A rare case of metallic foreign body in the knee of a 16 year old boy

Foreign bodies at the knee level are related to local trauma with subsequent retention. Removal of the foreign body is curative. We present the case of a 16 year old boy with a foreign body (metallic screw) inside the left knee joint related to an unusual home accident. The outcome was favorable after removal of the foreign body and appropriate antibiotic coverage

The North Atlantic Oscilation (NAO), The Arctic Oscilation (AO) and Forest Fires in Lithuania

In Lithuania in the period 1992–2015, decreasing trends were recorded for the annual number of forest fires (significant at p≤0.05) and the annual burned area (not significant). In the research of the connection between forest fires and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, the highest values of Pearson correlation coefficient (significant at p≤0.01) were recorded for the annual number of fires and NAO index for June (0.589) and summer (0.538). With the Arctic Oscillation (AO) index, the highest value was recorded for the annual number of fires and AO index for June (0.486)

Identifikacija Colletotrichum acutatum sa ploda nektarine

Isolates of Colletotrichum spp. obtained from nectarine fruits with typical anthracnose symptoms in 2010 were identified using morphological and molecular methods. Pathogenicity test was conducted on symptomless, detached nectarine fruits. All tested isolates caused anthracnose lesions on nectarine fruits after 7 days of incubation. On PDA medium nectarine isolates forming dark green to dark gray mycelia. Growth rates of all isolates and reference strain of C.acutatum were lower at 25°C compared with reference strain of C.gloeosporioides. The conidia were hyaline, aseptate, and fusiform. Appressoria were dark brown, smooth, simple, and clavate to ovate. Using the primer set CaInt2/ITS4, the 490 bp DNA fragment was amplified from all nectarine isolates and reference strain of C. acutatum - CBS 294.67. Based on these results, the causal agent of anthracnose on nectarine fruits in Serbia was identified as C.acutatum.Izolati Colletotrichum spp. dobijeni 2010. godine, sa antraknoznih plodova nektarine identifikovani su pomoću morfoloških i molekularnih metoda. Test patogenosti je obavljen sa reprezentativnim izolatima, na odabranim, zdravim plodovima. Svi ispitivani izolati prouzrokuju antraknozne lezije na plodu nektarine, 7 dana nakon inokulacije. Na PDA podlozi izolati formiraju tamno zelenu do tamno sivu miceliju. Stopa rasta izolata sa nektarine i referentnog soja C.acutatum je bila niža u odnosu na referentni soj C.gloeosporioides. Konidije su hialinske, neseptirane i fusiformne. Apresorije su tamno braon boje, glatke, jednostavne, okruglastog ili oblika izdužene palice. Korišćenjem para prajmera CaInt2/ITS4 iz genoma DNA izolata sa ploda nektarine i referentnog soja C. acutatum - CBS 294.67, amplifikovan je fragment veličine 490 bp. Na osnovu ovih rezultata, u Srbiji je kao prouzrokovač antrakoze plodova nektarine identifikovana vrsta C.acutatum

ANN based Short-Term Load Curve Forecasting

A software tool developed in Matlab for short-term load forecasting (STLF) is presented. Different forecasting methods such as artificial neural networks, multiple linear regression, curve fitting have been integrated into a stand-alone application with a graphical user interface. Real power consumption data have been used. They have been provided by the branches of the distribution system operator from the Southern-Western part of the Romanian Power System. This paper is an extended variant of [4]

Macedonian Speech Synthesis for Assistive Technology Applications

Speech technology is becoming ever more ubiquitous with the advance of speech enabled devices and services. The use of speech synthesis in Augmentative and Alternative Communication tools, has facilitated inclusion of individuals with speech impediments allowing them to communicate with their surroundings using speech. Although there are numerous speech synthesis systems for the most spoken world languages, there is still a limited offer for smaller languages. We propose and compare three models built using parametric and deep learning techniques for Macedonian trained on a newly recorded corpus. We target low-resource edge deployment for Augmentative and Alternative Communication and assistive technologies, such as communication boards and screen readers. The listening test results show that parametric speech synthesis is as performant compared to the more advanced deep learning models. Since it also requires less resources, and offers full speech rate and pitch control, it is the preferred choice for building a Macedonian TTS system for this application scenario.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, EUSIPCO conference 202

Peroxisomal β-oxidation acts as a sensor for intracellular fatty acids and regulates lipolysis

To liberate fatty acids (FAs) from intracellular stores, lipolysis is regulated by the activity of the lipases adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), hormone-sensitive lipase and monoacylglycerol lipase. Excessive FA release as a result of uncontrolled lipolysis results in lipotoxicity, which can in turn promote the progression of metabolic disorders. However, whether cells can directly sense FAs to maintain cellular lipid homeostasis is unknown. Here we report a sensing mechanism for cellular FAs based on peroxisomal degradation of FAs and coupled with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which in turn regulates FA release by modulating lipolysis. Changes in ROS levels are sensed by PEX2, which modulates ATGL levels through post-translational ubiquitination. We demonstrate the importance of this pathway for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression using genetic and pharmacological approaches to alter ROS levels in vivo, which can be utilized to increase hepatic ATGL levels and ameliorate hepatic steatosis. The discovery of this peroxisomal β-oxidation-mediated feedback mechanism, which is conserved in multiple organs, couples the functions of peroxisomes and lipid droplets and might serve as a new way to manipulate lipolysis to treat metabolic disorders

Influence of the Type and Amount of Liver Resection on the Survival of the Patients with Colorectal Metastases

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal liver metastases have a poor prognosis, and only 2% have an average 5-year survival if left untreated. Despite radical resection, the average five-year survival is between 25% and 44%.AIM: To explore the experience of the Clinic in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases, comparing it with data from the literature and based on the comparison to determine the influence of the type and extensity of resection survival after radical surgical treatment of patients.METHODS: This is a retrospective study. The study comprised the period between 01.01.2006 to 31.12.2015. It included a total of 239 cases, of whom: 179 patients underwent radical interventions, 5 palliative and 55 patients underwent explorative interventions due to liver metastases.RESULTS: Radical resection of liver metastases has the impact of the patient survival, and the survival is the smallest in the patients with left hemihepatectomy and the longest in the patients with bisegmentectomy. But no specific technique and the number of resected segments influenced the survival of patients with colorectal liver metastases.CONCLUSION: In patients with colorectal liver metastases only resection has potentially curative character. The type and amount of liver resection has no influence of the survival

Ecobiophysical Aspects on Nanosilver Biogenerated from Citrus reticulata

In recent years, a considerable interest was paid to ecological strategies in management of plant diseases and plant growth. Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) gained considerable interest as alternative to pesticides due to their interesting properties. Green synthesis of MNPs using plant extracts is very advantageous taking into account the fact that plants are easily available and eco-friendly and possess many phytocompounds that help in bioreduction of metal ions. In this research work, we phytosynthesized AgNPs from aqueous extract of Citrus reticulata peels, with high antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal potential. These “green” AgNPs were characterized by modern biophysical methods (absorption and FTIR spectroscopy, AFM, and zeta potential measurements). The nanobioimpact of Citrus-based AgNPs on four invasive wetland plants, Cattail (Typha latifolia), Flowering-rush (Butomus umbellatus), Duckweed (Lemna minor), and Water-pepper (Polygonum hydropiper), was studied by absorption spectroscopy, by monitoring the spectral signature of chlorophyll. The invasive plants exhibited different behavior under AgNP stress. Deep insights were obtained from experiments conducted on biomimetic membranes marked with chlorophyll a. Our results pointed out the potential use of Citrus-based AgNPs as alternative in controlling pathogens in aqueous media and in management of aquatic weeds growth

Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority’s (HERA) role in dealing with the monkeypox emergency in the European Union

The current article examines and analyzes the actions taken by the European Commission, specifically through the Directorate-General Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) – an organization that anticipates threats and potential health crises, through intelligence gathering and building the necessary response capacities), aimed at supporting member states in limiting the spread of MPOX (monkeypox – an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus). It explores specific pharmaceutical products and vaccines procured by HERA and how they have been distributed among member states. The article raises questions about the compliance in purchasing pharmaceutical products and vaccines lacking approval for use within the European Union, highlighting the potential new regulatory challenges for Bulgaria if it needs to secure medications for treatment of human smallpox disease such as Jynneos and TPOXX (Tecovirimat) for its citizens. In conclusion, the article notes the swift response of HERA through the procurement of the Jynneos vaccine and TPOXX medicinal product. This swift response may have contributed to the decline of MPOX cases in the European region, potentially due to collaborative efforts among health authorities at both European and national levels. This success underscores the importance of cooperation among health authorities at various levels in combating infectious diseases

Analysis of spatial variability in hyperspectral imagery of the uterine cervix in vivo

The use of fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy in the analysis of cervical histopathology is a growing field of research. The majority of this research is performed with point-like probes. Typically, clinicians select probe sites visually, collecting a handful of spectral samples. An exception to this methodology is the Hyperspectral Diagnostic Imaging (HSDI®) instrument developed by Science and Technology International. This non-invasive device collects contiguous hyperspectral images across the entire cervical portio. The high spatial and spectral resolution of the HSDI instruments make them uniquely well suited for addressing the issues of coupled spatial and spectral variability of tissues in vivo. Analysis of HSDI data indicates that tissue spectra vary from point to point, even within histopathologically homogeneous regions. This spectral variability exhibits both random and patterned components, implying that point monitoring may be susceptible to significant sources of noise and clutter inherent in the tissue. We have analyzed HSDI images from clinical CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) patients to quantify the spatial variability of fluorescence and reflectance spectra. This analysis shows the spatial structure of images to be fractal in nature, in both intensity and spectrum. These fractal tissue textures will limit the performance of any point-monitoring technology