Diversifying Emotional Experience by Layered Interfaces in Affective Interactive Installations

This paper aims to improve users’ experience in affective interactive installations through the diversification of interfaces. With logically organized hierarchical experience, diverse interfaces with emotion data as inputs enhance users’ emotional interaction to be more natural and immersive. By using facial affect detection technology, an installation with diverse input interfaces was tested with an organic formal setting. Mechanical flowers and support structure based on the organic form were deployed as its physical output for a multitude of sensorial dimensions. With actions of the mechanical flowers, such as blooming, closing, rotating, glowing and blinking, a layered experiential sequence was created and the atmosphere of the installation was evaluated to be more engaging. In this way, the layered complexity of information was transferred to users’ immersive emotional experience. We believe that the practices in this work can contribute to deeper emotional engagement with users and add new layers of emotional interactivity.

In vitro biosynthesis of organic selenium by Lactobacillus casei from inorganic selenium forms

The bioconversion of selenium in the form of sodium selenite (Na2 SeO3 ) (SeIV) or sodium selenate (Na2 SeO4 ) (SeVI) to organic form by Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) was investigated in vitro. MRS media was supplemented with 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 ppm of Se, inoculated with 2% starter culture with about 105 cfu/ ml of L. casei and then incubated up to 24 hrs at 37o C. Increasing of selenite “Se(IV)” concentrations in the media markedly reduced the bacterial growth compared to selenate “Se(VI)” indicating cytotoxic effect of selenite. The media supplemented with 5 ppm or more of Se(IV) became reddish after 24 hr of incubation as a result of the formation of 100-200 nanometer particles of selenium (SeNPs). Se speciation of the cultured media supernatants and its corresponding cell fractions was carried out by HPLC-ICP-MS technique. The bioconversion rate of Se to organic form by L. casei was extremely higher in Se(IV) than Se(VI) in both fractions, however the media supernatant contained the highest content. Increasing the media Se content resulted in gradual increase of organic Se concentration in both cells and supernatant fractions. The medium supplemented with 1 ppm Se(IV) was completely depleted from the inorganic Se as it completely converted to organic form. Although the cell fractions from all Se(VI) supplemented media contained only organic Se, the media supernatant contained significant residual amount of the inorganic form. Our results demonstrate the ability of L. casei to convert Se(IV) or Se(VI) up to 20 ppm to organic form(s) either in the cultured media or inside the bacterial cells. However, Se(IV) but not Se(VI), at a limit concentration of 1 ppm, was completely converted and accumulated in an organic form in the cell fraction and the cultured medium.

Insufficiency of the anal sphinter in women

Aim. To analyze and assess the clinical course and changes under instrumental-functional examination (MRI) in the muscles of the obturator apparatus of the rectum in women with anal sphincter insufficiency (ASI).Material and methods. Clinical and instrumental research methods, as well as modern scales for assessing ASI (Wexner score scale), were used in the current study.Results and discussion. The study showed that 110 out of 228 patients with anal sphincter deficiency showed only an organic form of ASI, and 118 (51.8%) had a mixed form (organic and functional). This study shows that the degree of postpartum perineal rupture depends on the factors producing the damage to the pelvic floor muscles.Conclusion. Analysis of the clinical course of ASI in women showed that gender-related factors in 51.8% of cases contributed to the development of a mixed form of the disease. Functional research methods showed that along with the external and internal sphincters of the rectum, the pubo-rectal muscle is damaged in patients with ASI, which should be taken into account when choosing a treatment strategy for the mixed form of ASI.

Mercury Export From Freshwater to Estuary: Carbocentric Science Elucidates the Fate of a Toxic Compound in Aquatic Boreal Environments

The chemistry of mercury in freshwater systems, particularly man-made reservoirs, has received a great deal of attention owing to the high toxicity of the most common organic form, methylmercury. Although methylmercury bioaccumulation in reservoirs and natural lakes has been extensively studied at all latitudes, the fate of the different forms of mercury (total vs. dissolved; organic vs. inorganic) along the entire river-estuary continuum is less well documented. In fact, the difficulty of integrating the numerous parameters involved in mercury speciation in such large study areas, combined with the technical difficulties in sampling and analyzing mercury, have undoubtedly hindered advances in the field. At the same time, carbocentric science has grown exponentially in the last 25 years, and the common fate of carbon and mercury in freshwater has become increasingly clear with time. This literature review, by presenting the knowledge acquired in these two fields, aims to better understand the extent of mercury export from boreal inland waters to estuaries and to investigate the possible downstream ecotoxicological impact of reservoir creation on mercury bioavailability to estuarine food webs and local communities.

Mercury content in the hair of residents of Babushkinsky district, Vologda region, Russia

Mercury is a highly toxic metal for all living organisms. Even low doses of the organic form of mercury can cause disruption in some functions of the human body. The content of mercury in the hair of residents (n=71) of Babushkinsky district, Vologda region, Russia was determined. Babushkinsky district is located away from industrial sources of mercury. Mercury concentrations were determined using a mercury analyzer RA-915M. The average mercury content in the hair of residents of Babushkinsky district, Vologda region was 0.398 mg/kg. 8% of the study participants had mercury levels in their hair above 1 mg/kg. There were no differences in the content of mercury in the hair between males (0.540 mg/kg) and females (0.344 mg/kg). The differences were established depending on age: under 30 years old (0.208 mg/kg), over 30 years (0.582 mg/kg). There is also a correlation between mercury in the hair and age. People who eat fish several times a week have twice as much mercury (0.538 mg/kg) as people who eat fish less than once a month (0.262 mg/kg).

Suplementasi Mineral Cu dan Zn dalam Pakan terhadap Organ Dalam dan Lemak Abdomen Ayam Broiler

This experiment was design to evaluate the effects of supplementation of Zn and Cu in inorganic or organic form on broiler’s percentage of giblets and abdominal fat of 35-day-old broiler chickens. The experiment used a completely randomized design with two treatments, 17 replicates and 32 birds per pen (816 female and 272 male). The treatments based on the type of mineral i.e. inorganic (T1) and organic (T2). The types of mineral did not affected the weight and percentage of weight of bursa fabricius, lymph, heart, bile gland, kidney, and abdominal fat. The types of mineral did not affected the weight of thymus, liver, proventriculus, pancreas, and gizzard, but were affected their percentage of weight (p<0.05). The types of mineral were affected the length and percentage of weight of duodenum, jejunum,and ileum (p<0.05) . The types of mineral were affected the length of secca, but did not affected its percentage of weight (p<0.05). The types of mineral did not affected the length of colon, but were affected its percentage of weight (p<0.05). The supplementation of mineral Cu and Zn in organic form has better absorption of nutrient and positive effect to health of chickens in stress due to heat stress. Key words: broiler, copper, inorganik mineral, organik mineral, zinc

Organic zinc and vitamin E supplementation for broiler chickens under natural heat stress conditions

The objective was to evaluate the supplementation of organic zinc and vitamin E, isolated or in association, in the diet of broiler chickens from 22 to 42 days of age, under natural conditions of heat stress, on the productive performance, carcass, noble cuts, and abdominal fat yield. A group of 720 birds was housed at 22 days of age, distributed in random blocks with a 2x3 factorial design, with two levels of zinc in the organic form (0.0 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg), associated with three levels of vitamin E in the form of DL-α-tocopherol acetate (0.0 mg/kg; 300 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg), with six replicates, and 20 birds per box. In natural conditions of heat stress, the association of organic zinc and vitamin E in the diet of broilers from 22 to 42 days of age did not affect the productive performance, carcass, noble cuts, and abdominal fat yield. In an isolated way, the supplementation of vitamin E improved the productive performance in from 22 to 33 days of age. Moreover, in the period of 22 to 42 days of age, the level of 312.5mg/kg of vitamin E provided better creative viability.

Selenium: An Essential Micronutrient for Sustainable Dairy Cows Production

This review article discusses the importance and effects of Selenium (Se) in sustainable dairy cows’ production. The Se is an important micronutrient in dairy cows. It is one of the important feed derived antioxidants. It participates in important enzymes and enzyme reactions to improve metabolism, growth, and the defense system of the body, which results in the improved health of animals, particularly that of the mammary gland and reproductive system, thereby improving productive and reproductive performance. The Se is usually deficient in soil due to current extensive farming strategies, so its supplementation is generally advised. Supplementation of Se in organic form is generally preferred over inorganic form due to its better incorporation and uptake, resulting in improved performance. Kidneys, liver, testis, and lungs are important sites for Se storage. The Se is excreted in urine, feces, exhaled breath, loss of skin, and hair cells. Although Se supplementation plays an important role in the profitability of dairy cows, its excess intake is toxic and should be avoided.