Function and failure of the fetal membrane : modelling the mechanics of the chorion and amnion

The fetal membrane surrounds the fetus during pregnancy and is a thin tissue composed of two layers, the chorion and the amnion. While rupture of this membrane normally occurs at term, preterm rupture can result in increased risk of fetal mortality and morbidity, as well as danger of infection in the mother. Although structural changes have been observed in the membrane in such cases, the mechanical behaviour of the human fetal membrane in vivo remains poorly understood and is challenging to investigate experimentally. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop simplified finite element models to investigate the mechanical behaviour and rupture of the fetal membrane, particularly its constituent layers, under various physiological conditions. It was found that modelling the chorion and amnion as a single layer predicts remarkably different behaviour compared with a more anatomically-accurate bilayer, significantly underestimating stress in the amnion and under-predicting the risk of membrane rupture. Additionally, reductions in chorion-amnion interface lubrication and chorion thickness (reported in cases of preterm rupture) both resulted in increased membrane stress. Interestingly, the inclusion of a weak zone in the fetal membrane that has been observed to develop overlying the cervix would likely cause it to fail at term, during labour. Finally, these findings support the theory that the amnion is the dominant structural component of the fetal membrane and is required to maintain its integrity. The results provide a novel insight into the mechanical effect of structural changes in the chorion and amnion, in cases of both normal and preterm rupture

Remote sensing data exploiration for geologic characterization of difficult targets : Laboratory Directed Research and Development project 38703 final report.

Characterizing the geology, geotechnical aspects, and rock properties of deep underground facility sites can enhance targeting strategies for both nuclear and conventional weapons. This report describes the results of a study to investigate the utility of remote spectral sensing for augmenting the geological and geotechnical information provided by traditional methods. The project primarily considered novel exploitation methods for space-based sensors, which allow clandestine collection of data from denied sites. The investigation focused on developing and applying novel data analysis methods to estimate geologic and geotechnical characteristics in the vicinity of deep underground facilities. Two such methods, one for measuring thermal rock properties and one for classifying rock types, were explored in detail. Several other data exploitation techniques, developed under other projects, were also examined for their potential utility in geologic characterization

INDEPENDENT WORK OF THE STUDENTS OF THE SPECIALITY OF REHABILITATION THERAPIST DURING THE PRE-GRADUATION PROBATION

Practical training of the students of the specialty of rehabilitation therapist includes clinical practice, pre-graduation probation, and summer probation. Clinical practice is per- formed during five terms while summer probation is done after the second and fourth term. Pre-graduation probation is performed during the sixth term and consists of 800 academic hours. It is accomplished in educational practical establishments of some clinics. The students work independently, they assimilate and improve the professional competences acquired during the whole course of studies. In this respect, they fill in a specially elaborated diary of pregraduation probation. The probationers are obliged to do this describing all the activities during the day in dependence on the educational practical establishment, working sector and organization of the therapeutic process. They work jointly in a team consisting of the tutors under the control of the physician who is specialist in physical and rehabilitation medicine and of the treating clinician

Pre-graduate internship of students from specialty `rehabilitation` - innovation and motivation for conducting

Practical training of students from Specialty `Rehabilitation` is performed in two directions: Practical activi- ties of students in specialized offices under the guidance of a teacher; Clinical practice and pre-graduate sum- mer internships in academic and practical bases under the supervision of a teacher and the active participation of a mentor. Pre-graduate internship of students from Medical College - Stara Zagora is in the sixth semester and it has an academic workload of 800 hours. It is held in certain clinics according to a curric- ulum and it is conducted at school - practical bases. In order to improve the criteria for evaluation and moni- toring of trainees a trainee record was introduced for a daily reporting of the activity and the work with different patients under a guidance of mentors

Characteristic features of induced seismic processes in mining regions exemplified by the potassium salt deposits in Belarus and Bulgaria

This work focuses on the assessment of seismic risk issues associated with the potassium salt deposit of Provadia and Soligorsk, with the monitoring provided by Belarusian and Bulgarian specialists in the framework of a bilateral project.  The long-term studies 1983-2005 of the only terrestrial Bulgarian salt deposit (Provadia, φ = 43.06ºN, λ = 27.45ºE) and Belarusian (Starobin φ = 52.84ºN, λ = 27.47ºE) in connection with the observed higher seismic activity and probable manifestations of technogenic seismicity in the region is presented.  The characteristic features of the seismic processes as the identity of the curves of recurrence of seismic events of the energy range of 4-8 are discussed. A quasi-periodic character of the seismicity activation in time against the general trend of seismicity activation is established. It is shown that the zones of the epicenters of the seismic events are larger that mining areas.  Some differences in the pattern of seismic processes, such as: 1. the seismic activity in the range of small energies (K=4-8) is higher in the Soligorsk region; 2. events of the higher energy class, K≯9 are characteristic of the Provadia region

Pharmacogenetics of acenocoumarol: CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and ABCB1 gene polymorphisms and dose requirements

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Acenocoumarol (AC) is a coumarin derivative, vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant drug. It has a narrow therapeutic index and shows large pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interindividual variability. Our objective was to investigate the association between AC dose requirements to achieve a target level of anticoagulation and genetic polymorphisms of genes possibly associated with its metabolism (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP3A5) and transport (ABCB1). METHODS: Ninety-six Bulgarian patients treated orally with AC for at least 3 months were included. They were separated into three groups according to their AC dose requirement, i.e. low, medium and high. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: CYP2C9*1/*3 (associated with an intermediate CYP2C9 activity), CYP2C9*2/*2, and CYP2C9*2/*3 genotypes (associated with a low CYP2C9 activity) were more prevalent in the group with low dose requirement of AC compared with the other two groups (P = 0.003). The frequency of CYP2C9*1/*1 genotype, which is associated with an extensive CYP2C9 activity, was higher in the group of patients with high dose requirements (79%), compared with the groups of the medium and low dose requirements (67% and 21% respectively). In addition, the ABCB1 2677GG/3435CC haplotype was associated with use of lower AC dose, whereas the 2677TT/3435TT and 2677GT/3435TT haplotypes were associated with use of higher AC dose (P = 0.03). The distribution of polymorphisms of other genes did not show significant differences between the three groups. CONCLUSION: In vivo, cytochromes P450 isoforms other than CYP2C9, and the permeability glycoprotein transporter, which is encoded by the ABCB1 gene, were not significantly associated with dose requirement of AC. In our Bulgarian patients, the presence of CYP2C9*2 or/and CYP2C9*3 alleles, as well as the ABCB1 2677GG/3435CC haplotype were associated with low dose requirement of AC