The technology transfer of non-ferrous alloys casting during the middle age

The article reports on the findings from the metallographic analysis of 13th c. archaeological objects from Chełm (eastern Poland). The group submitted for analysis includes jeweller’s dies used in the production of women’s ceremonial ornaments, crucibles and bronze ornaments. The Mongol invasion of 13th c. had caused craftsmen from central areas of East Europe to flee and seek shelter in the western parts of Rus. It may be safe to interpret the finds from Chełm as the remains of a jeweller’s workshop, the site of casting and working copper alloys and silver. The analysis of the technology used in casting copper alloys and silver in the jeweller’s workshop were made using optical microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray radiography

Osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells in 3D conditions – comparison of spheroids and polystyrene scaffolds

Expansion and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro are routinely performed in two-dimensional (2D) environments. The study hypothesis was that the utilisation of three-dimensional (3D) culture conditions, mimicking the natural stem cell niche, might increase the osteogenic commitment of ADSCs. Therefore, human ADSCs were seeded in 3D culture systems lacking bioactive material components: spheroids and polystyrene scaffolds. ALP activity, a marker of early osteogenesis, was higher in ADSC spheroids and ADSC seeded on polystyrene scaffolds as compared to 2D cultures. Furthermore, the expression of the osteoblast marker genes Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osterix and integrin binding sialoprotein (IBSP) was significantly up-regulated in spheroids as compared to polystyrene scaffolds and 2D culture. Elevated levels of RUNX2 and IBSP in spheroids were confirmed at the protein level by Western blot and immunofluorescence, respectively. Bone mineral production was lower in spheroids than in polystyrene scaffolds and 2D culture at day 14. Curiously, adipocyte differentiation was downregulated in spheroids as compared to 2D-culture. Finally, to induce late differentiation events, cells were dissociated from spheroids after a 7 d osteogenic pre-differentiation culture and replated in 2D culture in osteoblast maturation medium. After a subsequent 14 d of maturation, cells produced bone mineral and osteocalcin proteins, which are late osteoblast markers. The present work showed that the 3D environment may provide additional stimuli for the commitment of ADSCs to the osteogenic lineage. Furthermore, the presented data may be valuable when designing protocols to prepare ADSCs for use in bone regeneration clinical studies

Real-world effectiveness of abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®) in adults with upper limb spasticity in routine clinical practice: an observational study

AbobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNT-A, Dysport®) is used in clinical practice as a well-tolerated and effective therapy for muscle spasticity. AboBoNT-A has been shown to reduce upper and lower limb spastic paresis in clinical trials, demonstrating improvements in muscle tone and limb function. This open-label, multicentre, observational, non-interventional study was the first to investigate aboBoNT-A’s efficacy in adult patients with upper limb spasticity (ULS) in routine clinical practice in Poland. All enrolled patients received ≥1 aboBoNT-A injection cycles, per routine clinical practice (full analysis set, FAS), and ≥1 rehabilitation session. Patients attended a baseline visit (V1) and two follow-up visits (V2, V3) for retreatment, depending on the investigator’s assessment of individual patient needs, with a mean interval (SD) between injections of 4.4 (1.4) and 4.5 (1.2) months. The primary effectiveness endpoint was patient- and physician-based evaluation using the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale (CGII), a validated 7-point scale (1 = very much improved to 7 = very much worse) relative to baseline. CGI-I has not previously been used as a primary endpoint in studies evaluating ULS. Secondary endpoints included muscle tone in shoulder, elbow, carpal joint, and finger muscles, measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and muscle strength according to the Medical Research Council scale (MRC). Of 108 enrolled patients (FAS), 92 (85.2%) completed the study and 57 (52.8%) were included in the per protocol (PP) population. AboBoNT-A improved patient conditions in 96.4% and 98.6% at V2 and V3 (investigator assessment) and 92.8% and 98.6% (as reported by patient) of patients, respectively. Significant reductions in muscle tone from baseline were observed at both visits (p < 0.0001–0.0077) across muscle groups. Increased muscle strength by cumulative MRC was observed at V2 (p = 0.0566) and V3 (p = 0.0282) versus baseline. Safety was consistent with the known profile of aboBoNT-A. In conclusion, aboBoNT-A treatment is beneficial in patients with post-stroke ULS in routine clinical practice, assessed by patients and investigators

Measurement of direct photon production at Tevatron fixed target energies

Measurements of the production of high transverse momentum direct photons by a 515 GeV/c piminus beam and 530 and 800 GeV/c proton beams in interactions with beryllium and hydrogen targets are presented. The data span the kinematic ranges of 3.5 < p_T < 12 GeV/c in transverse momentum and 1.5 units in rapidity. The inclusive direct-photon cross sections are compared with next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations and expectations based on a phenomenological parton-k_T model.Comment: RevTeX4, 23 pages, 32 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Evidence for Parton kT Effects in High pT Particle Production

Inclusive pizero and direct-photon cross sections in the kinematic range 3.5 < pT < 12 GeV/c with central rapidities are presented for 530 and 800 GeV/c proton beams and a 515 GeV/c pi- beam incident on beryllium targets. Current Next-to-Leading-Order perturbative QCD calculations fail to adequately describe the data for conventional choices of scales. Kinematic distributions from these hard scattering events provide evidence that the interacting partons carry significant initial-state parton transverse momentum (kT). Incorporating these kT effects phenomenologically greatly improves the agreement between calculations and the measured cross sections.Comment: 11 pages including 6 pages of figures with caption

Genetic heterogeneity in primary and relapsed mantle cell lymphomas : impact of recurrent CARD11 mutations

The genetic mechanisms underlying disease progression, relapse and therapy resistance in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) remain largely unknown. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 27 MCL samples from 13 patients, representing the largest analyzed series of consecutive biopsies obtained at diagnosis and/or relapse for this type of lymphoma. Eighteen genes were found to be recurrently mutated in these samples, including known (ATM, MEF2B and MLL2) and novel mutation targets (S1PR1 and CARD11). CARD11, a scaffold protein required for B-cell receptor (BCR)-induced NF-κB activation, was subsequently screened in an additional 173 MCL samples and mutations were observed in 5.5% of cases. Based on in vitro cell line-based experiments, overexpression of CARD11 mutants were demonstrated to confer resistance to the BCR-inhibitor ibrutinib and NF-κB-inhibitor lenalidomide. Genetic alterations acquired in the relapse samples were found to be largely non-recurrent, in line with the branched evolutionary pattern of clonal evolution observed in most cases. In summary, this study highlights the genetic heterogeneity in MCL, in particular at relapse, and provides for the first time genetic evidence of BCR/NF-κB activation in a subset of MCL

Production of pizero and eta mesons at large transverse momenta in pi-p and pi-Be interactions at 515 GeV/c

We present results on the production of high transverse momentum pizero and eta mesons in pi-p and pi-Be interactions at 515 GeV/c. The data span the kinematic ranges 1 < p_T < 11 GeV/c in transverse momentum and -0.75 < y < 0.75 in rapidity. The inclusive pizero cross sections are compared with next-to-leading order QCD calculations and to expectations based on a phenomenological parton-k_T model.Comment: RevTeX4, 15 pages, 15 figures, to be submitted to Phys. Rev.

Żywienie dojelitowe i pozajelitowe w udarze mózgu — stanowisko Grupy Ekspertów Sekcji Chorób Naczyniowych Polskiego Towarzystwa Neurologicznego

U chorych po udarze mózgu bardzo często występują zaburzenia przyjmowania, wchłaniania i metabolizowania pokarmów. Niedożywienie w znaczącym stopniu zwiększa ryzyko wstąpienia powikłań oraz wpływa na czas hospitalizacji, skuteczność rehabilitacji i jakość życia. W pracy przedstawiono stanowisko Grupy Ekspertów powołanej z inicjatywy Sekcji Chorób Naczyniowych Polskiego Towarzystwa Neurologicznego dotyczące żywienia dojelitowego i pozajelitowego po udarze mózgu