Kinematics of concurrent vibratory rolling – screw system on the example of screen

The kinematics concurrent vibratory rolling screw system used in rolling screw screen that is used for sieving materials of fine and very fine grain was examined. The conducted experiments regarded the measurement of the torsional vibration sieve column (X and Y axis) and the measurement of the vertical vibration of the column (Z-axis)

Effect of increasing fruit and vegetable intake by dietary intervention on nutritional biomarkers and attitudes to dietary change : a randomised trial

This work was funded by The Scottish Government Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Sciences Division (RESAS) and supported by the Rank Prize Funds.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Effect of Theophylline as Adjunct to Inhaled Corticosteroids on Exacerbations in Patients With COPD: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health issue and theophylline is used extensively. Preclinical investigations have demonstrated that low plasma concentrations (1-5 mg/L) of theophylline enhance antiinflammatory effects of corticosteroids in COPD.  Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of adding low-dose theophylline to inhaled corticosteroids in COPD.  Design, Setting, and Participants: The TWICS (theophylline with inhaled corticosteroids) trial was a pragmatic, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial that enrolled patients with COPD between February 6, 2014, and August 31, 2016. Final follow-up ended on August 31, 2017. Participants had a ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) of less than 0.7 with at least 2 exacerbations (treated with antibiotics, oral corticosteroids, or both) in the previous year and were using an inhaled corticosteroid. This study included 1578 participants in 121 UK primary and secondary care sites.  Interventions: Participants were randomized to receive low-dose theophylline (200 mg once or twice per day) to provide plasma concentrations of 1 to 5 mg/L (determined by ideal body weight and smoking status) (n = 791) or placebo (n = 787).  Main Outcomes and Measures: The number of participant-reported moderate or severe exacerbations treated with antibiotics, oral corticosteroids, or both over the 1-year treatment period.  Results: Of the 1567 participants analyzed, mean (SD) age was 68.4 (8.4) years and 54% (843) were men. Data for evaluation of the primary outcome were available for 1536 participants (98%) (772 in the theophylline group; 764 in the placebo group). In total, there were 3430 exacerbations: 1727 in the theophylline group (mean, 2.24 [95% CI, 2.10-2.38] exacerbations per year) vs 1703 in the placebo group (mean, 2.23 [95% CI, 2.09-2.37] exacerbations per year); unadjusted mean difference, 0.01 (95% CI, −0.19 to 0.21) and adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.99 (95% CI, 0.91-1.08). Serious adverse events in the theophylline and placebo groups included cardiac, 2.4% vs 3.4%; gastrointestinal, 2.7% vs 1.3%; and adverse reactions such as nausea (10.9% vs 7.9%) and headaches (9.0% vs 7.9%).  Conclusions and Relevance: Among adults with COPD at high risk of exacerbation treated with inhaled corticosteroids, the addition of low-dose theophylline, compared with placebo, did not reduce the number COPD exacerbations over a 1-year period. The findings do not support the use of low-dose theophylline as adjunctive therapy to inhaled corticosteroids for the prevention of COPD exacerbations

Low-dose oral theophylline combined with inhaled corticosteroids for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and high risk of exacerbations: a RCT

BACKGROUND: Despite widespread use of therapies such as inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continue to suffer, have reduced life expectancy and utilise considerable NHS resources. Laboratory investigations have demonstrated that at low plasma concentrations (1-5 mg/l) theophylline markedly enhances the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids in COPD. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of adding low-dose theophylline to a drug regimen containing ICSs in people with COPD at high risk of exacerbation. DESIGN: A multicentre, pragmatic, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING: The trial was conducted in 121 UK primary and secondary care sites. PARTICIPANTS: People with COPD [i.e. who have a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) of < 0.7] currently on a drug regimen including ICSs with a history of two or more exacerbations treated with antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids (OCSs) in the previous year. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomised (1 : 1) to receive either low-dose theophylline or placebo for 1 year. The dose of theophylline (200 mg once or twice a day) was determined by ideal body weight and smoking status. PRIMARY OUTCOME: The number of participant-reported exacerbations in the 1-year treatment period that were treated with antibiotics and/or OCSs. RESULTS: A total of 1578 people were randomised (60% from primary care): 791 to theophylline and 787 to placebo. There were 11 post-randomisation exclusions. Trial medication was prescribed to 1567 participants: 788 in the theophylline arm and 779 in the placebo arm. Participants in the trial arms were well balanced in terms of characteristics. The mean age was 68.4 [standard deviation (SD) 8.4] years, 54% were male, 32% smoked and mean FEV1 was 51.7% (SD 20.0%) predicted. Primary outcome data were available for 98% of participants: 772 in the theophylline arm and 764 in the placebo arm. There were 1489 person-years of follow-up data. The mean number of exacerbations was 2.24 (SD 1.99) for participants allocated to theophylline and 2.23 (SD 1.97) for participants allocated to placebo [adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91 to 1.08]. Low-dose theophylline had no significant effects on lung function (i.e. FEV1), incidence of pneumonia, mortality, breathlessness or measures of quality of life or disease impact. Hospital admissions due to COPD exacerbation were less frequent with low-dose theophylline (adjusted IRR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.94). However, 39 of the 51 excess hospital admissions in the placebo group were accounted for by 10 participants having three or more exacerbations. There were no differences in the reporting of theophylline side effects between the theophylline and placebo arms. LIMITATIONS: A higher than expected percentage of participants (26%) ceased trial medication; this was balanced between the theophylline and placebo arms and mitigated by over-recruitment (n = 154 additional participants were recruited) and the high rate of follow-up. The limitation of not using documented exacerbations is addressed by evidence that patient recall is highly reliable and the results of a small within-trial validation study. CONCLUSION: For people with COPD at high risk of exacerbation, the addition of low-dose oral theophylline to a drug regimen that includes ICSs confers no overall clinical or health economic benefit. This result was evident from the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. FUTURE WORK: To promote consideration of the findings of this trial in national and international COPD guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN27066620. FUNDING: This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 37. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information

Blog as a self-presentation and promotion tool

Celem pracy jest przedstawienie bloga jako narzędzia promocji, które pozwala na wykreowanie wizerunku korzystnego przede wszystkim ze względów komercyjnych. Praca ma na celu udowodnienie, że blog to nie tylko forma pamiętnika, dziennika, ale sposób na zarabianie pieniędzy i zaistnienie na rynku, dla którego nie jest jasno zdefiniowany próg wejścia. Wizerunek oraz właściwa promocja są kluczowymi elementami tej opiniotwórczej części mediów. Analizie poddana została polska blogosfera oraz jej użytkownicy. Przeprowadzone obserwacje pozwoliły na stwierdzenie, że blogosfera to prężnie rozwijające się medium, które wpływa na opinię publiczną. Rzeczywistość wirtualna pokazuje jak istotna jest indywidualność oraz wiarygodność blogera, które pełnią nadrzędne funkcje w odbiorze bloga.The purposes of the study is to present the blog platform as a tool used to promote yourself and establish an appealing identity, favorable primarily for commercial reasons. This research is intended to proving that blog is not just a form of a modern diary or journal, but also a way to earn money and become recognizable in the market which doesn’t have a clear entry threshold. The image and the proper approach to promoting yourself are key elements in this part of the opinion-forming media. The subject of the analysis was the polish blogosphere and its users. Performed observations have allowed to conclude that the blogosphere is an actively growing media that has real influences on the public opinion. Virtual reality shows the importance of individuality and the credibility of the blogger, that act overriding functions in the blog

The pace of development of parameters of boys foot

Rozwój stopy w procesie ontogenezy przebiega nierównomiernie. Ważne jest badanie wymiarów stopy we współczesnej populacji w celu uaktualnienia danych wykorzystywanych m.in. przez przemysł obuwniczy. Celem pracy było określenie tempa rozwoju siedmiu parametrów stopy u chłopców. Materiał badań stanowiła losowa próba z badań przekrojowych dzieci na terenie całego kraju. Przebadano 985 chłopców w wieku od 1 do 7 lat. W analizie statystycznej obliczono podstawowe charakterystyki (średnia arytmetyczna, odchylenia standardowe, zastosowano test wariancji średnich ANOVA, wyznaczono wartości przyrostów pomiędzy klasami a także obliczono wskaźnik tempa rozwoju WTRI). Wnioski: największe tempo rozwoju większości parametrów stopy zachodzi między 1 - 2 rokiem życia, zwolnienie tempa rozwoju następuje między 3 - 5 rokiem życia, ponowny wzrost dynamiki rozwoju między 6 – 7 rokiem życia. Wskaźniki opisujące stopę zmieniają się w zakresie wieku od 1 do 7 lat, co wskazuje na zmiany proporcji stopy.The development of foot in the process of ontogenesis is irregularly. It is important to study the dimensions of foot in contemporary populations in order to update the data used include the footwear industry. The aim of this study was to determine the pace of development of seven parameters of boys foot. The research material was a random sample of cross-sectional survey of children throughout the country. We studied 985 boys aged from 1 to 7 years. The statistical analysis was calculated basic characteristics (arithmetic mean, standard deviation, average variance test was used ANOVA, the values of the increments between classes and calculated the rate of development WTRI). Conclusions: The highest pace of development of the most parameters of foot occurs between 1-2 years old, a slowdown is between 3-5 years of age, and again dynamics of development is high between 6 - 7 years of age. Indicators describing foot are changing in age from 1 to 7 years, which means change of foot proportions

Być zdolnym – wspierać zdolnych

Praca recenzowana / peer-reviewed paperByć zdolnym – wspierać zdolnych to książka szczególna. Zawiera teksty napisane przez nauczycieli – uczestników studiów podyplomowych Praca z uczniem zdolnym. Stanowią oni pierwszą grupę specjalistów w zakresie rozpoznawania, opieki i wspierania uczniów zdolnych w województwie świętokrzyskim. Takie kadry są szczególnie potrzebne wobec zmian w systemie pracy ze zdolnymi, wdrażanych w szkołach i placówkach od roku szkolnego 2011/2012. Studia były realizowane w ramach projektu Benild – Doskonalenie Świętokrzyskich Kadr Oświaty, współfinansowanego ze środków Unii Europejskiej w ramach Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego, na Uniwersytecie Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach. Celem studiów było nabywanie przez nauczycieli kompetencji w obszarze identyfikacji i wspierania uczniów zdolnych

Autoimmune pancreatitis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease - a real-world multicentre collaborative ECCO CONFER study

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is rarely associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Long-term outcomes of AIP and IBD in patients with AIP-IBD coexistence and predictors of complicated AIP course are scarcely known. An ECCO COllaborative Network For Exceptionally Rare case reports project (ECCO-CONFER) collected cases of AIP diagnosed in patients with IBD. Complicated AIP was defined as a composite of endocrine and/or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and/or pancreatic cancer. We explored factors associated with complicated AIP in IBD. We included 96 patients (53% males, 79% ulcerative colitis, 72% type 2 AIP, age at AIP diagnosis 35±16 years). The majority of Crohn's disease (CD) cases (78%) had colonic/ileocolonic involvement. In 59%, IBD preceded AIP diagnosis, whereas 18% were diagnosed simultaneously. Advanced therapy to control IBD was used in 61% and 17% underwent IBD-related surgery. 82% of patients were treated with steroids for AIP, the majority of which (91%) responded to a single course of treatment. During a mean follow-up of 7 years, AIP complications occurred in 25/96 (26%) individuals. In a multivariate model, younger age at AIP diagnosis (OR=1.05, P=0.008), family history of IBD (OR=0.1, P=0.03) and CD diagnosis (OR=0.2, P=0.04) were associated with uncomplicated AIP course. No IBD or AIP-related deaths occurred. In this large international cohort of patients with concomitant AIP-IBD, most patients have type 2 AIP and colonic IBD. AIP course is relatively benign and long-term outcomes are favourable, however, one-quarter develop pancreatic complications. Age, familial history of IBD and CD may predict uncomplicated AIP course