Changes in human growth and development depend on genetic and environmental factors. In the case of Slovenia, the environmental factors changed as a result of the period of socio-economic transition ...that the country underwent between 1991 and 2013. The authors used anthropometric techniques to evaluate differences in body height, proportions and sexual maturity in 1,221 adolescents aged 14 in 1993, 2003 and 2013.
Data was collected as a part of the ACDSi study, which has monitored children's somatic growth and motor development every decade over the last 40 years.
Between 1993 and 2013, a trend (p=0.08) towards increased body height was observed in males. The comparison of age at peak height velocity (PHV) between generations demonstrated a trend (p=0.07) of earlier entry into puberty in adolescents in 2013 compared to those in 1993. The leg-to-body height ratio increased (p<0.05) with every decade in males, while in females it decreased (p<0.05) in 2013. Similar trends were observed in the leg-to-trunk ratio. Contemporary generations experienced PHV at a younger age (p<0.05), which is true for both genders even in adolescents born no more than two decades (1993 (2013) apart. In both generations, females experienced PHV sooner than their male peers.
The authors assume that females of the 2013 generation reached puberty earlier than females of older generations. It is most likely that, unlike females from older generations and unlike males, they were already at the stage of trunk growth at the time of the measurements, which explains the observed changes in their trunk length, leg-to-body height and leg-to-trunk ratios in comparison to earlier generations.
Tetrahydrozoline is an alpha agonist imidazole derivative found in over-the-counter decongestive eye and nasal drops. The drug was patented in 1954 and was available for medical use in 1959. This ...drug recently gained the attention of law enforcement as it has been utilized in criminal activity such as homicide and drug-facilitated sexual assault. The aim of this scoping review is to scope the literature for all mentions of tetrahydrozoline eye/nasal drops use in a non-medical context to delineate areas of future research and development. We used Google Scholar and PUBMED/Medline databases to search for non-medicinal and criminal uses of THZ. The search word used was “tetrahydrozoline.” A total of 15 articles matched our criteria. Among the case reports, two (11.1%) cases reported on drug-facilitated sexual assault, and two (11.1%) cases used THZ eyedrops to attempt suicide. Incidental ingestion of THZ eyedrops was reported in eight (44.4%) cases, three (16.7%) cases of attempted murder were reported, two (11.1%) cases of intentional ingestion were reported, and one (5.5%) case was a combination of drug-facilitated sexual assault and attempted murder. The most common clinical presentation was unexplained and resistant bradycardia and hypotension. THZ eye drops can be used to produce false negative results on drug tests. This study recognizes that THZ can be used in non-medicinal and criminal uses. There is room for future research and development. More studies should be conducted to better understand the mechanism of action, therapeutic window, and toxicity levels among various age groups at different methods of intake and to find an effective treatment in case of overdose. Eyedrop and nasal decongestant bottles should be designed with child proofing to prevent incidental ingestion and should contain warning labels. A fast and alternative test to GC/MS can be developed to ease the diagnosis of THZ toxicity. Purchases of this medication may need to be monitored.
Prijašnja su istraživanja pokazala da prilikom glasovanja na političkim izborima birači
uzimaju u obzir fizičke karakteristike političkih kandidata. Primjerice, birači
češće glasaju za političare ...koje na temelju lica percipiraju kao kompetentnije.
Također, kandidati koji izgledaju dominantnije i muževnije imaju veću prednost
kod konzervativnijih birača. Budući da se omjer širine i visine lica pokazao
prediktorom procjena muževnosti i dominantnosti, cilj je ovoga istraživanja bio
ispitati doprinos navedenoga omjera u predviđanju ishoda stvarnih političkih
izbora. U tu je svrhu korištena baza digitalnih fotografija lica političkih
kandidata za Kongres (Senat i Zastupnički dom) i mjesto guvernera Sjedinjenih
Američkih Država, a koji se mogu podijeliti u dvije kategorije ovisno o
pripadnosti Demokratskoj, odnosno Republikanskoj stranci. Na temelju
prikupljenih fotografija izračunani su omjeri širine i visine lica za ukupno
259 kandidata i 52 kandidatkinje. Nizom linearnih i binarnih regresijskih
analiza, uz kontrolu spola kandidata, pripadnosti stranci, tipa izbora te vrste
kandidature (reizbor ili prva kandidatura), nije utvrđeno da omjer širine i
visine lica predviđa ishod izbora i proporciju osvojenih glasova. U pokušaju
objašnjenja neočekivanih nalaza u obzir je uzeto nekoliko aspekata s ciljem
pružanja smjernica za buduća istraživanja.
Previous studies have shown that during the election process voters rely on different
physical characteristics of political candidates. For example, politicians who
are perceived as more competent have greater electoral success. In addition,
candidates who look more dominant and masculine are preferred among
conservative voters. Since facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) is assumed to be
a predictor of perceived masculinity and dominance, this study aimed to
investigate the contribution of fWHR in predicting the outcome of the real
political elections. We used a digital database containing photographs of
political candidates for the United States Senate (United States Congress and
United States House of Representatives) and gubernatorial elections,
representing Republican and Democratic Party. fWHR was calculated for the 259
male and 52 female candidates. Across several linear and binary regressions,
with the control of the candidate’s sex, party affiliation, election type and
candidacy type (incumbency or first candidacy), fWHR predicted neither the
election outcome nor the vote share. Several methodological aspects have been
discussed to explain these unexpected findings and to give guidance for future
research.
U radu je dodatno istražena i evaluirana točnost fotogrametrijske procjene volumena na razini sastojine. Konkretno, na području šuma hrasta lužnjaka Pokupskog bazena (g.j. Jastrebarski lugovi) ...testirana je mogućnost korištenja fotogrametrijske metode bazirane na postojećim i lako dostupnim podacima (aerosnimke, digitalni model reljefa, podaci osnove gospodarenja) kao i postojećih fotogrametrijskih modela procjene sastojinskog volumena izrađenih za šume hrasta lužnjaka Spačvanskog bazena. Iz aerosnimaka i digitalnog modela reljefa izrađen je digitalni model visine krošanja (DMVK) prostorne rezolucije 5 m. Iz DMVK-a su dobiveni metrički podaci, koji su potom korišteni kao nezavisne varijable u modelima procjene volumena sastojine. Uspoređena je točnost procjene izvornih modela izrađenih za područje Spačvanskog bazena (SB modeli) te istih modela, ali s naknadno procijenjenim lokalnim parametrima za područje Pokupskog bazena (PB modeli). Fotogrametrijski procijenjeni volumeni validirani su s volumenom sastojina iz osnove gospodarenja. Dobiveni rezultati ukazuju na značajno poboljšanje točnosti fotogrametrijske procjene volumena kod PB modela u odnosu na SB modele. Korištenjem izvornih SB modela, volumen sastojine procijenjen je s korijenom srednje kvadratne pogreške od 18,47%, dok je korištenjem dodatno parametriziranih PB modela volumen procijenjen s pogreškom od 12,03%. U ovom radu prikazana fotogrametrijska metoda procjene volumena sastojina ne može zamijeniti klasične terenske metode za potrebe uređajne inventure šuma, međutim, budući da ne zahtijeva dodatna terenska mjerenja, već se u potpunosti bazira na postojećim podacima (aerosnimke, DMR, podaci osnove gospodarenja), a uz to pruža i zadovoljavajuću točnost, može poslužiti kao učinkovita i financijski isplativa metoda u slučajevima kada je u vrlo kratkom vremenu potrebno provesti inventuru nekog većeg šumskog područja.
The application of digital aerial photogrammetry in forest inventory has been in the focus of a number of studies during the last decade (White et al. 2016, Goodbody et al. 2019). The results were tested and evaluated mostly on plot-level, and less often on stand-level (Bohlin et al. 2012, Rahlf et al. 2014, Gobakken et al. 2015, Pitt et al. 2015, Stepper et al. 2015, Puliti et al. 2016, Balenović et al. 2017, Iqbal et al. 2019). In almost all studies, a classic Area-Based Approach (ABA) which includes modelling at plot-level and ‘wall-to-wall’ mapping to estimate forest variables at stand-level were applied. A somewhat different ABA approach which implies direct modelling and estimation at stand-level were proposed by Balenović et al. (2017). This new approach, hereinafter referred to as Stand-Based Approach (SBA), is based on existing and easily available photogrammetric materials and data (aerial images from regular national topographic surveys, official national digital terrain data) as well as on data from existing forest management plans. The main precondition for the SBA method application is the approximate time coincidence between the time of aerial images acquisition and the time of the field data collection for the forest management plan generation. Similar to classical ABA, SBA also requires models (equations) for forest variable estimations. However, in SBA case, models are developed on the certain number of stands (subcompartments) of similar structural characteristics (e.g. forest management classes). In SBA, independent variables are metric stand-level data obtained from aerial images and its product (normalized point clouds or canopy height models), while reference (modelling or validation) data are obtained from regular forest management plans. Compared to classical ABA, SBA does not require additional field measurements, and therefore presents a fast and cost-effective alternative to ABA. An additional assumption is that models developed for the certain area can be applied for other forest areas with similar forest characteristics.
This work presents the continuation of previous study (Balenović i dr. 2017) with the aim to additionally test the effectiveness and accuracy of SBA method. More precisely, SBA method and existing models of stand volume estimation originally developed for lowland pedunculate oak (
Quercus robur
L.) of Spačva basin forest complex (Eastern Croatia) were tested in pedunculated oak forest of Pokupsko basin forest complex (Central Croatia).
A total of 87 even-aged pedunculate oak forest stands of Jastrebarski lugovi management unit were included in this study (Figure 1, Table 1). Photogrammetric data (aerial images, digital terrain data) were provided by the Croatian State Geodetic Administration, and were used to generate Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Terrain Model (DTM). A raster Canopy Height Model (CHM) of 5 m resolution was generated by subtracting DTM from DSM (Figure 2). Metrics extracted from CHM for each stand and used for stand-level volume estimation are presented in Table 2. Equations (1) and (2) present photogrammetric models for stand-level volume estimation. A more detailed description of the models can be found in Table 3. SB-1 and SB-2 models consist of independent variables and parameters (regression constant and coefficients) originally developed for the Spačva basin area (Table 4). PB-1 and PB-2 models consisted of the same variables as SB-1 and SB-2 models, but their parameters were developed for the present study area (Pokupsko basin) (Table 4). All models were validated using the reference stand volume from the forest management plan. SB-1 and SB-2 models were validated using the entire dataset (87 stands), whereas PB-1 and PB-2 models were validated using the randomly selected 29 stands (other 58 stands were used for parameters estimation).
According to validation results (Table 2, Figure 3), PB models showed considerably greater performance than SB-models. Compared to SB-1 model, PB-1 model achieved 11% higher R2adj values, for 3,92% MD% values (absolute), and for 6,44% higher RMSE% values. Also, the results showed that the inclusion of stand age (SA) as an additional predictor in SB-2 and PB-2 models did not contribute
significantly on model performance. All models showed a similar trend (Figure 3), i.e. volume in stands with lover volume values were overestimated, while in stands with higher volume values were underestimated. However, overestimations ( 8,5%) using SB models were considerably greater than underestimations ( -4%) using PB models. Differences in SB and PB models performance are probably due to differences in stand and site characteristics between two forest areas (Spačva basin and Pokupsko basin). The obtained results suggest that the model with independent variables (Equation 1) originally developed for Spačva basin area can be used for Pokupsko basin and other areas with similar forest characteristics, but local model parameters have to be estimated in order to increase estimation accuracy. It has to be emphasized that the photogrammetric method tested in this paper can not replace the conventional field methods in regular forest inventory. However, its application is based on existing and easily available data (aerial images from regular topographic surveys, official DTM, forest management plan) and does not require additional field measurements and therefore present effective and low-cost solution when in a very short period large areas have to be inventoried. Further research should be focused on other important forest variables (e.g. mean stand height, mean stand diameter, basal area, stand density, biomass, etc.) and different forest types.
Bolesti srca i krvnih žila glavni su uzrok smrti u Hrvatskoj. Jedan od čimbenika rizika za nastanak kardiovaskularnih bolesti je abdominalna pretilost. U novije vrijeme kao pouzdanija metoda za ...utvrđivanje te pretilosti primjenjuje se omjer opsega struka i visine, tzv. WHtR kriterij. Prema dosadašnjim istraživanjima problem debljine počinje već od pete godine života. Radovi koji su obuhvaćali i ovu dobnu skupinu primijenili su vrijednosti WHtR ≥ 0,5 kao povišenu za sve dobne skupine i oba spola. No najnovija istraživanja ograničena su na djecu od 6. do 18. godine i definiraju WHtR graničnu vrijednost za djevojčice ≥ 0,459, a za dječake ≥ 0,473. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi u kojoj su mjeri kod djece prisutni čimbenici rizika, prepoznaju li ih njihovi roditelji te jesu li svjesni potrebe razvijanja zdravih životnih navika radi prevencije kardiovaskularnih bolesti u odrasloj dobi. Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno 1418-ero djece, 730 dječaka i 688 djevojčica u dobi od 5 do 15 godina, koji se nalaze u pedijatrijskoj skrbi triju ordinacija Doma zdravlja Zagreb zapad. Prema WHtR kriteriju ≥ 0,5, 7,3% dječaka i 8,8% djevojčica ima povećan zdravstveni rizik za kardiovaskularne bolesti. No prema najnovijim WHtR kriterijima takvih je 25,1% djevojčica i 21,4% dječaka. Čak 79,6% roditelja ne prepoznaje čimbenike rizika za pojavu kardiovaskularnih bolesti kod vlastite djece. Rezultati našeg istraživanja slični su rezultatima drugih istraživanja te pokazuju kako većina roditelja nije svjesna problema pretilosti, pa samim time ni potrebe za odgovarajućom promjenom životnih navika vlastite djece. Iz svega ovoga zaključujemo da bi bilo nužno poduzeti dodatne edukacijske mjere kako u ordinacijama primarne pedijatrijske skrbi tako i u odgojno-obrazovnim ustanovama, radi pravodobne i učinkovite intervencije koja bi očekivano pridonijela smanjenju pobola i smrtnosti u odrasloj dobi.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
H1‑receptor antagonists are drugs of choice to treat allergy. They work very fast as their therapeutic effect develops within 10‑15 min, have good tolerability and almost no adverse side-effects, and ...require no frequent instillations. Levocabastine quickly inhibits allergic reaction caused by specific allergen or histamine. Levocabastine while being a highly-selective H1‑receptor antagonist is the most perspective topical mono-drug used to treat acute allergic conjunctivitis. Levocabastine applied on a spot produces instant effect which persists for a long time so that instillations twice a day (BID) are enough. Levocabastine is more effective than other 15 antihistamines. In contrast to previous antihistamines, levocabastine blocks vasodilatation and reduces vascular permeability increase. Levocabastine eye drops have good tolerability comparable with cromoglicic acid eye drops and placebo. Levocabas tine is successfully used in allergic conjunctivitis (pollinosis, perennial, vernal, rhinoconjunctivitis) treatment in children. Its efficacy is the same or even higher than that of cromoglycate and azelastine. 20 clinical studies (more than 1200 patients) revealed that levocabastine eye drops are effective, work quickly and have good tolerability. This drug is efficient in allergic conjunctivitis treatment and acute infectious conjunctivitis complex therapy.
Purpose: To compare tear substitutive properties of Systane® Ultra and Visine® Clear Tears in dry eye therapy.
Methods: 20 patients with dry eye due to chronic blepharoconjunctivitis and 20 patients ...with neurotrophic dry eye following corneal refractive surgery were examined. Treatment schedule was the following: in the first 7 days, Systane® Ultra was instilled in the right eye and Visine® Clear Tears was instilled in the left eye, while from day 8 to day 30, only one medicine selected by the patient was applied. Their efficacy was measured by tear film stability and patients’ subjective sensations.
Results: Norn test results improved to day 7 in patients with dry eye following corneal refractive surgery and to day 30 in patients with dry eye due to blepharoconjunctivitis regardless of eye drops used. As to patients’ comfort, Systane® Ultra is preferable to Visine® Clear Tears.
Conclusion: Systane® Ultra is therapeutically similar to but preferable to Visine® Clear Tears due to good tolerability.
Introduction. No information exists on therapeutic or toxic concentrations of tetrahydrozoline, which has been reported to be used in drug facilitated sexual assaults. The primary aim of this ...investigation was to establish baseline therapeutic serum and urine concentrations in a sample of healthy volunteers. Methods. Ten healthy volunteers consented to have two drops of Original Visine® eye drops (0.05% tetrahydrozoline solution) placed directly into the conjunctival sac of each eye, 30 s apart, at times 0, 4, 8, and 12 h. Blood and urine samples were then collected at 2, 5, 9, 13, and 24 h post-application and analyzed for concentrations. Tetrahydrozoline concentrations are described using measures of central tendency and dispersion at each time point, with predictions of serum and urine concentrations over time calculated using a linear mixed effects regression model. Results. Tetrahydrazoline concentrations were detectable in both serum and urine after therapeutic ocular administration. The mean serum half-life of tetrahydrozoline was approximately 6 h. Systemic absorption varied among subjects, with the maximum serum concentrations ranging from 0.068 to 0.380 ng/ml. At 24 h, all patients had detectable urine concentrations of tetrahydrozoline (range = 13-210 ng/ml). Conclusion. When used as directed by the manufacturer for therapeutic ocular administration, tetrahydrozoline concentrations were detectable in both serum and urine up to 12 h after the last administered dose. A concentration greatly exceeding the 95% confidence interval of drug present during therapeutic ocular use may be suggestive of illegal adulterant use or accidental or suicidal overdose.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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