Recent developments in UV-LED technology open up new possibilities for water treatment. TiO2 photocatalysis can benefit from optimized photoreactor design to increase hydroxyl radical production and ...reduce its electrical energy per order (EEO) demands, which still ranks high among advanced oxidation processes. However, literature on UV-LED photoreactor design is largely lacking. In this work, a detailed investigation of photoreactor design is proposed. The simulation of a lab scale cylindrical reactor with 8 different UV-LED arrays was run with the professional version of an optic software. The increase of radiant flux and irradiance on the reactor’s middle cross section and side walls, respectively, was related to an increasing number of LEDs and to a shorter distance from the reactor but not necessarily to an increase in homogeneity of light distribution. A full factorial experimental design was applied to evaluate the degradation of a representative contaminant of emerging concern (ciprofloxacin) considering 4 independent variables and their interactive effects on kinetic rates and EEO values. The significance of these effects was evaluated with ANOVA and a prediction model was established. The results show that the presence of a TiO2 nanofilm was the most significant tested effect. The number of LEDs, their distance from the reactor’s wall and the adoption of controlled periodic illumination also greatly influenced kinetic rates but were less relevant for reducing EEO values because the energetic trade-off was not sufficient to turn the kinetic gain into lower electricity demands.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible association between Apo E polymorphisms and age at seizure onset in patients with non-lesional temporal lobe epilepsy. Eighty patients with ...non-lesional temporal lobe epilepsy with or without bilateral tonic-clonic propagation were analyzed. Age at seizure onset was defined as age at the first unequivocal seizure (excluding febrile convulsions). ApoE alleles were determined by a procedure where genome DNA was amplified by chain reaction along with polymerase, using the LightCycler kit (Roche) for ApoE mutations on codons 112 and 158. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups of patients with ApoE ε2/3 and ε3/4 genotypes (p=0.03), but not between patients with ApoE, ε2/3 and ε3/3, and those with ApoE ε3/4 and ε3/3. In conclusion, the results of our study suggested positive association of a specific ApoE genotype and onset of non-lesional temporal lobe epilepsy.
In this paper fatigue for professional soldier caused by
active physical activity and endurance limits is investigated. The resulting workload is one of indicators of how training, preparedness and ...other acquired work skills can contribute to the human body being a large working “machine”. Ergometry test was conducted and field test for
soldier fitness condition and energy expenditure was measured regarding
the level of body’s metabolism. Field test consisted of three runs on a
polygon of 10 km and different workloads, the energy consumption was monitored. Work load was compared with Occupational Safety and Health law acts. The results showed difference in workload conditions and hart rate which allowed to determine rest spots and safety in training conditions.
U ovom radu istražuje se umor profesionalnog vojnika uzrokovan aktivnom fizičkom aktivnošću i ograničenjima izdržljivosti. Rezultat radnog opterećenja jedan je od pokazatelja kako obuka, pripremljenost i druge stečene radne vještine mogu pridonijeti ljudskom tijelu kao velikom radnom „stroju“. Provedeno je ergometrijsko ispitivanje i terenski test za kondicijsko stanje vojnika i potrošnja energije mjereno je s obzirom na razinu metabolizma u tijelu. Terensko ispitivanje sastojalo se od staza na poligonu od 10 km i različitih opterećenja, a praćena je i potrošnja energije. Radno opterećenje uspoređeno je sa zakonima o zaštiti na radu. Rezultati su pokazali razliku u uvjetima radnog opterećenja i brzini vrtnje, što je omogućilo određivanje mjesta odmora i sigurnosti u uvjetima treninga.U ovom radu istražuje se umor profesionalnog vojnika uzrokovan aktivnom fizičkom aktivnošću i ograničenjima izdržljivosti. Rezultat radnog opterećenja jedan je od pokazatelja kako obuka, pripremljenost i druge stečene radne vještine mogu pridonijeti ljudskom tijelu kao velikom radnom „stroju“. Provedeno je ergometrijsko ispitivanje i terenski test za kondicijsko stanje vojnika i potrošnja energije mjereno je s obzirom na razinu metabolizma u tijelu. Terensko ispitivanje sastojalo se od staza na poligonu od 10 km i različitih opterećenja, a praćena je i potrošnja energije. Radno opterećenje uspoređeno je sa zakonima o zaštiti na radu. Rezultati su pokazali razliku u uvjetima radnog opterećenja i brzini vrtnje, što je omogućilo određivanje mjesta odmora i sigurnosti u uvjetima treninga.
In this paper we are examining optimal approach to the markets of Southeast Asia. Croatian export has been traditionally oriented towards few neigboring countries. Countries of Southeast Asia on the ...other hand represent (besides China, Korea and Japan) market of almost 600 million inhabitants with relatively high growth rates, which is making them an interesting growth area that is less dependent on European trends. As Southeast-Asian countries are considerably remote and „exotic“ one has to deeply consider about optimal approach to those markets since logistic costs are high. We are offering theoretical approach as well as some successful approaches to markets in Southeast Asia.
Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are life-threatening and an economical burden to the health-care system. The current pharmacotherapy of AD is symptomatic and focused ...almost solely on cognition, with a lot of unmet medical needs, particulary in the area of mood and behavioural symptoms. Therefore the requirement for supportive therapy and nutritive support in the form of nutraceuticals and complex foods has been raised and numerous studies have been conducted for the purpose of identifying the ideal nutritional compund and complex food for the support in treatment of AD. As oxidative stress in the brain is the main symptom of AD, foods that are high in antioxidant activity have been identified as potential nutraceuticals for AD. Due to their nutrient combination and antioxidant effect of the nutrients, apples seem to be one of the most promisable complex foods in the nutritive support of AD. In this article we review the potential benfit of apples on human health, combination of apple compounds and their protective effect on neurodegeneration and AD.
Despite advances in antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy, about one-third of patients with epilepsy are resistant to drug treatment. Functional impact of polymorphisms in drug-efflux transporter genes ...may contribute to multidrug resistance theory. Studies on ABCB1 gene gave contradictory results and available data suggest that this polymorphism may not directly cause altered P-glycoprotein (Pgp) transport activity but may be associated with one or more causal variants in the stretch of linkage disequilibrium or is caused by multiple gene polymorphisms. Genetic polymorphisms also occur frequently in other transmembrane transport systems including the multidrug resistance proteins (MRPs, ABCC2). The aim of this research was to investigate the possible association of ABCC2 gene polymorphisms G1249A in exon 10 and C24T in exon 1 with the development of drug resistance. This cross-sectional study is a part of ongoing pharmacogenomic study of epilepsy in Croatian population. All patients enrolled in the study had an established diagnosis of partial complex epilepsy with or without secondary generalization with non lesional brain MRI with epilepsy protocol and have been suffering for more than two years. They were divided into two groups. The first group comprised 52 patients refractory to the current therapy, while the second group consisted of 45 patients with well-controlled seizures. Our data did not identify any significant association between genetic polymorphisms of exon 1 (24C > T) and exon 10 (1249G < A) of ABCC2 gene or any combined effect in response to AED treatment and development of drug resistance in patients with partial complex epilepsy. Statistical significant difference was not found in genotype based analysis, allele frequency, haplotype and combined genotype analysis.
Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease. Treatment aims in IPD include the provision of symptomatic relief reduction of ...functional disability, halting or slowing of the neurodegenerative process, and the prevention of long-term complications by proper initiation of therapy. At present, pharmacotherapeutic strategies allow the amelioration of motor symptoms of IPD only, whereas non-motor manifestations are not helped by dopamine replacement strategies. In addition, levodopa-induced fluctuation and dyskinesia are still challenging, particularly in long-term treatment. Despite advances in pharmacotherapy that have improved quality of life for these patients, the mortality rate remains largely unchanged. Sustained interest in IPD will hopefully allow increased funding of research to develop new and better treatments.
Animal data and postmortem studies suggest a role of oxidative stress in the Huntington's disease (HD), but in vivo human studies have been scarce.
To assess the presence of oxidative stress in HD ...patients and its occurrence relative to clinical symptoms.
Oxidative stress markers were determined in plasma of HD patients (n = 19), asymptomatic HD gene carriers (with > 38 CAG repeats) (n = 11) and their respective sex and agematched healthy controls (n = 47 and n = 22) in a cross-sectional study.
With adjustment for age and sex, HD patients had higher plasma lipid peroxidation (LP) levels (ratio 1.20, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.32, p < 0.001) and lower reduced glutathione (GSH) levels (ratio 0.72, CI 0.55 to 0.94, p = 0.011) than their age and sex-matched controls. Although considerably younger, HD gene carriers did not differ from HD patients regarding LP and GSH levels, and had higher plasma LP (ratio 1.16, CI 1.02 to 1.32, p = 0.016) and lower GSH than their matched controls (ratio 0.73, CI 0.5 to 1.05). They had higher LP (ratio 1.18, CI 1.02 to 1.34, p = 0.019) and lower GSH (ratio 0.75, CI 0.51 to 1.11) than the healthy subjects matched to HD patients.
Oxidative stress is more pronounced in HD patients and asymptomatic HD gene carriers than in healthy subjects. Differences in plasma LP and GSH are in line with the brain findings in animal models of HD. Data suggest that oxidative stress occurs before the onset of the HD symptoms.
The aim was to study the direct medical cost of epilepsy in children and adolescents and to determine the impact of epilepsy type and child's age on total costs of treatment. One-year prospective, ...prevalence based, "bottom up" analyses of sixty-nine (69) children with epilepsy (International League Against Epilepsy criteria was used). Direct medical costs were calculated by summing annual costs of hospital care, outpatient visits and antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. The average annual cost per patient was 1293.0 Euro. The costs of hospital admissions were 942.9 Euro (72%), followed by drug treatment 240.0 Euro (19%) and outpatient medical services 121.2 Euro (9%). The costs of epilepsy were significantly higher for children under 5 years of age. AED costs were statistically significantly lower for children who received traditional AED (Euro 122.0) than modern AED (571.2 Euro). The costs of epilepsy in children and adolescents in Croatia are congruent to those of developed countries. Costs significantly varied regarding the child's age. The cost of illness studies are an important first step towards the rational use of available resources.
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