SPALANIE WĘGLI I PALIW ALTERNATYWNYCH W ATMOSFERZE TLENOWEJ

In this paper, results of fuel behavior during combustion of coal and alternative fuels in oxy-fuel atmosphere are presented. The objective of this work was to evaluate the dependencies between properties (ignition, explosion parameters, emissions of NOx and SO2) of coal and alternative fuels. The exchange of air for recycled flue gas and oxygen mixture, leads to changes of combustion behavior i.e. lower emission of NOx, SO2 and increased ignition delay time. Nevertheless, performed experiments do not indicate significant differences in explosion parameters among different fuels at air and 30%O2/70%CO2 atmosphere.Artykuł przedstawia wyniki badań uzyskane w czasie realizacji procesu spalania w atmosferze oxy-fuel. Prezentowane wyniki skupiają się na określeniu takich własności jak zapłon, parametry wybuchowości, emisję zanieczyszczeń gazowych NOx, SO2 węgli i paliw alternatywnych. Eksperyment został wykonany na 3 metrowym pionowym reaktorze przepływowym, 20 litrowej sferycznej kuli i w 1 metrowym pionowym piecu do badania zapłonu. Zastosowanie technologii spalania w tlenie może znacząco polepszyć możliwości użytkowania paliw stałych.  Eliminacja, z atmosfery spalania, azotu prowadzi do obniżenia emisji zanieczyszczeń gazowych NOx, SO2 oraz wzrostu czasu opóźnienia zapłonu. Niemniej, przeprowadzone eksperymenty nie wykazały wpływu atmosfery 30%O2/70%CO2 na parametry wybuchowości

Alterations in religious rituals due to COVID-19 could be related to intragroup negativity: a case of changes in receiving holy communion in the Roman Catholic community in Poland

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected various domains of everyday life, including important religious rituals. In the Roman Catholic Church in Poland, the reception of Holy Communion was substantially altered. The suggestion of the Polish Episcopal Conference and diocesan bishops was to receive Holy Communion on the hand during the pandemic, while receiving on the tongue had been the default form before the pandemic. The present studies investigated whether alterations in the form of receiving Holy Communion during the pandemic resulted in intragroup negativity. A total of 376 Polish Roman Catholics participated in two online studies. The most ambivalent emotions toward their religious community were experienced by the followers who recognized reception of Holy Communion on the hand only. Intergroup bias occurred within the “hand only” and the “mouth only” groups and consisted in out-group favoritism (within the “hand only”) and out-group derogation (“mouth only”) in their perception of religious orientation. Intergroup empathy bias occurred in the “hand only” and “spiritual reception” groups, which reported less empathy toward those of the out-group (“mouth only”) infected with SARS-CoV-2. The highest legitimacy of the Church authority was agreed upon by the supporters of both forms of receiving Holy Communion

Naczyniak limfatyczny moszny i przestrzeni zaotrzewnowej u 12-letniego chłopca : opis przypadku

Background: Lymphangiomas occurs in children quite frequently. They are most commonly localized in the head, neck, axilla, chest, abdomen, and retroperitoneum. Lymphangiomas of the scrotum are very rare and are usually clinically silent, so they are a challenge for radiologists performing US examination in children. They are obliged to differentiate the following lesions: torsion of the testicle, scrotal hernia, hydrocoele, and epididymal cyst, in addition to the masses of primary extratesticular localization such as hemagioma, congenital vascular malformations, fibromas, and malignant tumors. Additional difficulties appear in boys who present acute scrotum syndrome. Case Report: The paper reports the diagnostics and treatment of a huge multicystic lymphangioma situated in the scrotum and retroperitoneum of a 12-year-old boy who had fallen from a bicycle and presented acute scrotum. The lesion of the scrotum was surgically excised. Retroperitoneal lymphangioma was detected during this operation. Subsequent diagnostics was based on ultrasonography, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdominal cavity. The lymphangioma of the retroperitoneum was resected. The patient shows no evidence of recurrence after 7 years. Conclusions: Cystic lymphangiomas are rare but benign intrascrotal, extratesticular, painless masses in children. They are sonographically multicystic or multiloculated abnormalities and may show infiltrative extension to the perineum, retroperitoneum, or abdomen. Recognition of this entity and its extent is important for correct clinical management and may be for planning treatment

Ultrasonografia dopplerowska w diagnostyce nowotworów jąder u dzieci

Malignant testicular tumors account for approximately 1-2% of all pediatric malignancies. We evaluated the usefulness of Color Doppler and contrast-enhanced Color Doppler ultrasonography in the detection and diagnostic differentiation of testicular tumors in children. Thirty boys were treated for testicular tumors. They ranged in age from 4 months to 16 years (mean: 4.6 years). All were staged according to the Pediatric Oncology Group/ Children Cancer Study Group staging system. Diagnostic assessment included in all cases conventional ultrasonography (US), Color Doppler (CD), and Power Doppler (PD) before and after the administration of contrast agent. Germinal tumors and tumor arising from the endodermal sinus (yolk sac tumors) were the most common. Eight patients had stage III, four stage IV, and eighteen stages I and II. Histologically, 13 patients had pure endodermal sinus tumor (EST), 4 had EST with embryonal carcinoma, 5 had embryonal carcinoma alone, 8 had teratoma, and 1 had non-germinal tumor. In the group of EST patients, the largest number of lesions were enhanced by 2-3 points, embryonal carcinoma by 4-5 points, and teratoma immatrum by over 4 points. EST and embryonal carcinoma presented peak enhancement in a time under 120 sec., and teratomas in a time under 180 sec. Teratomas and embryonal carcinoma had the longest enhancement times. Three patients with teratoma in stage 1 had only the tumor removed, sparing the testis. Twenty patients had unilateral orchiectomy and three had lymphadenectomy. All children received chemotherapy depending on the character of the tumors. We have observed much better prognosis in children with testicular tumors after surgery of the tumor and subsequent intensive chemotherapy. US examination with unenhanced and contrastenhanced Color Doppler is important in achieving the correct diagnosis and better treatment results. US contrast agent (Levovist) is very helpful in precise visualization of pathological vessels inside the tumor mass, and can be considered useful in the initial differentiation between testicular tumor types

The usefulness of contrast-enhanced sonography in the differential diagnostic of adrenal tumors

Introduction: The occurrence of gland tumors causes significant clinical problem. Non hormone-secreting tumors provide the most complicated diagnostic difficulties. The application of contrast-enhanced sonography could improve the vessels visualization and point out characteristic features of benign and malignant changes. The authors believe that this new method make possible the differential adrenal tumor diagnostic process more precise and increase the specificity of ultrasonography in the recognition of benign and malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to define the usefulness of contrasting agent Levovist in differential diagnostics of adrenal tumors and its influence on sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound examination and to establish patients qualification criteria for surgical procedures. Material and methods: Ultrasound examinations were made with the use of digital devise by GE Voluson 740, probe 4–6 mHz with Doppler options and volumetric probe 3D according to the following protocol: 26 patients with recognized adrenal tumor were qualified for the examination. Patients in the first stage of tumor vascularization had Doppler examination with color (CD) and power Doppler (PD). Three-dimensional ultrasonography was used to improve visualization of vascularization. In the final phase of the examination the patients were administrated of Levovist in the recommended by the producer dose: 2,5 g in the concentration of 400 mg/l.Results: 26 cases of adrenal gland tumours were subjected to analysis. In standard ultrasonographic examination focal changes in 25 patients were hipoechogenic focuses and in one case the focus was hyperechogenic. Heterogeneity of focuses was observed in 16 cases. In Doppler examination with color (CD) and power Doppler (PD) vascular blood flow was revealed within 12. After using contrasting agent Levovist vascular blood flow was achieved in 4 additional cases, which constituted 61%. Conclusions: 1. 3D ultrasound could be useful in cases of big adrenal tumors - over 3 cm diameter after application of ultrasound contrast agents. 2. The use of Levovist in Doppler examination improves the visualization of tumor vascularization. However, it is impossible to differentiate benign from malignant tumors unequivocally.Wstęp: Guzy nadnerczy ze względu na ich częstość są istotnym problemem klinicznym. Największych trudności diagnostycznych przysparzają guzy nieczynne hormonalnie. Zastosowanie środków kontrastujących może poprawić wizualizcję naczyń i tym samym wyróżnić cechy charakterystyczne dla guzów łagodnych i złośliwych. W nowej metodzie autorzy niniejszej pracy upatrywali możliwość dokładniejszej diagnostyki guzów nadnerczy oraz poprawę swoistości badania ultrasonograficznego w rozpoznawaniu zmian łagodnych i złośliwych. Celem prezentowanej pracy było określenie przydatności środka kontrastującego Levovist w diagnostyce różnicowej guzów nadnerczy, ocena jego wpływu na czułość i swoistość badania USG oraz wyznaczenie kryteriów pozwalających na kwalifikację chorych do zabiegu operacyjnego. Materiał i metody: Badania ultrasonograficzne wykonano aparatem cyfrowym firmy GE Voluson 740, sondą szerokopasmową 4–6 mHz z opcjami doplerowskimi i sondą wolumetryczną 3D według następującego protokołu: 1. klasyczne badanie ultrasonograficzne; 2. badanie z opcjami doplerowskimi: color Doppler i Power Doppler; 3. badanie sondą trójwymiarową 3D; 4. badanie z użyciem środka kontrastującego Levovist. W końcowej fazie badania podawano dożylnie Levovist w dawce zalecanej przez producenta 2,5 g w stężeniu 400 mg/l.Wyniki: Analizie poddano 26 przypadków guzów nadnerczy. W standardowym badaniu ultrasonograficznym zmiany ogniskowe u 25 pacjentów były ogniskami hipoechogennymi, w 1 przypadku ognisko było hiperechogenne. Niejednorodność ognisk obserwowano w 16 przypadkach. W badaniu doplerowskim kodowanym kolorem i doplerem mocy uwidoczniono przepływ naczyniowy w obrębie 12 guzów (46%). Po podaniu środka kontrastującego Levovist uzyskano przepływ naczyniowy w 4 dodatkowych przypadkach, co stanowiło 61%. Wnioski: 1. Zastosowanie ultrasonograficznych środków kontrastujących wspomagane obrazowaniem naczyniowym 3D może przynieść rezultaty w wybranych przypadkach dużych guzów nadnerczy o średnicy powyżej 3,0 cm. 2. Badanie doplerowskie z użyciem Levovistu poprawia wizualizację naczyń w guzie nowotworowym, nie pozwala jednak na jednoznaczne różnicowanie zmian złośliwych i łagodnych

Przydatność ultrasonografii w diagnostyce i monitorowaniu leczenia ostrych chorób jamy brzusznej u dzieci z chorobą nowotworową

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the results of the diagnostic imaging modalities, especially ultrasonography (US) in children during the oncological therapy with the acute abdominal symptoms. Acute abdominal symptoms in children with neoplasms causing a very difficult clinical and diagnostic problems and can occure in any stage of disease. Materials/Methods: We analyzed 249 ultrasounds examinations of the abdominal cavity in 144 girls and 105 boys aged from 1 to 18 years (mean age 1o, 3 years). The more important indication for the US exam in 133 cases was acute abdominal symptoms. We took exams during pre- and postoperative chemotherapy, radiotherapy and after the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. All the patients were under routine hematological control. Based on the clinical symptoms and the laboratory tests we analysed two groups of children with oncological disease and acute abdomen: I group-111 children with neutropenia, II group-22 children without neutropenia. In the patients who underwent operation procedure the final diagnosis was established on histopathology. In the other cases diagnosis was based on clinical, laboratory and radiological exams, especially ultrasonography. We analyzed clinical picture of disease, the results of therapy and the US changes in examed patients using statistic parameters as: sensitivity, specificity and efficiency. Results: In the group of 133 children with acute abdominal symptoms the most (92- 69,1%) patients suffer from ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) and 16(12%) - from AML (acute lympoblastic leukaemia), Ewing sarcoma-3(2,2%), osteosarcoma-3(2,2%), NHL-8(6,0%), HL-4(3%), nephroblastoma-4(3%), neuroblastoma- 3( 2,2%). Acute abdominal symptoms can have a very different etiology: bacterial, mycotic and virusal infections or continious infiltration of gastrointestinal tract by tumor. Clinical symptoms of the acute abdominal diseases are very severe, because the oncological patients usually have immunologic deficiency and oblige us to proper clinical observation or to operation procedure, very often as an emergency. The symptoms appeard in the different time of course of oncological diseases. Nonspecific gastrointestinal inflammation with haemorrhage and typhlitis were the main cause of the acute abdominal pain in 71 children with neutropenia during therapy of leucaemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The accuracy of ultrasound findings verified intraoperatively and by histopathologic examinations was 84%. In all cases the morphological changes were directly related to the signs and symptoms duration. Conclusions: The high-resolution ultrasound has a very important role in diagnosis in all patients with acute abdominal pain and with neoplasms. The authors consider that the US should be the first imaging method in the differential diagnosis of the abdominal changes in children with neutropenia and oncological disease. Proper diagnosis should be established only with clinical information

Scrupulosity in the Network of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, Religious Struggles, and Self-Compassion: A Study in a Non-Clinical Sample

Scrupulosity is a phenomenon of the intersection between religiosity and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It could be regarded as an interactive effect of religiosity, religious internal conflicts, cognitive distortions associated with thought processing and self-reference, and obsessiveness. The present study investigated scrupulosity in the network of religious/spiritual struggles, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, self-compassion, and religiosity in order to better describe a position of scrupulosity in the dimensions of mental health and illness. Two hundred and ninety-two religious individuals from Poland (two hundred and two women) between the ages of 18 and 83 (M = 39.3; SD = 13.7) participated in the study. We applied the Self-Compassion Scale, Religious and Spiritual Struggle Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, Pennsylvania Inventory of Scrupulosity, and posed questions concerning identification with religious beliefs, the role of religion in one’s identity, and religious attendance. Using correlation analysis and a network analysis, we demonstrated that scrupulosity was positively correlated with religious/spiritual struggles (mostly with moral struggles and religious doubts) and with obsessing as an OCD symptom. The bridge strength analysis indicated that scrupulosity may be regarded as a bridge symptom between religious/spiritual struggles and OCD symptoms. Pastoral and psychological counselling could use these results in order to design efficient treatments for people suffering from religious scruples

Scrupulosity in the Network of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, Religious Struggles, and Self-Compassion: A Study in a Non-Clinical Sample

Scrupulosity is a phenomenon of the intersection between religiosity and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It could be regarded as an interactive effect of religiosity, religious internal conflicts, cognitive distortions associated with thought processing and self-reference, and obsessiveness. The present study investigated scrupulosity in the network of religious/spiritual struggles, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, self-compassion, and religiosity in order to better describe a position of scrupulosity in the dimensions of mental health and illness. Two hundred and ninety-two religious individuals from Poland (two hundred and two women) between the ages of 18 and 83 (M = 39.3; SD = 13.7) participated in the study. We applied the Self-Compassion Scale, Religious and Spiritual Struggle Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, Pennsylvania Inventory of Scrupulosity, and posed questions concerning identification with religious beliefs, the role of religion in one’s identity, and religious attendance. Using correlation analysis and a network analysis, we demonstrated that scrupulosity was positively correlated with religious/spiritual struggles (mostly with moral struggles and religious doubts) and with obsessing as an OCD symptom. The bridge strength analysis indicated that scrupulosity may be regarded as a bridge symptom between religious/spiritual struggles and OCD symptoms. Pastoral and psychological counselling could use these results in order to design efficient treatments for people suffering from religious scruples