Political regimes and vaccine procurement policies during the Covid-19 pandemic

The objective of this analysis, is to understand where from did countries with different democracy levels procure vaccines, what countries took part in vaccine diplomacy and vaccine nationalism and what countries with different democracy levels have interacted with each other regards to vaccine procurement. The analysis was conducted categorizing nine countries – Estonia, Canada, Japan, Hungary, Brazil, Indonesia, China, Cuba and Russia, based on their democracy level, subsequently finding how these countries’ governments procured vaccines or exported them and finally analysing the findings. Estonia, Canada and Japan in the Democratic group category, procured vaccines exclusively from private pharmaceutical companies, because these private companies were transparent in their clinical trials on the efficacy and safety of the vaccines. Countries in this group would not procure vaccines from foreign state-owned enterprises, because that would indicate support for that government. Hungary, Brazil and Indonesia in the Flawed Democracy group, were most likely to procure vaccines from private pharmaceutical companies and from foreign state-owned enterprises. This is due to lower standards on transparency during clinical trials and on the efficacy and safety of the vaccines. Flawed Democracy group is the receiver part of vaccine diplomacy. China, Cuba and Russia in the Nondemocratic group, were most likely to develop, approve and manufacture vaccines exclusively from their respective state-owned or local enterprises, due to protectionism. China and Russia valued more exporting vaccines, than vaccinating their populations, while Cuba determined on vaccinating their public.https://www.ester.ee/record=b5506998*es

Phillips CO-oxidation catalyts for long-lived CO2 lasers: Activity and initial characterization studies

Four different catalysts have been developed specifically for use in sealed carbon dioxide lasers. The catalysts have been designed to be low dusting, stable to shock and vibration, have high activity at low temperatures and have long active lifetimes. Measured global CO oxidation rates range from 1.4 to 2.2 cc CO converted per minute per gram of catalyst at ambient temperature. The catalysts also retain substantial activity at temperatures as low as -35 C. The Phillips laser catalysts are prepared in a variety of different shapes to meet the different pressure drop and gas flow profiles present in the many different styles of lasers. Each catalyst has been tested in sealed TEA lasers and has been shown to substantially increase the sealed life of the laser. Activity measurements made on the precious metal catalysts which were prepared with and without activity promoters showed that the promoter materials increase catalyst CO oxidation activity at least an order of magnitude at ambient temperature. Initial studies using H2 and CO chemisorption, X ray diffraction (XRD) and X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have shown that the activity promoters do not significantly affect the precious metal crystallite size or the electronic structure around the precious metal. In addition, the formation or lack of formation of solid solutions between the precious metal and promoters has also been shown not to affect the activity of the promoted catalyst

Seasonal home range dynamics and sex di�erences in habitat use in a threatened, coastal marsh bird

A comprehensive understanding of spatiotemporal ecology is needed to develop con- servation strategies for declining species. The king rail (Rallus elegans) is a secretive marsh bird whose range historically extended across the eastern United States. Inland migratory populations have been greatly reduced with most remaining populations inhabiting the coastal margins. Our objectives were to determine the migratory status of breeding king rails on the mid-Atlantic coast and to characterize home range size, seasonal patterns of movement, and habitat use. Using radiotelemetry, we tracked individual king rails among seasons, and established that at least a segment of this breeding population is resident. Mean (±SE) home range size was 19.8 ± 5.0 ha (95% kernel density) or 2.5 ± 0.9 (50% kernel density). We detected seasonal variation and sex differences in home range size and habitat use. In the nonbreeding season, resi- dent male home ranges coincided essentially with their breeding territories. Overwintering males were more likely than females to be found in natural emergent marsh with a greater area of open water. Females tended to have larger home ranges than males during the nonbreeding season. We report for the first time the use of wooded natural marsh by overwintering females. Brood-rearing king rails led their young considerable distances away from their nests (average maximum distance: ~600 ± 200 m) and used both wooded natural and impounded marsh. King rails moved between natural marsh and managed impoundments during all life stages, but the proximity of these habitat types particularly benefitted brood-rearing parents seeking foraging areas with shallower water in proximity to cover. Our results demonstrate the importance of interspersion of habitat types to support resident breeders. Summer draining of impounded wetlands that are seasonally flooded for wintering waterfowl allows regrowth of vegetation and provides additional habitat at a critical time for wading birds

Seasonal home range dynamics and sex differences in habitat use in a threatened, coastal marsh bird

A comprehensive understanding of spatiotemporal ecology is needed to develop conservation strategies for declining species. The king rail (Rallus elegans) is a secretive marsh bird whose range historically extended across the eastern United States. Inland migratory populations have been greatly reduced with most remaining populations inhabiting the coastal margins. Our objectives were to determine the migratory status of breeding king rails on the mid-Atlantic coast and to characterize home range size, seasonal patterns of movement, and habitat use. Using radiotelemetry, we tracked individual king rails among seasons, and established that at least a segment of this breeding population is resident. Mean (±SE) home range size was 19.8 ± 5.0 ha (95% kernel density) or 2.5 ± 0.9 (50% kernel density). We detected seasonal variation and sex differences in home range size and habitat use. In the nonbreeding season, resident male home ranges coincided essentially with their breeding territories. Overwintering males were more likely than females to be found in natural emergent marsh with a greater area of open water. Females tended to have larger home ranges than males during the nonbreeding season. We report for the first time the use of wooded natural marsh by overwintering females. Brood-rearing king rails led their young considerable distances away from their nests (average maximum distance: ~600 ± 200 m) and used both wooded natural and impounded marsh. King rails moved between natural marsh and managed impoundments during all life stages, but the proximity of these habitat types particularly benefitted brood-rearing parents seeking foraging areas with shallower water in proximity to cover. Our results demonstrate the importance of interspersion of habitat types to support resident breeders. Summer draining of impounded wetlands that are seasonally flooded for wintering waterfowl allows regrowth of vegetation and provides additional habitat at a critical time for wading birds.ECU Open Access Publishing Support Fun

Spatial Ecology and Seasonal Habitat Use of the King Rail (Rallus elegans) along the Atlantic Coast

TThe King Rail (Rallus elegans) continues to experience population declines throughout its range. Due to its secretive nature and occupancy of densely vegetated marshes, little is known about the behavior and ecology of the King Rail. Moreover, conservation efforts lack essential information about King Rail habitat use to make informed decisions, especially along the Atlantic coast and during the non-breeding period. To address this, radio-telemetry was used to elucidate the spatiotemporal patterns of movement and habitat preferences of King Rails throughout the year. The microhabitat characteristics were quantified at nest locations and where adults were located during the breeding and non-breeding periods, including the poorly understood brood-rearing period. Nest densities were greatest in areas with high interspersion of emergent vegetation and open water, and most rails selected nest sites in Juncus roemerianus patches, the predominant species of emergent vegetation. Adults traveled with their broods substantial distances from nest locations, as much as 1 kilometer within the first week post-hatching, to areas with less Juncus roemerianus and with shallower water than where they nested. During the non-breeding and brood-rearing periods, adults were found closer to edges of open water and emergent vegetation than during the nesting period, areas thought to provide increased foraging opportunities. Empirically, it was determined for the first time that adults use wooded and shrubby marsh during the brood-rearing and non-breeding periods. This habitat type has not been considered under current King Rail management plans. Observations spanning the entire year documented the movements of King Rails and revealed that at least part of the population is resident. Mean home range size was 19.8±2.5 ha (95% kernel density). Individual home range sizes did not differ significantly between seasons. There was evidence of sexual segregation in habitat use during the non-breeding period. Females had significantly larger home ranges than males and tended to travel greater distances. During the non-breeding season, all birds captured in emergent marsh were male, and radio-tagged females were found using adjacent wooded marsh. Adults used both managed impoundments and emergent natural marsh at all times of the year, but increased their use of impoundments immediately following drawdown, and while brood-rearing, especially when water levels rose abruptly in natural marsh. In coastal habitats prone to variation in water level, provision of impoundments with sluice control adjacent to natural marsh appears to be of benefit to brood-rearing King Rails. Where populations are present year-round, habitat management should emphasize interspersion of patches of emergent vegetation with pockets of open water providing a mosaic of cover and appropriate nest sites in proximity to foraging areas. Scrub-shrub and wooded wetland habitat at the perimeter of emergent marsh may favor residency of overwintering King Rails of both sexes. These findings highlight the need for conservation efforts to consider the habitat preferences and spatial distribution of King Rails throughout the year and at all life stages.M.S

Altersbedingte änderungen in kontraktilen Eigenschaften der plantar Flexor Muskeln bei physisch aktiven Frauen

Twitch contractile properties of the plantar flexor muscles were compared between the groups of women of the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 8th decade participating in regular recreational physical activity. An isometric twitch was evoked by supramaximal electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa by a rectangular pulse of 1 millisecond duration. A significant decrease was found in the twitch peak force, the maximal rates of force development and relaxation from the 6th decade onwards. A significant prolongation in twitch contraction time was observed from the 5th decade onwards. The 3rd decade group showed a significant postactivation potentiation, while the three older groups did not. No significant age-related changes were observed in the isometric twitch peak force and voluntary strength ratio, and the twitch half-relaxation time in women participating in regular recreational physical activity. It was concluded that the marked decrease in twitch force-potentiation and prolongation of the contraction time of the plantar flexor muscles in physically active women seem to begin after 40 years of age, while a reduction in the maximal voluntary and twitch force-generating capacity, and twitch contraction kinetics occurs after 50 years of age.Uvod Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je izmjeriti učinak starenja na trzajna kontraktilna svojstva skeletnih mišića kod žena uključenih u redovitu rekreacijsku tjelesnu aktivnost. Mjereni su mišići potkoljenice, plantarni fleksori stopala, koji su važni za držanje tijela i kretanje, a aktivni su u mnogobrojnim radnim i sportskim aktivnostima. Metode Ukupno je 49 žena pristalo sudjelovati u ovom istraživanju. Raspoređene su u 4 dobne skupine: skupina u 3. desetljeću života (u dobi od 20 do 25 godina, n=13), skupina u 5. desetljeću života (u dobi od 40 do 49 godina, n=12), skupina u 6. desetljeću života (u dobi od 50 do 59 godina, n=11) i skupina u 8. desetljeću života (u dobi od 70 do 77 godina, n=13). Sve su mlađe ispitanice bile fizički zdrave studentice uključene u redovitu tjelovježbu dva do tri puta tjedno u skupinama odbojke, košarke ili aerobike. Ispitanice srednje dobi vježbale su u skupinama odbojke ili aerobike dva puta tjedno, a starije ispitanice također su vježbale u skupinama aerobike dva puta tjedno. Tijekom mjerenja, ispitanice su sjedile na posebno dizajniranoj stolici, s dominantnom nogom savijenom u koljenom zglobu pod kutom od 90° i smještenom unutar metalnog okvira. Da bi se utvrdila kontraktilna svojstva mišića plantarnih fleksora tijekom izometričkog trzaja, parom samoljepljivih elektroda podraživali smo stražnji tibijalni živac. Katoda je postavljena iznad tibijalnog živca u poplitealnoj jami, a anoda je postavljena ispod stražnje medijalne strane natkoljenice. Izolirani voltažni stimulator bio je izvor supramaksimalnih pravokutnih podražaja od 1 ms. Nakon bilježenja mišićne kontrakcije u mirovanju, ispitanice su dobile uputu da 5 sekundi zadrže mišić u maksimalnoj voljnoj kontrakciji (MVC), a zatim da ga opuste. Drugi (potencirani) trzajni podražaj nastupio je unutar 1 s nakon početka relaksacije. Izračunate su sljedeće karakteristike izometričkog trzaja: vršna sila trzaja (PT) – najveća vrijednost izometričke sile, vrijeme kontrakcije (CT) – vrijeme do vršne sile trzaja, poluvrijeme relaksacije (HRT) – vrijeme polovičnog opadanja vršne sile trzaja, maksimalna brzina razvoja sile (RFD) – prva derivacija razvoja sile (dF/dt) i maksimalna brzina relaksacije (RR) kao prva derivacija opadanja sile (-dF/dt). Postotak porasta potencirane vršne sile trzaja (PT) u odnosu na vrijednost u mirovanju uzet je kao pokazatelj postaktivacijske potencijacije (PAP). Vršna sila trzaja u mirovanju izražena je kao omjer s izometričkom voljnom jakosti. Rezultati Prosječna vrijednost vršne sile trzaja u skupini žena u 3. desetljeću života bila je veća (p<0.05) od prosječnih vrijednosti u skupinama žena u 6. i 8. desetljeću. Skupina u 5. desetljeću pokazala je veću (p<0.05) vršnu silu trzaja od skupine u 8. desetljeću. Razlike u vršnoj sili trzaja između dvije mlađe i dvije starije skupine nisu bile značajne. Među skupinama nisu uočene značajne razlike u omjeru između vršne sile trzaja i voljne jakosti. Uočeno je produljenje vremena kontrakcije (CT) izometričkog trzaja s porastom dobi. Prosječna vrijednost vremena kontrakcije (CT) trzaja u najmlađoj skupini bila je manja (p<0.05) od vrijednosti triju starijih skupina. Razlike u CT trzaja između skupina u 5., 6. i 8. desetljeću nisu bile značajne. Nije bilo značajnih razlika među izmjerenim dobnim skupinama u prosječnim vrijednostima poluvremena relaksacije (HRT) trzaja. Vrijednosti maksimalne RFD i RR izometričkog trzaja smanjile su se s dobi. Vrijednost aritmetičke sredine maksimalne brzine razvoja sile trzaja (RFD) u skupini u 3. desetljeću bila je veća (p<0.05) od vrijednosti u skupinama žena u 6. i 8. desetljeću. Razlike u maksimalnoj RFD trzaja između dviju mlađih i dviju starijih skupina nisu bile značajne. Prosječna vrijednost maksimalne brzine relaksacije (RR) trzaja u skupini u 8. desetljeću bila je manja (p<0.05) od vrijednosti u dvije mlađe skupine. Maksimalna RR trzaja u skupini u 3. desetljeću bila je veća (p<0.05) u usporedbi s vrijednosti skupine u 6. desetljeću. Razlike u maksimalnoj RR trzaja između dvije mlađe skupine i dvije starije skupine nisu bile značajne. Nisu uočene značajne razlike u RR trzaja u usporedbi skupina u 6. i 5. desetljeću. Postaktivacijska potencijacija (PAP) bila je značajno izražena (p<0.05) samo u najmlađoj skupini, dok za tri starije skupine postaktivacijska potencijacija nije bila značajna. Skupina u 3. desetljeću imala je veće vrijednosti (p<0.05) PAP od skupine u 8. desetljeću, dok razlike u PAP između skupina u 3., 5. i 6. desetljeću nisu bile značajne. Vrijednost PAP u skupini u 8. desetljeću nije se značajno razlikovala od vrijednosti PAP u skupinama u 5. i 6. desetljeću. Rasprava i zaključak Ovo je istraživanje pokazalo da je značajno, s dobi povezano opadanje izometričkog maksimalnog voljnog i električno izazvanog kapaciteta stvaranja sile trzaja, kao i opadanje kinetike trzajne kontrakcije, ocijenjeno brzinama razvoja sile i relaksacije mišića plantarnih fleksora stopala, kod žena uključenih u redovitu tjelesnu aktivnost započelo nakon 50. godine. Suprotno prijašnjim istraživanjima, nisu uočene značajne promjene povezane s dobi u omjeru između vršne sile trzaja i voljne jakosti ni u poluvremenu relaksacije trzaja kod žena uključenih u redovitu rekreacijsku tjelesnu aktivnost. Mehanizmi odgovorni za trzajnu potencijaciju nakon kratke izometričke maksimalne voljne kontrakcije značajno su pod utjecajem starenja. Opadanje kapaciteta trzajne potencijacije i produljenje vremena kontrakcije mišića plantarnih fleksora stopala kod tjelesno aktivnih žena započelo je nakon 40. godine.Einzelkontraktile Eigenschaften von M. triceps surae wurden zwischen den Frauengruppen der 3., 5., 6. und 8. Lebensdekade, die regelmäßig physisch aktiv waren, verglichen. Die isometrische Einzelkontraktion wurde mit supramaximaler elektrischer Stimulation des N. tibialis in der Fossa Poplitea bei Rechteckim-pulse von 1 ms Dauerhaftigkeit erreicht. Der wesentliche Fall der Einzelkontraktion bei Maximalkraft im maximalen Kraftgradient und im Relaxiongradient wurde ab 6. Dekade und die Erscheinung der Kontrak-tionszeitverlängerung ab 5. Dekade gefunden. Bei der Gruppe der 3. Dekade erschien die wesentliche post-aktive Potensierung, bei den 3 älteren Gruppen wurde diese Erscheinung nicht gefunden. Bei körperlich aktiven Frauen wurden keine wesentlichen Alterserscheinungen sowohl bei maximaler Kraft der Einzelkon-traktionen und bei willkürlicher Kraft als auch bei Einzelkontraktion in der Halbentspannungszeit gefunden. Zusammengefasst ergibt sich daraus, dass der wesentliche Fall bei der Fähigkeit des Kraftgenerierens und die Verlängerung der Kontraktionszeit bei physisch aktiven Frauen nach dem 40. Lebensjahr erschienen, wobei der Fall der willkürlichen maximalen Kraft und bei der postaktiven Potensierung der Einzelkontrak-tion erst nach dem 50. Lebensjahr erscheint

Ligamentum semicirculare humeri kliiniline anatoomia

Ligamentum semicirculare humeri ehk rotaatorkaabel on hiljuti avastatud sidemelis-kapsulaarne struktuur õlaliigese kapsli ülemis-lateraalses osas. Esialgsed anatoomilised kirjeldused sellest sidemest on tehtud fi kseeritud preparaatidel. Meie uuringu eesmärgiks oli võrrelda kirjeldust fikseerimata preparaatidel eelnevate uuringute tulemustega ja visualiseerida see side artroskoopia käigus. Ligamentum semicirculare humeri esines kõigil uuritud preparaatidel. Side algas kahest kohast – tuberculum minus’e ülemiselt fassetilt ja tuberculum majus’e eesmis-ülemiselt fassetilt –, kulges kaarjalt m. supraspinatus’e ja m. infraspinatus’e kõõluste all ning kinnitus tuberculum majus’e tagumisele fassetile m. infraspintus’e ja m. teres minor’i kõõluste vahelisel alal. Histoloogiliselt koosnes see side paralleelsetest kollageenkiudude kimpudest. Ligamentum semicirculare humeri’st sõltub rotaatormanseti lihaste kõõluste ruptuuri kuju, kuna ta moodustab kahjustatud m. supraspinatus’e kõõluse defekti mediaalse serva. Eesti Arst 2009; 88(Lisa3):10−1