183 research outputs found

    In the Absence of Animacy: Superordinate Category Structure Affects Subordinate Label Verification (vol 8, e83282, 2013)

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    Theoretical accounts as well as behavioral studies reporting animacy effects offer inconsistent and sometimes contradictory results. A possible explanation for these inconsistencies may be inadvertent biases in the stimuli selected for test - with category-specific effects driven by characteristics of test stimuli other than animacy per se. In this study, we pit animacy against feature structure (intra-item variability), in a picture-word matching task. For unimpaired adults, regardless of whether objects were from animate (mammals; insects) or inanimate (clothes; musical instruments) superordinate categories, participants were faster to match basic level labels with objects from categories with low intra-item variability (mammals; clothes) than from categories with high intra-item variability (insects; instruments). Thus, pitting animacy against variability allowed us to clarify that observable differences in processing speed between animals and instruments are systematically driven by the intra-item variability of the superordinate categories, and not by animacy itself

    Revealing the nature of central emission nebulae in the dwarf galaxy NGC 185

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    In this paper we present new optical observations of the galaxy NGC 185 intended to reveal the status of supernova remnants (SNRs) in this dwarf companion of the Andromeda galaxy. Previously, it was reported that this galaxy hosts one SNR. Our deep photometric study with the 2m telescope at Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory using narrow-band HĪ±\alpha and [SII] filters revealed complex structure of the interstellar medium in the center of the galaxy. To confirm the classification and to study the kinematics of the detected nebulae, we carried out spectroscopic observations using the SCORPIO multi-mode spectrograph at the 6m telescope at the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Science, both in low- and high-resolution modes. We also searched the archival X-ray and radio data for counterparts of the candidate SNRs identified by our optical observations. Our observations imply the presence of one more SNR, one possible HII region previously cataloged as part of an SNR, and the presence of an additional source of shock ionization in one low-brightness PN. We detected enhanced [SII]/H_alpha and [NII]/H_alpha line ratios, as well as relatively high (up to 90 km sāˆ’1^{-1}) expansion velocities of the two observed nebulae, motivating their classification as SNRs (with diameters of 45 pc and 50 pc), confirmed by both photometric and spectral observations. The estimated electron density of emission nebulae is 30 - 200 cmāˆ’3^{-3}. Archival XMM-Newton observations indicate the presence of an extended, low-brightness, soft source in projection of one of the optical SNRs, whereas the archival VLA radio image shows weak, unresolved emission in the center of NGC 185.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in A&

    Konceptualni model kolaborativne farmaceutske prakse u zdravstvenoj i socijalnoj zaŔtiti starijih osoba

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    Background/Aim. In the new millennium, the focus has been increasingly shifting to optimisation by enhancing the collaborative (common, joint) practice of healthcare professionals, for the purpose of achieving effectiveness and efficiency. Pharmacists are the last link in the healthcare services providing chain. The aim of this study was to present a critical analysis of the published models of the collaborative pharmacy practice along with development of a conceptual model of collaborative pharmacy practice in the healthcare and social care for the elderly population. Methods. Using two search algorithms that were created to search articles published in English, a comprehensive search of the bibliographic databases Web of Science and PubMed was undertaken (up to June 2015). Afterwards, articles were independently assessed by two authors, against predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results. Regulations on pharmacy collaboration are present in many developed countries. However, the implementation of the collaborative practice is still not widespread. Therefore, a conceptual model of the collaborative healthcare and social care of the elderly provides an insight into a multi-layer structure that has to be established in order to achieve a functioning system of the collaborative healthcare practice. The model concluded that aspirations towards teamwork, communication and above all - the system of regulators and payers, who acknowledge a healthcare collaboration, are crucial for establishment of a collaborative healthcare practice. Conclusion. This research provides a tool in the form of a guide and check-list for decision-makers and policy-makers in order to achieve the preferred effects generated from the collaborative practice by selecting the models and activities that need to be undertaken for implementation of the collaborative healthcare and social care of the elderly that is best suited for their country.Uvod/Cilj. U cilju postizanja efektivnosti i efikasnosti, u novom milenijumu se sve viÅ”e govori o optimizaciji zdravstvene zaÅ”tite, kroz jačanje udružene prakse zdravstvenih profesionalaca. Farmaceuti predstavljaju poslednju kariku u lancu pružanja zdravstvene zaÅ”tite. Cilj ove studije bio je da prikaže kritičku analizu publikovanih modela kolaborativne farmaceutske prakse, kao i razvoj konceptualnog modela farmaceutske kolaborativne prakse u zdravstvenoj i socijalnoj zaÅ”titi starije populacije. Metode. Koristeći dva algoritma koja su kreirana za pretragu, pretraženi su radovi (do juna 2015. godine) iz bibliografija elektronskih baza podataka Web of Science i PubMed. Nakon pretrage, radovi su nezavisno procenjeni u odnosu na predefinisane kriterijume za uključenje i isključenje, od strane dva autora. Rezultati. Regulativa o farmaceutskoj kolaboraciji je zastupljena u mnogim razvijenim zemljama. Međutim, implementacija kolaborativne prakse joÅ” uvek nije Å”iroko rasprostranjena. Stoga, konceptualni model kolaborativne farmaceutske prakse u zdravstvenoj i socijalnoj zaÅ”titi starijih osoba obezbeđuje uvid u viÅ”eslojnu strukturu koja treba biti uspostavljena kako bi se osigurao funkcionalni sistem kolaborativne zdravstvene prakse. Model zaključuje da su aspiracije prema timskom radu, komunikacija i nadasve sistem regulatora i platioca koji prepoznaju zdravstvenu kolaboraciju, ključni za uspostavljanje kolaborativne zdravstvene prakse. Zaključak. Ovo istraživanje donosi alat u obliku vodiča i čekliste za donosioce odluka i regulativa, kako bi se istim omogućilo da postignu preferirane efekte prikupljenih kolaborativnih praksi, kroz označavanje modela i aktivnosti koje treba preduzeti za implementaciju one kolaborativne zdravstvene i socijalne zaÅ”tite starijih osoba koji su najprimenjiviji u njihovoj zemlji

    Photoactivity of Immobilized Titanium Dioxide (TiO2 ) in Lindane Degradation

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    Introduction and study objectives: Lindane is a generic name for Ī³-hexachlorocyclohexane, one of the isomers from the group of Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH) [1]. Due to its neurotoxic activity, it had a very wide application, from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes. As a result of its lipophility, lindane can easily pass through the blood-brain barrier. The reason of his neurotoxicity is that it can interact with GABAA receptors and obstruct GABA neurotransmitter signaling in nervous system. People who have been exposed to lindane for a long time can experience serious health problems, such as: poor liver function, cardiac arrhythmias, and irregular menstruation. Due to its adverse health effect, lindane is classified as a ā€œpregnancy category Cā€ chemical [2]. It is also one of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) that were listed under the Annex A (elimination) of the Stockholm Convention with a specific exemption for use as a human health pharmaceutical [3]. The aim of this paper was the assessment of the immobilized titanium dioxide photocalytic properties in lindane degradation. Methodology: Spray pyrolysis method was used for a synthesis of thin titanium oxide films on the foils of the stainless steel [4]. The lindane solution was incubated with TiO2 and exposed to UV/VIS light. Aliquots were taken from the reaction mixture after 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours. Lindane was extracted according to the EPA method 505 [5], and analyzed using an Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph (GC) connected to an electron capture detector (ECD). The GC was equipped with a Thermo Scientificā„¢ TraceGOLDā„¢ TG-5MT capillary column (60 m Ɨ 0.25 mm ID Ɨ 0.25 Ī¼m). The temperature program used for gas chromatography was: Initial heating temperature: 50 Ā°C for 3 minutes, then heating at a rate of 30 Ā°C/min to 210 Ā°C for 20 minutes. Hydrogen with a flow rate of 60 mL/min was used as the carrier gas. Results and conclusions: Photoactivity of immobilized titanium dioxide in the degradation of lindane was measured as a percentage of lindaneā€™s degradation compared to its initial concentration. The obtained results demonstrated that after two hours 45.32 % of lindane was degraded, while after twelve hours the percentage of degradation increased to 98.20 %. In this study we proved that the immobilized titanium dioxide can be used as a productive and fast photocatalyst for lindane photodegradation

    Occupational exposure in a metal industry and ventilatory lung function

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    U cilju odgovora na pitanje u kojoj su meri profesionalne nokse registrovane u metaloprerađivačkoj industriji (MIN) mogle uticati na stanje ventilacije pluća eksponiranih radnika sprovedena su ispitivanja u radnoj sredini 1 na radnicima. U radnoj sredini je izvrÅ”ena analiza tehnoloÅ”kog procesa rada, rezultata mikroklimatskih merenja, hemijskih Å”tetnosti i zapraÅ”enosti. Ispitivanje ventilacije pluća sprovedeno je na radnicima eksponirane grupe (129) i radnika kontrolne grupe (129). Rezultati analize radne sredine ukazuju na prisustvo sledečih respiratornih noksi iznad MDK: mineralne praÅ”ina (SiO2 do 10%) aerosoli i boje, toluol i vajÅ”pirit, Osim ovih noksi nađene su i druge kao Å”to su: aceton, CO, C02, nafta, S02, FeO i ZnO, ali su njihove vrednosti ispod dozvoljenih koncentracija. Ispitivanja ventilacije pluća eksponiranih radnika su pokazala statistički značajno sniženje vrednosti ispitivanih testova kod ove grupe u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu, Å”to objaÅ”njavamo delovanjem navedenih noksi na radnom mestu.A study was carried in a metal processing industry with the aim to analyse the relationship between occupational exposure and lung functions. Measurements in the working environment showed the presence of the following respiratory noxae exceeding MAC values: mineral dust (Si02 up to 10%), aerosols, dyes, toluol and white-spirit. The concentrations of acetone, CO, CO2, oil, SO2, FeO and ZnO, which were also determined, did not exceed permissibile concentrations. Lung function tests were performed in two groups of workers- 129 exposed and 129 control ones. The test values were significantly lower in the exposed group of workers than in controls. This is explained by the effect of the occupational noxae present

    The peculiarities of cross-correlation between two secondary precursors - radon and magnetic field variations, induced by stress transfer changes

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    A model of precursor manifestation mechanisms, stimulated by tectonic activity and some peculiarities of observer strategy, whose main task is the effective measurement of precursors in the spatial area of their occurrence on the Earth's daylight, are considered. In particular, the applicability of Dobrovolsky's approximation is analyzed, when an unperturbed medium (characterized by the simple shear state) and the area of tectonic activity (local inhomogeneity caused by the change only of shear modulus) are linearly elastic, and perturbation, in particular, surface displacement is calculated as a difference of the solutions of two independent static problems of the theory of elasticity with the same boundary condition on the surface. Within the framework of this approximation a formula for the spatial distribution (of first component) of magnetic field variations caused by piezomagnetic effect in the case of perturbed regular medium, which is in simple shear state is derived. Cogent arguments in favor of linear dependence between the radon spatial distribution and conditional deformation are obtained. Changes in magnetic field strength and radon concentrations were measured along a tectonomagnetic profile of the total length of 11 km in the surroundings of the "Academician Vernadsky" Station on the Antarctic Peninsula (W 64{\deg}16', S 65{\deg}15'). Results showed a positive correlation between the annual surface radon concentration and annual changes of magnetic field relative to a base point, and also the good coincidence with theoretical calculation.Comment: 27 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables (a substantially revised and extended edition; v3 -- some analysis of recent publications added

    Clinical pattern of ocular toxoplasmosis treated in a referral centre in Serbia

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    Purpose To analyze the clinical pattern of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) in a referral centre in Serbia. Patients and methods The medical records of consecutive patients admitted for OT to the single referral centre for uveitis in Serbia between 2006 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. OT was diagnosed on the basis of typical fundus lesions and positive serology for Toxoplasma. Results In a total of 457 uveitis patients, OT was the third leading cause, with 59 patients (12.9%). Most OT cases (73%) were monocular. An active primary retinal lesion was observed in 36% and recurrent OT in 64% patients. Localization of lesions was central/paracentral (44%), juxtapapillar (27%), peripheral (19%), and multifocal (10%). Other ocular manifestations of inflammation included vitritis (44%), anterior uveitis (19%), and retinal vasculitis (10%). Complications included choroidal neovascularization in two and exudative retinal detachment with cataract, glaucoma, and cystoid macular oedema in one patient each. The detection of Toxoplasma-specific IgM antibodies in a single patient indicates a low rate of OT concomitant with acute infection. After treatment, the mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased significantly. However, 14 (24%) patients ended up legally blind in the affected eye, of which 2 (3%) with bilateral blindness, all with a very poor BCVA (0.047 +/- 0.055) at presentation. Visual impairment and treatment outcome were both associated with central localization of lesions (P lt 0.0001 and P = 0.006, respectively). Conclusion OT is a significant cause of posterior uveitis in Serbia. Patients should be aware of the recurring nature of OT and react immediately if symptoms occur. Eye (2012) 26, 723-728; doi: 10.1038/eye.2012.20; published online 24 February 201
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