Testing the durability and function of road traffic management devices

Traffic management measures (vertical signs and horizontal marking, reflective elements) are used for guiding vehicles optically, indicating road mileage, marking objects in road gauge, marking vehicle and pedestrian safeguards and driver information and warning. This paper presents a synthesis of a literature study and the results of research conducted under stage one of the project LifeRoSE. The requirements for different traffic management measurements are described as well as durability and functionality tests and analysis of factors which influence durability and functionality of these measurements

Osoczowe stężenia frakcji adiponektyny u kobiet z chorobą Alzheimera

ABSTRACT Introduction Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease. Typical features of AD include memory loss, social dysfunction and physical impairment. Although the pathological findings in the central nervous system are well established, the etiological factors are poorly known. Recent studies suggested the role of metabolic disturbances in the development of AD neurodegeneration. Adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory and metabolism regulating factor, was linked to AD. Aim The aim was to examine whether adiponectin fractions combined with insulin/insulin resistance-associated metabolic parameters correlate with AD progression. Material and methods The study comprised 98 women: 27 with moderate to severe AD, 31 with AD at early stage and 40 healthy controls, matched for age and BMI. To evaluate memory impairment, the MMSE was performed. Plasma total adiponectin and its high-, medium- and low molecular weights were measured with ELISA. Anthropometric, clinical and metabolic parameters were assessed. Correlations between adiponectin array and measured parameters were evaluated. Results In comparison to the controls, enhanced levels of total and medium molecular weight adiponectin characterized AD individuals. In AD, we found correlations between adiponectin array, and anthropometric and biochemical parameters. After adjustment to BMI, a significant increase of the total adiponectin and high- and medium molecular weight fractions was observed. A negative correlation between low molecular weight adiponectin and MMSE was found. Conclusions Our results indicate a possible link between adiponectin variations and AD. We hypothesize that changes in adiponectin profile observed in AD result from compensatory mechanism against neuropathological processes, as well as from adiponectin homeostasis impairment.Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease. Typical features of AD include memory loss, social dysfunction, and physical impairment. Although the pathological findings in the central nervous system are well established, the aetiological factors are poorly known. Recent studies suggested the role of metabolic disturbances in the development of AD neuro­degeneration. Adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory and metabolism regulating factor, was linked to AD. The aim was to examine whether adiponectin fractions combined with insulin/insulin resistance-associated metabolic parameters cor­relate with AD progression. Material and methods: The study comprised 98 women: 27 with moderate to severe AD, 31 with AD at early stage, and 40 healthy con­trols, matched for age and BMI. To evaluate memory impairment, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was performed. Plasma total adiponectin and its high, medium, and low molecular weights were measured with ELISA. Anthropometric, clinical, and metabolic parameters were assessed. Correlations between adiponectin array and measured parameters were evaluated. Results: In comparison to the controls, enhanced levels of total and medium molecular weight adiponectin characterised AD individu­als. In AD, we found correlations between adiponectin array, and anthropometric and biochemical parameters. After adjustment to BMI, a significant increase of the total adiponectin and high and medium molecular weight fractions was observed. A negative correlation between low molecular weight adiponectin and MMSE was found. Conclusions: Our results indicate a possible link between adiponectin variations and AD. We hypothesise that changes in adiponectin profile observed in AD result from compensatory mechanisms against neuropathological processes, as well as from adiponectin homeo­stasis impairment

The Effect of High Temperature Annealing on Fluorine Distribution Profile and Electro-Physical Properties of Thin Gate Oxide Fluorinated by Silicon Dioxide RIE in CF4 Plasma, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2010, nr 1

This study describes the effects of high temperature annealing performed on structures fluorinated during initial silicon dioxide reactive ion etching (RIE) process in CF4 plasma prior to the plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) of the final oxide. The obtained results show that fluorine incorporated at the PECVD oxide/Si interface during RIE is very stable even at high temperatures. Application of fluorination and high temperature annealing during oxide layer fabrication significantly improved the properties of the interface (DitmDitmb decreased), as well as those of the bulk of the oxide layer (Qef f decreased). The integrity of the oxide (higher Vbd ) and its uniformity (Vbd distribution) are also improved

Holistic approach to the treatment of cervical spine pain syndromes

AbstractSpinal pain, including the cervical spine, is currently one of  the most common causes of patient visits to physiotherapy clinics. The pursuit for material goods of modern society, stress, lack of time for physical activities and effective rest or staying most of the day in forced sitting position (at work, at home, in the car) are causes for such trends.Extremely important at the very beginning of the planning of the therapy process is the analysis of the underlying dysfunction that may have different origins. The very visual assessment of the patient's posture pattern during the first visit to the clinic provides valuable information, such as emotional state or positioning of individual body parts, which is important for the progress of therapy and the sustainability of improvement.The article presents a new perspective on the pain of the cervical spine as a disorder of the fascia, requiring tissue and emotional integration. Based on Kinesis Myofascial Integration (KMI), the anatomy trains (musculoskeletal chains), attention focuses on the essential components of cervical dysfunction therapy that may appear to be completely unrelated to the dysfunction seen only through the traditional treatment (symptomatic)

Novel Method of Improving Electrical Properties of Thin PECVD Oxide Films by Fluorination of Silicon Surface Region by RIE in RF CF4 Plasma, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2010, nr 1

This study describes a novel technique to form good quality low temperature oxide (< 350◦C). Low temperature oxide was formed by N2O + SiH4:N2 plasma in a plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) system on the silicon surface reactively etched in CF4 plasma (RIE – reactive ion etching). The fabricated oxide demonstrated excellent (for low temperature dielectric formation process) currentvoltage (I−V) characteristics, such as: low leakage current, high breakdown voltage and good reliability. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method of fluorine incorporation into the SiO2/Si inteface improves electrical parameters of MOS structures

Adipokine profile in patients with anorexia nervosa

Wstęp: Anorexia nervosa (AN) jest zaburzeniem odżywania i charakteryzuje się skrajnie niską masą ciała. Adipokiny to substancje wydzielane przez tkankę tłuszczową o szerokim spektrum aktywności biologicznej. Celem pracy była ocena stężeń wybranych adipokin u kobiet z anorexia nervosa przed i po interwencji żywieniowej. Badano również czy wskaźnik masy ciała jest jedynym czynnikiem wpływającym na stężenia adipokin w AN. Materiał i metody: Udział w badaniu wzięło 65 kobiet: 20 pacjentek z AN przed jakąkolwiek terapią, 18 pacjentek z AN po interwencji żywieniowej trwającej co najmniej 6 miesięcy, 27 kobiet z grupy kontrolnej. U wszystkich uczestniczek przeprowadzono pobranie krwi i badania antropometryczne. Metodą ELISA oznaczano receptor leptynowy, adiponektynę i jej frakcje oraz rezystynę. Leptyna była badana metodą RIA a wisfatyna z użyciem techniki EIA. Wyniki: Stężenie leptyny oraz indeks wolnej leptyny były najniższe u pacjentek z AN przed leczeniem. Frakcja HMW adiponektyny oraz wisfatyna były podwyższone w przebiegu AN. Wartości pozostałych adipokin nie różniły się znacząco pomiędzy grupami. Porównując podgrupy z anorexia nervosa stwierdzono różnice jedynie w stężeniach leptyny i receptora leptynowego oraz indeksie wolnej leptyny. Dodatkowo po wyłączeniu wpływu BMI jedynie wartości leptyny i indeks wolnej leptyny pozostały znamiennie różne pomiędzy pacjentkami z AN przed leczeniem a grupą kontrolną. Wniosek: Wyniki naszego badania sugerują, że najważniejszą adipokiną w AN jest leptyna. W naszej grupie pacjentek z AN leptyna i indeks wolnej leptyny były jedynymi czynnikami, których zmiany nie są wyłącznie zależne od zmian ilości tkanki tłuszczowej.Introduction: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterised with extremely low weight. Adipokines are adipose tissue-derived substances that show a wide spectrum of biological activities. We aimed to assess selected adipokine levels in women with AN before and after nutritional intervention. We also sought to examine whether BMI is the only confounding factor influencing adipokine assessment in AN. Material and methods: Sixty-five women participated in the study: 20 individuals with AN before any treatment, 18 AN patients after nutritional intervention lasting for at least six months, and 27 women as controls. In all participants blood collection and anthropometric measurements were performed. ELISA was used for evaluation of leptin receptor, adiponectin and its isoforms, and resistin. Leptin was assessed with RIA, and visfatin was measured with EIA assay. Results: Leptin and free leptin index (FLI) were lowest in treatment–naïve AN women. HMW-adiponectin and visfatin were enhanced in AN. Other adipokine levels showed no significant differences. When two subsets of anorexia nervosa were compared, only leptin, leptin receptor, and FLI were markedly different. When data were adjusted to BMI, leptin and FLI remained significantly different in the pre-treated AN subgroup when compared with the control group. Conclusions: Our results suggest that leptin is the most important adipokine in AN. It is also important that in our AN population leptin and FLI are the only factors that are influenced not only by the fat content

Peripheral levels of selected adipokines in patients with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. The exact aetiology is unknown. However, genetic and environmental factors are suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of MS. Improper diet, resulting in obesity and metabolic syndrome, can contribute to this disease. Adipokines, secreted by adipose tissue, link the metabolism and immune system. Material and methods: We aimed to assess plasma levels of selected adipokines in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve individuals with multiple sclerosis. Our group comprised 58 individuals (31 MS patients and 27 controls, matched for age and BMI) without diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidaemia. Circulating adiponectin and all adiponectin fractions, visfatin, and omentin concentrations were measured. Metabolic parameters were also assessed. Results: In MS individuals we observed the following results: higher concentrations of visfatin, lower levels of omentin, and no differences in adiponectin array. There were also correlations between some adipokines and metabolic parameters. After adjustment to BMI, a significant decrease in total adiponectin, high-molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and omentin, and an increase in medium-molecular-weight (MMW) adiponectin were observed in the group of MS patients when compared to those of the controls. Conclusions: Our results indicate that adiponectin with its fractions, visfatin, and omentin cannot be considered as causative factors in the early phase of multiple sclerosis. However, the potential role of adipokines in MS is possible because they might be involved in the pathogenesis of MS, regarded as an autoimmune disorder.

The role of fluorine-containing ultra-thin layer in controlling boron thermal diffusion into silicon, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2007, nr 3

We have investigated the influence of silicon dioxide reactive ion etching (RIE) parameters on the composition of the polymer layer that is formed during this process on top of the etched layer, and finally, the role of this layer in high-temperature thermal diffusion of boron into silicon. The polymeric layer formed on the etched surface appeared to consist of fluorine and silicon fluoride (SiOF and SiF). Concentration of these components changes depending on the parameters of RIE process, i.e., rf power, gas pressure and etching time. The composition of this polymeric layer affects, in turn, boron thermal diffusion into silicon. With increasing rf power, the depth of boron junction is increased, while increasing time of etching process reduces boron diffusion into silicon