WORK LIFE BALANCE AS A FACTOR INFLUENCING WELL-BEING

The purpose of the paper is identifying features that are common for work-life balance and well-being. The first part of the article treats about well-being and its determinant. Next authors are presenting work-life balance and factors influencing the issue. The paper considers both described concepts in the context of positive organizational scholarschip (POS), which is focused specifically on the study of positive outcomes, processes, and attributes of organizations and their members (Cameron and Spreitzer, 2011). There is also an author’s tool described (Work-Life Balance Barometer®). This example of a research tool was analyzed in terms of finding common measures for both phenomena. The method used for the aim of the article is a critical literature review including foreign articles and polish literature from the last 10 years. Authors selected publications that are presenting an issue of work-life balance and well-being. Findings are showing that work-life balance and well-being are strongly connected and has many common areas which can be researched. Conclusions are devoted to indicate directions of further research in the area. The originality of the paper results from presenting a research tool (Work-Life Balance Barometer®) which is accessible on-line in two languages on Sensorium24.com. The idea of the barometer is conducting longitudinal research. The first edition of the Work-Life Balance Barometer® ended on 31th of December 2015.

Improvement of quality of life after therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with myasthenic crisis

Introduction We sought to evaluate quality of life patients with myasthenic crisis before and after therapeutic plasma exchange. Materials and methods In our study we conducted an assessment of the quality of life with the use of the questionnaire SF-36, when executed eleven therapeutic plasma exchange. The assessment was made on baseline and after 4 weeks. We also did neurological clinical evaluation before and after TPE. Results Patients in the study showed significant improvement in quality of life after performed therapeutic plasma exchange. The changes were observed in physical functioning, which confirmed the results of the statistical significance of p<0.05. In the analysis, the assessment of mental functioning not obtained the results of statistical significance, but the results also showed improvement in self-assessment. We observed high correlation between general health and physical mental functioning, between the role limitations due to physical health problems and role limitations due to emotional problems, and general health perception and bodily pain. Conclusions Therapeutic plasma exchange significantly improves the quality of life of patients with myasthenia gravis during the crisis

Electrochemical properties and structure evolution of starch-based carbon nanomaterials as Li-ion anodes with regard to thermal treatment

The influence of the pyrolysis temperature on the structural, textural, and electrochemical properties of carbon aerogels obtained from potato, maize, and rice starches was analyzed. The carbonization of organic precursors, followed by gelatinization, exchange of solvent, and drying process, was carried out in an argon atmosphere at temperatures ranging from 600 °C to 1600 °C. The nanostructured carbons were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) as well as N2-adsorption/desorption (N2-BET) methods. The electrochemical behavior of Li-ion cells based on the fabricated carbon anodes was investigated using the galvanostatic charge/discharge tests (GCDT) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the thermal treatment stage has a crucial impact on the proper formation of the aerogel material’s porous structures and also on their working parameters as anode materials. The highest relative development of the external surface was obtained for the samples pyrolysed at 700 °C, which exhibited the best electrochemical characteristics (the highest specific capacities as well as the lowest charge transfer resistances)

MCM-22, MCM-36, and ITQ-2 Zeolites with Different Si/Al Molar Ratios as Effective Catalysts of Methanol and Ethanol Dehydration

[EN] MCM-22, MCM-36, and ITQ-2 zeolites with the intended Si/Al molar ratios of 15, 25, and 50 were synthetized and tested as catalysts for dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether and dehydration of ethanol to diethyl ether and ethylene. The surface concentration of acid sites was regulated by the synthesis of zeolite precursors with different aluminum content in the zeolite framework, while the influence of porous structure on the overall efficiency of alcohol conversion was analyzed by application of zeolitic materials with different types of porosity-microporous MCM-22 as well as microporous-mesoporous MCM-36 and ITQ-2. The zeolitic samples were characterized with respect to their: chemical composition (ICP-OES), structure (XRD, FT-IR), texture (N-2 sorption), and surface acidity (NH3-TPD). Comparison of the catalytic activity of the studied zeolitic catalysts with other reported catalytic systems, including zeolites with the similar Si/Al ratio as well as gamma-Al2O3 (one of the commercial catalysts for methanol dehydration), shows a great potential of MCM-22, MCM-36, and ITQ-2 in the reactions of alcohols dehydration.This research was funded by National Science Centre-Poland grant number 2016/21/B/ST5/00242. U.D. acknowledges to the Spanish Government grant number MAT2017-82288-C2-1-P. The research was partially done using the equipment purchased from the funds of European Regional Development Fund, Polish Innovation Economy Operational Program, grant numberPOIG.02.01.00-12-023/08.Marosz, M.; Samojeden, B.; Kowalczyk, A.; Rutkowska, M.; Motak, M.; Díaz Morales, UM.; Palomares Gimeno, AE.... (2020). MCM-22, MCM-36, and ITQ-2 Zeolites with Different Si/Al Molar Ratios as Effective Catalysts of Methanol and Ethanol Dehydration. 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Multifunctional carbon aerogels derived by sol–gel process of natural polysaccharides of different botanical origin

In this manuscript, we describe the results of our recent studies on carbon aerogels derived from natural starches. A facile method for the fabrication of carbon aerogels is presented. Moreover, the complete analysis of the carbonization process of different starch aerogels (potato, maize, and rice) was performed using thermogravimetric studies combined with a detailed analysis of evolved decomposition products. The prepared carbon aerogels were studied in terms of their morphology and electrical properties to relate the origin of starch precursor with final properties of carbon materials. The obtained results confirmed the differences in carbon aerogels’ morphology, especially in materials’ specific surface areas, depending on the botanical origin of precursors. The electrical conductivity measurements suggest that carbon aerogels with the best electrical properties can be obtained from potato starch

Dielectric spectroscopy of pressurized Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Results of broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast), in situ as the function of pressure are presented. They show a clear evidence of a threshold to the new pattern of the pressure evolution of the static dielectric permittivity and DC electric conductivity already for P t  ≈ 200MPa at T = 5o C and P t  ≈ 300MPa at T = 25o C. BDS monitoring versus pressure tests up to P = 400MPa revealed particularly notable changes of properties after 30 minutes of compressing. Finally, the correlation between the amount of the spectrophotometric maximum absorbance and the DC electric conductivity was found. All these indicate significance of BDS as the tool for testing of pressure properties of cells assemblies, model foods etc., in situ under high pressures

The absolute number of circulating nonclassical (CD14+CD16++CD14^{+}CD16^{++}) monocytes negatively correlates with DAS28 and swollen joint count in patients with peripheral spondyloarthritis

A different clinical course and pattern of skeletal involvement in peripheral and axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) suggests a distinct pathophysiology of these 2 phenotypic manifestations of SpA. Monocytes, as part of the innate immune system, seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of SpA, but the exact inflammatory pathways remain to be elucidated. Regulatory T lymphocytes ($T_{reg}$) and Th17 lymphocytes are also known to influence proinflammatory and anti‑inflammatory reactions. The aim of our study was to compare the absolute numbers of monocyte subpopulations, $T_{reg}$, and Th17 lymphocytes with clinical measures of disease activity in patients with peripheral and axial SpA. We enrolled 21 patients with peripheral SpA and 27 patients with axial SpA diagnosed according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society classification criteria, as well as 23 healthy controls. Patients were under 45 years, naïve to synthetic and biological disease‑modifying antirheumatic drugs and without the administration of systemic glucocorticoids. The absolute numbers of classical, intermediate, nonclassical monocytes, $T_{reg}$, and Th17 in peripheral blood were analyzed. Disease activity was assessed using the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS-CRP), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28). In patients with SpA, the number of circulating nonclassical monocytes was decreased in comparison with controls. Only in the peripheral SpA group, a significant negative correlation was found between the concentration of nonclassical monocytes and DAS28 and the number of swollen joints. The 3 groups did not differ in terms of the concentrations of classical or intermediate monocytes and $T_{reg}$ or Th17 lymphocytes. Nonclassical monocytes may play a role in induction and perpetuation of peripheral joint inflammation, at least in peripheral SpA, as cells infiltrating the synovium