Analysis of 4G/5G polymorphisms of PAI-1 gene in interaction with other genetic and external risk factors that induce development of venous thromboembolism can be used for risk assessment for development of venous thromboembolism. Research was conducted on 202 examinees of both genders, older than 18, from north-eastern Bosnia. Experimental group included 100 examinees with diagnosed DVT and 101 examinees who until the sampling procedure did not have diagnosed DVT. In DVT group, following genotype frequencies were determined: 27% of examinees had a normal genotype 5G/5G, 68% are heterozygotes and 5% are mutated homozygotes 4G/4G. In the control group, frequencies of 4G/5G polymorphisms of PAI-1 gene were: 42.6% of examinees have 5G/5G genotype, 55.4% are heterozygotes 4G/5G and 2% are 4G/4G genotype. Obtained results support the hypothesis that PAI-1 in interaction with other genetic and external risk factors probably induces the development of venous thromboembolism.

This article aims to improve spectrum efficiency (SE) for the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-relayed cellular uplinks, through distinguishing both line-of-sight (LoS) and non-LoS (NLoS) links. Meanwhile, aiming to accommodate the air-to-ground (A2G) cooperative nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA)-based cellular users (CUs) with a high energy efficiency (EE), a joint resource allocation (RA) problem is further considered for the UAV and the CUs. To solve the problem, first, an access-priority-based receiver determination (RD) method is derived. According to the RD result, the heuristic user association (UA) strategies are given. Then, based on the UA result, transmission powers of the CUs and the UAV are initialized based on their quality-of-service (QoS) demands. Furthermore, the subchannels are assigned to the associated CUs and the UAV with the reweighted message-passing algorithm. Finally, the transmission power of the CUs and the UAV is jointly fine-tuned with the proposed access control schemes. Compared with the traditional orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) scheme and the traditional ground-to-ground (G2G) NOMA scheme, simulation results confirm that the UAV-aided NOMA with the proposed joint RA scheme yields better performances in terms of the SE, the EE, and the access ratio of the CUs.

Proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control is the most common control approach used to control active magnetic bearings system, especially in the case of supporting rigid rotors. In the case of flexible rotor support, the most common control is again PID control in combination with notch filters. Other control approaches, known as modern control theory, are still in development process and cannot be commonly found in real life industrial application. Right now, they are mostly used in research applications. In comparison to PID control, PI-D control implies that derivate element is in feedback loop instead in main branch of the system. In this paper, performances of flexible rotor/active magnetic bearing system were investigated in the case of PID and PI-D control, both in combination with notch filters. The performances of the system were analysed using an analysis in time domain by observing system response to step input and in frequency domain by observing a frequency response of sensitivity function.

Introduction: Widespread opinion that penetrating chest injuries are more urgent, in terms of treatment and care, contributed to underestimation of the urgency of blunt chest trauma, which in most cases is treated conservatively. It remains an open question frequency when the injuries of the heart and pericardium are not timely diagnosed and surgically treated. Aim: To demonstrate the importance of well-timed surgical treatment of blunt chest trauma, when coupled with cardiac and pericardial injuries. Methods: At the Thoracic Surgery Clinic of the University Clinical Centre Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzego vina, during period of 10 years (01.01. 2008 – 31.01.2018.), the total of 66 patients were treated for urgent thoracotomy due to clinically and radiologically unclear findings after blunt chest trauma. In general, diagnostic examinations, apart from laboratory analysis, included radiological imaging and Multi Slice Computed Tomography (MSCT) of the chest, followed by an ultrasound of the heart in cases when sternum was injured or when pericardial tamponade was suspected. Results presented in the study where obtained from the retrospective analysis of patients data. This work presents a retrospective observational cross-sectional study, which results in the assessment of the correctness of a particular diagnostic test. Statistical methods used: descriptive statistics, counting measures (frequencies and percentages), central tendency measures (arithmetic mean), variability measures (standard deviation). Results: Sixty six patients were treated with urgent thoracotomy after a blunt trauma of the chest due to the unclear clinical and radiological finding. In the case of 11 patients (10 men and 1 woman), presenting 16.6% of the total sample, pericardial and cardiac injuries were detected and treated intraoperatively. Further, in the case of the one patient, pericardiotomy and suturing of the right heart chamber where performed, with the creation of a pericardial window. Transthoracic echocardiogram was not used as the primary screening module, but rather as a diagnostic test for patients who had unexplained hypotension and arrhythmia. Radiographs of the chest showed cardiomegaly with or without epicardial fat pad sign suggesting a pericardial effusion. Conclusion: Blunt cardiac and pericardial injuries represent a serious therapeutic problem, which, if not treated properly, result in a high mortality rate. Echocardiography is the primary diagnostic method for initial detection of pericardial effusion. Pericardial fluid first accumulates posterior to the heart, when the patient is examined in the supine position. As the effusion increases, it extends laterally and with large effusions the echo-free space expands to surround the entire heart. The size of the effusion may be graded as small ( echo free spaces in diastole <10 mm, corresponding to approxymately 300 ml), moderate (10-20 mm, corresponding to 500 ml), and large ( >20 mm, corresponding to >700 ml). When the ability of the pericardium to stretch is exceeded by rapid or massive accumulation of fluid, any additional fluid causes the pressure with the pericardial sac. Early recognition, pericardiotomy with pericardial window creation and/or ventricular rupture suture remain the “gold standard” in the treatment of blunt cardiac and pericardial injuries.

Introduction: There are several evaluation schemes for the results of tendon transfers in case of radial nerve paralysis, and the most logical and commonly used are evaluation schemes that use the range of active joint movements to evaluate the results. Aim: Present an original evaluation scheme for tendon transfer results based on functional wrist and fingers joint movements. The aim of the article is to present the advantages of our own Functional scheme in comparison with other schemes, its simplicity and applicability in the evaluation of all clinical cases of different postoperative outcome of the variables being evaluated, and to present the ease of comparison of the achieved results with other authors who would possibly use our scheme because it minimizes the subjective error of the examiner. The secondary aim is to compare the results of flexor carpi radialis (FCR) vs. flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) tendon transfers (TT). Methods: The study was conducted as clinical and retrospective. The study included 60 patients with isolated radial nerve palsy operated by two tendon transfer surgical methods (FCR and FCU) over a 10-year period. The evaluation of the results was performed by using Zachary, Neimann-Pertecke, Tajima evaluation schemes, our own Functional Evaluation Scheme as well as subjective patient evaluation. Results: The time elapsed from injury to surgery ranged from 105 to 956 days in case of FCR tendon transfer and from 109 to 712 days in cases of FCU tendon transfer. The overall average age of patients is 36.71 years. A statistically significant difference in values with t -test based on the Functional Evaluation Scheme was found in the variables of ulnar deviation (p=0.000731), extension of the MP fingers joints II-V (p=0.04610) and extension of the MP of the thumb joint (p=0.0475). Evaluation of the total results with t-test (p=0.007532) and with U-test (p=0,00433) showed statistically better FCR tendon transfer results. A statistically significant difference in value measured by the t-test was found in the evaluation of the overall results (p=0.022) with Zachary and Neumann-Pertecke schemes and by the Tajima evaluation Scheme (p=0.042) in favor of better FCR tendon transfer results. With a use of Functional Evaluation Scheme, it is possible to evaluate all the results unlike most available schemes. Conclusion: The functional evaluation scheme is based on the functional joint movements evaluated and incorporating radial and ulnar deviation of the wrist (RD and UD), extension of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint and flexion of the intephalangeal (IP)joint of the thumb in the final evaluation becomes completely original. A functional evaluation scheme is simply applicable for the evaluation of all clinical cases of different postoperative outcome of the variables being evaluated. FCR tendon transfer achieves better results than FCU TT.

Carbohydrates are important compounds in natural products where they primarily serve as a source of energy, but they have important secondary roles as precursors of aroma or bioactive compounds. They are present in fresh and dried (cured) tobacco leaves as well. The sugar content of tobacco depends on the tobacco variety, harvesting, and primarily on the curing conditions (temperature, time and moisture). If the process of curing employs high temperatures (flue-curing and sun-curing), final sugar content is high. In contrast, when air curing has a lower temperature, at the end of the process, sugar level is low. Beside simple sugars, other carbohydrates reported in tobacco are oligosaccharides, cellulose, starch, and pectin. Degradation of polysaccharides results in a higher yield of simple sugars, but at the same time reduces sugars oxidization and transfer into carbon dioxide and water. Loss of sugar producers will compensate with added sugars, to cover undesirable aroma properties and achieve a better, pleasant taste during smoking. However, tobacco carbohydrates can be precursors for many harmful compounds, including formaldehyde and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Keeping in mind that added sugars in tobacco production are unavoidable, it is important to understand all changes in carbohydrates from harvesting to consuming in order to achieve better product properties and avoid the formation of harmful compounds. This review summarizes current knowledge about tobacco carbohydrates, including changes during processing with special focus on carbohydrates as precursors of harmful compounds during smoking.

National registries provide useful information in understanding outcomes of surgeries that have late sequelae, especially for rare operations such as total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). A systematic search was performed and data were compiled from the registries to compare total elbow arthroplasty outcomes and evaluate trends. We included six registries from Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and Sweden. Inflammatory arthritis was the most common indication for total elbow arthroplasty, followed by acute fracture and osteoarthritis. When comparing 2000–2009 to 2010–2017 data, total elbow arthroplasty for inflammatory arthritis decreased and total elbow arthroplasty for fracture and osteoarthritis increased. There was an increase in the number of revision TEAs over this time period. The range of indications for total elbow arthroplasty is broadening; total elbow arthroplasty for acute trauma and osteoarthritis is becoming increasingly more common. However, inflammatory arthritis remains the most common indication in recent years. This change is accompanied by an increase in the incidence of revision surgery. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2020;5:215-220. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.190036

For the isolation of selected phenolic compounds from dried chokeberries, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) were investigated as a green alternative to conventionally used extraction solvents. Four types of NADESs were synthesised, with choline chloride as the hydrogen bond acceptor in combination with different hydrogen bond donors (sugars, organic acid and urea). Ultrasound-assisted extraction was used to improve the extractability of the phenolic compounds and the results were compared to those obtained with 80% methanol as the extraction media. The highest values of total phenols and total flavonoids were found in the extract obtained with choline chloride–fructose NADES (36.15 ± 3.39 mg gallic acid g−1 dry weight (DW) and 4.71 ± 0.33 mg rutin g−1 DW, respectively). The extraction recoveries for the individual phenolic compounds depended strongly on the phenolic compound’s structure, with relative mean values between 70% and 97%.

Abstract The paper seeks to empirically explore the variations and changes in the degree of International Financial Integration (IFI) between the European Transition countries and Post-Transition countries between 2000 and 2016. The estimation of parameters was made using the Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) approach. The findings of the study reveal that European Post-Transition countries have relatively more developed financial systems compared to European Transition countries, where private credit market is still playing an overwhelmingly important role in a financial system while stock markets are in an early stage of development constituting a relatively small share of the financial system. Even though in Panel 3 there are significant control variables, our findings reveal that IFI in European transition countries are affected neither by stock market capitalization and private credit markets. Consequently, they can’t be used in this stage of financial development for explanation of variations and changes in the degree of IFI.

Abstract Failures of aircraft piston engine components are a common occurrence in practice. During operation, cylinder heads are components that are exposed to multiaxial thermomechanical loads leading to fatigue. Therefore, predicting the lifetime of the cylinder heads exposed to such loads is one of the most important tasks to ensure engine quality, durability and safety. This paper is the continuation of a comprehensive research of the Lycoming IO-360-B1F aircraft engine cylinder head failure. The failure of this type has already occurred during flight and about 50 failures like this have been registered from around the world, some of them with a fatal outcome and therefore require detailed research. This research includes the numerical stress and fatigue analysis of the cylinder assembly exposed to high cycle mechanical and thermal loads that failed due to a crack appearance on the cylinder head. A 3D cylinder assembly model was created. The locations with the highest stress values, both mechanical and thermal, were determined using numerical analysis. Also, the lifetime of the cylinder assembly has been determined, i.e. an integrity assessment has been carried out which will contribute to the consideration of the crack appearance problem. Defining the coupled thermomechanical load of the cylinder assembly in the numerical analysis gives special significance to this paper. The results obtained will serve to analyze the crack propagation in the cylinder head which is going to be the subject of further research.

Abstract Posthumous medical data donation (PMDD) for the purpose of legitimate, non-commercial and, potentially, very beneficial medical research has been sparsely discussed in legal scholarship to date. Conversely, quite an extensive social science and humanities research establishes benefits of this practice. It also finds that PMDD enables individuals to employ their altruistic motivations and aspirations by helping them participate in ‘citizen's science’ and medical research, thus supporting efforts in finding cures for some of the acutest diseases of today. There appears to be no jurisdiction where a regulatory framework supports and enables PMDD. This paper analyses whether and to what extent law and policy should enable this practice. We take a comparative approach, examining the position under both US and UK law, providing the first comparative legal account of this practice. We do not aim to suggest a detailed legal solution for PMDD, but rather key considerations and principles for legislative/policy reforms, which would support the practice of PMDD. We discuss organ donation and provide a comparative outlook with the aim of drawing lessons from this practice, and applying them to the regulation of PMDD. Our analysis is both normative and black letter since we consider arguments regarding the necessity of organ and data donation, as well as the law that regulates these practices.

An integrated quadruple voltage mixed quenching, and active resetting circuit (Q2RC) in a 150 nm CMOS process is presented in this paper. The Q2RC features an excess-bias voltage of 7.2 V, which is four times the 1.8 V supply voltage. The dead time can be adjusted from 7 ns to 29 ns, which corresponds to the count rate range from 34 Mcps to 142 Mcps. Post-layout simulation results for an external SPAD with an equivalent parasitic capacitance of 4 pF are reported. The achieved quenching time of the Q2RC is 1.75 ns, which results in 4.05 GV/s quenching slew rate, while the delay time is 1.1 ns, and the resetting time is 2.55 ns.