The Czech Contribution to Future Large X-Ray Astronomy Telescopes: Recent Progress

We briefly review the recent status of the Czech contribution to future space X-ray astronomy missions with emphasis on the development of new technologies and test samples of X-ray mirrors with precise surfaces based on new materials and alternative designs. We report on further investigations and tests of X-ray optical arrangements, such as Kirkpatrick-Baez systems and Multi-Foil Optics

Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) in Patients with Chronic Nonmalignant Pain receiving long-term opioid therapy

Background: This bachelor thesis focuses on the topic of chronic pain in connection with long-term treatment with opioid analgesics and the associated risk of developing addiction and the possibility of screening this risk using the Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) in nursing. Objectives: The aim of the cross-sectional, quantitative study was to validate the ORT questionnaire in the Czech version, to evaluate its individual items by performing a factor analysis and assessing the impact of socio-demographic and clinical variables. Methods: A total of 411 patients on long-term treatment with opioid analgesics met inclusive and exclusive criteria and were included in the study. The patients were administered with an anamnestic questionnaire and the ORT, ET (Emotional Thermometers), COMM (Current Opioid Misuse Measure) and VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) questionnaires. The data were statistically processed using the determination of internal consistency, sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values, parametric and non-parametric tests, exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression. Results: A medium correlation was found between the ET and ORT questionnaires. Significant differences in selected socio-demographic and clinical variables between the opioid misuse group and the group without...Východiska: Bakalářská práce se zaměřuje na téma chronické bolesti ve spojitosti s dlouhodobou léčbou opioidními analgetiky a souvisejícím rizikem rozvoje závislosti a dále možností screeningu tohoto rizika za pomoci Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) v ošetřovatelské péči. Cíle: Cílem průřezové, kvantitativní studie byla validizace dotazníku ORT v české verzi, zhodnocení jeho jednotlivých položek provedením faktorové analýzy a posouzení vlivu sociodemografických a klinických proměnných. Metodika: Celkem 411 pacientů dlouhodobě se léčících opioidními analgetiky splnilo inkluzivní a exkluzivní kritéria a bylo zařazeno do studie. Pacientům byl administrován anamnestický dotazník a dotazníky ORT, ET (Emoční teploměry), COMM (Current Opioid Misuse Measure) a VAS (Vizuální analogová škála). Data byly statisticky zpracována za použití určení vnitřní konzistence, senzitivity, specificity, negativní a pozitivní prediktivní hodnoty, parametrických i neparametrických testů, explorační faktorové analýzy a logistické regrese. Výsledky: Mezi dotazníky ET a ORT byla nalezena střední síla korelace. Byly potvrzeny signifikantní rozdíly ve vybraných sociodemografických a klinických proměnných mezi skupinou pacientů, kteří zneužívají opioidy a skupinou bez tohoto zneužívání. Rozdělení do skupin proběhlo na základě dotazníku...Ústav ošetřovatelstvíDepartment of NursingSecond Faculty of Medicine2. lékařská fakult

Small Spacecraft Payload Study for X-ray Astrophysics including GRB Science

This paper presents microsatellite spacecraft payload study for prompt observation of transient astrophysical objects in X-ray energy range. By combining telescope concepts and miniaturized detectors, the small spacecraft will be able to probe the X-ray temporal emissions of bright events such as Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), X-ray transients or the electromagnetic counterparts of Gravitational Wave Events (GWEs), but also short and long term observations of other types of variable X-ray sources. The spacecraft is based on the CubeSat nanosatellite platform with a volume of 16U. The spacecraft carries two types of X-ray telescopes onboard. The first is intended for X-ray transient monitoring and localization, and the second for detailed spectroscopic observation. The X-ray monitor/localization telescope with wide field of view of several arc degrees is used for localization and flux measurement of X-ray transients, as well as for permanent monitoring of Galactic center area. This telescope is based on Lobster Eye X-ray optics together with pixel detector based on the Timepix3 Quad detector. Rapid follow-up observation by soft X-ray spectroscopy is enabled by a second X-ray spectroscopic telescope with limited FOV (Field of View) of several arcmins with no spatial and/or angular resolution. The spectroscopic telescope uses condenser optics based on replicated parabolic total reflection system (or, alternatively, Wolter system) and a Ketek X-ray SDD detector with energy resolution of about 130 eV as a detector. In addition to technical and instrumental aspects, observational strategy and astrophysical issues and justifications are also addressed in the paper

The Czech Contribution to Future Large X-Ray Astronomy Telescopes: Recent Progress

We briefly review the recent status of the Czech contribution to future space X-ray astronomy missions with emphasis on the development of new technologies and test samples of X-ray mirrors with precise surfaces based on new materials and alternative designs. We report on further investigations and tests of X-ray optical arrangements, such as Kirkpatrick-Baez systems and Multi-Foil Optics

Directional-Sensitive X-ray/Gamma-ray Imager on Board the VZLUSAT-2 CubeSat for Wide Field-of-View Observation of GRBs in Low Earth Orbit

We present a miniaturized and wide field-of-view X-ray and Gamma-ray imager consisting of a segmented 2D optics-collimator coupled to the high-sensitivity semiconductor pixel detector Timepix equipped with a high-Z sensor (CdTe 2000 μm thick). The compact payload has been deployed in low-Earth orbit (LEO) onboard the 3U Cubesat VZLUSAT-2 which was launched on 13 January 2022. The instrument is designed to verify small spacecraft borne observation in open space of hard X-ray and Gamma-ray sources both of celestial and atmospheric origin. High-resolution spectral-sensitive X-ray and Gamma-ray images are provided with enhanced event discrimination and wide field-of-view up to 60°. Description of the instrument together with response evaluation and tests in ground with well-defined sources are presented. The intended observational plan for in-orbit measurements is outlined along with astrophysical goals and issues

In-orbit commissioning of Czech nanosatellite VZLUSAT-1 for the QB50 mission with a demonstrator of a miniaturised lobster-eye X-ray telescope and radiation shielding composite materials

This paper presents the results of in-orbit commissioning of the first Czech technological CubeSat satellite of VZLUSAT-1. The 2U nanosatellite was designed and built during the 2013 to 2016 period. It was successfully launched into Low Earth Orbit of 505km altitude on June 23, 2017 as part of international mission QB50 onboard a PSLV C38 launch vehicle. The satellite was developed in the Czech Republic by the Czech Aerospace Research Centre, in cooperation with Czech industrial partners and universities. The nanosatellite has three main payloads. The housing is made of a composite material which serves as a structural and radiation shielding material. Anovel miniaturized X-Ray telescope with lobster-eye optics and an embedded Timepix detector represents the CubeSat's scientific payload. The telescope has a wide field of view. VZLUSAT-1 also carries the FIPEX scientific instrument as part of the QB50 mission for measuring the molecular and atomic oxygen concentration in the upper atmosphere