Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic disease characterized by a progressive decline in lung function due to airflow limitation, mainly related to IL-1β-induced inflammation. We have hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in NLRP genes, coding for key regulators of IL-1β, are associated with pathogenesis and clinical phenotypes of COPD. We recruited 704 COPD individuals and 1238 healthy controls for this study. Twenty non-synonymous SNPs in 10 different NLRP genes were genotyped. Genetic associations were estimated using logistic regression, adjusting for age, gender, and smoking history. The impact of genotypes on patients’ overall survival was analyzed with the Kaplan–Meier method with the log-rank test. Serum IL-1β concentration was determined by high sensitivity assay and expression analysis was done by RT-PCR. Decreased lung function, measured by a forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1% predicted), was significantly associated with the minor allele genotypes (AT + TT) of NLRP1 rs12150220 (p = 0.0002). The same rs12150220 genotypes exhibited a higher level of serum IL-1β compared to the AA genotype (p = 0.027) in COPD patients. NLRP8 rs306481 minor allele genotypes (AG + AA) were more common in the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) definition of group A (p = 0.0083). Polymorphisms in NLRP1 (rs12150220; OR = 0.55, p = 0.03) and NLRP4 (rs12462372; OR = 0.36, p = 0.03) were only nominally associated with COPD risk. In conclusion, coding polymorphisms in NLRP1 rs12150220 show an association with COPD disease severity, indicating that the fine-tuning of the NLRP1 inflammasome could be important in maintaining lung tissue integrity and treating the chronic inflammation of airways.

The application of the concept of software-defined networks (SDN) has, on the one hand, led to the simplification and reduction of switches price, and on the other hand, has created a significant number of problems related to the security of the SDN network. In several studies was noted that these problems are related to the lack of flexibility and programmability of the data plane, which is likely first to suffer potential denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. One possible way to overcome this problem is to increase the flexibility of the data plane by increasing the depth of programmability of the packet-switching nodes below the level of flow table management. Therefore, this paper investigates the opportunity of using the architecture of deeply programmable packet-switching nodes (DPPSN) in the implementation of a firewall. Then, an architectural model of the firewall based on a hybrid FPGA/CPU data plane architecture has been proposed and implemented. Realized firewall supports three models of DoS attacks mitigation: DoS traffic filtering on the output interface, DoS traffic filtering on the input interface, and DoS attack redirection to the honeypot. Experimental evaluation of the implemented firewall has shown that DoS traffic filtering at the input interface is the best strategy for DoS attack mitigation, which justified the application of the concept of deep network programmability.

Creating school timetables is a problem whose complexity varies depending on school size and the requirements that occur in a model. The topic of this paper is related to schools that lack resources because they work in shifts and they are rarely discussed in literature. The first problem is the way the requirements are written. The paper deals with the XHSTT format and REDOSPLAT, a domain-specific language designed to set up timetable requirements. Another problem is the way a model is solved. We investigated the VNS and SVNS algorithms because they showed good results for this type of school. Their application on the actual test cases also revealed some interesting phenomena in formulating the requirements that can significantly affect the quality of the solution.

Infrastructure of a distribution systems is facing major challenges with deregulated power system. Reactive power compensation can reduce energy losses in system, improve voltage profile and release feeder capacity. Installation of capacitors in distribution network is ensuring more efficient systems, but also provides economic benefit to utility and users. Vital task for capacitor implementation is to determine the best locations and size of capacitors. Hence, capacitor placement has an important role in distribution system planning. In this paper, using the professional software tool DigSILENT Power Factory, optimal capacitor placement is analysed in real low voltage distribution network. Results and analysis show that by optimal capacitor placement annual losses and adequate size for installed capacitors can be calculated. The capacitor placement problem consists of objective function which is composed of power losses and capacitor installation costs subject to bus voltage constraints. Optimization placement calculation is compared to installation of four capacitors in given case study distribution grid. Simulation results show that with appropriate software techniques optimal capacitor placement can be achieved in distribution grid.

Abstract We studied numerically the heat transfer in flow over a rotationally oscillating cylinder at a subcritical Reynolds number ( R e = 1.4 × 10 5 ) that is an order of magnitude higher than previously reported in the literature. This paper is a follow-up of the earlier study of hydrodynamics and drag force in a range of forcing frequencies and amplitudes (Palkin et al., 2018). This time we focus on heat transfer and its correlation with the observed flow field and vortical patterns. Four forcing frequencies f = f e / f 0 = 0 , 1 , 2.5 , 4 for two forcing amplitudes Ω = Ω e D / 2 U ∞ = 1 and 2 are considered, where f0 is the natural vortex-shedding frequency, U∞ the free-stream velocity and D the cylinder diameter. The parametric study was performed by solving three-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations closed by a wall-integrated second-moment (Re-stress) model, verified earlier by Large-eddy simulations and experiments in several reference cases including flows over a stagnant, as well as rotary oscillating cylinders at the same Re number. The thermal field, treated as a passive scalar, was obtained from the simultaneous solution of the energy equation, closed by the standard (GGDH) anisotropic eddy-diffusivity model. The computations showed that for the unforced cylinder heat transfer is characterized by very high local rates due to a strong thinning of the thermal boundary layer as a result of the impact and interactions of large coherent structures with the wall. The overall average Nusselt number does not change much for the forced cylinder but its time-averaged, phase-averaged and instantaneous circumferential profiles show some profound differences compared to the stationary cylinder. The distribution of Nu on the back surface becomes more uniform with less frequent occurrence of high values, especially for the higher frequencies f = 2.5 and f = 4 . This is attributed to diminishing of the mean-recirculation zone as well as to the overall suppression of turbulent fluctuations. The rotary oscillation of the cylinder appears potentially efficient in achieving a more uniform circumferential distribution of Nu and avoiding local overheats and hot spots.

A DNA marker-based study in European plum was performed within the project “Identification of a representative set of Prunus domestica accessions of European origin, well documented and characterized, to be included into the AEGIS system (PRUNDOC)”. A total of 46 local plum accessions from 10 European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia and Sweden) were analysed using SSR loci. In addition, seven reference cultivars (Bistrica, Hanita, Mirabelle de Nancy, Reine Claude Violette, Stanley, Valor and Victoria) were analysed for standardization of allele sizes. The following nine primers were used; PacA33 is an EST-SSR developed in apricot, BPPCT039, BPPCT007, BPPCT014, BPPCT034, BPPCT040, UDP96 and UDP98 were developed from genomic peach DNA while CPSCT026 was developed from genomic DNA of Japanese plum Prunus salicina. None of the 46 investigated local plum accessions were identical, nor were any of them identical to any of the 7 reference cultivars. Genetic similarity among accessions was examined using Jaccard's similarity coefficients. The obtained dendrogram showed that the plum accessions did not group in a pattern corresponding to their country of origin.

Abstract The nuclear receptor chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter–transcription factor type II (COUP-TFII)/NR2F2 is expressed in adult Leydig cells, and conditional deletion of the Coup-tfii/Nr2f2 gene impedes their differentiation. Steroid production is also reduced in COUP-TFII–depleted Leydig cells, supporting an additional role in steroidogenesis for this transcription factor. COUP-TFII action in Leydig cells remains to be fully characterized. In the present work, we report that COUP-TFII is an essential regulator of the gene encoding the anti-Müllerian hormone receptor type 2 (Amhr2), which participates in Leydig cell differentiation and steroidogenesis. We found that Amhr2 mRNA levels are reduced in COUP-TFII–depleted MA-10 Leydig cells. Consistent with this, COUP-TFII directly activates a −1486 bp fragment of the mouse Amhr2 promoter in transient transfection assays. The COUP-TFII responsive region was localized between −67 and −34 bp. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay confirmed COUP-TFII recruitment to the proximal Amhr2 promoter whereas DNA precipitation assay revealed that COUP-TFII associates with the −67/−34 bp region in vitro. Even though the −67/−34 bp region contains an imperfect nuclear receptor element, COUP-TFII–mediated activation of the Amhr2 promoter requires a GC-rich sequence at −39 bp known to bind the specificity protein (SP)1 transcription factor. COUP-TFII transcriptionally cooperates with SP1 on the Amhr2 promoter. Mutations that altered the GCGGGGCGG sequence at −39 bp abolished COUP-TFII–mediated activation, COUP-TFII/SP1 cooperation, and reduced COUP-TFII binding to the proximal Amhr2 promoter. Our data provide a better understanding of the mechanism of COUP-TFII action in Leydig cells through the identification and regulation of the Amhr2 promoter as a novel target.

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1Eurofarm Centar Medical Clinic, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 3General Hospital Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina KeYWORdS: heart failure, statin therapy, outcome. citAtiON: Cardiol Croat. 2019;14(9-10):222. | https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2019.222 *AddReSS fOR cORReSpONdeNce: Amina Godinjak, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. / Phone: +38761187010 / Email: aminagodinjak@gmail.com ORcid: Amina Godinjak, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3697-8006 • Miralem Dešević, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8760-6192 Amer Iglica, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4677-8489 • Adis Kukuljac, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4900-5094

PURPOSE To explore the experience of preoperative communication of nurse anesthetists (NAs) in brief meetings with patients in an orthopaedic setting. DESIGN Qualitative research. METHODS Three group interviews based on experiences of 18 NAs were conducted. Content data analysis was used. FINDINGS The brief communication was characterized by both difficulties and opportunities. Protecting the patient's integrity, informing worried patients, lack of routines, language difficulties, being present at the meeting, protecting the patient from disturbance, and encouraging the patient to participate were stated as the main challenges in the brief meeting with patients. The NAs also gave some suggestions for improvement. CONCLUSIONS The Preoperative meetings need to be developed and structured to improve communication. A way to assess the results of this conversation should be developed. Other recommendations include finding a way to improve patient involvement in this dialogue and development of skills of NAs to enhance the meeting for patients.