242 research outputs found

    Karakteristik pada Balita Diare dengan Infeksi Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli (Epec) di Puskesmas Rawat Inap Kota Pekanbaru

    Full text link
    Diarrheal diseases remain one of the leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in most developing countries, with Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) being one of the most important aetiologic agents of children under-five years diarrhea in many of these countries. In Indonesia especially Pekanbaru, the epidemiology of these EPEC have not been well studied. During the period from April 2014 to September 2014, 47 stool sample were collected from children under-five years with acute diarrhea in the hospitality primary health care in Pekanbaru and the examination has been done in Microbiology Laboratory of Medical Faculty Riau University. The Escherichia coli were isolated and diagnosed by standard microbiological methods. The isolates confirmed to be Esherichia coli were subjected to a slide agglutination test with Escherichia coli polyvalent antisera. This study was a descriptive study using a consecutive sampling method to describe the characterization of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) infection on children under-five years at the hospitality primary health care in Pekanbaru. Based on gender and age from all specimens that were collected, the diarrhea mostly found in male (59.5%), and in 12-59 months patients (93.6%). Out of the 47 stool samples, 1 isolate (2.2%) were positive for EPEC. The isolate was recovered from the 19 months female

    Practical feasibility, scalability and effectiveness of coordinated scheduling algorithms in cellular networks towards 5G

    Get PDF
    Coordinated Scheduling (CS) is used to mitigate inter-cell interference in present (4G) and future (5G) cellular networks. We show that coordination of a cluster of nodes can be formulated as an optimization problem, i.e., placing the Resource Blocks (RB) in each node’s subframe with the least possible over-lapping with neighboring nodes. We provide a clever formulation, which allows optimal solutions to be computed in clusters of ten nodes, and algorithms that compute good suboptimal solutions for clusters of tens of nodes, fast enough for a network to respond to traffic changes in real time. This allows us to assess the relationship between the scale at which CS is performed and its benefits in terms of network energy efficiency and cell-edge user rate. Our results, obtained using realistic power, radiation and Signal-to-Interference-and-Noise-Ratio (SINR) models, show that optimal CS allows a significant protection of cell-edge users. Moreover, this goes hand-in-hand with a reduction in the num-ber of allocated RBs, which in turn allows an operator to reduce its energy consumption. Both benefits actually increase with the size of the clusters. The evaluation is carried out in both a 4G and a foreseen 5G setting, using different power models, system bandwidths and SINR-to-datarate mappings

    Off-shell tachyon amplitudes: analyticity and projective invariance

    Get PDF
    We compute off-shell three- and four-tachyon amplitudes at tree level by using a prescription based on the requirement of projective invariance. In particular we show that the off-shell four-tachyon amplitude can be put in the same form as the corresponding on-shell one, exhibiting therefore the same analyticity properties. This is shown both for the bosonic and the fermionic string. The result obtained in the latter case can be extended to the off-shell four-tachyon amplitude in type 0 theory

    Physical assessment of toxicology at nanoscale: nano dose-metrics and toxicity factor

    Get PDF
    In this work, we propose a systematic and reproducible evaluation of nanoparticles (NPs) toxicology in living systems, based on a physical assessment and quantification of the toxic effects of NPs by the experimental determination of the key parameter affecting the toxicity outcome (i.e., the number of NPs) and of the NPs "toxicity factor". Such a strategy was applied to a well determined scenario, i.e., the ingestion of citrate-capped gold NPs (AuNPs) of different sizes by the model system Drosophila melanogaster. Using these AuNPs as a reference toxicity standard, we were able to define different regions in the multiparametric space of toxicity, enabling the classification of the toxic levels of other nanomaterials, such as quantum dots and pegylated AuNPs. This approach may pave the way to a systematic classification of nanomaterials, leading to important developments in risk assessment and regulatory approval, as well as in a wide range of nanomedicine applications

    Scalability and energy efficiency of Coordinated Scheduling in cellular networks towards 5G

    Get PDF
    Coordinated Scheduling (CS) is one of the main techniques to control inter-cell interference in present (4G) and future (5G) cellular networks. We show that coordination of a cluster of nodes can be formulated as an optimization problem, i.e., placing the Resource Blocks in each node’s subframe with the least possible overlapping with neighboring nodes. We provide a clever formulation, which allow optimal solutions to be computed in clusters of ten nodes, and algorithms that compute good suboptimal solutions for clusters of several tens of nodes, fast enough for a network to respond to traffic changes in real time. This allows us to assess the relationship between the scale at which CS is performed and its benefits in terms of network energy efficiency and cell-edge user rate. Our results show that optimal CS allows a significant protection of cell-edge users. Moreover, this goes hand-in-hand with a significant reduction in the number of allocated Resource Blocks, which in turn allows an operator to reduce its energy consumption. Both benefits actually increase with the size of the clusters

    Flexible Power Modeling of LTE Base Stations

    Get PDF
    With the explosion of wireless communications in number of users and data rates, the reduction of network power consumption becomes more and more critical. This is especially true for base stations which represent a dominant share of the total power in cellular networks. In order to study power reduction techniques, a convenient power model is required, providing estimates of the power consumption in different scenarios. This paper proposes such a model, accurate but simple to use. It evaluates the base station power consumption for different types of cells supporting the 3GPP LTE standard. It is flexible enough to enable comparisons between state-of-the-art and advanced configurations, and an easy adaptation to various scenarios. The model is based on a combination of base station components and sub-components as well as power scaling rules as functions of the main system parameters

    Observations on midgut of Apis mellifera workers (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) under controlled acute exposures to a Bacillus thuringiensis-based biopesticide

    Get PDF
    International audienceAbstractMorphostructural investigations have been carried out on Apis mellifera workers treated with single controlled acute exposures to a biopesticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), to detect midgut changes until 96 h. Our findings show concentration-dependence of these changes, reflecting in different degrees on both mortality and behaviour. In particular, some midgut changes are also found 96 h after treatment. Our results show that the tested product does not affect survival at presumable environmental concentrations, so confirming the lesser toxicity of Bt-based biopesticides compared to other pesticides. However, in the light of the discovered long-term changes, we discuss the opportunity of taking into account possible chronic exposures to Bt-based products on A. mellifera

    Capturing the Features of Physical Activity in Old Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of an Italian Survey

    Get PDF
    The restriction measures adopted to control the COVID-19 pandemic had significant consequences on individuals’ lifestyles. This study is aimed at assessing the amount and type of habitual physical activity (PA) in older adults during the advanced phase of the pandemic and their possible relationships with sociodemographic aspects. A questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) was administered online to elderly subjects living in the Apulia region, South Italy. A sample of 939 participants (57.1% F; mean age 75.9 ± 6.3) was obtained. In total, 68.8% of female respondents reported a decrease in PA during the pandemic, while 55.1% of men maintained their previous levels (<0.001). The total PASE score did not differ between gender groups (median value 91.7 in males vs. 90.0 in females; p = 0.067). However, differences were registered in leisure activities, particularly regarding walking (23.8 ± 14.8 in males vs. 20.2 ± 14.6 in females; p = 0.001). Higher PA levels were related with lower age (OR 0.253; 95% CI 0.192–0.333; p = 0.001). Since inactivity can affect elderly health and wellbeing, and considering the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on this habit, health promotion strategies to counteract the negative effects of the pandemic should include interventions aimed at increasing PA in this sub-group of the population, especially among women and elderly subjects

    Knowledge and lifestyle behaviors related to covid-19 pandemic in people over 65 years old from southern Italy

    Get PDF
    Background: Control measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on human daily life and lifestyles. Adherence to the recommended measures is influenced by knowledge and attitudes towards the disease. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the level of knowledge regarding COVID-19, the related control measures, and lifestyle behaviors adopted during the pandemic in a sample of elderly Italian people. Methods: A web-based questionnaire investigating socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of COVID-19, the related preventive measures, and lifestyle changes that occurred during the pandemic, were distributed to ≥65 years old people living in South Italy. Results: A satisfactory level of knowledge about COVID-19 and the related control measures has been found in the enrolled sample. However, a decrease in physical activity, as well as worsening sleeping and dietary habits, were found in roughly 60% of participants. Females were impacted greater by these lifestyle changes. Conclusions: Participants in this study showed a good level of knowledge regarding COVID-19 and its prevention. Nevertheless, they reported an increase in unhealthy habits that may have important health consequences in the long term and should be addressed by public health interventions targeted at older people

    Tidal Volume Estimation during Helmet Noninvasive Ventilation: an Experimental Feasibility Study

    Get PDF
    We performed a bench (BS) and human (HS) study to test the hypothesis that estimation of tidal volume (VT) during noninvasive helmet pressure support ventilation (nHPSV) would be possible using a turbine driven ventilator (TDV) coupled with an intentional leak single-limb vented circuit. During the BS a mannequin was connected to a lung simulator (LS) and at different conditions of respiratory mechanics, positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels and leaks (30, 50 and 80 L/min). All differences were within the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) in all conditions in the Bland-Altman plot. The overall bias (difference between VT measured by TDV and LS) was 35 ml (95% LoA 10 to 57 ml), 15 ml (95% LoA -40 to 70 ml), 141 ml (95% LoA 109 to 173 ml) in the normal, restrictive and obstructive conditions. The bias at different leaks flow in normal condition was 29 ml (95% LoA 19 to 38 ml). In the HS four healthy volunteers using nHPSV had a pneumotachograph (P) inserted through a mouthpiece to measure subject's VT.The bias showed a scarce clinical relevance. In conclusions, VT estimation seems to be feasible and accurate in all conditions but the obstructive one. Additional leaks seem not to affect VT reliability
    • …
    corecore