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The transportation of CO2 from the capture site to the storage location is a crucial phase in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) process. For offshore operations, ship transportation is considered a viable alternative, and this would entail operations at low temperatures (down to 223.15 K). A review of the literature revealed that there is limited experimental data on CO2‐rich systems at low temperatures, thus, the need to investigate the phase behaviour of CO2‐rich systems at these conditions. This study validated and compared the accuracies of Peng–Robinson (PR) equation of state (EoS) with three different mixing rules (the classical with original and adjusted binary interaction parameters, the Wong–Sandler, and the Orbey–Wong–Sandler mixing rules) against the multi‐fluid helmholtz energy approximation (MFHEA ‐ with original and adjusted binary‐specific reducing parameters) EoS in the prediction of bubble points of CO2‐rich binary systems (CO2‐CH4, CO2–O2, CO2–Ar, and CO2–N2) for CCUS applications. The experimental studies used for the validation of the models were conducted at low temperatures (228.15–273.15 K with overall uncertainties of 0.14 K) and for five different CO2 mole ratios (99.5, 99, 98.5, 98 and 95% with overall uncertainties of 0.032%) using the constant composition expansion method. The overall uncertainty of the pressure measurements was 0.03 MPa. From the study, it was observed that there was a significant effect of binary interaction parameters (BIP) adjustment on the performance of PR‐EoS with classical mixing rule, especially for the CO2–N2 system. For all the systems, the predictions of PR‐EoS with the classical mixing rules and the adjusted BIPs were the most accurate in terms of the average absolute deviations from the experimental data. The model also predicted the literature data well in comparison with the other models (with less than 5% deviations for all the data points). Further analysis also proved that the model dew point predictions were in reasonable agreement with the available literature data at the considered conditions. As a result, the model could be adopted to fill the existing knowledge gaps of the studied systems at conditions (143.15–223.15 K) where experimental studies were not feasible. © 2024 The Author(s). Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation phenology serves as a sensitive indicator of climate change. However, the mechanism of the hydrothermal role in vegetation phenology changes is still controversial. Utilizing the data on the Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) from MODIS and meteorological data, the study employed the dynamic threshold method to derive the end of the growing season (EOS). The research delved into the spatiotemporal patterns of the EOS for typical steppe vegetation in the semi-arid region of Inner Mongolia spanning the period from 2003 to 2022. Furthermore, the investigation scrutinized the response of EOS to temperature and precipitation dynamics. The results showed that (1) the dynamic threshold method exhibited robust performance in the EOS of typical steppe vegetation, with an optimal threshold of 45% and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 5.5 days (r = 0.81); (2) the spatiotemporal patterns of the EOS of typical steppe vegetation in the semi-arid region experienced a noteworthy reversal from 2003 to 2022; (3) the lag effects of precipitation and temperature on the EOS were found, and the lag time scales were mainly 1 month and 2 months. The increase in precipitation in August was the key reason for the reversal of the EOS, and satisfying the precipitation was a prerequisite for the temperature to delay the EOS. The study emphasizes the important role of water availability in regulating the response of the EOS to hydrothermal factors and highlights the utility and reliability of FPAR in monitoring the EOS of typical steppe vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole-spine radiography can be accomplished through two methods: (1) segmented imaging employing X-ray tube angulation and detectors, or (2) the Euronext Paris Advanced Orthopedic Solutions (EOS) 2D Imaging system that can capture the entire spine in a single image using X-ray tubes and detectors oriented at a 90-degree angle. This study aimed to establish optimal EOS examination parameters based on patient morphotype and scan speed to reduce patient radiation exposure, repeat examinations, heat stress on equipment, and X-ray tube cooling time. X-ray exposure conditions involved adjustments of scan speed ranging from two to four steps, contingent upon the patient's morphotype ('S', small body; 'M', medium body; and 'L', large body. Patient dose measurements were conducted 20 times for each set of conditions. When transitioning from an 'S' to an 'M' morphotype at a constant scan speed, the entrance skin dose (ESD) exhibited an increase of approximately 41.25 ± 4.57%. A similar change from an 'M' to an 'L' morphotype resulted in an ESD increase of roughly 59.56 ± 24.00%. A transition from an 'S' to an 'L' morphotype at the same scan speed manifested an ESD elevation of approximately 124.21 ± 26.96%. This study underscores significant variations in radiation dose, ranging from 40% to 50%, when altering morphotype while maintaining a consistent scan speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Distances and angles measured from long-leg radiographs (LLR) are important for surgical decision-making. However, projectional radiography suffers from distortion, potentially generating differences between measurement and true anatomical dimension. These phenomena are not uniform between conventional radiography (CR) digital radiography (DR) and fan-beam technology (EOS). We aimed to identify differences between these modalities in an experimental setup. Materials and methods: A hemiskeleton was stabilized using an external fixator in neutral, valgus and varus knee alignment. Ten images were acquired for each alignment and each modality: one CR setup, two different DR systems, and an EOS. A total of 1680 measurements were acquired and analyzed. Results: We observed great differences for dimensions and angles between the 4 modalities. Femoral head diameter measurements varied in the range of > 5 mm depending on the modality, with EOS being the closest to the true anatomical dimension. With functional leg length, a difference of 8.7% was observed between CR and EOS and with the EOS system being precise in the vertical dimension on physical-technical grounds, this demonstrates significant projectional magnification with CR-LLR. The horizontal distance between the medial malleoli varied by 20 mm between CR and DR, equating to 21% of the mean. Conclusions: Projectional distortion resulting in variations approaching 21% of the mean indicate, that our confidence on measurements from standing LLR may not be justified. It appears likely that among the tested equipment, EOS-generated images are closest to the true anatomical situation most of the time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grassland phenology is highly sensitive to climate change. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of start (start of season (SOS)) and end (end of season (EOS)) dates of the growing season and quantify changes in their climatic controls over the arid Central Asian grassland ecosystems during 1982–2015, which may improve the model performance by considering shifts in primary drivers under ongoing climate change. Our results suggest that temperature played a positive role in advancing the SOS date, with the control of temperature on SOS getting stronger as preseason conditions become warmer but not drier. For autumn phenology, rapid increase in temperature after 1999 in combination with reductions in precipitation jointly contributed to a shift from delayed to advanced EOS. The areas that EOS regulated by either temperature or precipitation have changed between the two subperiods. Our findings suggest that the dynamic controls of temperature and precipitation on grassland phenology and the difference between spring and autumn phenology should be built into phenological models more accurately. Plain Language Summary: The grassland ecosystems in arid Central Asia are experiencing increased warming and drying. However, the spatiotemporal patterns of grassland phenology and their climate controls are currently unclear. To address this, we employed the empirical orthogonal function to establish the turning points of start of season (SOS) and end of season (EOS) and determined whether the main regulating factors of SOS and EOS dates changed under ongoing climate change. Our results suggest that the SOS and EOS dates both advanced significantly during 1982–2015, with a significant shift in the trends of both SOS and EOS dates before and after the year 1999. The increased advancement in SOS was mainly driven by temperature, whereby the control of temperature on spring phenology became stronger from 1982–1998 to 1999–2015. On the other hand, the EOS was mainly determined by both preseason temperature and precipitation. Lower precipitation combined with increasing temperatures during the period 1999–2015 likely led to a reversal from delay to advancement in EOS. These findings provide insights into the processes of spring and autumn phenology in Central Asian grasslands, which should be implemented in current phenological models to improve our understanding of grassland phenological responses to climate change. Key Points: The spring and autumn phenology both advanced significantly during 1982–2015, but with a significant shift before and after 1999The control of temperature on spring phenology getting stronger as preseason conditions become warmer but not drierThe shift from a delayed to advanced trends in autumn phenology is related to a combination of warming and reduced precipitation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils (EOs) extracted from aromatic and medicinal plants have the potential to inhibit the growth of various pathogens and, thus, be useful in the control of dangerous diseases. The application of environmentally friendly approaches to protect agricultural and forestry ecosystems from invasive and hazardous species has become more significant in last decades. Therefore, the identification and characterization of essential oils with a strong inhibitory activity against aggressive and widespread pathogens are of key importance in plant protection research. The main purpose of our study is to evaluate the impact of essential oils originating from different genotypes of bee balm, mint, and marigold on Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium solani, and Phytophthora pseudocryptogea. Twelve essential oils, including five EOs originating from Monarda fistulosa, one oil each from Monarda russeliana, Mentha longifolia, Mentha piperita, Tagetes patula, and Tagetes erecta, and two EOs from Tagetes tenuifolia were derived by steam or water distillation. The chemical composition of the tested EOs was determined by GS-MS analyses and their corresponding chemotypes were identified. The most effective against all three pathogens were determined to be the EOs originating from M. fistulosa and M. russeliana. B. cinerea, and P. pseudocryptogea were also significantly affected by the M. piperita essential oil. The most efficient EOs involved in this investigation and their potential to control plant pathogens are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were considered as two neurodevelopmental disorders and had shared clinical features. we hypothesized that they have some common atypical brain functions and the purpose of this study was to explored the shared brain spontaneous activity strength alterations in early onset schizophrenia (EOS) and ASD in the children and adolescents with a multi-center large-sample study. A total of 171 EOS patients (aged 14.25 ± 1.87), 188 ASD patients (aged 9.52 ± 5.13), and 107 healthy controls (aged 11.52 ± 2.82) had scanned with Resting-fMRI and analyzed surface-based amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF). Results showed that both EOS and ASD had hypoactivity in the primary sensorimotor regions (bilateral primary and early visual cortex, left ventral visual stream, left primary auditory cortex) and hyperactivity in the high-order transmodal regions (bilateral SFL, bilateral DLPFC, right frontal eye fields), and bilateral thalamus. EOS had more severe abnormality than ASD. This study revealed shared functional abnormalities in the primary sensorimotor regions and the high-order transmodal regions in EOS and ASD, which provided neuroimaging evidence of common changes in EOS and ASD, and may help with better early recognition and precise treatment for EOS and ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and its subsequent Omicron variant has raised concerns for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients due to the potential risk of disruptions to healthcare services and unknown comorbidities between COPD and Omicron. Method: In this study, we conducted a follow‐up investigation of 315 COPD patients during the Omicron outbreak at Shanxi Bethune Hospital to understand the impact of the pandemic on this vulnerable population. Among all patients, 228 were infected with Omicron, of which 82 needed hospitalizations. Result: We found that COPD patients with high blood eosinophil (EOS) counts exhibited lower susceptibility to Omicron infection and were more likely to have milder symptoms that did not require hospitalization. Conversely, patients with low EOS counts showed higher rates of infection and hospitalization. Moreover, EOS count was positively correlated with T lymphocyte counts in hospitalized patients after Omicron infection, suggesting potential associations between EOS and specific immune responses in COPD patients during viral infections. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between EOS count and lymphocyte and T‐cells, and a negative correlation between EOS count and age, neutrophil, and C‐reactive protein. Conclusion: Overall, our study contributes to the knowledge of COPD management during the COVID‐19 Omicron outbreak and emphasizes the importance of considering individual immune profiles to improve care for COPD patients in the face of the ongoing global health crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinal deformities in children and adolescents can be easily divided into those occurring and diagnosed before the age of 10—early-onset scoliosis—and those occurring and diagnosed after the age of 10—late-onset scoliosis. When the curvature continues to progress and exceeds a Cobb angle of more than 60–65 degrees, surgical treatment should be considered. The most common treatment procedure for EOS is the surgical correction of the deformity using standard growing rods (SGRs), and in the case of congenital defects with additional hemivertebrae, it is the resection of the hemivertebra and short fusion. Minimally invasive controlled growing rods (MICGRs) need to be distracted every 6–9 months through a minimally invasive approach that involves sedation and neuromonitoring to obtain the best possible correction while minimizing complications. The aim of our study is to present a less-invasive surgical technique for MICGR implantation based on a two-case presentation—early-onset idiopathic scoliosis and congenital kyphosis. The surgical technique is the less-invasive percutaneous and subfascial implantation of MICGRs without long incisions in the back. Conclusions: The use of MICGRs is an alternative and safe surgical technique for patients undergoing surgical treatment for EOS. Without the risk of metallosis, like in other implant systems, and the need for replacement after 2 years of use, like in using magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs), the MICGR system can be used as a less-invasive procedure, allowing for the avoidance of many periodic invasive procedures in children with a wider opening of the spine (like in using standard growing rods), minimizing the number of planned hospitalizations, reducing the length of hospital stays, and reducing the physical and mental burdens on young patients, parents, and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinopelvic parameters, including pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), and pelvic incidence, have been developed to characterize the relationship between lumbar spine and hip motion, but a paucity of literature is available characterizing differences in spinopelvic parameters among patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) versus patients without FAIS, as well as the effect of these parameters on outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of FAIS. Purpose: To (1) identify differences in spinopelvic parameters between patients with FAIS versus controls without FAIS; (2) identify associations between spinopelvic parameters and preoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs); and (3) identify differences in PROs between patients with stiff spines (standing-sitting ΔSS ≤10°) versus those without. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: The study enrolled patients ≥18 years of age who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for treatment of FAIS with cam, pincer, or mixed (cam and pincer) morphology. Participants underwent preoperative standing-sitting imaging with a low-dose 3-dimensional radiography system and were matched on age and body mass index (BMI) to controls without FAIS who also underwent EOS imaging. Spinopelvic parameters measured on EOS films were compared between the FAIS and control groups. Patients with FAIS completed the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS) before surgery and at 1-year follow-up. Outcome scores were compared between patients with stiff spines versus those without. Associations between spinopelvic parameters and baseline outcome scores were assessed with Pearson correlations. Continuous variables were compared with Student t test and/or Mann-Whitney U test, and categorical variables were compared with Fisher exact test. Results: A total of 50 patients with FAIS (26 men; 24 women; mean age, 36.1 ± 10.7 years; mean BMI, 25.6 ± 4.2) were matched to 30 controls without FAIS (13 men; 17 women; mean age, 36.6 ± 9.5 years; mean BMI, 26.7 ± 3.6). Age, sex, and BMI were not significantly different between the FAIS and control groups (P >.05). Standing PT was not significantly different between stiff and non-stiff cohorts (P =.73), but sitting PT in the FAIS group was more than double that of the control group (36.5° vs 15.0°; P <.001). Incidence of stiff spine was significantly higher in the FAIS group (62.0% vs 3.3%; P <.001). Among FAIS patients, those with stiff spines had a significantly higher prevalence of cam impingement, whereas those with non–stiff spines had a higher prevalence of mixed impingement (P =.04). No significant differences were seen in preoperative mHHS or NAHS scores or pre- to postoperative improvement in scores between FAIS patients with stiff spines versus those without (P >.05), but a greater sitting SS was found to be positively correlated with a higher baseline mHHS (r = 0.36; P =.02). Conclusion: Patients with FAIS were more likely to have a stiff spine (standing-sitting ΔSS ≤10°) compared with control participants without FAIS. FAIS patients with stiff spines were more likely to have isolated cam morphology than patient without stiff spines. Although sitting SS was positively correlated with baseline mHHS, no significant differences were seen in 1-year postoperative outcomes between FAIS patients with versus without stiff spine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slot-scanning EOS radiography is increasingly utilised in skeletal imaging. It has been shown that EOS often reveals significant incidental findings including cardiopulmonary abnormalities. Furthermore, the slot-scanning image acquisition of EOS can substantially influence depiction of cardiac morphology, which can be confusing for those unfamiliar with the technique. We aimed to explore the relationship between the depicted cardiac anatomy EOS and chest x-ray, by analysis of the differences in the measurements of the cardiothoracic ratio in 52 patients who had an erect, postero-anterior chest radiograph in deep inspiration, with less than a year difference to the EOS spine radiograph. Internal chest and cardiac diameter were measured, and the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) was calculated as a surrogate marker for gross cardiac size. We have found that EOS consistently yields a lower internal chest diameter, and as a result higher CTR (P < 0.0001). However CTR measured on EOS and plain radiograph show strong correlation (P < 0.0001). Bland-Altman plots also revealed a consistently higher CTR on EOS, and a high intra-individual variability of cardiac and chest diameters on EOS vs. x-ray. CTR measured on EOS showed correlation with age (P < 0.05). We show that the CTR on EOS radiographs is consistently higher compared to the chest radiography, and while cardiac diameter shows only minimal difference, chest diameter measured on EOS is markedly lower. This should be considered by those reporting spine EOS imaging to avoid overcalling incidental cardiomegaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils (EOs) from Citrus sinensis (Rutaceae) possess diverse biological activities. However, a comprehensive comparison of their chemical composition and bioactivity across different plant parts has not been studied yet. The current research comparatively assesses the yield, chemical composition, chiral distribution, antioxidant properties, and larvicidal activity of EOs extracted from the peels, leaves, and flowers of C. sinensis. EOs extracted via hydro-distillation (HD) and steam distillation (SD) were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and chiral GC-MS to explore their chemical composition and enantiomeric distribution. In addition, their larvicidal and antioxidant potentials were evaluated following standard protocols. Peels of C. sinensis exhibited significantly higher oil content (1.75–2.25%) compared to its leaves (0.75–0.78%) and flowers (0.20–0.25%). The GC-MS analysis identified around 60 compounds, including terpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and oxygenated terpenoids in the HD and SD extractions. Higher concentrations of sabinene were found in flower extract (38.05–39.89%) and leaf extract (32.30–36.91%), while peel extract contained more than 90% limonene. The larvicidal activity of peel oil was primarily attributed to limonene, with an LC50 value of 0.0031 µL/mL. The current study reports the first chiral (GC-MS) analysis in the essential oil of the leaves and flowers of C. sinensis, paving the way for authenticity and purity. Furthermore, the chemical profiling of citrus EOs, particularly from the peel, demonstrates a safe and promising candidate for diverse biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The management of spinal deformities diagnosed before the age of 10 is critical due to the child's development, skeletal system, and growth mechanism. Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) are a surgical treatment option for the growing spine. The aim of this study was to analyze the radiological findings of patients treated with MCGRs for early-onset scoliosis (EOS) of various etiologies. We hypothesized that the MCGRs could provide acceptable long-term radiographic results, such as an increase in the T1–T12 and T1–S1 height and significant overall deformity correction. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 161 EOS patients with a combined total of 302 MCGRs inserted at five institutions between 2016 and 2022 with a mean follow-up of at least two years. The Cobb angle of the major curve (MC), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), and T1–T12 and T1–S1 height measurements were assessed before, after, and during the follow-up. Results: Among the 90 female and 71 male patients, there were 51 neurological, 42 syndromic, 58 idiopathic, and ten congenital scoliosis etiologies. Of the patients, 73 were aged under six years old. The mean follow-up time was 32.8 months. The mean age at placement of the MCGRs was 7 years and that at the last follow-up after fusion surgery was 14.5 years. The mean MC before the initial surgery was 86.2°; following rod implantation, it was 46.9°, and at the last follow-up visit, it was 45.8°. The mean correction rate among the etiology subgroups was from 43% to 50% at follow-up. The mean TK was noted as 47.2° before MCGR implantation, 47.1° after MCGR placement, and 44.5° at the last follow-up visit. The mean T1–T12 height increased by 5.95 mm per year, with a mean T1–S1 height of 10.1 mm per year. Conclusions: MCGR treatment allowed for an average correction of the curvature by 50% during the period of lengthening, while controlling any deformity and growth of the spine, with a significant increase in the T1–T12 and T1–S1 values during the observation period. MCGR treatment in EOS carries a risk of complications. While congenital and syndromic EOS often have short and less flexible curves in those groups of patients, single rods can be as effective and safe. Definitive fusion results in the mean final coronal correction between the start of MCGR treatment and after undergoing PSF of approximately 70%. The mean T1–T12 spinal height increased by 75 mm, while the T1–S1 spinal height gained a mean of 97 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Retrospective study Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate spinal rotation measurement by scoliometer or EOS Imagings with reference to that by CT images, and to clarify their applicability in clinical practice. Methods: Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who were indicated for surgery were enrolled and the informed consents were obtained. The angle of trunk rotation (ATR) was measured by the scoliometer. Apical vertebral rotation (AVR) was measured with EOS Imaging and CT images. Paired T tests were used to compare the measurements between ATR or AVR-EOS and AVR-CT. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationship between ATR or AVR-EOS and AVR-CT. Then subgroup analysis was performed. Results: Forty-seven consecutive AIS patients with 62 curves were identified. In the whole group, the ATR, as well as AVR-EOS, was significantly smaller than the AVR-CT. Both ATR and AVR-EOS correlated with AVR-CT, although AVR-EOS correlated better. In thoracic group, there was no significant difference between ATR and AVR-CT (P =.236). A significant correlation was found between ATR and AVR-CT(r =.574, P <.001). In TL/L group, no significant difference was noted between AVR-EOS and AVR-CT (P =.414), and a significant correlation was found between AVR-EOS and AVR-CT(r =.824, P <.001). Conclusion: ATR by scoliometer is numerically similar to AVR by CT and may evaluate the spinal rotation more appropriately in thoracic spine. AVR by EOS is numerically similar to AVR by CT and may be more applicable in TL/L spine. Appropriate methods could be selected according to the location of the curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer thermal conductivities play an important role for their potential use in industrial applications. Therefore, great efforts have been made to investigate fundamental structure–property relationships to understand and predict thermal conductivities for polymers and their composites. The review summarizes selected well-proven microscopic theoretical approaches to calculate thermal conductivities such as EMD, NEMD, EMT, and BTE, and cites examples to focus on different qualitative aspects of recent polymer theoretical research. Examples other than polymer materials are given as supplemental information to support the general discussion of heat transport phenomena in solid materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The sagittal imbalance (SI) of spine triggers compensatory mechanisms (CMs) of lower extremity (LE) to restore trunk balance. These CMs can cause long‐period stress on the femur and may possibly alter the femoral morphology. This cross‐sectional observational study aimed to answer the following questions: (a) Do SI subjects exhibit greater femoral bowing compared to subjects with sagittal balance? (b) Are there associations between femoral bowing and CMs of LE in SI subjects? Methods: Subjects who underwent biplanar full body radiographs with the EOS imaging system between January 2016 and September 2021 were recruited. Sagittal parameters included T1‐pelvic angle (TPA), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope, lumbar lordosis (LL), PI‐LL, and PT/PI ratio. LE parameters were femoral obliquity angle (FOA), knee flexion angle (KA), and ankle dorsiflexion angle. Femoral bowing was quantified as 3D radius of femoral curvature (RFC). Associations between 3D RFC and the radiographic parameters were analyzed. Results: A total of 105 subjects were included, classified into balance group (TPA < 14°, n = 40), SI group (TPA ≥ 14° and KA <5°, n = 30), and SI with knee flexion group (TPA ≥ 14° and KA ≥ 5°, n = 35). 3D RFC was significantly lower in SI with knee flexion group compared to the other two groups (both p < 0.001). Stepwise linear regression showed that age, SI and knee flexion, femoral length (FL), FOA, and KA were independent predictors for 3D RFC. Conclusion: Greater femoral bowing is observed in subjects with SI and knee flexion compared to the balanced population. CM parameters, including KA and FOA, are associated with 3D RFC. Further longitudinal study is needed to investigate the cause‐and‐effect relationship between SI, CMs of LE, and femoral bowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EØS-avtalen har bidratt til at EU er Norges klart viktigste handelspartner, med kraftig vekst i handelen særlig med nye medlemsland. For varer har EØS ført til et nesten sømløst felles marked for de sektorer som omfattes. Også for tjenester er EØS verdens dypeste handelsavtale, men forskjeller mellom regulering i ulike EØS-land er fortsatt en utfordring. Østutvidelsen fra 2004 var et fredsprosjekt og har ført til kraftig økonomisk og sosial utjevning i Europa. Innvandrere fra nye EU-medlemsland står nå for en fjerdedel av innvandrere i Norge, og de har høy yrkesdeltaking. Det indre marked og EØS har ført til økt velferd og en betydelig vekst i handelen. EØS vil være viktig for Norges industrielle omstilling etter oljen. Krig, geopolitisk spenning og svekket globalt samarbeid har sammen med det grønne skiftet ført til en rekke reformer i EU og en voksende gråsone i forhold til EØS-avtalen. Denne gråsonen spiller også over på Norges handelspolitikk overfor tredjeland. Abstract in English: Perspectives on the EEA Agreement at 30 The EEA agreement has contributed to the EU being Norway’s largest trade partner, with particularly strong trade growth with new member states. For goods, the EEA has created an almost seamless market for the sectors covered. EEA is also the world’s deepest trade agreement for services, but different regulations across EEA countries is still a challenge. The eastern enlargement from 2004 was a peace project and has led to strong economic and social convergence in Europe. Immigrants from new member countries now account for ¼ of immigrants in Norway, with high labor force participation. The internal market and the EEA has led to higher welfare and a considerable increase in trade. The EEA will be important for Norway’s industrial transition after the oil era. War, geopolitical tension and weaker global cooperation has, jointly with the green transition, led to a number of reforms in the EU and a growing grey area related to the EEA agreement. This also spills over to Norway’s trade policy for third countries.

Abstract Background The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and its subsequent Omicron variant has raised concerns for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients due to the potential risk of disruptions to healthcare services and unknown comorbidities between COPD and Omicron. Method In this study, we conducted a follow‐up investigation of 315 COPD patients during the Omicron outbreak at Shanxi Bethune Hospital to understand the impact of the pandemic on this vulnerable population. Among all patients, 228 were infected with Omicron, of which 82 needed hospitalizations. Result We found that COPD patients with high blood eosinophil (EOS) counts exhibited lower susceptibility to Omicron infection and were more likely to have milder symptoms that did not require hospitalization. Conversely, patients with low EOS counts showed higher rates of infection and hospitalization. Moreover, EOS count was positively correlated with T lymphocyte counts in hospitalized patients after Omicron infection, suggesting potential associations between EOS and specific immune responses in COPD patients during viral infections. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between EOS count and lymphocyte and T‐cells, and a negative correlation between EOS count and age, neutrophil, and C‐reactive protein. Conclusion Overall, our study contributes to the knowledge of COPD management during the COVID‐19 Omicron outbreak and emphasizes the importance of considering individual immune profiles to improve care for COPD patients in the face of the ongoing global health crisis.

Abstract Background Sagittal and coronal standing radiographs have been the standard imaging for assessing spinal alignment. However, their disadvantages include distortion at the image edges and low interobserver reliability in some parameters. EOS® is a low-dose biplanar digital radiographic imaging system that can avoid distortion by obtaining high-definition images. Methods This study aimed to evaluate spinopelvic parameters in conventional lateral C1S1 upright radiographs and EOS® images and compare them. Patients with non-deformity changes were subjected to routine clinical examinations. Plain AP and lateral X-ray radiographs were obtained along the entire spine length. Patients were also referred for full-length EOS® of the spine. Thoracic Kyphosis (TK), Lumbar Lordosis (LL), Pelvic Tilt (PT), Sacral Slope (SS), Pelvic Incidence (PI), and Sagittal Vertical Axis (SVA) were measured in the two studies by an orthopedic surgeon and a radiologist using PACS software. Also, the orthopedic surgeon evaluated the studies again after two weeks. Intra- and inter-observer reliability was then assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Also, the coefficient of variation was used to assess intra- and inter-observer reliability. Bland-Altman plots were drawn for each parameter. Results The mean age was 48.2 ± 6.6 years. Among the 50 patients, 30 (60%) were female. The mean ICC for TK, LL, PT, SS, PI, and SVA in EOS® images are 0.95, 0.95, 0.92, 0.90, 0.94, and 0.98, respectively, and in C1S1 radiography images, it was 0.92, 0.87, 0.94, 0.88, 0.93, and 0.98, respectively which shows good to excellent results. The coefficient of variation for intraobserver reliability was relatively low (

I debatten om Norges EU-tilknytning har konsekvensene for arbeidslivspolitikken stått sentralt. Denne artikkelen beskriver først hva striden om arbeidslivsregulering innenfor EØS har dreid seg om. Deretter drøftes hvordan de mest aktuelle alternativene til EØS-avtalen – en britisk-inspirert frihandelsavtale for industrivarer («norxit») og EU-medlemskap – kan påvirke rammene for den nasjonale arbeidslivspolitikken.

Vegetation phenology serves as a sensitive indicator of climate change. However, the mechanism of the hydrothermal role in vegetation phenology changes is still controversial. Utilizing the data on the Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) from MODIS and meteorological data, the study employed the dynamic threshold method to derive the end of the growing season (EOS). The research delved into the spatiotemporal patterns of the EOS for typical steppe vegetation in the semi-arid region of Inner Mongolia spanning the period from 2003 to 2022. Furthermore, the investigation scrutinized the response of EOS to temperature and precipitation dynamics. The results showed that (1) the dynamic threshold method exhibited robust performance in the EOS of typical steppe vegetation, with an optimal threshold of 45% and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 5.5 days (r = 0.81); (2) the spatiotemporal patterns of the EOS of typical steppe vegetation in the semi-arid region experienced a noteworthy reversal from 2003 to 2022; (3) the lag effects of precipitation and temperature on the EOS were found, and the lag time scales were mainly 1 month and 2 months. The increase in precipitation in August was the key reason for the reversal of the EOS, and satisfying the precipitation was a prerequisite for the temperature to delay the EOS. The study emphasizes the important role of water availability in regulating the response of the EOS to hydrothermal factors and highlights the utility and reliability of FPAR in monitoring the EOS of typical steppe vegetation.

The use of available treatments for Fabry disease (FD) (including enzyme replacement therapy [ERT]) may be restricted by their limited symptom improvement and mode of administration. Lucerastat is currently being investigated in the MODIFY study as oral substrate reduction therapy for the treatment of FD. By reducing the net globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) load in tissues, lucerastat has disease-modifying potential to improve symptoms and delay disease progression. MODIFY is a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group Phase 3 study (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT03425539); here we present the rationale and design of this study. Eligible adults with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of FD and FD-specific neuropathic pain entered screening. Patients were randomized (2:1) to receive either oral lucerastat twice daily or placebo for 6 months; treatment allocation was stratified according to sex and ERT treatment status. The main objectives of MODIFY are to assess the effects of lucerastat on neuropathic pain, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, FD biomarkers, and determine its safety and tolerability. Neuropathic pain and GI symptoms are key features of FD that have a significant impact on quality of life. Despite various tools available to assess pain and GI symptoms, there are currently limited tools available to assess neuropathic and GI symptoms in FD, validated according to health authority guidelines. Based on FDA recommendations, we undertook a patient-reported outcome (PRO) validation study, using a novel eDiary-based PRO tool to assess the validity of evaluating neuropathic pain as a primary efficacy endpoint in MODIFY. Results from the PRO validation study are included. To date, MODIFY is the largest Phase 3 clinical study conducted in patients with FD. Enrollment to MODIFY is now complete, with 118 patients randomized. Results will be presented in a separate publication. Long-term effects of lucerastat are being assessed in the ongoing open-label extension study (NCT03737214).

Background: Sagittal and coronal standing radiographs have been the standard imaging for assessing spinal alignment. However, their disadvantages include distortion at the image edges and low interobserver reliability in some parameters. EOS® is a low-dose biplanar digital radiographic imaging system that can avoid distortion by obtaining high-definition images. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate spinopelvic parameters in conventional lateral C1S1 upright radiographs and EOS® images and compare them. Patients with non-deformity changes were subjected to routine clinical examinations. Plain AP and lateral X-ray radiographs were obtained along the entire spine length. Patients were also referred for full-length EOS® of the spine. Thoracic Kyphosis (TK), Lumbar Lordosis (LL), Pelvic Tilt (PT), Sacral Slope (SS), Pelvic Incidence (PI), and Sagittal Vertical Axis (SVA) were measured in the two studies by an orthopedic surgeon and a radiologist using PACS software. Also, the orthopedic surgeon evaluated the studies again after two weeks. Intra- and inter-observer reliability was then assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Also, the coefficient of variation was used to assess intra- and inter-observer reliability. Bland-Altman plots were drawn for each parameter. Results: The mean age was 48.2 ± 6.6 years. Among the 50 patients, 30 (60%) were female. The mean ICC for TK, LL, PT, SS, PI, and SVA in EOS® images are 0.95, 0.95, 0.92, 0.90, 0.94, and 0.98, respectively, and in C1S1 radiography images, it was 0.92, 0.87, 0.94, 0.88, 0.93, and 0.98, respectively which shows good to excellent results. The coefficient of variation for intraobserver reliability was relatively low (< 18.6%), while it showed higher percentages in evaluating interobserver reliability (< 54.5%). Also, the Bland-Altman plot showed good agreement for each parameter. Conclusion: Spinopelvic parameters, e.g., TK, LL, SS, PI, and SS, in EOS® are reliable and comparable to those in conventional lateral upright C1S1 radiographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using full body radiograph, the aim of the current study was to elucidate the expected degree of lower extremity compensatory change after long thoracolumbar realignment surgery with adult spinal deformity patient who had normal or only mild osteoarthritis on lower extremities. Two novel parameters were used for assessment of regional compensation of the lower extremity. The Pearson correlation test was used to assess the correlation of postoperative changes of lower extremity compensation with the other spinopelvic parameters. Overall, 113 spinal deformity patients (mean age was 54.5 years) were recruited and the average number of fused vertebrae was 13.3 ± 3.5. Except pelvic tilt (PT), postoperative sacrum-femur angle (SF) changes showed only moderate correlation with all angular spinopelvic parameters (r = 0.323–0.374; p <.001 to p =.001). Also C7 sagittal vertical axis showed no significant correlation with SF (p =.584–.621). However, postoperative changes of sagittal femur-tibia angle (SFT) reported strong correlation with all parameters evaluated (r = 0.455–0.586; p <.001 to p =.046). For adult spinal deformity patients who had normal or only mild osteoarthritis on the lower extremities underwent long thoracolumbar realignment surgery, the surgeon could expect improvement of compensatory change of the knee with correction of spinopelvic parameters. However, the degree of hip compensation improvement was relatively difficult to predict than that of the knee, except PT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The questionable safety of food spoiled by microorganisms is and should be the subject of attention and investigation. Pathogens such as Penicillium expansum are more difficult to control due to their resistance and ubiquity. Awareness of plant essential oils (EOs) as alternative natural preservatives is increasing because of their significant antimicrobial activity. The aim of this research work was therefore to contribute to this topic with new results. The antifungal activity of twelve EOs was tested in vitro against five strains of Penicillium expansum, using the vapour-phase diffusion method. Three EOs, from bergamot, star anise and rosaline, inhibited colony growth during two-week cultivation with a partial efficacy, all other EOs showed complete (100%) inhibitory activity at a concentration of 625 μL.L-1. These (EOs from clove, cinnamon, cinnamon bark, laurel, lemongrass, peppermint, Mitcham mint, spearmint, and lavender) were included in the second part of the trial, the aim of which was to determine their minimum inhibitory doses (MIDs). In the case of peppermint, Mitcham mint, spearmint and lavender EOs, some strains of P. expansum grew already at a concentration of 500 μL.L-1. Clove EO stopped the fungal growth of two strains at 250 μL.L-1. Laurel EO was 100% effective at MID 250 μL.L-1 throughout the cultivation period. EOs from lemongrass and cinnamon bark had similar efficacy on the strains. Both EOs were able to inhibit one strain at a MID of 125 μL.L-1, cinnamon bark EO inhibited the remaining strains at 250 μL.L-1, lemongrass EO inhibited three strains at 250 μL.L-1 and one at 500 μL.L-1. The lowest MID was recorded for cinnamon EO, which effectively inhibited two strains at 125 μL.L-1, two strains at 62.5 μL.L-1 and one strain even at 31.25 μL.L-1. The sensitivity of the strains used in this study varied according to the EOs used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compositional modeling of the reservoir isn’t complete without calculations of phase equilibrium and is a complex process involving many calculations. In nature, hydrocarbons don’t occur as separate components, they’re mainly mixtures. When modeling the reservoir composition for phase equilibrium calculations, in order to reduce computational costs, in practice, hydrocarbon mixtures are grouped into pseudo-components. The number of grouped pseudo-components varies from 4 to 10. This grouping process is called lumping. However, when crude oil comes to the surface, it’s important to know its detailed composition, since mixtures grouped into pseudo-components don’t allow you to know this. In this regard, modeling of the detailed composition of hydrocarbons is the main tool for understanding the detailed phase separation and design of surface facilities. In practice, this process is called delumping. In the case of this process, the detailed composition of the fluid is presented and the amount reaches up to 36 components, sometimes more. The delumping process, due to the precise separation of heavy plus fractions into carbons with single ordinal numbers (C7, C8, etc.), makes it possible to clearly recognize non-zero BIP’s in the equation of state. The new analytical approach has not previously been applied to the oils of the Caspian region, so this approach has an important role for the oil industry in the Caspian region. Analytical delumping in this paper was done to improve the PVT modeling. This paper presents the results of PVT research of Caspian oil and presents a comparison of analytical and numerical methods of delumping. As a result of the study, it was found that the analytical approach is in excellent agreement with experimental data and data from software such as PVTsim [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to compare the relative reliability and accuracy of TT-TG measurements in EOS with that of MRI in a paediatric population. Methods: Patients were included if they underwent both an MRI and EOS scans and were under the age of 16. Two authors recorded the TT-TG distances on each modality at two separate time points. In the EOS images, the distance between the two points was measured in the horizontal 2D plane. In the MRI images, it was done in the plane referenced by posterior femoral condylar axis. The intra- and inter-rater reliability was assessed in each modality and between modalities. Results: Twenty-seven patients (30 knees), 14 males, and 13 females with an average age of 13 years (range: 7–16 years) were included in the study. The mean TT-TG distance on EOS scan and MRI scan was 14 mm. On inter- and intra-observer analysis, both imaging modalities had excellent reliability (0.97 ICC for EOS and 0.98 ICC for MRI inter-observer) and repeatability (0.98–0.99 ICC for EOS and 0.99 ICC for MRI for intra-observer). However, on comparing the two imaging modalities (EOS vs MRI), the ICC was fair (0.56 ICC for rater 1 and 0.65 ICC for rater 2). Conclusion: While the EOS TT-TG measurements were precise and reproducible, they were only moderately comparable to MRI TT-TG measurements. Consequently, EOS TT-TG measurements should not be used for decision-making without the development of EOS-specific TT-TG values that indicate the need for distal realignment surgery. Level of evidence: Level II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels act as an early infection marker preceding C-reactive protein (CRP) elevation. This study seeks to analyze IL-6 behavior in suspected early-onset sepsis (EOS) cases among term newborns, comparing it to that of CRP and evaluating IL-6's diagnostic utility. We also aim to assess the impact of maternal risk factors on EOS in term newborns, quantifying their influence for informed decision making. (2) Methods: The retrospective data analysis included 533 term newborns who were admitted to our hospital because of suspected EOS. IL-6, CRP, and the impact of maternal risk factors were analyzed in the context of EOS using binomial test, Chi-squared test, logistic and linear regression. (3) Results: In the cases of EOS, both IL-6 and CRP were elevated. The increase in CRP can be predicted by the initial increase in IL-6 levels. Among the assessed risk factors, intrapartum maternal fever (adjusted odds ratio 18.1; 95% CI (1.7–4.1)) was identified as the only risk factor significantly associated with EOS. (4) Conclusions: Employing IL-6 as an early infection marker enhanced EOS diagnostic precision due to its detectable early rise. However, caution is required, as elevations in IL-6 and CRP levels do not exclusively indicate EOS. Increased CRP levels in healthy newborns with maternal risk factors may be attributed to dynamics of vaginal labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We focus on deterministic global optimization (DGO) for nonconvex parameter estimation problems. Realistic and accurate solutions often require a fitting against very large measurement data sets, resulting in intractable size for DGO. Thus, we aim at accelerating the branch-and-bound algorithm by using reduced data sets for constructing valid bounds. We focus on fitting the equation of state for propane, which is of high interest for the chemical industry. The resulting estimation problem is a challenging nonconvex mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problem. We investigate the validity of using reduced data sets by comparing how the lower and upper bounds change when replacing the full data set with different reduced data sets. We account for regions with high and low quality fits by considering the results for the whole feasible region and 100 different subregions. Our results indicate that both regions containing solution candidates and regions containing only low quality fits can be identified based on reduced data sets. Moreover, we observe that the average CPU time per branch-and-bound iteration typically decreases if reduced data sets are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing the Modified Hagedorn function with embedded flow, we analyze the transverse momenta ( p T ) and transverse mass ( m T ) spectra of π + in Au–Au, Cu–Cu, and d–Au collisions at s N N = 200 GeV across various centrality bins. Our study reveals the centrality and system size dependence of key freezeout parameters, including kinetic freezeout temperature (T 0) , transverse flow velocity (β T) , entropy-related parameter (n) , and kinetic freezeout volume (V). Specifically, T 0 and n increase from central to peripheral collisions, while β T and V show the opposite trend. These parameters also exhibit system size dependence; T 0 and β T are smaller in larger collision systems, whereas V is larger. Importantly, central collisions correspond to a stiffer Equation of State (EOS), characterized by larger β T and smaller T 0 , while peripheral collisions indicate a softer EOS. These insights are crucial for understanding the properties of Quark–Gluon Plasma (QGP) and offer valuable constraints for Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) models at high temperatures and densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I denne replikken svarer undertegnede på kritikken reist i Lidvard Grønnevets kommentar. Jeg påpeker først og fremst feil og misforståelser i kritikken, men gir Grønnevet rett i at begrepet «kvoter» naturlig nok ikke skulle vært nevnt i forbindelse med medlemskapsforhandlingene i 1972. Jeg roser også Grønnevet for å bringe frem innsikt i spørsmål som har med Norges forhold til EU på fiskeriområdet. En del av dette var kjent for undertegnede, men måtte utelates på grunn av ordgrensen i tidsskriftet. Abstract in English: Reply to Grønnevet In this reply, I respond to the criticism raised in Lidvard Grønnevet’s commentary. First of all, I point out errors and misunderstandings in his comments, but I also agree with him that I should not have used “quotas” in conjunction with membership negotiations in 1972. I also praise Grønnevet for providing new knowledge in issues related to Norway’s relationship with the EU in fishing. Some of this is well known, but I had to leave it out because of the word limit of the journal.

Abstract Background The sagittal imbalance (SI) of spine triggers compensatory mechanisms (CMs) of lower extremity (LE) to restore trunk balance. These CMs can cause long‐period stress on the femur and may possibly alter the femoral morphology. This cross‐sectional observational study aimed to answer the following questions: (a) Do SI subjects exhibit greater femoral bowing compared to subjects with sagittal balance? (b) Are there associations between femoral bowing and CMs of LE in SI subjects? Methods Subjects who underwent biplanar full body radiographs with the EOS imaging system between January 2016 and September 2021 were recruited. Sagittal parameters included T1‐pelvic angle (TPA), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope, lumbar lordosis (LL), PI‐LL, and PT/PI ratio. LE parameters were femoral obliquity angle (FOA), knee flexion angle (KA), and ankle dorsiflexion angle. Femoral bowing was quantified as 3D radius of femoral curvature (RFC). Associations between 3D RFC and the radiographic parameters were analyzed. Results A total of 105 subjects were included, classified into balance group (TPA

Introduction: We investigated the relationships between patient factors, including obesity, osteopenia, and scoliosis, and the reliability of measures of the spinopelvic sagittal parameters using conventional X-radiography (Xp) and slot-scanning Xp devices (EOS) and examined the differences in interobserver measurement reliability between them. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 55 patients (52.7±25.3 years, 27 females) with conventional whole-spine Xp and EOS images taken within three months. Patients were classified according to obesity (Body mass index25 kg/m2), osteopenia (T score20°). The associations between patient factors and reliability of radiological parameter measurements were examined with interobserver intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), defined as poor,

Whole-spine radiography can be accomplished through two methods: (1) segmented imaging employing X-ray tube angulation and detectors, or (2) the Euronext Paris Advanced Orthopedic Solutions (EOS) 2D Imaging system that can capture the entire spine in a single image using X-ray tubes and detectors oriented at a 90-degree angle. This study aimed to establish optimal EOS examination parameters based on patient morphotype and scan speed to reduce patient radiation exposure, repeat examinations, heat stress on equipment, and X-ray tube cooling time. X-ray exposure conditions involved adjustments of scan speed ranging from two to four steps, contingent upon the patient’s morphotype (‘S’, small body; ‘M’, medium body; and ‘L’, large body. Patient dose measurements were conducted 20 times for each set of conditions. When transitioning from an ‘S’ to an ‘M’ morphotype at a constant scan speed, the entrance skin dose (ESD) exhibited an increase of approximately 41.25 ± 4.57%. A similar change from an ‘M’ to an ‘L’ morphotype resulted in an ESD increase of roughly 59.56 ± 24.00%. A transition from an ‘S’ to an ‘L’ morphotype at the same scan speed manifested an ESD elevation of approximately 124.21 ± 26.96%. This study underscores significant variations in radiation dose, ranging from 40% to 50%, when altering morphotype while maintaining a consistent scan speed.

Essential oils (EOs) extracted from aromatic and medicinal plants have the potential to inhibit the growth of various pathogens and, thus, be useful in the control of dangerous diseases. The application of environmentally friendly approaches to protect agricultural and forestry ecosystems from invasive and hazardous species has become more significant in last decades. Therefore, the identification and characterization of essential oils with a strong inhibitory activity against aggressive and widespread pathogens are of key importance in plant protection research. The main purpose of our study is to evaluate the impact of essential oils originating from different genotypes of bee balm, mint, and marigold on Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium solani, and Phytophthora pseudocryptogea. Twelve essential oils, including five EOs originating from Monarda fistulosa, one oil each from Monarda russeliana, Mentha longifolia, Mentha piperita, Tagetes patula, and Tagetes erecta, and two EOs from Tagetes tenuifolia were derived by steam or water distillation. The chemical composition of the tested EOs was determined by GS-MS analyses and their corresponding chemotypes were identified. The most effective against all three pathogens were determined to be the EOs originating from M. fistulosa and M. russeliana. B. cinerea, and P. pseudocryptogea were also significantly affected by the M. piperita essential oil. The most efficient EOs involved in this investigation and their potential to control plant pathogens are discussed.

Denne artikkelen ser på korleis EØS-medlemskapet har påverka norsk tenestehandel. Ved hjelp av ein gravitasjonsmodell studerer eg først verknaden av EØS for handel med tenester generelt. Deretter går artikkelen inn på sentrale tenestesektorar og studerer effekten av spesifikke handelspolitiske indikatorar. Analysen viser at EØS-avtalen er assosiert med rundt 35 prosent høgare eksport samanlikna med ein frihandelsavtale. I finansielle tenester og kommunikasjonstenester er eksporten rundt 50 prosent høgare med EØS-avtalen samanlikna med ein handelsavtale. Brexit endrar desse estimata overraskande lite. Opne, velregulerte og harmoniserte marknader for kommunikasjonstenester er spesielt viktig for tenestehandelen.

Aluminized explosives exhibit excellent performance because the oxidation of aluminum (Al) powders enhances the pressure and temperature of detonation products. However, the equation of state (EOS) of detonation products has not been understood well. In the present study, we conducted long-time tests (approximately 1 ms) of a metal rod driven by detonation products of RDX, RDX/LiF, and RDX/Al. In addition, we used laser velocimetry (PDV) to measure the freesurface velocity of the rod. Thermochemical code DLCHEQ was successfully applied to the hydrodynamic program SSS to perform the rod-driven test, and a novel method was established to study the EOS of detonation products from the perspective of composition. The reliability of DLCEHQ was validated by a small deviation (

Panpan Fang,1,&ast; Kaijie Gao,1 Junmei Yang,1 Tiewei Li,1 Weihua Gong,1 Qianqian Sun,1 Yingyuan Wang2,&ast; 1Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Children’s Infection and Immunity, Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children’s Hospital, Zhengzhou Children’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children’s Hospital, Zhengzhou Children’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Panpan Fang; Yingyuan Wang, Email fang_panpan@163.com; yingyuanxse@163.comIntroduction: Sepsis is the most severe infectious disease with the highest mortality rate, particularly among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study retrospectively analyzed the epidemiology, antibiotic resistance profiles, and prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures in order to evaluate the appropriateness of initial empirical therapy for neonatal sepsis.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the NICU from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2022. Microbiological data from patients admitted to the NICU were anonymously extracted from the Laboratory of Microbiology database. Neonatal sepsis was classified into two types: early-onset sepsis (EOS), which occurs within the first 72 hours of life, and late-onset sepsis (LOS) for those begins later.Results: A total of 679 bacterial strains, 543 from blood and 136 from CSF, were detected in 631 neonates. Among these, 378 isolates (55.67%) were Gram-positive bacteria, and 301 isolates (44.33%) were Gram-negative bacteria. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (36.52%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.47%) and Escherichia coli (13.84%). In EOS, 121 strains were found, CoNS represented the majority (33.88%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (23.97%) and Escherichia coli (8.26%). Early-onset septicemia exhibited 67 (55.37%) MDR bacteria. In LOS, 558 strains were isolated, CoNS represented the majority of pathogens (37.10%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.71%) and Escherichia coli (15.05%). Late-onset septicemia showed 332 (59.50%) MDR bacteria. High rates of MDR were found in CoNS (76.21%), carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (66.91%), and MRSA (33.33%).Conclusion: The study revealed an alarming prevalence of MDR strains isolated from neonatal sepsis, emphasizing the necessity of finding effective prevention and treatment measures. Colistin can be used for MDR Gram-negative bacteria, while vancomycin and teicoplanin can be considered treatment therapies for staphylococcal infections.Keywords: MDR, EOS, LOS, sepsis, bacterial strains

Purpose: To report accuracy, repeatability, and agreement of Cobb angle measurements on radiographs and/or stereo-radiographs (EOS) compared against one another or against other imaging modalities. Methods: This review follows Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search was conducted on 21 July 2021 using Medline, Embase, and Cochrane. Two researchers independently performed title/abstract/ full-text screening and data extraction. Studies were eligible if they reported Cobb angles, and/or their repeatability and agreement, measured on radiographs and/or EOS compared against one another or against other imaging modalities. Results: Of the 2993 records identified, 845 were duplicates and 2212 were excluded during title/abstract/full-text screening. Two more relevant studies were identified from references of eligible studies, leaving 14 studies for inclusion. Two studies compared Cobb angles from EOS vs CT, while 12 compared radiographs vs other imaging modalities: EOS, CT, MRI, digital fluoroscopy, or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Angles from standing radiographs tended to be higher than those from supine MRI and CT, and angles from standing EOS tended to be higher than those from supine or prone CT. Correlations across modalities were strong (R = 0.78–0.97). Inter-observer agreement was excellent for all studies (ICC = 0.77–1.00), except one (ICC = 0.13 radiographs and ICC = 0.68 for MRI). Conclusion: Differences of up to 11º were found when comparing Cobb angles across combinations of imaging modalities and patient positions. It is not possible, however, to determine whether the differences observed are due to the change of modality, position, or both. Therefore, clinicians should be careful when utilizing the thresholds for standing radiographs across other modalities and positions for diagnosis and assessment of scoliosis.

Recent years, multi-drug resistant bacteria (MDRs) and lung cancer cells are threatening to human worldwide due to failure of sufficient drugs. It was suggested that the new sources needed to discover new varieties of drugs, antibiotics and other format to eradicate these infections. As like, the medicinal plant of Morinda citrifolia (M. citrifolia) was used in this study to inhibit both the bacterial infection and cancer cells. First, the LC-MS measurement was evidently reported the available essential oils from medicinal plant of M. citrifolia. It has excellent anti-bacterial properties against P. mirabilis, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus with 24, 22, 26 and 18 zone of inhibition respectively by agar well diffusion. Subsequently, the liquid interference assay was exhibited 97 %, 96 %, 94 % and 90 % inhibition at 1000 µg/mL concentration for all the tested pathogens. In addition, M. citrifolia EOs have excellent anti-bacterial activity, and it arrested the bacterial growth completely at 1000 µg/mL concentration for 24 h after compared with other time intervals. Subsequently, the intracellular membranes and more death cells with condensed chromosome like structure were effectively observed by confocal laser scanning electron microscope. Then, invitro cytotoxicity result of M. citrifolia EOs treated A549 lung cancer cells was clearly observed. The cytotoxicity result confirmed that the 500 µg/mL of M. citrifolia EOs against A549 lung cancer cells as fixed as IC50 dose. Hence, current study conclude, M. citrifolia is the excellent medicinal plant to inactivate bacterial growth and cancer cells efficiently.

Denne artikkelen retter oppmerksomheten mot utviklingstrekk i landbruks- og fiskeripolitikken i Norge og EU etter iverksettingen av EØS-avtalen i 1994. Det argumenteres for at politikken på begge områder har blitt likere, og dette forklares ut fra at både Norge og EU må forholde seg til de samme internasjonale avtalene, at begge deler mange av de samme ideene angående hva som god politikk og at Norge i økende grad importerer lover og regler fra EU. Avslutningsvis argumenteres det med at fortsatt EØS-tilknytning vil være langt mindre utfordrende for landbruks- og fiskerinæringene enn en ny frihandelsavtale eller et EU-medlemskap. Abstract in English: Agriculture and Fisheries in Norway. Outside, but Increasingly Inside the EU? This article draws attention to developments in agricultural and fisheries policy in Norway and the EU after the implementation of the EEA Agreement in 1994. It is argued that the policy in both areas has become more similar, and this is explained by the fact that both Norway and the EU must follow the same international agreements, that both share many of the same ideas regarding what constitutes proper policies, and that Norway is increasingly importing laws and regulations from the EU. In conclusion, it is argued that continued EEA association will be far less challenging for the agricultural and fishing industries than a new free trade agreement or EU membership.

Introduction: Preoperative planning of total hip arthroplasty (THA) using two-dimensional low-dose (2DLD) full-body imaging has gained popularity in recent years. The low-dose imaging system is said to produce a calibrated image with constant 1:1 magnification. However, the planning software used in conjunction with those images may introduce variations in the degree of magnification in 2DLD imaging, and this has not yet been investigated. The purpose of the present study was to quantify any variation in 2DLD image to assess the need for image calibration when using conventional planning software. Methods: Postoperative 2DLD images from 137 patients were retrospectively evaluated. Only patients who underwent THA for primary osteoarthritis were included in the study cohort. The femoral head diameter was measured by two independent observers using both Orthoview™ and TraumaCad™ planning software programs. Actual sizes of the femoral head implants were extracted from surgical reports to calculate image magnification. Magnification measurement reliability was calculated with the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) index. Results: Image magnification varied among cases (mean 133%, range 129–135%). There was no statistical difference in mean image magnification among the various implant sizes (p = 0.8). Mean observer and inter-observer reliability was rated excellent. Conclusion: THA planning with 2DLD imaging is subject to variation in magnification as analyzed with conventional planning software in this series. This finding is of paramount importance for surgeons using 2DLD imaging in preparation for THA since errors in magnification could affect the accuracy of preoperative planning and ultimately the clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Changes in coronal and sagittal alignment of the knee joint after HTO have been reported in several previous studies. However, only few of them investigated the changes only on coronal alignment of the ankle joint. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in both coronal and sagittal alignment of the ankle joint after HTO. Methods: 46 patients (49 cases) who underwent HTO were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative and postoperative lower extremity scanogram and EOS imaging system were investigated. The hip–knee–ankle (HKA) angle, medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), and knee tibia plafond angle (KTPA) were measured by scanogram to evaluate coronal alignment of the knee. Tibial anterior surface angle (TAS), talar tilt (TT), tibial plafond inclination (TPI), and ankle joint axis point on the weight-bearing-line (AAWBL) ratio were measured by scanogram to investigate coronal alignment of the ankle. Knee lateral ankle surface angle (KLAS) and tibial lateral surface angle (TLS) were measured by EOS to evaluate sagittal alignment of the ankle. Results: Varus alignment of the knee was corrected by significant change of the HKA angle (5.8 ± 3.1° vs. − 2.1 ± 2.8°, p < 0.001), MPTA (85.7 ± 2.9° vs. 91.7 ± 3.3°, p < 0.001), and KTPA (5.0 ± 3.5° vs. − 2.1 ± 4.2°, p < 0.001) after HTO. Regarding the ankle coronal alignment, there was significant change in TPI (3.9 ± 3.4° vs. − 0.9 ± 3.8°, p < 0.001) and AAWBL ratio (45.5 ± 14.7% vs. 61.6 ± 13.3%, p < 0.001). In sagittal alignment of the ankle, KLAS (4.5 ± 3.1° vs. 7.7 ± 3.7°, p < 0.001) significantly increased. Among the variables, the amount of correction in AAWBL ratio (R = 0.608, p < 0.01) showed strongest relationship with tibial correction angle. Conclusion: Based on the present study, coronal and sagittal alignment of ankle joint was significantly affected by HTO. After HTO, AAWBL ratio increased due to lateralization of the ankle joint axis, and KLAS increased due to increased posterior tibial slope. Level of Evidence: III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of microbial communities on cave walls and speleothems is an issue that requires attention. Traditional cleaning methods using water, brushes, and steam can spread the infection and cause damage to the cave structures, while chemical agents can lead to the formation of toxic compounds and damage the cave walls. Essential oils (EOs) have shown promising results in disrupting the cell membrane of bacteria and affecting their membrane permeability. In this study, we identified the microorganisms forming unwanted microbial communities on the walls and speleothems of Petralona Cave using 16S and 18S rDNA amplicon sequencing approaches and evaluated the efficacy of EOs in reducing the ATP levels of these ecosystems. The samples exhibited a variety of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, the SAR supergroup, Opisthokonta, Excavata, Archaeplastida, and Amoebozoa. These phyla are often found in various habitats, including caves, and contribute to the ecological intricacy of cave ecosystems. In terms of the order and genus taxonomy, the identified biota showed abundances that varied significantly among the samples. Functional predictions were also conducted to estimate the differences in expressed genes among the samples. Oregano EO was found to reduce ATP levels by 87% and 46% for black and green spots, respectively. Consecutive spraying with cinnamon EO further reduced ATP levels, with reductions of 89% for black and 88% for green spots. The application of a mixture solution caused a significant reduction up to 96% in ATP levels of both areas. Our results indicate that EOs could be a promising solution for the treatment of microbial communities on cave walls and speleothems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new framework to investigate the spherically symmetric of anisotropic stars with clouds of strings and quintessence field in Rastall gravity. We develop the field equations in a spherically symmetric space–time with a quintessence field and clouds of string. We utilize the mass and radius of Her X-1, Vela X-1, SMC X-1, SAX J1808 0.4-3658 and 4 U 1538-52, which are well mentioned in the literature. We applied the matching conditions by considering outer space calculated in Rastall gravity to evaluate the constants parameters. To check the stability and physical presence of compact models, we computed the most important features of quintessence stars in the presence of a cloud of strings. We explored characteristics including energy density, quintessence density, radial pressure, tangential pressure gradients, anisotropic factor, energy conditions, sound speeds, TOV forces, EoS components, mass function, compactification and redshift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]