Ossa Sesamoidea — prevalence of sesamoid bones in human hands

Background: This study describes the morphology of sesamoid bones in the human hand. Ultrasound imaging was used to record the presence and measurements of sesamoids in 120 hands of 60 healthy, young adults of Caucasian ethnicity. Materials and methods: The mean number of sesamoid bones was 4.16 in the left hand and 4.03 in the right hand. 21.6% of cases showed asymmetry between the right hand and the left. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of sesamoid bones between right and left hand in males in this study. Females show a higher incidence of sesamoid bones overall, but do not demonstrate a significant difference between the sides. Results: Prevalence findings: Two in the 1st metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) in 99.2% of cases, with 1 case of a single bone. One in the 2nd MCPJ in 43.3% of cases. One in the 5th MCPJ in 84.2% of cases. One in the 1st interphalangeal joint (IPJ) in 83.4% of cases. Aside from that there was 1 case of sesamoid in the 3rd MCPJ and separate case of sesamoid in the 3rd proximal IPJ. Conclusions: Moreover, this study discusses discrepancies of opinion regarding sesamoid bones in morphological research

The sonographic morphology of musculus palmaris longus in humans

Background: The aim of this work was to describe morphology and morphometry of musculus palmaris longus and compare the outcome of Shaeffer’s test with ultrasound imaging.Materials and methods: Forty forearms of 20 healthy volunteers (11 females, 9 males) were tested by Shaeffer’s test and ultrasound imaging. Anthropological measurements of the forearm and ultrasound guided measurements of musculus palmaris longus were taken. The outcome was tested for statistical significanceby Fisher’s test.Results: The examination revealed agenesis of palmaris longus in 6 cases, as well as 6 muscles showing quality variations. The Shaeffer’s test gave 4 false-negative results. 28 muscles were described as spindle-shaped and 8 as pennated or bipennated. However, all the spindle-shaped muscles demonstrated a tendon going inside of the muscle’s belly ranging from 2 cm to 11.5 cm. The relation between the circumference of the forearm right below the elbow (mean: 15.38 cm, SD: 1.83 cm) and the approximated volume of the palmaris longus muscle’s belly(mean: 4.72 cm3, SD: 1.57 cm3) proved to be statistically significant (Fisher’s test p-value < 0.05).Conclusions: Uncommon morphological variations have been shown. Spindle-shaped muscles have proved to have their tendons continued inside them. Palmaris longus muscle’s belly has proved to take significant amount of volume within the proximal forearm. Shaeffer’s test has shown to have 10% false-negative ratio

2014 iAREA campaign on aerosol in Spitsbergen – Part 2: Optical properties from Raman-lidar and in-situ observations at Ny-Ålesund

In this work multi wavelength Raman lidar data from Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen have been analysed for the spring 2014 Arctic haze season, as part of the iAREA campaign. Typical values and probability distributions for aerosol backscatter, extinction and depolarisation, the lidar ratio and the color ratio for 4 different altitude intervals within the troposphere are given. These quantities and their dependencies are analysed and the frequency of altitude-dependent observed aerosol events are given. A comparison with ground-based size distribution and chemical composition is performed. Hence the aim of this paper is to provide typical and statistically meaningful properties of Arctic aerosol, which may be used in climate models or to constrain the radiative forcing. We have found that the 2014 season was only moderately polluted with Arctic haze and that sea salt and sulphate were the most dominant aerosol species. Moreover the drying of an aerosol layer after cloud disintegration has been observed. Hardly any clear temporal evolution over the 4 week data set on Arctic haze is obvious with the exception of the extinction coefficient and the lidar ratio, which significantly decreased below 2 km altitude by end April. In altitudes between 2 and 5 km the haze season lasted longer and the aerosol properties were generally more homogeneous than closer to the surface. Above 5 km only few particles were found. The variability of the lidar ratio is discussed. It was found that knowledge of the aerosol’s size and shape does not determine the lidar ratio. Contrary to shape and lidar ratio, there is a clear correlation between size and backscatter: larger particles show a higher backscatter coefficient

Chasing Graphene-Based Anticancer Drugs: Where are We Now on the Biomedical Graphene Roadmap?

Katarzyna Uzdrowska,1 Narcyz Knap,1 Jacek Gulczynski,2 Alicja Kuban-Jankowska,1 Wiktoria Struck-Lewicka,3 Michal J Markuszewski,3 Tomasz Bączek,3 Ewa Izycka-Swieszewska,2 Magdalena Gorska-Ponikowska1 1Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, 80-211, Poland; 2Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, 80-211, Poland; 3Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, 80-416, PolandCorrespondence: Magdalena Gorska-Ponikowska, Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 1 Debinki St, Gdansk, 80-211, Poland, Tel +48 58 349 14 50, Fax +48 58 349 14 56, Email [email protected]: Graphene and graphene-based materials have attracted growing interest for potential applications in medicine because of their good biocompatibility, cargo capability and possible surface functionalizations. In parallel, prototypic graphene-based devices have been developed to diagnose, imaging and track tumor growth in cancer patients. There is a growing number of reports on the use of graphene and its functionalized derivatives in the design of innovative drugs delivery systems, photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapy, and as a platform to combine multiple therapies. The aim of this review is to introduce the latest scientific achievements in the field of innovative composite graphene materials as potentially applied in cancer therapy. The “Technology and Innovation Roadmap” published in the Graphene Flagship indicates, that the first anti-cancer drugs using graphene and graphene-derived materials will have appeared on the market by 2030. However, it is necessary to broaden understanding of graphene-based material interactions with cellular metabolism and signaling at the functional level, as well as toxicity. The main aspects of further research should elucidate how treatment methods (e.g., photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, combination therapy) and the physicochemical properties of graphene materials influence their ability to modulate autophagy and kill cancer cells. Interestingly, recent scientific reports also prove that graphene nanocomposites modulate cancer cell death by inducing precise autophagy dysfunctions caused by lysosome damage. It turns out as well that developing photothermal oncological treatments, it should be taken into account that near-infrared-II radiation (1000– 1500 nm) is a better option than NIR-I (750– 1000 nm) because it can penetrate deeper into tissues due to less scattering at longer wavelengths radiation.Keywords: graphene-based materials, oncological therapies, cancer treatment, biomedical innovations, drugs delivery system

The 42nd Symposium Chromatographic Methods of Investigating Organic Compounds : Book of abstracts

The 42nd Symposium Chromatographic Methods of Investigating Organic Compounds : Book of abstracts. June 4-7, 2019, Szczyrk, Polan

Investigation of granulation process of sewage sludge with basalt dust

Celem pracy było zbadanie procesu granulowania komunalnych osadów ściekowych z pyłem bazaltowym w granulatorze bębnowym. Badania przeprowadzono przy zmiennej zawartości dodatku pyłu bazaltowego równym: 35, 40, 45, 50 i 55% masy próbki oraz przy zmiennej prędkości obrotowej bębna granulatora równej: 33, 55, 76, 97, 119 i 141 obr/min. Oceny procesu granulacji dokonano na podstawie analizy granulometrycznej cząstek.The aim of this study was to investigate sewage sludge granulation process with basalt dust in a drum granulator. The investigation were carried out at a different additive of basalt dust content equal to 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55% of sample weigh and at different rotation frequency of drum granulator equal to 33, 55, 76, 119 and 141 rpm. The granulation process was evaluated on the basis of granulometric analysis of particles

Soil management system in hazelnut groves (Corylus sp.) versus the presence of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Sustaining biodiversity as well as taking advantage of the natural environment’s resistance are the key elements which should be considered when designing integrated plans for the protection of hazelnut groves. An effort has been made in this study to analyse the impact of different soil cultivation methods in hazelnut groves, on the species composition and number of individuals in carabid assemblages (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Another aim was to determine which method of inter-row soil management had the least negative effect on assemblages of these beetles. Because of the type of habitat, the xerothermic species characteristic for southeastern Europe, i.e. Calathus ambiguus, Poecilus lepidus, Harpalus calceatus, and H. griseus, were the most numerous. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the captured individuals implied that the optimal soil tillage system in young hazelnut groves is when soil is kept fallow with machines or chemicals, or when soil is covered with manure. The least favourable practice for the appearance of ground beetles of the Carabidae family is the use of polypropylene fabric, bark or sawdust, to cover soil

Prediction and evaluation of coal cleanability

Samples of 200-mesh Upper Freeport, Illinois No. 6, and Pittsburgh No. 8 coals being used in the DOE-sponsored development of advanced surface-based cleaning technologies at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of California at Berkeley, and at the Ames Laboratory were characterized to predict their cleanability. Scanning electron microscope-based automated image analysis (SEM-AIA) was use to measure particle size, identity, and association with the organic matrix for the mineral particles in these coals. The coal-mineral association was expressed as a function of particle mineral content and as a function of the fraction of particle surface covered by mineral matter. The results were used to predict the cleanability of these coals for density-based and surface-based cleaning processes, respectively. 4 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab