Algebraic properties of the class of Sierpiński-Zygmund functions

AbstractSums, products and compositions with Sierpiński-Zygmund functions are investigated. Moreover, cardinal invariants connected with those operations are defined and studied

Lattice deformation of blue halite from Zechstein evaporite basin : Kłodawa Salt Mine, Central Poland

Outcrops of natural blue and purple halite crystals have been found in K ł odawa (Poland) salt deposit originating from the Permian (Zechstein) salt formation within tectonic zones. Field works carried out on various levels of K ł odawa Salt Mine indicated differencesbothinintensity ofthe hue and in the size of the outcrops. Their occurrence was connected with the presence of epigenetic sediments rich in potassium. For the samples of blue ha lite, an optical anisotropy (birefringence) was observed for both standard mineralogical thin sections and thick plates, indicating a deviation from cubic symmetry. The blue colouration of the halites, described by ultraviolet – visible spectroscopy, is due to the presence of colour centres. The colour centres have been recently identi- fied as: F, R 1 (F 3 ), R 2 (F 3 ), M and plasmons (Wese ł ucha- Birczy ń ska et al., Vib Spectrosc 60:124 – 128, 2012 ). The trace amount of impurities detected in the blue halites by means of scanning electron microscopy – energy dispersive X-ray spec- troscopy and micro-X-ray fluorescence techniques were con- nected mainly with solid inclusions such as K x Na (1 − x ) Cl, KMgCl 3 ·6H 2 O, KCl, orthorhombic sulphur, quartz and some other phases like pyrite. Crystallographic data obtained by X- ray diffraction experiments for the single crystals of the halite from K ł odawa with different saturation of blue or purple colours, as well as for natural colourless halite, revealed lowering of space-group symmetry to monoclinic, orthorhom- bic, trigonal, tetragonal or even triclinic systems while the space group typical for pure NaCl is Fm -3 m

Ideal convergence

Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00

Age and other risk factors of pneumonia among residents of Polish long-term care facilities

SummaryBackgroundPneumonia is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) is probably the largest health problem in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). It is the second most common infection in LTCFs and frequently requires hospitalization. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence rate of NHAP among LTCF residents, its microbial etiology, and the frequency of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Risk factors for NHAP were analyzed.MethodsThis was a prospective study conducted on a group of 217 elderly subjects aged ≥65 years, recruited from the inhabitants of LTCFs, with disabled elderly individuals living in the community serving as controls. Continuous surveillance was carried out from December 1, 2009 to November 30, 2010.ResultsThe incidence rate of NHAP in the observed population of Polish residents was 0.6/1000 resident-days. Vulnerability to NHAP was due to the poor general condition of residents, expressed by low Barthel index values (relative risk (RR) 1.6), the activities of daily living (ADL) score (RR 1.7), the Katz scale (RR 1.2), and limited physical activity (RR 1.6). Also significant were malnutrition (RR 2.3), the use of a bladder catheter (RR 1.3), dysphagia (RR 1.7), tracheotomy tube (RR 3.1), and gastric feeding tube (RR 3.5). Enterobacteriaceae were the predominant etiological agents of NHAP (56.3%).ConclusionsThe significance of risk factors for NHAP among residents in LTCFs was confirmed. Unfortunately, we also found that a lack of proper supervision with regard to the microbiology of infections is characteristic of Polish health care and LTCFs. There is an opportunity to improve the medical care of patients with severe disabilities, limit the rise in antimicrobial resistance and the need for hospitalization, and improve the prognosis