Resistance of cyathostomins to benzimidazole (BZ) anthelmintics is widespread in horses in many parts of the world. This study compared three methods for the determination of benzimidazole resistance of Cyathostominae in 18 horses from a stud farm in Romania. The horses were treated with Fenbendazole. The resistance test was performed by FECRT, ERP and PCR. On Day 0, larvae of species belonging to the Cyathostominae subfamily, types A, B, C, D and Gyalocephalus, as well as Strongylus vulgaris species of the Strongylinae subfamily, were identified. At 42 days post treatment with fenbendazole only larvae of Cyathostominae, types A and D were identified. Resistance to Fenbendazole was found in one horse, using the FECRT and ERP tests. Both genetic resistance and susceptibility to BZ anthelmintics was observed in 13 samples (72.22%) using the PCR test. However, three samples (16.67%) showed only the BZ-susceptibility gene. In 2 samples, (11.11%) only the resistance gene to BZ anthelmintics was identified. Several inconsistencies in the evidence of resistance to benzimidazole were observed between the PCR test and the other two methods, which indicates that several methods for determining and controlling the resistance should be used in practice.

This study investigated the effect of adding Al–5Ti–1B grain refiner on the solidification microstructure and hot deformation behavior of direct-chill (DC) cast Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys. The grain refiner significantly decreased the grain size and modified the morphology. Fine-grained (FG) alloys with grain refiners exhibit coarse secondary phases with a reduced number density compared to coarse-grained (CG) alloys without grain refiners. Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) was enhanced at higher compression temperatures and lower strain rates in the CG and FG alloys. Both particle stimulated nucleation (PSN) and continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) are enhanced in the FG alloys, resulting in decreased peak stress values (indicating DRX onset) at 450°C. The peak stress of the FG alloys was higher at 300-400°C than that of the CG alloys because of grain refinement hardening over softening by enhanced DRX.

Experimental modal analysis of a violin with three different tensions of a bass bar has been performed. The bass bar tension is the only intentionally introduced modification of the instrument. The aim of the study was to find differences and similarities between top plate modal parameters determined by a bass bar perfectly fitting the shape of the top plate, the bass bar with a tension usually applied by luthiers (normal), and the tension higher than the normal value. In the modal analysis four signature modes are taken into account. Bass bar tension does not change the sequence of mode shapes. Changes in modal damping are insignificant. An increase in bass bar tension causes an increase in modal frequencies A0 and B(1+) and does not change the frequencies of modes CBR and B(1-).

This year the new international guidelines of WIST (The World Federation for Interventional Stroke Treatment) on the physician’s training in the interventional acute stroke treatment were published. WIST multispecialty guidelines outline competency and quality standards for physicians and centers to perform safe and effective endovascular stroke treatment with mechanical thrombectomy. The role of quality control and quality assurance is highlighted. WIST establishes an individualized approach to acquiring clinical knowledge and procedural skills to meet the competency requirements for certification of interventionalists of various disciplines and stroke centers in endovascular treatment. WIST guidelines encourage acquisition of skills using innovative training methods such as structured supervised high-fidelity simulation and procedural performance on human perfused cadaveric models. In Poland in 2018 a pilot program on mechanical thrombectomy was established, however endovascular acute stroke treatment is still underused due to limited patients access to stroke centers and too small number of operators.