Attitude Control System for an Earth observation satellite

The objective of the research was to develop the Attitude Control System algorithm to be implemented in the Earth Observation Satellite System composed of leader-follower formation. The main task of the developed Attitude Control System is to execute attitude change manoeuvres required to point the axis of the image acquisition sensor to the fixed target on the Earth’s surface, while the satellite is within the segment of an orbit, where image acquisition is possible. Otherwise, the satellite maintains a nadir orientation. The control strategy is realized by defining the high-level operational modes and control laws to manage the attitude control actuators: magnetorquers used for desaturation of the reaction wheels and reaction wheels used for agile attitude variation. A six-degree-of-freedom satellite model was used to verify whether the developed Attitude Control System based on PID controllers for actuators performs attitude control in line with the requirements of an Earth Observation System. The simulations done for a variety of combinations of orbital parameters and surface target positions proved that the designed Attitude Control System fulfils the mission requirements with sufficient accuracy This high-level architecture supplemented by a more detailed control system model allowed proving efficient functionalities performance

Do the asymmetry and the size of the structures of the temporal lobe persist in early stages of schizophrenia?

A total of 14 patients of various ages diagnosed with schizophrenia and, as an age-matched control group, 12 healthy subjects were examined using the MRI method of neuro-imaging. The volume of the following structures was evaluated in the right and left hemispheres: the superior temporal gyrus, the basolateral temporal area (the region including the middle temporal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus and fusiform gyrus), the parahippocampal gyrus, the hippocampal head, the amygdaloid body and the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle. In schizophrenia a significant increase in the volume of the amygdaloid body on both the left and right sides was observed. In the patients, as in the control group, we noticed significant asymmetry between the left and right sides in the volume of the structures studied. The left amygdaloid body was significantly larger than the right, whereas the left hippocampal head and the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle were smaller than the right. Our findings suggest that in the early stages of schizophrenia, despite the increased volume of the amygdaloid body, the asymmetry between the structures of the temporal lobe is still present. However, the changes observed in the temporal lobe could be related to the functional disturbances observed in this disease

A magnetic resonance volumetric study of the temporal lobe structures in depression

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders and is associated with considerable morbidity. In recent years structural-imaging technology has provided an opportunity to examine the brain anatomy in patients with the psychiatric illness. 10 patients of various ages and, as the control group, 16 healthy subjects were examined using the MRI method of neuroimaging. The volumes of the following structures were evaluated in the right and left hemispheres: the superior temporal gyrus, the basolateral temporal area (the region including middle temporal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus and fusiform gyrus), the parahippocampal gyrus, the hippocampal head, the amygdaloid body and the lateral ventricle. The significant difference between the control group and the group with depression concerned the volume of the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle of both hemispheres. In depressed patients the left temporal horn was 49.8% and the right 38.4% larger in comparison with the control group. In the control group there were significant differences between the left and right hemispheres in the volume of all the structures studied, whereas in the group with depression these difference in volume between the hemispheres concerned only the amygdaloid body and the lateral ventricle

Lerkanidipina w leczeniu nadciśnienia tętniczego i jego powikłań sercowo-naczyniowych

Antagoniści wapnia są powszechnie stosowaną grupąleków w terapii nadciśnienia tętniczego. Lerkanidipinajest dihydropirydyną o długim czasie działaniai charakteryzuje się wysoką selektywnością naczyniową.Lek wykazuje skuteczność w redukcji ciśnieniatętniczego w ciągu 24 godzin. Lerkanidipina masłabe działanie kardiodepresyjne (inotropizm ujemny)i wysoką lipofilność. Nie stwierdzono istotnychróżnic w skuteczności hipotensyjnej między lerkanidipinąa nifedipiną GITS, losartanem, kaptoprilem i amlodipiną w badaniach trwających 4–16 tygodni.Lerkanidipina okazała się skutecznym i bezpiecznymlekiem u pacjentów w podeszłym wieku z nadciśnieniem,a zwłaszcza u pacjentów z izolowanymnadciśnieniem skurczowym. Wydaje się, że stosowanietego leku wiąże się z niekorzystnym wpływemna parametry gospodarki węglowodanowej u pacjentówz cukrzycą typu 2. Stosowanie lerkanidipiny jestzwiązane z mniejszą częstością obrzęku podudziw porównaniu z innymi antagonistami wapnia w równoważnychdawkach

Dyslipidemia aterogenna w codziennej praktyce — interdyscyplinarny konsensus polskich ekspertów

Dyslipidemia is the most common risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in Poland. According to the latest guidelines of Scientific Societies, the primary goal of lipid-lowering therapy is to lower LDL-cholesterol, but we should not underestimate the impact of atherogenic dyslipidemia, defined as elevated levels of triglycerides (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and decreased HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), on the progression of atherosclerosis. High TG and low HDL-C are independent risk factors for cardiovascular events, which can be effectively monitored and treated with statins and fenofibrate. The following consensus statement of Polish experts is an attempt to summarize the latest knowledge in the field of atherogenic dyslipidemia and to develop the recommendations for its treatment.Zaburzenia lipidowe są najbardziej rozpowszechnionym czynnikiem ryzyka chorób układu sercowo-naczyniowego w Polsce. Według najnowszych wytycznych towarzystw naukowych nadrzędnym celem terapii hipolipemizującej jest obniżenie stężenia cholesterolu frakcji LDL, niemniej jednak nie można nie doceniać wpływu, jaki na postęp zmian miażdżycowych w naczyniach tętniczych wywiera aterogenna dyslipidemia, czyli podwyższone stężenie triglicerydów (TG) i lipoprotein o bardzo małej gęstości (VLDL) zawierających TG oraz obniżone stężenie frakcji cholesterolu HDL (HDL-C). Wysokie stężenie TG i niskie stężenie HDL-C są niezależnymi czynnikami ryzyka zdarzeń sercowo-naczyniowych, które można skutecznie kontrolować i leczyć za pomocą statyn i fenofibratu. Poniższe stanowisko polskich ekspertów wielu dziedzin stanowi próbę podsumowania najnowszej wiedzy w dziedzinie dyslipidemii aterogennej i sformułowanie zaleceń dotyczących jej leczenia