Malaria and land use: a spatial and temporal risk analysis in Southern Sri Lanka

Malaria / Waterborne diseases / Disease vectors / Land use / Water use / GIS / Statistical analysis / Risks / Mapping / Public health / Sri Lanka / Uda Walawe / Thanamalvila / Embilipitiya

Влияние электромагнитного состояния турбоагрегата на работоспособность его узлов. Диагностика, демагнитезация

Рассмотрены условия возникновения электроэрозионных повреждений узлов турбоагрегатов, а так же их характерные признаки. Даны рекомендации по диагностике и устранению электроэрозии на турбоагрегатах находящихся в эксплуатации. При цитуванні документа, використовуйте посилання http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/21587There considered conditions resulting in occurring electroerozion damage sites in turbine unit, as well as their characteristic features. There given recommendations concerning diagnosis and elimination of electroerozion on turbine units being in operation. При цитировании документа, используйте ссылку http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/2158

Minimally Invasive Sympathicotomy for Palmar Hyperhidrosis and Facial Blushing:Current Status and the Hyperhidrosis Expert Center Approach

Hyperhidrosis, the medical term for excessive sweating beyond physiological need, is a condition with serious emotional and social consequences for affected patients. Symptoms usually appear in focal areas such as the feet, hands, axillae and face. Non-surgical treatment options such as topical antiperspirants or systemic medications are usually offered as a first step of treatment, although these therapies are often ineffective, especially in severe and intolerable cases of hyperhidrosis. In the treatment algorithm for patients suffering from hyperhidrosis, surgical thoracoscopic sympathicotomy offers a permanent solution, which is particularly effective in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis and facial blushing. In this review, we describe the current status of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy for palmar hyperhidrosis and facial blushing. In addition, we share the specific treatment approach, technique and results of our Hyperhidrosis Expert Center. Last, we share recommendations to ensure an effective, reproducible and safe application of single-port thoracoscopic sympathicotomy for palmar hyperhidrosis and facial blushing, based on our extensive experience

Resource Wars and Conflict Ivory: The Impact of Civil Conflict on Elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo - The Case of the Okapi Reserve

Human conflict generally has substantial negative impacts on wildlife and conservation. The recent civil war (1995-2006) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) resulted in a significant loss of wildlife, including elephants, due to institutional collapse, lawlessness and unbridled exploitation of natural resources such as minerals, wood, ivory and bushmeat. We used data from distance sampling surveys conducted before and after the war in a protected forest, the Okapi Faunal Reserve, to document changes in elephant abundance and distribution. We employed Generalized Additive Models to relate changes in elephant distribution to human and environmental factors. Populations declined by nearly fifty percent coinciding with a major increase in elephant poaching as indicated by reports of ivory trade during the war. Our results suggest that humans influenced elephant distribution far more than habitat, both before and after the war, but post-war models explained more of the variation. Elephant abundance declined more, closer to the park boundary and to areas of intense human activity. After the war, elephant densities were relatively higher in the centre of the park where they were better protected, suggesting that this area may have acted as a refuge. In other sites in Eastern DRC, where no protection was provided, elephants were even more decimated. Post-war dynamics, such as weakened institutions, human movements and availability of weapons, continue to affect elephants. Survival of remaining populations and recovery will be determined by these persistent factors and by new threats associated with growing human populations and exploitation of natural resources. Prioritizing wildlife protection, curbing illegal trade in ivory and bushmeat, and strengthening national institutions and organizations in charge of conservation will be crucial to counter these threats

The 2015-2017 excavations at Chalcolithic site of Chlorakas-Palloures on Cyprus

From 2015 to 2017 the first three excavation seasons took place at Chlorakas-Palloures, a Chalcolithic site in western Cyprus. Here we present the site stratigraphy, and the structures and burials, excavated at the site. We also introduce the ground stone, figurines and chipped stone found during these first seasons. We also introduce the ground stone, figurines, and chipped stone found during these first seasons. We discuss the raw materials used, the formal and informal tool types, and the context in which these objects were found, as well as how they fit into the broader knowledge of the period. Finally we present the faunal evidence. The aim is to provide colleagues with a first assessment of our results rather than a final report. Not all our assemblages have been fully processed, and inevitably our interpretations of the site and its assemblages will change in future seasons, as we excavate additional trenches and analyse further assemblages. Nonetheless we feel that our data are providing a siginificant addition to our knowledge of Chalcolithic Cyprus that should therefore be published in this interim report.Archaeology of the Near East and the Mediterranea

Long-Term Performance of Epicardial versus Transvenous Left Ventricular Leads for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Aims: to study the technical performance of epicardial left ventricular (LV) leads placed via video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), compared to transvenously placed leads for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).Methods: From 2001 until 2013, a total of 644 lead placement procedures were performed for CRT. In the case of unsuccessful transvenous LV lead placement, the patient received an epicardial LV lead. Study groups consist of 578 patients with a transvenous LV lead and 66 with an epicardial LV lead. The primary endpoint was LV-lead failure necessitating a replacement or deactivation. The secondary endpoint was energy consumption.Results: The mean follow up was 5.9 years (epicardial: 5.5 ± 3.1, transvenous: 5.9 ± 3.5). Transvenous leads failed significantly more frequently than epicardial leads with a total of 66 (11%) in the transvenous leads group vs. 2 (3%) in the epicardial lead group ( p = 0.037). Lead energy consumption was not significantly different between groups.Conclusions: Epicardial lead placement is feasible, safe and shows excellent long-term performance compared to transvenous leads. Epicardial lead placement should be considered when primary transvenous lead placement fails or as a primary lead placement strategy in challenging cases. </p

Randomised phase 3 study of adjuvant chemotherapy with or without nadroparin in patients with completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer: the NVALT-8 study

Contains fulltext : 207334.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Impact of urban agriculture on malaria vectors in Accra, Ghana

To investigate the impact of urban agriculture on malaria transmission risk in urban Accra larval and adult stage mosquito surveys, were performed. Local transmission was implicated as Anopheles spp. were found breeding and infected Anopheles mosquitoes were found resting in houses in the study sites. The predominant Anopheles species was Anopheles gambiae s.s.. The relative proportion of molecular forms within a subset of specimens was 86% S-form and 14% M-form. Anopheles spp. and Culex quinquefasciatus outdoor biting rates were respectively three and four times higher in areas around agricultural sites (UA) than in areas far from agriculture (U). The annual Entomological Inoculation Rate (EIR), the number of infectious bites received per individual per year, was 19.2 and 6.6 in UA and U sites, respectively. Breeding sites were highly transitory in nature, which poses a challenge for larval control in this setting. The data also suggest that the epidemiological importance of urban agricultural areas may be the provision of resting sites for adults rather than an increased number of larval habitats. Host-seeking activity peaked between 2–3 am, indicating that insecticide-treated bednets should be an effective control method

Circulating cardiac troponin T exhibits a diurnal rhythm

Objectives The goal of this study was to test the unverified assumption that chronically elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels fluctuate randomly around a homeostatic set point. Background The introduction of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (cTn) assays has improved sensitivity for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, many patients with a single positive cTn test result do not have AMI. Therefore, the diagnosis of AMI relies strongly on serial testing and interpretation of cTn kinetics. Essential in this regard is a profound understanding of the biological variation of cTn. Methods Two studies were conducted to assess biological cTnT variation and to investigate the presence of a diurnal rhythm of cTnT. Study 1 comprised 23 male subjects with type 2 diabetes, with no acute cardiovascular disease. Serial venous blood samples were drawn over an 11-h period (8:30 AM to 7:30 PM). In study 2, the presence of a diurnal cTnT rhythm was investigated by hourly sampling of 7 subjects from study 1 over 25 h. Results In study 1, we observed a gradual decrease in cTnT concentrations during the day (24 2%). This decrease was present in all participants and was most prominent in subjects with the highest baseline cTnT values (Pearson’s R 0.93). Diurnal variation of cTnT, as assessed in study 2, was characterized by peak concentrations during morning hours (8:30 AM, 17.1 2.9 ng/l), gradually decreasing values during daytime (8:30 PM, 11.9 1.6 ng/l), and rising concentrations during nighttime (8:30 AM the next day, 16.9 2.8 ng/l). Conclusions A diurnal cTnT rhythm substantiates the recommendation that all dynamic changes in cTnT should be interpreted in relation to the clinical presentation. Epidemiological studies and risk-stratification protocols with the use of cTnT may benefit from standardized sampling times. (Exercise and Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes; NCT00945165) (J Am Coll Cardiol 2014;63:1788–95) ª 2014 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation C