The potential use of osl properties of quartz in investigating fluvial processes on the catchment of river Mureş, Romania

To understand the functioning of fluvial systems it is important to investigate dynamics of sediment transport and the source of sediments. In case of reconstructing past processes these studies must be accompanied by the numerical dating of sediment samples. In this respect optically stimulated luminescence is a widely used technique, by which the time of sediment deposition can be directly dated. Recently, in various fluvial environments it has been shown that certain luminescence properties of minerals, and especially that of quartz, can be applied as indicators of fluvial erosion and/or sediment provenance. These properties are residual luminescence (or residual dose) and luminescence sensitivity of quartz grains. However, the values of the parameters above are affected by various factors, the importance of which is under debate. The present study therefore aims to assess these factors along a ~560 km long reach of River Mureş (Maros) a relatively large river with a compound surface lithology on its catchment. The research focused on the sandy fraction of modern sediments, collected from the main river and from three tributaries alike. This way not only longitudinal downstream changes, but the influence of tributaries could also be studied. Based on the data, both investigated parameters show a great variation, which can be attributed to the lithological differences of subcatchments and geomorphological drivers, such as erosional activity and potential number of sedimentary cycles, and human activity. However, relationships are not entirely clear and are influenced by the maximum grain size of the samples investigated, and the recycling of previously laid deposits with different properties. Still, when performing detailed dating studies, and tracing sediments from certain parts of the catchment luminescence properties can be a useful tool in the future

The Potential Use of Osl Properties of Quartz in Investigating Fluvial Processes on the Catchment of River Mureş, Romania

To understand the functioning of fluvial systems it is important to investigate dynamics of sediment transport and the source of sediments. In case of reconstructing past processes these studies must be accompanied by the numerical dating of sediment samples. In this respect optically stimulated luminescence is a widely used technique, by which the time of sediment deposition can be directly dated. Recently, in various fluvial environments it has been shown that certain luminescence properties of minerals, and especially that of quartz, can be applied as indicators of fluvial erosion and/or sediment provenance. These properties are residual luminescence (or residual dose) and luminescence sensitivity of quartz grains. However, the values of the parameters above are affected by various factors, the importance of which is under debate. The present study therefore aims to assess these factors along a ~560 km long reach of River Mureş (Maros) a relatively large river with a compound surface lithology on its catchment. The research focused on the sandy fraction of modern sediments, collected from the main river and from three tributaries alike. This way not only longitudinal downstream changes, but the influence of tributaries could also be studied. Based on the data, both investigated parameters show a great variation, which can be attributed to the lithological differences of subcatchments and geomorphological drivers, such as erosional activity and potential number of sedimentary cycles, and human activity. However, relationships are not entirely clear and are influenced by the maximum grain size of the samples investigated, and the recycling of previously laid deposits with different properties. Still, when performing detailed dating studies, and tracing sediments from certain parts of the catchment luminescence properties can be a useful tool in the future

A minimalizált extracorporalis keringés és alkalmazási területei = The principals of minimal extracorporeal circulation

Az újdonságnak számító minimalizált extracorporalis keringés a hagyományos szívmotor említésre méltó alternatívája. Felépítése egyszerű: egy centrifugális pumpából, oxigenátorból, teljes hosszában heparinizált csőrendszerből és egy módosított cell saverből áll. Zárt rendszerének és a redukált mennyiségű feltöltőfolyadéknak köszönhetően a hagyományos perfúzió előnytelen következményei, mint a hemodilúció, a gyulladásos válasz, a lokoregionális malperfúzió, a transzfúziós igény, jelentősen csökkenthetők. Rövid összefoglalónk a rendszer több mint 2000 betegen tapasztalt előnyeit és biztonságosságát mutatja be. A minimalizált perfúzió szerteágazó alkalmazási területei a bypassműtét dobogó vagy megállított szíven, a balszívfél-bypass mellkasi aortaaneurizmáknál, szívelégtelenségben vagy reanimáció után „áthidalás a felépüléshez” (bridge to recovery), extracorporalis membránoxigenizáció, de lehetőségeink tárháza ezen eljárásokkal még korántsem merül ki. | The recently introduced minimal extracorporeal circulation system is a remarkable alternative to the conventional heart-lung machine in several cardiosurgical indications. It consists of a centrifugal pump, an oxygenator, a tip-to-tip heparin coated line set and a modified cell saver application. Due to its closed blood-air interaction-free construction and reduced priming volume, the unfavourable effects of perfusion as haemodilution, inflammatory response, locoregional malperfusion, transfusion needs, can be effectively reduced. Our short summary demonstrates the advantages and safety of the system proven over 2000 cases. The potential applications are aortocoronary bypass operations with or without arrest, left heart bypass at thoracal aneurysms, „bridge to recovery” in heart failure or subsequent to reanimation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and many more

A minimalizált extracorporalis tüdőtámogatás = The principals of pumpless extracorporeal lung assist

A minimalizált extracorporalis tüdőtámogatás az elmúlt évek szervpótló fejlesztéseinek jelentős lépése, amely lehetővé teszi az egyébként terápiarezisztens ARDS hatékony kezelését. Az arteria és a vena femoralis között létesített arteriovenosus söntön keresztül oxigenizáljuk a beteget, így kielégítő pumpafunkció mellett szükségtelen a mesterséges keringés kialakítása. Zárt rendszerének, a redukált mennyiségű feltöltő folyadéknak és csekély heparinizációs igényének köszönhetően a hagyományos extracorporalis membránoxigenizáció előnytelen következményei jelentősen csökkenthetők. Alacsony eszköz- és személyzetigénye megteremti kis kórházakban vagy akár betegszállítás során történő használatának lehetőségét, üzemeltetési költsége is csekélyebb az ECMO-nál. Összefoglalónk a rendszer 123 betegen tapasztalt előnyeit és biztonságosságát mutatja be. | The recently introduced pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (PECLA) is a remarkable alternative to the conventional extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in case of severe lung failure. By establishing a shunt between femoral artery and vein using the arterio-venous pressure gradient as a driving force through a low-resistance membrane oxygenator, PECLA provides highly effective gas-exchange by preserved cardiac function. Due to its closed system, reduced priming volume and low heparin demand, the unfavourable effects of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be effectively diminished. Hence the small technical, financial and personal input, the PECLA can be ideally used in district hospitals and during transport as well. Our short summary demonstrates the advantages and safety of the system proven over 123 cases

Distribution of the Macrophyte Communities in the Danube Reflects River Serial Discontinuity

The Danube is the second-longest river in Europe that is subjected to various man-made alterations, including those related to hydro-power plants. We surveyed and analyzed the presence and abundance of macrophytes in the main channel from 2582 river kilometers (rkm) to 171 rkm. We also assessed selected habitat parameters in the sampled river stretches. Sixty-eight different plant species were recorded along the entire course. Among neophytes, we found Elodea nuttallii, E. canadensis, Vallisneriaspiralis and Azolla filiculoides. Based on similarity analysis, we distinguished 15 plant communities, most of which were defined as associations, which were classified into 5 alliances and represented three vegetation classes, namely vegetation of rooted hydrophytes Potamogetonetea, the vegetation of pleustophytes Lemnetea and vegetation of marshes Phragmitetea. The number and abundance of plant species, as well as plant communities recorded in single stretches, varied along the course. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that environmental parameters explained 21% of plant species composition. CCA runs with neophytes explained 41% of the variance, and current velocity, water transparency, species number and bank structure were significant variables. The present study revealed that the free-running sections of the river are poor in number and abundance of plant species, whereas impounded reaches mainly show an opposite result