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Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are diseases caused by the interaction of genetic and non-genetic factors. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the association between six common genetic polymorphisms and T2DM and MetS in males. A total of 120 T2DM, 75 MetS, and 120 healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. ACEID, eNOS4a/b, ATR1A1166C, OXTR(A>G), SOD1+35A/C, CAT-21A/T gene polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR or PCR-RFLP techniques. T2DM was diagnosed at an earlier age compared to MetS (54 vs 55 years old, p=0.0003) and the difference was greater in carriers of the OXTRG allele (54 vs 56 years old, p=0.0002) or both OXTRG and eNOSb alleles (54 vs 56, p=0.00016). The SOD1AA genotype (O.R.=0.11, p=0.0006) and the presence of both ACEI and OXTR1A (O.R.=0.39, p=0.0005) alleles revealed to be protective for T2DM. SOD1AA and AC genotypes were protective factors for triglyceride (p=0.0002 and p=0.0005, respectively) and HDL cholesterol (p=0.0002 and p=0.0004, respectively) levels in T2DM patients. ACEDD was identified more frequently in hypertensive T2DM patients (O.R.=3.77, p=0.0005) and in those who reported drinking alcohol (p=0.0001) comparing to HC and T2DM patients who did not drink alcohol, respectively. We observed that T2DM patients who reported drinking alcohol had an increased frequency of ACEDD and eNOSbb (p<0.0001), or ACEDD and OXTRG (p<0.0001) compared to non-drinkers. No gene polymorphisms were associated with MetS. more...

AbstractThe occurrence, relative abundance and bathymetric distribution of the deep Mediterranean heterobranch fauna were evaluated as a result of an extensive visual census down to 1825 m depth, carried out along the western Italian coasts, covering a latitudinal range of about 600 nautical miles. Observations were conducted using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) in 551 sites, focusing on the deepest part of the continental shelf, the shelf edge and the upper bathyal zone. The analysis of over 508 hours of video footage and more than 27,000 high-resolution photographs allowed to explore about 594,000 m2of rocky outcrops and nearby soft seafloors in four main coastal areas (Ligurian Sea, north-central Tyrrhenian Sea, southern Tyrrhenian Sea, and Sicily Channel) and twelve offshore seamounts. Thirty-six species of heterobranchs, for a total of 559 records, were identified. Sixteen were only sporadically spotted (< 1% of the total observations), while three (Paraflabellina ischitana, Tritoniidae nd and Peltodoris atromaculata) contributed each for more than 10% of the records. An extension of the known Mediterranean bathymetric distribution was reported for 80% of the observed species, with many typically shallow-water taxa being also found in mesophotic environments (40–200 m). The observed marked decrease in diversity and abundance suggested that Mediterranean heterobranchs are mainly a coastal benthic group. From the geographical point of view, the heterobranch fauna present in the Ligurian Sea appeared significantly different from that observed in the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Sicily Channel, and this latitudinal pattern was discussed. Particular attention was given to single out the bathymetric distribution of the food sources of the most frequently observed species, supporting stenophagy as a limiting factor for their colonisation of the deep sea. more...

It is important to evaluate whether a new treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) provides additive benefit to background foundational treatments. As such, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in patients with HFrEF in addition to baseline treatment with specific doses and combinations of disease-modifying therapies. more...

Currently, almost all car manufacturers have in the production scheme at least one vehicle model with a hybrid or electric energy source. This fact is generated by the high interest in the market related to the subsidies offered to the purchase by the states but also by the high performance in terms of pollution, noise, and economy, which they can achieve. The only performance indicator which for the moment is not at a satisfactory level is represented by autonomy. At this point, the electric cars have an autonomy between 250 and 800 km driven after a single charge of the traction battery. It should be mentioned though that, the autonomy of electric vehicles declared by European manufacturers is obtained in laboratory conditions, these being carried out in accordance with the provisions of the European Union regulations. Obviously, there are significant differences between the electric autonomy obtained in laboratory conditions and the autonomy obtained in real driving conditions. These differences are related to the ideal test conditions achieved at the laboratory level and which cannot be fully found in real driving conditions. Starting from these premises, in a first part of the paper, are presented the theoretical arguments regarding the determination of autonomy in real driving conditions with a driving profile specific to the RDE testing and are described the technical details of the electric vehicle under investigation. In the second part of the paper, are presented the results of the experimental research for the three driving zones specific to the RDE testing: driving in the urban zone, driving in the rural zone, and driving on the motorway. The downward evolution of the state of charge of the traction battery for each driving zone is shown graphically. Following the processing, analysis and interpretation of the data acquired from the car electronic control units, are formulated conclusions regarding the causes that influence the electric autonomy. more...

The most important attributes expected from today’s electric vehicles are the electricity consumption and the autonomy, which must be able to unequivocally replace the results achieved by the vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine. These expectations come equally from the car manufacturers and from the end users. Based on these premises, in a first part of the paper, are presented the theoretical aspects concerning the test procedure for determining the autonomy of electric vehicles, applicable at the European level, with the highlighting of the low and medium driving zones, specific to the WLTC test. Also, are indicated theoretical details regarding the model of the electric vehicle tested and simulated, using the AMESIM modelling and simulation platform. In the second part are presented the comparative results obtained by measuring and simulating regarding the electric autonomy, respectively the influence that the driving at the low and the medium speed has, upon of the state of charge depletion of the traction battery. more...

With the increase the number of vehicles on European roads, the road transport has become the biggest source of air pollution in the cities of the old continent. According to European Commission estimates in 2018, more than 39% of NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions and 10% of PM2.5 and PM10 emissions (mechanical particles with diameters of 2.5 and 10 micrometers) were attributed to road transport. It is known that, in order to limit to some extent, the uncontrolled increase in harmful emissions from road vehicles, the European Commission has gradually introduced new pollution standards to be met by manufacturers of new vehicles. In the second half of 2022, the Commission presented a new proposal to reduce pollutant emissions from new vehicles sold in the European Union (EU), defining the new Euro 7 pollution standards. Compared to Euro 6 by 2035, according to European Commission estimates, these new Euro 7 standards, together with a progressive increase in the number of electric vehicles sold, aim to reduce pollutant emissions from private vehicles and vans by around 35% for NOx emissions and around 13% for particulate emissions. Therefore, both the Euro 7 and CO2emissions standard (CAFE) for vehicles have been designed to improve air quality in cities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including by increasing the use of electric vehicles. Starting from this hypothesis, the first part of the paper presents the experimental model developed in the AMESim simulation platform of a mid-size vehicle equipped with a hybrid GMP, tested on a roller bench, which simulates pollutant emissions in this new Euro 7 standard. In the second part of the paper, the simulation results and possible causes influencing hybrid GMP behavior leading to the evolution of pollutant emissions are analyzed. Finally, the paper formulates conclusions on the evolution of pollutant emissions. more...

In Canada, 3,799 opioid-related deaths were recorded in 2019, and this number remains elevated since the overdose emergency was declared in June 2016. British Columbia (BC) has the highest overdose death rate in Canada. Individuals who died after an overdose are eligible to donate organs for transplantation. This study aims to 1) examine the number of overdosed deceased heart donors (ODDs) over time and 2) examine the safety of ODD heart transplantation in BC. more...

Cardiovascular MRI in heart transplant recipients independently predicts 5‐year adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Imaging recommendations for the follow-up of heart transplant recipients (HTRs) lack evidence justifying their prognostic value. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) can characterize heart structure and function and has prognostic value in many myocardial diseases. We hypothesized that CMRI evaluation of cardiac allografts would predict adverse events. We performed CMRI on 60 HTRs evaluating biventricular size, function and myocardial scar. We performed survival analysis to identify independent predictors of cardiovascular (CV) death or hospitalization. Participants had a mean age of 51 ± 14 years, mean graft age of 3.5 years (±4) and 75% are male. Median follow-up time was 4.9 years with 22 CV hospitalizations and 7 CV deaths. A multivariable survival analysis of imaging and clinical variables identified myocardial scar (hazard ratio [HR] of 10.7, p = 0.005), right ventricular end- diastolic volume index (RVEDVI; 1.1/mL/m2, p = 0.001), graft age (HR = 1.2/year, p = 0.004) and previous allograft rejection (HR = 4.4, p = 0.006) as predictive of time to CV death or hospitalization. CMRI-derived myocardial scar and RVEDVI are independently associated with CV outcomes in HTRs. more...

A particular case of interactions of a single massless tensor field with the mixed symmetry corresponding to a two-column Young diagram (k,1) with k=4, dual to linearized gravity in D=7, is considered in the context of: self-couplings, cross-interactions with a Pauli-Fierz field, cross-couplings to purely matter theories, and interactions with an Abelian 1-form. The general approach relies on the deformation of the solution to the master equation from the antifield-BRST formalism by means of the local cohomology of the BRST differential. more...

Goals: Improving cancer diagnosis is one of the important challenges at this time. The precise differentiation between benign and malignant tissue is in the oncology and oncologic surgery of the utmost significance. A new diagnostic system, that facilitates the decision which tissue has to be removed, would be appreciated. In previous studies many attempts were made to use tissue fluorescence for cancer recognition. However, no clear correlation was found between tissue type and fluorescence parameters like time and wavelength dependent fluorescence intensity I(t, ). The present study is focused on cooperative behaviour of cells in benign or malignant prostates tissue reflecting differences in their metabolism. Material and Methods: 50 prostate specimens were obtained directly after radical prostatectomy and from each specimen 6 punch biopsies were taken. Time-resolved fluorescence spectra were recorded for 4 different measurement points for each biopsy. The pathologist evaluated each measurement point separately. An algorithm was developed to determine a relevant parameter of the time dependent fluorescence data (fractal dimension DF). The results of the finding and the DF-value were correlated for each point and then analysed with statistical methods. Results: A total of 1200 measurements points were analysed. The optimal algorithm and conditions for discrimination between malignant and non-malignant tissue areas were found. The correct classification could be stated in 93.4% of analysed points. The ROC-curve (AUC = 0.94) confirms the chosen statistical method as well as it informs about the specificity (0.94) and sensitivity (0.90). Conclusion: The new method seems to offer a very helpful diagnostic tool for pathologists as well as for surgery. more...

Aneurysm of the ductus diverticulum rarely has been reported in adults, and the reported aneurysms were treated with conventional open surgery or were diagnosed at autopsy. We report a successful endovascular repair of an aneurysm of the ductus diverticulum with the Inoue branched stent graft. In a 78-year-old woman, an abnormal shadow was noted at the aortopulmonary window on a chest x-ray film. A computed tomography scan demonstrated a 3.8-cm saccular aneurysm, which protruded inferiorly from the distal end of the aortic arch. The aneurysm was considered an aneurysm of the ductus diverticulum, and surgery was required. However, the patient was considered at high risk for respiratory dysfunction with conventional open surgery. Endovascular repair with an Inoue single-branched stent graft was performed with the patient under local anesthesia, successfully and without complication or endoleak. To our knowledge, this is the first report of endovascular treatment of an aneurysm of the ductus diverticulum. more...

We have investigated the binding of n-toluenesulfonate-4-(n-dimethylaminostyrene)-1-methylpyridi- nium (DSM) to human and animal erythrocyte membrane. It was discovered the spectral characteristics and binding parameters of the probes differ in the norm and in various pathologies, at changing adrenoreactivity of the animal organism. It is concluded that the probe can be used to assess the changes in membrane properties and in the β-adrenoreceptive function of both the erythrocytes and the organism as a whole. more...

Nous montrons qu'une surface de la classe VII0avec b2> 0 sur laquelle existe un champ de vecteurs non trivial contient exactement b2courbes rationnelles. Il s'ensuit par un théorème de I. Nakamura qu'une telle surface se déforme en une surface de Hopf primaire éclatée. Ce résultat contribue ã la classification des surfaces complexes compactes avec champs de vecteurs. more...

Transitory and permanent effects of electron beam irradiation on mechanical and electrical properties of a large list of organic insulating materials, such as: polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), terephtalated polyethylene (PET), stratified phenol-paper (SPP), methylsthyrene butadiene rubber (MeStB), silicon rubber (SR), polyester resin (UPR) are presented. The principal mechanical and electrical properties analyzed were: tensile strength, elongation at break, sharing strength, dielectric strength, electrical resistivity, dielectric constant, dissipation factor. more...

The main goal of the actual research is to develop a cost-effective Data Acquisition System. The system can be used to measure accelerations, inside the vehicles, that can affect the comfort of the passengers or the driving pleasure, known as drivability. The study of comfort, influenced by the accelerations, is currently conducted on different types of vehicles equipped with thermal, electric engines or hybrid systems. This study can have two approaches, a subjective one and an objective one. The subjective study of the drivability must be made by a specialized person, with good skill and vast experience in this domain, but the results, sometimes, can be influenced by that person preferences or its moment feelings. The objective of the study is made by analysing the recoded accelerations by a data acquisition system. The paper starts from the main tendency on every industry, represented by the indirect ratio of growing performances versus the size reduction of the measuring devices. In the beginning, this tendency can have high costs but with good optimization will have a significant cost reduction. Thus, the paper combines three main parts of engineering like electronics, automatics and not least the automotive one. The research starts from a system developed inside the automotive engineering laboratories that was used to record data in real time, on a motor-vehicle, for different running regimes, met in the real life. more...

Recent landmark trials investigating the use of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) have demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalization. As a result of these trials, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) has recently published a guideline update strongly recommending the initiation of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with HFrEF and HF symptoms. The routine initiation of SGLT2 inhibitors in eligible patients, however, has been limited by several factors including cost, increased pill burden, concomitant chronic kidney disease and adverse effects, among others. Canadian real-world data investigating the use of SGLT2 inhibitors and perceived barriers to their initiation in eligible heart failure patients are currently lacking. more...

In hot humid climates with highly leached, variable charge soils, the yields of many crops are limited due to subsoil acidity. Although surface‐applied gypsum has been shown to be effective in ameliorating this acidity in ferruginous and aluminous soils, the length of time that the effect is likely to last has not been satisfactorily established. A number of long‐term experiments with gypsum incorporated into the topsoil at 10 and 35 Mg ha−1were sampled to evaluate its effects on soil profile chemical properties and yields of corn (Zea maysL.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.). Even after 16 yr, the gypsum effects were still clearly visible. Exchangeable Ca and SO4were higher down the soil profile in the gypsum than in the control treatment. A complementary reduction in exchangeable Al was observed in the gypsum treatment to the 80‐cm depth. However, pH was not greatly altered down the profile. This amelioration of the effects of subsoil acidity was reflected in improved crop yields of both corn (29–50%) and alfalfa (≈50%) on the gypsum treatments. Because the gypsum effect is so long‐lasting, its use as a subsoil acidity ameliorant becomes highly economic because the initially high cost can be amortized over an extended period of time. more...

The use of a newly synthesized fluorescent probe, ABM (conditional name), to determine changes of membrane composition (fluidity), biomass yield, ethanol productivity, and yield of Zymomonas mobilisunder anaerobic conditions was investigated. A strong correlation between ABM spectral characteristics in cell suspension and all obtained parameters was observed. It was concluded that application of ABM is a useful tool to detect temperature-induced changes in the membrane composition of Zymomonas mobilis. more...

Trichodermin, a microbial biofungicide obtained by the cultivation of the genus Trichoderma in geometrically dissimilar bioreactors, was investigated both in production and the application in food plants at different stages of growth. The growth of the producer was considerably better in the counterflow mixing system (CFMS) in comparison with the turbine mixing system (STMS). Morphological changes of the strain were studied during batch fermentation at different mixing regimes. The characteristic dynamics of the morphology were better when using CFMS. The biofungicide trichodermin produced by CFMS showed a somewhat higher activity for barley and sugar beet. more...

The most important methods for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide on flat metallic cathodes have been systematically summarized using a novel classification approach. In contrast to the usual classification systems that were based solely on the products of electrolysis, the electroreduction procedures have been grouped according to both the nature of the cathode (sp or d group metal electrodes) and the solvent used for the supporting electrolyte (aqueous or nonaqueous solutions). The new classification system allows the identity of the electroreduction product to be better related to the nature of the metallic electrode and the supporting electrolyte. Similar reduction products are formed by each of the four possible combinations of electrodes and supporting electrolytes (sp group metals in aqueous and nonaqueous electrolytes, and d group metals in aqueous and nonaqueous electrolytes, respectively). The discussion has included both synthetic aspects and mechanistic considerations. Of special interest in this review is the discussion of procedures for the selective preparation of formic acid and for the manufacturing of hydrocarbons and/or alcohols using carbon dioxide as the carbon source. more...

The present paper deals with the coordination of energy metabolism, glucose consumption rate, glycolytic and TCA cycle enzyme activities in the lysine-producing bacterium Brevibacterium flavum. It is shown, that inhibition of the elctron transport chain causes changes of the following sequence:at first, TCA cycle enzymes are activated;secondly, TCA cycle enzyme activity decreases, and glycolytic enzyme activities as well as glucose transport rate increase; there is a slight increase in Qo2and a considerable one of O2consumption in cyanide-resistant respiration pathway;thirdly, TCA cycle enzyme activities and glucose transport rate decrease. It is supposed, that coordination of carbon and energy metabolism in B. flavumdepends on intracellular ATP concentration or energy charge value. more...

Abstract. The effect of chronic dopaminergic receptor blockade using domperidone (DOM) on the immature dog pituitary content of POMC-related peptides was evaluated. Six immature dogs were treated with DOM for 15 days, 3 times/day, po (3 mg/kg) together with DOM sc(0.6 mg/kg) at 21.00 h. Placebo was administered to six control animals with the same protocol. On the 16th day, the animals were killed, the whole pituitary removed, homogenized, and submitted to reverse-phase HPLC purification prior to radioimmunoassay (RIA) evaluation of β-endorphin, ACTH and α-MSH immunoreactivities (ir). DOM-treated dogs showed a pituitary concentration of β-EP and ACTH similar to the placebo-treated dogs. The total α-MSH ir was similar in both groups and distributed on two main peaks: one corresponding to α-MSH and another coeluting with des-acetyl-α-MSH [1-13(ACTH)NH2]. However, the percentage of α-MSH on total ir in DOMtreated dogs (15.4 ± 2.6%) was lower than in controls (37.5 ± 4.5%, P< 0.01); the corresponding percentage of 1-13(ACTH)NH2content was 63.0 ± 3.8% vs 44.7 ± 3.7%, (P< 0.01). The α-MSH/1-13(ACTH)NH2ratio was considerably decreased by the treatment (0.25 ± 0.06 vs 0.89 + 0.15, P< 0.01). < 0.01). Acetyl β-EP-like ir was also lower in treated (38.4 + 5.4 fmol/mg) vs control (86.6 + 19.2 fmol/mg, P< 0.05) animals. These data indicate that the dopaminergic system plays an important role in the control of acetylation processes of POMC-related peptides in the pituitary. This may be crucial as far as the biological activity of the peptides is concerned. more...

AbstractThe results of a research program concerning the application of the electron beam EB) irradiation, microwave MW) irradiation and simultaneous electron beam and microwave EB + MW) irradiation for removing nitrogen oxides NOX) and sulfur dioxide SO2) in simulated Due gases are presented. Several microwave applicators and reaction chambers used for NOXand SO2removal tests are also presented. The additional use of MW energy and EB energy or the use of MW energy only proved to be a promising method for removal of pollutants in view of the reduction of power consumption and flue gas treatment process cost. Experiments performed at lower temperature 65-70°C) of the gaseous mixture air, Argon up to 7%, H2O up to 25%, CO2up to 10%, SO2up to 2000 ppm, NOXup to 1000 ppm, NH3added in stoichiometric amounts) demonstrated a higher SO2removal efficiency with lower absorbed dose. Promising results are obtained especially for SO2removal efficiency: up to 80% for MW, 85% for EB irradiation and up to 90% for EB + MW irradiation. A considerable amount of SO2can be separated even without MW, EB or EB + MW irradiation due the spontaneous reaction with ammonia at gaseous mixture temperature below 70°C. The most important conclusion concerning MW irradiation is that efficiency of removal of pollutants strongly depends on microwave applicator structure type, residence time and MW power level. more...

AbstractRadiation research results in the field of polymeric materials, obtained in the last few years by electron beam irradiation of aqueous solutions containing appropriate monomer mixtures, such as acrylamide, acrylic acid and vinyl acetate, are presented. Two types of polymeric flocculants for waste water treatment and three kinds of hydrogels for agriculture and medicine are described. The effects of radiation absorbed dose, radiation absorbed dose rate, and chemical composition of the irradiated solutions upon the polymeric materials characteristics are discussed. The required absorbed dose levels to produce the polymeric flocculants are in the range of 0.3 to 9 kGy and 4 kGy to 12 kGy for hydrogels. Some experimental results obtained by testing polymeric flocculants with waste water from food industry are given. Polymeric material processing was developed on a pilot plant level with ALID-7 electron linear accelerator of 5.5 MeV and 0.7 kW, built in the Electron Accelerator Laboratory of the Institute of Atomic Physics, Bucharest. A new facility permitting the application of simultaneous electron beam and microwave irradiation is presently under investigation. Preliminary results demonstrated that some polymeric flocculant characteristics, such as linearity, were improved by simultaneous electron beam and microwave treatment. Also, the absorbed dose levels decreased and intrinsic viscosity increased, respectively, by about two times by this new material processing method. more...

The paper reports an empirical study designed to establish the extent to which adequate concrete cover to reinforcement in a sample of structures was achieved. It was found that the standards fell significantly short of those specified. Two kinds of explanation are considered to account for these findings. The first accepts as given the existing divisions of responsibility and conventions for specifying quality and looks to identify the reasons for non-compliance. The second proposes that the present arrangements and conventions are inappropriate to the conditions of variability and uncertainty standardly met with in construction. On the basis of this second set of assumptions, an alternative approach, using the concept of continuous quality improvement, is described and discussed. more...

The superficial processes produced by the fast electrons in a d.c. glow discharge may influence the values of the potential difference measured with the Hall probes. In order to obtain a good agreement between calculated and measured Hall voltages it is necessary to exclude these superficial processes, specially the secondary electron emission, at the surface of the Hall probes. In this paper the mentioned influence and the optimum work conditions for Hall probes measurements in a d.c. glow discharge are studied. more...

In order to analyze plasma transport characteristics in GAMMA 10 for divertor-simulator operation, a simple numerical program based on the fluid plasma model has been developed. A series of initial test calculations has been successfully done for the model geometry of the end region of GAMMA 10. Typical low recycling state has been obtained for the GAMMA 10 model geometry with the magnetic flux expansion, while high recycling state for the pure cylindrical geometry without the flux expansion under the same boundary conditions. more...