LABOUR TERMINATION AND PERINATAL OUTCOME IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH PLACENTA ABRUPTION WITH PPROM AND PROM

Placenta abruption is an obstetric accident which endangers life and health of both mother and embryo. It is one of the most serious obstetric complications, whose incidence ranges from 4.9-12.9 per 1,000 labours, and according to frequency, it represents the second cause of perinatal death. Retrospective analysis included the interval from 1996 to 2005. Total number of labours was analyzed and it was 32358. In addition, the number of labours complicated by placenta abruption was analyzed, and it was 119 or 0.37%. It analyzed the incidence of placenta abruption according to age of pregnancy and the integrity of embryonic membranes. It is established that there is no statistically significant difference in the incidence of placenta abruption appearing in pregnant women, with and without the disruption of embryonic membranes. The age of pregnant women was also analyzed, and it was found out that the pregnant women with placenta abruption and PPROM were 5 years older than those with placenta abruption without PPROM, and that this difference was very significant. Disruption duration was analyzed as well as the time from the first uterus bleeding to labour. The difference between PPROM and PROM duration was statistically significant, as well as the difference in duration between spontaneous and artificial rupture of embryonic membranes. The way of labour termination was analyzed in pregnant women with verified placenta abruption. In 80% of pregnant women, the labour was terminated by Caesarian section, and only 20% by vaginal labour. Also, the perinatal outcome was analyzed, according to Apgar score in the first and fifth minute. Apgar score showed that out of the total number of abruptions, 7 neonatuses was born dead (11.66%), 13 (21.66%) was born in good condition (Apgar score>7), 26 (43.33%) was marked with 4-7, while 14 (23.33%) was in hard asphyxia (Apgar score 1-5)

High time resolution and high signal-to-noise monitoring of the bacterial growth kinetics in the presence of plasmonic nanoparticles

Background: Emerging concepts for designing innovative drugs (i.e., novel generations of antimicrobials) frequently include nanostructures, new materials, and nanoparticles (NPs). Along with numerous advantages, NPs bring limitations, partly because they can limit the analytical techniques used for their biological and in vivo validation. From that standpoint, designing innovative drug delivery systems requires advancements in the methods used for their testing and investigations. Considering the well-known ability of resazurin-based methods for rapid detection of bacterial metabolisms with very high sensitivity, in this work we report a novel optimization for tracking bacterial growth kinetics in the presence of NPs with specific characteristics, such as specific optical properties. Results: Arginine-functionalized gold composite (HAp/Au/arginine) NPs, used as the NP model for validation of the method, possess plasmonic properties and are characterized by intensive absorption in the UV/vis region with a surface plasmon resonance maximum at 540 nm. Due to the specific optical properties, the NP absorption intensively interferes with the light absorption measured during the evaluation of bacterial growth (optical density; OD600). The results confirm substantial nonspecific interference by NPs in the signal detected during a regular turbidity study used for tracking bacterial growth. Instead, during application of a resazurin-based method (Presto Blue), when a combination of absorption and fluorescence detection is applied, a substantial increase in the signal-to-noise ratio is obtained that leads to the improvement of the accuracy of the measurements as verified in three bacterial strains tested with different growth rates (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus). Conclusions: Here, we described a novel procedure that enables the kinetics of bacterial growth in the presence of NPs to be followed with high time resolution, high sensitivity, and without sampling during the kinetic study. We showed the applicability of the Presto Blue method for the case of HAp/Au/arginine NPs, which can be extended to various types of metallic NPs with similar characteristics. The method is a very easy, economical, and reliable option for testing NPs designed as novel antimicrobials

The balanced scorecard and EFQM working together in a performance management framework in construction industry

In the recent years the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and EFQM Excellence Model (EFQM) became very popular performance management (PMM) models. However, many studies showed their flaws, especially in communicating, integrating and aligning Key Performance Indicators (KPI) with strategy, setting targets and conducting benchmarking. BSC or EFQM have always been used alone and regarded as exclusive PMM tools. In contrast, this study introduces a novel PMM framework that relies on the strengths of both BSC and EFQM. The framework uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to connect these two models. At first, AHP is used for setting priorities among competitive strategic objectives and afterwards for selecting KPIs against SMARTER (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Encouraging and Rewarding) criteria. By verifying the framework on the construction industry we discovered that companies can integrate EFQM and BSC to conduct benchmarking, identify best practice, align strategy with the competitive surroundings and selecting strategy aligned KPIs. Using this framework, construction companies can thus achieve strategic control that otherwise by just using BSC could not be achieved. These findings are important because they bring a new perspective on managing organizations and confront many authors who have put EFQM and BSC against each other

Estimation of the excavator actual productivity at the construction site using video analysis

Current estimates of the actual productivity of heavy construction machinery at a construction site are not supported by an appropriate and widely used methodology. Recently, for the purpose of estimating the actual productivity of heavy construction machinery, visionbased technologies are used. This paper emphasizes the importance of estimating actual productivity and presents a way (i.e. a research framework) to achieve it. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to propose a simple research framework (SRF) for quick and practical estimates of excavator actual productivity and cycle time at a construction site. The excavator actual productivity refers to the maximum possible productivity in real construction site conditions. The SRF includes the use of a video camera and the analysis of recorded videos using an advanced computer program. In cases of continuous application of SRF, a clear and transparent base for monitoring and control of earthworks can be obtained at an observed construction site

Gap Waveguide Leaky-Wave Antenna

A novel leaky-wave antenna, realized using gap waveguide concept, is here proposed. Both, the feeding structure and the antenna are realized in groove gap waveguide technology, thus simplifying the whole structure. A complete design procedure, starting from a given groove waveguide to the final radiation mechanism, is described in this communication. The results are supported with measurements of a prototype that operates in the X-band. The realized antenna has a gain around 18 dB between 9 and 11.5 GHz, demonstrating the potential of the proposed radiation technology.This work was supported in part by the Unity through Knowledge Fund (UKF), Croatia, under the project 9/13;, in part by the ESF Research Networking Programme NEWFOCUS, in part by Spanish Government under the project TEC2013-44019-R, and in part by Madrid Regional Government under the project S2013/ICE-3000

Review of previous applications of innovative information technologies in construction health and safety

Construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries to work in. This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that safety performance improvement is stagnating. Information technologies (ITs) are however identified as one of the most promising methods of improving the performance of construction safety. The goal of this paper was therefore to present previous research in the application of innovative ITs to the field of construction health and safety (H&S), classified by their underlying technology and application, to identify research gaps, as well as to evaluate and describe the potential of their implementation into construction safety practice. To achieve the set goals, the research consisted of identifying and studying the existing research published in the leading journals in the field of construction H&S. The review identified 72 papers dealing with development or application of innovative ITs. The research had also identified several research gaps, which have a significant impact on the construction safety practice. These gaps focus on the construction phase, while neglecting earlier project phases; industry and project levels, while neglecting construction activity and task levels; building projects, while neglecting infrastructure projects and specific hazard types, while neglecting a universal approach. Focussing research effort on these gaps would benefit all construction safety stakeholders but mostly the prominent contractors and H&S professionals. Furthermore, recommendations for directing research focus on solving the identified issues are given in this paper

EFQM excellence model as the TQM model of the construction industry of southeastern Europe

Over the years the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence model (EFQM) has become a popular performance management tool and representation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in Europe. Although the model has been tested and supported by many questionnaire surveys, EFQM has never been validated on real self-assessment scores obtained from companies. Therefore this study validates the model on scores from 34 construction companies in South Eastern Europe. The analysis shows that: a) there is an enabler excellence construct that is obtained by each enabler criteria; b) there is a result excellence construct that is obtained by each result criteria; and c) the EFQM model is most suitable for Contractor type organizations. Furthermore, we have found that the EFQM weights do not entirely correspond with the construction industry. Therefore we present new weights for the better use in the construction. Although this study proves EFQM to be a good representation of TQM in the construction industry, further improvements are needed. This is especially evident within investor and consultant type organization, where the criteria of Policy and Strategy, Leadership and Processes, People results and Client results showed certain limitations

Fractional flow reserve of intermediate lesions on collateral donor coronary arteries after myocardial infarction

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is the gold standard for the functional assessment of coronary arteries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between angiography, QCA and FFR in borderline lesions on collateral donor coronary arteries. In addition, FFR is compared with the angiographic appearance of collaterals to infarction-related arteries and echocardiographically assessed viability of infarct related the LV wall. In 60 patients with previous IM and occluded IRA, functional assessment of borderline coronary stenosis (30-70% DS) on collaterals donor artery was performed. We have not found statistically significant differences in these parameters between groups with different angiographic appearances of collaterals and different viability of distal myocardium. However, we found higher FFR values in diabetic patients (p=0.018). Higher FFR values in diabetic patients reveal the negative effects of diabetes on collateral growth and myocardial viability

ECG Changes in 8-Year-Old Boy with Pulmonary Edema after Head Injury

This is a case story of an 8-year-old boy with no prior history of cardiac disease who developed acute pulmonary edema with ECG changes similar to transmural myocardial infarction after basilar skull fracture. Biochemical evaluation showed elevated total creatine kinase activity -1,350 U/L with 12% MB isoenzyme fraction. The brain scan on admission showed cerebral edema with ethmoidal sinuses hemorrhage. Neurogenic pulmonary edema following CNS damage is an extremely rare entity in the pediatric population and there are few reports. There are many proposed mechanisms and explanations of its origin. Based on previous reports and experimental studies, the cause of "neurogenic" pulmonary edema may be of cardiac as well as of noncardiac origin

Fractional flow reserve in patients with intermediate values of Duke Treadmill Score and borderline coronary lesions

Despite the wide usage of exercise ECG tests and Duke Treadmill Score (DTS) in clinical practice, no comparison between this scoring system and Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) has yet been made, particularly in cases of angiographically verified borderline lesions. Thirty patients with single coronary lesions and angiographically assessed borderline stenosis (between 30-70%) and previously calculated intermediate values of DTS between -10 to +4 were examined using FFR. Adequate specificity and sensitivity (0.769 and 0.556, respectively) were in a more narrow range of -0.5 to -10. Sex and age did not have an influence on the DTS values. There was a correlation between the values of FFR and age (r=0.395, p=0.031) and between angiographic assessment of stenosis and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) (r=0.648, p<0.0001). In the study population, a decision on revascularization could not be based solely on angiographic or QCA assessment of the artery or on the values of DTS