"This town can't be that harmful": risk perception of lead exposure

Introduction: Much of the focus of lead risk health campaigns has been on vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women, thus not communicating the risk of exposure for other adults. This becomes a particular issue for adults who are long-term residents of communities near lead mines as they can be at an increased risk of exposure to lead within their environment. As such, this study investigated the perceived risk of exposure to lead in residents of a lead mining community. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were held with 20 (3 male, 17 female) residents from a community in close proximity to a lead mine and were recruited through the community media and local organizations. Common themes were identified through an interpretative phenomenological analytical framework providing an in depth examination of the lived experiences of participants. Results: Majority of the participants did not perceive a health risk from exposure to lead. Those who reported a specific concern surrounding their exposure to lead had lived within the community for less than five years. However, it was commonly noted that the behaviors to control residents' exposure to lead were easily performed and low cost. Conclusions: These results suggest that residents of a community chronically exposed to lead seem to become complacent about their risk for poor health outcomes the longer they live within the community. These findings have implications for the communication of the risk of exposure to lead for adults who are chronically exposed to lead

Deep learning approach for real-time video streaming traffic classification

Video streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and YouTube, continue to be of enormous demands in everyday peoples’ lives. This enticed research in new mechanisms to provide a clear image of network usage and ensure better Quality of Service (QoS) for these applications. This paper proposes an accurate video streaming traffic classification model based on deep learning (DL). We first collected a set of video traffic data from a real network. Video streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and YouTube, continue to be of enormous demands in everyday peoples’ lives. This enticed research in new mechanisms to provide a clear image of network usage and ensure better Quality of Service (QoS) for these applications. This paper proposes an accurate video streaming traffic classification model based on deep learning (DL). We first collected a set of video traffic data from a real network. Then, data was pre-processed to select the desired features for video traffic classification. Based on the performance evaluation, the model produces an overall accuracy of 99.3% when classifying video streaming traffic using a multi-layer feedforward neural network. This paper also evaluates the DL approach’s effectiveness compared to the Gaussian Naive Bayes algorithm (GNB), one of the most well-known machine learning techniques used in Internet traffic classification. The model is promising to be applied in a real-time scenario as it showed its ability to predict new unseen data with 98.4% overall accuracy

An intelligent routing approach for multimedia traffic transmission over SDN

Nowadays, multimedia applications such as video streaming services have become significantly popular, especially with the rapid growth of users, various devices, and the increased availability and diversity of these services over the internet. In this case, service providers and network administrators have difficulties ensuring end-user satisfaction because the traffic generated by such services is more exposed to multiple network quality of service impairments, including bandwidth, delay, jitter, and loss ratio. This paper proposes an intelligent-based multimedia traffic routing framework that exploits the integration of a reinforcement learning technique with software-defined networking to explore, learn and find potential routes for video streaming traffic. Simulation results through a realistic network and under various traffic loads demonstrate the proposed scheme's effectiveness in providing a better end-user viewing quality, higher throughput and lower video quality switches when compared to the existing techniques

Twin stars as probes of the nuclear equation of state: effects of rotation through the PSR J0952-0607 pulsar and constraints via the tidal deformability from the GW170817 event

In agreement with the constantly increasing gravitational wave events, new aspects of the internal structure of compact stars can be considered. A scenario in which a first order transition takes place inside these stars is of particular interest as it can lead, under conditions, to a third gravitationally stable branch (besides white dwarfs and neutron stars), the twin stars. The new branch yields stars with the same mass as normal compact stars but quite different radii. In the present work, we focus on hybrid stars undergone a hadron to quark phase transition near their core and how this new stable configuration arises. Emphasis is to be given on the aspects of the phase transition and its parametrization in two different ways, namely with Maxwell and Gibbs construction. We systematically study the gravitational mass, the radius, and the tidal deformability, and we compare them with the predictions of the recent observation by LIGO/VIRGO collaboration, the GW170817 event, along with the mass and radius limits, suggesting possible robust constraints. Moreover, we extent the study in order to include rotation effects on the twin stars configurations. The recent discovery of the fast rotating supermassive pulsar PSR J0952-0607 triggered the effort to constrain the equation of state and moreover to examine possible predictions related to the phase transition in dense nuclear matter. We pay special attention to relate the PSR J0952-0607 pulsar properties with the twin stars predictions and mainly to explore the possibility that the existence of such a massive object would rule out the existence of twin stars. Finally, we discuss the constraints on the radius and mass of the recently observed compact object within the supernova remnant HESS J1731-347. The estimations implies that this object is either the lightest neutron star known, or a star with a more exotic equation of state.Comment: 16 pages, 17 figure

Left thoracotomy utilizing splenectomy in blunt thoracic injury: An alternative surgical approach

AbstractINTRODUCTIONPosterolateral thoracotomy could be an alternative surgical approach in selected cases coexistence of abdominal injuries with ipsilateral thoracic injury.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 65-year-old male with left sided chest injury was initially admitted to a regional health center after a crawler overthrow accident. He underwent chest tube drainage of left hemithorax and he was transferred immediately to our hospital. A CT scan showed a large spleen which was injured by a wedged splint of the 10th rib into its parenchyma. Lung parenchyma was also lacerated by chest tube misplacement with associated hemothorax. He underwent a lower left lateral thoracotomy. Splenectomy was performed via a phrenotomy and subsequently the injured lung was repaired. His postoperative course was uneventful.DISCUSSIONIncisions in the diaphragm are commonly made to provide adequate exposure during a variety of thoracic and abdominal operations. Thoracic approach could potentially be advantageous for thoracic and abdominal injuries.CONCLUSIONThoracic approach is a safe alternative, providing excellent exposure of upper abdominal organs, and should be considered in selected cases of abdominal trauma, especially when an ipsilateral thoracic injury coexists

Constraints for the X17 boson from compacts objects observations

We investigate the hypothetical X17 boson on neutron stars and Quark Stars (QSs) using various hadronic Equation of States (EoSs) with phenomenological or microscopic origin. Our aim is to set realistic constraints on its coupling constant and the mass scaling, with respect to causality and various possible upper mass limits and the dimensionless tidal deformability $\Lambda_{1.4}$. In particular, we pay special attention on two main phenomenological parameters of the X17, the one is related to the coupling constant $\mathrm{g}$ that it has with hadrons or quarks and the other with the in-medium effects through the regulator $\mathrm{C}$. Both are very crucial concerning the contribution on the total energy density and pressure. In the case of considering the X17 as a carrier of nuclear force in Relativistic Mean Field (RMF) theory, an admixture into vector boson segment was constrained by 20\% and 30\%. In our investigation, we came to the general conclusion that the effect of the hypothetical X17 both on neutron and QSs constrained mainly by the causality limit, which is a specific property of each EoS. Moreover, it depends on the interplay between the main two parameters that is the interaction coupling $\mathrm{g}$ and the in-medium effects regulator $\mathrm{C}$. These effects are more pronounced in the case of QSs concerning all the bulk properties.Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures, 2 table

Colour duplex sonography of temporal arteries before decision for biopsy: a prospective study in 55 patients with suspected giant cell arteritis

Although a temporal artery biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA), there is considerable evidence that characteristic signs demonstrated by colour duplex sonography (CDS) of the temporal arteries may be of diagnostic importance. We aimed to test the hypothesis that CDS can replace biopsy in the algorithm for the approach to diagnose GCA. Bilateral CDS was performed in consecutive patients older than 50 years with clinically suspected GCA, as well as in 15 age- and gender-matched control subjects with diabetes mellitus and/or stroke and 15 healthy subjects, to assess flow parameters and the possible presence of a dark halo around the arterial lumen. Unilateral temporal artery biopsy was then performed in patients with suspected GCA, which was directed to a particular arterial segment in case a halo was detected in CDS. Final diagnoses, after completion of a 3-month follow-up in 55 patients, included GCA (n = 22), polymyalgia rheumatica (n = 12), polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener's, and Adamantiades-Behçet's diseases (n = 3), and neoplastic (n = 8) and infectious diseases (n = 10). A dark halo of variable size (0.7–2.0 mm) around the vessel lumen was evident at baseline CDS in 21 patients (in 12 and 9 uni- or bilaterally, respectively) but in none of the controls. The presence of unilateral halo alone yielded 82% sensitivity and 91% specificity for GCA, whereas the specificity reached 100% when halos were found bilaterally. Blood-flow abnormal parameters (temporal artery diameter, peak systolic blood-flow velocities, stenoses, occlusions) were common in GCA and non-GCA patients, as well as in healthy and atherosclerotic disease-control, elderly subjects. At follow-up CDS examinations performed at 2 and 4 weeks after initiation of corticosteroid treatment for GCA, halos disappeared in all 18 patients (9 and 9, respectively). We conclude that CDS, an inexpensive, non-invasive, and easy-to-perform method, allows a directional biopsy that has an increased probability to confirm the clinical diagnosis. Biopsy is not necessary in a substantial proportion of patients in whom bilateral halo signs can be found by CDS

Post thoracotomy spinal cord compression in a child. A word of caution

AbstractINTRODUCTIONOxidised regenerated cellulose is a commonly used haemostatic agent in surgery which, in rare cases, has been held responsible for severe complications.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 6-year-old girl developed flaccid paraplegia following the excision of a large thoracic ganglioneuroblastoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed spinal cord compression at the T10–11 level and the patient underwent emergency decompression via the previous thoracotomy. At operation the causative factor was found to be a mass consisted of cellulose used at the original procedure to control local bleeding in the vicinity of the intervertebral foramen.DISCUSSIONThe accessibility of the spinal canal from the thoracic cavity through the opening of the intervertebral foramen may allow migration of material and in this case oxidized regenerated cellulose, commonly used during cardiothoracic procedures, can cause rare but severe complications such as compression of the spinal cord.CONCLUSIONThe value of hemostatic gauze is well established in cardiothoracic surgery. However, surgeon should be cautious with the application of material in the proximity of the intervertebral foramen, especially if this is to leave behind after the completion of the procedure

Targeted inhibition of aggrecanases prevents articular cartilage degradation and augments bone mass in the STR/Ort spontaneous model of osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND:Cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis (OA) is mediated mainly by MMPs and ADAMTSs. The therapeutic candidature of targeting aggrecanases has not yet been defined in joints where spontaneous OA arises due to genetic susceptibility, without a traumatic or load- induced aetiology such as the STR/Ort mouse. Nor do we know the long-term effect of aggrecanase inhibition on bone. METHODS:Using the STR/Ort spontaneously OA background, we have generated transgenic mice that overexpress [-1A]TIMP-3, either ubiquitously or conditionally in chondrocytes. [-1A]TIMP-3 is a variant of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) that has an extra alanine at the N- terminus that selectively inhibits ADAMTSs, but not MMPs. We analysed a range of OA-related measures in all mice at 40 weeks of age. RESULTS:Mice expressing high [-1A]TIMP-3 levels were protected against the development of the OA whilst low expressers were not. Interestingly, we also found that high levels of [-1A]TIMP-3 transgene overexpression resulted in raised bone mass particularly in females. This regulation of bone mass is, at least, partly direct as primary adult osteoblasts infected with [-1A]TIMP-3 in vitro show elevated rates of mineralisation. CONCLUSIONS:The results provide evidence that [-1A]TIMP-3-mediated inhibition of aggrecanases can protect from cartilage degradation in naturally occurring OA mouse model and highlight a novel role that aggrecanases' inhibition may play in increased bone mass. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved