Compressive load bearing and bone architecture of lumbar vertebrae in terms of sex and aging

Relation between vertebral compressive strength and trabecular architecture is presented in terms of aging and sex. Complex in vitro medical-engineering analysis of cadaver human lumbar L1 and L2 vertebrae was executed: densitometry, CT, MRI, mechanical test and histology, in aspect of osteoporosis. In this paper the results of the mechanical test are detailed only. The compressive mechanical parameters, like limit stress and strain, proportional stress and strain, Young modulus, ductility, energy absorption capacity were determined. Morphometry analysis was based on the CT pictures. Density and diameter of trabeculae were measured. Correlation between morphometric and mechanical properties was evaluated in terms of aging, sex and bone mineral density

Characteristics and empiric antimicrobial therapy of urinary tract infections in patients treated at the Departement of Infectious Diseases, General Hospital »Dr. Josip Benčević« in Slavonski Brod

Infekcije mokraćnog sustava (IMS) jedan su od najčešćih razloga traženja liječničke pomoći, pa stoga i među najčešćim razlozima propisivanja antibiotika. Istaknuta je analiza najčešćih uzročnika IMS u našoj sredini, uočavanje stupnja rezistencije na pojedine antibiotike, te ocjena uspješnosti ordinirane empirijske antimikrobne terapije. Retrospektivno su obrađeni podaci o bolesnicima liječenim na Odjelu za zarazne bolesti Opće bolnice »Dr. Josip Benčević« u Slavonskom Brodu, zbog akutnih infekcija mokraćnog sustava, tijekom 2004. godine. Najčešći je uzročnik IMS bila Escherichia coli, premda je u muškaraca s kompliciranim IMS bio najčešći uzročnik Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Obzirom da je 45 % izoliranih bakterija Escherichia coli bilo rezistentno na amoksicilin, a 35 % na kotrimoksazol, ovi antibiotici se u našoj sredini ne mogu upotrebljavati u empirijskoj antimikrobnoj terapiji IMS. Čak 65 % izoliranih bakterija Pseudomonas aeruginosa nije bilo osjetljivo na gentamicin, a 45 % na ciprofloksacin. Najčešći neuspjeh empirijske antimikrobne terapije zabilježen je u muškaraca s kompliciranim IMS, pa bi nam bio najbolji izbor empirijskog antimikrobnog liječenja ovih bolesnika kombinacija piperacilina s tazobaktamom, karbapenemi ili cefepim.Urinarv tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common reasons for seeking medical consultation and therefore are among the most frequent reasons for antibiotic prescription. The purpose of this paper is the analvsis of the most common etiologic agents of UTI in our environment, registration of the degree of bacterial resistance, and evaluation of empiric antibiotic therapv success. Retrospectively data of patients, hospitalized during year 2004, at the Departement of Infectious Diseases, General Hospital »Dr. Josip Benčević« in Slavonski Brod, due to acute urinarv tract infections, were analysed. The most common cause of UTI was Escherichia coli, although in male patients with complicated UTI, the most common cause was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Since 45% of Escherichia coli were amoxicillin resistant, and 35% trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistant, these antimicrobials can\u27t be used as empiric therapy drugs in our environment. As much as 65% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were gentamicin and 45% ciprofloxacin resistant. The most frequent empiric antibiotic therapy failure was observed in male patients with complicated UTI, so the best empiric drug choice for these patients, in our situation, would be piperacillin/tazobactam, carbapenems or cefepime

Analysis of noise temperature sensitivity for the design of a broadband thermal noise primary standard

A broadband primary standard for thermal noise measurements is presented and its thermal and electromagnetic behaviour is analysed by means of a novel hybrid analytical?numerical simulation methodology. The standard consists of a broadband termination connected to a 3.5mm coaxial airline partially immersed in liquid nitrogen and is designed in order to obtain a low reflectivity and a low uncertainty in the noise temperature. A detailed sensitivity analysis is made in order to highlight the critical characteristics that mostly affect the uncertainty in the noise temperature, and also to determine the manufacturing and operation tolerances for a proper performance in the range 10MHz to 26.5 GHz. Aspects such as the thermal bead design, the level of liquid nitrogen or the uncertainties associated with the temperatures, the physical properties of the materials in the standard and the simulation techniques are discussed

First measurement of the helicity asymmetry for γp→pπ0\gamma p\rightarrow p\pi^0 in the resonance region

The first measurement of the helicity dependence of the photoproduction cross section of single neutral pions off protons is reported for photon energies from 600 to 2300\,MeV, covering nearly the full solid angle. The data are compared to predictions from the SAID, MAID, and BnGa partial wave analyses. Strikingly large differences between data and predictions are observed which are traced to differences in the helicity amplitudes of well known and established resonances. Precise values for the helicity amplitudes of several resonances are reported

The N(1520) 3/2- helicity amplitudes from an energy-independent multipole analysis based on new polarization data on photoproduction of neutral pions

New data on the polarization observables T, P, and H for the reaction $\gamma p \to p\pi^0$ are reported. The results are extracted from azimuthal asymmetries when a transversely polarized butanol target and a linearly polarized photon beam are used. The data were taken at the Bonn electron stretcher accelerator ELSA using the CBELSA/TAPS detector. These and earlier data are used to perform a truncated energy-independent partial wave analysis in sliced-energy bins. This energy-independent analysis is compared to the results from energy-dependent partial wave analyses

The polarization observables T, P, and H and their impact on γp→pπ0\gamma p \to p\pi^0 multipoles

Data on the polarization observables T, P, and H for the reaction $\gamma p\to p\pi^0$ are reported. Compared to earlier data from other experiments, our data are more precise and extend the covered range in energy and angle substantially. The results were extracted from azimuthal asymmetries measured using a transversely polarized target and linearly polarized photons. The data were taken at the Bonn electron stretcher accelerator ELSA with the CBELSA/TAPS detector. Within the Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis, the new polarization data lead to a significant narrowing of the error band for the multipoles for neutral-pion photoproduction

Photoproduction of eta mesons from the neutron: cross sections and double polarization observable E

Photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons from neutrons} \abstract{Results from measurements of the photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons from quasifree protons and neutrons are summarized. The experiments were performed with the CBELSA/TAPS detector at the electron accelerator ELSA in Bonn using the $\eta\to3\pi^{0}\to6\gamma$ decay. A liquid deuterium target was used for the measurement of total cross sections and angular distributions. The results confirm earlier measurements from Bonn and the MAMI facility in Mainz about the existence of a narrow structure in the excitation function of $\gamma n\rightarrow n\eta$. The current angular distributions show a forward-backward asymmetry, which was previously not seen, but was predicted by model calculations including an additional narrow $P_{11}$ state. Furthermore, data obtained with a longitudinally polarized, deuterated butanol target and a circularly polarized photon beam were analyzed to determine the double polarization observable $E$. Both data sets together were also used to extract the helicity dependent cross sections $\sigma_{1/2}$ and $\sigma_{3/2}$. The narrow structure in the excitation function of $\gamma n\rightarrow n\eta$ appears associated with the helicity-1/2 component of the reaction

Sympathetic Background in Tolkien’s Prose

Considering Tolkien’s poetic sensitivity and love of nature, it is no wonder that his fiction abounds with natural images and landscape descriptions. More often than not, these references to the environment seem to be in harmony with the events or the structure of the story. In other words, Tolkien seems to resort to this old universal literary device usually referred to as “sympathetic background” whereby nature mirrors, mimics or reacts to the characters’ deeds, emotions or state of mind. As a contribution to previous and current studies on nature in Middle-earth, this paper examines Tolkien’s art in portraying nature — whether it be the immediate environment (geography, plants, animals …) , or the workings of the elements (the forces constituting the weather) — in an attempt to unveil a subtext under the prism of “sympathetic background”.

K^0 pi^0 Sigma^+ and K^*0 Sigma^+ photoproduction off the proton

The exclusive reactions $\gamma p \to K^{*0} \Sigma^+(1189)$ and $\gamma p \to K^{0} \pi^{0}\Sigma^+(1189)$, leading to the p 4$\pi^{0}$ final state, have been measured with a tagged photon beam for incident energies from threshold up to 2.5 GeV. The experiment has been performed at the tagged photon facility of the ELSA accelerator (Bonn). The Crystal Barrel and TAPS detectors were combined to a photon detector system of almost 4$\pi$ geometrical acceptance. Differential and total cross sections are reported. At energies close to the threshold, a flat angular distribution has been observed for the reaction $\gamma p\to K^{0} \pi^{0}\Sigma^+$ suggesting dominant s-channel production. $\Sigma^*(1385)$ and higher lying hyperon states have been observed. An enhancement in the forward direction in the angular distributions of the reaction $\gamma p \to K^{*0}\Sigma^+$ indicates a $t$-channel exchange contribution to the reaction mechanism. The experimental data are in reasonable agreement with recent theoretical predictions.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figures, submitted to EPJ