Drug utilization patterns in Zabljak municipality, Serbia and Montenegro

Background: Information about drug utilization among the out patients in Serbia & Montenegro is scanty, and there are no available publications on the topic. Objective: To evaluate and compare patterns of drug utilization in the Zabljak municipality. Methods: Prescriptions for outpatients (n=456) and dispensing records from local pharmacy in Zabljak were reviewed retrospectively over three-months period. Results: The leading diagnoses were infectious diseases of the respiratory system and hypertension. The average number of Defined Daily Doses per 1000 inhabitants per day was 175.05. Cardiovascular drugs (42.8 DDD/1000/day), drugs for gastrointestinal system (39 DDD/1000/day) and antibacterial drugs (19.05 DDD/1000/day) were the most frequently prescribed drugs. Conclusion: The total number of drugs utilized per 1000 inhabitants per day was within the acceptable range. However, the pattern of diagnoses did not correspond to the pattern of drug utilization. Much remains to be done to promote rational selection and use of drugs in outpatients in Serbia and Montenegro. South African Family Practice Vol. 49 (1) 2007: pp. 1

Performance comparison between KNN and NSGA-II algorithms as calibration approaches for building simulation models

Shadi Basurra , and Ljubomir Jankovic, ‘Performance comparison between KNN and NSGA-II algorithms as calibration approaches for building simulation models’, in BSO 2016 Proceedings. Paper presented at the 3rd IBPSA England Conference, Newcastle, September 2016. Content in the UH Research Archive is made available for personal research, educational, and non-commercial purposes only. Unless otherwise stated, all content is protected by copyright, and in the absence of an open license, permissions for further re-use should be sought from the publisher, the author, or other copyright holder.In this paper, a study of calibration methods for a thermal performance model of a building is presented. Two calibration approaches are evaluated and compared in terms of accuracy and computation speed. These approaches are the 푘 Nearest Neighbour (KNN) algorithm and NSGA-II algorithm. The comparison of these two approaches was based on the simulation model of the Birmingham Zero Carbon House, which has been under continuous monitoring over the past five years. Data from architectural drawings and site measurements were used to build the geometry of the house. All building systems, fabric, lighting and equipment were specified to closely correspond to the actual house. The preliminary results suggest that the predictive performance of simulation models can be calibrated quickly and accurately using the monitored performance data of the real building. Automating such process increases its efficiency and consistency of the results while reducing the time and effort required for calibration. The results show that both NSGA-II and KNN provide similar degree of accuracy in terms of the results closeness to measured data, but whilst the former outperforms the latter in terms of computational speed, the latter outperforms the former in terms of results wide coverage of solutions around the reference point, which is essential for calibration.Final Published versio

Sources of Variation for Milk Traits in Regions of Vojvodina

The study aimed to investigate different sources of variation for milk traits in dairy cows, in first lactation from three breeding regions of Vojvodina (Srem, Banat and Backa). For research purposes a total of 2767 complete and 305 days records of milk yield (MY), fat yield (FY) and milk fat content (MFC) of Holstein-Friesian (HF, black and red) dairy cows was used. All cows were involved in the official milk recording program in 2013 in Vojvodina. Milk traits were analyzed using the mixed linear model in order to explain total variation with bull-sire as a random effect, region, year of birth and calving season as fixed effects and length of lactation as covariates. The average values of MY, MF and MFC in the first lactation of 305 days were 6053.4 kg of milk, 225.24 kg of milk fat and 3.74% milk fat content. The effects of the bull-sire, calving season, year of birth and breeding region on all investigated milk traits were highly significant (p>0.01) during 305 days, but year of birth for complete records had no significant effect on these parameters (P>0.05)

Development of GaN transducer and on-chip concentrator for galvanic current sensing

Gallium nitride (GaN) magnetic high electron mobility transistors (MagHEMTs) with different gate lengths intended for integration with magnetic flux concentrator for galvanic isolation are presented. Detailed discussions on the physical mechanisms behind the sensitivity change at room temperature with respect to gate geometry are given. The relative sensitivity of dual-drain GaN MagHEMTs with a device length of L = 65 μm and a width of W = 20 μm is measured at the highest of S = 17.21%/T and the lowest of S = 7.69%/T at VGS= -2 V and VGS= 0 V, respectively. In addition, a novel spiral magnetic flux concentrator with the conversion factor of up to FC= 96 mT/A is designed for improving the performance of the optimized MagHEMTs in ICs. It is predicted that a spiral configuration is a necessity to enhance the conversion factor for a long MagHEMT

Factorial analysis of slaughter characteristics of fattening pigs fed different additives – Enzyme and probiotic in mixtures

To successfully investigate slaughter characteristics of fattening pigs fed in different ways, this experiment was carried out on Experimental Farm of the Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade- Zemun. Investigation of correlation between slaughter traits of pigs fed with different additives in their nutrition was done by factorial analysis. Slaughter characteristics in three groups of fattening pigs fed in different ways were observed. The first group (variant 1) consisted of fatteners fed diets without any special additives. The second group (variant 2) consisted of pigs fed diets containing enzyme Rovabio, and the third group (variant 3) probiotic Lacture + Microbond. This study was aimed at coming to conclusion based on the results of factorial analysis of the observed traits to the greatest extent which determined slaughter traits of pigs fed diets containing different additives. The results obtained in general, that is, the structure of separated factors showed that different slaughter characteristics are realized with different nutrition.Key words: Fattening pigs, slaughter characteristics, enzyme Rovabio, probiotic Lacture + Microbond, factorial analysis

Comprehensive systematic review summary: Treatment of tics in people with Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorders

Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy of treatments for tics and the risks associated with their use. Methods This project followed the methodologies outlined in the 2011 edition of the American Academy of Neurology\u27s guideline development process manual. We included systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials on the treatment of tics that included at least 20 participants (10 participants if a crossover trial), except for neurostimulation trials, for which no minimum sample size was required. To obtain additional information on drug safety, we included cohort studies or case series that specifically evaluated adverse drug effects in individuals with tics. Results There was high confidence that the Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics was more likely than psychoeducation and supportive therapy to reduce tics. There was moderate confidence that haloperidol, risperidone, aripiprazole, tiapride, clonidine, onabotulinumtoxinA injections, 5-ling granule, Ningdong granule, and deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus were probably more likely than placebo to reduce tics. There was low confidence that pimozide, ziprasidone, metoclopramide, guanfacine, topiramate, and tetrahydrocannabinol were possibly more likely than placebo to reduce tics. Evidence of harm associated with various treatments was also demonstrated, including weight gain, drug-induced movement disorders, elevated prolactin levels, sedation, and effects on heart rate, blood pressure, and ECGs. Conclusions There is evidence to support the efficacy of various medical, behavioral, and neurostimulation interventions for the treatment of tics. Both the efficacy and harms associated with interventions must be considered in making treatment recommendations

Practice Guideline Recommendations Summary: Treatment of Tics in People with Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorders

Objective To make recommendations on the assessment and management of tics in people with Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorders. Methods A multidisciplinary panel consisting of 9 physicians, 2 psychologists, and 2 patient representatives developed practice recommendations, integrating findings from a systematic review and following an Institute of Medicine–compliant process to ensure transparency and patient engagement. Recommendations were supported by structured rationales, integrating evidence from the systematic review, related evidence, principles of care, and inferences from evidence. Results Forty-six recommendations were made regarding the assessment and management of tics in individuals with Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorders. These include counseling recommendations on the natural history of tic disorders, psychoeducation for teachers and peers, assessment for comorbid disorders, and periodic reassessment of the need for ongoing therapy. Treatment options should be individualized, and the choice should be the result of a collaborative decision among patient, caregiver, and clinician, during which the benefits and harms of individual treatments as well as the presence of comorbid disorders are considered. Treatment options include watchful waiting, the Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics, and medication; recommendations are provided on how to offer and monitor these therapies. Recommendations on the assessment for and use of deep brain stimulation in adults with severe, treatment-refractory tics are provided as well as suggestions for future research