Objective determination of northeast monsoon onset dates over coastal Tamil Nadu for the period 1901-90

The onset dates of northeast monsoon over coastal Tamil Nadu have been determined by adopting an objective method for the years 1901-90. The various statistical parameters associated with onset dates have been computed and interpreted. Relation between onset dates of easterlies and northeast monsoon over Tamil Nadu has been examined. The normal date obtained has been shown to be by and large consistent with the characteristics of normal daily rainfall of coastal Tamil Nadu. The superposed epoch method has been, used to compute the mean rainfall with reference to onset date and the abrupt increase in rainfall at onset has been clearly brought out The spatial distribution and intensity of rainfall at the time of onset have also been discussed. Daily rainfall has been graphically presented for some years with spectacular onset as well as for some years with subdued onset.

Supply Chains, COVID-19 and the GATT Security Exception: Legal Limits of ‘Pandemic Exceptionalism’

The increasingly fraught relationship between trade and security has manifested through expanding conceptions of security to include notions of economic self-sufficiency. Some suggest that this trend will be accelerated by COVID-19 to permanently enshrine exceptionalism in trade (‘pandemic exceptionalism’), arguably enabling invocations of the security exception to justify potentially protectionist measures where it is considered, by an invoking WTO Member, as necessary to protect its ‘essential security interests’. This article explores the security implications of the pandemic’s disruption of international supply chains and growing calls to ‘reshore’ production in order to examine whether COVID-19 could enable an indefinite expansion of the security exception under Article XXI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. The analysis contrasts the subjective and objective elements of Article XXI(b)(iii) to highlight the role of judicial settlement and objective determination in imposing legal limits on ‘pandemic exceptionalism’.

Improvement of the planning method of the sortation system

Objective: Determination of the minimum time spent by a transit car with processing at the marshalling yard, identification of the optimal car flow in order to optimize the loading of the station’s technical devices. Methods: The description of interoperational downtime is carried out by the theory of queuing, simulation modeling is used to recreate technological processes at the marshalling yard. Results: As a result of the analysis of the average time spent by the car at the station, a model of the marshalling yard was built, taking into account the monthly irregularity of the flow of the processed flow. Practical importance: With the help of the obtained data, it is possible to improve the long-term planning of the work of the sortation system, to determine the optimal load of the station’s technical means. By changing the station’s constant parameters (the number of tracks) and variables (the number of maintenance crews, the number of shunting locomotives), it is possible to respond flexibly to the required development of the car traffic made by the station.

MANAGEMENT OF SPINAL GUNSHOT WOUND INJURIES

ABSTRACT Objectives Elaborate a care protocol for spinal gunshot wounds (GSWs), based on the experience of more than fifteen years of treating this type of injury. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the electronic medical record data of a tertiary hospital related to the treatment of spinal GSWs between January 2002 and January 2018. Results The management proposed was applied to 700 patients. Epidemiological data collected describes the population served. Conclusions An easy-to-use treatment flowchart was developed that, according to factors related to the neurological condition, projectile location, lesion stability and additional criteria, allows the objective determination of the best treatment option for each case. Level of evidence II; Retrospective Study.

Modern view in diagnosis of uremic pseudoperitonitis and peritonitis in patients on renal replacement therapy (programmed hemodialysis)

Objective. Determination of blood serum 2-microglobulin and lactoferrin concentration in patients on renal replacement therapy (programmed hemodialysis) for the diagnosis of uremic pseudoperitonitis and peritonitis. Materials and methods. We examined 56 patients admitted to the Surgical Department of Astrakhan Clinical Hospital RZhD-Medicine and City Clinical Hospital № 3, and studied the concentration of blood serum 2-microglobulin and lactoferrin in patients urgently hospitalized with suspicion of uremic pseudoperitonitis or peritonitis, who receive renal replacement therapy (programmed hemodialysis). The control group included 50 outpatients on renal replacement therapy (programmed hemodialysis). The study did not include patients with suspected peritonitis who did not receive renal replacement therapy (programmed hemodialysis). The period of the study is 20192021. Results. The concentration of serum 2-microglobulin is statistically higher than normal in all patients receiving renal replacement therapy (programmed hemodialysis) in anamnesis. The most statistically high concentration of 2-microglobulin was detected in patients with uremic pseudoperitonitis (n = 39), and was 30000 6680 ng/ml compared with the concentration in the blood serum among patients with peritonitis 6000 519.9 ng/ml. The concentration of lactoferrin is statistically high in peritonitis (n = 17) and was 3480 439 ng/ml compared with uremic pseudoperitonitis 1160 148 ng/ml. In the control group of outpatients (n = 50), who received renal replacement therapy (programmed hemodialysis), no statistically significant concentrations of blood serum 2-microglobulin and lactoferrin were detected. Conclusions. A clear dependence of 2-microglobulin and lactoferrin concentrations on the severity of uremic pseudoperitonitis and peritonitis was established. Statistically high values of 2-microglobulin concentration were obtained in patients with uremic pseudoperitonitis, and the level of lactoferrin was statistically high in peritonitis.

Co-existence of NDM-1 and OXA-48 genes in Carbapenem Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt

Background: The noteworthy spread of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CR-KP) isolates represents a significant safety threat. Objective: Determination of the carbapenemase genes incidence among CR-KP clinical isolates in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. Methods: A total of 230 K. pneumoniae isolates were recovered from four hospitals in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. Susceptibility testing was conducted using Kirby-Bauer method and automated-Vitek2 system. CR-KP isolates were tested using modified Hodge test (MHT) and combined disk synergy test. PCR and DNA sequencing were conducted for CR-KP isolates to rec- ognize the included carbapenemase-genes. Results: Out of 230 K. pneumoniae isolates, 50 isolates presented resistance to carbapenem (meropenem). All 50 CR-KP iso- lates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Genes like blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-48 were the only detected genes among CR-KP with an incidence of 70.0% and 52.0%, respectively. Up to 74.0% of the tested isolates carried at least one of the two record- ed genes, among them 48.0% co-harbored both blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-48 genes. The accession-numbers of sequenced blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-48 genes were MG594615 and MG594616, respectively. Conclusion: This study reported a high incidence of MDR profile with the emergence of blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-48 genes co-existence in CR-KP isolates in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. Hence, more restrictions should be applied against the spread of such serious pathogens. Keywords: Klebsiella pneumoniae; Egypt; carbapenem resistance; MDR; PCR; blaNDM-1; blaOXA-48; sequencing.

Parameterization of Pilot Point Methodology for Supplementing Sparse Transmissivity Data

Pilot point methodology (PPM) permits estimation of transmissivity at unsampled pilot points by solving the hydraulic head based inverse problem. Especially relevant to areas with sparse transmissivity data, the methodology supplements the limited field data. Presented herein is an approach for estimating parameters of PPM honoring the objectives of refinement of the transmissivity (T) interpolation and the model calibration. The parameters are the locations and number of pilot transmissivity points. The location parameter is estimated by defining a qualifying matrix Q comprising weighted sum of the hydraulic head-sensitivity and the kriging variance fields. Whereas the former component of Q promotes the model calibration, the latter one leads to improved T interpolation by locating pilot points in un-sampled tracts. Further, a three-stage methodology is proposed for an objective determination of the number of pilot points. It is based upon sequential upgradation of the Variogram as the pilot points are added to the data base, ensuring its convergence with the head-based optimal Variogram. The model has been illustrated by applying it to Satluj-Beas interbasin wherein the pumping test data is not only sparse, but also unevenly distributed.

Students in times of pandemic: Employment, living conditions, and health. Case studies from Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus

The article draws attention to the importance of gainful employment of students. The pandemic has largely limited such opportunities. Study objective: Determination of the scope in which students recognise limitation, its consequences for their plans regarding continuation of university education, life priorities and health self-assessment. The online survey involved the participation of a total of 380 students from Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus. Results: Demonstrated loss of employment, worsening of material situation, declared changes in plans of continuation of university education. Moreover, the respondents assessed their state of health as worse due to the occurrence or intensification of psychosomatic symptoms

Bias

Bias is an attitude of mind which prevents the judge from making an objective determination of the issues that he has to resolve. A judge may be biased because he has reason to prefer one outcome of the case to another. He may be biased...