Herbaceuos synanthropic flora of selected allotments in the northern part of Łódź city

The article contains a list of the herbaceous synanthropic flora of selected allotments in the northern part of the city of Łódź. The studies were conducted in 1993-1995 vegetation seasons. They present the shaping of the floristic structure of the allotments as a result of human activity.Zadanie pt. Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Occurrence of threatened species of the segetal flora in the area of allotments in the northern part of Łódź

Wydano przy pomocy finansowej Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego oraz Komitetu Badań NaukowychIn the current paper a list and short characteristics of threatened species of the allotment segetal flora have been presented. The research was carried out in the northern part of Łódź in 1993-1995. The threatened species list is based on Warcholińska (1994).Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Characteristics of the Market Value of Undeveloped Land in Health Resort Municipality of Kolobrzeg

The article presents a statistical analysis of selected properties of undeveloped real estate market in the municipality of Kolobrzeg. The municipality of Kolobrzeg is located in the West Pomeranian Vivodeship in the north-western part of Poland. Municipality of Kolobrzeg is mainly a health resort region utilising natural resources. The study has been conducted within the administrative boundaries of the municipality of Kolobrzeg between 2008-2014. The results of the study were examined using the multiple regression analysis method. The following attributes of the real estates were taken into consideration when conducting the aforementioned analysis: the price, size, location and environmental conditions.The analysis presented in this article is just a portion of a larger scale research conducted by the authors which will further be expanded upon

Materials to the synanthropic flora of the Płock

In this paper a preliminary list and characterization of the synanthropic flora found in the area of the Płock in 1996-1999, have been presented. The rich variety of the synanthropic flora of this town is an effect of differentiation of habitats and man’s economic activity. The synanthropic flora of Płock consists of 530 taxons. Among synanthropic plants predominate apophytes (63,8%).Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Thermal properties of diene elastomers

The paper presents the results of investigating the effect of the macromolecule chemical structure and the spatial network structure of butadiene (BR), butadiene-styrene (SBR) and butadiene-acrylonitrile (NBR) rubbers on their thermal properties. The rubbers were cross-linked by the conventional method by means of dicumyl peroxide or sulfur as well as by the non-conventional way using iodoform (CH3I). The rubber and their vulcanizates were assessed by the derivatographic method (under air) and by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under inert gas. The thermal cross-linking degree of the polydienes and the efficiency of the cross-linking processes, dependent on both the chemical structure of elastomer macromolecules and their spatial network structure were determined. The cross-linking of elastomers with iodoform changes the thermal properties of polymers, significantly increasing their glass transition temperature during both sample heating and cooling, which results from the increase in mutual interaction of macromolecules connected with their modification with iodine compounds

Task as a stimulant for reflective language teaching

The paper discusses the issues of form-focused instruction in foreign language pedagogy with the special emphasis on the task-based language teaching. There is a growing realization among the researchers and the language educators that the formal aspects of the target language need to be incorporated into the language teaching in order to facilitate the learners’ in achieving high levels of accuracy as well as communicative effectiveness. The authors point out to different techniques and procedures that are used in task-based language teaching to stimulate learners’ reflection on the formal aspects of the target language and to develop their capacity of noticing the linguistic forms as they are engaged in meaning focused activities

Impaired aldosterone response to the saline infusion test in patients with resistant hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea

Background In this cross-sectional study, we sought associations among severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and blood pressure patterns in patients with resistant hypertension.Material and methods In 65 patients with resistant hypertension we measured the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) by a portable sleep recorded system and aldosterone and plasma renin activity (PRA) in response to saline infusion test. We also collected data on cardiovascular events, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes and performed 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).Results Baseline PRA, aldosterone and aldosterone-to-renin ratio were within normal range but aldosterone level in response to saline infusion was increased above normal upper limit. In ABPM, 68% of patients had an altered pattern of blood pressure (non-dipping or reverse dipping). AHI was inversely correlated with PRA and positively with weight, BMI, plasma aldosterone, aldosterone to renin ratio, and aldosterone after saline load but not with blood pressure. Patients with severe OSA (AHI > 30) in comparison to those with mild OSA (AHI 5–15) had significantly higher PRA and aldosterone (baseline and after saline load) but comparable values of blood pressure. We did not find significant impact of OSA severity on the frequency of abnormal blood pressure patterns. Frequencies of diabetes, abnormal lipid profiles, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke increased with increases in severity of OSA.Conclusions Despite of normal basal PRA and aldosterone concentration, patients with resistant hypertension and OSA had impaired response to saline load and a rate of this impairment depended on the severity of OSA.Background In this cross-sectional study, we sought associations among severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and blood pressure patterns in patients with resistant hypertension.Material and methods In 65 patients with resistant hypertension we measured the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) by a portable sleep recorded system and aldosterone and plasma renin activity (PRA) in response to saline infusion test. We also collected data on cardiovascular events, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes and performed 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).Results Baseline PRA, aldosterone and aldosterone-to-renin ratio were within normal range but aldosterone level in response to saline infusion was increased above normal upper limit. In ABPM, 68% of patients had an altered pattern of blood pressure (non-dipping or reverse dipping). AHI was inversely correlated with PRA and positively with weight, BMI, plasma aldosterone, aldosterone to renin ratio, and aldosterone after saline load but not with blood pressure. Patients with severe OSA (AHI > 30) in comparison to those with mild OSA (AHI 5–15) had significantly higher PRA and aldosterone (baseline and after saline load) but comparable values of blood pressure. We did not find significant impact of OSA severity on the frequency of abnormal blood pressure patterns. Frequencies of diabetes, abnormal lipid profiles, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke increased with increases in severity of OSA.Conclusions Despite of normal basal PRA and aldosterone concentration, patients with resistant hypertension and OSA had impaired response to saline load and a rate of this impairment depended on the severity of OSA

The sustained increase of plasma fibrinogen during ischemic stroke predicts worse outcome independently of baseline fibrinogen level

Hyperfibrinogenemia at the beginning of ischemic stroke is associated with poor outcome. We hypothesized that the sustained increase of plasma fibrinogen during stroke predicts outcome independently of baseline fibrinogen concentration. We included 266 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke in whom plasma fibrinogen level was measured on days 1, 7, and 14. The sustained fibrinogen's increase was defined as the persistent elevation of fibrinogen's concentration on days 7 and 14 by at least 20 % compared to the level on day 1. The functional outcome on day 30 was assessed using modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Favorable outcome was defined as mRS 0-1. The sustained increase of fibrinogen was found in 17 % of patients. On multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, NIHSS score, baseline fibrinogen >2.66 mmol/L, presence of infection, and hyperglycemia, the sustained fibrinogen's level was associated with reduced chance of favorable outcome (OR: 0.17, 95 % CI: 0.06-0.48, P<0.01)

Atrial fibrillation and stroke – Coexistence and attitude to preventive therapy on the basis of Szczecin and Szczecin region patients

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an independent factor increasing the risk of an ischemic stroke (IS) fivefold. The objective of the study was to evaluate the frequency of coexistence of non-valvular AF and IS during the acute stroke and to analyze the attitude of AF patients to treatment. The study included 3712 successive patients presenting either an IS or a transient ischemic attack. The analysis revealed a significant increase in the rate of patients with AF and IS in the years 2010–2013 (31.9%) compared with 2002–2005 (20.2%). A rise in the proportion of AF and IS patients was recorded over the course of consecutive years in group II. The proportion of newly detected AF cases during hospital stay differed significantly between the groups (16.9% vs. 31.9%). Group I and II patients differed essentially with regards to hypertension incidence and female rates. Antiplatelet medications or OACs were taken by a significantly greater number of AF patients in group II. Low number of therapeutic levels of INR was recorded in both groups. IS and AF coexist more frequently than indicated by previous assessments and demographic data from other countries. Increase in the number of IS and AF patients may result from higher detectability of AF and older age of patients affected with stroke, women in particular. Despite a well grounded knowledge about the benefits of OACs use in the prophylaxis of thrombotic-embolic events in AF patients, they are rarely used. A surprisingly low proportion of patients taking OACs reaches a therapeutic INR level

The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its single nucleotide polymorphisms in stroke patients

Stroke is the main cause of motoric and neuropsychological disability in adults. Recent advances in research into the role of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor in neuroplasticity, neuroprotection and neurogenesis might provide important information for the development of new poststroke-rehabilitation strategies. It plays a role as a mediator in motor learning and rehabilitation after stroke. Concentrations of BDNF are lower in acute ischemic-stroke patients compared to controls. Lower levels of BDNF are correlated with an increased risk of stroke, worse functional outcomes and higher mortality. BDNF signalling is dependent on the genetic variation which could affect an individual's response to recovery after stroke. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms of the BDNF gene have been studied with regard to stroke patients, but most papers analyse the rs6265 which results in a change from valine to methionine in the precursor protein. Subsequently a reduction in BDNF activity is observed. There are studies indicating the role of this polymorphism in brain plasticity, functional and morphological changes in the brain. It may affect the risk of ischemic stroke, post-stroke outcomes and the efficacy of the rehabilitation process within physical exercise and transcranial magnetic stimulation. There is a consistent trend of Met alleles’ being connected with worse outcomes and prognoses after stroke. However, there is no satisfactory data confirming the importance of Met allele in stroke epidemiology and the post-stroke rehabilitation process. We present the current data on the role of BDNF and polymorphisms of the BDNF gene in stroke patients, concentrating on human studies