin by 10.1 % against an increase in white blood cells by 59.8% (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a decrease in the functional state of the liver, as evidenced by a probable reduction in total protein by 8.0% and urea – by 13.5 %, as well as an increase in ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase by 31.6 %, 7.4 %, and 53.9% respectively. Probable changes in the coefficients of liver and spleen mass have been established. When administered intramuscularly to rats with the drug Bendamine for 30 days, the macroscopic and microscopic structure of the studied internal organs is preserved in all groups of animals. The second experimental group revealed reversible moderate histostructural changes in the liver and kidneys. In rats treated with ten times the therapeutic dose of the drug, histologically found hemodynamic disorders and alterations in dystrophic nature, mainly of protein origin, with focal localization in the parenchyma of the liver, kidneys, and myocardium, which in most cases are reversible and result from the compensatory response. Macroorganism on the introduction of a high dose of the study drug.Метою роботи було у дослідах на лабораторних тваринах встановити параметри хронічної токсичності новоствореного препарату на основі інгібітора фосфодиестерази-3 та етилметилгідроксипіридину сукцинату. Дослідження проводили на білих статево-зрілих молодих щурах-самцях лінії Вістар масою 170−185 г. Було сформовано чотири групи. Першій дослідній групі вводили препарат “Бендамін” на основі інгібітора фосфодиестерази-3 та етилметилгідроксипіридину сукцинату у терапевтичній дозі. Щурам другої дослідної групи вводили дослідний препарат у 5-ти кратній дозі. Щурам третьої дослідної групи вводили препарат у 10-ти кратній дозі. Четверта група служила контролем. Дослідження хронічної токсичності Бендаміну на білих щурах вказує на те, що тривале 30-добове його введення у терапевтичній дозі або у 5-кратній дозі, не викликає клінічних ознак отруєння, про що свідчать фізіологічні межі коливань досліджуваних морфологічних та біохімічних показників крові щурів. Тривале введення щурам дослідного препарату в 10-кратній дозі супроводжується незначним пригніченням фізіологічного стану організму, на що вказує зниження загальної кількості еритроцитів і вмісту гемоглобіну на 10,1 % на тлі підвищення кількості лейкоцитів на 59,8 % (Р < 0,001). Крім цього встановлено зниження функціонального стану печінки, про що свідчить вірогідне зменшення вмісту загального протеїну на 8,0 % і сечовини – на 13,5 %, також підвищення активності АлАТ, АсАТ і лужної фосфатази на 31,6 %, 7,4 % і 53,9 % відповідно. Встановлено вірогідні зміни коефіцієнтів маси печінки та селезінки. За внутрішлункового застосування щурам препарату “Бендамін” упродовж 30 діб макроскопічна та мікроскопічна структура досліджуваних внутрішніх органів збережена у всіх групах тварин. У другій дослідній групі виявлені помірні гістоструктурні зміни в печінці і нирках, які мали зворотній характер. У щурів, яким застосовували 10-кратну терапевтичну дозу препарату, гістологічно встановлено порушення гемодинаміки та зміни дистрофічного характеру, переважно білкового походження, із вогнищевою локалізацією в паренхімі печінки, нирок та міокарду, що носять у більшості випадків зворотний характер і є наслідком компенсаторної реакції з боку макроорганізму на введення підвищеної дози досліджуваного препарату

Information geometry and local asymptotic normality for multi-parameter estimation of quantum Markov dynamics

This paper deals with the problem of identifying and estimating dynamical parameters of continuous-time quantum open systems, in the input-output formalism. First, we characterise the space of identifiable parameters for ergodic dynamics, assuming full access to the output state for arbitrarily long times, and show that the equivalence classes of undistinguishable parameters are orbits of a Lie group acting on the space of dynamical parameters. Second, we define an information geometric structure on this space, including a principal bundle given by the action of the group, as well as a compatible connection, and a Riemannian metric based on the quantum Fisher information of the output. We compute the metric explicitly in terms of the Markov covariance of certain "fluctuation operators", and relate it to the horizontal bundle of the connection. Third, we show that the system-output and reduced output state satisfy local asymptotic normality, i.e. they can be approximated by a Gaussian model consisting of coherent states of a multimode continuos variables system constructed from the Markov covariance "data". We illustrate the result by working out the details of the information geometry of a physically relevant two-level system.Comment: 28 pages, 4 figure