Numerically Stable and Efficient Implementation of a Continuous-Discrete Multiple-Model Estimator

This paper deals with the problem of implementing adaptive radar tracking filters based on continuous-time models of target motion and on discrete-time models of measurement process. The particular difficulties addressed include: nonlinear and non-stationary target movement models with uncertain parameters, and low data rate due to a rotating radar antenna. The proposed tracking filter relies basically on the continuous-discrete variant of the extended Kalman filter (EKF), the probabilistic data association (PDA) technique and the interacting multiplemodel (IMM) state estimation scheme. Numerical properties of the algorithm are discussed and a software implementation is developed using the open-source BLAS library. Several design concepts are combined to assure numerical stability, convergence and efficiency of the estimator

Clustering of Staphylococcus aureus bovine mastitis strains from regions of Central-Eastern Poland based on their biochemical and genetic characteristics

Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated from mastitic milk of cows with infected mammary glands. The animals were living in 12 different farms near Lublin, in Central-Eastern Poland. A biochemical identification method based on enzymatic assay was performed, followed by haemolytic and proteolytic tests. PCR-RFLP targeted on the gap gene allowed the genetic identification of strains at the species level and verified phenotypic identification results. A molecular typing method using triplex PCR was performed to recognize the genetic similarity of the analyzed strains. DNA microarray hybridization (StaphyType, Alere Technologies) was used for detection of antibiotic resistance and virulence associated markers. The results obtained indicate high genetic similarity in strains isolated from the same sites. High genetic similarities were also detected between strains isolated from cows from different farms of the same region. A slightly lower similarity was noted however, in strains from various regions indicating that the strains are herd specific and that the cow's infections caused by S. aureus were of a clonal character. In 21 representative isolates selected for DNA-microarray testing, only fosfomycin (fosB) and penicillin resistance markers (blaZ, blaI, blaR) were detected. The presence of genes coding for haemolysins (lukF, lukS, hlgA, hla, hld, hlb), proteases (aur, sspA, sspB, sspP), enterotoxins (entA, entD, entG, entI, entJ, entM, entN, entO, entR, entU, egc-cluster), adhesins (icaA, icaC, icaD, bbp, clfA, clfB, fib, fnbA, map, vwb) or immune evasion proteins (scn, chp, sak) was common and, with exceptions, matched triplex PCR-defined clusters

Czy głowica liniowa jest pomocna w diagnostyce chorób zajmujących przestrzeń śródmiąższową płuc?

In a lung ultrasound examination, interstitial lung lesions are visible as numerous B-line artifacts, and are best recorded with the use of a convex probe. Interstitial lung lesions may result from many conditions, including cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, or interstitial lung disease. Hence difficulties in the differential diagnostics of the above clinical conditions. This article presents cases of patients suffering from interstitial lung lesions discovered in the course of lung ultrasound examination. The patients were examined with a 3.5–5.0 MHz convex probe and a 7.0–11.0 MHz linear probe. Ultrasound images have been analysed, and differences in the imaging with both probes in patients with interstitial lung lesions have been detailed. The use of a linear probe in patients with interstitial lung lesions (discovered with a convex or a micro-convex probe) provides additional information on the source of the origin of the lesions.Zmiany śródmiąższowe płuc w badaniu ultrasonograficznym prezentują się jako liczne artefakty linii B, rejestrowane najlepiej przy pomocy sondy konweksowej. Przyczyn zmian śródmiąższowych płuc może być wiele: kardiogenny obrzęk płuc, niekardiogenny obrzęk płuc oraz zmiany w przebiegu śródmiąższowych chorób płuc. Powoduje to trudności w diagnostyce różnicowej powyższych stanów klinicznych. W artykule przedstawiono serię przypadków pacjentów, u których w badaniu ultrasonograficznym płuc stwierdzono zmiany śródmiąższowe płuc. Badania wykonano przy pomocy sondy konweksowej (3,5–5,0 MHz) oraz liniowej (7,0–11,0 MHz). Dokonano analizy obrazów ultrasonograficznych oraz wskazano różnice w obrazowaniu obiema głowicami w grupie pacjentów ze zmianami śródmiąższowymi w płucach. Zastosowanie sondy liniowej u pacjentów ze stwierdzonymi (przy pomocy sondy konweksowej lub mikrokonweksowej) zmianami śródmiąższowymi płuc wnosi nowe informacje na temat źródła ich pochodzenia. Artykuł w wersji polskojęzycznej jest dostępny na stronie http://jultrason.pl/index.php/wydawnictwa/volume-17-no-6

Implementation of chirality into high-spin ferromagnetic CoII9WV6{Co^{II}}_9{W^V}_6 and NiII9WV6{Ni^{II}}_9{W^V}_6 cyanido-bridged clusters

The synthesized chiral (R)- and (S)-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)pyridine ligands (R/S-mpm) were introduced to self-assembled CoII-[WV(CN)8] and NiII-[WV(CN)8] magnetic systems giving a remarkable series of four enantiopure cyanido-bridged clusters, {MII[MII(R/S-mpm)(MeOH)]8[WV(CN)8]6}·14MeOH (M = Co, 1-R and 1-S; M = Ni, 2-R and 2-S). They consist of 15 metal centers, 9 CoII or NiII ions, and 6 [WV(CN)8]3– ions, embedded in a 6-capped body-centered cube topology. Bidentate enantiopure mpm ligands coordinated to eight external CoII or NiII sites induce their chiral character, which results in the strong natural optical activity in the broad UV–vis range of 200–700 nm. All (1-R/S) and (2-R/S) clusters reveal cyanido-mediated ferromagnetic exchange interaction giving high-spin ground states of 15/2 (1-R/S) and 12 (2-R/S). For (2-R/S) forms of {Ni9W6}, the exchange constant J = +16.1 cm–1 was obtained using exact diagonalization of the exchange Hamiltonian. Because of the significant magnetic anisotropy, (1-R/S) forms of {Co9W6} cluster reveal the low temperature onset of the slow magnetic relaxation characteristic of single-molecule magnets (SMMs). Thus, they can be considered as a rare example of chiral SMM molecules

Pęknięcie serca w zawale z uniesieniem ST. Przebieg kliniczny i rokowanie

Introduction: Cardiac rupture (CR), involving left ventricular free wall, interventricular septum or papillary muscles, accounts for 15% of all deaths in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI). After cardiac arrhythmias and cardiogenic shock, CR is the third most common cause of death in acute MI. In spite of progress in the treatment of MI, mortality due to CR did not change in recent years.Aim: To assess the incidence, clinical course and outcome in patients with acute MI complicated by CR who were treated in our centre.Methods: The study group consisted of 697 consecutive patients who were hospitalised due to acute MI with ST segment elevation (STEMI). The in-hospital and three-month follow-up data were analysed in 27 (3.9%) patients who developed CR. In 20 patients CR occurred in the left ventricular free wall, in 5 interventricular septum, in one both of these structures, and in one papillary muscle. The diagnosis of CR was based on clinical presentation and echocardiography.Results: The overall mortality in 697 patients with STEMI was 10.5%. Mortality rate in patients with CR was 55.6% (15 patients) which accounted for 20.5% of all deaths. Nine patients with CR underwent cardiac surgery whereas 18 were treated conservatively. Two (22.2%) patients from the former group and 13 (72.2%) patients from the latter group died.Conclusions: 1. Mortality due to CR was increased in patients who were treated conservatively, who received thrombolysis and those who were females. 2. Rapid and accurate diagnosis, proper correction of haemodynamical disturbances and timely introduction of cardiac surgery improve prognosis in patients with CR complicating STEMI

Implementation of Chirality into High-Spin Ferromagnetic Co^II₉W^V₆ and Ni^II₉W^V₆ Cyanido-Bridged Clusters

The synthesized chiral (<i>R</i>)- and (<i>S</i>)-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)­pyridine ligands (<i>R</i>/<i>S</i>-mpm) were introduced to self-assembled Co^II-[W^V(CN)₈] and Ni^II-[W^V(CN)₈] magnetic systems giving a remarkable series of four enantiopure cyanido-bridged clusters, {M^II[M^II(<i>R</i>/<i>S</i>-mpm)­(MeOH)]₈­[W^V(CN)₈]₆}­·14MeOH (M = Co, <b>1</b>-<i>R</i> and <b>1</b>-<i>S</i>; M = Ni, <b>2</b>-<i>R</i> and <b>2</b>-<i>S</i>). They consist of 15 metal centers, 9 Co^II or Ni^II ions, and 6 [W^V(CN)₈]^3– ions, embedded in a 6-capped body-centered cube topology. Bidentate enantiopure mpm ligands coordinated to eight external Co^II or Ni^II sites induce their chiral character, which results in the strong natural optical activity in the broad UV–vis range of 200–700 nm. All (<b>1</b>-<i>R</i>/<i>S</i>) and (<b>2</b>-<i>R</i>/<i>S</i>) clusters reveal cyanido-mediated ferromagnetic exchange interaction giving high-spin ground states of 15/2 (<b>1</b>-<i>R</i>/<i>S</i>) and 12 (<b>2</b>-<i>R</i>/<i>S</i>). For (<b>2</b>-<i>R</i>/<i>S</i>) forms of {Ni₉W₆}, the exchange constant <i>J</i> = +16.1 cm^–1 was obtained using exact diagonalization of the exchange Hamiltonian. Because of the significant magnetic anisotropy, (<b>1</b>-<i>R</i>/<i>S</i>) forms of {Co₉W₆} cluster reveal the low temperature onset of the slow magnetic relaxation characteristic of single-molecule magnets (SMMs). Thus, they can be considered as a rare example of chiral SMM molecules