A Fuzzy Set-Based Approach to Range-Free Localization in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract Localization in Wireless Senso

Biological characteristics of some plum cultivars grown in Montenegro

Some biological characteristics of 10 local and internationally well-known plum cultivars grown in Gornje Polimlje, Montenegro were studied between 2009–2011. Čačanska Rodna, Čačanska Lepotica, Stanley, Čačanska Rana, Valjevka and Valerija cultivars showed high productivity. The highest fruit mass was obtained from California Blue cultivar while the smallest fruit mass was measured for Požegača cultivar in all measured years. Soluble Solid Content (SSC), total acidity, total sugars, reducing sugars, sucrose, cellulose, vitamin C, total anthocyanin and ash content of plum cultivars were between 12.60–20.40%, 0.66–1.15%, 10.65–15.24%, 7.17–11.94%, 1.16–6.07%, 0.30–12.49%, 10.69–15.50 mg·100 g-1, 0.6–7.7 mg·100 g-1 and 0.55–0.78%, respectively. The amount of potassium, which predominates in percentage of minerals in the ash, ranged from 1893 to 2199 mg·kg-1. Local cultivar Požegača had the highest content of potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, soluble solid content and vitamin C, and second highest content of iron, sugar, reducing sugars and cellulose. Anna Spath had the highest content of iron and sucrose. Highest content of sugar and anthocyanin was observed in Stanley cultivar. Total acids and reducing sugars were highest in cultivar Čačanska Lepotica

Isolation of a puumala-like virus from mus musculus captured in yugoslavia and its association with severe hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

An outbreak of severe hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) occurred in 1988 in Pozarevac, Serbia, Yugoslavia. The disease was diagnosed in 4 children and I adult, and I of the children died. Rodents were captured from the same area and virus isolation attempted. A hantavirus, POZ-M1, was isolated from lung tissues of hantavirus antigen-positive Mus musculus. Serology and restriction enzyme digestion of polymerase chain reaction-amplified segments from this virus showed that it was a strain of Puumala (PUU) virus, the causative agent of nephropathia epidemica. While Clethrionomys glareolus is the major rodent host for PUU virus, these results suggest that M. musculus may also play an important role in harboring and transmitting PUU-like viruses. The serologic association of this virus with patients with severe HFRS reaffirms that PUU-like viruses may cause severe disease in addition to the generally mild form normally associated with nephropathia epidemica

Obturator or "lateral" bypass in the management of infected vascular prostheses at the groin

The infection of the previously implanted vascular graft at the groin, is associated with great mortality and morbidity rate [1]. The authors present a retrospective study in which they analyzed management of infected vascular prostheses at the groin, using obturator bypass in 26 cases, and "lateral" bypass in 15 cases. The indications for obturator bypass reconstructions included: 20 infections of aorto-femoral grafts, two infected pse udoaneurysms in the groin after RTA of the superficial femoral artery, and 4 infections of iliac-femoral grafts. The indications for lateral bypass reconstructions were: infections after aorto-femoral reconstructions - 8 cases; infection after femora-popliteal reconstructions - 4 cases; infection after iliac-femoral reconstruction - 2 patients, and one infected pseudoaneurysm in the groin after RTA of the superficial femoral artery. In 3 subjects obturator bypass was performed using extraperitoneal approach while in other 23 patients transperitoneal approach was done by donor's artery. The obturator bypass was performed using a PTFE graft in 3 cases and Dacron graft in 23. The donor's artery used for obturator bypass was a noninfected proximal part of aortofemoral graft in 20 cases, and iliac artery in 6 patients. The superfical femoral artery was recipient artery for obturator bypass in 3 cases, deep femoral artery in one case, and above the knee popliteal artery in 22 cases (Figure 1). In two patients transperitoenal approach to donors artery for "lateral" bypass has been used, and in 13 cases extraperitoneal. The proximal noninfected part of aorto femoral graft was used as a donor's artery for lateral bypass in 8 patients, while common iliac artery in 7 subjects. In 5 cases recon structions were performed using PTFE grafts, in 3 using autologous saphenous vein grafts, and in 7 using Dacron grafts. The recipient artery for "lateral" bypass was deep femoral in 8 cases, superficial femoral in three patients and above the knee popliteal artery in 4 subjects. After both types of reconstruction, extirpation of infected grafts from the groin was performed (Figure 2). The control examination was performed using physical and Doppler ultrasonographic examinations, one, 3, 6, 12 months, and then every year after the operation. In cases with suspected graft infection or thrombosis, control angography was also performed. One intraoperative perforation of the urinary bladder has been done accidentally during obturator bypass reconstruction. The mean follow-up period for patients with obturator bypasses was 2.3 years, while 2.1 years for patients with "lateral" bypasses. Comparing with "lateral" bypass, obturator bypass showed statistically significant lower (p < 0.05) 30- day mortality and early graft infection rate, as well as statistically significant better early and total limb salvage rate. There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between obturator and "lateral" bypass procedures having in mind, late graft infection rate, as well as early and late graft patency (Figures 3 and 4). In cases with infected vascular prostheses in the groin, the authors recommend obturator bypass comparing with "lateral" bypass

Effects of IL-33/ST2 pathway in acute inflammation on tissue damage, antioxidative parameters, magnesium concentration and cytokines profile

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the role of IL-33/ST2 pathway in a pathogenesis of acute inflammation and its effects on tissue damage, antioxidative capacity, magnesium concentration and cytokine profile in acutely inflamed tissue. Material and methods: Male mice were randomly divided in four groups: wild-type control group (WT-C), ST2 knockout control group (KO-C), wild-type inflammatory group (WT-I), and ST2 knockout inflammatory group (KO-I). Acute inflammation was induced in WT-I and KO-I by intramuscular injection of turpentine oil, while mice in WT-C and KO-C were treated with saline. After 12 h, animals were euthanized, and blood was collected for determination of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activity. The treated tissue was used for histopathological analysis, determination of volume density of inflammatory infiltrate (Vdii) and necrotic fiber (Vdnf), gene expression of interleukin (IL)-33, ST2, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, IL-12p35, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), concentration of magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), manganese (Mn) and reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. Results: Presence of inflammatory infiltration and necrosis in the treated tissue was histopathologically confirmed in WT-I and KO-I. Vdii was significantly higher in WT-I when compared to KO-I, whereas Vdnf did not significantly differ between WT-I and KO-I. CM and AST significantly increased in both inflammatory groups when compared to corresponding control groups. However, the values of CK and AST were significantly higher in WT-I than in KO-I. Mg in the treated tissue was significantly lower in WT-I in comparison to WT-C and KO-I, while there was no significant difference between KO-C and KO-I. There was no significant difference in Cu, Se, and Mn in the treated tissue between WT-C, KO-C, WT-I and KO-I. Gene expression of IL -33 in the treated tissue increased in both inflammatory groups when compared to the corresponding control groups, but it was significantly higher in KO-I than in WT-I. Gene expression of ST2 in the treated tissue was significantly higher in WT-I than in WT-C. Gene expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-12p35 in the treated tissue was significantly higher in WT-I and KO-I than in the corresponding control groups, and IL-6 was significantly higher in KO-C than in WT-C. TGF-beta gene expression in the treated tissue was significantly higher in KO-I when compared to WT-I, while there was no difference between WT-C and KO-C. SOD activity decreased at the site of acute inflammation in both inflammatory groups, while the GPx activity increased. GSH in the treated tissue was significantly higher in KO-I than in KO-C or WT-I. Conclusion: The results of our study have indicated, to our knowledge for the first time, that IL-33/ST2 pathway plays a role in enhancing inflammation and tissue damage at the site of acute inflammation by affecting the concentration of magnesium and GSH, important for antioxidative capacity, as well as gene expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-beta