Assessment of primary DNA damage in blood and different organs in swiss albino mices after exposure to ionising radiation

Primarna oštećenja DNA u perifernoj krvi i organima Swiss albino miša proučavana su tehnikom alkalnog komet testa. Mjerena su oštećenja i popravak neposredno nakon te 2 i 6 sati nakon izlaganja γ-zračenju (60Co), koristeći klinički relevantne doze od 1 i 2 Gy. Većina DNA lezija popravljena je 2 sata nakon zračenja. Stanice mozga obrađene odmah nakon zračenja pokazale su veću količinu oštećenja u usporedbi sa stanicama jetre i bubrega. Dinamika popravka procijenjena je pomoću celularnog DNA indeksa popravka. Stanice mozga i periferni leukociti su pokazali brži i efikasniji popravak, sugerirajući veću radiorezistentnost za primljene doze. Primijećene su značajne razlike u vremenu potrebnom za popravak i dinamici popravka pri korištenim dozama, posebice kod stanica mozga.Primary DNA damage was studied on peripheral blood and different organs in Swiss albino mice using the alkaline comet assay. The damage and repair were measured immediatelly after, 2 and 6 hours after the exposure to γ- radiation (60Co), using clinically relevant doses of 1 and 2 Gy. The majority of DNA lesions had been repaired in first 2 hours after irradiation. Brain cells processed immediately after the exposure showed more damage compared to liver and kidney cells. Dynamics of repair was estimated using cellular DNA repair index. Brain cells and peripheral leucocytes appeared to repair the damage more effectively than liver and kidney cells, suggesting higher radioresistance to administered doses. There was a significant difference in repair time and dynamics comparing the doses, especially in brain cells

Modeling light dispersion in the printing substrate within the Monte Carlo method

Proizvodni značaj optičkih svojstava papira motivirao nas je na izgradnju teorijskog pristupa koji se može koristiti za određivanje refleksije i disperzije svjetla od površine papira. U radu smo prezentirali metodu temeljenu na Monte Carlo modelu raspršenja svjetlosti za bolje razumijevanje nastanka optičkog prirasta rastertonskih vrijednosti, te kako bi osigurali realističniji opis medija u kojem se raspršenje svjetlosti događa. Monte Carlo metoda je služila kao okvir unutar kojeg smo bili u mogućnosti opisati difuzno raspršenje svjetlosti koja doživljava višestruke podpovršinske refleksije i apsorpcije na komponentama od kojih je papir sačinjen. Naše simulacije pružaju fleksibilan i u isto vrijeme, strog pristup transportu svjetlosti u mediju kao što je papir. Numerički smo istražili učinke modelirane površine na optička svojstva papira zbog podpovršinskog raspršenja svjetlosti.Manufacturing significance of optical properties of paper motivated us to construct a theoretical approach which could be used to determine the reflection and dispersion of light from paper surface. We introduced a method based on the Monte Carlo model of light scattering in paper for better understanding the origin of optical screen values gain and to provide a more realistic description of the medium in which light scattering occurs. The Monte Carlo method was used as a frame within which we were able to describe the diffuse scattering of light which suffers multiple subsurface reflections. Our simulation provides a flexible and at the same time rigorous approach to the transport of light in a medium such as paper. We numerically investigated the effects of the modeled surface on the optical properties of paper throughout subsurface light scattering

Uloga mišolikih sisavaca kao rezervoara leptospira u šumama hrasta lužnjaka Hrvatske.

In the year 2000, three hundred and eighty-one animals werw caught in 11 locations in the pedunculate oak forests extending across the wider region of the Sava River valley, an area known as an old natural focus of leptospires. Two hundred and twenty-seven animals were investigated for leptospiral carriership, 381 were tested for the existence of specific antibodies to leptospira. Through cultivation of kidney sections in the Korthof’s nutrient medium, 17 strains of leptospira were isolated from 3 species of myomorphous mammals, of which in the house mouse (Mus musculus) the serovar sejroe in 10 animals (71.4%), in the black-striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) the serovar pomona in 4 animals (5.4%) and in the yellownecked field mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) the serovars australis, pomona and one unindentified isolate in 3 animals (4.5%), representing a total of 7.5% of animals. Using the microscopic agglutination test in 47 animals (12.3%), antibodies to leptospira were found for 8 serovars, for the most part the serovar pomona, then (in decreasing order) for the serovars saxkoebing australis, and hardjo. The percentage of serologically positive animals ranged from 34.4% in the house mouse, 13,9% in the black-striped field mouse, 10.8% in the yellow-necked fieldmouse, 9.4% in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), to 6.5% in the long-tailed field mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). The research results suggest that pedunculate oak forests can be considered as an integral part of a vast natural focus of leptospirosis. The specificity and role of this biotope in maintaining leptospira should be investigated to a greater extent in the future.U šumama hrasta lužnjaka, na 11 lokaliteta koji se prostiru u širem području rijeke Save, poznatom kao staro prirodno žarište leptospiroza, tijekom 2000. godine ulovljeno je 381 životinja. Na kliconoštvo leptospira pretraženo je 227 životinja i 381 životinja na prisutnost specifičnih protutijela za leptospire. Kultivacijom komadića bubrega u Korthof-ovom hranilištu, izdvojeno je 17 sojeva leptospira, u 3 vrste mišolikih sisavaca, od čega u kućnog miša (Mus musculus) serološka varijanta sejroe u 10 ili 71,4% životinja, u poljskog miša (Apodemus agrarius) serološka varijanta pomona u 4 ili 5,4% i žutogrlog miša (Apodemus flavicollis) serološka varijanta australis, serološka varijanta pomona i jedan nedeterminirani izolat u tri ili 4,5% životinja, što predstavlja ukupno 7,5% životinja. Reakcijom mikroskopske aglutinacije u 47 ili 12,3% životinja ustanovljena su protutijela za 8 seroloških varijanti leptospira, od čega najviše za serološku varijantu pomona, a zatim redom serološku varijantu saxkoebing, australis i hardjo. Postotak serološki pozitivnih životinja kretao se od 34,4% u kućnog miša, 13,9% u poljskog miša, 10,8% žutogrlog miša, 9,4% u riđe voluharice (Clethrionomys glareolus) do 6,5% u šumskog miša (Apodemus sylvaticus). Rezultati istraživanja upućuju na zaključak da šume hrasta lužnjaka možemo smatrati sastavnim dijelom velikog prirodnog žarišta leptospiroze. Specifičnosti i ulogu ovog biotopa u održanju leptospira trebalo bi u budućnosti opsežnije istražiti

A HIGHLY ACCURATE ALGORITHM FOR COMPUTATION OF COMPLEX-VALUED BESSEL, NEUMANN AND HANKEL FUNCTIONS OF INTEGER ORDER

In this paper, a highly accurate algorithm for computation of complex-valued Bessel, Neumann and Hankel functions of integer order is given. The algorithm enables the computation of these functions in the entire complex plane with quadruple precision, which can be reduced to double precision. The complex values of the Bessel and Neumann functions of the zeroth and first order can be computed in a special way for small, medium-sized and large arguments in the first quadrant of the complex plane. The mapping of functions from the first quadrant to the other quadrants is described by simple formulas. Bessel and Neumann functions of higher positive integer order can be computed using forward and backward recurrence relations. Two types of Hankel functions are linear combinations of the Bessel and Neumann functions. Bessel, Neumann and Hankel functions of negative integer order are equal to positive order functions up to the sign

Banknote characterization using the FTIR spectroscopy

Counterfeit methods are more sophisticated than ever before, so it is necessary to implement as many different methods as possible to get reliable information on the origin of the banknotes. The FTIR spectroscopy provides exactly this, a different approach to the identification of different banknote components, from the paper itself to the characterization of the inks, holograms and watermarks. This paper examines the similarities and differences in the composition of the paper used for making banknotes in six different currencies, and at the same time deals with the characterization of the unique features of a particular currency. Moreover, the consistency within the particular currency is examined by comparing multiple banknotes of the same denomination

THE INFLUENCE OF CONDUCTIVE PASSIVE PARTS ON THE MAGNETIC FLUX DENSITY PRODUCED BY OVERHEAD POWER LINES

There has been apprehension about the possible adverse health effects resulting from exposure to power frequency magnetic field, especially in the overhead power lines vicinity. Research work on the biological effects of magnetic field has been substantial in recent decades. Various international regulations and safety guidelines, aimed at the protection of human beings, have been issued. Numerous measurements are performed and different numerical algorithms for computation of the magnetic field, based on the Biot-Savart law, are developed. In this paper, a previously developed 3D quasistatic numerical algorithm for computation of the magnetic field (i.e. magnetic flux density) produced by overhead power lines has been improved in such a way that cylindrical segments of passive conductors are also taken into account. These segments of passive conductors form the conductive passive contours, which can be natural or equivalent, and they substitute conductive passive parts of the overhead power lines and towers. Although, their influence on the magnetic flux density distribution and on the total effective values of magnetic flux density is small, it is quantified in a numerical example, based on a theoretical background that was developed and presented in this paper

OUTCOME OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN CHILDREN

Cilj istraživanja: Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je odrediti ishod u djece nakon traumatske ozljede mozga te istražiti utjecaj dobi, spola, vrste ozljede mozga, postojanja pridruženih ozljeda, načina ozljeđivanja, strojne ventilacije, duljine hospitalizacije i vrijednosti GCS na ishod. Materijal i metode: Istraživanje je provedeno u Zavodu za intenzivnu pedijatriju s postintenzivnom skrbi, Klinike za dječje bolesti, KBC-a u Splitu retrospektivnom analizom medicinske dokumentacije u vremenskom razdoblju od 1. siječnja 2007. do 31. prosinca 2016. U istraživanje je uključeno 201 dijete, u dobi od jednog mjeseca do 18 godina, liječeno zbog traumatske ozljede mozga. Iz studije su isključeni ispitanici čiji su podaci bili nepotpuni (n=6). Svakom ispitaniku analizirane su sljedeće karakteristike: kronološka dob u mjesecima, spol, vrsta ozljede mozga, pridružene ozljede, način ozljeđivanja, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), potreba za strojnom ventilacijom i dani strojne ventilacije, dani hospitalizacije, potreba za operacijskim zahvatom te ishod. Prilikom istraživanja proučavan je utjecaj pojedinih varijabli na ishod. Statistička analiza podataka provedena je uz pomoć statističkog programa SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics, v.20), a razina statističke značajnosti postavljena je na α<0,05 Rezultati: U istraživanje je uključeno 195 ispitanika, 129 (66,2 %) muške i 66 (33,8 %) ženske djece. Sveukupna smrtnost djece nakon traumatske ozljede mozga iznosi 5,6 %. Smrtnost u odnosu na spol ne razlikuje se statistički značajno. Postoji statistički značajna razlika medijana dobi djece sa smrtnim ishodom (175 mjeseci) u odnosu na preživjele (119,5 mjeseci). Izoliranu ozljedu glave imala su 102 bolesnika (52,3 %), a ozljedu glave uz pridružene ozljede 93 bolesnika (47,7 %). Statistički značajno više djece koja su uz ozljedu glave imala i pridružene ozljede je umrlo (90,9 %), a najčešće su ozljede pluća i jetre, donjih ekstremiteta i zdjelice. Pad je bio najčešći način ozljeđivanja (39 %), ali niti jedno dijete nije umrlo. Najveći broj smrtnih ishoda zabilježeno je u djece pješaka (36,4 %), te putnika u automobilu i na motociklu (27,3 %). Većina bolesnika je strojno ventilirana ( 60,5 %), uključujući svu djecu sa smrtnim ishodom. Medijan trajanja strojne ventilacije statistički je značajno veči u umrle djece. Operacijski zahvat bio je potreban kod 26,2 % bolesnika, no nije statistički značajno utjecao na ishod. Također nije bilo statistički značajne razlike u ishodu i danima trajanje hospitalizacije. Najčešći su tip ozljede mozga intrakranijalna krvarenja (44,1 %). Statistički značajno više je djece umrlo zbog edema mozga ( 90,9 %) u odnosu na ostale vrste ozljede. Težina traumatske ozljede mozga, procijenjena prema Glasgovskoj ljestvici kome u 44,1 % bolesnika bila je teška. Statistički značajno niže vrijednosti GCS bile su u umrle djece, s medijanom od 3,0. Zaključak: Više čimbenika može utjecati na ishod traumatske ozljede mozga u djece. Iz rezultata našeg rada vidi se da ishod ovisi o dobi, vrsti i težini ozljede mozga, pridruženim ozljedama, načinu ozljeđivanja te potrebi za strojnom ventilacijom. S obzirom da je traumatska ozljeda mozga jedan od najčešćih uzroka smrtnosti i pobola među djecom i adolescentima u razvijenim zemljama, potrebno je djelovati na sprječavanju ozljeda kao i mogućih teških posljedica.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of traumatic brain injury in children and to investigate the effects of age, sex, type of brain injury, associated injuries, the mode of injury, mechanical ventilation, length of hospitalization and GCS values on the outcome. Material and Methods: The research was conducted in Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), University hospital in Split, by a retrospective analysis of medical documentation between January 1st, 2007 and December 31st, 2016. The study included 201 children, age ranging from one month to 18 years, treated for traumatic brain injury. Children with the incomplete documentation (n = 6) were excluded from the study. The following characteristics were analyzed for each patient: chronological age in months, gender, type of brain injury, associated injuries, mode of injury, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), the need for mechanical ventilation and days of mechanical ventilation, lenght of hospitalization, need for surgical intervention and outcome. The effect of individual variables on the outcome was studied during the research. The statistical analysis of the data was carried out using the SPSS statistical program (IBM SPSS Statistics, v.20), and the statistical significance level was set at α <0.05 Results: This study included 195 children, 129 (66.2 %) male and 66 (33.8 %) female. The overall mortality of children after traumatic brain injury was 5.6 %. Statistically, gender did not effect the mortality. There was a statistically significant difference between the median age of children with death outcome (175 months) compared to survivors (119.5 months). 102 patients (52.3 %) had isolated head injury and 93 patients (47.7 %) had head injury with associated injuries. The statistically significant number of children who had head injuries and associated injuries died (90.9%) and the most common injuries were the ones of lung and liver, lower extremities, and pelvic floor. The fall was the most common mode of injury (39 %), but none of the children died. The highest number of deaths was recorded in pedestrians (36.4 %) and in car and motorcycle passengers (27.3 %). The majority of patients were mechanically ventilated (60.5 %), including all children who died. The median duration of mechanical ventilation was statistically significant longer in children who died. A surgical intervention was needed in 26.2 % patients but did not affect the outcome. There were not any statistically significant differences in outcome and lenght of hospitalization. The most common type of brain injury was intracranial bleeding (44.1 %). Statistically, the largest number of children died due to the brain edema (90.9 %). The traumatic brain injury, estimated by Glasgow Coma Scale, was severe in 44.1 % children. Statistically significant lower GCS was recorded in children who died, with a median of 3.0. Conclusion: Multiple factors can affect the outcome of traumatic brain injury in children. The results of our study show that the outcome depends on the age of children, type and severity of the brain injury, associated injuries, mode of injury and the need for mechanical ventilation. Since, traumatic brain injury is one of the most common causes of mortality and morbitity among children and adolescents in developed countries, it is necessary to act on preventing injuries as well as possible serious consequences