TOF-PET detector concept based on organic scintillators

In this contribution we present a new concept of the large acceptance detector systems based on organic scintillators which may allow for simultaneous diagnostic of large fraction of the human body. Novelty of the concept lies in employing large blocks of polymer scintillators instead of crystals as detectors of annihilation quanta, and in using predominantly the timing of signals instead of their amplitudes

Strip- PET : a novel detector concept for the TOF-PET scanner

We briefly present a design of a new PET scanner based on strips of polymer scintillators arranged in a barrel constituting a large acceptance detector. The solution proposed is based on the superior timing properties of the polymer scintillators. The position and time of the reaction of the gamma quanta in the detector material will be determined based on the time of arrival of light signals to the edges of the scintillator strips

Exploration and production of oil and gas in Poland – beginning of the end?

W 2022 roku odbędą się dwie rundy przetargów międzynarodowych na koncesje na poszukiwanie i rozpoznawanie złóż węglowodorów oraz wydobywanie węglowodorów ze złóż w Polsce. Ich organizatorem jest Minister Klimatu i Środowiska. Przedmiotem przetargów będzie 8 obszarów zlokalizowanych na Niżu Polskim (Gorzów Wielkopolski S, Gryfice, Kartuzy, Siedlce W, Cybinka–Torzym, Zielona Góra Zachód, Koło i Blok 208) oraz 1 obszar położony w Karpatach (Blok 413–414). Przedsiębiorcy mogą ubiegać się o koncesje węglowodorowe również w sposób ciągły – w ramach przetargu inwestorskiego (open door). W dobie transformacji energetycznej Unii Europejskiej – stopniowym odchodzeniu od paliw kopalnych jako podstawowych źródeł energii – najbliższe lata stanowią ostatnią szansę na podjęcie działalności w zakresie poszukiwania i rozpoznawania oraz efektywnego i opłacalnego zagospodarowania złóż ropy naftowej i gazu ziemnego w Polsce.Two tender rounds for hydrocarbon concessions in Poland are planned in 2022. The Polish Minister of Climate and Environment, as the concession authority on the territory of Poland, indicated 9 areas dedicated to these tenders. Eight of them are located in the Polish Lowland (Gorzów Wielkopolski S, Gryfice, Kartuzy, Siedlce W, Cybinka–Torzym, Zielona Góra Zachód, Koło, and Block 208), and one is located within the Outer Carpathians (Block 413–414). Moreover, the entities can also choose the area and apply for a concession by submitting an application to the Ministry according to the continuous open door policy. According to the European Union energy transition, fossil fuels are being gradually eliminated as primary energy resources: it seems that next few years are the last chance for investments and effective oil and gas exploration and production in Poland

Possibility of vehicle identification basing on electronic components data

Niniejszy artykuł dotyczy podstawowych zagadnień związanych z możliwością identyfikacji pojazdów na podstawie informacji zawartych w układach elektronicznych montowanych w pojazdach. Autorzy niniejszego opracowania starali się przybliżyć czytelnikom Problemów Kryminalistyki tematykę dotyczącą układów pamięci i ich rodzajów wykorzystywanych w podzespołach elektronicznych, w których producenci mogą zapisywać informacje pozwalające na identyfikację pojazdu np. nr VIN. W artykule przedstawiano kilka przykładów ilustrujących możliwości odczytania danych różnymi metodami przy użyciu różnych programów. Autorzy artykułu chcieli zwrócić uwagę na to, że współczesna identyfikacja pojazdów to również właściwa interpretacja i analiza danych zapisanych w postaci elektronicznej, które mogą znajdować się w licznych podzespołach oraz elementach elektronicznych wyposażenia.Main task of this article there are issues about possibility to identification vehicles based on information in electronic devices of the vehicles. Authors of the article would like to make more closer for readers Problemów Kryminalistyki main informations about microchips and their types used in cars equipment. Authors wrote only about this microchips in which could be some information about VIN. Moreover in article is shown way of examples how to read datas from electronic devices which could be used to identify vehicles VIN. Today to identify the vehicle very useful are datas and their interpretation coming from microchips and ability to use relevant software have said the authors

Risk of Developing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Severe COVID-19 Survivors, their Families and Frontline Healthcare Workers: What Should Mental Health Specialists Prepare For?

Given the high coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality, this disease may be a life-threatening event, especially for individuals at high risk of complications. Therefore, in the article we try to answer two questions that are relevant to public mental health: Can we define groups who are at higher risk of developing pandemic-related PTSD? How can health specialists prepare for it? Given the results of previous research on PTSD in epidemic (e.g. SARS) survivors, we suggest that mental health professionals in countries touched by the pandemic should prepare for an increase in the PTSD prevalence, specifically in: individuals who have had severe COVID-19; family members of these patients and of patients who have died; and frontline healthcare workers witnessing COVID-19 patients' sudden deaths, or numerous life-threatening situations. We postulate that these groups at risk should be routinely screened for PTSD in primary medical and pediatric care. Mental health services should prepare for providing therapeutic interventions for individuals with PTSD in the vulnerable groups, and support to their families, especially children

New Opportunities for Oil and Gas Exploration in Poland—A Review

Reserves totaling ~142 BCM (5 TCF) of natural gas trapped in 306 fields and ~22 MTOE (~157 MMBOE) of crude oil in 87 fields have been discovered. The prospection, exploration, and production of hydrocarbons are licensed: an entity interested in these kinds of activities needs to have concession, which is granted by the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment for 10 to 30 years according to one of two independent ways—international tender or open door procedure. In this review, the most prospective areas for oil and gas exploration in Poland, selected by the Polish Geological Survey, and announced as dedicated for the next 6th tender round, planned in the second half of 2022, are described. These are: Block 413–414, Block 208, Cybinka–Torzym, Zielona Góra West, and Koło areas. The main exploration target of these tender areas is related to conventional and unconventional accumulations of gas and oil in the Carpathian basement, Carpathian Foredeep, and Outer Carpathians (Block 413–414), as well as in the Carboniferous, Permian Rotliegend, Zechstein Main Dolomite (Block 208, Cybinka–Torzym, Zielona Góra West), and in the Mesozoic of the Polish Lowlands (Koło). The second way of granting concession in Poland is the so-called open door procedure, in which an entity may apply for a concession for any other area selected on its own

Prospection and exploration of oil and gas fields in Poland : 6th tender round

On June 30, 2021 the Polish Minister of Climate and Environment announced the boundaries of five areas dedicated for the next, 6th tender round for hydrocarbon concessions in Poland, planned for the second half of 2022. These are: Block 413-414, Block 208, Cybinka-Torzym, Zielona Góra West, and Koto tender areas. The main exploration target of these areas is related to conventional and unconventional accumulations of gas and oil in the Carpathian basement, Carpathian Foredeep and Outer Carpathians (Block 413-414), as well as in the Carboniferous, Permian Rotliegend, Zechstein Limestone, and Main Dolomite (Block 208, Cybinka-Torzym, Zielona Góra West) and in the Mesozoic of the Polish Lowlands (Koto). The other way of granting hydrocarbon concessions in Poland is the open door procedure, in which an entity may apply for concessions for any other area

Report on the activities of the PKiM and PFN in period 2021–2022

The Polish Fireball Network (PFN), has been undergoing continuous development. Since then, several large grants have been obtained, which were at least partly used for modernization purposes. In recent years, two more grants have been obtained, which allowed for the expansion and modification of the existing PFN infrastructure. In 2021, the PFN76 Kozienice was modernized, but also the PFN14 Zielona Góra station was reactivated and the new PFN77 Suhora station was launched in 2022. Thanks to these improvements, the tracking of meteoroids entering the Earth Atmosphere above Poland became more accurate, which facilitates the search for meteorites and increases the chances of finding new fresh meteorites in Poland. On the night of May 10, 2021, PFN stations registered an exceptionally slow bolide. The phenomenon named PF100521 Wykrot appeared over central Poland in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship at 21:32 UT and calculations showed that some meteorites may have fallen. This phenomenon was used to conduct a series of analyzes to show how observational uncertainties affect the final results. Two variants of the results are presented in this work

Generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms in various age groups during the COVID-19 lockdown. Specific predictors and differences in symptoms severity

Background. Previous studies carried out in different countries indicated that young adults experience higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms than older age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about which epidemic-related difficulties and factors may contribute to these forms of emotional distress in various age groups. Purpose. The aim of the current study was to investigate: (i) differences in levels of depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms, as well as perceived difficulties related to pandemic across four age groups in the Polish population; (ii) which factors and difficulties related to pandemic are predictors of generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms in various age groups during the COVID-19 lockdown. Method. A total of 1115 participants (aged 18-85) took part in the study. The group was a representative sample of the Polish population in terms of sex, age, and place of residence. Participants completed online: The Patient Health Questionnaire-9, The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Scale of Perceived Health and Life Risk of COVID-19, Social Support Sale, Scale of Epidemic-Related Difficulties. Results. Younger age groups (18-29 and 30-44) experienced higher levels of depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms than older adults (45-59 and 60-85 years). Difficulties in relationships and at home were amongst the strongest predictors of depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms in all age groups. Fear and uncertainty related to the spread of the virus were one of the most important predictors of emotional distress in all the groups apart from the adults between 18-29 years, whereas difficulties related to external restrictions were one of the most significant predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms only in the youngest group. Conclusions. Our results indicate that the youngest adults and those experiencing difficulties in relationships among household members were the most vulnerable to depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown. Thus, it is important to plan preventive and therapeutic interventions to support these at-risk individuals in dealing with the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Factors associated with prolonged COVID-related PTSD-like symptoms among adults diagnosed with mild COVID-19 in Poland

COVID-19 has been considered a possible cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or similar conditions. However, what specific disease symptoms may contribute most to prolonged PTSD-like symptoms in COVID-19 survivors is unclear. The study aimed to present the factor structure of COVID-19 symptoms and identify which symptoms of COVID-19 best explain the subsequent presence of PTSD-like symptoms in mild COVID-19 survivors. COVID-positive adults (n = 341) completed online self-report scales at the baseline assessment (T1) and after approximately 4 months (T2), including The Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety-Depression Scale; The Scale of Psychosocial Experience Related to COVID-19, The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5; and self-designed questionnaires evaluating the severity of COVID-related medical and neurocognitive symptoms and pre-pandemic variables. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five factors of COVID-19 symptoms: flu-like, respiratory, cold, neurological, and neurocognitive. Hierarchical logistic regression showed that besides selected control variables (anxiety and depression, presence of PTSD-like symptoms, COVID-related stigma in T1), neurocognitive symptoms of COVID-19 in T1 but not other symptoms of the disease were a significant predictor of the presence of PTSD-like symptom in T2. Findings suggest a need for a comprehensive neurocognitive assessment of people diagnosed with COVID-19 and prompt interventions targeting the prevention of potential risks for long-term PTSD-like states at the community level