Surface properties of particles emitted from selected coal-fired heating plants and electric power stations in Poland : preliminary results

The surface properties of particles emitted from six selected coal-fi red power and heating plants in Poland have been studied in this work for the fi rst time. Samples were collected beyond the control systems. Surface composition of the size-distributed particles was obtained by photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The refl ection of the smallest, submicron particles was also measured to calculate their specifi c/mass absorption. The surface layer of the emitted particles was clearly dominated by oxygen, followed by silicon and carbon. The sum of the relative concentration of these elements was between 85.1% and 91.1% for coarse particles and 71.8–93.4% for fi ne/submicron particles. Aluminum was typically the fourth or fi fth, or at least the sixth most common element. The mass absorption of the submicron particles emitted from the studied plants ranged from 0.02 m2g-1 to 0.03 m2g-1. Only specifi c absorption obtained for the “Nowy Wirek” heating plant was signifi cantly higher than in other studied plants probably because the obsolete fi re grate is used in this heating plant. The obtained results suggest that the power/heating-plant-emitted fi ne particles contain less carbonaceous material/elemental carbon on their surfaces than those that are typical in urban air

Mossbauer investigations and photoemission studies of the Fe 3s spin splitting in some Fe-Ni alloys

The magnetic properties, crystal and electronic structure for Fe1¡xNix (x = 0:30, 0.325, 0.375) alloys and austenitic steel were studied using magnetostatic, Mössbauer effect methods, X-ray di®raction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The compositions of the investigated Fe{Ni alloys were chosen like that to exist on left, right and in inside of invar range. Two different magnetic moments (low and high) of Fe atom were observed. Measurement results do not show antiferromagnetic order in Fe{Ni alloys

High-pressure phase transition and properties of spinel ZnMn2O4

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, magnetic measurements, and a single-crystal x-ray structure determination at normal pressure have shown that Jahn-Teller active manganese ions in ZnMn2O4 are present in one valence state (III) on the octahedral sites of the spinel structure. The high-pressure behavior of ZnMn2O4 was investigated up to 52 GPa using the energy-dispersive x-ray diffraction technique and synchrotron radiation. The structural first-order phase transition from the body-centered to primitive-tetragonal cell takes place at Pc=23GPa. The high-pressure phase is metastable down to normal pressure. The c/a ratio reduces from 1.62 to 1.10 above Pc and remains nearly pressure independent in the high-pressure phase. The transition is attributed to the changes in electron configuration of the Mn3+ ions. According to the crystal field theory, the eg electron of octahedrally coordinated Mn3+ is either in the d2z orbital or in the dx2−y2. In the first configuration the MnO6octahedron will be elongated and this is the case at normal pressure, while the second configuration gives the flattened octahedron. In the high-pressure phase some proportion of the eg electrons of the Mn3+ ions is moved to the dx2−y2 level, which is revealed as an abrupt fall of observed magnitude of the distortion of the bulk crystal above Pc

Exposure to PM4 in homes with tobacco smoke in and around Katowice, Poland

The results of a PM4 (airborne particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 4 m) study in Katowice and in the surrounding area in homes with and without environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) are presented. It was found that the average concentration of PM4 inside the homes with ETS was between 126 g m3 (in Jaworzno) and 208 g m3 (in Katowice)—significantly higher than in the homes without smokers (55–65 g m3). The mean of the indoor to outdoor ratios (I/O) for PM4 varied greatly, ranging from 0.6 in the apartments without smokers in Katowice to 5.2 in the homes with smokers in Jaworzno. The highly polluted by ETS indoor air causes children aged 14–15 living in these homes to inhale from 2.5 to 6.6 mg of PM4 more per day than their peers living in non-ETS homes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to determine the surface chemical composition of the studied indoor airborne particles. Carbon, including elemental carbon, and oxygen-containing species dominated the particulate surface, with traces of Si, N, S, Na, Al, Zn, and K present. The surface layer of PM4 from the homes with ETS contains significantly more carbon and less oxygen than the airborne particles collected in the homes without smokers, which can be explained by the high emission of carbon during tobacco smoking

Mass Size Distribution and Chemical Composition of the Surface Layer of Summer and Winter Airborne Particles in Zabrze, Poland

Mass size distributions of ambient aerosol were measured in Zabrze, a heavily industrialized city of Poland, during a summer and a winter season. The chemical analyses of the surface layer of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 in this area were also performed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results suggested that the influence of an atmospheric aerosol on the health condition of Zabrze residents can be distinctly stronger in winter than in summer because of both: higher concentration level of particulate matter (PM) and higher contribution of fine particles in winter season compared to summer. In Zabrze in June (summer) PM10 and PM2.5 reached about 20 and 14 μg/m3, respectively, while in December (winter) 57 and 51 μg/m3, respectively. The XPS analysis showed that elemental carbon is the major surface component of studied airborne particles representing about 78%–80% (atomic mass) of all detected elements

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Energy from renewable sources and society – necessary changes in the system

W artykule zostaną przedstawione aspekty techniczne oraz socjologiczne konieczne do efektywnej realizacji unijnych, proekologicznych założeń. W związku z zaobserwowanymi niekorzystnymi zmianami klimatycznymi Bruksela proponuje, by do 2020 roku, do 80% zostało zmniejszone wykorzystywanie energii elektrycznej z konwencjonalnych źródeł. Odpowiedzią na te założenia, zdaniem Unii Europejskiej, ma być między innymi zwiększenie produkcji czystej energii pochodzącej między innymi z elektrowni słonecznych, wiatrowych czy wodnych. Pod koniec drugiej dekady naszego stulecia ma to być jedna piąta unijnego zapotrzebowania. Jednak korzystanie z nowych, ekologicznych technologii wymaga zmiany całego systemu – tzw. „innowacji systemowej”. W artykule przedstawiona jest transformacja od gospodarki opartej na konwencjonalnych źródłach energii do zrównoważonego środowiskowo rozwoju jako zmiana systemowa. Przedstawiając różne modele teoretyczne wprowadzania innowacji, autorzy zastanawiają się, jak musi się zmienić kontekst społeczny i instytucjonalny, by nowe technologie umożliwiające korzystanie z odnawialnych źródeł energii przestały być niszowymi i co za tym idzie, by gospodarka UE stała się gospodarką niskowęglową.The technical and sociological aspects necessary for the effective implementation of EU environmental policy will be presented. In connection with the observed adverse climate changes Brussels proposes to reduce up to 80% use of electricity from conventional sources by 2020. According to the European Union in the answer to these assumptions should be increase the production of clean energy from ecological sources, ex: solar, wind or water. At the end of the second decade of the current century it will be one fifth of European needs. However, the use of new, green technology requires a change in the whole system - the so-called. 'System Innovation'. This article presents a transformation from a technical economy based on conventional energy sources for environmentally sustainable development as a system change. Presenting various theoretical models of innovation the authors discuss how has to change social and institutional context that new technologies for using renewable energy sources are no longer niche

Surface Properties of Particles Emitted from Selected Coal-Fired Heating Plants and Electric Power Stations in Poland: Preliminary Results

The surface properties of particles emitted from six selected coal-fired power and heating plants in Poland have been studied in this work for the first time. Samples were collected beyond the control systems. Surface composition of the size-distributed particles was obtained by photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)