How Parents Perceive the Potential Risk of a Child-Dog Interaction.

Dog attacks on children are a widespread problem, which can occur when parents fail to realise a potentially dangerous interaction between a dog and a child. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of parents to identify dangerous situations from several everyday child-dog interactions and to determine whether the participants connected these situations to a particular breed of dog. Five sets of photographs depicting potentially dangerous interactions from everyday situations between children and three dogs (one of each breed) were presented via an online survey to parents of children no more than 6 years old.

Gas-sensing behaviour of ZnO/diamond nanostructures.

Microstructured single- and double-layered sensor devices based on p-type hydrogen-terminated nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films and/or n-type ZnO nanorods (NRs) have been obtained via a facile microwave-plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition process or a hydrothermal growth procedure. The morphology and crystal structure of the synthesized materials was analysed with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction measurements and Raman spectroscopy. The gas sensing properties of the sensors based on i) NCD films, ii) ZnO nanorods, and iii) hybrid ZnO NRs/NCD structures were evaluated with respect to oxidizing (i.

Towards the design of an optimal strategy for the production of ergosterol from Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts.

The total yield of ergosterol produced by the fermentation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae depends on the final amount of yeast biomass and the ergosterol content in the cells. At the same time ergosterol purity-defined as percentage of ergosterol in the total sterols in the yeast-is equally important for efficient downstream processing. This study investigated the development of both the ergosterol content and ergosterol purity in different physiological (metabolic) states of the microorganism S.

Portal vein embolisation with application of haematopoietic stem cells in patients with primarily or non-resectable colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Insufficient future liver remnant volume (FLRV) is the main cause of low resectability of liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CLMs). One option for enhancing FLVR growth is the use of portal vein embolisation (PVE) with the application of autologous haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

Patients And Methods: PVE with the application of HSCs was used in 11 patients (group 1) with primarily non-resectable CLMs due to insufficient FLRV without signs of extrahepatic metastases.

[Simultaneous procedure in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and renal carcinoma].

Introduction: Renal carcinoma (RC) is present in 0.1-3% of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). There are several options for surgical solution as regards the type and timing of the procedure.

Methodology of evaluating the influence of the resistance of contact regions in the measurements of sheet resistance on stripes of ultrathin high-resistance materials.

The paper reviews the problems of measurement of sheet resistance of ultrathin high-resistance layers of organic semiconductors and the essential underlying problems. Particular attention is paid to potential influence of the resistance of contact regions on the results of direct measurement of sheet resistance of stripe-shaped layers. In this connection, we present a methodology of double length stripe resistance measurement (DLSRM), used above all to minimise the influence of contact regions on the measurement results.

Degradation of polyesteramides during composting under standard and isothermal conditions.

Polyesteramides based on epsilon-caprolactam and epsilon-caprolactone differing in the content of ester-amide structural units were subjected to biodegradation - composting in a big compost pile under controlled conditions (controlled composting) and in small composters at a steady temperature of 60 degrees C (isothermal composting). Both types of composting resulted in degradation of the polyesteramides depending on copolymer composition, isothermal composting being more robust. The contribution of abiotic hydrolysis to the degradation of polyesteramides was studied at 60 degrees C in buffer solutions with pH 5.

Biodegradation of synthetic polymers by composting and fungal treatment.

Two types of copolymers--poly(ester-amide)s--by the anionic copolymerization of epsilon-caprolactam and epsilon-caprolactone, and aromatic-aliphatic copolyesters based on glycolyzed polyethylene terephthalate from used beverage bottles and epsilon-caprolactone were prepared. Biodegradation tests of these copolymers were performed by two methods, viz. composting under controlled conditions and treatment with ligninolytic fungi.

On-line estimation of biomass concentration using a neural network and information about metabolic state.

This paper deals with the design of a neural network-based biomass concentration estimation system. This system is enhanced by the incorporation of information about the actual metabolism of the microorganism cultivated, which is taken from an on-line knowledge-based system. Two different design approaches have been investigated using the fed-batch cultivation of baker's yeast as the model process.

Famciclovir for the treatment of acute herpes zoster: effects on acute disease and postherpetic neuralgia. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Collaborative Famciclovir Herpes Zoster Study Group.

Objective: To document the effects of treatment with famciclovir on the acute signs and symptoms of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia.

Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

Setting: 36 centers in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: assessment, diagnosis, and management.

Children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) frequently present to family physicians for evaluation and treatment. Recently, revised criteria for diagnosis of this condition were presented in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is often difficult to differentiate from other disruptive behavior syndromes, such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder.