Resource engines

In this paper we aim to push the analogy between thermodynamics and quantum resource theories one step further. Previous inspirations were based on thermodynamic considerations concerning scenarios with a single heat bath, neglecting an important part of thermodynamics that studies heat engines operating between two baths at different temperatures. Here, we investigate the performance of resource engines, which replace the access to two heat baths at different temperatures with two arbitrary constraints on state transformations. The idea is to imitate the action of a two--stroke heat engine, where the system is sent to two agents (Alice and Bob) in turns, and they can transform it using their constrained sets of free operations. We raise and address several questions, including whether or not a resource engine can generate a full set of quantum operations or all possible state transformations, and how many strokes are needed for that. We also explain how the resource engine picture provides a natural way to fuse two or more resource theories, and we discuss in detail the fusion of two resource theories of thermodynamics with two different temperatures, and two resource theories of coherence with respect to two different bases.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figures, comments welcom

Composite spheres made of bioengineered spider silk and iron oxide nanoparticles for theranostics applications

Bioengineered spider silk is a biomaterial that has exquisite mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Iron oxide nanoparticles can be applied for the detection and analysis of biomolecules, target drug delivery, as MRI contrast agents and as therapeutic agents for hyperthermia-based cancer treatments. In this study, we investigated three bioengineered silks, MS1, MS2 and EMS2, and their potential to form a composite material with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). The presence of IONPs did not impede the self-assembly properties of MS1, MS2, and EMS2 silks, and spheres formed. The EMS2 spheres had the highest content of IONPs, and the presence of magnetite IONPs in these carriers was confirmed by several methods such as SEM, EDXS, SQUID, MIP-OES and zeta potential measurement. The interaction of EMS2 and IONPs did not modify the superparamagnetic properties of the IONPs, but it influenced the secondary structure of the spheres. The composite particles exhibited a more than two-fold higher loading efficiency for doxorubicin than the plain EMS2 spheres. For both the EMS2 and EMS2/IONP spheres, the drug revealed a pH-dependent release profile with advantageous kinetics for carriers made of the composite material. The composite spheres can be potentially applied for a combined cancer treatment via hyperthermia and drug delivery

Tonalność języka w pieśni na podstawie utworów ludu Sui

This article aims at describing the realization of lexical tones in songs of Sui people. The main focus for research are the drinking and mountain songs, a part of Sui’s abundant oral literature, most commonly used during traditional festivities and social gatherings. The paper starts with the presentation of the state of current research and the description of Sui language and music. What follows is analysis of four Sui songs and conclusions. The methodology of the article is mostly based upon previous accomplishments, in eg. Chan 1987 and Wong & Diehl 2002.This article aims at describing the realization of lexical tones in songs of Sui people. The main focus for research are the drinking and mountain songs, a part of Sui’s abundant oral literature, most commonly used during traditional festivities and social gatherings. The paper starts with the presentation of the state of current research and the description of Sui language and music. What follows is analysis of four Sui songs and conclusions. The methodology of the article is mostly based upon previous accomplishments, in eg. Chan 1987 and Wong & Diehl 2002

Evaluation of peritoneal tissue by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

Abdominal surgeries alter the integrity of the peritoneal layer and cause imbalances among immunological, inflammatory and angiogenic mechanisms within the tissue. During laparoscopic procedures a protective function of the peritoneal layer can be disturbed by the gas used to create a pneumoperitoneum. The aim of this study was to characterize peritoneal tissue by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as a reference for future investigations on the influence of surgical procedures on the physicochemical state of the peritoneum. Thirty-seven patients participated in the study. Patients were divided into three groups according to the type of surgery: group H — patients who underwent hernia repair; group Ch — patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy; and group C — patients operated due to rectal cancer. It was observed that onset temperature (To), denaturation temperature (Tm) and change of enthalpy (ΔH) during thermal denaturation of peritoneal collagen in were significantly different for these three groups of patients. The mean values of onset temperature (To) and denaturation temperature (Tm) in group H were significantly lower, while DH in this group was significantly higher than in the two other groups (Ch and C). This preliminary study does not answer whether the differences in collagen denaturation found in peritoneal tissue from different groups of patients resulted from a different inherent state of the tissue, or from surgical procedures. However, the results suggest that DSC is an appropriate method to study subtle changes in the physicochemical condition of the peritoneum using small samples obtained during surgical procedures. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 700–705

Nieprawidłowa implantacja łożyska — diagnostyka, postępowanie, doświadczenia własne

Konsekwencją wzrastającej w ostatnich latach liczby cięć cesarskich jest pojawienie się problemu powikłań implantacji łożyska w kolejnych ciążach — łożyska wrastającego, przodującego. Główną metodą diagnostyki w ciąży jest badanie ultrasonograficzne przy użyciu głowicy przezpochwowej. Dodatkową rolę diagnostyczną odgrywa rezonans magnetyczny. Postępowaniem z wyboru w obu przypadkach jest zakończenie ciąży drogą planowego cięcia cesarskiego. W przypadku rozpoznania łożyska wrastającego może być konieczne wykonanie histerektomii okołoporodowej. U 2 pacjentek z podejrzeniem patologii łożyska, hospitalizowanych w ośrodku o III stopniu referencyjności, po wykonaniu diagnostyki i wdrożeniu postępowania terapeutycznego uzyskano potwierdzenie w ostatecznym badaniu histopatologicznym nieprawidłowości łożyska pod postacią łożyska przyrośniętego i wrośniętego

RSK1 promotes murine breast cancer growth and metastasis

Introduction. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), representing over 15% of all breast cancers, has a poorerprognosis than other subtypes. There is no effective targeted treatment available for the TNBC sufferers. Ribosomal S6 kinases (RSKs) have been previously proposed as drug targets for TNBC based on observations that 85% of these tumors express activated RSKs.Materials and methods. Herein we examined an involvement of RSK1 (p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 1) in a regulation of TNBC growth and metastatic spread in an animal model, which closely imitates human disease. Micewere inoculated into mammary fat pad with 4T1 cells or their RSK1-depleted variant. We examined tumorgrowth and formation of pulmonary metastasis. Boyden chamber, wound healing and soft agarose assays wereperformed to evaluate cells invasion, migration and anchorage-independent growth.Results. We found that RSK1 promoted tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. After 35 days all animals inoculatedwith control cells developed tumors while in the group injected with RSK1-negative cells, there were 75%tumor-bearing mice. Average tumor mass was estimated as 1.16 g and 0.37 g for RSK1-positive vs. -negativesamples, respectively (p < 0.0001). Quantification of the macroscopic pulmonary metastases indicated that micewith RSK1-negative tumors developed approximately 85% less metastatic foci on the lung surface (p < 0.001).This has been supported by in vitro data presenting that RSK1 promoted anchorage-independent cell growthand migration. Moreover, RSK1 knock-down corresponded with decreased expression of cell cycle regulatingproteins, i.e. cyclin D3, CDK6 and CDK4.Conclusions. We provide evidence that RSK1 supports tumor growth and metastatic spread in vivo as well asin vitro migration and survival in non-adherent conditions. Further studies of RSK1 involvement in TNBC progression may substantiate our findings, laying the foundations for development of anti-RSK1-based therapeuticstrategies in the management of patients with TNBC

Novel inflammatory biomarkers may reflect subclinical inflammation in young healthy adults with obesity

Introduction: Obesity is often accompanied by low-grade inflammation. In recent years a few blood-based inflammatory markers — neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyteto-monocyte ratio (LMR), and monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) — have been identified. They have been proven to correlate well with established inflammatory markers such as hsCRP and have a prognostic value among others in patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, and malignancies. The aim of the study was to find markers associated with obesity in young heathy adults. Material and methods: The study group included 321 young healthy adults aged 18-35 years (210 males and 111 females). Partial least squares regression analysis was used to find variables associated with body mass index (BMI). Analysed variables included complete blood count, lipid profile, sex hormone levels, acute-phase protein levels, and blood-based inflammatory markers. Results: Variables with the strongest association with BMI in the group of men were HDL% and apolipoprotein B, and in the group of women, HDL, HDL%, triglycerides, and MHR. Novel inflammatory markers were not associated with BMI, except MHR. We found significant (p < 0.001) correlations between novel biomarkers (NLR, dNLR) and hsCRP and fibrinogen levels in the group of subjects with obesity. Conclusions: Blood-based inflammatory markers significantly correlate with hsCRP and fibrinogen in young healthy adults with obesity, which may reflect the subclinical inflammation in this group of individuals

Machine learning profiles of cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes mellitus: the Silesia Diabetes-Heart Project

AimsAs cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), we aimed to find important factors that predict cardiovascular (CV) risk using a machine learning (ML) approach.Methods and resultsWe performed a single center, observational study in a cohort of 238 DM patients (mean age ± SD 52.15 ± 17.27 years, 54% female) as a part of the Silesia Diabetes-Heart Project. Having gathered patients' medical history, demographic data, laboratory test results, results from the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (assessing diabetic peripheral neuropathy) and Ewing's battery examination (determining the presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy), we managed use a ML approach to predict the occurrence of overt CVD on the basis of five most discriminative predictors with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.86 (95% CI 0.80-0.91). Those features included the presence of past or current foot ulceration, age, the treatment with beta-blocker (BB) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi). On the basis of the aforementioned parameters, unsupervised clustering identified different CV risk groups. The highest CV risk was determined for the eldest patients treated in large extent with ACEi but not BB and having current foot ulceration, and for slightly younger individuals treated extensively with both above-mentioned drugs, with relatively small percentage of diabetic ulceration.ConclusionsUsing a ML approach in a prospective cohort of patients with DM, we identified important factors that predicted CV risk. If a patient was treated with ACEi or BB, is older and has/had a foot ulcer, this strongly predicts that he/she is at high risk of having overt CVD

Ostry zawał serca u pacjentów powyżej 70 lat leczonych za pomocą pierwotnej angioplastyki wieńcowej

Wstęp: Pierwotna angioplastyka wieńcowa (PTCA) jest jedną z metod leczenia reperfuzyjnego w ostrym zawale serca (AMI). Celem badania jest analiza porównawcza wyników leczenia AMI za pomocą pierwotnej PTCA u pacjentów w wieku > 70 rż. Materiał i metody: Analizą objęto 552 pacjentów (413 mężczyzn, 139 kobiet) w wieku 26&#8211; 78 lat (średnio 56 lat) z AMI, do 12 h od początku wystąpienia bólu wieńcowego, leczonych za pomocą pierwotnej PTCA. Grupę badaną stanowiło 108 pacjentów w wieku ponad 70 lat, zaś grupę kontrolną &#8212; 444 chorych w wieku poniżej 70 lat. W obu grupach oceniano przepływ w tętnicy dozawałowej przed zabiegiem, skuteczność zabiegu oraz częstość epizodów sercowo-naczyniowych w czasie obserwacji szpitalnej. Wyniki: Skuteczność zabiegu była porównywalna w obu badanych grupach (91,6% vs. 96,1%; p = 0,052), natomiast śmiertelność szpitalna była istotnie wyższa w grupie badanej (11% vs. 3,1%; p < 0,001). W grupie badanej istotnie częściej występowały zawały ściany przedniej (54,5% vs. 39,4%; p = 0,001), co wiązało się ze znamiennie częstszym stwierdzeniem, że tętnicą odpowiedzialną za zawał jest gałąź międzykomorowa przednia lewej tętnicy wieńcowej (50,9% vs. 38,7%; p = 0,021). W grupie badanej istotnie częściej występowała trójnaczyniowa choroba wieńcowa (26,8% vs. 16,6%). Pacjenci z grupy badanej charakteryzowali się znamiennie gorszą wyjściową frakcją wyrzutową lewej komory (47,4% vs. 42,5%; p = 0,001). Rozkład ocen przepływu (wg skali TIMI) w tętnicy odpowiedzialnej za zawał nie różnił się istotnie między grupami. Wnioski: Pierwotna PTCA jest skuteczną metodą leczenia AMI u starszych pacjentów, ale wiąże się z większą śmiertelnością szpitalną niż u osób młodszych