Therapeutic drug monitoring guided anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA)/ Australian IBD Association (AIBDA) consensus statements

INTRODUCTION: Growing evidence supports the use of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to guide anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) drug treatment among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Currently, TDM for anti-TNF drugs is variably practiced by gastroenterologists in Australia. Our aim was to develop consensus statements for TDM of anti-TNF drugs in IBD that will be endorsed by the Australian IBD Association (AIBDA) of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA). METHODS: A consensus committee of 25 Australian and international experts was assembled. A systematic literature search aided the steering committee in developing the initial draft statements. A modified Delphi technique was used with three iterations, with modification of statements based on feedback and anonymous voting. Statements with 80% agreement without reservation or only minor reservation in the third voting round were accepted as consensus. RESULTS: 22/24 statements met criteria for consensus. The committee agreed that TDM for anti-TNF agents should be performed upon treatment failure, following successful induction, when contemplating a drug-holiday and periodically in clinical remission only when results would change management. To achieve clinical remission in luminal IBD, infliximab and adalimumab trough concentrations in the range of 3-8 μg/mL and 5-12 μg/mL, respectively, were determined as appropriate. The therapeutic range may need to be altered for different disease phenotypes or treatment endpoints. In treatment failure, TDM may identify mechanisms to guide subsequent decisionmaking. Among patients in remission, TDM-guided anti-TNF drug dose optimisation may reduce treatment cost and avoid future relapse. Data indicates drug-tolerant antidrug antibody assays do not offer an advantage over drug-sensitive assays in 7 predicting outcomes. Further data are required prior to recommending TDM for nonanti- TNF biologics. CONCLUSION: These consensus statements are expected to aid use of TDM by gastroenterologists in Australia and abroad to guide anti-TNF drug treatment in IBD patients

Optimization of the Parameters of a Hydraulic Excavator Swinging Mechanism

The presented paper is focused to the optimization of the parameters of a hydraulic excavator swinging mechanism. A trapezoidal velocity profile is considered for rotation of the excavator platform to the predefined angle. Equations for the torque and power, needed to rotate the platform according to the prescribed trapezoidal trajectory are derived. The maximum values of the driving torque and power are optimized

How plastic surgery influences perceived authenticity- the moderating role of personality traits (extroversion versus introversion)

This research aims to analyse if personality traits such as extroversion and introversion impact the relationship between perceived authenticity and plastic surgery. The author predicted that extroverted individuals would perceive body enhancements as more authentic, whereas introverts would perceive these influences as less authentic. The experiment results show that personality traits influence the correlation between perceived authenticity and plastic surgery. However, these effects were only relevant at higher extroversion scores, which means that extroverts perceive surgically altered bodies as less authentic. Finally, managerial implications are presented based on the study results

Numerical study of the hydraulic excavator overturning stability during performing lifting operations

This article presents a numerical study of the stability of a hydraulic excavator during performing lifting operations. A planar dynamic model is developed with six degrees of freedom, which considers the base body elastic connection with the terrain, the front digging manipulator links, and the presence of the freely suspended payload. Differential equations describing the excavator dynamic behavior are obtained by using the Lagrange formalism. Numerical experiments are carried out to study the excavator dynamic stability under different operating conditions during the motion along a vertical straight-line trajectory. It is shown that the arising inertial loads during the movement of the links along the vertical trajectory, combined with the payload swinging and the motion of the base body, decreases the excavator stability. It was found that the excavator stability during following vertical straight-line trajectory decreases considerably in the lower part of the vertical trajectory. If the stability coefficient is close to 1, the payload swinging can cause the separation of a support from the terrain; nevertheless, the excavator stability can be restored. A method for tire stiffness and damping coefficients estimation is presented. The validation of the dynamical model is performed by the use of a small-scale elastically mounted manipulator.DFG, 414044773, Open Access Publizieren 2019 - 2020 / Technische Universität Berli

Transient motion of an industrial mixer with elastically suspended work head

This paper investigates the transient behavior of a novel design of an industrial mixer incorporating additional work head movement. In contrast to conventional models, this mixer consists of an elastic torsion bar with its longitudinal axis oriented orthogonally to the main drive shaft axis. Using the elastic torsion bar to hang the workhead adds an additional degree of freedom, greatly improving the mixing of fluids or powders. The motion of the electro-mechanical device was simulated using a system of nonlinear differential equations that consider the dynamic characteristics of the driving electric motor, as derived from the theorem for the rate of change of angular momentum. A numerical analysis was carried out to study the transient processes in the system under different working conditions. Finally, a constrained multiobjective optimization was performed to identify the optimal design variable values that minimize the force and power characteristics of the mixer

Dynamical modelling of hydraulic excavator considered as a multibody system

This paper considers the development of a plane multibody mechanical model of a hydraulic excavator simultaneously containing an open kinematic chain and closed loops. The Lagrange multiplier technique is used for modelling of the constrained mechanical systems. This approach is used for working out the dynamic equations of excavator motion in the case of performing transportation and digging operations. The excavator is considered as a rigid body system and detailed governing equations of the mechanical and hydraulic systems are presented. The performed verification and a typical digging task simulation show the applicability of the model for study of the excavator motion simulation. Simulation results of the machine’s response are provided. It is shown that the digging process considerably influences the mechanical and hydraulic system parameters. Such models can be used for training simulators, sizing components and system design.DFG, 325093850, Open Access Publizieren 2017 - 2018 / Technische Universität Berli

Theoretical aspects of several successive two-step redox mechanisms in protein-film cyclic staircase voltammetry

Protein-film voltammetry (PFV) is a versatile tool designed to provide insight into the enzymes physiological functions by studying the redox properties of various oxido-reductases with suitable voltammetric technique. The determination of the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters relevant to protein’s physiological properties is achieved via methodologies established from theoretical considerations of various mechanisms in PFV. So far, the majority of the mathematical models in PFV have been developed for redox proteins undergoing a single-step electron transfer reactions. However, there are many oxido-reductases containing quinone moieties or polyvalent ions of transition metals like Mo, Mn, W, Fe or Co as redox centers, whose redox chemistry can be described only via mathematical models considering successive two-step electron transformation. In this work we consider theoretically the protein-film redox mechanisms of the EE (Electrochemical–Electrochemical), ECE (Electrochemical–Chemical–Electrochemical), and EECat (Electrochemical–Electrochemical–Catalytic) systems under conditions of cyclic staircase voltammetry. We also propose methodologies to determine the kinetics of electron transfer steps by all considered mechanisms. The experimentalists working with PFV can get large benefits from the simulated voltammograms given in this work

Methods for determination of so2 and reducing sugars in wines and alcoholic beverages

In this study, volumetric methods for determination of SO2 (free and total) and reducing sugars in wines and alcoholic beverages were optimized and validated. The linearity, accuracy and precision of the methods were confirmed using standard solutions of SO2 and reducing sugars (fructose and glucose) prepared in appropriate concentration range, as well as with low, medium and high concentrations. Additionally, the accuracy of the methods was checked by standard additions. Repeatability and reproducibility of the methods was confirmed with repeated analyses of real samples, wines and alcoholic beverages. Obtained results for both methods presented satisfactory accuracy and precision, suggesting that these methods are appropriate for analysis of wines and alcoholic beverage

REAL TIME PCR METHOD FOR PPV DIAGNOSTIC ON PLUMS AND APRICOT IN THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) or qPCR is a method by which the amount of the PCR product can be determined in real-time, and is very useful for investigating gene expression. The main advantages of qPCR are that it provides fast and high-throughput detection and quantification of target DNA sequences in different matrices. The lower time of amplification is facilitated by the simultaneous amplification and visualization of newly formed DNA amplicons. The development and application of molecular methods for the detection of pathogens has significantly changed the diagnosis and control of plant diseases, various environmental samples, including hosts tissues, soil, water and air. With real time PCR method, it is possible not only to identify and detect the presence or absence of the target pathogen, but it is also possible to quantify the amount present in the sample allowing the quantitative assessment of the number of the pathogen in the sample. Detection and accurate identification of plant pathogens is one of the most important strategies for controlling plant diseases to initiate preventive or curative measures. Plum pox virus (PPV), the agent of Sharka, is the most devastating virus infecting stone fruits. The PPV control is mainly based on prevention, and its quick and reliable detection is considered crucial in this strategy. In this study DAS-ELISA and real-time PCR were compared for evaluating their potentialities and limits for large scale surveys. Plum hosts (Prunus domestica) and apricot samples (Prunus armeniaca) from several different place are included for laboratory test analyzes, plant organs (phloem, buds, flowers, leaves and fruits) and parts of them, different periods of the year (spring, summer and winter period 2017/20), the presence or absence of symptoms were considered for comparison. Using DAS-ELISA tests, and use a universal set of antibodies (BIOREBA), has proved the presence of virus of Plum pox in all examined samples, especially from samples collected in summer, but also in checking virus status in winter and early spring season. Testing found high concentrations of viral antigens in plant samples (OD 2.912-2.752, for 30 min / 405 nm). Real time PCR show amplification plot for positive PPV samples on plums and apricot

FORECASTING MODEL BASED ON CUMULATIVE DEGREE DAYS FOR INCUBATION PERIOD OF Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Berl. & De Toni

The overall development of Plasmopara viticola and its occurrence in time and space cause rapid disease increases. The incubation period is only part of the life cycle of P. viticola between infection and the first appearance of symptoms. The forecasting based on cumulative degree days for determination of incubation allows the prediction of a small number of primary infections whose calculation by based on the temperature factor. This warning model, in essence, is a regression analysis that presents the relationship between average daily temperature and coefficient of incubation. The determination of the incubation allows precise management of the fungicides against Plasmopara viticola and gives the basic assumptions for the possible occurrence of the primary inoculum