Trace element parameterisation for slab fluid composition from K-free oceanic crust

The geodynamical conditions of subduction zones make this tectonic environment essential for global geochemical cycles and for the heterogeneity of the Earth’s mantle. A complex series of processes such as slab dehydration, melt/fluid percolation, sediment/mantle wedge melting and fractional crystallisation, is responsible for continental crust generation and the particular chemical signature of island arc basalts. Moreover, trace element signatures can be used as a proxy for the influence of each of these processes during the formation of island arc basalts. To quantify these signatures, it is necessary to use mineral–melt or mineral–fluid partition coefficients. While mineral–melt partition coefficients are well studied and used to identify different magmatic processes, slab–fluid interactions at different P-T-X conditions are poorly due to a lack of sufficient, integrated data on this subject. An extensive compilation of experimental partition coefficient (Dimin/fluid) data for trace elements between a range of relevant K-free minerals and aqueous fluids was compiled in order to parameterise the partition coefficients at different temperatures. Most mineral–fluid partition coefficients have a negative correlation with temperature, where fluids become more enriched at higher P-T conditions in the subduction zone. The exception to this is zoisite, for which most of the trace element partition coefficients increase with increasing temperature, meaning larger concentrations of trace element are retained in zoisite. The integration of partition coefficients in a combined geodynamical-thermodynamical subduction model allows prediction of the fluid trace element composition during mineral dehydration in a subduction process. This method was used to simulate the fluid composition resulting from K-free basaltic crustal dehydration in natural examples of a cold (Marianas) and a hot (Vanuatu) subduction zone. Generally, the fluids calculated in this work show enrichment in fluid-mobile (FM) elements and LILEs in comparison with REEs and HFSEs. Moreover, fluids released at shallow depth will be less enriched in trace elements in comparison with those released at greater depth. Comparison of Ba/Yb and Ba/Th ratios of the fluids calculated here with arc basalts from the two natural subduction zones show similarities, which illustrates that fluids with a similar composition as those calculated in this dissertation were likely involved in the origin of the primitive IAB from these examples

PRODUCTS CRITICAL FOR CONSUMER CHOICE FORMATION IN E-COMMERCE IN CONDITIONS OF GLOBAL ECONOMY

Background: Currently, an increasing number of goods are purchased using e-commerce technologies. The efficiency of distance selling is largely determined by the number of buyers who have visited the website of the online store. Thus, the task of converting site visitors into buyers appears relevant. Aim: The aim of the presented study was to determine the impact of the presence of a critical product on the behavior of an online store visitor. Results: The author shows that at present the growth of the turnover at an online store is based primarily on the number of orders rather than the average purchase amount. Conclusion: Based on the assumption that the buyer seeks to purchase all goods in one place, the author examines the significance of commodity items, which do not play an important role directly in the formation of turnover but contribute to solving the problem of increasing the conversion of visitors into buyers

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in lean individuals or another rare differential diagnosis - a clinical case

Въведение: Неалкохолната Мастна Чернодробна Болест (НАМЧБ) е значим обществен здравен проблем, засягаща  близо един милиард хора по цял свят. НАМЧБ е най-честата причина за чернодробно увреждане в световен мащаб и представлява чернодробна изява на метаболитния синдром. НАМЧБ е основно свързана със затлъстяването и свързаните му коморбидности, но също така би могло да се наблюдава и при индивиди с нормален или граничен BMI. Това е т.н. НАМЧБ „при слаби“ и представлява субфенотипна изява на Неалкохолната мастна чернодробна болест. Слабите индивиди с НАМЧБ показват по-леки признаци на Метаболитния синдром, сравнено с тези със затлъстяване, но са с по-висока честота на метаболитни промени, като дислипидемия, артериална хипертония, инсулинова резистентност и диабет сравнено със здрави контроли. Поставянето на диагнозата на НАМЧБ изисква изключване на вторични причини за чернодробна стеатоза, както и изключване на дневна алкохолна консумация ≥ 30 гр. абсолютен алкохол за мъже и ≥ 20 гр. абсолютен алкохол за жени.Клиничен случай: Представяме клиничен случай на мъж на 29 години, постъпил в клиниката с оглед диагностично уточняване във връзка с ехографски данни за изразена чернодробна стеатоза, съпроводена с лекостепенна хепатоспленомегалия. Липсват данни за известен Захарен диабет, ХБ или затлъстяване. Пациента е с наднормено тегло, но без затлъстяване: ръст 187 см, телесно тегло 108 кг, BMI – 30, коремна обиколка 111 см. От лабораторните изследвания нормална ПКК, CRP, нормални АСАТ, АЛАТ, АФ  и билирубин, леко повишен ГГТ, нормална синтетична чернодробна функция. Изследването на липидната обмяна показва повишени нива на LDL холестерол и ниско ниво на HDL холестерол. Проведен е лабораторен хепатологичен скрининг, при който са изключени – хронични вирусни хепатити, Болест на Уилсън и хемохроматоза, автоимунна чернодробна болест. Неинвазивните cкоровете за доказване наличие на стеатоза показаха високи стойности. NAFLD fibrosis score: -3,35 и FIB-4 index: 0,52, отхвърлят наличието на значима  фиброза. При ехографското изследване данни за изразена чернодробна стеатоза – 3 ст, горно-граничен размер на черния дроб и лекостепенна спленомегалия. Фиброскан еластографията показва нормална плътност на черния дроб – 4,8 кРа, при САР – 304 db/m, което доказва наличие на високостепенна стеатоза. Имайки предвид физикалните данни, категоричните резултати от неинвазивните скорове за стеатоза,  ехографското изследване, данните от фиброскан еластографията и след изключване на алкохолна консумация и на други по-чести причини за стеатоза се прие диагноза Неалкохолна мастна чернодробна болест при слаби.  Направи се и изследване на суха капка кръв  за лизозомални ензими, при което се изключи Болест на Гоше. Установи се ниско ниво на кисела сфингомиелиназа, което е индикация за Niemann Pick A/B болест, която представлява рядка наследствена автозомно-рецесивна болест засягаща липидния метаболизъм.Заключение: Клиничният случай представя пациент без затлъстяване, с категорични лабораторни, ехографски и фиброскан данни за Неалкохолна мастна чернодробна болест. В диференциално диагностичен план установихме данни за рядка наследствена болест – Болестта на Niemann Pick, протичаща с нарушение в обмяната на мазнините. Клиничният случай доказва широкия спектър от диференциални диагнози при слаби пациенти с НАМЧБ.abstractIntroduction:    Non-alcoholic    fatty    liver    disease    (NAFLD)  is  a  significant  health  problem  in  society  and it affects around a billion people on a global scale. NAFLD is the most common reason for liver damage worldwide and is considered the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome.. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is generally associated with obesity and the related comorbidities but it can also develop in subjects with a normal body mass index (BMI). This sub-phenotype of NAFLD is so-called “lean” NAFLD. Lean subjects with NAFLD have milder features of the metabolic syndrome when compared with obese patients. Nonetheless they have a higher prevalence of metabolic alterations (e.g.,dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, insulin resistance, and diabetes) compared with healthy controls. The diagnosis of NAFLD requires the exclusion of both secondary causes and of a daily alcohol consumption ≥ 30 g for men and ≥ 20 g for women.Clinical case: We present the clinical case of a 29-year-old man, who was admitted to the hospital because of diagnostic evaluation of ultrasound findings of severe liver steatosis accompanied with mild hepatosplenomegaly. No evidence of known Diabetes mellitus, Hypertensive disease or Obesity. The patient is overweight but without obesity: height – 187 sm., weight – 108 kg, BMI - 30, waist circumference – 111 sm. Laboratory examination revealed: normal blood count, normal level of CRP, AST, ALT, AF, total bilirubin, mild elevation of GGT and normal synthetic liver function tests. Lipid profile showed elevated level for LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol. Underlying chronic viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver diseases, Wilson's disease and Hemohromatosis were ruled out. Calculated non-invasive scores for steatosis were high. NAFLD fibrosis score: -3,35 and FIB-4 index: 0,52, ruled out presence of significant fibrosis. Abdominal ultrasound examination showed liver steatosis grade 3, upper limit of normal size, mild splenomegaly. Liver transient elastography (TE) with fibroscan revealed normal liver stiffness - 4,8 kPa and CAP – 304 db/m, that proved presence of severe steatosis. Based on physical examination data, definite results of non-invasive scores for steatosis, ultrasound examination and fibroscan elastography, and after excluding of alcohol consumption and other common causes for steatosis we established the diagnosis „lean“ Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We performed an examination for Lysosomal Enzymes from dried blood, that rule out classical Gaucher disease. Low activity of acid sphingomyelinase was found, which is indicative of Niemann Pick disease A/B – rare inherited autosomal recessive condition involving lipid metabolism.Conclusion: Clinical case represents a patient without obesity, with definite laboratory, ultrasound and fibroscan data for Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. As a differential diagnosis we found a rare inherited condition - Niemann Pick disease, characterized with impaired lipid metabolism. Our clinical case proves the broad spectrum of differential diagnosis of patients with NAFLD. Introduction:  Non-alcoholic  fatty  liver  disease  (NAFLD) is a socially significant health problem and it affects around a billion people on a global scale. NAFLD is the most common reason for liver damage worldwide and is considered the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is generally associated with obesity and the related comorbidities, but it can also develop in subjects with a normal body mass index (BMI). This sub-phenotype of NAFLD is called lean NAFLD. Lean subjects with NAFLD have milder features of the metabolic syndrome when compared with obese patients. Nonetheless, they have a higher prevalence of metabolic alterations (e.g., dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, insulin resistance, and diabetes) compared with healthy controls. The diagnosis of NAFLD requires the exclusion of both secondary causes and of a daily alcohol consumption ≥ 30 g for men and ≥ 20 g for women.Clinical Case: We present the clinical case of a 29-year-old man, who was admitted to the hospital because of diagnostic evaluation of ultrasound findings of severe liver steatosis accompanied with mild hepatosplenomegaly. There was no evidence of diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disease or obesity. The patient was overweight but without obesity: height – 187 cm., weight – 108 kg, BMI – 30, waist circumference – 111 cm. Laboratory examination revealed: normal blood count, normal level of CRP, AST, ALT, AF, total bilirubin, mild elevation of GGT and normal synthetic liver function tests. The lipid profile showed elevated level for LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol. Underlying chronic viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver diseases, Wilson's disease and hemochromatosis were ruled out. The calculated non-invasive scores for steatosis were high. The NAFLD fibrosis score: -3.35 and FIB-4 index: 0.52, ruled out presence of significant fibrosis. Abdominal ultrasound examination showed liver steatosis grade 3, upper limit of normal size, mild splenomegaly. Liver transient elastography (TE) with fibroscan revealed normal liver stiffness – 4.8 kPa and CAP – 304 db/m that proved the presence of severe steatosis. Based on physical examination data, definite results of non-invasive scores for steatosis, ultrasound examination and fibroscan elastography, and after excluding alcohol consumption and other common causes for steatosis, we established the diagnosis lean non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We performed an examination for lysosomal enzymes from dried blood that ruled out classic Gaucher disease. Low activity of acid sphingomyelinase was found, which was indicative of Niemann-Pick disease A/B – rare inherited autosomal recessive condition involving lipid metabolism.Conclusion: The clinical case presents a patient without obesity, with definite laboratory, ultrasound and fibroscan data for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. As a differential diagnosis we found a rare inherited condition – Niemann-Pick disease, characterized by impaired lipid metabolism. Our clinical case proves the broad spectrum of differential diagnoses of patients with NAFLD

Integrative model as a value creation tool in the customs administration system

The current system of customs administration provides a solution to complex economic and social problems. It is focused on the formation of value and consumer utility within the framework of the functions performed. In this regard, the quality of such a system is of particular importance. The article investigates the application of the value approach to the customs administration system. The paper carries out the analysis of the value chain formation. The study defines the approaches to the value assessment for each subject of the customs administration system. The paper proposes an integrative model that contributes to increasing the value of customs services in the system of service-oriented customs administration. The author draws conclusions about the role and significance of the value of each subject of the customs administration system in the formation of public value. The presented research is based on the concept of a holistic-evolutionary approach

An introduction to meta analysis

Master of ScienceDepartment of StatisticsDallas W. JohnsonMeta analysis is a statistical technique for synthesizing of results obtained from multiple studies. It is the process of combining, summarizing, and reanalyzing previous quantitative research. It yields a quantitative summary of the pooled results. Decisions of the validity of a hypothesis cannot be based on the results of a single study, because results typically vary from one study to the next. Traditional methods do not allow involving more than a few studies. Meta analysis provides certain procedures to synthesize data across studies. When the treatment effect (or effect size) is consistent from one study to the next, meta-analysis can be used to identify this common effect. When the effect varies from one study to the next, meta-analysis may be used to identify the reason for the variation. The amount of accumulated information in fast developing fields of science such as biology, medicine, education, pharmacology, physics, etc. increased very quickly after the Second World War. This lead to large amounts of literature which was not systematized. One problem in education might include ten independent studies. All of the studies might be performed by different researchers, using different techniques, and different measurements. The idea of integrating the research literature was proposed by Glass (1976, 1977). He referred it as the meta analysis of research. There are three major meta analysis approaches: combining significance levels, combining estimates of effect size for fixed effect size models and random effect size models, and vote-counting method

Heat Mode Electronic Devices at Elevated External Temperatures

In this article we consider the numerical study of the effect increasing the ambient temperature of electronic device under external microwave heating

Ostra niewydolność serca po embolizacji guza nerki. Opis przypadku

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common primary malignant renal tumor. The classic triad of symptoms includes palpable abdominal mass, hematuria and flank pain. However, some of the patients diagnosed with RCC first present with paraneoplastic symptoms occurring as a consequence of secretion of various substances from the tumor. We present a case of a woman diagnosed with large kidney tumor, who developed acute heart failure soon after being treated with percutaneous embolization. We discuss toxic myocarditis as one of the possible causes for the acute hemodynamic compromise and the fatal outcome of the patient. Our case report highlights the complexity of this pathology and the importance of awareness of the various possible life-threatening complications.Rak nerkowo-komórkowy jest najczęstszym pierwotnym nowotworem złośliwym nerki. Klasyczna triada objawów z nim związanych obejmuje guz w jamie brzusznej, krwiomocz i ból w okolicy lędźwiowej. Jednak niektórzy pacjenci z rakiem nerkowo-komórkowym najpierw mają objawy paraneoplastyczne wywoływane przez substancje produkowane przez guz. W pracy przedstawiono przypadek kobiety, u której zdiagnozowano duży guz nerki i u której bezpośrednio po jego embolizacji rozwinęły się objawy ostrej niewydolności serca. Jako jedną z możliwych przyczyn ostrych zaburzeń hemodynamicznych i zgonu pacjenta rozważono toksyczne zapalenie mięśnia sercowego. Przedstawiony opis przypadku podkreśla złożoność patologii, jak również potrzebę świadomości różnych możliwych zagrażających życiu powikłań związanych z jego leczeniem