Quantum criticality in Ce2PdIn8: thermoelectric study

We report the Nernst effect (v) and thermoelectric power (S) data for the Ce2PdIn8 heavy-fermion compound. Both S and v behave anomalously at low temperatures: the thermopower shows a Kondo-like maximum at T = 37 K, while the Nernst coefficient becomes greatly enhanced and field dependent below T ~ 30 K. In the zero-T limit S/T and v/T diverge logarithmically, what is related to occurrence of the quantum critical point (QCP). Presented results suggest that the antiferromagnetic spin-density-wave scenario may be applicable to QCP in Ce2PdIn8.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Fermiology and electronic homogeneity of the superconducting overdoped cuprate Tl-2201 revealed by quantum oscillations

We report an angular quantum oscillation study of Tl_2Ba_2CuO_{6+delta} for two different doping levels (Tc = 10K and 26 K) and determine the Fermi surface size and topology in considerable detail. Our results show that Fermi liquid behavior is not confined to the edge of the superconducting dome and is robust up to at least T_c^{max}/3.5. Superconductivity is found to survive up to a larger doping p_c = 0.31 than in La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4. Our data imply that electronic inhomogeneity does not play a significant role in the loss of superconductivity and superfluid density in overdoped cuprates, and point towards a purely magnetic or electronic pairing mechanismComment: 4 page

Arabic language skin-related stigmatization instruments: Translation and validation process

Contains fulltext : 205447.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Skin diseases are frequently the reason for social rejection. Therefore, the assessment of stigmatization level in patients suffering from dermatoses plays a crucial role in providing proper health service. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to create and validate Arabic language versions of stigmatization instruments - the 6-item Stigmatization Scale and the Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Development of the Arabic language versions was done with international standards of forward-back translations. The validation was performed on 39 psoriatic individuals. The group included 11 females and 28 males. The subjects were asked to fill out both questionnaires: the 6-item Stigmatization Scale and the Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire (Arabic language versions) at the time of examination and 7 days after enrollment for reassessment to evaluate test-retest reliability. During the first visit the patients additionally filled out an already existing Arabic version of Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), which was used as a reference questionnaire. RESULTS: The results concerning the integrity of instruments were very good, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for both scales was 0.89. The reproducibility level assessed with interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) stood at 0.91 for the 6-item Stigmatization Scale and 0.92 for the Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire. There was a strong correlation between total score of the 6-item Stigmatization Scale and DLQI. Significant negative moderate correlation was documented between the Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire and DLQI. Moreover, both stigmatization instruments correlated significantly with each other. CONCLUSIONS: The developed Arabic language versions of the abovementioned stigmatization instruments can be successfully used in daily clinical practice as well as in clinical research

Utjecaj tehnoloških uvjeta zavarivanja nehrđajućih čelika na emisiju zavarivačkih prašina

Welding of stainless steel is very popular, which consequently is the reason for growing concern for the working environment at welding stations. Chromium is the basic alloying element of all groups of stainless steels. Majority of those steel grades contains nickel. Compositions of the elements occurring in welding fume have a probable or confirmed carcinogenic effect. The article shows the results of research of the relations between selected groups of stainless steels as well as technology parameters of arc welding processes and the welding fume emission, total chromium, chromium (VI) and nickiel contents in the fume.Velika popularnost ovih materijala jedan je od razloga da povezano sa zavarivanjem stanje radnog mjesta budi veliko zanimanje. U nehrđajućim čelicima svih grupa, osnovni sastojak je krom. Većina ovih čelika sadržava također nikal. Spojevi ovih elemenata koji se nalaze u zavarivačkoj prašini, ubrajaiju se u tvari s opravdanim ili vjerojatnim kancerogenim djelovanjem. U ovom članku prikazani su rezultati ispitivanja odnosa između izabranih grupa nehrđajućeg čelika, tehnoloških parametra lučnog zavarivanja i veličine emisije prašine, sadržaja potpunog kroma, kroma (VI) i nikla u prašini

Venture Capital and Business Angels and the Creation of Innovative Firms in Poland

The article also points out that conditions fostering further development of the described types of entrepreneurship and innovation financing and a dynamic environment generating innovative capacity should be created.W artykule zasygnalizowano również potrzebę kreowania uwarunkowań sprzyjających rozwojowi opisanych form finansowania przedsiębiorczości, innowacyjności i dynamicznego otoczenia generującego zdolności innowacyjne

Influence of carbon on intraband scattering in Mg(B1-xCx)2

We report data on the Hall coefficient (RH) of the carbon substituted Mg(B1-xCx)2 single crystals with x in the range from 0 to 0.1. The temperature dependences of RH obtained for the substituted crystals differ systematically at low temperatures, but all of them converge to the value of 1.8 x 10^-10 m^3/C at room temperature. The RH(T) data together with results of the thermoelectric power and electrical resistivity measurements are interpreted within a quasi-classical transport approach, where the presence of four different conducting sheets is considered. The main influence of the carbon substitution on the transport properties in the normal state is associated with enhanced scattering rates, rather than modified concentration of charge carriers. Presumably the carbon substitution increases the electron-impurity scattering mainly in the pi band.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figure

Evidence for a charge Kondo effect in Pb(1-x)Tl(x)Te from measurements of thermoelectric power

We report measurements of the thermoelectric power (TEP) for a series of Pb(1-x)Tl(x)Te crystals with x = 0.0 to 1.3%. Although the TEP is very large for x = 0.0, using a single band analysis based on older work for dilute magnetic alloys we do find evidence for a Kondo contribution of 11 - 18 uV/K. This analysis suggests that Tk is ~ 50 - 70 K, a factor 10 higher than previously thought.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

The effect of RORa expression on the development of biological malignancy of urinary bladder cancer

Background: Morbidity and mortality relating to urinary bladder cancer have remained largely unchanged for many years. Similarly, the five-year survival rate in this disease has not improved considerably. New developments in individualized therapy necessitate the search for novel factors that could predict the development of malignancy in UBC. In this study, we provide the first evidence that the expression of ROR alpha transcription factor influences the development of malignancy in UBC. Materials and methods: 105 patients with stage pT1-pT4 urothelial bladder carcinoma who underwent cystectomy were included in the study. 4 μm tissue samples were stained immunohistochemically with a polyclonal anti-RORa antibody. The expression of RORa by the tumor cells (TCs) was assessed by counting TCs with a cytoplasmic and/or nuclear staining for RORa per 1000 TCs. The association between the extent of RORa expression and non-classic differentiation, tumor advancement (pT), grade (G) and regional lymph node spread was analyzed. Results: The cytoplasmic expression of RORa was detected in near all analyzed tumor samples (104/105). The extent of RORa expression was significantly higher in tumors which were more malignant with more propensity for non-classic differentiation and lymph node metastasis. We noted a lower percentage of TCs expressing RORa in poorly differentiated tumors (G3), compared to tumors moderately and higher differentiated (G1/G2). Conclusions: Our results suggest that RORa may play a significant role in the progression of urinary bladder cancer. RORa has a broad spectrum of regulatory activity relating to cell and tissue differentiation the mechanism of which is not fully understood. This study represents another step in the process of understanding the mechanisms of RORa regulation and highlights its potential role as a therapeutic target in urothelial bladder cancer

Expression of PD-L1 in tumor and immune system cells affects the survival of patients with urinary bladder cancer

Background: The prediction of tumor malignancy is still one of the most demanding diagnostic tasksin urinary bladder cancer because of its clinicopathological heterogeneity. The aim of this study was toevaluate the expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells (TCs) and immune effector cells (IECs) as well as thepattern of distribution of PD-L1+ IECs within the tumor (dispersed or aggregated) and their associationwith survival of patients with pT1-pT4 urinary bladder cancer.Materials and methods: 110 patients with stage pT1-pT4 urothelial bladder carcinoma who underwentradical cystectomy/cystoprostatectomy between 2011 and 2014 were included in the study. Paraffin blocksmost representative of the tumor were selected for H&E staining as well as immunostaining with the useof rabbit anti-PD-L1 (Ventana clone SP142, Roche). In each sample, the area of the tumor containing PDL1+IECs, as well as, the pattern of distribution (dispersed or aggregated) of PD-L1+ immune effectorcells within the tumor were analyzed. In addition, the expression of PD-L1 in TCs was also assessed.Results: Patients had a shorter survival time in pT2-pT4 cases without TCs expressing PD-L1 (p = 0.007)and/or when PD-L1+ IECs displayed a predominantly dispersed pattern of distribution (p = 0.013).Conclusions: The expression of PD-L1 on TCs and IECs is a prognostic factor which allows for stratificationof patient survival in UBC. The predominance of dispersed or aggregated pattern of distribution ofPD-L1+ IECs in the tumor may be considered as a new prognostic factor in pT1-T4 UBC and indicate thefunctional status of the immune system