Software for Measuring Acoustic Parameters in Open-plan Offices

This paper presents a development of software for the measurement and estimation of the quality of acoustic design in open-plan offices. The measurement method is defined by a standard and measurements should be performed in a large number of different spatial positions in order to measure and determine the acoustic quality of the surroundings of as many workstations as possible. The presented software significantly simplifies the process of analyzing open-plan offices by processing the signal at the time of measurement. Furthermore, it allows for the storing of measured signals and parameter values, which can be of importance for further analysis or repeated calculations. The presented procedure leads to the reduction of the necessary hardware elements for completing the analysis. All that is needed for measurement are a sound source, a microphone, a sound card and a computer. As a result, the user obtains a detailed report of the characteristics of the analyzed office space and a descriptive mark which depends on the values of the calculated parameters

Methylprednisolone inhibits interleukin-17 and interferon-gamma expression by both naive and primed T cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interleukin-17 (IL-17)-producing cells are increasingly considered to be the major pathogenic population in various autoimmune disorders. The effects of glucocorticoids, widely used as therapeutics for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, on IL-17 generation have not been thoroughly investigated so far. Therefore, we have explored the influence of methylprednisolone (MP) on IL-17 expression in rat lymphocytes, and compared it to the effect of the drug on interferon (IFN)-γ.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Production of IL-17 in mitogen-stimulated lymph node cells (LNC) from non-treated rats, as well as in myelin basic protein (MBP)-stimulated draining LNC from rats immunized with spinal cord homogenate and complete Freund's adjuvant was significantly reduced by MP. The reduction was dose-dependent, sustained through the follow-up period of 48 hours, and was not achieved through anti-proliferative effect. Additionally, MP inhibited IL-17 production in purified T cells as well, but to less extent than in LNC. In its influence on IL-17 production MP inhibited Ror-γT transcription factor expression, as well as Jun phosphorylation, but not ERK or p38 activation in mitogen-stimulated LNC. Importantly, MP collaborated with IFN-γ in inhibiting IL-17 generation in LNC.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The observed difference in the effect of MP on IL-17 and IFN-γ could be important for the understanding of the variability in the efficiency of glucocorticoids in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.</p

Efekat programa ishrane na pojavu lezija na nogama i produktivnost brojlera

Nutrition factors are considered to be very important for incidence of foot-pad dermatitis through the effect on the quality of litter. Objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the use of two feeding programs for broilers available on the market and declared in the nutritional/economical sense as standard and economical, on quality of litter, incidence of leg dermatitis (foot-pad and hock burns) and production performance. Trial was carried out on 500 one day old chickens of Hubbard genotype, in two treatments and five replicates. Chopped straw was used as litter. During the trial, the mortality and food consumption were monitored, and at the end of trial the body mass was controlled, as well as the incidence of foot-pad and hock burns and their severity were evaluated and quality of litter analyzed. Research results indicate significant effect of the diets from the aspect of broiler welfare and productivity. Application of the feeding program declared in the nutritional/economical sense as economical resulted in higher content of litter moisture, significantly higher frequency of incidence of the most severe forms of foot-pad dermatitis and significantly lower broiler performance.Ishranbeni faktori se smatraju veoma značajnim za nastanak dermatitisa na nožnim jastučićima brojlera preko uticaja na kvalitet prostirke. Cilj rada je bio ispitivanje efekta upotrebe dva, tržišno dostupna programa ishrane brojlera koji su deklarisani u nutritivno/ekonomskom smislu kao standardan i ekonomičan, na kvalitet prostirke, pojavu dermatitisa na nogama i proizvodne performanse. Ogled je izveden na 500 jednodnevnih pilića genotipa Hubbard, sa dva tretmana i pet ponavljanja. Za prostirku je korišćena seckana slama. Tokom ogleda su evidentirani mortalitet i utrošak hrane a na kraju ogleda je izvršena kontrola telesne mase, ocena pojave i težine oblika lezija na nožnim jastučićima i skočnim zglobovima, analiza kvaliteta prostirke. Rezultati istraživanja su ukazali na značajan efekat programa ishrane sa stanovišta dobrobiti i produktivnosti brojlera. Primena programa ishrane deklarisanog u nutritivno/ekonomskom smislu kao ekonomičnog, rezultirala je većim sadržajem vlage u prostirci, značajno većom frekvencijom pojavljivanja najtežih oblika dermatitisa na nožnim jastučićima i značajno lošijim performansama brojlera

Description and pilot evaluation of the Metabolic Irregularities Narrowing down Device software: a case analysis of physician programming

Background: There is a gap between the abilities and the everyday applications of Computerized Decision Support Systems (CDSSs). This gap is further exacerbated by the different ‘worlds’ between the software designers and the clinician end-users. Software programmers often lack clinical experience whereas practicing physicians lack skills in design and engineering. Objective: Our primary objective was to evaluate the performance of Metabolic Irregularities Narrowing down Device (MIND) intelligent medical calculator and differential diagnosis software through end-user surveys and discuss the roles of CDSS in the inpatient setting. Setting: A tertiary care, teaching community hospital. Study participants: Thirty-one responders answered the survey. Responders consisted of medical students, 24%; attending physicians, 16%, and residents, 60%. Results: About 62.5% of the responders reported that MIND has the ability to potentially improve the quality of care, 20.8% were sure that MIND improves the quality of care, and only 4.2% of the responders felt that it does not improve the quality of care. Ninety-six percent of the responders felt that MIND definitely serves or has the potential to serve as a useful tool for medical students, and only 4% of the responders felt otherwise. Thirty-five percent of the responders rated the differential diagnosis list as excellent, 56% as good, 4% as fair, and 4% as poor. Discussion: MIND is a suggesting, interpreting, alerting, and diagnosing CDSS with good performance and end-user satisfaction. In the era of the electronic medical record, the ongoing development of efficient CDSS platforms should be carefully considered by practicing physicians and institutions

Dermatitis tabanskih jastučića kod komercijalnih brojlera

In the present experiment, the presence of mycological agents in chickens with skin lesions on foot pads was investigated, in order to improve the health of broiler chickens. Foot-pad dermatitis (FPD) is described in the literature as dermatitis caused by multifactor causes. The presence of irritating chemical substances in the litter, genetic predispositions of hybrids, immune suppressive diseases of chickens, as well as the composition of commercial broiler diets that influence the occurrence of wet litter, are proven factors that contribute to a more intensive incidence of foot-pad dermatitis. Foot-pad dermatitis is a condition characterized by lesions on metatarsal and digital ventral skin of poultry feet. It is type of contact dermatitis which in severe cases shows slower weight gain, poor health condition and welfare. Taking into consideration the literature data, chickens reared in closed facilities where the bacterial and mycological agents are present partly in the litter if not properly disinfected, but also in the food or the chicken plumage, we wanted to investigate their presence in the skin of foot pads. The study was focused on incidence of foot-pad dermatitis in 500 one day old broiler chickens of Hubbard genotype, in two feeding (standard/economical) programs for broilers available on our market. Chopped straw was used as litter. At the end of fattening, all chickens were examined for the presence of lesions on the skin of the feet. Total of 39 chickens were allocated to the intensity of the lesion on foot pads rated as 2 (mild) and 3 (severe). In the mycological examination of the 9 samples of autoclaved chicken legs with lesions on the feet, we have isolated and identified the presence of fungi /mould Aspergillus fumigatus. The histopathology investigation, during which the tissue section from mild and severe skin foot pads was collected and stained using Hematoxylin and eosin, revealed the hyperkeratosis, panniculitis, ballooning degeneration and dermis inflammation. No fungal elements were observed in the sections of pads stained with Gomori methenamine silver. Birds are especially susceptible to infection with Aspergillus fumigatus. That species of fungus is also classified as allergenic factor.U ogledu je ispitivano prisustvo mikoloških agenasa kod pilića sa lezijama na koži tabanskih jastučića, u cilju poboljšanja zdravlja brojlerskih pilica. Dermatitis na tabanskim jastučićima (DTJ) je u literaturi multifaktornog porekla. Postojanje iritantnih hemijskih supstanci u prostirci, genetske predispozicije hibrida, imunosupresivne bolesti pilića, kao i sastav komercijalnih smeša za ishranu brojlera koje utiču na pojavu vlažne prostirke, su dokazani faktori koji doprinose intenzivnijoj pojavi DTJ. Imajući u vidu ove podatke iz literature, pilići koji se gaje u zatvorenom prostoru u kome su prisutni bakterijski i mikološki agensi delom u prostirci ako nije na adekvatan način dezinfikovana, u hrani ili na perju pilića, želeli smo da ispitamo njihovo prisustvo u koži tabanskih jastučića. Ispitivanje je bazirano na pojavi DTJ u ogledu 500 jednodnevnih pilića Hubbard genotipa, koji su hranjeni na 2 načina (standardnim/ekonomičnim) krmnim smešama koje su prisutne na našem tržištu. Seckana slama je korišćena kao prostirka. DTJ se karakteriše lezijama na metatarzalnim i digitalnim ventralnim delovima kože tabana živine. To je kontaktni dermatitis koji kod težih slučajeva utiče na prirast, zdravlje i dobrobit. Na kraju tova pilića, svi pilići su pregledani na prisustvo lezija na koži tabana. U ovom radu, ispitano je 39 pilića sa intenzitetom lezija na tabanskim jastučićima. Intenzitet lezija je ocenjen sa 2 (blage) i sa 3 (izražene) lezije. Mikološkim ispitivanjem utvrđeno je prisustvo gljivice/plesni Aspergillus fumigatus, kod 9 autoklaviranih promenjenih pilećih nogica. Histološkim ispitivanjem utvrdili smo postojanje hiperkeratoze, panikulitisa, zapaljenje dermisa i balonirajuću degeneraciju. Nismo utvrdili prisustvo fungalnih elemenata u koži tabana, nakon bojenja Gomory methenamin silver bojenjem. Ptice su posebno osetljive na infekciju A. fumigatus koji je klasifikovan kao alergijski uzročnik

ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF THE CODE OF ETHICS OF AGRICULTURAL ACCOUNTANTS USING QUANTITATIVE METHODS

This paper investigates the possibility of applying the meta theory of strategic games in the domain of the ethical code of conduct of agribusiness accountants. The focus is on the case when an accountant detected incorrect financial reporting by the client’s management of material nature. As a generally quantitative method, the model of strategic games in such a case allows to quantify and find a balanced relationship between the interests of management and accountants in the world where, there is constantly sustainable problem of ethics and unethics of accountants, which is an extremely important issue in the agricultural sector, which is a developing branch

Free Software and Open Hardware Licenses: A Short Guide for People in a Hurry

U radu je dat prikaz osnovnih ideja slobodnog softvera i način njihove realizacije primenom odgovarajućih licenci, sa posebnim osvrtom na tehniku kopilefta. Razmotrena je generalizacija ideja slobodnog softvera na ostala dela kreativnog rada, a posebno na hardver, sa kratkim osvrtom na odgovarajuće licence primerene tim slučajevima. Naglašena je i obrazložena razlika između slobodnog i besplatnog softvera.PSSOH conference paper on licences for free software and open hardware. The paper is written in Serbian, but the presentation was held in English. The lecture was recorded and the video of presentation held by Prof. Predrag Pejović together with the Q&A session is available at [https://youtu.be/3nSsBfTQ_eI

Dermatitis tabanskih jastučića kod komercijalnih brojlera

In the present experiment, the presence of mycological agents in chickens with skin lesions on foot pads was investigated, in order to improve the health of broiler chickens. Foot-pad dermatitis (FPD) is described in the literature as dermatitis caused by multifactor causes. The presence of irritating chemical substances in the litter, genetic predispositions of hybrids, immune suppressive diseases of chickens, as well as the composition of commercial broiler diets that influence the occurrence of wet litter, are proven factors that contribute to a more intensive incidence of foot-pad dermatitis. Foot-pad dermatitis is a condition characterized by lesions on metatarsal and digital ventral skin of poultry feet. It is type of contact dermatitis which in severe cases shows slower weight gain, poor health condition and welfare. Taking into consideration the literature data, chickens reared in closed facilities where the bacterial and mycological agents are present partly in the litter if not properly disinfected, but also in the food or the chicken plumage, we wanted to investigate their presence in the skin of foot pads. The study was focused on incidence of foot-pad dermatitis in 500 one day old broiler chickens of Hubbard genotype, in two feeding (standard/economical) programs for broilers available on our market. Chopped straw was used as litter. At the end of fattening, all chickens were examined for the presence of lesions on the skin of the feet. Total of 39 chickens were allocated to the intensity of the lesion on foot pads rated as 2 (mild) and 3 (severe). In the mycological examination of the 9 samples of autoclaved chicken legs with lesions on the feet, we have isolated and identified the presence of fungi /mould Aspergillus fumigatus. The histopathology investigation, during which the tissue section from mild and severe skin foot pads was collected and stained using Hematoxylin and eosin, revealed the hyperkeratosis, panniculitis, ballooning degeneration and dermis inflammation. No fungal elements were observed in the sections of pads stained with Gomori methenamine silver. Birds are especially susceptible to infection with Aspergillus fumigatus. That species of fungus is also classified as allergenic factor.U ogledu je ispitivano prisustvo mikoloških agenasa kod pilića sa lezijama na koži tabanskih jastučića, u cilju poboljšanja zdravlja brojlerskih pilica. Dermatitis na tabanskim jastučićima (DTJ) je u literaturi multifaktornog porekla. Postojanje iritantnih hemijskih supstanci u prostirci, genetske predispozicije hibrida, imunosupresivne bolesti pilića, kao i sastav komercijalnih smeša za ishranu brojlera koje utiču na pojavu vlažne prostirke, su dokazani faktori koji doprinose intenzivnijoj pojavi DTJ. Imajući u vidu ove podatke iz literature, pilići koji se gaje u zatvorenom prostoru u kome su prisutni bakterijski i mikološki agensi delom u prostirci ako nije na adekvatan način dezinfikovana, u hrani ili na perju pilića, želeli smo da ispitamo njihovo prisustvo u koži tabanskih jastučića. Ispitivanje je bazirano na pojavi DTJ u ogledu 500 jednodnevnih pilića Hubbard genotipa, koji su hranjeni na 2 načina (standardnim/ekonomičnim) krmnim smešama koje su prisutne na našem tržištu. Seckana slama je korišćena kao prostirka. DTJ se karakteriše lezijama na metatarzalnim i digitalnim ventralnim delovima kože tabana živine. To je kontaktni dermatitis koji kod težih slučajeva utiče na prirast, zdravlje i dobrobit. Na kraju tova pilića, svi pilići su pregledani na prisustvo lezija na koži tabana. U ovom radu, ispitano je 39 pilića sa intenzitetom lezija na tabanskim jastučićima. Intenzitet lezija je ocenjen sa 2 (blage) i sa 3 (izražene) lezije. Mikološkim ispitivanjem utvrđeno je prisustvo gljivice/plesni Aspergillus fumigatus, kod 9 autoklaviranih promenjenih pilećih nogica. Histološkim ispitivanjem utvrdili smo postojanje hiperkeratoze, panikulitisa, zapaljenje dermisa i balonirajuću degeneraciju. Nismo utvrdili prisustvo fungalnih elemenata u koži tabana, nakon bojenja Gomory methenamin silver bojenjem. Ptice su posebno osetljive na infekciju A. fumigatus koji je klasifikovan kao alergijski uzročnik

Ispitivanje koncentracija i normalizovanih koncentracija metotreksata u zavisnosti od primenjene doze u pedijatrijskoj populaciji sa ALL i NHL

Administration of high dose methotrexate (HDMTX) is common part of pediatric protocols for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodking lymphoma (NHL). Methotrexate is used in certain phase of therapy in doses 3 g/m 2 or 5 g/m 2 with the objective to achieve concentration that will ensure eradication of tumor cells with minimal toxic effect. The aim of this study is overview of drug concentration and assessment of therapy safety in relation to referent values. After obtaining Ethics committee approval at The Institute for mother and child Healthcare of Serbia “Dr Vukan Cupic” 50 pediatric patients with ALL or NHL were enrolled. Data on MTX usage was retrospectively collected from the patient history. Concentrations and normalized concentrations per applied dose were compared with nonparametric tests in SPSS (version 18). MTX concentration mean (± standard deviation) following administration of 3 g/m 2 respectively 5 g/m2 doses were 19.72±6.62 mg/L respectively 34.73±17.13 at 24 h, 0.20±0.36 mg/L respectively 0.24±0.58 mg/L at 48h and 0.14±0.44 mg/L respectively 0.12±0.89 mg/L at 72h after start of the infusion. Statistically significant difference (p<0.001) is only seen at 24h concentration between 3 g/m 2 (mean rank 43.97) and 5 g/m 2 (mean rank 103.36). In all other time points, there was no difference during comparison of concentrations nor normalized concentration, even though it is seen trend of higher values in 5 g/m2 group. Results of analysis show that administration of higher dose during simultaneous distribution and elimination phase leads to higher concentrations while during elimination phase this effect is less visible. However, administration of the high doses brings the risk of side effects due to reaching higher concentrations.Primena visokih doza metotreksata je uobičajena u pedijatrijskim protokolima za lečenje akutne limfoblastne leukemije (ALL) i non-Hodking limfoma (NHL). Metotreksat se u određenoj fazi terapije primenje u dozi od 3 g/m2 ili 5 g/m 2 u cilju postizanja koncentracije koje uništavaju tumorske ćelije uz minimalan toksičan efekat. Cilj ovog rada je prikaz koncentracije leka u zavisnosti od primenjene doze i procena bezbednosti terapije u odnosu na referentne vrednosti koncentracije. Nakon odobrenja etičkog odbora Instituta za zdravstvenu zaštitu majke i deteta Srbije „Dr Vukan Čupić“ uključeno je 50 pedijatrijski pacijenata sa ALL ili NHL. Podaci o primeni MTX su retrospektivno prikupljeni iz istorija bolesti. Koncentracije i normalizovane koncentracije po primenjenoj dozi su statistički analizirani neparametarskim testovima u SPSS-u (verzija 18). Srednja vrednost koncentracija (± standardna devijacija) MTX pri primeni 3 g/m2 odnosno 5 g/m2 je iznosila 19,72±6,62 mg/L odnosno 34,73±17,13 u 24h, 0,20±0,36 mg/L odnosno 0,24±0,58 mg/L u 48h i 0,14±0,44 mg/L odnosno 0,12±0,89 mg/L u 72h posle početka infuzije. Statistički značajna razlika (p<0,001) je uočena kod koncentracija u 24h između doza 3 g/m2 (mean rank = 43,97) i 5 g/m2 (mean rank= 103,36). U ostalim vremenskim tačkama i pri poređenju normalizovanih koncentracija nije bilo statistički značajne razlike, iako je primetan trend viših vrednosti u grupi 5 g/m 2 . Rezultati analize pokazuju da pri primeni veće doze leka tokom istovremene distribucije i eliminacije leka postoji mogućnost detektovanja visokih koncentracija, dok je tokom faze eliminacije uticaj primenjene doze manje uočljiv. Ipak, primena veće doze nosi rizik od neželjenih efekata.VIII Kongres farmaceuta Srbije sa međunarodnim učešćem, 12-15.10.2022. Beogra

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF TEXTILE DEFORMATION USING 3D DIGITAL IMAGE CORRELATION METHOD

Textiles are unique due to their structure and formability properties. In order to predict the behaviour and properties of textile materials, standard investigation methods are not always sufficient. In this paper, a more detailed study is performed and additional results were obtained when the 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method was adjusted to the standard test method. The digital image analysis method is one of the newly proposed methods used to determine textile deformation behaviour. It is possible to capture the formation of localized deformation zone, besides capturing the deformation of the woven fabric. The procedure of digital video camera recording is simple, but preparation and processing on a computer are relatively demanding concerning processing time and data preparation for analysis. The processing time for displacement calculation depends on the image resolution, number of images, chosen area sizes on images for analysis, number of facet centers and characteristics of the computer used for results processing. Obtained results are adequate and satisfy the requirements of accuracy applied to material science. Therefore, the application of the image analysis method for the investigation of deformed textile materials is possible