On African Eupsilobiinae (Coleoptera: Endomychidae) with Descriptions of a New Genus and Species

Species of the South African genus Microxenus Wollaston are revised. Microxenus laticollis Wollaston is redescribed, and M. muelleri sp. nov. and M. krugeri sp. nov. are described. Natalinus gen. nov. and its single included species, N. klimaszewskii sp. nov. are described. All of these taxa are diagnosed and illustrated, and a key to the species of Microxenus is presented. Female genitalia of newly described species are discussed in terms of monophyly of Eupsilobiinae. Zoogeographical and biological data of African Eupsilobiinae are summarized

ECG-gated multi-slice computed tomography in the detection of atrial septal aneurysms

An atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is an uncommon cardiac abnormality. Clinical manifestation of this abnormality remains unclear: some authors have suggested an association between ASA and arrhythmias or between ASA and cerebral ischaemia. A major role in the diagnosis of ASA to date has been played by transoesophageal echocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography. The purpose of this paper is to present the role of multi-slice computed tomography with ECG gating in the detection and analysis of ASA. (Folia Morphol 2008; 67: 126–128

Fatty foci within the heart and the accompanying changes in the coronary arteries diagnosed in electrocardiogram-gated multislice computed tomography of the heart

Background: The purpose of our study was to analyse the relationship between fatty foci within the heart and the accompanying changes in the coronary arteries supplying the relevant heart chambers in a large group of patients referred to multi-slice computed tomography with electrocardiogram-gating examinations (ECG-MSCT) for various clinical reasons. Materials and methods: The ECG-MSCT examinations of 1,830 consecutive patients were analysed. The examinations were performed using 8-row (1,015 patients) and 64-row (815 patients) MSCT, in pre- and postcontrast scanning. In the group of patients with fatty foci within the heart the concomitant changes in the coronary arteries were assessed. It was analysed: the type of changes in the arteries; the relationship between the locations of the fatty deposits and the occurrence and type of changes in the coronary arteries. Results: In 200 (10.9%) subjects fatty foci within the heart (112 men; 88 women; mean age 57.8) were detected. The distribution of the fat was as follows: right ventricle (RV) — 32.5%, left ventricle (LV) — 22.0%, biventricular — 45.5%. One hundred and seventy-two patients had concomitant changes in the coronary arteries. In patients with normal coronary arteries, significantly more often fatty deposits were localised within RV. Fat was primarily located subendocardially in the LV in patients with atherosclerosis in the left anterior descending artery (p < 0.001), in the right coronary artery (RCA) (p = 0.003), and in the left circumflex artery (LCX) (p < 0.001). Subpericardial locations of fatty deposits in RV significantly correlated with RCA bridging (p < 0.02); the subpericardial location of fat in LV significantly correlated with LCX bridging (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Fatty replacement of the myocardium is common, occurring in up to 10% of diagnosed patients and the majority of this group had concomitant changes in the coronary arteries. However, in the group of patients without changes in the coronary arteries, the fatty deposits locate themselves significantly more frequently within the RV

Hydrogen adsorption on Pd(133) surface

In this study used is an approach based on measurements of the total energy distribution (TED) of field emitted electrons in order to examine the properties of Pd (133) from the aspect of both hydrogen adsorption and surface hydrides formation. The most favourable sites offered to a hydrogen atom to be adsorbed have been indicated and an attempt to describe the peaks of the enhancement factor R spectrum to the specific adsorption sites has also been made.Comment: to be submitted to the Centr. Eur. J. Phy

Patients' and health professionals' understanding of and preferences for graphical presentation styles for individual-level EORTC QLQ-C30 scores

Purpose To investigate patients’ and health professionals’ understanding of and preferences for different graphical presentation styles for individual-level EORTC QLQC30 scores. Methods We recruited cancer patients (any treatment and diagnosis) in four European countries and health professionals in the Netherlands. Using a questionnaire, we assessed objective and self-rated understanding of QLQ-C30 scores and preferences for five presentation styles (bar and line charts, with or without color coding, and a heat map). Results In total, 548 patients and 227 health professionals participated. Eighty-three percent of patients and 85 % of professionals self-rated the graphs as very or quite easy to understand; this did not differ between graphical presentation styles. The mean percentage of correct answers to questions objectively assessing understanding was 59 % in patients, 78 % in medical specialists, and 74 % in other health professionals. Objective understanding did not differ between graphical formats in patients. For non-colored charts, 49.8 % of patients did not have a preference. Colored bar charts (39 %) were preferred over heat maps (20 %) and colored line charts (12 %). Medical specialists preferred heat maps (46 %) followed by non-colored bar charts (19 %), whereas these charts were equally valued by other health professionals (both 32 %). Conclusion The substantial discrepancy between participants’ high self-rated and relatively low objective understanding of graphical presentation of PRO results highlights the need to provide sufficient guidance when presenting such results. It may be appropriate to adapt the presentation of PRO results to individual preferences. This could be facilitated when PROs are administered and presented to patients and health professionals electronically

Оцінка морфофункціонального стану організму щурів за вивчення токсичності препарату на основі тилмікозину

The article presents the study results of the acute and subacute toxicity of the veterinary drug “Tylmozyn 25” (solution for oral administration) based on tilmicosin. Intra-gastric administration of “Tylmozyn 25” to white mice at a dose of 25000 mg/kg of body weight caused the death of 100% of the animals, a dose of 15000 mg/kg of body weight caused the death of 66% of the white mice. The average time of death was 2 and 5 hours correspondingly. While determining the toxicity of “Tylmozyn 25” in white rats, we did not spot the death of any studied animal at any administered dose (5000, 15000, 25000 mg/kg of body weight). Based on the result of our study, we conclude that the veterinary drug Tylmozyn 25 belongs to the fourth of toxicity class – low toxic substances. LD50 of Tylmozyn 25 in white mice is 14167 mg/kg, while in white rats LD50 is higher than 25000 mg/kg. Testing on white rats intra-gastric drug “Tylmozyn 25” during for 14 days, both in therapeutic (80 mg/kg of body weight) and 10-fold doses (800 mg/kg of body weight) did not cause animal death, but caused a decrease in body weight, a significant decrease in the coefficients of weight of the liver and spleen and a tendency to increase the coefficients of weight of the heart and lungs compared with the animals of the control group. Animals which got the drug at a dose of 800 mg/kg of body weight showed erythrocytosis, leukopenia, increased enzymatic activity of AST, ALT, and LDH, the content of total protein against to decrease urea and creatinine, which may indicate impaired liver, kidney function and hematopoietic organs. The macroscopic and microscopic structure of the internal organs of the experimental rats is preserved. Rats receiving a tenfold therapeutic dose of the drug for 14 days, histologically revealed the most granular protein dystrophy in the liver and kidneys, which was manifested by discomplexation of the lamellae, presence of hepatocytes with uneven granular cytoplasm, slightly colored cytoplasm, hypertrophied nuclei, renal convoluted tubules and narrowing of their lumen, compaction of the mesh of the renal corpuscle. In the myocardium, the branching, swelling of the muscle fibers, swelling of the stroma with cell infiltrates, mainly of the lympho-histiocytic series, was observed, which indicated the development of serosa myocarditis. Structural changes in the liver, kidneys and heart were confirmed by biochemical parameters of the enzymatic activity of the serum of rats of this group.У статті наведені результати вивчення гострої та підгострої токсичності препарату “Тилмозин 25” (розчин для перорального застосування), виготовленого на основі тилмікозину. Внутрішньошлункове введення препарату “Тилмозин 25” білим мишам, у дозі 25000 мг/кг маси тіла викликало 100% загибель тварин, доза 15000 мг/кг – 66% загибелі тварин. Середній час загибелі становив 2 та 5 годин відповідно. При визначенні гострої токсичності препарату “Тилмозин 25” на білих щурах загибелі тварин не виявляли за введення жодної з доз (5000, 15000, 25000 мг/кг маси тіла). У результаті проведених досліджень було встановлено, що препарат “Тилмозин 25” належить до 4-го класу токсичності – малотоксичні речовини. ЛД50 при його внутрішньошлунковому введенні білим мишам становить 14167 мг/кг, а для білих щурів є більшою за 25000 мг/кг. Застосування білим щурам внутрішньошлунково препарату “Тилмозин 25” впродовж 14 діб як у терапевтичній (80 мг/кг маси тіла), так і 10-кратній дозах (800 мг/кг маси тіла) не викликало загибелі тварин, проте спричиняло зменшення маси тіла, достовірне зниження коефіцієнтів маси печінки та селезінки і тенденцію до збільшення коефіцієнтів маси серця і легень порівняно з тваринами контрольної групи. У тварин, які отримували досліджуваний препарат в дозі 800 мг/кг маси тіла, встановлено еритроцитоз, лейкопенію, підвищення активності АлАТ, АсАТ, ЛДГ, вмісту загального білка на фоні зниження вмісту сечовини та креатиніну, що може вказувати на порушення функції печінки, нирок та органів кровотворення. Макроскопічна та мікроскопічна структура внутрішніх органів досліджуваних груп щурів збережена. У щурів, які отримували 10-кратну терапевтичну дозу препарату впродовж 14 діб, гістологічно виявляли вогнища зернистої білкової дистрофії в печінці та нирках, що проявлялося дискомплексацією пластинчатої будови печінкових часточок, наявність гепатоцитів з неоднорідною, зернистою, слабо забарвленою цитоплазмою та гіпертрофованими ядрами, набуханням епітелію звивистих ниркових канальців та звуженням їхнього просвіту, ущільненням сітки ниркових клубочків. У міокарді спостерігали розволокнення, набухання м’язових волокон, набряк строми з клітинними інфільтратами переважно лімфо-гістіоцитарного ряду, що вказувало на розвиток серозного міокардиту. Встановлені структурні зміни у печінці, нирках, серці були підтверджені біохімічними показниками ферментативної активності сироватки крові щурів даної групи

Lithium-ion battery fast charging: A review

In the recent years, lithium-ion batteries have become the battery technology of choice for portable devices, electric vehicles and grid storage. While increasing numbers of car manufacturers are introducing electrified models into their offering, range anxiety and the length of time required to recharge the batteries are still a common concern. The high currents needed to accelerate the charging process have been known to reduce energy efficiency and cause accelerated capacity and power fade. Fast charging is a multiscale problem, therefore insights from atomic to system level are required to understand and improve fast charging performance. The present paper reviews the literature on the physical phenomena that limit battery charging speeds, the degradation mechanisms that commonly result from charging at high currents, and the approaches that have been proposed to address these issues. Special attention is paid to low temperature charging. Alternative fast charging protocols are presented and critically assessed. Safety implications are explored, including the potential influence of fast charging on thermal runaway characteristics. Finally, knowledge gaps are identified and recommendations are made for the direction of future research. The need to develop reliable in operando methods to detect lithium plating and mechanical degradation is highlighted. Robust model-based charging optimisation strategies are identified as key to enabling fast charging in all conditions. Thermal management strategies to both cool batteries during charging and preheat them in cold weather are acknowledged as critical, with a particular focus on techniques capable of achieving high speeds and good temperature homogeneities