Few-nucleon system dynamics studied via deuteron-deuteron collisions at 160 MeV

Four nucleon scattering at intermediate energies provides unique opportunities to study effects of the two key ingredients of the nuclear dynamics, the nucleon-nucleon P-wave (NNP-wave) and the three-nucleon force (3NF). This is possible only with systematic and precise data, in conjunction with exact theoretical calculations. Using the BINA detector at KVI Groningen, the Netherlands, a rich set of differential cross section of the 2H(d, dp)n breakup reaction at 160 MeV deuteron beam energy has been measured. Besides the three-body breakup, also cross sections of the 2H(d, 3He)n proton transfer reaction have been obtained. The data are compared to the recent calculations for the three-cluster breakup

4C Mortality Score correlates with in-hospital functional outcome after COVID-19-associated ischaemic stroke

Aim of the study. The 4C Mortality Score was created to predict mortality in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and has to date been evaluated only in respiratory system disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate its application in patients with COVID-19-associated acute ischaemic stroke (AIS).Clinical rationale for study. COVID-19 is a risk factor for AIS. COVID-19-associated AIS results in higher mortality and worse functional outcome. Predictors of functional outcome in COVID-19-associated AIS are required.Materials and methods. This was a retrospective observational study of patients with AIS hospitalised in seven neurological wards in Małopolska Voivodship (Poland) between August and December 2020. We gathered data concerning the patients’ age, sex, presence of cardiovascular risk factors, type of treatment received, and the presence of stroke-associated infections (including pneumonia, urinary tract infection and infection of unknown source). We calculated 4C Mortality Score at stroke onset, and investigated whether there was a correlation with neurological deficit measured using the National Health Institute Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and functional outcome assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge.Results. The study included 52 patients with COVID-19-associated AIS. The 4C Mortality Score at stroke onset correlated with mRS (rs = 0.565, p < 0.01) at discharge. There was also a statistically significant difference in the mean 4C Mortality Score between patients who died and patients who survived the stroke (13.08 ± 2.71 vs. 9.85 ± 3.47, p = 0.04).Conclusions and clinical implications. 4C Mortality Score predicts functional outcome at discharge in COVID-19-associated AIS patients

Pocałunki w twórczości Katullusa – typologia motywu

The present discussion attempts to analyze the meaning of a kiss in nine poems by Catullus – 5, 7, 8, 9, 16, 45, 48, 79, 99 – a meaning which depended not only on the social functions a kiss had in Roman culture, but also on the author’s individual literary conceits, as well as on the reader’s interpretation. The Roman lexical classification into basium, osculum and suavium (Servius ad Verg. Aen. I 256) is not as relevant for Catullus’ works as the poetic richness of meanings attributed to the motif of a kiss. In every single poem, the kiss stands for something different, depending on the poem’s message, its structure, and its addressee: when speaking to Lesbia, the poet refers to kisses in a different way than when speaking to Juventius, or to his friends. Catullus wrote about kisses associating them with various aspects of life – eroticism, social relationships, or poetic theory. The poet employed the motif of kisses to depict the variety of human relations: love (poems 5, 7, 8, 45), friendship (9, 16), or lust (48, 79, 99). What is more, the motif is never unequivocal, and it encompasses at least several common themes, such as counting the kisses (5, 7, 48), comparing them to food (48, 99), kissing the eyes (9, 45, 48), or os impurum – the unclean mouth (79, 99). Thus, the motif is incorporated into Catullus’ poetry in accordance to the variatio principle – a principle crucial to the aesthetics of the neoterics

Start-Up Accelerators and Their Impact on Sustainability: Literature Analysis and Case Studies from the Energy Sector

Start-up accelerators are units supporting entrepreneurs (substantively, financially, legally, and organizationally) in establishing and running young and innovative companies such as start-ups. The commencing energy crisis has led to the need for energy savings, as well as the need to change energy policies and implement energy transformation, creating a wide field for start-ups and start-up accelerators. Making full use of potentially innovative solutions developed by start-ups is, in turn, essential for energy giants and related accelerators in the market. This has created the need for specific research in this direction. Therefore, in this paper we review the literature for 2011–2021 with respect to the role of accelerators supporting start-ups. A survey based on the Scopus database resulted in the identification of 76 papers on accelerators. Particular attention was paid to aspects of sustainable development (economic, social, and environmental). The analysis indicated that 75 works dealt with the economic aspects, 35 focused on social aspects, and only 5 focused on environmental aspects. Due to the perceived gap related to the small number of works dealing with environmental aspects, a decision was made to analyse the energy sector and the methods of operation of accelerators in this sector. Three models found in the market that were used by energy companies to cooperate with start-ups were characterized, along with their goals, in an attempt to enable an improved understanding as to which acceleration model best fits a manager’s organization. The models were supported by case studies—a model of commercial cooperation between a corporation and an external accelerator, a model of creating a corporate accelerator within an internal structure, and a hybrid model

Tocilizumab Improves the Prognosis of COVID-19 in Patients with High IL-6

Despite direct viral effect, the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) includes an overproduction of cytokines including interleukin 6 (IL-6). Therefore, tocilizumab (TOC), a monoclonal antibody against IL-6 receptors, was considered as a possible therapeutic option. Patients were selected from the SARSTer database, containing 2332 individuals with COVID-19. Current study included 825 adult patients with moderate to severe course. Analysis was performed in 170 patients treated with TOC and 655 with an alternative medication. The end-points of treatment effectiveness were death rate, need for mechanical ventilation, and clinical improvement. Patients treated with TOC were balanced compared to non-TOC regarding gender, age, BMI, and prevalence of coexisting conditions. Significant effect of TOC on death was demonstrated in patients with baseline IL-6 > 100 pg/mL (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08–0.57). The best effectiveness of TOC was achieved in patients with a combination of baseline IL-6 > 100 pg/mL and either SpO2 ≤ 90% (HR: 0.07) or requiring oxygen supplementation (HR: 0.18). Tocilizumab administration in COVID-19 reduces mortality and speeds up clinical improvement in patients with a baseline concentration of IL-6 > 100 pg/mL, particularly if they need oxygen supplementation owing to the lower value of SpO2 ≤ 90%

Current stage of studies of the star configurations at intermediate energies with the use of the BINA detector

The Space Star Anomaly in proton-deuteron breakup cross-section occurs at energies of about 10 MeV. Data for higher energies are sparse. Therefore, a systematic scan over star configurations in the range of intermediate energies between 50 and 100 MeV/nucleon is carried out on the basis of data collected with the large acceptance BINA detector. The preliminary cross section results for forward star configurations at 80 MeV/nucleon slightly surpass the theoretical calculations, but the systematic uncertainties are still under study. Also, a new variable describing rotation of star configurations is proposed