Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA)

Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are an important cause of morbidity and are frequently associated with poor prognosis, particularly in high-risk patients. The cornerstones in the management of complicated IAIs are timely effective source control with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is important in the management of intra-abdominal infections and must be broad enough to cover all likely organisms because inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor patient outcomes and the development of bacterial resistance. The overuse of antimicrobials is widely accepted as a major driver of some emerging infections (such as C. difficile), the selection of resistant pathogens in individual patients, and for the continued development of antimicrobial resistance globally. The growing emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms and the limited development of new agents available to counteract them have caused an impending crisis with alarming implications, especially with regards to Gram-negative bacteria. An international task force from 79 different countries has joined this project by sharing a document on the rational use of antimicrobials for patients with IAIs. The project has been termed AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections). The authors hope that AGORA, involving many of the world's leading experts, can actively raise awareness in health workers and can improve prescribing behavior in treating IAIs

Measurement of the multi-TeV neutrino cross section with IceCube using Earth absorption

Neutrinos interact only very weakly, so they are extremely penetrating. However, the theoretical neutrino-nucleon interaction cross section rises with energy such that, at energies above 40 TeV, neutrinos are expected to be absorbed as they pass through the Earth. Experimentally, the cross section has been measured only at the relatively low energies (below 400 GeV) available at neutrino beams from accelerators \cite{Agashe:2014kda, Formaggio:2013kya}. Here we report the first measurement of neutrino absorption in the Earth, using a sample of 10,784 energetic upward-going neutrino-induced muons observed with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The flux of high-energy neutrinos transiting long paths through the Earth is attenuated compared to a reference sample that follows shorter trajectories through the Earth. Using a fit to the two-dimensional distribution of muon energy and zenith angle, we determine the cross section for neutrino energies between 6.3 TeV and 980 TeV, more than an order of magnitude higher in energy than previous measurements. The measured cross section is $1.30^{+0.21}_{-0.19}$ (stat.) $^{+0.39}_{-0.43}$ (syst.) times the prediction of the Standard Model \cite{CooperSarkar:2011pa}, consistent with the expectation for charged and neutral current interactions. We do not observe a dramatic increase in the cross section, expected in some speculative models, including those invoking new compact dimensions \cite{AlvarezMuniz:2002ga} or the production of leptoquarks \cite{Romero:2009vu}.Comment: Preprint version of Nature paper 10.1038/nature2445

Manual measurement of retinal bifurcation features

This paper introduces a new computerized tool for accurate manual measurement of features of retinal bifurcation geometry, designed for use in investigating correlations between measurement features and clinical conditions. The tool uses user-placed rectangles to measure the vessel width, and lines placed along vessel center lines to measure the angles. An analysis is presented of measurements taken from 435 bifurcations. These are compared with theoretical predictions based on optimality principles presented in the literature. The new tool shows better agreement with the theoretical predictions than a simpler manual method published in the literature, but there remains a significant discrepancy between current theory and measured geometry

B + B BARCELONA

Tématem projektu je stavba nového gymnázia v Barceloně, v místě, které je typické svými pravidelnými bloky navrženými architektem Cerdou. Stavbu jsem navrhla s respektem k tvaru parcely. Mým cílem bylo, nevytvořit jen vzdělávací budovu pro studenty, ale také kulturní a společenské centrum pro lidi z okolí. Urbanisticky je parcela koncipovaná jako město samo o sobě, které zve kolemjdoucí k návštěvě. Zůstalo příjemné měřítko pro život.The subjekt of the project is the building of a new secondary school in Barcelona, the place, which is typical with his regular piles designed by architekt Cerda. I projected the building with the respect of the shape of site. My tendency was to not only make a educational building for students, but also the cultural and social centre for local inhabitants. The site is conceived as a small city, which invites passers-by to a visit. The pleasant scale factor stayed on.

A Biomechanical Model for the Development of Myoelectric Hand Prosthesis Control Systems

Advanced myoelectric hand prostheses aim to reproduce as much of the human hand's functionality as possible. Development of the control system of such a prosthesis is strongly connected to its mechanical design; the control system requires accurate information on the prosthesis' structure and the surrounding environment, which can make development difficult without a finalized mechanical prototype. This paper presents a new framework for the development of electromyographic hand control systems, consisting of a prosthesis model based on the biomechanical structure of the human hand. The model's dynamic structure uses an ellipsoidal representation of the phalanges. Other features include underactuation in the fingers and thumb modeled with bond graphs, and a viscoelastic contact model. The model's functions are demonstrated by the execution of lateral and tripod grasps, and evaluated with regard to joint dynamics and applied forces. Finally, additions are suggested with which this model can be of use in mechanical design and patient training as well

Quantum group covariant systems

The meaning of quantum group transformation properties is discussed in some detail by comparing the (co)actions of the quantum group with those of the corresponding Lie group, both of which have the same algebraic (matrix) form of the transformation. Various algebras are considered which are covariant with respect to the quantum (super) groups $SU_q(2),\; SU_q(1, 1),\; SU_q(1|1),\; SU_q(n), \\ SU_q(m|n),\; OSp_q(1|2)$ as well as deformed Minkowski space-time algebras.Comment: 12 pages, Late

Dynamic autonomous intelligent control of an asteroid lander

One of the future flagship missions of the European Space Agency (ESA) is the asteroid sample return mission Marco-Polo. Although there have been a number of past missions to asteroids, a sample has never been successfully returned. The return of asteroid regolith to the Earth's surface introduces new technical challenges. This paper develops attitude control algorithms for the descent phase onto an asteroid in micro-gravity conditions and draws a comparison between the algorithms considered. Two studies are also performed regarding the Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) of the control laws considered. The potential of using Direct Adaptive Control (DAC) as a controller for the surface sampling process is also investigated. Use of a DAC controller incorporates increased levels of robustness by allowing realtime variation of control gains. This leads to better response to uncertainties encountered during missions

Large NN Matrix Models and qq-Deformed Quantum Field Theories

Recently it was shown that an asymptotic behaviour of $SU(N)$ gauge theory for large $N$ is described by q-deformed quantum field. The master fields for large N theories satisfy to standard equations of relativistic field theory but fields satisfy $q$-deformed commutation relations with $q=0$. These commutation relations are realized in the Boltzmannian Fock space. The master field for gauge theory does not take values in a finite-dimensional Lie algebra however there is a non-Abelian gauge symmetry. The gauge master field for a subclass of planar diagrams, so called half-planar diagrams, is also considered. A recursive set of master fields summing up a matreoshka of 2-particles reducible planar diagrams is briefly described.Comment: 17 pages, latex. To appear in "From Field Theory to Quantum Groups", World Scientific. Proceedings to honor J.Lukierski in his 60th birthda