Sensitivity analysis and identification of material defects in dynamical systems

This paper deals with an analytical and computation strategy, based on the adjoint variable approach and boundary integral equation (BIE) formulations, for evaluating void or crack shape sensitivities of objective functionals. Boundary-only expressions for such sensitivities are sought in the context of linear elastodynamics. An evolutionary hybrid algorithm with the gradient mutation is employed for the identification of material defects. Numerical tests of sensitivity expressions and identification of an internal crack and void are presented

Recommendations for diagnostics and therapy of adult patients with malignant primary bone tumors

Bone sarcomas comprise a heterogenous group of rare mesenchymal tumors (less than 0.5% of malignant neoplasms in adults). From clinical point of view they can be divided into two main groups: spindle-cell sarcomas (osteosarcomas, majority of chondrosarcomas and less common subtypes) and small-cell sarcomas (mainly Ewing family of tumors). Correct diagnosis and effective therapy is performed by cooperation of radiologists, oncological and orthopedics surgeons, clinical oncologists, radiotherapists, rehabilitants, pathologists, nuclear medicine specialists and molecular biologists. The most important principle in diagnostics and therapy of primary malignant bone tumors is multidisciplinary work in experienced centers. Improvement of diagnostics, implementation of combined therapy and technological developments caused the increase of limb-sparing surgery indications and better long-term results of their treatment. Onkol. Prak. Klin. 2010; 6, 6: 355–369Mięsaki kości u dorosłych stanowią heterogenną grupę bardzo rzadkich nowotworów pochodzenia mezenchymalnego (poniżej 0,5% nowotworów złośliwych u dorosłych). Pod względem klinicznym mięsaki kości można podzielić na mięsaki wrzecionowatokomórkowe (obejmujące mięsaki kościopochodne, większość chrzęstniakomięsaków i inne rzadsze podtypy) oraz drobnokomórkowe (głównie rodzina mięsaków Ewinga). Prawidłowe rozpoznanie i skuteczne leczenie skojarzone pierwotnych nowotworów kości są sumą współpracy radiologów, chirurgów onkologów i chirurgów ortopedów, onkologów klinicznych, radioterapeutów, rehabilitantów, patologów, specjalistów medycyny nuklearnej i biologów molekularnych. Bezwzględnym warunkiem w diagnostyce i leczeniu pierwotnych nowotworów złośliwych kości jest wielodyscyplinarna współpraca wielospecjalistyczna w doświadczonych ośrodkach. Polepszenie diagnostyki mięsaków kości, wprowadzenie zasad terapii skojarzonej i postęp technologiczny spowodowały rozszerzenie wskazań do stosowania operacji oszczędzających kończynę oraz poprawiły odległe wyniki leczenia. Onkol. Prak. Klin. 2010; 6, 6: 355–36

The Impact of Platelet-Rich Plasma Application during Cesarean Section on Wound Healing and Postoperative Pain: A Single-Blind Placebo-Controlled Intervention Study

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate if platelet-rich plasma (PRP) application into the wound during cesarean delivery improves wound healing and reduces pain in the postoperative period. Materials and Methods: A total of 46 patients undergoing cesarean section (CS) were included in this single-blind placebo-controlled intervention study: 23 women in the PRP group and 23 in the placebo group. Every patient was asked to evaluate pain by using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) immediately after surgery, as well as 6 and 12 h after the surgery. The use of analgetics was also recorded. The postoperative scar was assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). Results: There was no case of wound dehiscence in either group. Significant differences between the groups in the scar quality assessment were detected in both patient and doctor POSAS results on days 8, 30 and 90 after surgery in the favor of the PRP group. There was no difference in the pain intensity assessment on the VAS recorded after surgery, but PRP patients required fewer paracetamol doses per day than the control group. Conclusions: PRP application during CS significantly improved wound healing in both short- and long-term assessment. Although it did not influence postoperative pain intensity, it may reduce the use of analgetics after surgery

Peculiarities in the pressure dependence of photoluminescence in InAlN

Studies of ambient-pressure and high-pressure behavior of photoluminescence (PL) for series of InxAl1-xN layers are presented. The measured evolution of PL energy (EPL) with x is characterized by a clear decrease of EPL and exhibits a strong bowing. This dependence corresponds to the predictions of ab initio calculations of the band-gap energy changes EG with x. However, values of EPL are clearly lower than EG, for 0<x<0.3. For higher x, the measured EPL follows well the calculated EG. The experimentally determined pressure coefficient of PL energy (dEPL/dp) shows a complicated behavior for alloys with different In-content. We found a strong reduction of dEPL/dp for 0<x<0.3 and a relatively constant magnitude of this coefficient for higher x. Moreover, for the lower x region, we observed dEPL/dp that can differ even by a factor two in samples with nominally very similar In-content. The general tendency in dEPL/dp evolution with x corresponds to lower values than calculated dEG/dp for alloys with non-uniform indium distribution. We propose two not necessary independent explanations of these experimental findings. First, due to non-uniform In distribution (induced, e.g. by defects or non-homogeneous strain) both EPL and dEPL/dp are reduced. Second, a similar behavior results from an involvement of the localized states, whose formation and contribution to PL can be induced by strain and/or native defects. In both hypotheses, the strain/defect density can significantly change around x≈0.18 where InxAl1-xN layers are lattice matched to GaN template

Exploration and Investigation of High-Level Radon Medicinal Springs in the Crystalline Units: Lugicum

Radioactive (radon) groundwaters are highly valued among mineral waters for their healing effects. Between 2005 and 2015, a large exploratory event for prospecting and documenting radon water springs took place in the crystalline area of Lugicum (Bohemian Massif) under Czech–Polish cooperation. For these purposes, an exploration method was developed as a combination of GIS (ArcMap 9.1–10.2) area preparation followed by field radiohydrogeochemical mapping at a scale of 1:10,000. The gamma indication method was optimized and used for the selection of water samples. A total of 2354 water sources were examined. Radon activity concentrations were measured at 660 sources found throughout the territory. Of those, 111 sources exhibited 222Rn activity above 1500 Bq/L and, thus, were categorized as sources of mineral radioactive waters according to Czech legislation. The highest 222Rn activity was found in the Michael spring near Nové Město pod Smrkem (up to 6237 Bq/L 222Rn). Many discovered sources with high balneological potential are significant and, therefore, are quickly becoming popular among the public

Exploration and Investigation of High-Level Radon Medicinal Springs in the Crystalline Units: Lugicum

Radioactive (radon) groundwaters are highly valued among mineral waters for their healing effects. Between 2005 and 2015, a large exploratory event for prospecting and documenting radon water springs took place in the crystalline area of Lugicum (Bohemian Massif) under Czech&ndash;Polish cooperation. For these purposes, an exploration method was developed as a combination of GIS (ArcMap 9.1&ndash;10.2) area preparation followed by field radiohydrogeochemical mapping at a scale of 1:10,000. The gamma indication method was optimized and used for the selection of water samples. A total of 2354 water sources were examined. Radon activity concentrations were measured at 660 sources found throughout the territory. Of those, 111 sources exhibited 222Rn activity above 1500 Bq/L and, thus, were categorized as sources of mineral radioactive waters according to Czech legislation. The highest 222Rn activity was found in the Michael spring near Nov&eacute; M&#283;sto pod Smrkem (up to 6237 Bq/L 222Rn). Many discovered sources with high balneological potential are significant and, therefore, are quickly becoming popular among the public