Introduction to numerical modeling of electromagnetic wave field on the example of georadar data recorded in river dike

Selected result of GPR surveys, which were carried out on the dike of the Vistula River, three days after the flood in 2010, was presented in the paper. Radargram was processed in a standard way, which allowed 2D visualization of main loose zones in the examined dike. Theoretical background of numerical modelling of electromagnetic wave field in the geological medium was presented in the paper. The results of numerical modelling were used for the evaluation of water and air saturation of loose zones during radargram interpretations

Computed tomography-guided percutaneous radiofrequency and laser ablation for the treatment of osteoid osteoma : long-term follow-up from 5 to 10 years

Purpose: The impact of computed tomography (CT)-guided, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and interstitial laser ablation (ILA) on the management of patients with osteoid osteoma was studied. This was carried out by assessing immediate and long-term clinical outcomes, the complication rate, and repeat therapy effectiveness in recurrent patients who have already experienced percutaneous ablation. Material and methods: Consecutive patients with osteoid osteoma were assessed before the interventional treatment in a single centre from 2010 to 2015. Patient demographics, complications, and recurrence were recorded. The pain was evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Percutaneous procedures were performed by means of radiofrequency thermoablation or ILA. Epidural or regional anaesthesia in the CT suite was applied in all procedures. Success, whether primary or secondary, was measured as complete pain relief without evidence of recurrence after the first or second procedure, respectively. Osteoid osteoma characteristics, procedure overview, and technical success were looked for in pre-procedural and procedural scans. Results: Eighty-three per cent of osteoid osteomas were located in lower extremities, 56% of tumours were intracortical, and 83% of osteoid osteomas were extra-articular. The mean pre-procedure VAS score was 8.5 ± 0.8, while the overall primary success rate of radiofrequency thermoablation and ILA was 87.5%. No major complications were noted. The mean follow-up period for patients in was 7.5 years (5.0-10.2 years). Conclusions: Percutaneous, CT-guided thermoablation proved to be effective and should become the method of choice in osteoid osteoma treatment because of its minimal invasiveness. Our results show that there is no risk of very late recurrence after achieving primary and secondary treatment success

The application of electromagnetic methods for polymetallic prospecting in mining conditions

The paper presents selected results of geophysical surveys carried out in the “Polkowice-Sieroszowice” copper mine in Lower Silesia, Poland. The aim of complex geophysical measurements was the analysis of the usefulness of selected electromagnetic methods for locating ore mineralisation zones in mining conditions. The results were obtained from surveys conducted along profiles designed on the side-wall by the roof, in the middle and the floor of the excavation. Electromagnetic Profiling and Ground Penetrating Radar techniques were applied for outlining the mineralisation zones consisting of Cu, Pb and Fe. The variability of geophysical recordings depending on the degree of mineralisation and distribution of fractures induced by mining activity were analysed. The results of geophysical surveys were correlated to petrophysical parameters and laboratory data concerning the percentages of Cu, Pb and Fe in samples taken from the side-wall at the survey site

The value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of varicocele

A varicocele is described as pathologically enlarged, tortuous veins of the pampiniform plexus, leading to an increased testicular temperature and adrenal metabolite reflux into the testes. Varicocele can impair spermatogenesis and is considered to be the most common cause of male infertility. Patients may palpate a thickening in the scrotum or complain of dull scrotal or inguinal pain, which increases when standing or during erection. In the case of a sudden onset of varicocele in elderly men, it is necessary to exclude renal tumor and extend diagnostic ultrasound with the assessment of the abdominal cavity. The diagnosis of varicocele is based on medical history and physical examination, which involves palpation and observation of the scrotum at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver. Ultrasound is the imaging method of choice. The width and the number of vessels in the pampiniform plexus as well as the evaluation and measurement of regurgitation during the Valsalva maneuver are typical parameters analyzed during ultrasound assessment. However, diagnostic ultrasound is still a controversial method due to numerous and often divergent classification systems for varicocele assessment as well as its poor correlation with clinical manifestations. As a result of introduction of clear ultrasound criteria as well as the development of elastography and nuclear magnetic resonance, diagnostic imaging can play an important role in assessing the risk of damage to the testicular parenchyma, qualifying patients for surgical treatment and predicting the effects of therapy

Transport Co-Modality and Intermodal Transshipment Terminals

Co-modality means the efficient use of transport modes operating on their own or in multimodal integration in the European transport system to reach an optimal and sustainable exploitation of resources. Due to the growing demand for freight transport high efficiency and co-modality of different branches of transport in the European transport system are imperative. The basic criterion for assessing the effectiveness of all the available and proposed solutions must be economical bill, complex conducted both in terms of micro (at the level of each customer) and macro (at the level of the whole transport sector), endearing issues of economic, ecology, social, etc. An important aspect are the additional costs such as those related to the creation of new element of infrastructure, especially point elements of infrastructure

Differences in diffusion tensor imaging parameters of brain white matter tracts between patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 and type 2 — a retrospective single-centre study

Introduction. The main aim of our study was to compare diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters in patients with myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2 (DM1 and DM2). Clinical rationale for the study. To ascertain whether DTI could be used to assess the integrity of white matter tracts in the brain and identify any abnormalities or disruptions in connectivity between different brain regions in patients with DM. By providing a more detailed understanding of the structural changes in the brain associated with DM, could DTI potentially be used to develop more effective treatments for the cognitive and neurological symptoms of the disorder? Material and methods. We retrospectively compared MRI scans of 19 patients with DM1 to those of 23 healthy, matched controls, and of 16 patients with DM2 to those of 20 healthy, matched controls, and finally compared the DM1 and DM2 samples. Fraction anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), and axial diffusivity (AD) values were assessed using Tract Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). Results. In patients with DM1, a statistically significant decrease in the values of the FA parameter was revealed in 45/48 white matter tracts compared to patients with DM2. There was no statistically significant decrease in the values of the FA parameter in patients with DM2 compared to DM1. The values of MD and RD were significantly higher in 47 tracts in DM1 patients compared to DM2 patients. AD values were significantly higher in all 48 tracts in DM1 patients compared to DM2 patients. There were no tracts with increased MD, AD, or RD values in DM2 patients compared to DM1. Conclusions. Our results indicate diffuse disintegration of white matter pathways in DM patients, especially in the DM1 group. The damage to all types of fibres (association, commissural, and projection) may explain the diversity of clinical symptoms, which were more severe in the DM1 group of patients than in the DM2 group. Clinical implications. DTI in patients with DM may help us to understand the neural mechanisms underlying brain involvement during the disease. In future, it may help to identify biomarkers for disease progression and treatment response

The global crisis and the behavior of Polish enterprises

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Multisystem Amyloidosis in a Coal Miner with Silicosis: Is Exposure to Silica Dust a Cause of Amyloid Deposition?

The over-secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains by clonal B cells followed by the aggregation and extracellular deposition of fibrillar deposits are responsible forthe clinical course AL amyloidosis. It is well documented that silica significantly increases the number of immunoglobulin-secreting cells. In the present paper, we report on a coal miner with silicosis and fast progressing primary amyloidosis with predominantly heart, kidney, and lung manifestations. Severeheart failure due to myocardial hypertrophy resulted in the patient’s death. We conclude that long-term environmental silica exposure and silica deposition may contribute to the development of monoclonal gammopathy and amyloidosis due to chronic stimulus and the dysregulation of the immune system

Positioning of Foreign Subsidiaries in Multinational Enterprise Network: Does the Local Embeddedness Matter?

Recent literature emphasizes the role of foreign subsidiaries (FS) as contributors to competitive advantage of the entire multinational enterprise (MNE) network. This contribution affects the positioning of focal subsidiary in the MNE structure - its power in relationships with corporate headquarters and other business units. The paper - conceptual in character, based on recent literature - aims at analysis of scope and contents of subsidiaries' relationships with local partners, and its possible influence on FS systemic power (i.e. power derived from subsidiary specialization within value chain), its resource-dependency power, institutional, and bargaining power (related to subsidiary management initiatives). The outcomes of the paper will be used in a study of positioning of foreign-owned subsidiaries located in Poland