Studies on Vapor Adsorption Systems

The project consisted of performing experiments on single and dual bed vapor adsorption systems, thermodynamic cycle optimization, and thermal modeling. The work was described in a technical paper that appeared in conference proceedings and a Master's thesis, which were previously submitted to NASA. The present report describes some additional thermal modeling work done subsequently, and includes listings of computer codes developed during the project. Recommendations for future work are provided

Effect of Electron Beam Irradiation on Forensic Evidence. 2. Analysis of Writing Inks on Porous Surfaces

The effect of electron beam irradiation on a series of different writing inks is described. As the anthrax-tainted letters were discovered in October 2001, the U.S. government began to experiment with the use of the electron beam irradiation process for destroying such biological agents. Plans initially considered a large-scale countrywide use of this technology. However, over time the scope of this plan as well as the radiation dosage were reduced, especially when some adverse consequences to mailed items subjected to this process were observed. Little data existed at the time to characterize what level of damage might be expected to occur with common items sent through the mail. This was especially important to museums and other institutions that routinely ship valuable and historic items through the mail. Although the Smithsonian Institution initiated some studies of the effect of electron beam irradiation on archived materials, little data existed on the effect that this process would have on forensic evidence. Approximately 97 different black, blue, red, green, and yellow writing inks were selected. Writing ink types included ballpoint, gel, plastic/felt tip, and rollerball. All noncontrol samples were subjected to standard mail irradiation conditions used by the U.S. Postal Service at the time this experiment was performed. A video spectral comparator and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis were used to evaluate both the control and the irradiated samples. Some published studies reported changes in the presence/absence of dye bands in the chromatograms of irradiated writing inks. Some of these studies report the formation of additional dye bands on the chromatogram while others report missing dye bands. However, using standard testing guidelines and procedures, none of the 97 irradiated inks tested were found to show any significant optical or chemical differences from the control samples. In addition, random testing of some of the ink samples using a second solvent system did not reveal any changes. However, one control ink did show some minor changes in optical properties and dye characteristics over time (but not TLC) while the irradiated sample remained stable. Significant changes in the ultraviolet fluorescence characteristics of the irradiated paper samples themselves (not inks) were also observed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72704/1/j.1556-4029.2007.00404.x.pd

L’image du pouvoir monarchique dans les relations entre la Russie et la Pologne-Lituanie

RésuméL’émergence de l’État russe au xvie siècle éveille l’intérêt de l’Europe. La guerre de Livonie, notamment, qui intéresse les États riverains de la Baltique, est l’occasion de porter un jugement sur le pouvoir des tsars, en l’occurrence Ivan IV. Mais le « tyran » des écrits protestants en langue allemande apparaît dans les chroniques officielles russes comme le défenseur de la Vraie Foi. Aux yeux d’Ivan IV, en effet, la faiblesse de la monarchie des Jagellons ne fait qu’encourager la Réforme en Pologne-Lituanie. Le tsar, lui, se pose en protecteur de l’oekoumène chrétien. La polémique, toutefois, n’empêche pas le dialogue : la guerre de Livonie montre qu’il existe aussi bien entre les simples soldats qu’entre les diplomates moscovites et ruthènes (orthodoxes de Lituanie). De ce contexte naît le projet d’une candidature moscovite à la succession du trône électif polono-lituanien. La mise en avant de cette candidature n’est pas moins révélatrice que la guerre : Ivan IV affirme son hostilité aux libertés nobiliaires, tandis que certains bojare russes semblent attirés par le modèle politique polono-lituanien.AbstractAn image of monarchy through the relations between Russia and Poland-Lithuania during the second half of the sixteenth century.The emergence of the Russian state aroused the interest of sixteenth-century Europe. For instance, the Livonian Wars, in which the states bordering the Baltic were all more or less involved, provided it with an opportunity for observing and appraising the Muscovite monarchic model, in that case, Ivan IV’s rule. But the “tyrant” of the German protestant pamphlets appears in official Russian chronicles as the defender of Orthodoxy. According to the tsar, the weakness of the Jagellons actually encouraged Reformation in Poland-Lithuania, whereas he claimed to be the protector of the Christian oikoumene. Opposition not always precluded dialog, as the Livonian Wars proved, between ordinary soldiers of both parties and between Muscovites and Ruthenian diplomats. This context gave rise to the project of a Muscovite candidature to succeed the Jagellons on the elective throne of Poland-Lithuania. This plan in turn reveals Ivan IV’s hostility towards nobiliary liberties. Conversely, some Russian boyars seemed to find attractions in the Polish-Lithuanian political model

Is cytisine contraindicated in smoking patients with coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention?

Background: Cytisine is contraindicated, and its effects have not been evaluated in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).Aims: The safety, feasibility, and short-term efficacy of cytisine for smoking cessation were evaluated in active smokers with CAD after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).Methods: Patients with stable CAD and acute coronary syndromes (ACS), who smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day, were included 30 days post PCI and offered cytisine therapy. Adverse events, smoking activity, and drug adherence were assessed after 30 days.Results: 117 patients participated (mean standard deviation [SD] age, 60.8 [7.7] years; men, 73.6%, median and interquartile range [IQR] of the number of pack-years, 40 [30–46.5]). Overall, 79 patients consented (study group) and 38 declined (control group) to use cytisine. At the follow-up visit, the incidence of adverse events did not differ between groups (17.7% vs 21%; P = 0.67). The groups had a similar success rate of smoking cessation in the intention-to-treat analysis (41.8% vs 36.8%; P = 0.61). In the as-treated analysis, patients who completed the therapy achieved a higher success rate than those who declined (69.7% vs 36.9%; P = 0.006) or did not complete therapy (69.7% vs 34.8%; P = 0.01). In the multivariable analysis, complete cytisine therapy and ACS at admission were associated with an increased and male sex with a decreased chance of smoking cessation.Conclusions: Cytisine therapy is not associated with an increase in adverse events in patients with CAD after PCI. Cytisine is tolerable but effective in short-term follow-up only when the treatment is completed

Fingermark age determinations: Legal considerations, review of the literature and practical propositions.

The question of the age of fingermarks is often raised in investigations and trials when suspects admit that they have left their fingermarks at a crime scene but allege that the contact occurred at a different time than the crime and for legal reasons. In the first part of this review article, examples from American appellate court cases will be used to demonstrate that there is a lack of consensus among American courts regarding the admissibility and weight of testimony from expert witnesses who provide opinions about the age of fingermarks. Of course, these issues are not only encountered in America but have also been reported elsewhere, for example in Europe. The disparity in the way fingermark dating cases were managed in these examples is probably due to the fact that no methodology has been validated and accepted by the forensic science community so far. The second part of this review article summarizes the studies reported on fingermark dating in the literature and highlights the fact that most proposed methodologies still suffer from limitations preventing their use in practice. Nevertheless, several approaches based on the evolution of aging parameters detected in fingermark residue over time appear to show promise for the fingermark dating field. Based on these approaches, the definition of a formal methodological framework for fingermark dating cases is proposed in order to produce relevant temporal information. This framework identifies which type of information could and should be obtained about fingermark aging and what developments are still required to scientifically address dating issues

Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus mulieris UMB9245, Isolated from the Female Bladder

Lactobacillus jensenii is an anaerobic bacterium found in the urogenital tract that is known to prevent common vaginal infections. Recently, it was divided into two species, L. jensenii and L. mulieris. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of L. mulieris UMB9245, with a genome length of 1,723,383 bp assembled into 52 contigs

Aspekty radiologiczno-kliniczne raka oskrzelikowo-pęcherzykowego na podstawie wybranych przypadków własnych i danych z piśmiennictwa

The objective of the study was to define characteristic radiological changes during bronchioloalveolar carcinoma in correlation with its various histological forms. Nine cases of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma were diagnosed and treated in the Specialistic Complex of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Diseases in Rzeszów in the years 2000-2005. The material of the study was analyzed in order to determine characteristic radiological patterns and clinical data. Three patient groups were separated based on different features of radiological images (X ray film and CT) of the chest (infiltrative, tubercular and diffuse forms). Correlation between appearance of characteristic radiological pattern and histological type of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and clinical symptoms was observed. Study data were compared with data from literature; our study showed that the infiltrative form of CT patterns of the bronchioloalveolar carcinoma is dominant (55,5%) and that it is more frequent in females (67%). It was also confirmed that the bronchioloalveolar carcinoma has no connection with nicotinism. In conclusion, the possibility of diagnosing an infiltrative form of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma in the CT examination with the support of characteristic radiological patterns and clinical data was stressed

Histological and radiological diagnostics of the pulmonary hamartomas

The objective of our study was to compare histological and radiological images of the hamartomas (H) localized in lungs. The analysis consisted of 54 cases, which were diagnosed and operated on in Specialistic Hospital of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Diseases in Rzeszow in years 1999-2005. Average age of patients, mostly men, was 55 years. H was diagnosed accidentally in 75% of cases, and was not related with other diseases. Histologically, cartilaginous or fibro-cartilaginous tissues dominated in H structures; H with adipose tissue component appeared rarely. Diameter of H was less than 3 cm in most of the cases. All H were located peripherally in the chest and showed no preferences to the localization. Computed Tomography demonstrated calcifications in 30% of H. As for etiology, clinical and histological aspects of the H and also differential diagnosis of the radiological features were presented

Variation in amino acid and lipid composition of latent fingerprints

The enhancement of latent fingerprints, both at the crime scene and in the laboratory using an array of chemical, physical and optical techniques, permits their use for identification. Despite the plethora of techniques available, there are occasions when latent fingerprints are not successfully enhanced. An understanding of latent fingerprint chemistry and behaviour will aid the improvement of current techniques and the development of novel ones. In this study the amino acid and fatty acid content of ‘real’ latent fingerprints collected on a non-porous surface was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Squalene was also quantified in addition. Hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid and cis-9- octadecenoic acid were the most abundant fatty acids in all samples. There was, however, wide variation in the relative amounts of each fatty acid in each sample. It was clearly demonstrated that touching sebum-rich areas of the face immediately prior to fingerprint deposition resulted in a significant increase in the amount of fatty acids and squalene deposited in the resulting ‘groomed’ fingerprints. Serine was the most abundant amino acid identified followed by glycine, alanine and aspartic acid. The significant quantitative differences between the ‘natural’ and ‘groomed’ fingerprint samples seen for fatty acids were not observed in the case of the amino acids. This study demonstrates the variation in latent fingerprint composition between individuals and the impact of the sampling protocol on the quantitative analysis of fingerprints