Fixed-latency system for high-speed serial transmission between FPGA devices with Forward Error Correction

This paper presents the design of a compact pro-tocol for fixed-latency, high-speed, reliable, serial transmissionbetween simple field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) devices.Implementation of the project aims to delineate word boundaries,provide randomness to the electromagnetic interference (EMI)generated by the electrical transitions, allow for clock recov-ery and maintain direct current (DC) balance. An orthogonalconcatenated coding scheme is used for correcting transmissionerrors using modified Bose–Chaudhuri–Hocquenghem (BCH)code capable of correcting all single bit errors and most ofthe double-adjacent errors. As a result all burst errors of alength up to 31 bits, and some of the longer group errors,are corrected within 256 bits long packet. The efficiency of theproposed solution equals 46.48%, as 119 out of 256 bits arefully available to the user. The design has been implementedand tested on Xilinx Kintex UltraScale+ KCU116 Evaluation Kitwith a data rate of 28.2 Gbps. Sample latency analysis has alsobeen performed so that user could easily carry out calculationsfor different transmission speed. The main advancement of thework is the use of modified BCH(15, 11) code that leads to higherror correction capabilities for burst errors and user friendlypacket length

Fluorescence lifetime of collagen degradation products in plasma of patients with left ventricular remodeling

Background. The concentration of collagen degradation products in plasma may reflect the process of left ventricular remodeling in patients after acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to confirm that mean fluorescence lifetime of plasma is decreased in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Patients, materials and methods. The study group consisted of patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction admitted to the Department of Cardiology and Internal Medicine at the University Hospital in Bydgoszcz. The overall group comprised of 65 patients. From each patient 8 mL of blood was taken to obtain plasma that was used for further examination. The time-resolved spectrometer Life Spec II with the sub-nanosecond pulsed 360 nm EPLED® diode was used in order to measure fluorescence lifetime of samples. Results. Significant differences were observed in mean fluorescence lifetime of plasma between groups of patients divided according to brain natriuretic peptide levels. Statistical analysis showed that the increase in brain natriuretic peptide level is an independent factor resulting in the decrease in mean fluorescence lifetime. Conclusions. It seems that plasma concentration of collagen degradation products is closely related to brain natriuretic peptide level. However, this experiment confirmed that plasma of patients with potential high probability of developing left ventricular remodeling is characterized by the decrease in mean fluorescence lifetime

PILOT STUDY OVER SECONDARY TASK COGNITIVE WORKLOAD INDUCED ON DRIVERS IN AS 1200-6 SIMULATOR

Modern cars are increasingly equipped not only with the driver assisting systems, but also in multimedia devices allowing to track the information, use the Internet or send and receive e-mail. This type of activity can cause dangerous situations by inducing various forms of distraction to the driver. In order to identify the effects caused by performing additional tasks while driving, two types of secondary tasks were proposed.The following article presents the results of a pilot study that uses two additional tasks to induce the driver with cognitive load not related to driving. At the same time, in the course of the experiment, both the driving performance and the quality of performing additional tasks was observed. The article describes selected results of the conducted study

Potential benefits and hazards associated with the use of e-cigarettes — a guide for practitioners and current status in Poland

The use of electronic cigarettes has dynamically increased over the last few years. Meanwhile, the knowledge regarding their safety has been rapidly changing, which could be a challenge for a medical practitioner. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest reports and to verify statements on e-cigarettes’ influence on health, including in the context of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Awareness of the benefits of e-cigarettes can provide vital support for doctors caring for patients who smoke tra-ditional cigarettes. Nevertheless, attention should be paid to the dangers of the medically unjustified use of electronic cigarettes. Despite the idea of releasing e-cigarettes into the market as a harmless alternative to traditional cigarettes, this product also has a negative impact on health. Replacing traditional cigarettes with e-cigarettes provides well-documented benefits to patients with certain indications such as hypertension and asthma, as well as to smokers who intend to minimize the negative effects of passive smoking on their environment. Moreover, it could be valuable for patients who are willing to permanently overcome a nicotine addiction, especially when previous attempts to quit smoking with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) monotherapy were unsuccessful. Electronic cigarettes are a rapidly developing technology and an innovative form of a well-known addiction, so it is essential for practitioners to stay informed

SMX and front-end board tester for CBM readout chain

The STS-MUCH-XYTER (SMX) chip is a front-end ASIC dedicated to the readout of Silicon Tracking System (STS) and Muon Chamber (MUCH) detectors in the Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment. The production of the ASIC and the front-end boards based on it is just being started and requires thorough testing to assure quality. The paper describes the SMX tester based on a standard commercial Artix-7 FPGA module with an additional simple baseboard. In the standalone configuration, the tester is controlled via IPbus and enables full functional testing of connected SMX, front-end board (FEB), or a full detector module. The software written in Python may easily be integrated with higher-level testing software

6-Bromo-2-methyl­sulfanyl-1,3-benzo­thia­zole

The title mol­ecule, C8H6BrNS2, is almost planar with a dihedral angle of 0.9 (1)° between the benzene and thia­zole rings. The values of the geometry-based index of aromaticity (HOMA) and the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) for the two cyclic fragments of the title mol­ecule are 0.95 and −9.61, respectively, for the benzene ring, and 0.69 and −7.71, respectively, for the thia­zole ring. They show that the benzene ring exhibits substanti­ally higher cyclic π-electron delocalization than the thia­zole ring. Comparison with other similar benzothia­zole fragments reveals a similar trend

Standardy leczenia żywieniowego w onkologii

Malnutrition affects a large part of patients with malignant neoplasm. Proper nutritional treatment determines the effectiveness and success of therapy in these patients. Given the importance of this issue, thanks to the collaboration of scientific societies: Polish Society of Surgical Oncology (PTChO), Polish Society of Oncology (PTO), Polish Society of Clinical Oncology (PTOK) and Polish Society for Parenteral, Enteral Nutrition and Metabolism (POLSPEN) standards for nutritional therapy in oncology have been set. An introduction to nutritional therapy is the correct identification of malnourished patients. In Poland, hospitalized patients are subject to screening towards malnutrition. Nutrition intervention should be tailored to the clinical situation. It involves the use of dietary advice, use of oral diet products (oral nutritional support), enteral or parenteral nutrition, in hospital or in home, in consideration of special situations.Niedożywienie dotyczy dużej części pacjentów onkologicznych. Prawidłowe postępowanie żywieniowe warunkuje skuteczność i powodzenie leczenia u tych chorych. Ze względu na znaczenie tego zagadnienia, dzięki współpracy towarzystw naukowych: Polskiego Towarzystwa Chirurgii Onkologicznej (PTChO), Polskiego Towarzystwa Onkologicznego (PTO), Polskiego Towarzystwa Onkologii Klinicznej (PTOK) oraz Polskiego Towarzystwa Żywienia Dojelitowego, Pozajelitowego i Metabolizmu (POLSPEN), zostały opracowane standardy leczenia żywieniowego w onkologii. Wstępem do leczenia żywieniowego jest prawidłowa identyfikacja niedożywionych pacjentów. W Polsce hospitalizowani chorzy są poddawani badaniu przesiewowemu w kierunku niedożywienia. Interwencja żywieniowa powinna być dostosowana do sytuacji klinicznej. Polega ona na poradnictwie dietetycznym, stosowaniu doustnych diet przemysłowych (oral nutritional support), żywienia dojelitowego lub żywienia pozajelitowego w warunkach szpitalnych i domowych, z uwzględnieniem sytuacji szczególnych

Clinical nutrition in oncology: Polish recommendations

Niedożywienie dotyczy dużej części pacjentów onkologicznych. Prawidłowe postępowanie żywieniowe warunkuje skuteczność i powodzenie leczenia u tych chorych. Ze względu na znaczenie tego zagadnienia, dzięki współpracy towarzystw naukowych: Polskiego Towarzystwa Chirurgii Onkologicznej (PTChO), Polskiego Towarzystwa Onkologicznego (PTO), Polskiego Towarzystwa Onkologii Klinicznej (PTOK) oraz Polskiego Towarzystwa Żywienia Dojelitowego, Pozajelitowego i Metabolizmu (POLSPEN), zostały opracowane standardy leczenia żywieniowego w onkologii. Wstępem do leczenia żywieniowego jest prawidłowa identyfikacja niedożywionych pacjentów. W Polsce hospitalizowani chorzy są poddawani badaniu przesiewowemu w kierunku niedożywienia. Interwencja żywieniowa powinna być dostosowana do sytuacji klinicznej. Polega ona na poradnictwie dietetycznym, stosowaniu doustnych diet przemysłowych (oral nutritional support), żywienia dojelitowego lub żywienia pozajelitowego w warunkach szpitalnych i domowych, z uwzględnieniem sytuacji szczególnych.Malnutrition affects a large part of patients with malignant neoplasm. Proper nutritional treatment determines the effectiveness and success of therapy in these patients. Given the importance of this issue, thanks to the collaboration of scientific societies: Polish Society of Surgical Oncology (PTChO), Polish Society of Oncology (PTO), Polish Society of Clinical Oncology (PTOK) and Polish Society for Parenteral, Enteral Nutrition and Metabolism (POLSPEN) standards for nutritional therapy in oncology have been set. An introduction to nutritional therapy is the correct identification of malnourished patients. In Poland, hospitalized patients are subject to screening towards malnutrition. Nutrition intervention should be tailored to the clinical situation. It involves the use of dietary advice, use of oral diet products (oral nutritional support), enteral or parenteral nutrition, in hospital or in home, in consideration of special situations

Surgical treatment of rectal cancer in Poland — a report from a prospective, multi-centre observational study PSSO_01 conducted under the auspices of the Polish Society of Surgical Oncology

Introduction. Since 2016, as part of the PSSO_01 multi-centre research project conducted under the auspices of the Polish Society of Surgical Oncology, clinical data on rectal cancer treatment have been collected. The objective of the study was to illustrate the state of early results of surgical treatment. Material and methods. The research project is multi-centre in nature. Data shall be collected electronically. The study protocol does not impose or suggest any course of procedure. It only systematizes the way data are collected for scientific purposes. The analysis of early results of surgical treatment was compared with the results of population studies from other European countries (Netherlands, Belgium). Results. By the end of June 2018, 736 patients were registered in the study. In 399 (54.2%) an anterior resection was performed. More than half of patients undergoing subsequent surgical treatment (54.2%) receive neoadjuvant treatment, with the percentage of patients undergoing radiotherapy or radiochemical treatment for lower rectal cancer being about 70%. Most patients (96%) are operated in elective procedure. The percentage of laparoscopic surgeries is low (8.6%). Postoperative complications are observed in 21.1% of patients. Severe complications (grades III–V according to Clavien-Dindo classification) occur in 7.6% of patients undergoing surgery. Postoperative mortality is 1.1%. Discussion. Although the project does not have the character of a registry and does not allow for drawing wider conclusions concerning the compliance with the standards of qualification for neoadjuvant treatment, the important information is that more than half of rectal cancer patients receive preoperative treatment, and the percentage of severe postoperative complications does not exceed 10%. Conclusions. The results of the PSSO_01 project are representative and reflect the actual situation concerning surgical treatment of rectal cancer patients in Poland

The surgical treatment of rectal cancer in Poland. The findings of a multi-center observational study by the Polish Society of Surgical Oncology (PSSO-01)

Introduction. PSSO-01, a Polish prospective multi-center project on rectal cancer, started in 2016 with participation on a voluntary basis. This study evaluates the early outcome of the surgical treatment of rectal cancer in Poland according to hospital volume. Material and methods. The dataset derives from 17 clinical centers registered in the PSSO-01 study. From 2016 to 2020, the data of 1,607 patients were collected. Taking into account the number of patients enrolled in the study, the centers were divided into three categories: high volume, medium volume, and low volume. Nominal variables were compared between different categories of centers using the chi-square test. The STROBE guidelines were used to guarantee the reporting of this observational study. Results. More patients with metastatic disease were operated on in the low volume centers (p = 0.020). Neoadjuvant treatment was used in 35%, 52%, and 66% of patients operated on in low, medium, and high volume centers respectively (p < 0.001). Laparoscopic resection in medium volume centers was performed more often than in other centers (p < 0.001). The total rate of postoperative complications related to high, medium, and low centers was 22%, 26%, 18% (p = 0.044). One year following surgery, a stoma was present in 63% of patients. A defunctioning stoma following anterior resection was reversed in only 55% of patients. Anastomotic leakage was the main reason for a non-reversal diverting stoma. Conclusions. The representation of low volume centers in the PSSO-01 study was understated. However, the outcomes may show the actual situation of surgical treatment of rectal cancer in high and medium volume centers in Poland