A proposal to detect vortices above the superconducting transition temperature

We propose a simple experiment to determine whether vortices persist above the superconducting transition temperature Tc in the pseudogap phase of high temperature cuprate superconductors. This involves using a magnetic dot to stabilize a vortex in a thin cuprate film beneath the dot. We calculate the magnetic field profile as a function of distance from the dot if a vortex is present, and discuss possible measurements that could be done to detect this. Finally, we comment on the temperature range where a stable vortex should be observable.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figure

A contribution to shielding effectiveness analysis of shielded tents

An analysis of shielding effectiveness (SE) of the shielded tents made of the metallised fabrics is given. First, two electromagnetic characteristic fundamental for coupling through electrically thin shield, the skin depth break frequency and the surface resistance or transfer impedance, is defined and analyzed. Then, the transfer function and the SE are analyzed regarding to the frequency range of interest to the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Community

Assessing the significance of knockout cascades in metabolic networks

Complex networks have been shown to be robust against random structural perturbations, but vulnerable against targeted attacks. Robustness analysis usually simulates the removal of individual or sets of nodes, followed by the assessment of the inflicted damage. For complex metabolic networks, it has been suggested that evolutionary pressure may favor robustness against reaction removal. However, the removal of a reaction and its impact on the network may as well be interpreted as selective regulation of pathway activities, suggesting a tradeoff between the efficiency of regulation and vulnerability. Here, we employ a cascading failure algorithm to simulate the removal of single and pairs of reactions from the metabolic networks of two organisms, and estimate the significance of the results using two different null models: degree preserving and mass-balanced randomization. Our analysis suggests that evolutionary pressure promotes larger cascades of non-viable reactions, and thus favors the ability of efficient metabolic regulation at the expense of robustness

Topoisomerase expression and amplification in solid tumours: Analysis of 24,262 patients.

BackgroundTopoisomerase I (TOPO1) and topoisomerase IIα (TOP2A) are specific targets of multiple chemotherapy drugs. Increased expression of TOPO1 protein and amplification of the TOP2A gene have been associated with treatment response in colorectal and breast cancers, respectively. TOPO1 and TOP2A may be potential therapeutic targets in other malignancies as well.Summary of methodsWe analysed TOPO1 protein expression and TOP2A gene amplification in patients (n = 24,262 specimens) with diverse cancers. Since HER2 and TOP2A co-amplification have been investigated for predictive value regarding anthracycline benefit, we analysed specimens for HER2 amplification as well.ResultsOverexpressed TOPO1 protein was present in 51% of the tumours. Four percent of the tumours had TOP2A amplification, with gallbladder tumours and gastroesophageal/oesophageal tumours having rates over 10%. Overall, 4903 specimens were assessed for both TOP2A and HER2 amplification; 129 (2.6%) had co-amplification. High rates (>40%) of HER2 amplification were seen in patients with TOP2A amplification in breast, ovarian, gastroesophageal/oesophageal and pancreatic cancer.ConclusionOur data indicate that increased TOPO1 expression and TOP2A amplification, as well as HER2 co-alterations, are present in multiple malignancies. The implications of these observations regarding sensitivity to chemotherapy not traditionally administered to these tumour types merits investigation

Methodological Background of Decision Rules and Feedback Tools for Outcomes Management in Psychotherapy

Systems to provide feedback regarding treatment progress have been recognized as a promising method for the early identification of patients at risk for treatment failure in outpatient psychotherapy. The feedback systems presented in this article rely on decision rules to contrast the actual treatment progress of an individual patient and his or her expected treatment response (ETR). Approaches to predict the ETR on the basis of patient intake characteristics and previous treatment progress can be classified into two broad classes: Rationally derived decision rules rely on the judgments of experts, who determine the amount of progress that a patient has to achieve for a given treatment session to be considered “on track.” Empirically derived decision rules are based on expected recovery curves derived from statistical models applied to aggregated psychotherapy outcomes data. Examples of each type of decision rule and of feedback systems based on such rules are presented and reviewed

Promene EKG tokom hiperinfuzione terapije konja sa hroničnim opstruktivnim oboljenjima

This study describes investigations into the electrocardiogram changes in 27 horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), during hyperinfusion therapy with isotonic saline solution. Immediately after hyperinfusion therapy the equine ECG showed a temporary sinus tachycardia without atrial and ventricular rhythm disturbances. After infusion a highly significant shortening of the PQ-, QT and TP-intervals was observed. There was a positive correlation between the RR-interval and the duration of the PQ- and QT-intervals, but not with the duration of the P-, QRS- and T-waves.Ova studija opisuje ispitivanja promena u elektrokardiogramu 27 konja sa hroničnim plućnim oboljenjima (COPD) utoku hiperinfuzione terapije izotoničnim rastvorom soli. Neposredno posle hiperinfuzione terapije, EKG konja je pokazivao postojanje povremene sinusne tahikardije bez poremećaja ritma rada pretkomora i komora. Posle infuzije zapaženo je veoma izraženo skraćenje PQ, QT, TP intervala. Izražena je povezanost između RR intervala i trajanja PQ i QT intervala, ali ne i sa pojavom P, QRS i T talasa

Priority environmental investment programme: Development and implementation

This paper is created to serve as a methodological base and possible work plan for Assistance in Priority Environmental Investment Programme Development and Implementation in the Republic of Serbia. It will contribute to improved mechanisms for selection of priority environmental investments. Also, the paper should outline a scope of work for technical assistance for Republic of Serbia in developing mechanisms for identifying and selecting priority environmental investments. The main feature of the long-term environmental policy in the Republic of Serbia is absence of integrated approach, which goes hand by hand with the international environmental standards, and lack of efficient economic instruments and regulations. It causes an inadequate technology policy and location of the polluters. Besides that there has been a lack of appropriate environmental monitoring system good enough to provide efficient ex-ante and ex-post protection. It has caused a lot of environmental damages so that a completely new approach in the field of environment is expected to be created out of which the Priority Environmental Investment Programme (PEIP) should be a main tool for experience of good environmental governance in the Republic of Serbia as well as in the region of SEE