ONE- AND TWO-STAGE IMPLICIT INTERVAL METHODS OF RUNGE-KUTTA TYPE

The paper presents one- and two-stage implicit interval methods of Runge-Kutta type. It is shown that the exact solution of the initial value problem belongs to interval-solutions obtained by both kinds of these methods. Moreover, some approximations of the widths of interval-solutions are given.Pozna

The use of temperature-humidity index (thi) to evaluate temperature-humidity conditions in freestall barns

The objective of this study was to evaluate temperature/humidity conditions in freestall barns with different types of gravity ventilation and to determine the risk of heat stress in cows based on the temperature-humidity index. The study was carried out during summer months (June/July) in two free-stall barns located in north-eastern Poland. The buildings for the study were selected based on the natural ventilation and animal housing systems used. One building was equipped with supply ducts mounted over windows and a roof ridge gap, and the other had flat roof exhaust ducts and side curtain. It was found from this study that the barn having flat roof exhaust ducts and air supply from side curtain was characterized by more favourable temperature/humidity conditions and presented a lower risk of heat stress to cows compared to the barn with roof ridge and air inlets. It was also found that cows in the barn with side curtain had comfortable conditions and those in the roof ridge barn were exposed to mild and moderate stress

Leptin increases thromboxane A2 formation in the rat

Chronic hyperleptinemia may contribute to various complications of obesity including atherosclerosis, however, the underlying mechanisms are incompletely clear. We examined the effect of leptin on platelet activity by measuring stable metabolites of thromboxane A2 (TXA2), TXB2, 11-dehydro-TXB2 and 2,3-dinor-TXB2, in plasma and urine. In vitro, leptin stimulated TXB2 formation by platelet-rich plasma (PRP). In vivo, leptin (1 mg/kg ip.) increased urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-TXB2 and 2,3-dinor-TXB2. Urinary excretion of these metabolites was also elevated in rats made hyperleptinemic by administration of recombinant leptin (0.5 mg/kg/day) for 8 days. The stimulatory effect of leptin on TXB2 formation in PRP isolated from hyperleptinemic animals was impaired in comparison to the control group. In rats made obese, hyperleptinemic and hyperinsulinemic/insulin resistant by cafeteria diet administered for 3 months, acute stimulatory effect of leptin on TXB2 formation by PRP was not impaired. In rats made insulin resistant by fructose feeding for 8 weeks, stimulatory effect of leptin on TXB2 formation in PRP was augmented in comparison to the control group. Insulin sensitizer, rosiglitazone, decreased insulin level and attenuated the stimulatory effect of leptin on TXB2 formation in obese and fructose-fed animals. In contrast, rosiglitazone had no effect on insulin level or leptin-induced TXB2 formation in control rats and rats receiving recombinant leptin for 8 days. These results indicate that: (i) leptin stimulates platelet TXA2 formation both in vitro and in vivo, (ii) chronic hyperleptinemia impairs acute stimulatory effect of leptin on platelet activity if insulin sensitivity is normal, (iii) insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia augments the stimulatory effect of leptin on TXA2 formation, which results in normal platelet sensitivity to leptin in obesity associated with both hyperleptinemia and hyperinsulinemia, and (iv) PPAR-γ agonists such as rosiglitazone decrease platelet sensitivity to leptin by reducing insulin resistance.Adipobiology 2009; 1: 77-85

Wpływ ondansetronu na parametry hemodynamiczne matki podczas znieczulenia podpajęczynówkowego do cięcia cesarskiego – badanie randomizowane, przeprowadzone metodą podwójnie ślepej próby

Objective: verification of a hypothesis assuming that 5-HT3 receptor blockade by intravenous administration of ondansetron reduces the incidence of hypotension and bradycardia in patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section. Material and methods: The study design was approved by the Bioethics Committee and included 72 patients undergoing elective Caesarean section, randomly assigned to ondansetron group (group O) or placebo group (group P). Finally, group O encompassed 35 patients administered ondansetron 8 mg i.v. dissolved in 10ml 0.9% NaCl whereas group P consisted of 34 patients receiving 0.9% NaCl 10 mg. Systolic and diastolic pressures were measured every 2 minutes since the onset of anaesthesia. Heart rate (HR) was monitored continuously. The criterion of hypotension requiring ephedrine was a decrease in systolic pressure by 20% compared to its baseline value or a decrease in systolic pressure below 90 mm Hg. The criterion of bradycardia was a decrease in HR below 60/min. Results: Hypotension was observed in 14 group O patients (39%) and in 15 group P patients (44%); the difference was not statistically significant. Bradycardia was noted in 1 group O patient (3%) and in 2 group P patients (6%); the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: A hypothesis assuming a reduction in pressure following subarachnoid anaesthesia for Caesarean section after the administration of 8 mg of ondansetron was not confirmed.Cel pracy: weryfikacja hipotezy zakładającej, że blokada receptorów 5-HT3 poprzez dożylne podanie ondansetronu redukuje częstość występowania hipotensji i bradykardii u pacjentek znieczulanych podpajęczynówkowo do cięcia cesarskiego. Materiał i metodyka: Plan badań uzyskał zgodę komisji bioetycznej. Do badania zakwalifikowano 72 pacjentki poddawane planowemu cięciu cesarskiemu, losowo przydzielając je do grupy ondansetronu (grupa O) lub grupy placebo (grupa P). Ostatecznie grupa O liczyła 36 pacjentek, którym przed znieczuleniem podano dożylnie 8 mg ondansetronu rozcieńczonego w 10 ml 0,9% NaCl, grupa P liczyła 34 pacjentki, które otrzymały 10 ml 0,9% NaCl. Pomiaru skurczowego i rozkurczowego ciśnienia tętniczego krwi dokonywano co 2 minuty od momentu znieczulenia. Częstość akcji serca (HR) monitorowana była w sposób ciągły. Za kryterium hipotensji wymagającej podania efedryny przyjęto spadek ciśnienia skurczowego o 20% w porównaniu z ciśnieniem wyjściowym lub spadek ciśnienia skurczowego poniżej 90 mm Hg. Za kryterium bradykardii przyjęto spadek akcji serca poniżej 60/min. Wyniki: Hipotensję zanotowano u 14 pacjentek w grupie O (39%) i u 15 pacjentek w grupie P (44%) co nie stanowiło statystycznie istotnej różnicy. Bradykardię zanotowano u 1 pacjentki w grupie O (3%) i u 2 pacjentek w grupie P (6%) co nie stanowiło statystycznie istotnej różnicy. Wnioski: Nie potwierdzono przyjętej hipotezy zakładającej redukcję spadku ciśnienia po znieczuleniu podpajęczynówkowym do cięcia cesarskiego po podaniu 8 mg Ondansetronu

BUDOWA TOMOGRAFU ULTRADŹWIĘKOWEGO DO ANALIZY PROCESÓW TECHNOLOGICZNYCH W ZAKRESIE FAL ODBITYCH I TRANSMISYJNYCH

This article presents the ultrasonic structure for the analysis of technological processes in the field of reflective and transmission waves. Ultrasound tomography enables the analysis of processes occurring in the examined object without interfering with its interior through appropriate acquisition and analysis of data. The design goal is to verify the repeatability of measurement results by eliminating laboratory equipment. The ultrasonic tomograph has been designed in a modular way and consists of a motherboard connected to an analog signal conditioning board, a liquid crystal display with an integrated graphics processor and a high voltage pulser with a 64 channel multiplexer. The solution was designed for tomographic measurements of technological process properties.W niniejszym artykule przedstawiono konstrukcję tomografu ultradźwiękowego do analizy procesów technologicznych w zakresie fal odbitych i transmisyjnych. Tomografia ultradźwiękowa umożliwia analizowanie procesów zachodzących w badanym obiekcie bez ingerencji w jego wnętrze poprzez odpowiednią akwizycję i analizę danych. Celem konstrukcyjnym jest weryfikacja powtarzalności wyników badań pomiarowych poprzez wyeliminowanie sprzętu laboratoryjnego. Tomograf ultradźwiękowy został zaprojektowany w sposób modułowy i składa się z płyty głównej połączonej z płytą kondycjonowania sygnału analogowego,  wyświetlacza ciekłokrystalicznego ze zintegrowanym procesorem graficznym oraz impulsatora wysokiego napięcia wraz z 64 kanałowym multiplekserem. Urządzenie zostało zaprojektowane do tomograficznych pomiarów właściwości procesów technologicznych

The last millennium climate change in Northern Poland derived from well temperature profiles, tree-rings and instrumental data

In order to reconstruct the air temperature variations in Northern Poland for the last millennium observational and proxy (tree-ring widths) data were used. For the first time the ground surface temperature (GST) for Northern Poland was reconstructed based on geothermal data (well temperature profiles). A general warming trend is observed for both the GSTH (GST Histories) derived from geothermal data and instrumental data, in particular, for the last 200 years

Leptin concentrations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome before and after met-formin treatment depending on insulin resistance, body mass index and androgen con-centrations--introductory report.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinological and metabolic disorder which may concern about 3-8% of women. Some PCOS women have the increased leptin concentration in blood serum. Leptin concentration is higher in patients with high body mass index (BMI) and impaired tissue sensitivity to insulin. The aim of this study was to determine leptin concentrations in PCOS patients before and after metformin treatment depending on BMI, insulin resistance calculated on the basis of the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index, as well as concentrations of androgens: testosterone and androstendion. Such values as BMI, insulin resistance according to the HOMA index, and concentrations of androstendion, testosterone and leptin were determined in 35 patients with PCOS before and after 3-month metformin treatment administered in daily doses of 2 x 850 mg. Increased leptin levels before the therapy were observed in 91.3% (21 out of 23) of obese patients, in 75% (9 out of 12) non-obese patients, in 100% (8 patients) insulin resistance women, in 81.5% (22 out of 27) insulin sensitive patients, in 94.7% (18 out of 19) women with elevated androstendion concentration and in 75% (12 out of 16) with normal androstendion concentration, in 93.7% (15 out of 16) patients with increased testosterone concentration and in 78.9% (15 out of 19) patients with testosterone concentrations within the normal range. After treatment statistically significant decrease in leptin concentration was obtained in the patients with BM

The Hildebrand Solubility Parameters of Ionic Liquids—Part 2

The Hildebrand solubility parameters have been calculated for eight ionic liquids. Retention data from the inverse gas chromatography measurements of the activity coefficients at infinite dilution were used for the calculation. From the solubility parameters, the enthalpies of vaporization of ionic liquids were estimated. Results are compared with solubility parameters estimated by different methods

Badania polarne Katedry Meteorologii i Klimatologii UMK w Toruniu

W artykule przedstawiono historię badań polarnych prowadzonych w latach 1968-2015 przez pracowników Katedry Meteorologii i Klimatologii Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu. Omówiono i scharakteryzowano problematykę badawczą dominującą w opublikowanych w Polsce i za granicą artykułach i monografiach. Wskazano na główne obszary badawcze położone w Arktyce i Antarktyce dla których powstało najwięcej opracowań z zakresu meteorologii i klimatologii. Szczegółowo przedstawiono historię badań terenowych oraz ich rezultaty

Intelligent sensor platform with open architecture for monitoring and control of Industry 4.0 systems

PURPOSE: The work covers the development of intelligent sensors, as well as intelligent mechanisms for the assembly and control of industrial processes using modern measurement techniques, process tomography, vision systems, motion and temperature sensors.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Tomographic techniques and new analytical algorithms were used. Special algorithms have been developed to combine data from different types of measurements in real time to identify potential hazards or undesirable effects.FINDINGS: The use of various types of data in a single decision-making process, starting with the availability of resources, availability of staff and ending with the maintenance schedules of machines, will allow for the analysis and optimisation of the process. The use of the socalled uncertain data and data that do not have an unambiguous impact on the production process requires the use of solutions based on artificial intelligence algorithms in the decision-making process, which are able to draw conclusions relatively quickly based on such data, and then quickly affect the optimisation of the production process. The results of the conducted research indicate that a platform with an open architecture can be a useful tool in the control and steering of industrial processes.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: A measurement module that allows to unify the signal coming out of particular measurement sub-assemblies to a coherent form, thanks to which the acquisition, storage and processing of any quantity can be carried out in a similar way for each case.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The novelty and innovation of the system is a unique technological solution (types of measurements and data processing), new algorithms for optimisation, reconstruction and data analysis, a unique multi-module device based on tomographic technologies. The project as a whole as well as each of its components is innovative on a global scale. The use of tomography for analysis, control and monitoring of technological processes is an innovative solution.peer-reviewe