Health promotion or pharmacological treatment for chronic diseases?

Over the last years medicine has progressed very rapidly. Com- municable diseases, which were the leading causes of mortali- ties, are not anymore, especially in developed countries. Cur- rently, non-communicable diseases are more prevalent, and most of them are related to changes in our daily habits and degenerative processes. Most of these diseases are chronic, need continuous care and treatment with limited improvement and high costs. The General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 65/238 recognized the primary role and responsibility of Governments in responding to the challenge of non- communicable diseases and the essential need for the efforts and engagement of all sectors of society to generate an effec- tive response. Special emphasis has been concentrated on phar- macological treatments for most of chronic non-communicable diseases with the challenge to discover new drugs for treating, in most cases, chronic irreversible degenerative diseases asso- ciated with aging. Little care was given to non-pharmacological lines of treatment

The Future of TV and Online Video Platforms: A Study on Predictors of Use and Interaction with Content in the Egyptian Evolving Telecomm, Media & Entertainment Industries

This study examines the future of TV and online video platforms in the evolving Egyptian market through using the predictors of use and interaction. Built on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, and the theory of technology discontinuities and platforms development, this study extends its framework to explore the relationship between the intention of use and the interaction with content behavior. A sample size of 396 university students answered the survey questions. Unlike other studies, the study found that the perceived ease of use (PEU) is the only variable that is positively correlated to the intention to use online video platforms, yet it shows a significant positive relationship between consumer characteristics (including instrumental orientation [IO], perceived behavioral control [PBC], online flow experience [FLOW]) and intention to use online video platforms. Results show that people are watching less TV, yet the low disposable income might be a serious challenge toward the growth of video platforms. This study offers valuable indicators about changing consumer behavior in the research-weak transitional Egyptian media system

Functional plasticity and tolerance to drought conditions of 11 apple tree varieties grown in Morocco

In this study, 11 varieties were grown in the experimental chamber in order to determine the morphological, anatomical and physiological characteristics of each. The experimental protocol was carried out under controlled conditions of irrigation, temperature and hygrometry. The values obtained of the thickness, the cuticle, length of the ostiole, density and size of the stomata and then of stomatal and cuticular sweat have made it possible to calculate the stomatic resistance of each variety and to evaluate its potential to adapt to drought conditions. We have highlighted significant differences related to variety through the Duncan test. 4 groups are identified and the results are discussed in this article

Catalog of Isolated Galaxies Selected from the 2MASS Survey

We search for isolated galaxies based on the automatic identification of isolated sources from the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) followed by a visual inspection of their surroundings. We use the modified Karachentseva criterion to compile a catalog of 3227 isolated galaxies (2MIG), which contains 6% of 2MASS Extended Sources Catalog (or 2MASX) sources brighter than Ks = 12 mag with angular diameters a_K > 30 arcsec. The catalog covers the entire sky and has an effective depth of z = 0.02. The 2493 very isolated objects of the catalog, which we include into the 2MVIG catalog, can be used as a reference sample to investigate the effects of the environment on the structure and evolution of galaxies located in regions with extremely low density of matter.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figure

Coherent interactions and long term evolution of ultrafast transients in a semiconductor laser

Introduction The interaction of short optical pulses with laser cavity modes is important in, for example, formation of mode-locked pulse trains, optical clock recovery, and external optical feedback The spatio-temporal dynamics of the electric field may be calculated from Maxwell's equations using a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Coupling a Lorentzian resonance allows an approximate model of the optical gain We consider a class of recent experiments in which a short optical pulse is injected into a semiconductor laser diode, allowing a study of the pulse-cavity interactions on time-scales shorter than the cavity roundtrip time. In addition to the expected pulse broadening and relaxation oscillations, new phenomena such as stable, long-lived 'dark pulses' were observed Numerical Methods We have coupled an FDTD calculation of the electric field with multiple Lorentzian resonances which approximate the spectral dependence of the semiconductor gain. Results and discussion During the propagation of a short pulse through a population-inverted semiconductor a region of depleted gain is left behind the injected pulse. For a laser under CW operation this region of depleted gain can evolve into a long lived 'dark pulse'

BANGUNAN KUNO WISMA PERDAMAIAN DALAM SEJARAH KOTA KAWASAN SIMPANG TUGU MUDA, SEMARANG

Abstract The Simpang Tugu Muda Area has great significance for Semarang City. In this area, several buildings have become landmarks of this city. Unfortunately, the history of this area has not been written systematically, and among the historical landmarks in this area, the Old Building of Wisma Perdamaian has the most confusing history. This article was based on the 2021 historical research in the Simpang Tugu Muda Area and describes its history and the Old Building of Wisma Perdamaian based on a more factual data; therefore, it can contribute to build a more solid history of Semarang City and architectural conservation efforts there. This research used a historical research method as well as field observation. One of the research findings shows that the Old Building of Wisma Perdamaian was not the residence of the Governor of the North Coast of Java Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) in the 18th century, as many people believe. This building was built by Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger (KNIL) as the residence of the Major General of the KNIL in the 19th century. Meanwhile, the residence of the Governor of the North Coast of Java, VOC, was demolished in 1908.Keywords: History of architecture and the city, Semarang, Tugu Muda Area, Wisma Perdamaian Abstrak Kawasan Simpang Tugu Muda memiliki signifikansi yang besar di Kota Semarang. Di kawasan ini berdiri pula beberapa bangunan yang menjadi tengaran kota ini. Di antara bangunan-bangunan tersebut, Bangunan Kuno Wisma Perdamaian memiliki sejarah yang paling simpang siur. Artikel ini ditulis berdasarkan penelitian historis Kawasan Simpang Tugu Muda yang dilaksanakan pada 2021 dengan tujuan untuk memaparkan sejarah arsitektur dan tata kota kawasan ini dan Bangunan Kuno Wisma Perdamaian berdasarkan data primer yang lebih faktual, sehingga diharapkan dapat berkontribusi pada penulisan sejarah dan pelestarian arsitektur di Kota Semarang yang lebih solid. Metode yang dipakai dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian sejarah yang dilengkapi dengan observasi lapangan. Salah satu temuan penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Bangunan Kuno Wisma Perdamaian bukanlah kediaman Gubernur Pantai Utara Jawa Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) pada abad ke-18 seperti yang diyakini banyak orang. Bangunan ini dibangun oleh Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger (KNIL) sebagai kediaman Mayor Jenderal KNIL pada abad ke-19. Sementara kediaman Gubernur Pantai Utara Jawa VOC sudah dirobohkan pada 1908.Kata kunci: Sejarah Arsitektur Kota, Semarang, Simpang Tugu Muda, Wisma Perdamaia

KAJIAN SEJARAH DAN DOKUMENTASI GEDUNG PERTEMUAN SMP DOMENICO SAVIO, KOTA SEMARANG

Sejarah penyebaran agama Katolik di Hindia Belanda dan Indonesia, khususnya di Jawa, tidak terlepas dari hadirnya institusi pendidikan binaan misionaris yang telah berdiri sejak awal abad ke-20. Institusi pendidikan ini telah berkontribusi meningkatkan kualitas hidup masyarakat Indonesia terlepas dari latar belakang keagamaannya. Dokumentasi warisan arsitektur terkait institusi pendidikan ini dapat mendukung signifikansi sejarah kontribusi gereja Katolik tersebut. Artikel ini ditulis berdasarkan penelitian sejarah arsitektur atas Gedung Pertemuan SMP Domenico Savio yang dilakukan pada 2021 dengan tujuan mendapatkan informasi kesejarahan dan mendokumentasikan transformasi fisik gedung ini. Metode yang dipakai dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian sejarah yang dilengkapi dengan observasi dan dokumentasi lapangan. Berdasarkan kajian yang dilakukan, diketahui bahwa Gedung Pertemuan SMP Domenico Savio telah ada sejak akhir abad ke-19, pernah digunakan sebagai gereja, dan telah mengalami beberapa bentuk transformasi fisik. Hasil penelitian ini dapat digunakan sebagai dasar pelestarian arsitektur dan penulisan sejarah perkembangan agama Katolik di Jawa, khususnya di Semarang.

Tuberculin screening of some selected Fulani lactating cows in north-central Nigeria

The prevalence of mycobacterial infection among lactating Fulani cows was investigated in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Kaduna State of Nigeria. Tuberculin testing using single comparative intradermal tuberculin test showed a 14.6 % positive, 4 % doubtful, and 81.4 % negative reactors. Mycobacterial infection was found to be present in the nomadic (constantly moving) and seminomadic (limited movement) management systems studied but management showed no significant effect on the prevalence of the disease. However, the prevalence was significantly higher in older age groups than the younger ones (P < 0.05).Peer reviewedSubmitted Versio

The Dark Energy Survey: Data Release 1

We describe the first public data release of the Dark Energy Survey, DES DR1, consisting of reduced single-epoch images, co-added images, co-added source catalogs, and associated products and services assembled over the first 3 yr of DES science operations. DES DR1 is based on optical/near-infrared imaging from 345 distinct nights (2013 August to 2016 February) by the Dark Energy Camera mounted on the 4 m Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. We release data from the DES wide-area survey covering ~5000 deg2 of the southern Galactic cap in five broad photometric bands, grizY. DES DR1 has a median delivered point-spread function of , r = 0.96, i = 0.88, z = 0.84, and Y = 090 FWHM, a photometric precision of \u3c1% in all bands, and an astrometric precision of 151 . The median co-added catalog depth for a 195 diameter aperture at signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) = 10 is g = 24.33, r = 24.08, i = 23.44, z = 22.69, and Y = 21.44 . DES DR1 includes nearly 400 million distinct astronomical objects detected in ~10,000 co-add tiles of size 0.534 deg2 produced from ~39,000 individual exposures. Benchmark galaxy and stellar samples contain ~310 million and ~80 million objects, respectively, following a basic object quality selection. These data are accessible through a range of interfaces, including query web clients, image cutout servers, jupyter notebooks, and an interactive co-add image visualization tool. DES DR1 constitutes the largest photometric data set to date at the achieved depth and photometric precision

Association between HindIII (rs320) variant in the lipoprotein lipase gene and the presence of coronary artery disease and stroke among the Saudi population

Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL) is known to be a key enzyme for lipid metabolism specifically in an enzymatic glycoprotein which provide tissues without fatty-acids and eliminates triglycerides (TG) by the circulation. Mutations in LPL were proven to cause alteration in fractions within lipoprotein, causing the development of atherosclerosis which predispose to weakening coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. We examined the linkage between genetic variant HindIII in LPL on lipoprotein fractions, stroke occurrences and CAD. In this case-control study, we have recruited 315 CAD cases and 205 age-matched controls. A total of 520 genomic DNA was digested with the purified PCR products for restriction fragment length polymorphism with HindIII restriction enzyme. The distribution of genotypes in a decreasing order were TT, 148 (47%), GT 135 (42.9%) and GG 32 (10.2%) in CAD groups of the study while the pattern in controls were GT 91 (44.4%), TT 86 (42%) and GG 28 (13.7%). None of all the allele or genotype frequencies were found to be significant in our study (p greater than 0.05), while the biochemical levels for both TG and LDL-c were shown to be prone in CAD patients when compare with the controls. Furthermore, the occurence of strokes were more in CAD groups vs. controls: 72 (22.9%) vs. 7 (3.4%) [p 0.000]. This could indicate the influence of HindIII variant on plasma lipid levels, and the possibility of considering it a risk factor for atherosclerosis leading to CAD and stroke occurrence