The Cloud: Polish-Japanese Architectural Workshop during Covid-19 Pandemic

Celem artykułu jest analiza doświadczeń zgromadzonych podczas polsko-japońskich warsztatów architektonicznych zrealizowanych na studiach Master of Architecture prowadzonych na Wydziale Architektury i Sztuk Pięknych Krakowskiej Akademii im. Andrzeja Frycza Modrzewskiego z udziałem biura Kengo Kumy z Tokio. Tematem warsztatów było twórcze wykorzystanie złącz ciesielskich charakterystycznych dla tradycyjnego budownictwa Podhala i Orawy. Ich rezultaty w formie instalacji przestrzennej Chmura – The Cloud oraz prezentacji prac studenckich zostały pokazane na wystawie „Kengo Kuma. Eksperyment. Materiał. Architektura” w Muzeum Sztuki i Techniki Japońskiej Manggha, która została otwarta 15 grudnia 2021 r. Wyzwania związane z ograniczeniem mobilności uczestników i koniecznością przeprowadzenia zasadniczej części warsztatów w formie zdalnej zostały przeanalizowane z dwóch perspektyw: doświadczeń osób prowadzących warsztaty i wniosków zebranych z analizy najnowszej literatury dotyczącej nauczania projektowania architektonicznego w czasie pandemii. Rozważania te prowadzą do wniosku, że bezpośredni, osobisty kontakt jest nadal najbardziej efektywnym i satysfakcjonującym sposobem nauczania projektowania architektonicznego.The aim of the article is to analyze the experiences gathered during the Polish-Japanese architectural workshop carried out at the Master of Architecture studies at the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts of the Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University with the participation of Kengo Kuma’s office from Tokyo. The creative use of carpentry joints characteristic of the traditional construction of Podhale and Orawa was the topic of the workshop. Its result in the form of the spatial installation called Chmura – The Cloud and the presentation of student works were shown at the exhibition „Kengo Kuma. Experiment. Material. Architecture” at the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology, which was opened on December 15, 2021. The challenges related to limiting the mobility of the workshop participants and the need to conduct the main part of the workshop in the online form were analyzed from two perspectives: the experiences of the workshop leaders and the conclusions gathered from the analysis of the latest literature on teaching architectural design during a pandemic. These considerations lead to the conclusion that direct, personal contact is still the most effective and satisfying way of teaching architectural design

Complement inhibitory proteins expression in placentas of thrombophilic women

Factors controlling complement activation appear to exert a protective effect on pregnancy. This isparticularly important in women with thrombophilia. The aim of this study was to determine the transcript andprotein levels of complement decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and membrane cofactor protein (MCP) in theplacentas of women with acquired and inherited thrombophilia. Also, we assessed immunohistochemistry stainingof inhibitors of the complement cascade, DAF and MCP proteins, in the placentas of thrombophilic women.Placentas were collected from eight women with inherited thrombophilia and ten with acquired thrombophilia.The levels of DAF and MCP transcripts were evaluated by qPCR, the protein level was evaluated by Westernblot. We observed a higher transcript (p < 0.05) and protein (p < 0.001) levels of DAF and MCP in the placentasof thrombophilic women than in the control group. DAF and MCP were localized on villous syncytiotrophoblastmembranes, but the assessment of staining in all groups did not differ. The observed higher expression level ofproteins that control activation of complement control proteins is only seemingly contradictory to the changesobserved for example in the antiphospholipid syndrome. However, given the hitherto known biochemical changesassociated with thrombophilia, a mechanism in which increased expression of DAF and MCP in the placentas isan effect of proinflammatory cytokines, which accompanies thrombophilia, is probable.Factors controlling complement activation appear to exert a protective effect on pregnancy. This isparticularly important in women with thrombophilia. The aim of this study was to determine the transcript andprotein levels of complement decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and membrane cofactor protein (MCP) in theplacentas of women with acquired and inherited thrombophilia. Also, we assessed immunohistochemistry stainingof inhibitors of the complement cascade, DAF and MCP proteins, in the placentas of thrombophilic women.Placentas were collected from eight women with inherited thrombophilia and ten with acquired thrombophilia.The levels of DAF and MCP transcripts were evaluated by qPCR, the protein level was evaluated by Westernblot. We observed a higher transcript (p < 0.05) and protein (p < 0.001) levels of DAF and MCP in the placentasof thrombophilic women than in the control group. DAF and MCP were localized on villous syncytiotrophoblastmembranes, but the assessment of staining in all groups did not differ. The observed higher expression level ofproteins that control activation of complement control proteins is only seemingly contradictory to the changesobserved for example in the antiphospholipid syndrome. However, given the hitherto known biochemical changesassociated with thrombophilia, a mechanism in which increased expression of DAF and MCP in the placentas isan effect of proinflammatory cytokines, which accompanies thrombophilia, is probable

Influence of gut microbiota on efficacy and adverse effects of treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders

Gut microbiota has aroused great interest because of its influence on the human body's homeostasis. In addition, multiple reports have indicated its role in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Interestingly, gut microbiota can affect hematological disorders by participating in lymphomagenesis. Patients with lymphoproliferative disorders undergo many procedures that alter their unique microbiota composition and lead to dysbiosis. However, this can have a biased effect as many studies have highlighted gut microbiota’s activity in chemotherapy efficacy, for instance by either enhancing the anti-malignant effects of cyclophosphamide or by diminishing the activity of doxorubicin or cladribine. This review aimed to summarize gut microbiota’s influence on chemotherapy’s outcomes on treatment-related side effects in lymphoproliferative disorders, antimicrobial regimens, and possible gut microbiota modifications to enhance treatment outcomes

MICROSTRUCTURE AND PHASE COMPOSITION OF THE Ni-Si-B-Ag-BASED PLASMA SPRAY DEPOSIT

The aim of this work is to study the possibility of obtaining an amorphous-crystalline composite starting from Ni-Si-B-based powder grade 1559-40 and silver powder. The process of plasma spray deposition was performed on a water-cooled copper substrate. The cooling rate was assessed using a mid-wave infrared MWIR camera. The microstructure of the deposit was studied using scanning electron microscope SEM with an energy dispersive spectrometer EDS. Phase identification was performed using X-ray diffraction XRD. The studies confirmed an amorphous-crystalline microstructure of the deposits. The predominant constituent of the microstructure was amorphous regions enriched in Ni, Si, and B, while the other constituent was Ag-rich crystalline inclusions identified as a face-centered cubic fcc

Analysis of Ignition Capability of Flammable Gases from Small Arms Propellant Gases

The article presents the results of tests on the temperature of propellant gases shortly after the bullet leaves the barrel. The temperature and movement of these gases were recorded with thermal cameras and a high-speed camera. Weapons with and without muzzle devices (flash suppressor, silencer) were used. The aim of the research was to check the capability to ignite flammable gases located in the vicinity of the propellant gases produced during firing. Comparison of the maximum temperature of the propellant gases and the ignition temperature of the flammable gases makes it possible to determine the probability of fire. The lowest temperature of propellant gases was in the case of shooting with 9 19 mm bullets with the lowest kinetic energy (518 J), and the highest temperature of these gases was during shooting with 5.56 45 mm HC (SS109) bullets with the highest kinetic energy (1,785 J)

On-Pump vs Off-Pump coronary artery bypass surgery in atrial fibrillation : analysis from the polish national registry of cardiac surgery procedures (KROK)

BackgroundNo single randomized study has ever before addressed the safety of On-Pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) vs Off-Pump CABG in the setting of atrial fibrillation (AF) and data from small observational samples remain inconclusive.Methods and findingsProcedural data from KROK (Polish National Registry of Cardiac Surgery Procedures) were retrospectively collected. Of initial 188,972 patients undergoing CABG, 7,913 presented with baseline AF (76.0% men, mean age 69.1±8.2) and underwent CABG without concomitant valve surgery between 2006-2019 in 37 reference centers across Poland. Mean follow-up was 4.7±3.5 years (median 4.3 IQR 1.7-7.4). Cox proportional hazards models were used for computations. Of included patients, 3,681 underwent On-Pump- (46.52%) as compared to 4,232 (53.48%) who underwent Off-Pump CABG. Patients in the latter group less frequently were candidates for complete revascularization (PConclusionsOff-Pump CABG offered 30-day survival benefit to patients undergoing CABG surgery and presenting with underlying AF. On-Pump CABG was associated with significantly improved survival at long term

Long-term survival following surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation concomitant to isolated and combined coronary artery bypass surgery-analysis from the polish national registry of cardiac surgery procedures (KROK)

The current investigation aimed to evaluate long-term survival in patients undergoing isolated and combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with concomitant surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Procedural data from KROK (Polish National Registry of Cardiac Surgery Procedures) were retrospectively collected. Eleven thousand three hundred sixteen patients with baseline AF (72.4% men, mean age 69.6 ± 7.9) undergoing isolated and combined CABG surgery between 2006–2019 in 37 reference centers across Poland and included in the registry were analyzed. The median follow-up was four years (3.7 IQR 1.3–6.8). Over a 12-year study period, there was a significant survival benefit (Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.83; (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.73–0.95); p = 0.005) with concomitant ablation as compared to no concomitant ablation. After rigorous propensity matching (LOGIT model, 432 pairs), concomitant surgical ablation was associated with over 25% improved survival in the overall analysis: HR 0.74; (95% CIs: 0.56–0.98); p = 0.036. The benefit of concomitant ablation was maintained in the subgroups, yet the most benefit was appraised in low-risk patients (EuroSCORE < 2, p = 0.003) with the three-vessel disease (p < 0.001) and without other comorbidities. Ablation was further associated with significantly improved survival in patients undergoing CABG with mitral valve surgery (HR 0.62; (95% CIs: 0.52–0.74); p < 0.001) and in patients in whom complete revascularization was not achieved: HR 0.43; (95% CIs: 0.24–0.79); p = 0.006. View Full-Text