Mathematical models for determining the protected spaces of the vertical lightning rod

Two mathematical models are presented for determining the protected spaces of the vertical lightning-rod. In the first model there was applied the circular approximation. Through the introduction of the modified striking distance in the second improved approximation there was obtained a new model for the protected space of the lightning-rod. The models are of general type, foreseen for the three-dimensional space and they are simply applied on solving the practical problems

A new approach to the determination of the striking distance from the lightning channel photos

The possible influence the stepped leader movement has on the value of the striking distance is studied. The numerical values of the striking distances are most frequently verified from the lightning channel photos. There is some explanations for dispersion of the striking distance which usually appear on tall structures. Unusually long striking distance may be influenced by the positive space charge or prior upward flashes. One more parameter which may have influence in estimation of the striking distance is a complex charge motion in the leader channel. Through introduction of two types of charge motions, possible shortening is shown of the striking distance seen on the lightning channel photos

A MOS-based Dynamic Memetic Differential Evolution Algorithm for Continuous Optimization: A Scalability Test

Continuous optimization is one of the areas with more activity in the field of heuristic optimization. Many algorithms have been proposed and compared on several benchmarks of functions, with different performance depending on the problems. For this reason, the combination of different search strategies seems desirable to obtain the best performance of each of these approaches. This contribution explores the use of a hybrid memetic algorithm based on the multiple offspring framework. The proposed algorithm combines the explorative/exploitative strength of two heuristic search methods that separately obtain very competitive results. This algorithm has been tested with the benchmark problems and conditions defined for the special issue of the Soft Computing Journal on Scalability of Evolutionary Algorithms and other Metaheuristics for Large Scale Continuous Optimization Problems. The proposed algorithm obtained the best results compared with both its composing algorithms and a set of reference algorithms that were proposed for the special issue

Our first experience in laparoscopic colorectal operations

Purpose: It has been almost 23 years since the first laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy was done when the surgeons in our institution started doing laparoscopic colorectal operations mainly for malignant diseases. The aim of this communication was to present the beginning of the laparoscopic colorectal operations in St. Naum University Clinic of Surgical Diseases in Skopje, Macedonia.Material and methods: Twenty patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were laparoscopically operated during the period from December 2012 to June 2013. Eleven of them were men and the rest women at a mean age of 58 years. Eight of them were rectal cancers, 3 were cancers of the rectosigmoid and the rest 9 were sigmoid adenocarcinomas. The patients were operated with 4 ports (sigmoid cancer) and 5 ports (rectum). Medial-to-lateral approach was used in all the cases. Tumour location dictated whether high or low ligation of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) was done. Double stapler technique was applied for distal resection and anastomosis creation.Results: Mean operating time was 315 min. There were no perioperative and early postoperative deaths. One patient was reoperated early at the same operating day for mesenteric venous bleeding. There was one case of anastomotic leakage and a laparotomy was done with temporary colostomy. One unit of blood was given to five patients due to perioperative bleeding. Mean length of hospital stay was six days. Per oral nutrition started at day 2. Mean bowel function returned after 3,5 days. There were two seromas of the minilaparotomy wounds and no cases of surgical site infection. Selected cases of sigmoid and rectal cancer were suitable for beginning of learning the laparoscopic colorectal resection technique. The long operating time was understandable due to the steep learning curve. Conclusion: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is safe and oncologically routine surgical method. It is widely used for many benign colorectal diseases, too. Prolonged learning of this technique should not be discouraging

Copper-induced changes of lipid peroxidation and hemato-biochemical parameters in rat blood: Protective role of flavonoids

The effects of subchronic exposure to copper (Cu) on lipid peroxidation, hemato-biochemical parameters, and the possible protective role of flavonoids Quercetin and (-)-Epicatechin were studied. Male Wistar albino rats were treated with Cu (560 mg/L, p.o. as CuCl2·2H2O for 5 weeks) and Quercetin and (-)-Epicatechin (40 mg/kg BW each, i.p., every third day during the last 3 weeks) alone or in combination. Cu increased the concentration of lipid peroxides, decreased the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit values and increased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. Coadministration of Quercetin and (-)-Epicatechin with Cu lowered the process of lipid peroxidation and restored examined hemato-biochemical parameters to control values. Our results indicate that Cu induced oxidative damage in erythrocytes, which led to anemia, while Quercetin and (-)-Epicatechin showed a protective effect on the hemato-biochemical processes in the blood of rats

Have a Good Trip! Expanding our Concepts of the Quality of Everyday Travelling with Flow Theory

The dominant tradition in transport planning and policy practice considers travel as a derived activity and travel time as an economic disutility. A growing body of literature is challenging this perspective, demonstrating that being ‘on the move’ is a rich experience interlaced with profound shared and individual meanings that can have positive implications on quality of life, well-being and personal development. Yet, mobility in general, and commuting in particular, is often reported as one of the least pleasant daily experiences and as a source of massive environmental impacts. This exploratory article hypothesizes that flow theory, based on Csikszentmihalyi´s seminal work on optimal states of consciousness, has the potential to offer important insights that can contribute to research and policy action on achieving both sustainable and satisfying forms of daily mobility. The article draws on an online exploratory questionnaire in order to reflect on flow theory in relation to the capacity of different mobility modes to either facilitate or constrain the occurrence and duration of optimal states of consciousness. Preliminary conclusions provide a basis for outlining a set of future research directions aimed at better understanding mobility experiences and their relationships with flow theory

DNALI1 interacts with the MEIG1/PACRG complex within the manchette and is required for proper sperm flagellum assembly in mice

The manchette is a transient and unique structure present in elongating spermatids and required for proper differentiation of the germ cells during spermatogenesis. Previous work indicated that the MEIG1/PACRG complex locates in the manchette and is involved in the transport of cargos, such as SPAG16L, to build the sperm flagellum. Here using co48 immunoprecipitation and pull-down approaches in various cell systems, we established that DNALI1, an axonemal component originally cloned from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, recruits and stabilizes PACRG and we confirm in vivo, the co-localization of DNALI1 and PACRG in the manchette by immunofluorescence of elongating murine spermatids. We next generated mice with a specific deficiency of DNALI1 in male germ cells, and observed a dramatic reduction of the sperm cells, which results in male infertility. In addition, we observed that the majority of the sperm cells exhibited abnormal morphology including misshapen heads, bent tails, enlarged midpiece, discontinuous accessory structure, emphasizing the importance of DNALI1 in sperm differentiation. Examination of testis histology confirmed impaired spermiogenesis in the mutant mice. Importantly, while testicular levels of MEIG1, PACRG and SPAG16L proteins were unchanged in the Dnali1 mutant mice, their localization within the manchette was greatly affected, indicating that DNALI1 is required for the formation of the MEIG1/PACRG complex within the manchette. Interestingly, in contrast to MEIG1 and PACRG-deficient mice, the DNALI1-deficient mice also showed impaired sperm spermiation/individualization, suggesting additional functions beyond its involvement in the manchette structure. Overall, our work identifies 63 DNALI1 as a protein required for sperm development