Lichens in the rural landscape of the Warmia Plain

Lichens and lichenicolous fungi in the rural landscape of the Warmia Plain were studied. Lichen species were observed on old wooden fences, roadside trees, fruit trees, pylons, farm machinery, buildings and bridges. The analysed biota consists of 104 taxa with several noteworthy and rare lichens

The lichen family Parmeliaceae in Poland. III. Parmelia serrana, new to Poland

Parmelia serrana A. Crespo, M.C. Molina & D. Hawksw. is reported here for the first time from Poland. The species has been recorded from more than 20 localities and exclusively on the bark of trees. Its general distribution, habitat requirements, morphology, secondary chemistry are provided and the differences between this species and similar taxa, especially P. saxatilis and P. ernstiae, are discussed

The lichen family Parmeliaceae in Poland. III. Parmelia serrana, new to Poland

Parmelia serrana A. Crespo, M.C. Molina & D. Hawksw. is reported here for the first time from Poland. The species has been recorded from more than 20 localities and exclusively on the bark of trees. Its general distribution, habitat requirements, morphology, secondary chemistry are provided and the differences between this species and similar taxa, especially P. saxatilis and P. ernstiae, are discussed

Lichen diversity in the managed forests of the Karnieszewice Forest Division and its surroundings (N Poland)

The lichen biota of the Karnieszewice Forest Division (N Poland) is presented. Despite it is predominantly a strongly managed woodland area, 270 lichen species were found there including many rare species for Poland, as well as for European Lowland. Near 20% of the whole lichen biota are considered to be threatened in the country (categories CR, EN, VU), and 34 species are protected by law in Poland. Agonimia flabelliformis is reported for the second time from Polish lowlands

The diagnostic difficulties of eosinophilia in clinical practice - case series

Introduction: Eosinophilia, defined as elevated level of eosinophils in peripheral blood above 5 x 109/L, is the hematological disorder, which may occur in multiple conditions, such as allergies, gastrointestinal, autoimmune diseases, parasite, fungal infections as well as drug related eosinophilia. Although hematological causes of eosinophilia (idiopathic, myeloproliferative and lymphocytic variant) should be taken into consideration. Aim of the study: The aim of our study was to performed the difficulties related to the differential diagnosis of eosinophilia, especially associated with the diverse symptoms. Materials and methods: The study included 5 patients hospitalized in the Department of Hematooncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, due to eosinophilia associated with diverse symptoms. Medical history, physical examination, the peripheral blood as well as bone marrow samples analysis and the genetic tests for the presence of mutations or rearrangements that detect leukemia or lymphoma were analyzed. Moreover, patients were evaluated due to the presence of parasites. Results: The case series revealed that eosinophilia may have a various etiological background. Three patient demonstrated the reactive eosinophilia, caused by bacterial, parasite infections and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis, however in two other cases the chronic eosinophilic leukemia with abnormalities of PDGFRA were diagnosed. Conclusions: Eosinophilia is an important diagnostic and prognostic feature in a varied range of pathological conditions from infections, allergies to malignancies. For this reason, it is an enormous diagnostic as well as therapeutic challenge and requires an interdisciplinary clinical approach, especially in cases with unclear manifestations

Case reportsLeft coronary artery embolism resulting from ineffective anticoagulation in a patient suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy as a possible cause of myocardial infarction – a case report

We present a case of a 58-year-old male being treated for dilated cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation for more than ten years who was admitted to the intensive care unit with the diagnosis of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In course of further diagnostics the coronary artery embolism resulting from the unintentional anticoagulant drug (acenocumarol) dose reduction was established as the most probable cause of STEMI. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention was successfully performed and the patient was discharged home in good clinical condition

Determining steam condensation pressure in a power plant condenser in off-design conditions

The paper presents formulas which can be used to determine steam condensation pressure in a power plant condenser in off-design conditions. The mathematical model provided in the paper makes it possible to calculate the performance of the condenser in terms of condensing steam pressure, cooling water temperature at the condenser outlet, and condenser effectiveness under variable load conditions as a function of three input properties: the temperature and the mass flow rate of cooling water at the condenser inlet and the mass flow rate of steam. The mathematical model takes into account values of properties occurring in reference conditions but it contains no constant coefficients which would have to be established based on data from technical specifications of a condenser or measurement data. Since there are no such constant coefficients, the model of the steam condenser proposed in the paper is universally applicable. The proposed equations were checked against warranty measurements made in the condenser and measurement data gathered during the operation of a 200 MW steam power unit. Based on the analysis, a conclusion may be drawn that the proposed means of determining pressure in a condenser in off-design conditions reflects the condenser performance with sufficient accuracy. This model can be used in optimization and diagnostic analyses of the performance of a power generation unit

Case reportRadiotherapy and chemotherapy for oncological diseases – unappreciated risk factors for coronary artery disease? Acute coronary syndrome in 3 women after radiotherapy and chemotherapy – case reports

Chest irradiation and chemotherapy may lead to precocious coronary artery disease due to accelerated atherosclerosis or fibrointimal hyperplasia. Three cases of women (43, 50, and 53 years old) without typical risk factors for cardiac disease admitted to hospital due to acute coronary syndrome are described. Two of them had received chest irradiation and chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s disease in the past and the third had been treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer. They underwent emergency coronary angiography myocardial revascularisation with success (PCI treatment and CABG). Continued longitudinal screening of patients exposed to radiation and chemotherapy is needed to provide the best cardiology care

Modification of Canola Oil Physicochemical Properties by Hexane and Ethanol with Regards of Its Application in Diesel Engine

A mixture of canola oil (Co), n-hexane (Hex), and ethyl alcohol (Et) was proposed as a new energy material for powering diesel engines. For this purpose, surface tension, density, and viscosity measurements, as well as engine tests, were performed for 88%Co10%Hex2%Et and 83%Co15%Hex2%Et mixtures at 20 °C. The adsorption and volumetric properties of these mixtures were compared to those of individual mixture components, as well as diesel fuel (Df) and oleic, linoleic, α-linolenic, palmitic, and stearic acids. It was revealed that the values of surface tension, viscosity, and density of Co were higher than those of the Co components. The addition of 10% Hex and 2% Et to Co caused a more than twofold decrease in its viscosity, while the addition of 15% Hex and 2% Et caused a more than fourfold reduction of Co viscosity. In addition, a mixture of Co with 2% Et and 10% Hex had a density similar to that of Df. In turn, theoretical calculations showed that the addition of n-hexane and ethanol to canola oil only slightly changed its heat of combustion. Engine tests were carried out at fixed engine rotational speeds, with a direct gearbox ratio (4th gear). The quick-changing parameters of the combustion process were registered using an AVL Indimicro system. In these tests it was found that the addition of Et to the mixture of Co and Hex did not significantly shorten the auto-ignition delay, but the kinetic phase during combustion disappeared, which had an impact on the combustion start angle

Changes of Some Physicochemical Properties of Canola Oil by Adding n-Hexane and Ethanol Regarding Its Application as Diesel Fuel

Canola oil cannot be directly used as a fuel in diesel engines because its physicochemical properties differ considerably from those of diesel oil. Therefore, the studies were intended to make closer the surface tension, viscosity and density of the canola oil to those of diesel fuel by adding n-hexane and ethanol. The surface tension and its components as well as density and viscosity were determined not only for the canola oil mixtures with n-hexane and ethanol but also for the canola oil components. The surface tension components were determined based on the contact angle measurements on PTFE. To obtain the components and parameters of saturated fatty acids, the contact angles of water, diiodomethane and formamide on their layers were measured. The contact angles of the studied mixtures were also measured on the engine valve. The obtained results and theoretical considerations allowed us to explain why the values of the surface tension, density and viscosity of canola oil are higher than those for its components. They also contributed to the explanation of the mechanism of the reduction in these quantities for canola oil by the addition of n-hexane and ethanol. It appeared, for example, that viscosity of the canola oil mixture with 20% n-hexane contacted with ethanol is close to that of diesel fuel