746 research outputs found
Maize and sorghum biomass and protein accumulation under adequate and limited supply of water and nitrogen in Greece
Міфопоетика як основа творчого методу О. Садовського
У статті аналізується серія творів заслуженого художника України О. Садовського на тему “Лісової пісні” Лесі Українки. Відзначається, що художньо-образна система цих творів співвідноситься з філософським змістом мистецтва художника. У творах О. Садовського міфопоетичного спрямування помітне бажання створити нове, синтетичне мистецтво. У графічних аркушах переплітається побутово-етнографічний матеріал, який переплавляється уявою автора, виявляючи його тонкий інтелектуалізм та багату фантазію.The article analyzes the series of works by Honored Artist of Ukraine O. Sadovsky on the topic of the drama-extravaganza “Lisova pisnya” written by Lesya Ukrainka. It is noted that the art imaging system of these works relates to the philosophical meaning of the artist creation. In the mythopoetical works of O. Sadovsky we can see the desire to compose new, synthetic art. Ethnographic-household material is melted by the author’s imagination, revealing his intellectuality and rich fantasy, is intertwined in the graphic leaves
Reconstructing eroded medieval landscapes of the Noordoostpolder (Zuyder Zee area, The Netherlands):An interdisciplinary palaeogeographical take on the historic landscape development between AD 1100 and 1400
This paper considers large scale erosion of late medieval peatland landscapes along the tidal lagoon of the northeastern Zuyder Zee area (today: Noordoostpolder, The Netherlands). This time period, known for its dynamic history of coeval loss of peaty coastal plains and boom of maritime activities, is studied from archaeological, geological and historical data perspectives. In the first half of the Middle Ages (500-1000 AD), vast peatlands and interconnected lakes characterized the study area. During the Late Middle Ages (1000-1500 AD), increased stormsurges and tidal incursions allowed for extensive progressive erosion of inhabited peatlands, transforming the central Netherlands into the Zuyder Zee tidal lagoon. The study area is the northeastern quadrant of this lagoon. Medieval terrestrial geological and archaeological records from that area have fallen prey to erosion, reworking and uptake into lagoon bottom deposits. Due to these major disturbance factors, a late medieval palaeogeographical reconstruction of the region has not yet been made. However, surveyed since the 1940ies, especially the archaeological data shows spatial clustering that resolves the pacing of lagoon expansion. High-density areas of late medieval archaeological objects represent submerged leftovers of former settlements. The object-clusters are key to resolving what parts of land were transformed in what types of lagoon waters and when. Hence, in mapping the lost terrestrial landscape for medieval stages we flipped the order of input-disciplines: archaeology was put first and geology second, while for earlier periods or other regions the opposite order is the convenient choice. The paper is divided in four major integrated themes: the palaeography of the study area, spatial archaeohistorical research, incorporation and critical analyses of earlier reconstructions and the formation of a regional palaeogeographical reconstruction visualized in a map series. These maps honor the late medieval maritime archaeological evidence and comply with the oldest historical maps of the lagoon. The discussed map series includes two new reconstructions for AD 1100 and AD 1400. These new maps help to bridge the palaeogeographical time gap between the most recent geological reconstruction of the early medieval landscape around AD 900 and the oldest historic topographic maps of around AD 1570
Від редакторів
Introduction
In November 2011 archaeologists of City of Rotterdam Archaeological Service (BOOR) conducted underwater research in the Yangtze harbour, Rotterdam Maasvlakte, The Netherlands. The research was carried out by order of Port of Rotterdam Authority and supervised by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands.
The results of geological, botanical, zoological and archaeological analyses of the retrieved material generated new information on the occupation of a relatively high river dune by prehistoric hunter-gatherers, and on the development history of the surrounding landscape ca. 9,000 years ago.
Methods
Rather than employing divers the underwater investigations were carried out on board a vessel using a wire-operated, horizontal closing grab. Three small trenches (total area ca. 375m²) were excavated in layers in a fairly controlled fashion. Underwater excavations cannot achieve the same level of precision as is possible on land, but the many soil core samples taken in the project’s preliminary phase allowed detailed descriptions of the geomorphological stratigraphy. The excavation resulted in 316 bulk bags of soil. All soil was sieved on land, using sieves with mesh sizes of 10 and 2mm, after which archaeologists and volunteers carefully sorted the residues, documenting a total of ca. 46,000 finds.
Results
Plenty of Mesolithic occupation remains were retrieved at all three grab locations, from depths ranging between 17 to 21m below modern MSL. The finds span the age range from ca. 8400 to 6500BC, when the site transformed from dryland (an inland dune) to wetland (drowned delta subsurface). At the foot of the inland dune, the depositional conditions allowed for excellent preservation of bone, charcoal and plant material as well as stone artefacts. The site provides an unusually rich and detailed body of evidence on environmental conditions and the Middle Mesolithic palaeo-economy. The landscape ecotones around the site yielded an abundance of food while gradually being transformed, due to rising sea levels, from a valley containing the rivers Rhine and Meuse into the mouth area of those rivers. At 6500 BC, the site was finally transgressed: drowned in an estuary and swallowed up by the sea.
Conclusion
The Rotterdam Yangtze Harbour research project demonstrates the preservation of Mesolithic sites along the river Rhine, at depths in nowadays coastal and offshore areas. Furthermore, it demonstrates the feasibility of archaeological investigation of such submerged sites, even at depths of 18 to 20 m beneath sea, lake and harbour floors. Never before had such a submerged site been excavated at such a great depth. The scientific report (in English) will appear in the autumn of 2014, providing a full description of all finds as well as their landscape context
Universal screening or a universal risk assessment combined with risk-based screening for multidrug-resistant microorganisms upon admission:Comparing strategies
OBJECTIVE: Timely identification of patients who carry multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDRO) is needed to prevent nosocomial spread to other patients and to the hospital environment. We aimed to compare the yield of a universal screening strategy upon admission to the currently installed universal risk assessment combined with risk-based screening upon admission. METHODS: This observational study was conducted within a prospective cohort study. From January 1, 2018, until September 1, 2019, patients admitted to our hospital were asked to participate. Nasal and perianal samples were taken upon admission and checked for the presence of MDRO. The results of the universal risk assessment and risk-based screening were collected retrospectively from electronic health records. RESULTS: In total, 1017 patients with 1069 separate hospital admissions participated in the study. Universal screening identified 38 (3.6%) unknown MDRO carriers upon admission (37 individual patients), all carrying extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales. For 946 of 1069 (88.5%) patients, both the universal risk assessment and universal screening were performed. For 19 (2.0%) admissions, ≥1 risk factor was identified. The universal risk assessment identified one (0.1%) unknown carrier, compared to 37 out of 946 carriers for the universal screening (P<0.001). Of the 37 carriers identified through the universal screening, 35 (94.6%) reported no risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that in our low endemic setting, a universal screening strategy identified significantly more MDRO carriers than the currently implemented universal risk-assessment. When implementing a universal risk-assessment, risk factors should be carefully selected to be able to identify ESBL-E carriers. While the universal screening identified more MDRO carriers, further research is needed to determine the cost-effectiveness of this strategy.</p
Persistent inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation: long-term (up to 2 years) clinical, angiographic, and intravascular ultrasound follow-up
BACKGROUND: Early results of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation showed a nearly complete abolition of neointimal hyperplasia. The question remains, however, whether the early promising results will still be evident at long-term follow-up. The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficiency of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for up to 2 years of follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen patients with de novo coronary artery disease were treated with 18-mm sirolimus-eluting Bx-Velocity stents (Cordis) loaded with 140 microg sirolimus/cm2 metal surface area in a slow release formulation. Quantitative angiography (QCA) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were performed according to standard protocol. Sirolimus-eluting stent implantation was successful in all 15 patients. During the in-hospital course, 1 patient died of cerebral hemorrhage after periprocedural administration of abciximab, and 1 patient underwent repeat stenting after 2 hours because of edge dissection that led to acute occlusion. Through 6 months and up to 2 years of follow-up, no additional events occurred. QCA analysis revea
Dynamics of Staphylococcus aureus in patients and the hospital environment in a tertiary care hospital in the Netherlands
Background: The dynamics of Staphylococcus aureus in patients and the hospital environment are relatively unknown. We studied these dynamics in a tertiary care hospital in the Netherlands. Methods: Nasal samples were taken from adult patients at admission and discharge. Isolates cultured from clinical samples taken before and during hospitalization from these patients were included. Environmental samples of patient rooms were taken over a three-year period. Finally, isolates from clinical samples from patients with an epidemiological link to S. aureus positive rooms were included. Staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing was performed. Results: Nasal samples were taken from 673 patients. One hundred eighteen (17.5%) were positive at admission and discharge, 15 (2.2%) patients acquired S. aureus during hospitalization. Nineteen patients had a positive clinical sample during hospitalization, 15.9% of the S. aureus were considered as from an exogenous source. One hundred and forty (2.8%) environmental samples were S. aureus positive. No persistent contamination of surfaces was observed. Isolates were highly diverse: spa typing was performed for 893 isolates, identifying 278 different spa types, 161 of these spa types were observed only once. Conclusion: Limited transmission could be identified between patients and the hospital environment, and from patient-to-patient. Exogenous acquisition was assumed to occur in 15% of clinical samples. Environmental contamination was infrequent, temporarily, and coincided with the strain from the patient admitted to the room at that time. MRSA was rare and not found in the environment.</p
Use of multiparametric MRI to characterize uterine fibroid tissue types
Background: Although the biological characteristics of uterine fibroids (UF) have implications for therapy choice and effectiveness, there is limited MRI data about these characteristics. Currently, the Funaki classification and Scale
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