New Dimensions for a Challenging Security Environment: Growing Exposure to Critical Space Infrastructure Disruption Risk

Space systems have become a key enabler for a wide variety of applications that are vital to the functioning of advanced societies. The trend is one of quantitative and qualitative increase of this dependence, so much so that space systems have been described as a new example of critical infrastructure. This article argues that the existence of critical space infrastructures implies the emergence of a new category of disasters related to disruption risks. We inventory those risks and make policy recommendations for what is, ultimately, a resilience governance issue

Interacţiunea dintre conţinutul de azot al substratului de cultură şi conţinutul de proteină al ciupercilor Agaricus Blazei Murrill

Mushrooms provide important sources of protein extracted from materials of very low economic value, such as manure, agricultural waste, forestry, wood industry.Cultivated mushrooms having a saprophyte diet are forced to feed their enzymes from decomposing organic substances.During the composting and pasteurization of the substrate, the proteinnitrogen is transformed into peptides and amino acids that are absorbed by mycelialhippocampal cells.Research has shown that there is a direct correlation between the total nitrogen content of the nutrient substrate (up to 2.7%), the production of mushrooms and the protein content of the mushrooms.In this study, four types of compost and three types of additional protein additions were investigated.The highest values of correlation coefficient (r = 0.88187) were obtained with the addition of3% wheat bran,additional protein supplement in the substrate

Aprecierea influenţei factorilor asupra indexului vigorii-i, tratament x genotip x durata păstrării la sămânţa de porumb (Zea Mays L.)

The size of the values of the parameters that characterize the quality of the seed from the aspect of thephysiological and physical manifestation, has a very important role in the measures to improve the cultivation technologies for obtaining safe and superior harvests qualitatively and quantitatively, therefore it is necessary to promote a seed with high biological value, high production capacity, resistance to diseases, pests and stress conditions. The particularity of the seeds destined for sowing is that they can be kept in different forms for a longer period of time, offering the safety of production. Analysing the data by the size of the range and the size of the coefficient of variation (Cv) it can be seen that there are obvious differences between the variants, regarding the value of these indicators. There were large decreases in the values of the index the force registered in this stage "after 12 months", in the variant treated with fungicide + insecticide, except for Turda 200 and Turda Star hybrids

Laparoscopic treatment for perforated duodenal ulcer

Clinica de Chirurgie 2, UMF “Victor Babeș” Timișoara, Clinica de Chirurgie, UMF ”Carol Davila”, București, Clinica de Chirurgie 2, UMF ”Grigore T Popa”, Iași, Clinica de Chirurgie 2, Facultatea de Medicină, Universitatea ”Ovidius”, Constanța, Clinica de Chirurgie 2, Facultatea de Medicina, Sibiu, Clinica de Chirurgie 1, UMF ”Iuliu Hațieganu”, Cluj- Napoca, Departamentul de Chirurgie I, Facultatea de Medicină, UMF Craiova, România, Al XII-lea Congres al Asociației Chirurgilor „Nicolae Anestiadi” din Republica Moldova cu participare internațională 23-25 septembrie 2015Introducere: Acest studiu retrospectiv evaluează rezultatele tratamentului laparoscopic în ulcerul duodenal perforat și este realizat în 7 spitale cu experiență în chirurgia laparoscopica din România. Material și metode: Între anii 2006 și 2013, 297 pacienți (48 femei, 249 bărbați) cu vârste cuprinse între 18 și 77 ani au fost supuși intervenției chirurgicale laparoscopice pentru ulcer duodenal perforat, cu utilizarea a 3 (61%), 4 (29%) sau 5 (10%) trocare. Șaizeci și doi (21%) dintre pacienți au prezentat o formă ușoară, 190 (64,1%) au prezentat o formă moderată și 45 (14,9%) o formă severă de peritonită. Procedurile utilizate au fost: sutura simplă – 118 (39,8%) pacienți, sutura cu epiplonoplastie – 176 (59,5%), doar epiplonoplastie – 1 (0,3%) pacient, excizie și sutură – 1 (0,3%) pacient. Rezultate: Durata intervențiilor a fost între 30 și 120 minute, cu o medie de 65 minute. Mortalitatea a fost nulă. Complicații: infecții parietale – 3 (1%), fistule duodenale – 3 (1%), abcese abdominale – 2 (0,6%), hemoragii digestive – 1 (0,3%) și stenoza duodenală – 1 (0,3%). Durata medie de spitalizare – 5,5 zile. În comparație cu tehnica clasica, pacienții au necesitat mai puține analgetice și antibiotice, cu 80% mai puține pansamente și au avut cu 70% mai puține infecții parietale în evoluția postoperatorie. Concluzii: Tratamentul laparoscopic pentru ulcerul duodenal perforat, este recomandat chiar și în cazurile cu peritonită severă, evoluția postoperatorie fiind cu mai puține complicații și cu o recuperare mai rapidă fața de procedura clasică. Aceast abord poate fi considerat “standard de aur” în tratamentul ulcerului duodenal perforat.Introduction: This retrospective study evaluates results of the laparoscopic treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer obtained in 7 centers with experience in laparoscopic surgery from Romania. Material and methods: A total of 297 (48 women and 249 men) patients with perforated duodenal ulcer underwent laparoscopic intervention between 2006 and 2013, with ages 18 to 77 years. Three (61%), 4 (29%) or 5 (10%) trocars were used. In 62 patients (21%) was diagnosed mild form of peritonitis, in 190 (64.1%) – moderate and in 45 (14.9%) – severe peritonitis. Types of repair used in this study: simple suture – 118 (39.8%) patients, suture with omental patch – 176 (59.5%), only sutured omental patch – 1 (0.3%), excision and suture – 1 (0.3%) patient. Results: Operation time was between 30 and 120 min, with average of 65 min. Mortality rate was zero. Complications: parietal infections – 3 (1%), duodenal fistula – 3 (1%), intraabdominal abscesses – 2 (0.6%), digestive bleeding – 1 (0.3%) and duodenal stenosis – 1 (0.3%). Average length of hospital stay – 5.5 days. Patients treated using laparoscopic technique needed less analgesics, antibiotics, 80% less dressing procedures and had 70% less surgical site infections in comparison to traditional operation. Conclusions: Laparoscopic treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer can be recommended even for patients with severe peritonitis. This treatment is associated with fewer complications and more rapid recovery than traditional intervention. Laparoscopic repair can be considered “gold standard” in the treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer

Oral microbe-host interactions: influence of β-glucans on gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and metabolome profile

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of β-glucan on the expression of inflammatory mediators and metabolomic profile of oral cells [keratinocytes (OBA-9) and fibroblasts (HGF-1) in a dual-chamber model] infected by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The periodontopathogen was applied and allowed to cross the top layer of cells (OBA-9) to reach the bottom layer of cells (HGF-1) and induce the synthesis of immune factors and cytokines in the host cells. β-glucan (10 μg/mL or 20 μg/mL) were added, and the transcriptional factors and metabolites produced were quantified in the remaining cell layers and supernatant. Results: The relative expression of interleukin (IL)-1-α and IL-18 genes in HGF-1 decreased with 10 μg/mL or 20 μg/mL of β-glucan, where as the expression of PTGS-2 decreased only with 10 μg/mL. The expression of IL-1-α increased with 20 μg/mL and that of IL-18 increased with 10 μg/mL in OBA-9; the expression of BCL 2, EP 300, and PTGS-2 decreased with the higher dose of β-glucan. The production of the metabolite 4-aminobutyric acid presented lower concentrations under 20 μg/mL, whereas the concentrations of 2-deoxytetronic acid NIST and oxalic acid decreased at both concentrations used. Acetophenone, benzoic acid, and pinitol presented reduced concentrations only when treated with 10 μg/mL of β-glucan. Conclusions: Treatment with β-glucans positively modulated the immune response and production of metabolites