Predictors of response to methotrexate in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients

Objectives. To determine predictors for response to treatment with methotrexate in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients. Methods. Demographic, clinical, articular and laboratory variables of patients newly treated with methotrexate were analysed by bivariate and logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of response to methotrexate. Minimal response was defined by the American College of Rheumatology pediatric (PedACR) 30 and strong response by the PedACR 70 criteria. Results. The total patient population consisted of 915 patients. At month 3, 77.4% and at month 12 83.1% of patients were responders according to the PedACR 30 criteria, while 43.1% and 65.9% of patients had a PedACR 70 response at month 3 and at month 12. Thus minimal response was frequently already reached at month 3 while strong response to MTX treatment took usually longer to achieve. In multivariate analysis the number of tender joints (p=0.003), active joints (pConclusion. Baseline parameters for minimal response after 3 months of treatment and strong response after 12 months of treatment could be identified. The disease duration and parameters defining activity and severity of disease were influencing factors. Overall the model of prediction could support physicians in making treatment decisions

Upgrading of an Extended Aeration System to Improve Wastewater Treatment

According to this study, an extended aeration system can be upgraded by adding surface turbine aerators to the tanks and building new primary sedimentation tanks. Moreover, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS) were also observed to be 440, 682, and 212 mg/L after primary settling, respectively. These values represent the removal of about 35% of the organic load and about 68% of the suspended solids, which reduces the organic load and sediments entering the secondary treatment. Furthermore, effluent BOD5, COD, and TSS values were 30, 47, and 32 mg/L respectively, while those permitted values are 60 mg/L of BOD5, 80 mg/L of COD, and 50 mg/L of TSS reflecting the success of the upgrading work

Novel System and Method For Telephone Network Planing Based on Neutrosophic Graph

Telephony is gaining momentum in the daily lives of individuals and in the activities of all companies. With the great trend towards telephony networks, whether analogue or digital known as Voice over IP (VoIP), the number of calls an individual can receive becomes considerably high. However, effective management of incoming calls to subscribers becomes a necessity. Recently, much attention has been paid towards applications of single-valued neutrosophic graphs in various research fields. One of the suitable reason is it provides a generalized representation of fuzzy graphs (FGs) for dealing with human nature more effectively when compared to existing models i.e. intuitionistic fuzzy graphs (IFGs), inter-valued fuzzy graphs (IVFGs) and bipolar-valued fuzzy graphs (BPVFGs) etc. In this paper we focused on precise analysis of useful information extracted by calls received, not received due to some reasons using the properties of SVNGs. Hence the proposed method introduced one of the first kind of mathematical model for precise analysis of instantaneous traffic beyond the Erlang unit. To achieve this goal an algorithm is proposed for a neutrosophic mobile network model (NMNM) based on a hypothetical data set. In addition, the drawback and further improvement of proposed method with a mathematical proposition is established for it precise applications

Patient Safety Culture in Tunisia: Defining Challenges and Opportunities

Background: Although adverse events in health care have been a center of attention recently, patient safety culture in primary care is relatively neglected. This study aimed to provide a baseline assessment of patient safety culture in the primary healthcare centers and explore its associated factors

Modelling of the Fabrics Filtration to Remove the Turbidity from the Extracted Groundwater

Fabrics filtration through capillary action is an effective tool for treating water at the site of use. It is applied in reducing the turbidity of the extracted groundwater to below the permissible limit in accordance with international standards, provided that the other parameters are met. The present study intends to evaluate the treated water quality after filtration using fabric capillary action in viewpoints of the turbidity removal and the filter run length using non-woven fabrics. In addition to deriving the design equation of the model and ensure its validity. The obtained results revealed that the optimum range of the filtration rate is between 5-10 m/d to guarantee that the filtered water turbidity to be consistent with the international standards of potable water. Furthermore, the filter unit was mathematically modelled to derive its design equation as well as estimating the filter run length by indicating values of the other parameters in the recommended range of the filtration rate

Reaproveitamento de águas residuais, tratadas por fitopurificação, para a irrigação do jardim botânico “o jardim Landon” (Biskra, Argélia). Solução sustentável para preservação de patrimônio material

The green spaces of the city of Biskra (Algeria) resist the arid climate of the summer season and therefore suffer from water scarcity caused mainly by evaporation and transpiration of the plants. To remedy this problem, the study suggests to reuse the sewage for irrigation after being purified, using constructed wetlands with improved capacity by phytoremediation. As an example of a sustainable solution, it is proposed to apply this technique to the botanical garden of the city of Biskra (Algeria), «le jardin Landon». The design of a Constructed Wetland system is proposed. The Landon Garden was created in 1870 by Count Landon of Longueville, decorated with a variety of flora from the tropics and the Equatorial countries. It is currently considered as national material heritage.Los espacios verdes de la ciudad de Biskra resisten el clima árido de la temporada de verano y, por lo tanto, sufren de escasez de agua, causada principalmente por la evaporación y transpiración de las plantas. Para remediar este problema, el estudio sugiere reutilizar las aguas residuales para el riego después de ser purificadas, utilizando humedales construidos con capacidad mejorada por fitorremediación. Como ejemplo de una solución sostenible, se propone aplicar esta técnica al jardín botánico de la ciudad de Biskra (Algeria), «le jardin Landon». Se propone el diseño de un sistema de humedales construidos. El Landon Garden fue creado en 1870 por el conde Landon de Longueville, decorado con una variedad de flora de los trópicos y los países ecuatoriales. Actualmente se considera patrimonio material nacional.Les espaces verts de la ville de Biskra (Algérie) résistent au climat aride de la saison estivale et souffrent donc d’une pénurie d’eau causée principalement par l'évaporation et la transpiration des plantes. Pour remédier à ce problème, l’étude propose de réutiliser les eaux usées pour l’irrigation après avoir été épurées, en utilisant des zones humides construites avec une capacité améliorée par phytoremédiation. A titre d’exemple de solution durable, il est proposé d’appliquer cette technique au jardin botanique de la ville de Biskra (Algérie), «le jardin Landon». La conception d’un système de zones humides construites est proposée. Le jardin Landon a été créé en 1870 par le comte Landon de Longueville, décoré d’une flore variée des tropiques et des pays équatoriaux. Il est actuellement considéré comme patrimoine matériel national.Gli spazi verdi della città di Biskra (Algeria) resistono al clima arido della stagione estiva e soffrono quindi della scarsità d'acqua causata principalmente dall'evaporazione e dalla traspirazione delle piante. Per ovviare a questo problema, lo studio suggerisce di riutilizzare le acque reflue per l'irrigazione dopo essere state purificate, utilizzando zone umide costruite con capacità migliorata mediante fitodepurazione. Come esempio di una soluzione sostenibile, si propone di applicare questa tecnica al giardino botanico della città di Biskra (Algeria) «le jardin Landon». Viene proposto il progetto di un sistema Constructed Wetland. Il giardino Landon è stato creato nel 1870 dal conte Landon de Longueville, decorato con una varietà di flora dei tropici e dei paesi equatoriali. Attualmente è considerato patrimonio materiale nazionale.Os espaços verdes da cidade de Biskra (Argélia) resistem ao clima árido do verão e por isso sofrem com a escassez de água causada principalmente pela evaporação e transpiração das plantas. Para remediar esse problema, o estudo sugere o reaproveitamento do esgoto para irrigação após purificação, utilizando alagados construídos com capacidade melhorada por fitorremediação. Como exemplo de solução sustentável, propõe-se a aplicação desta técnica ao jardim botânico da cidade de Biskra (Argélia) «le jardin Landon». O projeto de um sistema de Wetland Construído é proposto. O Jardim Landon foi criado em 1870 pelo conde Landon de Longueville, decorado com uma variedade de flora dos trópicos e dos países equatoriais. Atualmente é considerado patrimônio material nacional

Computational Prediction of the Mode of Binding of Antitumor Lankacidin C to Tubulin

Lankacidin C, which is an antibiotic produced by the organism Streptomyces rochei, shows considerable antitumor activity. The mechanism of its antitumor activity remained elusive for decades until it was recently shown to overstabilize microtubules by binding at the taxol binding site of tubulin, causing mitotic arrest followed by apoptosis. However, the exact binding mode of lankacidin C inside the tubulin binding pocket remains unknown, an issue that impedes proper structure-based design, modification, and optimization of the drug. Here, we have used computational methods to predict the most likely binding mode of lankacidin C to tubulin. We employed ensemble-based docking in different software packages, supplemented with molecular dynamics simulation and subsequent binding-energy prediction. The molecular dynamics simulations performed on lankacidin C were collectively 1.1 μs long. Also, a multiple-trajectory approach was performed to assess the stability of different potential binding modes. The identified binding mode could serve as an ideal starting point for structural modification and optimization of lankacidin C to enhance its affinity to the tubulin binding site and therefore improve its antitumor activity.The Supporting Information is available free of charge on the ACS Publications website at DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b03470

Soil Compaction and Compaction Equipment

The purpose of this report is to study soil compaction in both the field and the laboratory. The main part of this report is a discussion of soil compaction from the construction point of view, including discussion of field compaction equipment and factors affecting the compaction of soil in earthwork construction. Compaction of soil is a subject quite vast and complex. It depends upon many variables including soil type, moisture content, amount and nature of compactive effort, and the degree of compaction specified. So it' is ne'arly impossible to offer a solution to all its problems. The final determination of these factors must be based upon the results of laboratory tests with the judgment and experience of the engin,eer or the contractor.Civil Engineerin

Evaluating Performance of Different Filter Media Stratification for Tertiary Treatment of Wastewater

The use of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation is one of the methods used to reduce the scarcity of fresh water. In this study, the different filtration media of sand, anthracite, granular activated carbon (GAC) and rice straw with a sub-base of gradual gravel supported each were used. In addition, the filtration efficiency was evaluated according to the treated water quality tests. As such, different filtration rates were parameterized to obtain the best operating conditions after ensuring that treated wastewater meets with the standard specifications for irrigation. The results indicated that the optimal filtration rate is 175 m / day, which achieves the appropriate quality of treated wastewater for the water characteristics examined according to the standard specifications of irrigation water. In addition, rice straw supported by a sand base is considered a practicable filtration media. However, the results of analyses of total solids in water did not match to Egyptian standards when using rice straw with sand as a filtration medium. Therefore, it is recommended to follow the filtration process using rice straw as a filtration medium with another stage of sand filtration to ensure the total solids comply with the standards