Concentrations of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, and the immature-to-total neutrophil ratio in the blood of neonates with nosocomial infections: Gram-negative bacilli vs coagulase-negative staphylococci

This study was undertaken to determine whether concentrations of procalcitonin in the blood of neonates with nosocomial infections depend on the type of pathogen. Qualification for the study group was based on the clinical signs of infection. We found that infections with Gram-positive (chiefly coagulase-negative staphylococci) and Gram-negative bacteria are accompanied by elevated concentrations of procalcitonin. In the case of Gram-positive bacteria, other laboratory signs of infection studied by us (concentration of C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, immature-to-total neutrophil ratio) were not discriminatory, confirming the diagnostic usefulness of procalcitonin measurements in nosocomial infections of the neonate with Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria

Gross motor coordination and their relationship with body mass and physical activity level during growth in children aged 8-11 years old: a longitudinal and allometric approach

© 2022 The Authors. Published by PeerJ. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13483Background: Gross motor coordination (GMC) is fundamental to the harmonious development of physical skills during the growth of children. This research aimed to explore the developmental changes in GMC during childhood, having controlled for the differences in children's body size and shape using a longitudinal, allometric scaling methodology. Methods: A total of 104 children from North-East Italy of third-fourth- and fifth-grade students and each participant were tested for three consequently years. Subjects performed the short version of korperkoordinationstest fur kinder (KTK3) and the anthropometric characteristics were simultaneously collected. The physical activity questionnaire (PAQ-C) was used to evaluate the weekly physical engagement. Results: Ontogenetic multiplicative models suggested nonlinear associations with GMC across the children's developmental years. Linear physique was a significant predictor associated with the development of GMC across time. PAQ-C was significantly associated with GMC from 8 to 13 years old. Conclusion: Growth does not respect linear trends. A greater lean body mass could be assessed as a reliable predictor of GMC in children. The crucial period of life to improve the GMC is 8-10 years, while stabilization becomes evident from 10 to 13 years.Published onlin

Cell-penetrating peptides : types and mechanisms of penetration

Before discovery of the Tat peptide over twenty years ago, it was assumed that large peptides and proteins do not penetrate cell membranes. After discovery of Tat, Penetratin [1, 2] and several other peptides of natural origin, able to cross the cell membranes in an energy-independent manner, the structural determinants of their cell-penetrating potency were established, including polycationic character, amphipaticity and presence of proline-rich motifs [3, 4]. Currently known cell-penetrating peptides of natural or synthetic origin are composed of 5 to 40 amino acid residues and belong to one of the three families: oligocationic, amphipatic or proline-rich and penetrate the biological membranes by endocytosis or other ways of direct translocation. Most of these translocation mechanisms are not exclusive and may occur simultaneously, and their contribution may be different for each peptide depending on the conditions (e.g. CPP concentration, pH, etc.). Most CPPs demonstrate little or no mammalian cell toxicity what makes them promising vectors for drug delivery. Such vectors might be useful for efficient internalization of compounds otherways poorly penetrating biological membranes. Novel CPP-effector conjugates may become effective anticancer or antimicrobial agents of a great potential for chemotherapy [3, 5]. In this short review we present a glimpse at the current state of knowledge concerning sub‑families, types and mechanisms of action of most prominent members of CPP family

Estimation of measurement accuracy in materials microtechnologies

Pomiar różnorodnych wielkości fizycznych, określających cechy materiałowe elementów, podlegających obróbce przestrzennej lub modyfikacji w wyniku oddziaływania wiązki laserowej jest trudny ze względu na mikroskopijne wymiary elementów finalnych. W artykule omówiono wybrane zagadnienia dokładności pomiarów w trakcie opracowywania nowej technologii w skali mikrometrowej (pomiary parametrów wiązki laserowej, określania właściwości strukturalnych i mikrotwardości jako wybranej cechy funkcjonalnej).Majority of material technologies making use of a laser beam are micro-technologies in micrometer- or even nanoscale. Such technological processes, considering that the volume of materials undergoing modification or synthesis as a result of laser treatment is extreme small, are very difficult to control in real time ("on line"). Therefore, proper elaboration of the microtechnology in order to prevent a measurement of large number of parameters during its multiple reproduction is the task of great importance. Direct use of measuring methods for macroscopic material objects is not acceptable. Generally, there are not many sophisticated measuring methods and systems for micro- or nanoscale. Problems of measurement accuracy are discussed in the paper. The authors tried to solve them during their research at different stages of new laser microtechnologies. The presented issues include measurements of selected laser beam parameters, structural evaluation, among other, electron microanalysis and some functional properties of elements produced by laser technology

Iron containing bactericidal titanium dioxide coatings

Celem pracy było określenie wpływu ilości żelaza zawartego w wygrzewanych powłokach ditlenku tytanu (TiO2) wytworzonych w procesie RF PECVD (radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition) na ich właściwości optyczne oraz bakteriobójczość. Powłoki nanoszone były na podłoża krzemowe przy stałej mocy wyładowania jarzeniowego - 300 W, czasie trwania procesu - 30 min., przepływie tlenu - 50 sccm oraz ilości dostarczanego chlorku tytanu (IV) w temperaturze 0oC (związku wyjściowego dlaTiO2). Zmiennym parametrem był przepływ par pentakarbonylku żelaza (prekursora dla atomów żelaza). Otrzymano powłoki o następującej zawartości atomowej żelaza: 0,1%, 0,4%, 0,8% 1,1%, 2,3%, 5,6%, 11,5%, 27,3%. Badania elipsometryczne wykazały znaczący wpływ zawartości żelaza na zmianę parametrów współczynnika załamania światła, współczynnika ekstynkcji oraz grubości powłok. Najsilniejszy efekt bakteriobójczy wykazała powłoka o zawartości 0.4% Fe. Ponadto można było dostrzec tendencję spadku przeżywalności wraz ze zmniejszeniem ilości żelaza w powłoce.The aim of the work was to determine the effect of iron content in thermally annealed titanium dioxide (TiO2) coatings, synthesized with the radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (RF PECVD) method, on their optical and bactericidal properties. The coatings were deposited onto silicon substrates at the following constant operational parameters: glow discharge power of 300 Watt, oxygen flow rate of 50 sccm titanium tetrachloride (TiO2 precursor) evaporation temperature of 0oC and process duration of 30 minutes, with the variable parameter being the flow rate of iron pentacarbonyl, a source of iron atoms. Coatings characterized by the following iron content were produced: 0.1%, 0.4%, 0.8% 1.1%, 2.3%, 5.6%, 11.5% and 27.3%. Ellipsometric measurements have shown a substantial effect of iron content on the refractive index, extinction coefficient and thickness of the films. The strongest bactericidal effect was exhibited by the coating containing 0.4% of iron, with the bacterial survivability decreasing along the lines of lowering content of this element

Photovoltaic cells of unconventional shape

Wykorzystywane w praktyce panele fotowoltaiczne krzemowe łączone są z pojedynczych ogniw w kształcie prostokąta lub kwadratu, co wynika z technologii wytwarzania podstawowych materiałów do ich produkcji - krzemu monokrystalicznego lub polikrystalicznego. Podobne kształty mają także małe ogniwa o powierzchni kilku cm2 stosowane do zasilania kalkulatorów, zabawek, źródeł światła małej mocy. Zrealizowane w różnych krajach udane rozwiązania o walorach estetyczno-dekoracyjnych, w których panele fotowoltaiczne wkomponowane są w nowoczesne rozwiązania architektoniczne, również wykorzystują ogniwa o standardowych kształtach. W Instytucie Systemów Inżynierii Elektrycznej Politechniki Łódzkiej opracowano innowacyjną metodę laserowego cięcia ogniw krzemowych według zadanej trajektorii z wykorzystaniem lasera światłowodowego emitującego ciąg impulsów nanosekundowych. Metoda ta umożliwia wytworzenie fotowoltaicznych elementów dekoracyjnych o dowolnych kształtach do zastosowań artystyczno użytkowych. Badania mikroskopowe wykazały co najmniej zadowalającą jakość krawędzi cięcia i jedynie nieznaczny wpływ wiązki laserowej na zmiany struktury warstw aktywnych ogniwa. Badania wyciętych elementów ogniw potwierdziły nieduży wpływ procesu cięcia na wyznaczone charakterystyki i parametry prądowe, co daje korzystne przesłanki do wykorzystania nowej technologii na szerszą skalę.Applied in practice, silicon photovoltaic panels are combined from individual cells, built in the shape of a rectangle or square, due to the technology for the production of the basic materials - monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon. Small cells, with an area of several cm2, applied for power supply of calculators, toys, and low-power light sources, are also similar shapes. Implemented in different countries successful solutions with decorative and esthetic qualities in which the photovoltaic panels are incorporated into modern architecture, also use these cells with standard shapes. An innovative method for laser cutting of silicon cells by using the trajectory fiber laser emitting nanosecond pulse, is developed at the Institute of Electrical Engineering Systems of the Lodz University of Technology. This method allows the production of solar decorative elements of any shapes for artistic and commercial applications. Microscopic examination revealed at least a satisfactory quality of the cutting edge, and only a slight effect of the laser beam on the change the structure of layers of active cells. Tests of the cut parts of cells confirmed a small impact of the designated cutting process on characteristics and parameters of current, which gives favorable conditions for the use of new technology in a wider scale