Increasing role of arthropod bites in tularaemia transmission in Poland – case reports and diagnostic methods

The study describes four cases of tularaemia – one developed after contact with rabbits and three developed after an arthropod bite. Due to non-specific clinical symptoms, accurate diagnosis of tularaemia may be difficult. The increasing contribution of the arthropod vectors in the transmission of the disease indicates that special effort should be made to apply sensitive and specific diagnostic methods for tularaemia, and to remind health-care workers about this route of Francisella tularensis infections. The advantages and disadvantages of various diagnostic methods – molecular, serological and microbiological culture – are discussed. The PCR as a rapid and proper diagnostic method for ulceroglandular tularaemia is presented

The new molecules in the form of microspheres 89Y2O3 obtained by modified INCT sol-gel method for liver cancer treatment

In the Sol-Gel Laboratory (INCT) on the basis many years of experience in the preparation new generation of ceramic materials has been taken study for preparation microspheres Y2O3 to treatment hepatic malignancies cancer. Using a combination of patented processes (INCT Process, patent PL-83484 and Complex Sol-Gel Process-CSGP, patent PL-172618) in one method for the production of spherical particles with diameters 10 to 100μm obtained 89Y2O3 microspheres (decision to grant a patent by the Polish Patent Office of November 19, 2014 for patent application P-394645 in 2011). Microspheres after fractionating were study to physicochemical properties and were tested stability in the environment physiological saline, serum and blood. In order to obtain the properties of the radiopharmaceutical 89Y2O3 microspheres were irradiated in the reactor Maria in the reaction 89Y (n, γ) 90Y

Struktura i właściwości kompozytów żelowych WO₃-ZrO₂ jako potencjalnych katalizatorów w procesie izomeryzacji weglowodorów

Tungsten oxide dispersed on zirconia in WO3-ZrO2 system found application as strong acidic catalyst in hydrocarbons isomerization process. Specific method for synthesis of gel metal oxide composites based on Complex Sol-Gel Process (CSGP) were elaborated in Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Warsaw. Structural investigations of WO3-ZrO2 gel composites thermally treated at 500ºC, 650ºC and 800ºC using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) methods were carried out. The gel composites annealed at 500ºC appears as amorphous material, in the composites thermally treated at 650ºC beginning of crystalline forms are observed. The gel composites annealed at 800ºC are polycrystalline. Both oxides exist as separate crystalline phases, ZrO2 in the high symmetry forms: cubic and tetragonal, WO3 in the monoclinic form.Tlenek wolframu dyspergowany w tlenku cyrkonu znalazł zastosowanie jako silnie kwaśny katalizator w procesie izomeryzacji węglowodorów. Zaproponowano specyficzną metodę syntezy kompozytów żelowych tlenków metali bazującą na opracowanym w Instytucie Chemii i Techniki Jądrowej w Warszawie Kompleksowym Procesie Zol-Żel. Badania strukturalne kompozytów żelowych WO3-ZrO2 poddanych termicznej obróbce w temperaturach 500ºC, 650ºC, 800ºC. prowadzono stosując metody dyfrakcji promieniowania rentgenowskiego (XRD) oraz skaningowej mikroskopii elektronowej (SEM). Żele wygrzewane w temperaturze 500ºC okazały się materiałem amorficznym, w kompozytach wygrzewanych w temperaturze 650ºC zaobserwowano pojawienie się form krystalicznych. Natomiast żele wygrzewane w temperaturze 800ºC posiadały strukturę polikrystaliczna. Oba tlenki występują jako oddzielne fazy krystaliczne, ZrO2 w postaci faz regularnej i tetragonalnej oraz WO3 w postaci fazy jednoskośnej

Studies on template-synthesized polypyrrole nanostructures

The paper presents a short review of recent achievements in the rapidly growing field of the template synthesis of nanostructures together with their possible application. The results of our own work, concerning the polypyrrole nanotubules synthesis inside pores of track-etched membranes, have been presented as well. Finally, the kinetics of nanotubule growth process using the SEM method and permeability for air of the resulting structures has been also determined

Synthesis and Characterization of Co-Cs-Nd-Sr-Doped Perovskite-Rutile-Type Structure

The perovskite type matrix is considered as solidification material for high-level radioactive waste. In this work the perovskite-rutile-type matrix doped by Co, Cs, Nd and Sr which simulate nuclear waste was prepared by sol-gel route. The material was characterized by several methods such as: X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, and particle induced X-ray emission combined with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The analyzes confirmed chemical composition Co-Cs-Nd-Sr-doped perovskite-rutile-type structure. A virtual model of the pellet`s structure was created non-destructively by Roentgen computed micro-tomography. The leaching tests confirmed high chemical resistance of the matrix

Microspheres and Pellets of UO2 Prepared Via ADU by Complex Sol-Gel Process and ICHTJ Process

This study is devoted to synthesis and characterization of uranium dioxide microspheres (Ø < 100 μm) and pellets by application of powder-free process called the Complex Sol-Gel Process. The precursors of prepared sols were ascorbic acid solution with dissolved a freshly precipitated ammonium diuranate. The microspheres of uranyl-ascorbate gel were obtained using the ICHTJ Process. The pellets were formed by pressing and sintering of uranium dioxide powder. Studies allowed determining an optimal heat treatment of calcination, reduction and sintering processes at temperatures of 700°C, 900°C and 1300°C, respectively. The main parameters which play a key role in the process of synthesis method and features of the pellets and microspheres of uranium dioxide are described in this article

Novel sol-gel synthesis of LiMn2O4 and LiNixCo1-xO2 powders

A modified complex sol-gel process was developed to synthesize LiMn2O4 and LiNixCo1-xO2 powders. Sols were prepared from 1.5 M of Mn2+ or 1 M of xNi2+ and (1-x)Co2+ acetates plus ascorbic acid aqueous solutions by alkalizing them with LiOH and NH4OH. Ascorbic acid was added to prevent precipitation in the precursor solutions. When the sols were concentrated to one-third of their initial volume under reduced pressure and then gelled by drying for 10 days, heat treatment to ≥700 ºC was accompanied by foaming, violent self-ignition, and formation of carbonates in the Ni-containing species. Significant improvements to the process and resulting powders were gained by modifying the gelation step. When gelation and drying were carried out under reduced total pressure, subsequent heating produced self-ignition, but no foaming, for all heating rates. The resulting products were determined to be nearly phase pure and carbonate free by thermogravimetric, differential thermal, X-ray, and infrared spectroscopy methods