Genetic Basis of Inherited Macular Dystrophies and Implications for Stem Cell Therapy

Untreatable hereditary macular dystrophy (HMD) presents a major burden to society in terms of the resulting patient disability and the cost to the healthcare provision system. HMD results in central vision loss in humans sufficiently severe for blind registration, and key issues in the development of therapeutic strategies to target these conditions are greater understanding of the causes of photoreceptor loss and the development of restorative procedures. More effective and precise analytical techniques coupled to the development of transgenic models of disease have led to a prolific growth in the identification and our understanding of the genetic mutations that underly HMD. Recent successes in driving differentiation of pluripotent cells towards specific somatic lineages have led to the development of more efficient protocols that can yield enriched populations of a desired phenotype. Retinal pigmented epithelial cells and photoreceptors derived from these are some of the most promising cells that may soon be used in the treatment of specific HMD, especially since rapid developments in the field of induced pluripotency have now set the stage for the production of patient-derived stem cells that overcome the ethical and methodological issues surrounding the use of embryonic derivatives. In this review we highlight a selection of HMD which appear suitable candidates for combinatorial restorative therapy, focusing specifically on where those photoreceptor loss occurs. This technology, along with increased genetic screening, opens up an entirely new pathway to restore vision in patients affected by HMD

Evaluation of knowledge level about first aid skills among police officers from one of headquarters of the Mazowieckie province.

Wstęp. Nie raz w codziennym naszym życiu, każdy może być wystawiony na ryzyko zdarzenia zagrażające naszemu zdrowiu. Bez względu na okoliczności i miejsce wypadku, umiejętność podstawowych czynności ratunkowych w znaczny sposób przyczyniają się do zwiększenia szansy na uratowanie zdrowia i życia poszkodowanego. Duża aktualność tej tematyki skłoniła mnie do podjęcia badań własnych, których celem była ocena poziomu wiedzy z zakresu kwalifikowanej pierwszej pomocy wśród policjantów przy uwzględnieniu wybranych parametrów takich jak: płeć, staż pracy, wiek, stopień służbowy, miejsce zatrudnienia (wydział) oraz wcześniejszej odbyte szkolenie w zakresie kwalifikowanej pierwszej pomocy. Materiał i metodyka. Prospektywnym badaniom poddano 50 policjantów (33 mężczyzn i 17 kobiet) w wieku od 18 do 45 lat jednej z Komend Rejonowych Policji w województwie mazowieckim. Do badania zbiorowości incydentalnej wykorzystano ankietę bezpośrednią. Ankieta składała się z metryczki oraz 15 pytań zamkniętych, jednokrotnego wyboru sprawdzających wiedzę z kwalifikowanej pierwszej pomocy. Wyniki i wnioski. W wyniku analizy materiału stwierdzono, że wyższą wiedzę z zakresu kwalifikowanej pierwszej pomocy prezentowały kobiety. Wśród mężczyzn najniższą punktację z przedziału 6-8 punktów uzyskało, aż 21,21%, podczas gdy wszystkie ankietowane kobiety przekroczyły granice 8 punktów. Maksymalną liczbę punktów uzyskały porównywalne grupy ankietowanych bez względu na płeć. W miarę wzrostu wieku badanych nieznacznie zmniejszała się poprawność rozwiązywania testu. Średnie ilości punktów uzyskane przez przedstawicieli trzech grup wiekowych są porównywalne. Wraz z wydłużaniem stażu pracy w przedziale 0-10 wrasta poprawność rozwiązywania testu badającego wiedzę z zakresu KPP, jednak powyżej tej granicy wieku zaczyna się obniżać. Istniała tendencja do wzrostu poprawności rozwiązań testu badającego wiedzę z zakresu KPP w miarę wzrostu stopnia służbowego. Jest ona utrzymana do poziomu młodszego oficera. Najwyższą średnią ilość punktów z testu uzyskali w kolejności: policjanci z wydziału kryminalnego – operacyjnego (zdobyli średnią ilość punktów 11,7), następnie policjanci z wydziału prewencyjnego (zdobyli średnią ilość punktów 11,6), później policjanci z wydziału kryminalnego – dochodzeniowo śledczego (zdobyli średnią ilość punktów 11,4). Najmniej poprawnie test rozwiązywali policjanci z wydziału logistycznego (zdobyli średnią ilość punktów 9,4. W grupie respondentów, którzy nie uczestniczyli wcześniej w żadnych kursach KPP nikt z badanych nie uzyskał najwyższej punktacji z przedziału 12-15 punktów, natomiast wśród policjantów, którzy byli przeszkoleni w zakresie KPP prawie 56% uzyskało najwyższą punktację z tego przedziału. Średnia ilość zdobytych punktów dla grupy nieszkolonej wynosiła, 9,4 pkt, natomiast dla grupy przeszkolonej - 12,2 pkt. Badani policjanci wykazali szczególnie wysoki poziom wiedzy z zakresu dotyczącego tematyki urazów.Introduction. In our daily life, every one of us may be exposed to health-threatening events. Regardless of the circumstances and the place of accident, basic life support skills extensively contribute to the increase in the chance of saving the victim’s life and protecting his or her well-being. Since this subject matter is very much around, the author decided to undertake scientific research, the purpose of which was to assess the level of knowledge on certified first aid among policemen. The study took into consideration the following parameters: sex, work experience, age, rank, department, and the history of certified first aid training.Materials and methods. 50 police officers (33 males and 17 females) between 18 and 45 years of age from one of regional headquarters of the Mazowieckie province were subjected to a prospective study. Direct survey was used to study incidental community. The survey consisted of a personal data sheet and 15 single-choice questions, which verified the knowledge in the certified first aid.Conclusions. Data analysis has shown that higher knowledge on certified first aid was exhibited by females. Among males, the lowest score of 6 to 8 points was obtained by 21.21 %, while every surveyed female exceeded the score of 8 points. The maximal amount of points obtained was comparable across both sexes. Along with the growth in the interviewees' age, a minuscule decline in correctness has been noted. Nevertheless, the average point scores obtained by the three age groups are comparable. Along with the growth in work experience in time interval of 0 to 10 years, a growth in certified first aid test solution correctness was observed. However, above this limit, a decline in correctness is observable. Along with the growth in the police rank, there was a tendency for growth in certified first aid test solution correctness. It is sustained on a similar level to the rank of junior officer. The ranking of the highest average scores is the following: criminal and operational department officers (with the average test score of 11.7), prevention department officers (with the average test score of 11.6), and investigation department officers (with the average test score of 11.4). The lowest test scores were obtained by policemen from logistical department (with the average of 9.4). In the group of respondents who had not participated in any certified first aid course before the study, no interviewee obtained the highest score of 12 to 15 points. Yet, among the policemen who had been trained in the certified first aid, almost 56% obtained the highest score from the above range. The average score for the group of policemen without certified first aid course was 9.4 points, but for the group who had taken the course, the average result amounted to 12.2 points. The surveyed policemen showed particularly high level of knowledge in the subject of injuries

The Phenomenom of Stress in Corporations

Celem pracy była próba oceny zjawiska stresu w środowisku korporacyjnym. W dobie stale powiększającej się liczby korporacji w Polsce i na świecie pracodawca powinien skupić się na zdrowiu i samopoczuciu swoich pracowników. W celu zbadania zjawiska stresu w korporacji zastosowano metodę sondażu diagnostycznego a dla potrzeb pracy została wybrana technika w formie ankiety. Badanie miało charakter ilościowy i zostało przeprowadzone na 102 osobach pełnoletnich i aktywnych zawodowo. Badania korzystały z modelu wypalenia zawodowego Ch. Maslach a analiza składała się z trzech części: charakterystyka ankietowanych oraz stresorów w miejscu pracy, skala ryzyka wypalenia zawodowego na podstawie MBI-GS oraz sposoby radzenia sobie ze stresem u ankietowanych. Przeprowadzone badanie zostało przeprowadzone w roku 2018 oraz 2019 przez studentów Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego na Wydziale Zarządzania i Komunikacji Społecznej. Analiza wyników badań potwierdziła postawioną tezę główną, iż wszyscy pracownicy korporacji odczuwają stres związany z pracą. Co czwarty pracownik ma natomiast problemy ze zdrowiem i samopoczuciem spowodowane stresem w pracy. Przeprowadzone badanie wykazało również, że kadra kierownicza jest narażona na większy stres w pracy niż kadra specjalistycznaThe aim of this master’s thesis was to assess the phenomenon of stress in a corporate environment. In the area of constantly growing number of corporations in Poland and in the world, the employer should focus on the health and well-being of his employees. In order to study the phenomenon of stress in a corporation the diagnostic survey method was used and a technique in the form of a survey was chosen for the needs of thesis. The study was quantitative and was conducted on 102 adults and professionally active people. The studies used the Ch. Maslach burnout model and analysis consisted of three parts: the characteristics of the respondents and stressors at work, the scale of the risk of burn-out on the basis of MBI-GS and ways of coping with stress by the respondents. The study was conducted in 2018 and 2019 by students of the Jagiellonian University at the Faculty of Management and Social Communication. Analysis of research results confirmed the main thesis that all corporate employees experience work-related stress. Every fourth employee has health and wellbeing problems due to stress at work. In addition the master’s thesis showed that management is exposed to greater stress at work than specialist staff

COMPUTER-ASSISTED MEASUREMENTS IN THE SERVO-DRIVES DIAGNOSTICS BASED ON THE FEEDBACK SIGNALS EVALUATION

Abstract: The paper concerns diagnostics of servo-drives. The proposed computer-assisted way of the feedback signals measurements can be applied as a simple and low cost solution useful for inspection and on-line monitoring of the servo-drives motional accuracy and also data collecting for later analysis. Despite the fact that the feedback devices installed in the servo-drives can be different the square wave signals are commonly used in position and commutation loops as their output signals. This kind of signals can be applied for quite simple in realisation digital measurements of both velocity and position increments. Lack of limitations in the distance and trajectory of the inspected movement as well as possibility to perform and repeat the tests on an operating machine without any interrupting its working process seem to be their valuable features. However, it is necessary to have at disposal quite simple but properly prepared equipment and right software instruments when a manufacturing machine with the servo-drives has to be inspected with different static and dynamic tests by this way. Key words: measurements, diagnostics of servo-drives, commissioning. 1 Demand The Servo-drives Diagnostics Automated drives are more and more important subsystem of the integrated automation used in the modern manufacturing systems. Numerous manufacturers of the drives are forced to improve their products in order to satisfy high requirements of the very competitive market. The requirements are placed on the motional accuracy, dynamics, communication possibilities and other electromechanical performances. On the other hand the list of requirements includes also non problematic and time saving planning, sizing, commissioning and diagnostics of the drives. Especially commissioning and effective diagnostics are a serious problem because a number of the adjustable parameters of a drive 39 p

The perspectives for the use of hydrogen for electricity storage considering the foreign experience

Over the last years, the European Union has seen a rapid increase in installed capacity of generating units based on renewable energy sources (RES). The most significant increase in installed capacity was recorded in 2015, in wind farms and solar PV installations. One of the most serious is the volatile character of RES on a time basis. Therefore, for a further expected increase in the use of RES and their effectiveness improvements, investments are needed allowing for electricity to be stored. One of the electricity storage options is to use excess electricity in order to produce hydrogen by electrolysis of water. Although this process plays a marginal role in obtaining hydrogen on a worldwide basis due to high costs, experience in recent years has shown that periodically low (negative) electricity prices, developing on the power exchanges in the situation where there is surplus electricity available, affect economic requirements for hydrogen production technologies. The paper shows activities undertaken by European countries (mainly Germany) aiming at making it possible for hydrogen to be stored in the natural gas grids. A particular attention is given to material resource issues and possible operational problems that might arise while blending natural gas with hydrogen into the grid. The experiences of selected European countries are of particular interest from the Polish perspective, having regard to significant increase of RES in electricity generation during the last few years and adopted objectives for the growing importance of RES in the Poland’s energy balance

The perspectives for the use of hydrogen for electricity storage considering the foreign experience

Over the last years, the European Union has seen a rapid increase in installed capacity of generating units based on renewable energy sources (RES). The most significant increase in installed capacity was recorded in 2015, in wind farms and solar PV installations. One of the most serious is the volatile character of RES on a time basis. Therefore, for a further expected increase in the use of RES and their effectiveness improvements, investments are needed allowing for electricity to be stored. One of the electricity storage options is to use excess electricity in order to produce hydrogen by electrolysis of water. Although this process plays a marginal role in obtaining hydrogen on a worldwide basis due to high costs, experience in recent years has shown that periodically low (negative) electricity prices, developing on the power exchanges in the situation where there is surplus electricity available, affect economic requirements for hydrogen production technologies. The paper shows activities undertaken by European countries (mainly Germany) aiming at making it possible for hydrogen to be stored in the natural gas grids. A particular attention is given to material resource issues and possible operational problems that might arise while blending natural gas with hydrogen into the grid. The experiences of selected European countries are of particular interest from the Polish perspective, having regard to significant increase of RES in electricity generation during the last few years and adopted objectives for the growing importance of RES in the Poland’s energy balance