An increasing trend of sludge generation at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) has been observed in developing countries like Croatia. Thermal processing of sewage sludge facilitates its further management, although ash is generated as new waste in the process. The proposed approach, while eliminating the need to dispose ash at non-hazardous waste disposal sites, directly reduces not only the sludge and ash disposal costs, but also the raw cement production costs. All analysed technical and environmental requirements are met when 20 % of cement is replaced with ash.

OBJECTIVE Outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is becoming more common and has been reported to offer advantages over inpatient procedures, including reducing nosocomial infections and costs, as well as improving patient satisfaction. The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate and compare outcome parameters, complication rates, and costs between inpatient and outpatient ACDF cases performed by 1 surgeon at a single institution. METHODS In a retrospective study, the records of all patients who had undergone first-time ACDF performed by a single surgeon in the period from June 1, 2003, to January 31, 2016, were reviewed. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: those who had undergone ACDF as outpatients in a same-day surgical center and those who had undergone surgery in the hospital with a minimum 1-night stay. Outcomes for all patients were evaluated with respect to the following parameters: age, sex, length of stay, preoperative and postoperative pain (self-reported questionnaires), number of levels fused, fusion, and complications, as well as the presence of risk factors, such as an increased body mass index, smoking, and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS In total, 1123 patients were operated on, 485 (43%) men and 638 (57%) women, whose mean age was 50 years. The mean follow-up time was 25 months. Overall, 40.5% underwent 1-level surgery, 34.3% 2-level, 21.9% 3-level, and 3.2% 4-level. Only 5 patients had nonunion of vertebrae; thus, the fusion rate was 99.6%. Complications occurred in 40 patients (3.6%), with 9 having significant complications (0.8%). Five hundred sixty patients (49.9%) had same-day surgery, and 563 patients (50.1%) stayed overnight in the hospital. The inpatients were older, were more commonly male, and had a higher rate of diabetes. Smoking status did not influence the length of stay. Both groups had a statistically significant reduction in pain (expressed as a visual analog scale score) postoperatively with no significant difference between the groups. One- and 2-level surgeries were done significantly more often in the outpatient setting (p < 0.001). The complication rate was 4.1% in the outpatient group and 3.0% in the inpatient group; there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (p = 0.339). Significantly more complications occurred with 3- and 4-level surgeries than with 1- and 2-level procedures (p < 0.001, chi-square test). The overall average inpatient cost for commercial insurance carriers was 26% higher than those for outpatient surgery. CONCLUSIONS Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is safe for patients undergoing 1- or 2-level surgery, with a very significant rate of pain reduction and fusion and a low complication rate in both clinical settings. Outpatient and inpatient groups undergoing 3- or 4-level surgery had an increased risk of complications (compared with those undergoing 1- or 2-level surgery), with a negligible difference between the 2 groups. This finding suggests that these procedures can also be included as standard outpatient surgery. Comparable outcome parameters and the same complication rates between inpatient and outpatient groups support both operative environments.

Seismic properties and equation-of-state parameters of the liquid iron alloy in the outer core are inferred from normal mode data. Turbulent convection of the liquid iron alloy outer core generates Earth’s magnetic field and supplies heat to the mantle. The exact composition of the iron alloy is fundamentally linked to the processes powering the convection and can be constrained by its seismic properties. Discrepancies between seismic models determined using body waves and normal modes show that these properties are not yet fully agreed upon. In addition, technical challenges in experimentally measuring the equation-of-state (EoS) parameters of liquid iron alloys at high pressures and temperatures further complicate compositional inferences. We directly infer EoS parameters describing Earth’s outer core from normal mode center frequency observations and present the resulting Elastic Parameters of the Outer Core (EPOC) seismic model. Unlike alternative seismic models, ours requires only three parameters and guarantees physically realistic behavior with increasing pressure for a well-mixed homogeneous material along an isentrope, consistent with the outer core’s condition. We show that EPOC predicts available normal mode frequencies better than the Preliminary Reference Earth Model (PREM) while also being more consistent with body wave–derived models, eliminating a long-standing discrepancy. The velocity at the top of the outer core is lower, and increases with depth more steeply, in EPOC than in PREM, while the density in EPOC is higher than that in PREM across the outer core. The steeper profiles and higher density imply that the outer core comprises a lighter but more compressible alloy than that inferred for PREM. Furthermore, EPOC’s steeper velocity gradient explains differential SmKS body wave travel times better than previous one-dimensional global models, without requiring an anomalously slow ~90- to 450-km-thick layer at the top of the outer core.

Abstract The paper provides an overview of the trend in the concentration of the total assets of banks in Croatia for the period from 2007 to 2016 with the aim of analysing and presenting the changes that occurred in the system. Also, the paper shows the theoretical framework of the indicators used in the research as well as the comparison of their obtained values. The data used to calculate the total assets concentration are taken from the Croatian National Bank. The concentration indices used in the study include the entropy measure, the Theil entropy, the Gini coefficient, the Pietra index, the Atkinson index and the coefficient of variation. The results indicate a very slight decrease in concentration over the past several years, while the coefficient of variation points to the heterogeneity of the system, as well as to inequalities among the banks, which are most evident in the size of banks assets.

Even though coordinate measuring machines (CMM) still achieve the most accurate measurement results, non-contact (optical) measuring systems are applied more and more in industry. The reasons of using optical scanners are in the higher speed of acquisition, higher density of data-points and better surface description, the ability to scan complex and non-rigid surfaces etc in comparison to contcact devices. This paper gives a review of state-of-the-art measuring contact and non-contact inspection technologies in industrial applications. Listed are the devices, principles and systems that are used at the data-acquisition (triangulation, time-of-flight and interferometry). The description of contact measuring machines (portable CMM and stationary CMM) and devices for non-contact scanning (laser scanner, structured light scanner and CT scanner) is given, and their advatages and disadvantages are mentioned with corresponding literature review.

Introduction Since the discovery and clinical success of the platinum(II) anticancer drug, cisplatin, researchers are putting much effort to develop more efficient metal-based therapeutic compounds, with fewer side-effects and greater cytoselectivity. Ruthenium complexes arose as promising anticancer agents, due to the success of some ruthenium drug candidates in clinical trials. Here we report comparison of in vitro cytotoxic activity and mechanisms of action of cisplatin and four newly synthesised ruthenium(III) complexes with bidentate anionic schiff base derived from 5-methylsalicilaldehyde and methylamine: (complexes 1– 4). Material and methods Cytotoxicity was tested on four human cancer cell lines (K562, A549, EA.hy926, MDA-MB231) and one human non-tumour cell line (MRC-5), by MTT assay. Being the most cytotoxic of all four tested complexes, complex 1 (C1) (Na[RuLCl2], L=N-propyl-5-chlorosalicideniminato) is selected for further analyses of molecular mechanisms underlying its activity toward MDA-MB231 cells. Results and discussions The average IC50 values were in the low micromolar range 2–23 µM, depending on cell line. Investigated complexes displayed an apparent cytoselective profile, as they reduced the viability of tested tumour cell lines more efficiently than of the non-tumour MRC-5 cells. Cisplatin resistant MDA-MB231 cells showed to be ten times more sensitive to C1 (IC50=2 µM) than to cisplatin. 24 hour treatment of MDA-MB231 cells with IC50 values of C1 and cisplatin induced minor cell cycle alterations, while 48 hour treatment induced substantial accumulation of cells in Sub-G1 region, up to 22.4% (C1) and 86.4% (cisplatin), versus control 4.8%. Acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining confirmed the Annexin V-FITC/PI assay results of notable reduction in cell number after the treatment with C1 and cisplatin. While cisplatin-treated cells prominently die of necrosis, C1-treated cells after 24 hour treatment show apoptotic morphology, but after prolonged treatment, necrosis becomes predominant. Decrease in the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species was comparable in the cisplatin-treated and C1-treated cells, with cisplatin displaying more conspicuous effects at higher dose. C1 entered the cells more efficiently compared to cisplatin. Intracellular C1 concentration after 4 hour treatment exceeded that of cisplatin by 7.8 times approximately. Conclusion Present study pointed out interesting activity of this type of ruthenium(III) complex and need for further biological studies and its chemical structure optimisation.

Background Chagas disease (CD) is a major public health concern in Latin America and a potentially serious emerging threat in non-endemic countries. Although the association between CD and cardiac abnormalities is widely reported, study design diversity, sample size and quality challenge the information, calling for its update and synthesis, which would be very useful and relevant for physicians in non-endemic countries where health care implications of CD are real and neglected. We performed to systematically review and meta-analyze population-based studies that compared prevalence of overall and specific ECG abnormalities between CD and non-CD participants in the general population. Methods Six databases (EMBASE, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, Google Scholar and Lilacs) were searched systematically. Observational studies were included. Odds ratios (OR) were computed using random-effects model. Results Forty-nine studies were selected, including 34,023(12,276 CD and 21,747 non-CD). Prevalence of overall ECG abnormalities was higher in participants with CD (40.1%; 95%CIs=39.2-41.0) compared to non-CD (24.1%; 95%CIs=23.5-24.7) (OR=2.78; 95%CIs=2.37-3.26). Among specific ECG abnormalities, prevalence of complete right bundle branch block (RBBB) (OR=4.60; 95%CIs=2.97-7.11), left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) (OR=1.60; 95%CIs=1.21-2.13), combination of complete RBBB/LAFB (OR=3.34; 95%CIs=1.76-6.35), first-degree atrioventricular block (A-V B) (OR=1.71; 95%CIs=1.25-2.33), atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter (OR=2.11; 95%CIs=1.40-3.19) and ventricular extrasystoles (VE) (OR=1.62; 95%CIs=1.14-2.30) was higher in CD compared to non-CD participants. Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis provides an update and synthesis in this field. This research of observational studies indicates a significant excess in prevalence of ECG abnormalities (40.1%) related to T. cruzi infection in the general population from Chagas endemic regions, being the most common ventricular (RBBB and LAFB), and A-V B (first-degree) node conduction abnormalities as well as arrhythmias (AF or flutter and VE). Also, prevalence of ECG alterations in children was similar to that in adults and suggests earlier onset of cardiac disease.

BackgroundHBsAg immune-escape mutations can favor HBV-transmission also in vaccinated individuals, promote immunosuppression-driven HBV-reactivation, and increase fitness of drug-resistant strains. Stop-codons can enhance HBV oncogenic-properties. Furthermore, as a consequence of the overlapping structure of HBV genome, some immune-escape mutations or stop-codons in HBsAg can derive from drug-resistance mutations in RT. This study is aimed at gaining insight in prevalence and characteristics of immune-associated escape mutations, and stop-codons in HBsAg in chronically HBV-infected patients experiencing nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) in Europe.MethodsThis study analyzed 828 chronically HBV-infected European patients exposed to ≥ 1 NA, with detectable HBV-DNA and with an available HBsAg-sequence.The immune-associated escape mutations and the NA-induced immune-escape mutations sI195M, sI196S, and sE164D (resulting from drug-resistance mutation rtM204 V, rtM204I, and rtV173L) were retrieved from literature and examined. Mutations were defined as an aminoacid substitution with respect to a genotype A or D reference sequence.ResultsAt least one immune-associated escape mutation was detected in 22.1% of patients with rising temporal-trend. By multivariable-analysis, genotype-D correlated with higher selection of ≥ 1 immune-associated escape mutation (OR[95%CI]:2.20[1.32–3.67], P = 0.002). In genotype-D, the presence of ≥ 1 immune-associated escape mutations was significantly higher in drug-exposed patients with drug-resistant strains than with wild-type virus (29.5% vs 20.3% P = 0.012). Result confirmed by analysing drug-naïve patients (29.5% vs 21.2%, P = 0.032). Strong correlation was observed between sP120T and rtM204I/V (P < 0.001), and their co-presence determined an increased HBV-DNA.At least one NA-induced immune-escape mutation occurred in 28.6% of patients, and their selection correlated with genotype-A (OR[95%CI]:2.03[1.32–3.10],P = 0.001).Finally, stop-codons are present in 8.4% of patients also at HBsAg-positions 172 and 182, described to enhance viral oncogenic-properties.ConclusionsImmune-escape mutations and stop-codons develop in a large fraction of NA-exposed patients from Europe. This may represent a potential threat for horizontal and vertical HBV transmission also to vaccinated persons, and fuel drug-resistance emergence.

581.19:547.56]:582.971.1 Methanol extracts obtained from the berries of three Symphoricarpos taxa (Caprifoliaceae) were used to determine their total phenols concentrations, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. According to our knowledge, total concentrations of phenolic compounds and antimicrobial activities for of S. × chenaultii and S. orbiculatus, as well as antioxidant activity of all three analyzed taxa are for the first time analyzed in this study. Based on obtained results, it was noticed that the highest average values of the total phenols, flavonoids and flavanols had methanol extracts of S. orbiculatus berries (3.525 mg GAE g-1 DW, and 11.037 and 0.881 mg CE g-1 DW, respectively), while methanol extracts of S. albus berries had the lowest (1.430 mg GAE g-1 DW, and 4.154 and 0.211 mg CE g-1 DW respectively). Symphoricarpos orbiculatus extract (IC50 = 5.299 mg mL-1) possessed the highest antioxidant activity while the lowest had S. albus (IC50 = 20.017 mg mL-1). The methanol extracts of analyzed Symphoricarpos taxa showed no antifungal activity against C. albicans. Moderate antibacterial activity of S. albus methanol extract is determined against five tested bacterial strains (Bacillus vulgatus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella abony, and Staphylococcus aureus), and S. × chenaultii extract showed a low antibacterial activity only against P. aeruginosa, B. vulgatus and S. aureus. Although S. orbiculatus methanolic extract had the highest antioxidant activity it did not show any antibacterial activity at all. Analyzed Symphoricarpos extracts are potentially effective and can be used as natural antioxidant and antimicrobial preparations against test microorganisms.

BACKGROUND Although agility is an important quality in basketball, factors associated with basketball specific pre-planned-agility (change-of-direction-speed, CODS) and non-planned-agility (reactive agility, RA) are rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate relationship between anthropometric and motor indices with basketball-specific CODS and RA in male basketball players of high performance level. METHODS We tested 88 high-level male basketball players (height: 194.62±8.09 cm; body mass: 89.13±10.81 kg; age: 21.12±3.47 years). The sample was randomly divided into validation (N.=44) and cross-validation (N.=44) subsamples. The study variables included: broad-jump, countermovement-jump, reactive-strength-index, visual-reaction-time, body height, body mass, and body fat percentage (predictors); as well as basketball-specific CODS and RA (criteria). Univariate associations were assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficients. Multivariate relationships between the predictors and the criteria were assessed with multiple regression analysis for the validation subsample, which was then cross-validated. RESULTS The established multiple regression models were successfully cross-validated for CODS (R2=0.40 and 0.36; P=0.01) and RA (R2=0.38 and 0.41; P=0.01, for validation and cross-validation subsample, respectively). The broad-jump (i.e., horizontal displacement) is important predictor of CODS (Beta=-0.41; P=0.01); anthropometrics and body build are specifically associated with RA (Beta=0.51, -0.61 and 0.41 for body height, body mass and body fat percentage, respectively; all P<0.05), while reactive-strength-index is directly related both to CODS (Beta=-0.41, P=0.02), and RA (Beta=-0.40, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS While basketball players are differentially oriented toward specific game duties, specific capacities should be developed in order to meet specific sport requirements.

Aerogels are the least dense and most porous materials known to man, with potential applications from lightweight superinsulators to smart energy materials. To date their use has been seriously hampered by their synthesis methods, which are laborious and expensive. Taking inspiration from the life cycle of the damselfly, a novel ambient pressure‐drying approach is demonstrated in which instead of employing low‐surface‐tension organic solvents to prevent pore collapse during drying, sodium bicarbonate solution is used to generate pore‐supporting carbon dioxide in situ, significantly reducing energy, time, and cost in aerogel production. The generic applicability of this readily scalable new approach is demonstrated through the production of granules, monoliths, and layered solids with a number of precursor materials.