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One of the ways to improve energy efficiency in transportation is through efforts aimed at increasing the usage of public transportation by residents. This, in turn, is closely related to residents' preferences. One of the most frequently cited factors influencing the attractiveness and quality of public transportation is the frequency of connections. This is important not only for urban transport but also regional transport, which has significantly lower passenger flows. This paper aims to present how the frequency of connections affects the attractiveness of regional transport. An original method for determining the attractiveness of public transport, based on the share of adult, senior, and youth passengers with single tickets and monthly passes, is introduced. The results of research on the structure of passengers and flows to/from the district center are presented. Based on the research results, attractiveness factors are calculated for each town. The statistical analysis clearly indicates there is a strong correlation between the attractiveness of regional transport and the frequency of connections (Rs = 0.807, p = 0.001). Moreover, for every connection increase, the number of adult passengers will increase by an average of 1.5. Assuming that these additional passengers switch from individual to public transportation, the resulting reduction in energy consumption due to an increase of one connection is 0.33–0.69 kWh for each kilometer traveled by these passengers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Patients with cyanosis secondary to congenital heart disease (CHD) are characterized by erythrocytosis and increased blood viscosity, which contribute to endothelial dysfunction, increased arterial stiffness, and impaired vascular function, which may affect the final clinical presentation. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and e-selectin (e-sel) are valuable biomarkers for endothelial and vascular dysfunction. Their concentration levels in blood serum have the potential to be an accessible tool that reflects the severity of the disease. We aimed to assess e-sel and ADMA levels and their relationship with the clinical status and endothelial and vascular function. Methods: A cross-sectional study, including 36 adult CHD cyanotic patients [(17 males) (42.3 ± 16.3 years)] with an arterial blood oxygen saturation less than 92% and 20 healthy controls [(10 males) (38.2 ± 8.5 years)], was performed. All the patients underwent a clinical examination, blood testing, and cardiopulmonary tests. Their endothelial function was assessed using the intima media thickness and flow-mediated dilatation. Vascular function, using applanation tonometry methods, was determined using the aortic systolic pressure, aortic pulse pressure, augmentation pressure, augmentation index, pulse pressure amplification, and pulse wave velocity. Results: The concentrations of e-sel and ADMA were significantly higher in the patients with CHD. The E-sel levels correlated positively with red blood cells, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and augmentation pressure; they correlated negatively with blood oxygen saturation, the forced expiratory one-second volume, forced vital capacity, and oxygen uptake. The ADMA levels were found to correlate only with age. Conclusions: The E-sel level, unlike ADMA concentration, reflects the severity of erythrocytosis and hypoxia and, thus, the physical status of patients with cyanotic CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is a common disease in highly industrialized societies, more often perceived as a health problem in adults rather than children. However, epidemiologists are currently paying more attention to the possibility of idiopathic hypertension during childhood. This article compares three classification models (logistic regression, classification trees and MARSplines) in order to determine the best classification model and distinguish the parameters that are most important in the detection of abnormal blood pressure in children. The study group consisted of 1,378 children aged between 7 and 18. After making comparisons between the methods, it was determined that MARSplines is the model that best assigns subjects to classes and can be an alternative in cases when traditional statistical methods cannot be used due to a lack of fulfillment of conditions. For prediction of abnormal blood pressure in this age group, the most important parameters were the heart rate and selected indicators of body proportions.

Introduction: Surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) might cause acute changes in cerebral oxygenation and alteration of brain bioelectrical activity. Varying physiologic responses and clinical outcomes were observed when different surfactant preparations were instilled to treat neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).Material and methods: Neonates born at 26-30 weeks of gestation with RDS requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation were randomized to SRT either with poractant alfa (A) or beractant (B). Saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), cerebral tissue oxygenation (StO2) and amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) were simultaneously recorded prior to and up to 4 h after SRT.Results: Mean SpO2, HR and StO2 values were comparable between groups at baseline and after SRT. There were differences in mean aEEG voltage before SRT, but amplitudes were within a range considered as normal in both groups. Immediately after SRT and at a few single post-intervention time points mean aEEG voltage was higher in the beractant group. There was a significant difference in the percentage of time with the aEEG signal < 5 μV after SRT between groups (mean 25.7% (A) vs. 16.5% (B), p < 0.05). Quantity of bursts per minute and mean length of inter-burst intervals (IBI) in the aEEG recording varied insignificantly but there was a significant difference in the percentage of IBI > 30 s between groups (52.5% (A) vs. 36.6% (B), p <0.05).Conclusions: This is the first study assessing brain bioelectrical function and oxygenation while using two different surfactant preparations in a neonate. Cerebral effects of SRT are observed regardless of the type of surfactant, but their magnitude may depend on the preparation and/or dosing used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) for parenteral nutrition (PN) on selected clinical parameters of extremely low‐birth‐weight (ELBW) neonates in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: This study was a retrospective data analysis of preterm infants born over a 1‐year period before and after introduction of CPOE. PN composition during the first 2 weeks of life, change in weight, head circumference and body length z‐scores were assessed. Duration of PN and selected neonatal complications were compared. Logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding variables (sex, birth weight, and birth‐gestational age). Results: Ninety‐four patients in 2 equal groups were analyzed. Birth weight (median 810 vs 825 g) and gestational age (27 vs 27 weeks) were comparable. After adjustment for confounding variables, on the first and seventh day of life, significantly more energy (P <.001), protein (P <.001), lipid (P <.03), and carbohydrate (P <.02) were administered in the CPOE group than in the manually calculated (MC) prescriptions group. The CPOE group had lower weight loss (P <.001), a significant improvement in linear growth, and faster regain of birth weight (P <.01) compared with the MC group. Conclusion: The CPOE positively influences the quality of PN in ELBW infants. It also significantly reduced initial weight loss, time to regain birth weight, and linear growth. It may also have beneficial effects on selected clinical outcomes, which requires further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]