Association of circulating calprotectin with lipid profile in axial spondyloarthritis

Calprotectin (CPT) is released during inflammation, also in the context of atherosclerosis. The link between CPT and the atherosclerotic process was evaluated in several diseases. However, studies in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), associated with a high incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis, are scarce. Therefore, we assessed the association of CPT with subclinical atherosclerosis and metabolic risk factors in axSpA. CPT serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 163 axSpA patients and 63 controls. Subclinical atherosclerosis was determined in patients by carotid ultrasonography (assessing the presence/absence of carotid plaques and carotid intima-media thickness [cIMT]). Data on inflammation, disease activity, lipid profile and treatment were collected to evaluate its relationship with CPT. axSpA patients evidenced lower CPT levels than controls. CPT showed no association with plaques or cIMT in axSpA. CPT and HDL-cholesterol negatively correlated, while a positive association of CPT with the atherogenic index was disclosed. Additionally, axSpA patients with C-reactive protein values at diagnosis higher than 3?mg/L displayed higher CPT levels. Our study shows no relationship between CPT and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in axSpA. Nevertheless, it demonstrates an association of CPT with adverse lipid profiles and inflammatory biomarkers, which could further influence on the development of atherosclerosis.We wish to thank all the patients and controls that participated in this study and Begoña Ubilla for technical assistance. FG is a recipient of a Sara Borrell post-doctoral fellowship from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (Spain), co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, “Investing in your future”) (grant CD15/00095). SR-M is supported by funds of the RETICS Program (RIER) RD16/0012/0009 (ISCIII, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, ERDF). VM is supported by funds of a Miguel Servet type I programme (grant CP16/00033) (ISCIII, co-funded by ERDF). RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type I programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the ESF (grant CP16/00033). This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors

Optymalizacja tarczowego sprzęgła wiskotycznego z cieczą elektroreologiczną

W artykule przedstawiono wyniki optymalizacji tarczowego sprzęgła wiskotycznego z cieczą elektroreologiczną, przeznaczonego do chwytaka robota przemysłowego ze zmienną siłą nacisku. We wstępie dokonano krótkiej charakterystyki sprzęgieł hydraulicznych z cieczami magneto- i elektroreologicznymi. Na podstawie przeglądu literatury przeprowadzono analizę metod optymalizacji tego typu sprzęgieł. W oparciu o opracowane założenia projektowe, a także analizę proporcji wymiarów sprzęgieł tarczowych z cieczą elektroreologiczną opracowano założenia do optymalizacji. Obliczenia optymalizacyjne przeprowadzono w oparciu metodę Monte Carlo, stosując do tego celu własne programy obliczeniowe napisane w języku Object Pascal. Wyniki obliczeń optymalizacyjnych przedstawiono w postaci tabelarycznej oraz w postaci graficznej prezentacji zbiorów rozwiązań. Następnie przeprowadzono dyskusję wyników badań. Pracę zakończono wnioskami.The article presents the results of optimisation the viscotic disc clutch with the electrorheological fluid intended for the industrial robot gripper with variable pressure force. In the introduction, a short characterization of hydraulic clutch with magneto and electrorheological fluids was made. On the basis of the literature review, the methods of optimization of this type of clutches were analyzed. Based on the developed design assumptions as well as an dimension analysis of the disk clutches with electrorheological fluid, assumptions for optimization were developed. The optimization calculations were based on the Monte Carlo method, using for this purpose own calculation programs written in Object Pascal language. The results of the optimization calculations are presented in tabular form and in the form of graphical presentation of sets of solutions. Then, the research results were discussed. The work was completed with applications

The meteorological conditions on the Calypsobyen in summer 2014 on the background of multiyear 1986-2011

W opracowaniu scharakteryzowano przebieg warunków pogodowych podczas XXVI Wyprawy Polarnej Uniwersytetu Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej na Spitsbergen. Pomiary wykonywano od 8 lipca do 1 września 2014 roku za pomocą automatycznej stacji meteorologicznej zainstalowanej w Calypsobyen (Bellsund, Svalbard). Analizie poddano temperaturę i wilgotność względną powietrza na wysokości 200 cm nad powierzchnią gruntu (n.p.g.), temperaturę powietrza przy gruncie (5 cm n.p.g.) oraz prędkość i kierunek wiatru. Uzyskane wyniki zostały porównanie z danymi, dla okresu wspólnego, z dwudziestu sezonów pomiarowych z lat 1986-2011 tj. od 10 lipca do 25 sierpnia.Arctic is an area which rapidly react on the changes in environment. The weather conditions react the most quickly and determine other changes in geosystem. That is why the meteorology is the subject not only for meteorologist and climatologist but also for other researchers (like geomorphologists, hydrologists) and makes the background for their research in polar region. The region of Wedel Jarlsberg Land (western coast of Spitsbergen) has been a field of taking research by scientist from the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (Lublin) for almost 30 years. Meteorological observations were carried out since 1986. At the beginning, measurements were taken every 3 or 6 hours. Since 1999 measurements have been doing by automatic stations taking measurements with 10 minutes time step (144 times per day). The aim of this paper is to present course of meteorological conditions during the XXVI Expe-dition of UMCS to Spitsbergen in 2014 on the background of multiyear 1986-2011. The station was located on Calypsostranda, a flat sea terrace, at the height of about 23 m a. s. l., at a distance of 200 m from Bellsund Fjord and 2 km from the Scott Glacier. The substratum was made of dry lichen-moss tundra. In 2014, the meteorological investigation began on 8th July and ended on 1st September. The mean daily air temperature at the altitude of 200 cm amounted to 5.9°C throughout the measurement period. The highest mean daily temperature (8.4°C) was recorded twice: the 23rd July and 4th August. The lowest mean daily temperature (3.1°C) was recorded the 31st August. Mean daily air temperature at the altitude of 5 cm also amounted to 5.9°C. The highest temperatures are recorded around 12 UTC, and the lowest just before midnight. In the 5-18 UTC temperature at 5 cm is higher than the temperature at 200 cm. The highest maximum temperature at the altitude of 200 cm (12.2°C) and at the altitude of 5 cm (14.0°C) was recorded the 4th August. Minimum temperature at the altitude of 200 cm (1.5°C) was recorded the 27th August and at the altitude of 5 cm (-1.7°C) the 25th August. The mean daily relative humidity at a height of 200 cm above the ground amounted to 85% and only twice (4th and 24th August), the humidity dropped below 60%, which was associated with the presence of foehn from the East. For the whole measurement period, the total precipitation amounted to 38.6 mm. 17 days with a precipitation ≥ 0.1 mm were observed (which means that rainfall occurred in 30% of the days). The highest rainfall amounted to 9.6 mm and occurred on 10th July when the air temperature at the altitude of 200 cm decreased from 10.2 do 5.6°C and the weak south wind changed direction to the west, and his speed increased to more than 7 m∙sˉ¹. The mean wind speed was 3,6 m∙sˉ¹ throughout the season. To compare selected meteorological weather conditions of the summer season 2014 against the multiyear 1986-2011, based on data for the period that is common (10th July – 25th August). The mean daily air temperature in 2014 was up to 1.1°C higher than the average temperature of period 1986-2011. Only season of 2002 was characterized by higher average temperature (6.3°C). The sum of the 2014 season precipitation was lower than in multiyear. The mean daily wind speed of season 2014 was 3.6 m sˉ¹ and was lower only by 0.7 m ·sˉ¹ from the mean of multiyear. During the season 2014, the winds from W were dominated (25.7%), while its frequency in other seasons does not exceed 5-10%

The effect of time-dependent random mass density field on frequencies of solar sound waves

The effect of a time-dependent random mass density field on the frequencies and amplitudes of solar p-modes approximated as sound waves is considered by analytical perturbative means and numerical simulations for one-dimensional hydrodynamic equations. The analytical results, which are worked out for a Gaussian spectrum of the random mass fluctuations, show frequency increase and amplitude amplification, in agreement with numerical simulations

Solar acoustic oscillations in a random density field

The influence of a space-dependent random mass density field on the development of solar p-modes is investigated using analytical and numerical means. Using a perturbative approach, which is valid for a weak random field and small amplitude waves, we derive a linear dispersion relation whose solutions correspond to attenuated oscillations. The real part of the frequency of these oscillations exceeds the one of waves propagating in a medium without random density. We give an interpretation of the "unphysical" nature of the frequency shift and of the amplitude attenuation which is similar to Landau damping. The analytical findings are compared with the results of the numerical solution of a model wave equation. We find that, for weak random fields and for wavelengths which are a few times the correlation length of the random density fluctuations, numerical results agree with the analytical theory. Two practical formulas for deriving the correlation spectrum of the random density field from observations are also given

Badania heterogenicznej cieczy elektroreologicznej przeznaczonej do zastosowania w sprzęgle hydraulicznym

We wstępie artykułu rozważono możliwości udoskonalenia konstrukcji maszyn w wyniku zastosowania jako cieczy roboczych cieczy o zmiennych właściwościach reologicznych, aktywowanych za pomocą pola elektrycznego. Następnie omówiono budowę cieczy elektroreologicznych i magnetoreologicznych oraz przedstawiono rodzaje sprzęgieł i hamulców hydraulicznych. Główną część artykułu stanowią badania charakterystyk cieczy elektroreologicznej o nazwie ERF#6 na specjalnym przyrządzie wyposażonym w głowicę pomiarową o kształcie zbliżonym do głowicy reometru cylindrycznego. Artykuł zakończono wnioskami potwierdzającymi konieczność badań właściwości i charakterystyk cieczy elektroreologicznych użytych jako cieczy roboczych na urządzeniach umożliwiających odwzorowanie warunków pracy oraz kształt geometryczny urządzenia, do którego ciecz jest dedykowana.The article considers the possibilities of machine designs improvements as a result of the application as working fluids those with varying rheological properties activated with use of an electric field. Moreover the construction of electrorheological and magnetorheological fluids was described and types of clutches and hydraulic brakes were presented. The main part of the article consists test characteristics of the ERF#6 electrorheological liquid on a special equipment with a measuring head with shape similar to the head of cylindrical rheometer. The article finishes with conclusions

Stanowisko do badania nowych konstrukcji podzespołów hydrokinetycznych

W artykule opisano stanowisko badawcze przeznaczone do badania podzespołów hydrokinetycznych z nowymi cieczami roboczymi oraz z kołami łopatkowymi wykonanymi technologią przyrostową z tworzywa sztucznego. Celem sprawdzenia poprawności pracy stanowiska przeprowadzono badania ruchu ustalonego i nieustalonego dwóch sprzęgieł hydrokinetycznych. Badania potwierdziły przydatność stanowiska do prowadzenia planowanych badań.The paper describes a test stand designed for testing hydrodynamic subassemblies with new working fluids and blade wheels made of plastic using the Additive Technology. In order to check the correctness of the work of the test stand, a study of the steady-state and unsteady-state movement of two hydrodynamic clutches was carried out. The research confirmed the suitability of the test stand to conduct the planned research

The Effect of Abnormal Granulation on Acoustic Wave Travel Times and Mode Frequencies

Abstract. Observations indicate that in plage areas (i.e. in active regions outside sunspots) acoustic waves travel faster than in quiet sun, leading to shortened travel times and higher p-mode frequencies. Coupled with the 11-year variation of solar activity, this may also explain the solar cycle variation of oscillation frequencies. While it is clear that the ultimate cause of any difference between quiet sun and plage is the presence of magnetic fields of order 100 G in the latter, the mechanism by which the magnetic field exerts its influence has not yet been conclusively identified. One possible such mechanism is suggested by the observation that granular motions in plage areas tend to be slightly “abnormal”, dampened compared to quiet sun. In this paper we consider the effect that abnormal granulation observed in active regions should have on the propagation of acoustic waves. Any such effect is found to be limited to a shallow surface layer where sound waves propagate nearly vertically. The magnetically suppressed turbulence implies higher sound speeds, leading to shorter travel times. This time shift ∆τ is independent of the travel distance, while it shows a characteristic dependence on the assumed plage field strength. As