Teoria sekurytyzacji i konstruowanie bezpieczeństwa

Theory of securitization is one of the most significant approaches to security in recent decades. It is used in the theoretical debate on the very nature of security and in the analysis of the security practice. The concept of securitization, associated with the so called Copenhagen School, is an attempt to conceptualize the security in a new way, without losing its analytical utility. The main object of investigation is the process of constructing the security as an intersubjective process of including/excluding the issues into/from the security sphere. Security is treated as a speech act, and the theory is aiming to gain the understanding who is securitizing, what issues are securitized, who is a referent object, why, with what results and under what conditions.Theory of securitization is one of the most significant approaches to security in recent decades. It is used in the theoretical debate on the very nature of security and in the analysis of the security practice. The concept of securitization, associated with the so called Copenhagen School, is an attempt to conceptualize the security in a new way, without losing its analytical utility. The main object of investigation is the process of constructing the security as an intersubjective process of including/excluding the issues into/from the security sphere. Security is treated as a speech act, and the theory is aiming to gain the understanding who is securitizing, what issues are securitized, who is a referent object, why, with what results and under what conditions

Operation investigations of steam cycle in experimental micro-binary power plant

Instytut Maszyn Przepływowych Politechnika ŁódzkaInstitute of Turbomachinery, Lodz University of TechnologyPoniższy artykuł przedstawia analizę numeryczną układu rurociągów parowych doświadczalnej mikrosiłowni binarnej. Analizie poddano stan pracy normalnej obiegu parowego. Omówiono wyniki obliczeń dla naprężeń pochodzących od masy własnej rurociągu, ciśnienia wewnętrznego i przemieszczeń termicznych.The article presents numerical analysis of steam pipelines in Experimental Micro - Hybrid Power Plant. Normal operation condition for steam cycle has been analyzed. Results of stress analysis from dead load and thermal expansion have been discussed

The biological activity assessment of potential drugs acting on cardiovascular system using Lipinski and Veber Rules

Advanced computational methods (in silico) play major role in the early stages of developing new pharmaceuticals. Precise knowledge on molecular structure gives the possibility of forecasting the drug candidates basic properties. Despite many drugs registered in the arrhythmia treatment, this disease currently is still a big therapeutic problem. Therefore, intensive search for new drugs acting on the cardiovascular system are performed. In the presented work, 77 pyrrolidin-2-one derivatives were analyzed for antiarrhythmic activity. Values of the key parameters proposed by Lipinski and Veber were obtained using computational chemistry methods. It's worth pointing out that the studied group of derivatives shows similar physicochemical properties to the anti-arrhythmic drugs used

Studies on the Activity of Selected Highly Lipophilic Compounds toward hGAT1 Inhibition. Part II

In this paper, we describe the latest results involving molecular modeling and pharmacodynamic studies of the selected highly lipophilic compounds acting by human GABA transporter 1 (hGAT1) inhibition. The chemical interaction of 17 GABA analogues with a model of hGAT1 is described using the molecular docking method. The biological role of GAT1 is related to the regulation of GABA level in the central nervous system and GAT1 inhibition plays an important role in the control of seizure threshold. To confirm that GAT1 can be also a molecular target for drugs used to treat other neurological and psychiatric diseases (e.g., pain and anxiety), in the in vivo part of this study, potential antinociceptive and anxiolytic-like properties of tiagabine, a selective GAT1 inhibitor, are described

New Class of Antimicrobial Agents: SBA-15 Silica Containing Anchored Copper Ions

The paper is about a new class of antimicrobial functional nanomaterials. Proposed compounds are based on SBA-15 porous silica matrices and contain anchored copper ions. Thanks to the immobilization of functional groups the compounds are safer for environment than commonly used disinfectant agents. We prepared and examined silica based materials containing two concentrations of copper-containing groups: 10 and 5%. For the reference we prepared samples containing free-standing CuO molecules in the structure and checked their antimicrobial properties. Antibacterial effect of considered SBA-15-Cu material was tested on Escherichia coli bacteria. Antimicrobial tests were applied for the pure form of the material and as modifying agents for plastics. The obtained results showed that the sample with lower concentration of active copper-containing groups has stronger antimicrobial properties than the one with higher concentration of copper. Interestingly, silica containing free-standing CuO molecules has no antimicrobial properties. Considering the obtained results, we can conclude that the most probable antimicrobial mechanism in this case is an oxidation stress. When a plastic modifier is applied the material is enriched with bacterial inhibitory properties. It seems that SBA-15 silica containing low concentration of anchored copper ions is promising in terms of its antibacterial property and biomaterial potential for commercial use

QuantiFERON-TB-GOLD In-Tube in patients with sarcoidosis

Introduction: Sarcoidosis and tuberculosis (TB) are the diseases that share many similarities. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) culture results are the gold standard for the diagnosis of TB, but false positive results are not rare. The aim was to evaluate the utility of QFT in detecting latent TB infection in a group of sarcoidosis patients with negative history of TB and negative culture/BACTEC results, and checking sarcoidosis activity influence on the QFT results. Additionally, we assessed if QFT negative result may strengthen the suspicion that positive culture/BACTEC results are false positive. Material and methods: 37 culture-negative and 6 culture-positive sarcoidosis patients were enrolled. On the basis of clinical and radiological data TB was considered unlikely (false-positive results). A control group consisted of age-matched subjects with excluded TB (n = 37). QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube (QIAGEN, USA) was used according to the manual. Test validity was checked basing on the results obtained from a low-risk (n = 21) and active TB group (n = 23). Results: The frequency of positive results tended to be higher in MTB(–) sarcoidosis (24.3% vs. 13.5% for the control group, p = 0.37), but was similar to the general population. None of culture-positive sarcoidosis patients was QFT-positive. The positive results were equally distributed among patients with active and inactive sarcoidosis. Conclusions: QFT has been found to be the useful test for the detection of latent TB infection in sarcoidosis patients. In addition, we confirm that sarcoidosis activity does not negatively influence the result of QFT. Moreover, QFT would be proposed as a cost-saving diagnostic test providing additional diagnostic information when false positive MTB culture result in the sarcoidosis patient is highly suspected. However, in each case clinical, radiological and epidemiological data should be considered before taking the therapeutic decision

On the search for the right definition of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

The definition of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has evolved from a clinically based “diagnosis of exclusion” to definitions focused on objective evidence of diastolic dysfunction and/or elevated left ventricular filling pressures. Despite advances in our understanding of HFpEF pathophysiology and the development of more sophisticated imaging modalities, the diagnosis of HFpEF remains challenging, especially in the chronic setting, given that symptoms are provoked by exertion and diagnostic evaluation is largely conducted at rest. Invasive hemodynamic study, and in particular — invasive exercise testing, is considered the reference method for HFpEF diagnosis. However, its use is limited as opposed to the high number of patients with suspected HFpEF. Thus, diagnostic criteria for HFpEF should be principally based on non-invasive measurements. As no single non-invasive variable can adequately corroborate or refute the diagnosis, different combinations of clinical, echocardiographic, and/or biochemical parameters have been introduced. Recent years have brought an abundance of HFpEF definitions. Here, we present and compare four of them: 1) the 2016 European Society of Cardiology criteria for HFpEF; 2) the 2016 echocardiographic algorithm for diagnosing diastolic dysfunction; 3) the 2018 evidence-based H2FPEF score; and 4) the most recent, 2019 Heart Failure Association HFA-PEFF algorithm. These definitions vary in their approach to diagnosis, as well as sensitivity and specificity. Further studies to validate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of HFpEF definitions are warranted. Nevertheless, it seems that the best HFpEF definition would originate from a randomized clinical trial showing a favorable effect of an intervention on prognosis in HFpEF

Theory of Securitization and Security Construction

Teoria sekurytyzacji stanowi współcześnie jedno z ważniejszych podejść w studiach nad bezpieczeństwem międzynarodowym. Jest ona wykorzystywana zarówno w debacie teoretycznej na temat bezpieczeństwa, jak i analizy praktyki międzynarodowej w tym zakresie. W przypadku teorii sekurytyzacji, ukształtowanej w ramach tzw. szkoły kopenhaskiej, można mówić o nowym podejściu do bezpieczeństwa, starającym się jednak równocześnie utrzymać jego analityczną użyteczność. Obiektem analizy jest nie tyle stan, ale przede wszystkim proces konstruowania „bezpieczeństwa”. Teoria ta koncentruje się na intersubiektywnym procesie włączania/wyłączania niektórych zagadnień do sfery bezpieczeństwa. Teoria sekurytyzacji stara się skupiać na praktyce sekurytyzacji, odpowiadając na pytania kto „sekurytyzuje”, w jakich kwestiach, w imieniu kogo/czego, dlaczego, z jakim skutkiem , i w jakich okolicznościach.Theory of securitization is one of the most significant approaches to security in recent de - cades. It is used in the theoretical debate on the very nature of security and in the analysis of the security practice. The concept of securitization, associated with the so called Copenhagen School, is an attempt to conceptualize the security in a new way, without losing its analytical utility. The main object of investigation is the process of constructing the security as an intersubjective process of including/excluding the issues into/from the security sphere. Security is treated as a speech act, and the theory is aiming to gain the understanding who is securitizing, what issues are securitized, who is a referent object, why, with what results and under what conditions

Theory of Securitization and Security Construction

Teoria sekurytyzacji stanowi współcześnie jedno z ważniejszych podejść w studiach nad bezpieczeństwem międzynarodowym. Jest ona wykorzystywana zarówno w debacie teoretycznej na temat bezpieczeństwa, jak i analizy praktyki międzynarodowej w tym zakresie. W przypadku teorii sekurytyzacji, ukształtowanej w ramach tzw. szkoły kopenhaskiej, można mówić o nowym podejściu do bezpieczeństwa, starającym się jednak równocześnie utrzymać jego analityczną użyteczność. Obiektem analizy jest nie tyle stan, ale przede wszystkim proces konstruowania „bezpieczeństwa”. Teoria ta koncentruje się na intersubiektywnym procesie włączania/wyłączania niektórych zagadnień do sfery bezpieczeństwa. Teoria sekurytyzacji stara się skupiać na praktyce sekurytyzacji, odpowiadając na pytania kto „sekurytyzuje”, w jakich kwestiach, w imieniu kogo/czego, dlaczego, z jakim skutkiem , i w jakich okolicznościach.Theory of securitization is one of the most significant approaches to security in recent de - cades. It is used in the theoretical debate on the very nature of security and in the analysis of the security practice. The concept of securitization, associated with the so called Copenhagen School, is an attempt to conceptualize the security in a new way, without losing its analytical utility. The main object of investigation is the process of constructing the security as an intersubjective process of including/excluding the issues into/from the security sphere. Security is treated as a speech act, and the theory is aiming to gain the understanding who is securitizing, what issues are securitized, who is a referent object, why, with what results and under what conditions