Effects of Constant Magnetic Field on Electrodeposition of Co-W-Cu Alloy

The paper presents a study of the effect of constant magnetic field (CMF) on the basic processes of Co-W-Cu alloys electrodeposition. The alloys electrodeposited in the presence of CMF were more homogeneous and smooth than those obtained without CMF. The reason for these changes was the fact that the Lorentz force, generated in CMF, caused the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect. Electrolyte motion under the influence of CMF caused an increase of cobalt and tungsten content with a simultaneous decrease of copper content in the alloy. The presence of the magnetic field during plating leads to significant greater corrosion resistance and smaller roughness

Heat balance of the human body in the urban area (on the example of Supraśl)

Wyniki badań wykonanych na podstawie danych z 28 czerwca 1994 r. użyto w celu przedstawienia wpływu klimatu miejskiego małego miasta Supraśl (północno-wschodnia Polska) na wymianę ciepła z ciałem człowieka. Rozważano strukturę bilansu cieplnego, jak również saldo wymiany ciepła.The results of field investigations carried out on 28 June 1994, were used for the presentation of the influence of urban climate of the small town Supraśl (north-eastern Poland) on heat exchange on the human body. The structure of the heat balance as well as net heat storage were taken into consideration

Wstęp

Jednymi z najistotniejszych elementów wykształcenia chemika są umiejętności prawidłowego wykonywania pomiarów i interpretacji uzyskanych wyników. Badania analityczne prowadzone są za pomocą nowoczesnych technik pomiarowych, które skracają czas analiz i dostarczają dużych ilości wyników. Metrologia i walidacja to wciąż rozwijające się dziedziny, łączące wiedzę z zakresu chemii analitycznej i fizycznej, matematyki oraz statystyki. Pozwalają one na weryfikację uzyskiwanych danych i umożliwiają porównywanie ich między laboratoriami. Obszerne zbiory danych pomiarowych są trudne do efektywnej interpretacji. Z pomocą przychodzi tu chemometria – nowa dziedzina wiedzy, która zajmuje się wydobywaniem użytecznych informacji z wielowymiarowych danych pomiarowych, bazując na metodach m.in. statystyki i matematyki. Skrypt skierowany jest głównie do studentów kierunków chemicznych i przyrodniczych, ale będzie przydatny również tym wszystkim, którzy w swoim życiu zawodowym wykonują pomiary chemiczne oraz zajmują się interpretacją uzyskanych wyników badań.Publikacja została przygotowana w ramach projektu „CHEMONIT Szkolenie podnoszące kompetencje studentów i absolwentów: Monitoring środowiska z wykorzystaniem nowoczesnych technik analitycznych i chemometrii” współfinansowanego ze środków funduszy norweskich i krajowych. (Nr umowy FSS/2014/HEI/W/0108)

Dendrimers as Drug Nanocarriers: The Future of Gene Therapy and Targeted Therapies in Cancer

Synthetic polymers, such as dendrimers, play a critical role in pharmaceutical discovery and development. Advances in the application of nanotechnology in medicine have given rise to multifunctional “smart” nanocarriers that can deliver one or more therapeutic agents safely and selectively to cancer cells, including intracellular gene-specific targeting. Dendrimers with their 3D nanopolymeric architectures are highly attractive class of drug and gene delivery vector. Advances in understanding and manipulating genes gave scientists a tool to make changes in people DNA to prevent or treat diseases. Over the past decade, gene therapy has been in use in clinical trials. The inactivation of the tumor suppressor genes is the main idea of the development of gene therapy in the cancer treatment. Broad spectrum of delivery concepts, including viral vectors, liposomes, cationic polymers and dendrimers, cell-penetrating peptides and gold and magnetic nanoparticles have been investigated. A well-designed vector is the most desirable approach to increase the safety of gene therapy, which is still in its infancy stages in cancer research. More experimental and clinical trials are focused on well-designed and effective doses of vectors that are essential for therapeutic efficacy of gene therapy for its potential in clinical use against a wide variety of cancers

Design and introduction of a quality of life assessment and practice support system: perspectives from palliative care settings

Background: Quality of life (QOL) assessment instruments, including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs), are increasingly promoted as a means of enabling clinicians to enhance person-centered care. However, integration of these instruments into palliative care clinical practice has been inconsistent. This study focused on the design of an electronic Quality of Life and Practice Support System (QPSS) prototype and its initial use in palliative inpatient and home care settings. Our objectives were to ascertain desired features of a QPSS prototype and the experiences of clinicians, patients, and family caregivers in regard to the initial introduction of a QPSS in palliative care, interpreting them in context. Methods: We applied an integrated knowledge translation approach in two stages by engaging a total of 71 clinicians, 18 patients, and 17 family caregivers in palliative inpatient and home care settings. Data for Stage I were collected via 12 focus groups with clinicians to ascertain desirable features of a QPSS. Stage II involved 5 focus groups and 24 interviews with clinicians and 35 interviews with patients or family caregivers during initial implementation of a QPSS. The focus groups and interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the qualitative methodology of interpretive description. Results: Desirable features focused on hardware (lightweight, durable, and easy to disinfect), software (simple, user-friendly interface, multi-linguistic, integration with e-health systems), and choice of assessment instruments that would facilitate a holistic assessment. Although patient and family caregiver participants were predominantly enthusiastic, clinicians expressed a mixture of enthusiasm, receptivity, and concern regarding the use of a QPSS. The analyses revealed important contextual considerations, including: (a) logistical, technical, and aesthetic considerations regarding the QPSS as a technology, (b) diversity in knowledge, skills, and attitudes of clinicians, patients, and family caregivers regarding the integration of electronic QOL assessments in care, and (c) the need to understand organizational context and priorities in using QOL assessment data. Conclusion: The process of designing and integrating a QPSS in palliative care for patients with life-limiting conditions and their family caregivers is complex and requires extensive consultation with clinicians, administrators, patients, and family caregivers to inform successful implementation

Surgical treatment and prognosis of adult patients with brainstem gliomas

The paper presents 47 adult patients who were surgically treated due to brainstem gliomas. Thirteen patients presented with contrast-enhancing Grades III and IV gliomas, according to the WHO classification, 13 patients with contrast-enhancing tumours originating from the glial cells (Grade I; WHO classification), 9 patients with diffuse gliomas, 5 patients with tectal brainstem gliomas and 7 patients with exophytic brainstem gliomas. During the surgical procedure, neuronavigation and the diffusion tensor tractography (DTI) of the corticospinal tract were used with the examination of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) with direct stimulation of the fundus of the fourth brain ventricle in order to define the localization of the nuclei of nerves VII, IX, X and XII. Cerebellar dysfunction, damage to cranial nerves and dysphagia were the most frequent postoperative sequelae which were also the most difficult to resolve. The Karnofsky score established preoperatively and the extent of tumour resection were the factors affecting the prognosis. The mean time of progression-free survival (14 months) and the mean survival time after surgery (20 months) were the shortest for malignant brainstem gliomas. In the group with tectal brainstem gliomas, no cases of progression were found and none of the patients died during the follow-up. Some patients were professionally active. Partial resection of diffuse brainstem gliomas did not prolong the mean survival above 5 years. However, some patients survived over 5 years in good condition

Common mitochondrial polymorphisms as risk factor for endometrial cancer

Endometrial carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed gynaecological cancer in developed countries. Although the molecular genetics of this disease has been in the focus of many research laboratories for the last 20 years, relevant prognostic and diagnostic markers are still missing. At the same time mitochondrial DNA mutations have been reported in many types of cancer during the last two decades. It is therefore very likely that the mitochondrial genotype is one of the cancer susceptibility factors. To investigate the presence of mtDNA somatic mutations and distribution of inherited polymorphisms in endometrial adenocarcinoma patients we analyzed the D-loop sequence of cancer samples and their corresponding normal tissues and moreover performed mitochondrial haplogroup analysis. We detected 2 somatic mutation and increased incidence of mtDNA polymorphisms, in particular 16223C (80% patients, p = 0.005), 16126C (23%, p = 0.025) and 207A (19%, p = 0.027). Subsequent statistical analysis revealed that endometrial carcinoma population haplogroup distribution differs from the Polish population and that haplogroup H (with its defining polymorphism - C7028T) is strongly underrepresented (p = 0.003), therefore might be a cancer-protective factor. Our report supports the notion that mtDNA polymorphisms establish a specific genetic background for endometrial adenocarcinoma development and that mtDNA analysis may result in the development of new molecular tool for cancer detection

Jak samorząd może wspierać szkoły? Informacje o nowym systemie wspomagania pracy szkół

Publikacja ma formę zwięzłego przekazu na temat, jak jednostki samorządu terytorialnego mają wspierać szkoły oraz jakie – w związku z tym – stoją przed nimi wyzwania. W publikacji zostały zamieszczone przykłady skutecznych rozwiązań. Publikacja powstała w ramach projektu „System doskonalenia nauczycieli oparty na ogólnodostępnym kompleksowym wspomaganiu szkół

The Participation of 3,3,3-Trichloro-1-nitroprop-1-ene in the [3+2] Cycloaddition Reaction with Selected Nitrile N-Oxides in the Light of the Experimental and MEDT Quantum Chemical Study

The regioselective zw-type [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of a series of aryl-substituted nitrile N-oxides (NOs) with trichloronitropropene (TNP) have been both experimentally and theoretically studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT). Zwitterionic NOs behave as moderate nucleophiles while TNP acts as a very strong electrophile in these polar 32CA reactions of forward electron density flux, which present moderate activation Gibbs free energies of 22.8-25.6 kcal·mol−1 and an exergonic character of 28.4 kcal·mol−1 that makes them irreversible and kinetically controlled. The most favorable reaction is that involving the most nucleophilic MeO-substituted NO. Despite Parr functions correctly predicting the experimental regioselectivity with the most favorable O-CCCl3 interaction, these reactions follow a two-stage one-step mechanism in which formation of the O-C(CCl3) bond takes place once the C-C(NO2) bond is already formed. The present MEDT concludes that the reactivity differences in the series of NOs come from their different nucleophilic activation and polar character of the reactions, rather than any mechanistic feature