Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Poland: distribution of patients according to the new GOLD 2011 classification. Cross-sectional survey

Wstęp: W 2011 roku została wprowadzona nowa klasyfikacja przewlekłej obturacyjnej choroby płuc (POChP), uwzględniająca nie tylko stopień obturacji oskrzeli, ale także nasilenie objawów i ryzyko zaostrzeń choroby. Celem niniejszej pracy było przedstawienie charakterystyki pacjentów z POChP zgodnie z kategoriami GOLD 2011.Materiał i metody: Przeprowadzono badanie przekrojowe z udziałem 411 lekarzy specjalistów pneumonologii i alergologii z całej Polski.Wyniki: W grupie 2271 chorych stwierdzono następujący rozkład pacjentów w poszczególnych kategoriach POChP: A 687 (30,3%), B 403 (17,7%), C 256 (11,3%) i D 925 (40,7%). W całej grupie było bardzo mało pacjentów bez zaostrzeń POChP (1,3%), a w podgrupach A i B takich pacjentów nie było wcale. Głównym powodem kwalifikacji do kategorii C i D była liczba zaostrzeń POChP (odpowiednio 66,0% i 40% pacjentów). Współistnienie chorób układu krążenia stwierdzano częściej w podgrupach o nasilonych objawach B i D (82%) niż w podgrupach A i C (57%, p < 0,001).Wnioski: W dużej grupie pacjentów, reprezentatywnej dla populacji chorych na POChP w Polsce, wykazano nierównomierny rozkład chorych w poszczególnych kategoriach klasyfikacji GOLD 2011. Najliczniejsze były podgrupy A i D, do których zaliczono 71% wszystkich chorych. W niniejszym badaniu główną przyczyną klasyfikacji do kategorii C lub D było wysokie ryzyko zaostrzeń choroby, a nie — jak stwierdzano w innych doniesieniach — stopień zmniejszenia FEV1.Introduction: In 2011 new classification for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was introduced, which are not based on the extent of airflow limitation alone, but also on symptoms and risk of exacerbation. The objective of our work was to present the characteristics of COPD patients according to the GOLD 2011 categories.Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed with the participation of 411 specialists in pneumonology or allergology all over from Poland.Results: In the group of 2271 patients we obtained the following distribution of COPD categories: A 687 (30.3%), B 403 (17.7%), C 256 (11.3%), and D 925 (40.7%). There were very few patients with no exacerbation (1.3%). In subgroups A and B there were no such patients at all. The main reason for classification of patients into categories C and D was the number of exacerbations of COPD (66.0% and 40%, respectively). Cardiovascular comorbidities were more frequent in subgroups B and D, with more symptoms (82%) than in subgroups A and C (57%, p < 0.001).Conclusions: In a large group of patients, representative of the population of COPD patients in Poland, we observed an uneven distribution of patients in the GOLD 2011 categories, with 71% of patients assigned to category A or D. In our study, the main reason for classifying to category C or D was the high risk of disease exacerbation rather than the degree of FEV1 reduction, as noted in other reports

Microstructure and properties of PbCa grade alloys for starting battery grids

The paper presents results of the studies into microstructure and mechanical properties of PbCa grade alloys for starting battery grids. Three lead-calcium alloys with alloy additions of aluminium, tin, silver and magnesium were studied. Lead alloys were produced in laboratory tests from industrial master alloys and pure elements. The examined alloys have monophase microstructure of tin solid solution in the lead. The range between liquidus and solidus temperatures is c.a. 10 °C. The mechanical properties alloys depend on the amount of tin. PbCa alloys exposed to the process of natural ageing increase their strength, proof strength and hardness, simultaneously the plasticity decreases

Semigroups of distributions with linear Jacobi parameters

We show that a convolution semigroup of measures has Jacobi parameters polynomial in the convolution parameter $t$ if and only if the measures come from the Meixner class. Moreover, we prove the parallel result, in a more explicit way, for the free convolution and the free Meixner class. We then construct the class of measures satisfying the same property for the two-state free convolution. This class of two-state free convolution semigroups has not been considered explicitly before. We show that it also has Meixner-type properties. Specifically, it contains the analogs of the normal, Poisson, and binomial distributions, has a Laha-Lukacs-type characterization, and is related to the $q=0$ case of quadratic harnesses.Comment: v3: the article is merged back together with arXiv:1003.4025. A significant revision following suggestions by the referee. 2 pdf figure

Reproductive success of the wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix varies across Europe

Differences in population trends across a species’ breeding range are ultimately linked to variation in demographic rates. In small songbirds, demographic rates related to fecundity typically have strong effects on population trends. Populations of a forest songbird, the wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix, have been declining in many but not all regions of the European breeding range. We investigated if clutch size, hatching rate, nest survival and number of fledglings vary across Europe, and if nest survival is related to differences in the regionally dominant nest predator class (birds versus mammals). From 2009 to 2020, we monitored 1896 nests and used cameras at a subsample of 645 nests in six study regions: the United Kingdom (mid-Wales, Dartmoor, the New Forest), Germany (Hessen), Switzerland (Jura mountains) and Poland (Białowieża National Park). Number of fledglings was lowest in the New Forest (1.43 ± CI 0.23), intermediate in Jura (2.41 ± 0.31) and Białowieża (2.26 ± 0.24) and highest in mid-Wales (3.02 ± 0.48) and Dartmoor (2.92 ± 0.32). The reason for low reproductive success in the New Forest, Jura and Białowieża was low nest survival, and large clutch sizes in Białowieża did not compensate for high nest losses. High reproductive success in mid-Wales and Dartmoor was due to high nest survival and large clutch sizes. Overall predation rates were similar everywhere despite variation between the regions in the dominant nest predator class. Unsuccessful nests in mid-Wales were mainly predated by birds; in Dartmoor, the New Forest, Hessen and Jura similarly by birds and mammals; and in Białowieża exclusively by mammals. Regional reproductive success does not match the population trends recently reported for the wood warbler in the six study regions (i.e. high reproduction ≠ positive trend). Annual survival may be a decisive factor, but it is difficult to quantify for a nomadic species such as the wood warbler that rarely returns to the same breeding locations

Porosity of closed carbon nanotubes compressed using hydraulic pressure

Experimental data of nitrogen adsorption (T = 77.3 K) from gaseous phase measured on commercial closed carbon nanotubes are presented. Additionally, we show the results of N2 adsorption on compressed (using hydraulic press) CNTs. In order to explain the experimental observations the results of GCMC simulations of N2 adsorption on isolated or bundled multi-walled closed nanotubes (four models of bundles) are discussed. We show that the changes of the experimental adsorption isotherms are related to the compression of the investigated adsorbents. They are qualitatively similar to the theoretical observations. Taking into account all results it is concluded that in the "architecture" of nanotubes very important role has been played by isolated nanotubes

The Einsteinian T(3)-Gauge Approach and the Stress Tensor of the Screw Dislocation in the Second Order: Avoiding the Cut-off at the Core

A translational gauge approach of the Einstein type is proposed for obtaining the stresses that are due to non-singular screw dislocation. The stress distribution of second order around the screw dislocation is classically known for the hollow circular cylinder with traction-free external and internal boundaries. The inner boundary surrounds the dislocation's core, which is not captured by the conventional solution. The present gauge approach enables us to continue the classically known quadratic stresses inside the core. The gauge equation is chosen in the Hilbert--Einstein form, and it plays the role of non-conventional incompatibility law. The stress function method is used, and it leads to the modified stress potential given by two constituents: the conventional one, say, the `background' and a short-ranged gauge contribution. The latter just causes additional stresses, which are localized. The asymptotic properties of the resulting stresses are studied. Since the gauge contributions are short-ranged, the background stress field dominates sufficiently far from the core. The outer cylinder's boundary is traction-free. At sufficiently moderate distances, the second order stresses acquire regular continuation within the core region, and the cut-off at the core does not occur. Expressions for the asymptotically far stresses provide self-consistently new length scales dependent on the elastic parameters. These lengths could characterize an exteriority of the dislocation core region.Comment: 34 pages, LaTe

Prediction of protein assemblies, the next frontier: The CASP14-CAPRI experiment

We present the results for CAPRI Round 50, the fourth joint CASP-CAPRI protein assembly prediction challenge. The Round comprised a total of twelve targets, including six dimers, three trimers, and three higher-order oligomers. Four of these were easy targets, for which good structural templates were available either for the full assembly, or for the main interfaces (of the higher-order oligomers). Eight were difficult targets for which only distantly related templates were found for the individual subunits. Twenty-five CAPRI groups including eight automatic servers submitted ~1250 models per target. Twenty groups including six servers participated in the CAPRI scoring challenge submitted ~190 models per target. The accuracy of the predicted models was evaluated using the classical CAPRI criteria. The prediction performance was measured by a weighted scoring scheme that takes into account the number of models of acceptable quality or higher submitted by each group as part of their five top-ranking models. Compared to the previous CASP-CAPRI challenge, top performing groups submitted such models for a larger fraction (70–75%) of the targets in this Round, but fewer of these models were of high accuracy. Scorer groups achieved stronger performance with more groups submitting correct models for 70–80% of the targets or achieving high accuracy predictions. Servers performed less well in general, except for the MDOCKPP and LZERD servers, who performed on par with human groups. In addition to these results, major advances in methodology are discussed, providing an informative overview of where the prediction of protein assemblies currently stands.Cancer Research UK, Grant/Award Number: FC001003; Changzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Grant/Award Number: CE20200503; Department of Energy and Climate Change, Grant/Award Numbers: DE-AR001213, DE-SC0020400, DE-SC0021303; H2020 European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Grant/Award Numbers: 675728, 777536, 823830; Institut national de recherche en informatique et en automatique (INRIA), Grant/Award Number: Cordi-S; Lietuvos Mokslo Taryba, Grant/Award Numbers: S-MIP-17-60, S-MIP-21-35; Medical Research Council, Grant/Award Number: FC001003; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI, Grant/Award Number: JP19J00950; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Grant/Award Number: PID2019-110167RB-I00; Narodowe Centrum Nauki, Grant/Award Numbers: UMO-2017/25/B/ST4/01026, UMO-2017/26/M/ST4/00044, UMO-2017/27/B/ST4/00926; National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Grant/Award Numbers: R21GM127952, R35GM118078, RM1135136, T32GM132024; National Institutes of Health, Grant/Award Numbers: R01GM074255, R01GM078221, R01GM093123, R01GM109980, R01GM133840, R01GN123055, R01HL142301, R35GM124952, R35GM136409; National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Number: 81603152; National Science Foundation, Grant/Award Numbers: AF1645512, CCF1943008, CMMI1825941, DBI1759277, DBI1759934, DBI1917263, DBI20036350, IIS1763246, MCB1925643; NWO, Grant/Award Number: TOP-PUNT 718.015.001; Wellcome Trust, Grant/Award Number: FC00100