Search results for "STING"

Inappropriateness in laboratory medicine: an elephant in the room?

2017

Appropriateness of diagnostic testing can be conventionally described as prescription of the right test, using the right method, at the right time, to the right patient, with the right costs and for producing the right outcome. There is ongoing debate about the real burden of inappropriateness in laboratory diagnostics. The media coverage of this issue has also recently led to either over- or under-emphasizing the clinical, organizational and economic consequences. This is quite problematic, inasmuch as some reliable data are available in the current scientific literature, showing that inappropriateness of laboratory testing can be as high as 70%. This is especially evident for, though not …

Coupled seismogenic geohazards in Alpine regions

2012

COupled seismogenic GEohazards in Alpine Regions (COGEAR) is an interdisciplinary natural hazard project investigating the hazard chain induced by earthquakes. It addresses tectonic processes and the related variability of seismicity in space and time, earthquake forecasting and short-term precursors, and strong ground motion as a result of source and complex path effects. We study non-linear wave propagation phenomena, liquefaction and triggering of landslides in soil and rock, as well as earthquake-induced snow avalanches. The Valais, and in particular parts of the Rhone, Visper, and Matter valleys have been selected as study areas. Tasks include detailed field investigations, development…

CEFLING: Combining Second Language Acquisition and Testing Approaches to Writing

2012

Effects of hydrogen-charging on the properties of S235JR steel

2017

The paper presents the test results of the S235JR steel susceptibility to damage under the influence of hydrogen. The test of mechanical properties was performed on the basis of a static stretch test of non-hydrogenated samples and after cathodic polarization. Electrochemical measurements for the assessment of corrosion resistance of non-hydrogenated and hydrogenated steels were carried out using open circuit potential measurement and registering of potentiodynamic polarization curves in a three-electrode measuring system. Hydrogenation was carried out for between 3 and 24 hours in a solution of 0.1 N sulfuric acid (VI) with the addition of 2 mg/dm 3 of arsenic oxide (III) at an electric cu…

Model research on the influence of green roofs on environmental parameters in urban agglomerations

2018

The intensive development of urban agglomerations in Poland and other European countries has rendered the growth of biologically active areas more important with respect the quality of the urban environment. Taking the rapidly rising prices of plots in city centers into consideration, it is worth noting the vast surfaces of building roofs that can be used as biologically active areas. The term green roof is to be understood as an open, overgrown surface on a multilayer roof of a building. Green roofs can only be made on a planar surface with an inclination of 2% to 30%. In accordance with the type of usage, construction factors and maintenance requirements, green roofs are typically defined…

Potential of historical meteorological and hydrological data for the reconstruction of historical flood events – the example of the 1882 flood in sou…

2009

Abstract. This paper presents a hydrometeorological reconstruction of the flood triggering meteorological situation and the simulation of discharges of the flood event of December 1882 in the Neckar catchment in Baden-Württemberg (southwest Germany). The course of the 1882 flood event in the Neckar catchment in southwest Germany and the weather conditions which led to this flood were reconstructed by evaluating the information from various historical sources. From these historical data, daily input data sets were derived for run-off modeling. For the determination of the precipitation pattern at the end of December 1882, the sparse historical data were modified by using a similar modern day…

THE ROLE OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES IN MODULATING THE HOST IMMUNE RESPONSE DURING PARASITIC INFECTIONS

2014

Parasites are the cause of major diseases affecting billions of people. As the inflictions caused by these parasites affect mainly developing countries, they are considered as neglected diseases. These parasitic infections are often chronic and lead to significant immunomodulation of the host immune response by the parasite, which could benefit both the parasite and the host and are the result of millions of years of co-evolution. The description of parasite extracellular vesicles (EVs) in protozoa and helminths suggests that they may play an important role in host–parasite communication. In this review, recent studies on parasitic (protozoa and helminths) EVs are presented and their potent…

Catching allergy by a simple questionnaire

2014

Background Identifying allergic rhinitis requires allergy testing, but the first-line referral for rhinitis are usually primary care physicians (PCP), who are not familiar with such tests. The availability of easy and simple tests to be used by PCP to suggest allergy should be very useful. Methods The Respiratory Allergy Prediction (RAP) test, based on 9 questions and previously validated by a panel of experts, was evaluated in this study. Results An overall number of 401 patients (48.6% males, age range 14–62 years) with respiratory symptoms was included. Of them, 89 (22.2%) showed negative results to SPT, while 312 (77.8%) had at least one positive result to SPT. Cohen’s kappa coefficient…

Performing sound of the past: Remix in electronic dance music culture

2014

The term remix, defined as an activity of taking data from pre-existing materials to combine them into new forms according to personal taste, relates to various elements and areas of contemporary culture. Whichever model used, consideration of the remix depends on recognition of pre-existing cultural codes. Therefore, as a second layer, the remix relies on the authority of the original and it functions at the meta-level. The audience may see a trace of history with the pre-existing object and the meaning creates in the viewer(s), reader(s), listener(s) or, in the contemporary world of DJs and popular electronic dance music culture - in dancer(s). With the aim of specifying modes of creating…

Type 2 diabetes family histories, body composition and fasting glucose levels: A cross-section analysis in healthy sedentary male and female

2013

Background: Diabetes type 2 is a world wide spread disease with a multifactorial pathogenetic evolution. Various factors like obesity, physical inactivity and poor lifestyle habits contribute to its development. The aim of this study was to verify if in young healthy sedentary male and female there is positive correlation between family history to type 2 diabetes and an increase in body weight and fat mass, or alterations in basal glycemia values. Methods: Totally183 male and 237 female healthy sedentary subjects were analysed in 2012, in Italy. They were divided in three groups: FH+ with first degree family history, FH++ with second degree family history and FH− with no family history. Ant…