Shape analysis is an important and powerful tool in a wide variety of medical applications. Many shape analysis techniques require shape representations which are in correspondence. Unfortunately, popular techniques for generating shape representations do not handle objects with complex geometry or topology well, and those that do are not typically readily available for non-expert users. We describe a method for generating correspondences across a population of objects using a given template. We also describe its implementation and distribution via SlicerSALT, an open-source platform for making powerful shape analysis techniques more widely available and usable. Finally, we show results of this implementation on mouse femur data.

Using our theory which is based on the strong-field approximation we analyze high-order above-threshold ionization and high-order harmonic generation processes for the case of the homonuclear diatomic molecules exposed to an orthogonally polarized two-color (OTC) laser field. The OTC field represents a superposition of two linearly polarized fields with mutually orthogonal polarizations and different frequencies. We analyze the photoelectron energy spectra and the harmonic ellipticity as a function of the ratio of the intensities of the OTC laser-field components and the relative phase. Some combinations of the values of these parameters lead to the high-energy electrons, while the harmonic ellipticity depends strongly on the ratio of the intensities of the laser-field components. It is possible to find the value of this ratio for which the ellipticity of the emitted harmonics is large. The signes of ellipticity are opposite for the molecular orientations which are connected through the reflection with respect to the axis along the first OTC field component. This symmetry is explained using the expression which relates the T-matrix element and the harmonic ellipticity.

Aim To investigate interleukin 6 (IL-6) values depending on duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) and evaluate possible correlation with diabetic polyneuropathy. Methods The research study included 90 patients with DM divided into three groups (30 patients each) according to the duration of DM: group A - patients who had DM for less than 10 years, group B - duration of DM was 10 to 20 years, and group C - patients with DM over 20 years. Control group (K) included 30 healthy participants. Results IL-6 was significantly higher in the healthy control group, 180.318 pg/mL±94.18, than in group A, 47.23pg/ml±34.8, group B, 43.31pg/ml±33.17, and group C, 70.39 pg/ml±59.26 (p=0.0001). All groups had significantly different values of IL-6 between each other (p=0.0001). Level of IL-6 was in correlation with diabetic polyneuropathy in the group A (the youngest participants) (p=0.0001). In other groups there was no significant correlation between IL-6 and diabetic polyneuropathy. Conclusion The level of IL-6 was in correlation with neuropathy among younger patients. A higher level of IL-6 in the control group than in diabetic groups is a sign of stronger inflammatory response among younger and healthy people than in patients with DM.

Based on the computed tomography (CT) images it is not possible to see all the lymph nodes that belong to the stomach. In radiotherapy, for a clinical target volume (CTV) delineation based on CT images, it is necessary to determine the appropriate margin around the corresponding blood vessels to make sure that all the required lymph nodes will be irradiated. The larger margin will certainly cover all the lymph nodes but it can also produce an increase of the received dose in the normal tissues. While a smaller margin can eventually spare the normal structures as a consequence it brings a higher risk of missing the suspected lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to analyse the radiation doses received by some organs at risk (OARs) in the case of the three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) treatment of the gastric cancer, for lymph node CTV margin sizes 5 mm, 7 mm and 10 mm. The study included 40 patients undergo the external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) treatment of gastric cancer. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures test and Friedman’s nonparametric test have been used for testing the statistical significance of differences among the examined groups. The difference between the examined groups has been considered significant if p < 0.05. The statistically significant differences in the dose contributions to the observed OARs (spinal cord, heart, small bowel and colon), among the examined CTVs, were found.

The study of atomic spectra is one of the key subjects in teaching physics. It represents a combination of topics such as wave physics, atomic physics, particle physics, etc. Because of its complexity, it takes a well-prepared student and a very creative and resourceful teacher for this subject to be adequately understood and comprehended. This article presents theoretical background with key points in physics that help teachers to better organize their preparation for students and different experimental sets for this specific experiment, such as Nikola Tesla’s transformer or some other high-voltage transformers. Another point of view for this experiment is a variety of subexperiment possibilities to choose from in the execution of this practical exercise. This article also brings some difficulties that both teachers and students experience while preparing or doing this experiment, such as lack of more profound quantum physics knowledge since the conventional approach in teaching this specific topic in high schools and universities focuses on an introductory course in the history of this topic-oriented towards early years of the 20th century.

Dark matter as one of the cosmos’ ingredients or constituents has been searched for in various experiments. This review presents some of the searches for dark matter while focusing on the LHC mainly. In order to present various searches, it describes theoretical models followed by experimental verification. Since there are three types of searches, among which most significant are direct and indirect ones, we will give an overview and short comparison between the two, with an emphasis on the advantages and disadvantages of collider and non-collider searches. This review brings an argumentative approach for the collider’s point of view since searches for dark matter in colliders are veritably ambitious regarding direct and indirect Dark Matter detection methods. LHC starts its Run 3 in 2021, and here we present results from the ATLAS experiment from Run 2 and bring some theoretical expectations from LHC in Run 3.

There are several theoretical models proposing dark matter candidates as well as different experimental searches for dark matter, collider, and non-collider ones. One of the most intriguing dark matter candidates is missing information in the cosmos. This is based on the mass-energy-information equivalence principle presented by M Vopson [1]. This review presents the historical development of this principle from its roots in the 1960s when Landauer principle was firstly presented to the latest data on the estimated value of the mass of one bit of information as well as data on missing energy as potential dark matter. Another theoretical discussion presented here is the reformulation of the second law of thermodynamics as a possible step to great unification. In addition to this theoretical postulation with a mathematical presentation focusing on statistics, we present some of the proposed experiments in this field. Two major proposals are in the direction of using an ultra-accurate balance with measurement uncertainty low enough to be comparable with proposed theoretical limits, and originally developed sensitive interferometer similar to the one in LIGO experiment.

The present review paper provides a systematic insight into the studies published so far when it comes to the research on the cost and performance optimisation in the parcel delivery phase. Globalisation, as well as the new trends, such as selling online, directly influences the demands for the delivery of goods. Demand for the delivery of goods proportionally affects the transport prices. A great majority of deliveries is carried out in densely populated urban areas. In terms of costs, the greatest part in the courier organisations costs is observed in the technological phase of parcel delivery, which is at the same time the least efficient. For that reason, significant improvement of performance and cost optimisation in the very delivery phase is a rather challenging field for the researchers. New algorithm-based technologies, innovations in the logistics and outsourcing of individual technological phases are ways by means of which one strives to enhance the delivery efficiency, to improve performance and quality, but also to optimise the costs in the last phase of delivery. The aim of the present paper is to offer a systematic review into the most recent research in the field of technology, innovations and outsourcing models with the aim of reducing the cost and enhancing the productivity and quality in parcel delivery.

Aim To evaluate the pattern of indications and a spectrum of colonic pathology, and to determine appropriateness of indications for colonoscopy in order to improve patient selection for colonoscopy. Methods This retrospective study includes 294 patients who were referred to the Gastroenterology Department from a primary care physician in order to approach endoscopic examination. Study data included patients' anamnestic data (comorbidities, positive family history, performed radiological examinations) an indication for the procedure, and colonoscopy findings. Results Haematochezia was confirmed in 186 (63.26%), positive radiologic finding in183 (62.24%) and anaemia in 157 (53.40%) patients. Adenoma and colorectal carcinoma were detected in 40 (13.6%) and 53 (18%) patients, respectively. A significant association between haematochezia and colorectal neoplasm was confirmed (p=0.019), haematochezia and inflammatory bowel disease (p=0.027), and between radiological finding and colorectal neoplasm (p=0.018). There was no significant association between anaemia and any of the colonoscopic findings. According to EPAGE II criteria indications were appropriate in 187 (63.6%), uncertain in 67 (22.8%) and inappropriate in 40 (13.6%) patients. Conclusion This study confirmed a slightly larger number of uncertain and inappropriate indications for colonoscopy compared to other studies that examined indications for colonoscopy, which can be attributed to a high number of patients with functional bowel disorders.

Balneo-gynaecological treatment methods include external bath hydrotherapy, sedentary baths and topical dressings/cataplasm, and internal (intravaginal or intrarectal use of peloids and mineral water). Hyperosmolar thermal spas have been very popular in the treatment of infertility due to the improvement of symptoms of chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, chronic vascular and inflammatory pelvic diseases. Acute pelvic inflammatory syndrome is a contraindication for balneo-hydrotherapy while hyperthermal hydrotherapy is contraindicated in endometriosis and neurovegetative dystonia due to the stimulation of hyperemia, which worsens the clinical picture. Balneo-hydrotherapy is not recommended in metrorrhagia and malignancies. Balneogynaecological treatment certainly has its own primary but also complementary role in the treatment of chronic gynaecological diseases and is increasingly recommended today.

ABSTRACT Six blood groups (Rh, MN, Duffy, Kidd, Kell, and Lutheran) were investigated among three major ethnic groups (Bosniaks, Bosnian Croats, and Bosnian Serbs), as well as 10 regional subpopulations across Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H): Krajina; Posavina; northeastern, eastern, middle, and central Bosnia; Sarajevo region; eastern, central, and western Herzegovina. This is the first study that introduces the molecular genetic typing of five blood groups within the B&H population, with the exception of the RhD blood group. The sample consisted of 450 buccal swabs from unrelated individuals. Five blood group systems (RhD, RhC, RhE, Kidd, MN) were genotyped by PCR with sequence specific primers, while three blood group systems (Kell, Duffy, Lutheran) were genotyped by the PCR-restriction-fragment-length polymorphism method. Minor variation of genetic diversity was observed within the three major B&H ethnic groups, as well as within the 10 subpopulations stratified according to geographical criteria. No genetic differentiation among ethnic groups was noticed. These results are in agreement with the results of previous studies based on different molecular genetics markers, which indicate that the three B&H ethnic groups belong to the same gene pool. A similar level of genetic variance was observed within regional subpopulations, with no significant genetic differentiation among them. Comparison of intrapopulation genetic diversity of the B&H population with other European and non-European populations, based on three loci (RHD, MN, and KEL), clearly show that the level of genetic diversity of the B&H population is within the European range.

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Article history: Received: 14 December, 2020 Accepted: 19 January, 2021 Online: 05 February, 2021 A comparative analysis of formulas for blast wave overpressure is presented in the paper, and models were compared with available experimental data. The Kinney and Shin models show the best agreement with experimental data (Kingery-Bulmash) for free airburst, while for surface burst, Swisdak, Vanuci, and Jeon models predict test data most accurately. One of the novelties in the paper is introduction of new exponential and power functions for blast overpressure estimation, giving good agreement with experimental data. Also, several numerical simulations of free airburst explosions were performed to introduce methodology, and compare the data obtained with experimental data. A detailed description of the procedure for these simulations was provided – a contribution to numerical modeling of blast wave phenomena.

Reduced maintenance costs of concrete structures can be ensured by efficient and comprehensive condition assessment. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been widely used in the condition assessment of reinforced concrete structures and it provides completely non-destructive results in real-time. It is mainly used for locating reinforcement and determining concrete cover thickness. More recently, research has focused on the possibility of using GPR for reinforcement corrosion assessment. In this paper, an overview of the application of GPR in corrosion assessment of concrete is presented. A literature search and study selection methodology were used to identify the relevant studies. First, the laboratory studies are shown. After that, the studies for the application on real structures are presented. The results have shown that the laboratory studies have not fully illuminated the influence of the corrosion process on the GPR signal. Also, no clear relationship was reported between the results of the laboratory studies and the on-site inspection. Although the GPR has a long history in the condition assessment of structures, it needs more laboratory investigations to clarify the influence of the corrosion process on the GPR signal.