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In this work, emissions of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from formulating pharmaceutical industries (FPIs) were investigated for the first time based on detailed production information and compared to overall API emissions in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. At two municipal WWTPs, both receiving wastewater from several FPIs, two months’ daily effluent samples were collected and measured using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Thirty-three APIs formulated during the sampling period as well as >120 organic contaminants commonly present in WWTP effluents were quantified. On the basis of their time patterns and manufacturing data, industrial contributions were found for 22 of 26 APIs (85%) detected in the samples and processed by the FPIs. API emissions from FPIs led to daily concentration increases of up to 300-fold, despite pretreatment of the industrial wastewater. However, emissions from FPIs seemed to depend on the type of formulating activity, with granulation and mixing being most prone to API losses. Losses from FPIs were responsible for the highest concentrations and for up to 60% of the daily total API emissions measured. Furthermore, screening for suspects in LC-HRMS data resulted in the detection of unexpected emissions from FPIs, demonstrating the value of these data to comprehensively assess industrial API losses. Overall, this study showed that FPIs were relevant contributors of APIs emitted in the WWTP effluents, although only a minor fraction (

This is the first of four chapters that explain and apply the dynamic simulation approach to health risk assessment modeling introduced in Chap. 2. The exposition in this chapter is motivated by an observation made by toxicologist Julie Goodman of Gradient, who coauthored the article on which this chapter is based (Cox Jr et al. 2020): most of the key ideas of the dynamic simulation approach can be explained through relatively simple diagrams, without going through the underlying equations. This chapter undertakes such a high-level diagrammatic exposition. It returns to two of the diagrams used in Chap. 2 to introduce simulation modeling, and adds further discussion and diagrams to help understand and visualize the dynamic responses of internal doses to different time patterns of exposure. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 and their appendices then cover the same material in much greater depth, providing the underlying systems of equations used to model biological responses to exposures to inhaled respirable crystalline silica (Chap. 4) and asbestos (Chap. 5) and highlighting the importance of nonlinearities in these responses for risk assessment and risk management (Chap. 6).

Earthquakes are vibrations that occur on the earth's surface due to the sudden release of energy from the inside that creates seismic waves. An earthquake is caused by the movement of the earth's crust (the earth's plate). The frequency of a region refers to the type and size of earthquakes experienced during a period. Along with the development of early earthquake detection system technology provides a solution to minimize earthquake events. This research will discuss the system's design to determine the occurrence of earthquakes through time pattern analysis and Peak Ground Acceleration value. By using the Radial Basis Function Method, which later to minimize the loss of life from earthquakes. And help the main tools owned by the government. This study aims to determine the occurrence of earthquakes from Peak Ground Acceleration values and time analysis patterns, which are obtained from the decision of the Backpropagation method with an accuracy rate of 88%.

Learning about new sounds is essential for cochlear-implant and normal-hearing listeners alike, with the additional challenge for implant listeners that spectral resolution is severely degraded. Here, a task measuring the rapid learning of slow or fast stochastic temporal sequences [Kang, Agus, and Pressnitzer (2017). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 142, 2219-2232] was performed by cochlear-implant (N = 10) and normal-hearing (N = 9) listeners, using electric or acoustic pulse sequences, respectively. Rapid perceptual learning was observed for both groups, with highly similar characteristics. Moreover, for cochlear-implant listeners, an additional condition tested ultra-fast electric pulse sequences that would be impossible to represent temporally when presented acoustically. This condition also demonstrated learning. Overall, the results suggest that cochlear-implant listeners have access to the neural plasticity mechanisms needed for the rapid perceptual learning of complex temporal sequences.

This chapter addresses the typical pattern of medical and psychological response to major disasters. The typical time pattern and the diagnostic criteria for acute stress disorder (grieving) are discussed as well as the primary risk factors (trauma severity and lack of social support) that predispose an individual to the development of PTSD. The World Health Organization diagnosis of complex PTSD is addressed as well as the newer proposed diagnosis of EPCACE (enduring personality change after a catastrophic experience). The social effects and cost of high levels of societal PTSD are discussed as is the diagnosis of multigenerational PTSD. Various societal types are compared based on PTSD rates and the society’s ability to care for those affected. Marker rates are proposed for the points at which PTSD stresses and then defines societal functioning.

In the electricity market environment, an efficient and accurate load forecasting model plays a vital role in the operation and dispatch of the power grid system. However, the deep learning method represented by the recurrent neural network is difficult to capture the effective features of mixed time pattern sequences, and there is a problem of important information loss when the sequence is too long. To solve this problem, we propose a short-term load forecasting model of TCN (temporal convolutional network)-GRU (gated recurrent unit) based on the sparse attention mechanism. This model utilizes the sparse attention GRU network to capture the node features of different time patterns and highlight their importance and then uses TCN's causal dilated convolution operations to extract long-term temporal features of the sequence. Finally, the proposed model integrates two captured feature information to complete the load forecast. Taking the public data set of a certain area in Australia and the load data of a certain area in Shanghai, China as examples, we compare this model with the typical model respectively. The results show that the proposed model has higher prediction accuracy and model robustness.

Theft is a long-standing crime against property, which exists alongside the development of private ownership. If the time pattern of thefts could be found out well, police officers can take preventive measures in advance to control the occurrence of theft crimes. However, thieves are smart enough to pick targets randomly. This makes it difficult for police to predict accurately when and where the offenders would commit crimes. In this paper, STL-FNN is proposed based on a seasonal trend decomposition procedure based on loess (STL) and full-connected neural network (FNN),which is designed to predict daily theft level in order to find out when criminals are most likely to commit crimes. The empirical case of prediction of daily theft level in City B shows that the STL-FNN model is better than the other five traditional models for prediction of the long-term sequence (365 days). This model is expected to have high potential application value in the schedule of anti-theft activities planned by polices.

BackgroundAs the Covid-19 virus epidemic spreads, it is important to establish reliable estimates of fatality hazard rates. Australia and South Korea are ideal candidates for detailed consideration. Both have completed the first wave of the epidemic, they have extensive Covid-19 testing and tracking programs so that confirmed case load data are reliable, and neither country has had any significant case load stress in their hospital systems.MethodsFor each country, mortality hazard models were estimated using a parameterized distributed lag model where the number of daily deaths was dependent on the number of confirmed cases in each of the preceding six weeks. Age cohort CFRs were also examined.FindingsWe observed major difference in the mortality rates when comparing South Korea to Australia in both the simple age adjusted fatality rates and in the disease hazard curve. On a like-for-like basis, the CFR for South Korea appears to be close to double the Australian rate (aggregate; 2.4% vs 1.4%).InterpretationNeither differences in the time pattern of the peaking of the case load of confirmed cases, nor differences in the size of age cohorts of confirmed cases explain the difference in mortality observed. We discuss possible explanations that point the way for further investigation.Fundingnil.

Introduction: Several studies identified temporal variations in stroke care and suggested that quality of care declines during off-hours and on weekends. Methods: We specified 2 time definitions: a) 8-hour blocks: night (midnight – 7:59), day (8:00 – 15:59), evening (16:00-23:59); b) weekday vs. weekend. We compared process measures and outcomes of the EVT-treated DEFUSE 3 patients based on these definitions. To assign patients to time-blocks, we used date and time of admission to hospital that performed EVT. Results: 92 patients were randomized to EVT treatment: 30% arrived to the treating hospital at night, 49% at day, 21% at evening. Mean age by arrival time 71±14, 70±12, 63±15 (p=0.09); NIHSS 17±5, 15±6, 15±8 (p=0.40); female 39%, 51%, 63% (p=0.27). Weekend admission occurred in 21%. Weekday vs weekend mean age 68±14 vs 72±11 (p=0.19); female 53% vs 37% (p=0.20), higher weekend NIHSS 15±6 vs 18±6 (p=0.04). Onset to arrival at the EVT center varied by time of day: (hrs:mins) 7:04±2:43 night, 8:05±3:01 day, 4:51±2:30 evening, p Conclusions: DEFUSE 3 patients admitted during the day had the longest time from last known well to arrival at the study site due to the high percentage of wake-up strokes admitted during this time period, however, these patients had the shortest arrival to groin puncture times. Although mortality rates were higher for patients who presented on weekends, this may be explained by the fact that these patients were older and had higher NIHSS.

We introduce a compartmental model of ordinary differential equations for the population dynamics of listeriosis, and we derive a model for analysing a listeriosis outbreak. The model explicitly accommodates neonatal infections. Similarly as is common in cholera modeling, we include a compartment to represent the reservoir of bacteria. We also include a compartment to represent the incubation phase. For the 2017/18 listeriosis outbreak that happened in South Africa, we calculate the time pattern and intensity of the force of infection, and we determine numerical values for some of the parameters in the model. The model is calibrated using South African data, together with existing data in the open literature not necessarily from South Africa. We make projections on the future outlook of the epidemiology of the disease and the possibility of eradication.

Objective: To investigate whether patients with an acute heart failure (AHF) episode triggered by infection present different outcomes compared to patients with no trigger and the effects of early antibiotic administration (EAA) and hospitalisation. Methods: Two groups were made according to the AHF trigger: infection (G1) or none identified (G2). The primary outcome was 13-week (91-days) all-cause mortality, and secondary outcomes were 13-week post-discharge mortality, readmission or combined endpoint. Comparisons are presented as unadjusted and adjusted (MEESSI risk score) hazard ratios (uHR/aHR) for G1 compared to G2 patients, also estimated by weeks. Stratified analysis by EAA (provided/not provided) and patient disposition (discharged/hospitalised) was performed. Results: We included 6727 patients (G1 = 3973; G2 = 2754). The 13-week mortality uHR was 1.11 (0.99-1.25; p = 0.06; with significant increases in the first 3 weeks), and the aHR was 0.91 (0.81-1.02; p = 0.11). There were no differences in unadjusted secondary post-discharge outcomes; however, G1 outcomes significantly improved after adjustment: aHR 0.83 (0.71-0.96; p = 0.01) for mortality, 0.92 (0.84-0.99; p = 0.04) for readmission, and 0.92 (0.85-0.99; p = 0.04) for the combined endpoint. We found a differentiated effect of hospitalisation (p < 0.05 for interaction; better post-discharge readmission and combined outcomes in G1), and a trend (p = 0.06) to lower mortality in G1 patients with EAA. Additionally, there were some differences between groups in baseline and acute episode characteristics. Conclusion: AHF triggered by infection is not associated with a higher mid-term mortality and has better post-discharge outcomes; however, the first 3 weeks are an extremely vulnerable period. Since hospitalisation could have a role in limiting adverse post-discharge events, and EAA in reducing mortality, these relationships should be prospectively explored in further studies.

The occurrence of births of children with orofacial clefts in Slovenia during the forty-year period 1973-2012 was recorded daily. Days with one birth with cleft, with much less frequent two, and with exceptionally rare three births with clefts were recorded by date. Incidence was calculated as the ratio of number of clefts per thousand live births in a time period. Numbers of live births, recorded monthly, were accessed on the web site of the Statistical Office of Republic of Slovenia. The purpose of the article was the investigation of the time pattern of births with clefts, in particular the presence of an assumed Poisson process. The data made statistical analysis on several levels of aggregation (daily, quarterly, yearly) possible. However, the approaches on different aggregation levels had to be adapted, partly due to the changing birth rate. Overwhelming majority of results is compatible with the assumed Poisson process hypothesis. An additional purpose was testing the suspected time periodicity of the cleft incidence. A non-traditional approach using the Siegel's test was applied. No periodic frequency could be confirmed at the 0,05-significance level.

A formal model of system-wide equilibrium is constructed where regulatory policy backs exchange by means of synallagmatic contracts. The model economy comprises three explicit sectors (business sector, household sector and state sector) and is engaged in three basic economic activities (production, exchange and consumption). Three basic time patterns are possible for exchange contracts (spot contracts, financial contracts and forward contracts; in total referred to as inner exchange contracts).

An extensive body of criminological research has shown that criminaland violent behaviour manifests time patterns in terms of daily,weekly and annual cycles. This is consistent with criminologicalroutine activities theory. Can we generalize these patterns to historicalperiods? In this article, we draw on a recently created uniquedataset, covering the years 1608–1699 in three Nordic regions, toexplore time cycles of offending in the early modern period.Examining daily, weekly and annual cycles, we find that lethalviolence manifested strong time patterns in the early modernperiod. The role of public holidays was central especially in theperiod lasting from Christmas to Midsummer. Probing the role ofkey routines, we disaggregated the composition of homicide cyclesby alcohol use and place of occurrence. The findings indicated thatearly modern homicide time cycles were associated with alcoholuse and activities in private places. We conclude by discussing thestrengths and limitations of our data and by suggesting furtherresearch in the promising frontier of standardized long durationhomicide research.

Aim of the present review is to offer an outline of the application of T-pattern analysis (TPA) in the study of neurological disorders characterized by anomalies of movement and, more in general, of behavior. TPA is a multivariate technique to detect real time patterns of behavior on the basis of statistically significant constraints among the events in sequence. TPA is particularly suitable to analyse the structure of behavior. The application of TPA to study movement and behavioral disorders is able to offer, with a high level of detail, hidden characteristics of behavior otherwise impossible to detect. For its intrinsic features, TPA is completely different not only from quantitative evaluations of behavior such as assessments of frequencies, durations, percent distributions etc. of individual behavioral components, but also from the largest extent of multivariate approaches based, for instance, on the analysis of transition matrices. Various applications of TPA in the study of behavior in human patients and in animal models of neurological disorders are discussed. TPA is a suitable tool to study the movement and behavioral disorders. This review represents a useful background for researchers, therapists, physicians etc. who intend to use this technique.

The concept of the exchange contract allows the Walrasian Paradigm to be modified. This, in its original form, is a money-less scenario providing for nothing but spot transactions. It may be enlarged by different time patterns of exchange as well as various patterns of money usage in exchange.

This work investigates the spatial and temporal variability of atmospheric ammonia concentrations in the Lombardy region in Northern Italy, where its continuous measurement at hourly resolution began in 2007 at monitoring sites representative of three different land use areas (urban, rural, and mountain locations). Ammonia concentration data have been jointly analyzed with wind direction and speed to highlight the association between the origin of the air masses and the concentration levels observed at the monitoring sites far from the primary sources, essentially consisting of farming activities and cattle and pigs breeding located in the southeastern part of the Lombardy region. The annual average concentrations of ammonia observed at urban (4.4–13.4 μg m−3 range) and rural (17–35 μg m−3 range) monitoring sites are in substantial agreement with literature data, which are however limited and strongly influenced by the measurement techniques used. The lowest concentration levels (1.1–5.8 μg m−3 range) are observed at the monitoring sites in the mountain areas. Both the seasonal and daily time patterns of the concentrations appear strongly related to some features of the measurement sites, namely with regard to their exposure to agricultural activities, whose seasonal practices arise in emissions responsible for strong variations in the ammonia atmospheric levels. Conversely, in the mountain areas in the north of region, local conditions affecting the atmospheric circulation seem to play a more important role than local sources, with the highest concentrations occurring when the breezes transport NH3-rich air masses from the southern part of the region.

Los pilagá del Gran Chaco estiman el transcurso de los ciclos temporales considerando varios indicadores, algunos de los cuales son observados en el cielo. Estos objetos celestes, y los períodos que ponderan con ellos, fueron tradicionalmente representados y animados mediante juegos de hilo, que ejecutan dibujos por medio de cordeles. En este artículo se analizarán las relaciones que se establecen entre dos de estos juegos y los objetos celestes implicados. Nos referimos, por un lado, al dedicado a la luna (awóroyk), asociado con la idea de mes, que incluye tres figuras formadas de manera sucesiva: dosolqa qonaqa, dos cucharas; Awóroyk dasócisegem, Luna cae de espaldas; y finalmente Awóroik yalemakaciriñí, Luna boca abajo. Por otro lado, el juego de hilo dedicado a dos asterismos relacionados con la idea de ciclo anual que se forman también uno tras otro: Dapici’ , las Pléyades, y waqciriñi (estrellas)Yarayna’di, el Cinto de Orión. La manera en la que los pilagá entendían tradicionalmente esos objetos nos condujo a indagar sobre la forma de ritmar el tiempo. Esto último, a su vez, se asocia con la renovación anual de la naturaleza y el ciclo vital de las personas. En síntesis, los ciclos y juegos de hilo se corresponden con determinados ritmos temporales que están íntimamente ligados con el devenir periódico, con la renovación y, en última instancia, con la fertilidad y la reproducción social y material de los pilagá., The Pilagá of the Gran Chaco measure the passing of time with different signs, some of which can be observed in the sky. These astral objects and the temporary cycles coexist and have been both symbolized and represented within the Pilagá tradition by string figures. This paper analyzes the relationship between two string figures and several astral objects. Firstly, we discuss the string figure dedicated to the moon (awóroyk), which alludes to the month concept and involves three successive figures: dosolqa qonaqa, ‘two spoons’; Awóroyk dasócisegem, ‘moon falling back’; and Awóroik yalemakaciriñí , ‘moon upside down’. On the other hand, two asterisms related to the annual cycle are also formed by consecutive string figures: Dapici’, the Pleiades; and waqciriñi (stars) Yarayna’di , Orion´s Belt. The Pilagá’s comprehension of these objects led us to inquiry about how they form time patterns. This reveals meaningful connections with the annual renovation of nature, and the human life cycle. In short, natural cycles and string figures both concern to the categorization of time spans by expressing periodicity, renovation, as well as fertility and the social and material reproduction of Pilagá culture., Os pilagá do Gran Chaco estimam o transcurso dos ciclos do tempo considerando vários indicadores, alguns dos quais são observados no céu. Os objetos celestes, e os períodos que ponderam com eles, foram tradicionalmente representados e animados por meio de jogos de fio, que executam desenhos por meio de cordéis. Neste artigo serão analisadas as relações estabelecidas entre dois desses jogos e os objetos celestes envolvidos. Referimo-nos, por um lado, ao “jogo” dedicado à lua (awóroyk), associado à ideia de mês, que inclui três figuras formadas de maneira sucessiva: dosolqa qonaqa, duas colheres; Awóroyk dasócisegem, Lua cai de costas; e finalmente Awóroik yalemakaciriñí , Lua virada para baixo. Por outro lado, o jogo de fios dedicado a dois asterismos relacionados à ideia de ciclo anual que também se formam um após o outro: Dapici’ , as Plêiades, e waqciriñi (estrelas) Yarayna’di , o Cinturão de Órion. A forma como os pilagá tradicionalmente entendiam esses objetos nos levou a indagar sobre a forma de ritmar o tempo. Este último, por sua vez, está associado à renovação anual da natureza e ao ciclo vital das pessoas. Em suma, os ciclos e jogos de fios correspondem-se com certos ritmos temporais que estão intimamente ligados ao devir periódico, à renovação e, em última instância, à fecundidade e à reprodução social e material dos pilagá., Dossier: Contribuciones antropológicas a la comprensión del pasado en el Gran Chaco sudamericano., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

Disabled people are disproportionately affected following disasters. Research exploring disability in disaster contexts is primarily focused on short to medium timeframes. Evidence on longer-term health and wellbeing outcomes is scant. In 2010–2011 Canterbury experienced a series of devastating earthquakes. In September 2012, the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority initiated a population representative cross-sectional Wellbeing Survey, which has been administered at 12 time-points as of November 2020. This study analysed the pattern of disabled and non-disabled people responses over time across four variables: wellbeing, quality of life, sense of community, and stress. Observed mean changes were modelled and compared using fractional polynomial curves. Valid responses were available from 30,736 participants in total over the 12 time-points, of whom 18.4 % experienced disability. Significant time patterns and sustained group differences were observed across all four variables, with mean scores for those with a disability being 13.4 (95 % CI: 12.6, 14.2) lower in wellbeing, 0.54 (95 % CI: 0.51, 0.57) lower for quality of life, 0.34 (95 % CI: 0.30, 0.37) lower in stress, and by November 2020, 0.14 (95 % CI: 0.10, 0.18) lower in sense of community scores compared to their non-disabled counterparts. There appeared to be little difference in mean sense of community scores between groups immediately after the earthquake, suggesting a potential halo effect. Overall, these data suggest that the health and wellbeing outcomes for disabled people are significantly worse than non-disabled people. Findings emphasise the need for recovery efforts to focus on ameliorating significantly worse health and wellbeing outcomes experienced by disabled people.

We empirically analyze the agent based relationship between liquidity flow and downside price formation based on the individual trading network topologies of 20 equities in Borsa Istanbul between 2009/01–2013/12. We apply PageRank Algorithm to extract daily centrality degree in liquidity demand of domestic financial institutions classified as informed traders and use intraday maximum drawdown to capture intraday liquidity shocks. We find evidence that 1) Maximum cumulative loss for a given day, deepens with the increasing liquidity demand of informed traders. 2) The uncertainty in the centrality degree of informed trading is overtime positively related with the uncertainty regarding the intraday maximum drawdown. 3) Time Patterns are significant: Drawdown depth is highest on Thursdays and lowest on Mondays. Highest (lowest) drawdowns on May (March) indicate the existence of Sell-in-May effect and earnings announcement effect, respectively. Keywords: PageRank, Drawdown, Centrality, Liquidity, Information, Downside risk, JEL classification: C13, C33, D82, D85, G1, G32

Urban growth originates multiscale spatial patterns, such as those of transportation networks. Here, the public transportation network (PTN) of the city of Lisbon is analysed from 1901 to 2015, employing several mathematical tools. In a first stage, the fractal dimension and the fractional entropy are used to quantify the evolution of the structure of the PTN in space and time. In a second stage, the PTN is analysed adopting additional information, namely considering different levels of the network based on transportation schedule and passenger capacity, and studying the significance of the distance between stops. Both the fractal dimension and the fractional entropy reveal time patterns compatible with known historical events, showing them to be appropriate for quantifying the growth of the PTN. When the routes’ schedules are used to stratify the PTN, not only the fractal behaviour is observed at different levels, but also the evolution of the network in respect to the homogenization of the capacity of different routes. Finally, when the distance between consecutive stops is analysed, a power law behaviour is revealed, as expected from the fractal geometry of the network. This result is then confirmed using the ht-index.

In this paper, we study an inventory system for products where demand depends on time and price. Shortages are allowed and are fully backordered. We suppose that the demand rate is the product of a power time pattern and a three-parametric exponential price function. The objective is to determine the economic lot size, the optimal shortage level and the best selling price to maximize the total profit per unit time. We present an efficient procedure to determine the optimal solution of the inventory problem for all possible scenarios. This procedure is illustrated with several numerical examples. A sensitivity analysis of the optimal inventory policy with respect to the parameters of the demand rate function is also given. Finally, the main contributions of this paper are highlighted and future research directions are introduced.

Cutting time is a pivotal factor affecting herbage yield and nutritive value of forage crop monocultures. Therefore, our objectives in this lucerne study were to analyse temporal patterns of herbage yield, morphological development and quality parameters over growth season, and to relate these patterns to the time of cutting. A field experiment in split-plot design with two block replications was conducted in Ljubljana in 2016. Four growth cycles (C1-C4) were assigned to the main plots, and nine weekly intervals at which herbage yield was measured and herbage samples taken were assigned to the sub-plots. Dry-matter herbage yield accumulated faster during the first half of the season than during the second one. It peaked early in each of the last two growth cycles and after that started to decrease. Statistical analysis showed that linear regression models are acceptable to describe time patterns of morphological development stages (MSW) and contents of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and net energy for lactation (NEL). MSW increased faster during the summer than during the spring or autumn, but only C1 was distinct in this pattern. Lucerne forage quality was generally the highest in C1 mainly due to slower morphological development. This high quality reflected more in NDF and NEL than in CP. In respect of the quality, only C4 at the beginning of the growth was equivalent to C1. Considering yield and content of NEL optimal age of lucerne at cutting was from 28 to 35 days in spring and summer and from 35 to 42 days in autumn.

Background Numerous studies have identified various risk factors for a poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after severe trauma. The relative importance of the time elapsed after injury, however, is unknown and results of clinical studies have been conflicting. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in two trauma centres using data from the German TraumaRegister DGU®, which contained prospectively collected information on the type and severity of the injury, on critical care, and on outcome. To evaluate HRQOL in patients surviving more than 500 days after the injury, we used a self-rating instrument, the EQ-5D which contains a visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), and which allows the calculation of a global outcome indicator, the EQ-D5 index value. Complex statistical models were used to evaluate independent associations between the time elapsed after injury and a poor HRQOL. Results Of 380 contacted patients, follow-up assessments could be obtained in 168 patients (44.2%) 3.6 ± 1.6 (SD) years after the injury. There was a linear association between the time elapsed after the injury and the% of contacted patients not participating in the study (p = 0.013). In participating subjects, average EQ-5D index value was 0.599 ± 0.299, and average EQ-VAS rating 67.8 ± 22.0. A very poor quality of life (EQ-5D index value Conclusions There is an independent, U-shaped association between the frequency of extreme values of HRQOL and the time elapsed after injury. Time patterns of HRQOL may be sensitive to increasing rates of attrition since patients with a good outcome are less likely to respond to questionnaires. Time from injury should be incorporated into all future cross sectional studies trying to identify predictors of HRQOL.

Remodeling of pulmonary resistance arteries in rats due to 4-day hypoxia could be successfully suppressed by sodium cromoglycate. In this study, we tested the difference in the suppression between two distinct time patterns of cromoglycate administration during 21-day hypoxia. In the experiment, we focused on some details in both smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix of pulmonary arterial walls.During 21-day hypoxia, rats were treated with sodium cromoglycate either in the first four days or in the last four days. The first four days were chosen to test efficiency of an initial pulse of cromoglycate to suppress pulmonary vascular remodeling. The last four-day administration tested possibility to block remodeling post hoc.Initial pulse reduced and modified remodeling in all levels of pulmonary arteries, which comprises neomuscularization of prealveolar arteries, asymmetrical hypertrophy of tunica media in muscular pulmonary arteries and hypertrophy of tunica media and tunica adventitia in large conduit arteries. Terminal pulse had only negligible effect.Only the initial cromoglycate therapy led to significant morphological suppression of remodeling. We therefore assume important role of initial remodeling influencing during long time hypoxia experiment.

Introduction: The In-patient Medication Order Entry System (IPMOE) was first implemented in the medical ward of Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong. It was a local developed close-loop system including prescription, dispensing and administration modules. Evaluation on its impact on nursing tasks would be important for practice improvement and subsequent system enhancement. Objective: The study was conducted to quantify the nursing times across medication-associated tasks for paper-based MAR and computer-based IPMOE, including change in the tasks and time patterns before and after IPMOE implementation. Methods: This was a prospective observation study in medical wards before (Jan 2014–Jun 2014) and after (Mar 2015–Jun 2015) the implementation of IPMOE. We conducted 8-hr observation studies of individual nurses with a customized application to time various pre-categorized nursing tasks. Statistical inferences and interrupted time series analysis was performed to identify the change in the intercept and trends over time after implementation. Result: The average number of medication-related tasks was significantly reduced from 61.07 to 29.81, a reduction of 31.26 episodes per duty (P

We present the trends in ambient ozone concentrations based on high quality data measured continuously at 26 long-term monitoring sites (9 urban, 17 rural including 10 mountain stations) in the Czech Republic in 1994–2015. We considered annual and summer medians, the 10th and 98th percentiles, maximum daily 8-h running mean concentrations and exposure index AOT40F. For all indicators taken into account except for the 10th percentile, our results showed a similar pattern with significant decreasing trends for about one half of the examined sites. We obtained similar results for all types of sites. The most pronounced decrease in O3 concentrations was recorded at mountain sites. Namely, at the Serlich mountain site, with an overall decrease per year in annual median by 0.43 ppb, summer median by 1.17 ppb, maximal daily 8-h average by 0.45 ppb, the 10th percentile by 0.62 ppb. The peak concentrations indicated by the 98th percentile and AOT40F decreased most at urban site Ceske Budějovice by 0.75 ppb and 0.84 ppb h per year, respectively. For sites exhibiting significant decreasing trends, an overall decrease per year in annual median was 0.22 ppb, in summer median 0.41 ppb, in the 10th percentile 0.23 ppb, in the 98th percentile 0.53 ppb, and in AOT40F 0.51 ppb h. A significant increasing trend was detected only in the 10th percentile at just three sites, with the highest increase of 0.19 ppb per year recorded at the rural site Sněžnik. Moreover, a consistent decrease in limit value exceedances was detected, with by far the highest violation recorded in the meteorologically exceptional year of 2003. Out of the 26 sites under review, seven have not recorded a significant decreasing trend in O3 in any of the considered statistics. The lack of trends in O3 at these seven sites is likely associated with changing time patterns in local NO and NO2 emissions: in particular, with the increasing ratio in NO2/NOx. There is an obvious geographical pattern in recorded O3 trends: most of the sites with no trend detected are situated in the North-western region of the CR with numerous energy-producing large emission sources, partly denitrified recently. Our results clearly indicated that, for O3 decrease, the ratio between individual NO and NO2 forms is critical, and that a simultaneous significant decrease in both NO and NO2 concentrations is not a sufficient prerequisite. Apart from changes in car fleet in urban areas or near motorways, this factor might be of particular relevance in formerly highly polluted areas, where emissions from large power plants recently substantially decreased.

Disease relapse occurs in ~30% of children with medulloblastoma, and is fatal in the majority. We sought to establish whether clinico-molecular characteristics at diagnosis are associated with the nature of relapse, subsequent disease-course, and whether these associations could inform clinical management. We surveyed the clinical features of medulloblastoma relapse (time-to-relapse, pattern-of-relapse, time-to-death and overall outcome) in 247 centrally-reviewed patients who relapsed following standard-upfront-therapies. We related these to clinico-molecular features at diagnosis, prognostic factors, and first-line/relapse treatment. Patients who received upfront craniospinal irradiation (CSI-treated) displayed prolonged time-to-relapse compared to CSI naïve patients (p

Age discrimination is one of the most prevalent types of discrimination in the workplace and as such represents a major challenge for many workers. Although prior work suggests that perceived age d...

There has been some evidence that a short heating exposure of the testicles can lead to temporary sterility. However, little attention has been paid to analyzing the temperature/time pattern throughout the testicle and how metabolism and blood perfusion affect the temperature profile. We use the Penne bioheat equation that accounts for the elements of conduction, perfusion, and metabolism along with the COMSOL Finite Element Method for the analysis of this thermoregulation problem. Typically, the testicles were modeled as two uniform spheres and exposed to an increase in surface temperature of 42 °C for 30 min. We found that heat produced by tissue metabolism had a minor effect on the temperature pattern. However, blood flow from the core (at 37 °C) could prevent the region where the testicles touch each other from reaching the target temperature of 42 °C. Further, we found that for animals, as rodents and monkeys that are used for contraception studies, the temperature distribution on heating testicles is much more uniform than for humans. Thus, extrapolation results from animal models to humans should be done with caution.

Objectives Low-back pain (LBP) is a substantial health challenge due to the risk for long-term sickness absence and early retirement. Several biomechanical exposures at work, including sitting, have been suggested to increase the risk for LBP. The objectives of this study were to determine (i) the extent to which temporal patterns and total amount of objectively measured sitting is associated with LBP intensity and (ii) whether selected modifiers influence these associations. Methods This cross sectional study uses baseline data from the Danish PHysical ACTivity cohort with Objective measurements (DPhacto) of physical activities in the cleaning, transport and manufacturing sectors. Peak intensity of LBP was collected by questionnaire on a 0–10 scale and sitting was expressed in terms of total duration and temporal pattern, ie, time spent in brief bursts (≤5 minutes), moderate periods (>5–≤20 minutes), and prolonged periods of sitting (>20 minutes); both during work and whole day (waking hours only). Associations were determined using linear regression in models accounting for moderation and confounding. Factors evaluated as moderators or confounders were assessed by questionnaire. Results The population consisted of 704 participants. No significant associations were found between total duration or temporal patterns of sitting and LBP intensity, neither during work nor for the whole day. Body mass index (BMI) significantly moderated the association between sitting and LBP; participants with a high and low BMI showing a negative and positive association, respectively. Conclusion Sitting was not independently associated with peak LBP intensity, suggesting other exposures are more powerful risk factors for LBP.

International audience; This article reports the identification of two groups of patterns in time and frequency, also a muscular intensity characteristic associated to hand movement per user, all this results were obtained by superficial myoelectric signal analysis using Hilbert-Huang transform. Muscular signals were acquired from five muscles of the right forearm from five healthy subjects. Using a four channels acquisition system with differential configuration myoelectric signals were recorded for six movements of the fingers in flexion and extension. Electrodes were placed over five forearm anterior, posterior and finger linked muscles. Time pattern corresponds to sinusoidal oscillations with average length of 24.5 ms, corresponding to voluntary contraction and relaxation of the muscles. These oscillations are present into all acquisition channels and there is evidence about groups of two consecutive oscillations with a range of 30 ms between them. Also, there found a pattern of three frequencies: 83.3 Hz, 96.7 Hz and 113.3 Hz, present into contraction and relaxation timeslot. Using Hilbert transform were identified the instantaneous frequencies that indicate the state of the muscles from doss to active and vice versa. There is an intensity characteristic identified in the recordings about behavior of muscles per movement for each subject being repetitive and unique. These processes could decrease time computing to obtain intrinsic characteristics for myoelectric signals.

Accurate estimations of the stochastic natures of energy demand for air-conditioner (A/C) use, which are affected by the diverse occupant behaviour, are needed, for the design and operation of residential cogeneration systems and distributed generation systems coupled with renewable energy sources and supply-demand management technologies. However past studies have mainly focused on developed countries, and knowledge of tropical regions, including many emerging countries with large populations, remains limited. We conducted field measurements of occupants’ A/C usage behaviour in 38 dwellings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Measured data were considered as a function of start and end times, duration, and frequency of A/C usage in each dwelling. Analysis showed that A/C events were rare during daytime; however, there was a drastic increase in the frequency of A/C usage at night. Based on this, a simple algorithm to synthesize stochastic time patterns of A/C operation schedules was developed. The validity of the model was demonstrated through comparison with observational data.

Building on experiences collected in the course of an evaluation of a German cluster policy programme, the Leading-Edge Cluster Competition (LECC, evaluation 2008–2014), this paper scrutinizes central problems that arise in the evaluation of the impacts of large-scale innovation policy programmes. We find that our relatively modest knowledge with regard to the actual effects and impact patterns of comparable programmes is not necessarily due to methodological weaknesses of the evaluation studies, but rather to inherent structural programme characteristics. The present state-of-the-art evaluation methodology does not sufficiently allow us to take into consideration these characteristics. Challenges in the evaluation of technology programs relate closely to different facets of complexity. Our analysis shows that three aspects of programme effects deserve more attention in evaluation research: Emergence and non-linearity, uncertainty, and time patterns of the observed effects. Using the example of the LECC, our paper demonstrates how evaluators’ work is affected by these phenomena. The results lead to the question of whether there are methodological alternatives that are suitable for future evaluations of complex innovation programmes.

The frequency of Viburnum lantana L. plants showing visible foliar symptoms (VFS) was assessed in Trentino, north Italy in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015. The assessment was based on a sub-sample (n = 10) of the Vibur NeT observation plots network installed in 2010 according to a stratified random design. Depending on the year, a range of 193–232 plants were assessed during August. The frequency of symptomatic plants varied from 20.7 to 50.6%. Mean May-July hourly ozone concentration measured by conventional monitors over the same area and period varied from 37.9 to 45.8 ppb. There was a consistent time pattern between ozone and VFS. Consistency is confirmed if also a pilot survey carried out in 2009 is taken into account. Results are promising and supportive of the use of V. lantana as in-situ bioindicator for monitoring ozone impact on vegetation in forest areas.

In the article the time features of occurrence of bioclimatic and industrial rhythms according to altitudinal belts are analyzed, a nomogram is composed and spatial and time patterns of rhythms are revealed, the ways of the rational use of seasonal rhythms and greening agrosystems of the Republic of Armenia (RA) are shown. The paper summarizes 80–100-year summer monitoring data on onset timing of the main seasonal bioclimatic rhythms of animate and inanimate nature in the RA. The definition of bioclimatic rhythms is given. The importance of studies of seasonal rhythms of nature and society, especially in the non-tropical zones of the Earth is shown. Besides, the special importance of bioclimatic seasonal rhythms' study in order to optimize agro-zootechnical activities and to green agricultural systems is emphasized. Continuous chain of natural rhythms leads to the formation of adequate seasonal rhythms in the production activities of all sectors of the economy, ensuring the functioning of the biosphere and society. The regularities of the timing of seasonal bioclimatic rhythms' onset by the vertical zones in Armenia taking into account the atmospheric moisture of regions is set, vertical gradients are calculated and a nomogram allowing to develop calendars of seasonal works being carried out in certain regions is drawn.

Stroke is one of leading causes of death worldwide. Different frequency of stroke occurence is observed in days of the week and months in the year, and incidence of stroke has irregular time pattern. We analyzed 516 patients who had acute stroke and were treated in Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center Kragujevac from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014, mean age 72,11±11,52. Statistical analysis is conducted out using the SPSS software version 20.0. We used descriptive statistic, student T-test, chi-square or Fisher exact test. Friday is day we found the most IS and all stroke types occurences, and Wednesday is day we found the most IS in men. We found the most strokes in women younger than 65 years on Wednesday, but in women older than 65 years on Friday. Monday is day with the most admissions to hospital for patients with IS, and we observed that there is average delay in the refering to the doctor for 1.80±1.44 days. Friday is the day with the most ICH symptom beginings and the most admissions to the hospital, and Saturday is the day with the least symptom beginings and admissions to the hospital in the case of IS and ICH. The most IS occured in winter (in Decembar), and the least in summer (in August). The most ICH occured in May, and the least in July and October. We confirmed that there is a significant weekly variability in the IS symptom onset day.

This paper studies payment variation across locations and time using five years of transactions data from a large discount retail chain with hundreds of stores across the Fifth District. The results show that the median transaction size, demographics, education levels, and state fixed effects are the top factors in explaining cross-location payment variation in the sample. We also identify interesting time patterns of payment variation, particularly the longer-term decline in the cash share of transactions largely replaced by debit.

Understanding and documenting historical agricultural land use and farming practices is important for assessment of environmental benefits of no-till (NT). To address the need for quantitative estimates of time patterns of tillage practices, this study proposes modeling the time patterns using the Markov chains framework and estimating the probabilities of transition from one tillage-crop combination to another tillage-crop combination from time-ordered spatially aggregated data. We developed a first-order, four-state Markov chain model of tillage-crop dynamics in corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.) production systems and estimated the transition probabilities for the state of Iowa using the 1992 to 1997 data collected by the Conservation Technology Information Center. The transition probabilities strongly suggest that the majority of NT acreage is not in continuous but rather in rotational NT, i.e., NT crop production in rotation with conventional or other tillage systems. We find that the probability of two-year continuous NT is 8%, and that 70% of Iowa cropland has never used NT over two consecutive years. When three-year tillage history is considered on corn acreage, 3% is in continuous NT, 62% has never used NT, and the rest of the acreage is in rotational NT. When three-year tillage history is considered on soybean acreage, 4% is in continuous NT, 56% has never used NT, and the rest of the acreage is in rotational NT. The methodology presented is applicable to corn–soybean production systems in other regions and is generalizable to other cropping systems. Regional estimates of the use of rotational and continuous NT are likely to benefit simulation modeling for the assessment of the environmental effects of alternative tillage practices.

Background: Seasonality in suicide has been investigated from the early 19th century to explore the productive environmental variables. Seasonality studies can provide information on prevention and interventions in suicide. In this study, we examined seasonality in suicide and aimed to explore the differences in seasonality between rural and urban areas, mental disorders, and genders. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, overall identified suicide cases in Ilam province from 21 March 2010 and 11 December 2014 were identified, using systematic registration suicide data (SRSD). Two methods were used separately to analyze seasonality (Chisquare, Edwards' T). Seasonal effect (peak/ trough seasons) and (deaths/ attempts suicide) was explored by ratio statistics. The null hypothesis was that the completed suicides in each method group were evenly distributed over a year. Results: Significant seasonality was observed in suicide during the study period, with one peak in the spring and one in the winter. Our results showed that suicide seasonality following mental disorders was statistically significant with a peak in the spring, regardless of other factors such as gender and age. When all non- mental suicides are taken into account, the seasonality remains statistically significant, but the peak season is shifted to autumn. Conclusion: Investigating suicide in Ilam revealed a significant seasonality for both rural and urban areas, which was greater in the urban part. A significant seasonality in suicide was observed in attempters with mental disorders. In suicide attempters with mental disorders, findings showed two peaks in the spring and the autumn.

The concept of demand-side management (DSM) was invented in the late 1970s along with the development of many of the frameworks in use to plan and implement it in the years immediately following. It was originally referred to as demand-side load management. It is generally defined as the planning and implementation of those activities designed to influence consumer use of electricity in ways that will result in changes in the utility's load shape—i.e., changes in the time pattern and magnitude of a utility's load. This paper describes the evolution it has undergone since its invention and some likely changes ahead. DSM largely originated in the U.S., but is practiced in various forms through the world today. This paper uses U.S. data as examples.