HRS white paper on clinical utilization of digital health technology.

This collaborative statement from the Digital Health Committee of the Heart Rhythm Society provides everyday clinical scenarios in which wearables may be utilized by patients for cardiovascular health and arrhythmia management. We describe herein the spectrum of wearables that are commercially available for patients, and their benefits, shortcomings and areas for technological improvement. Although wearables for rhythm diagnosis and management have not been examined in large randomized clinical trials, undoubtedly the usage of wearables has quickly escalated in clinical practice. This document is the first of a planned series in which we will update information on wearables as they are revised and released to consumers

Interleukin 21 inhibits cancer-mediated FOXP3 induction in naïve human CD4 T cells

IL-21 is known to promote anti-tumour immunity due to its ability to promote T cell responses and counteract Treg-mediated suppression. It has also been shown to limit Treg frequencies during tumour-antigen stimulations. However, whether this represents inhibition of FOXP3 induction in naïve CD4 T cells or curtailed expansion of natural Treg remains unclear. Moreover, whether this effect is maintained in an environment of tumour-derived immunosuppressive factors is not known. Here, we show that in the context of a number of cancers, naïve CD45RA+ CD4 T cells are induced to express high levels of FOXP3, and that FOXP3 expression correlates with inhibition of T cell proliferation. FOXP3 expression was most potently induced by tumours secreting higher levels of total and active TGFβ1 and this induction could be potently counteracted with IL-21, restoring T cell proliferation. We conclude that Treg induction in naïve T cells is a common phenomenon amongst a number of different cancers and that the ability of IL-21 to counteract this effect is further evidence of its promise in cancer therapy

Analysis of the impact of sex and age on the variation in the prevalence of antinuclear autoantibodies in Polish population: a nationwide observational, cross-sectional study

The detection of antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) is dependent on many factors and varies between the populations. The aim of the study was first to assess the prevalence of ANA in the Polish adult population depending on age, sex and the cutoff threshold used for the results obtained. Second, we estimated the occurrence of individual types of ANA-staining patterns. We tested 1731 patient samples using commercially available IIFA using two cutoff thresholds of 1:100 and 1:160. We found ANA in 260 participants (15.0%), but the percentage of positive results strongly depended on the cutoff level. For a cutoff threshold 1:100, the positive population was 19.5% and for the 1:160 cutoff threshold, it was 11.7%. The most prevalent ANA-staining pattern was AC-2 Dense Fine speckled (50%), followed by AC-21 Reticular/AMA (14.38%) ANA more common in women (72%); 64% of ANA-positive patients were over 50 years of age. ANA prevalence in the Polish population is at a level observed in other highly developed countries and is more prevalent in women and elderly individuals. To reduce the number of positive results released, we suggest that Polish laboratories should set 1:160 as the cutoff threshold

Computer assisted design of fluid systems

W artykule przedstawiono możliwości komputerowego wspomagania projektowania układów płynowych. Dokonano analizy tego typu oprogramowania ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem programu FluidSIM wdrożonego w Laboratorium Hydrauliki i Pneumatyki Uniwersytetu TechnologicznoHumanistycznego im. Kazimierza Pułaskiego w Radomiu, umożliwiającego wykonanie projektu układu napędowego i sterującego a następnie przeprowadzenie symulacji działania według założonego cyklu pracy.The paper presents possibilities of computer assisted design of fluid systems. The analysis of the software was performed with particular emphasis on the FluidSIM programme which was implemented in the Hydraulics and Pneumatics Laboratory at the Kazimierz Pulaski University of Technology and Humanities in Radom. The programme enables making the project of drive and control systems and then running the simulation of the assumed work cycle

Lithology and acritarch assemblage of the Zalesie Formation in the Holy Cross Mountains on the background of the Late Ordovician paleogeography and sea-level changes

The uppermost Ordovician in the Holy Cross Mountains is represented by sandy mudstones, sandstones and marls of the Zalesie Formation deposited during the Hirnantian regression. Two arcitarch assemblages were recognized in the studied Upper Ordovician succession of the southern Holy Cross Mountains. The first one is dominated by species of Baltisphaeridium, Polygonium, Exculibranchium, Orthosphaeridium, Ordovicidium, Peteinosphaeridium, Multiplicisphaeridium, which occur in the upper Caradoc deposits. Upward in the section, these taxa are replaced mainly by diversified species of Veryhachium occurring together with Domasia, Deunfia, Leiofusa, Polygonium, Cheleutochroa, Multiplicisphaeridium and Polygonium. In the Zalesie Formation (upper Ashgill) they are accompanied by the redeposited Furongian/Lower Ordovician specimens and the Middle Ordovician species of the peri-Gondwanian affinity (e.g. Frankea), which were likely transported from Avalonia during collision of this terrane with Baltica

The Ordovician rocks of Pobroszyn in the Łysogóry region of the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland

In the village of Pobroszyn near Opatów, a faulted section of Ordovician deposits represented by upper Tremadoc clayey-silty lithofacies, upper Arenig carbonate-phosphorite lithofacies and Upper Ordovician claystones with limestone interbeds, were identified. The upper Tremadoc is dated on basis of acritarch. This is the first time that upper Tremadoc deposits have been documented in the Łysogóry region. The late Arenig transgressive deposits were probably preceded by emergence in the latest Tremadoc and early Arenig. The Ordovician rocks from Pobroszyn are intensely tectonised. Two groups of faults, oblique and longitudinal, are distinguished. The first one strikes from 120-140°, and dip to NE at 40-45°, and the second one that strikes 15-25° and dips 65-80° to E

Impact of fuel parameters on unrepeatability of combustion process in diesel engine

W artykule skupiono się na analizie wskaźnika niepowtarzalności wybranych parametrów spalania w silniku o zapłonie samoczynnym zasilanym olejem napędowym (ON) w mieszaninie z eterem etylo tert-butylowym (EETB). Niezbędne badania wykonano w warunkach swobodnego przyspieszania wału korbowego silnika, nieobciążonego zewnętrznym momentem oporowym. Uzyskane rezultaty wskazują, że EETB dodawany do ON nie ma znaczącego wpływu na zmianę niepowtarzalności procesu spalania w badanym silniku.The paper is focused on analysis of unrepeatability index of selected combustion parameters in diesel engine fuelled with diesel fuel (DF) blended with ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE). Necessary tests were carried out in conditions of free acceleration process of the engine crankshaft without external load. Results showed that ETBE added to DF did not impact significantly on unrepeatability of combustion process in tested engine

Impact of fuel parameters on unrepeatability of combustion process in diesel engine

W artykule skupiono się na analizie wskaźnika niepowtarzalności wybranych parametrów spalania w silniku o zapłonie samoczynnym zasilanym olejem napędowym (ON) w mieszaninie z eterem etylo tert-butylowym (EETB). Niezbędne badania wykonano w warunkach swobodnego przyspieszania wału korbowego silnika, nieobciążonego zewnętrznym momentem oporowym. Uzyskane rezultaty wskazują, że EETB dodawany do ON nie ma znaczącego wpływu na zmianę niepowtarzalności procesu spalania w badanym silniku.The paper is focused on analysis of unrepeatability index of selected combustion parameters in diesel engine fuelled with diesel fuel (DF) blended with ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE). Necessary tests were carried out in conditions of free acceleration process of the engine crankshaft without external load. Results showed that ETBE added to DF did not impact significantly on unrepeatability of combustion process in tested engine

Nutritive value of field bean seeds preserved with chemical agents

Целью проведенных исследований был отбор самого лучшего химического средства для консервирования влажных, семян конских бобов, а также определение их питательной ценности в питании валухов. Применялись следующие химические средства: органические кислоты, концентрированные и разбавленные водой (пропионовая, уксусная и муравьиная кислоты в дозах 0,25%, 0,50% и 1,00%), формалин и его смеси с этими кислотами (доза 0,25% и 0,50%), Асидола (0,50%) и сыпучая мочевина (1,5%, 3,0% и 6,0%). Неразмельченные влажные семена конских бобов с содержанием 78% сухой массы подвергались протравлению консервантами, а затем хранились в фольговых мешках до 8 месяцев. В консервированных конских бобах установлено от 5 до 50-кратно низшее общее число бактерий, чем во влажном сене непосредственно после уборки, не установлено же наличия летентных и протеолитических форм бактерий, а также антиномицетов. Хорошим ингибитором бактерий, образующих анилазу оказались уксусная и пропионовая кислоты, а также Ацидол, мочевина же - плохим. Применение формалина нe обеспечивало развития грибов в конских бобах. Консервированные разными средствами семена, а особенно органическими кислотами, валухи поедали охотно и лучше переваривали содержащиеся в них питательные вещества (за исключением жира), чем при скармливании сухого сена. Кормление валухов рационами с участием консервированных конских бобов не оказывало отрицательного влияния на ретенцию азота. На основании полученных результатов химического и микробиологического анализов, а также исследований, связанных с кормлением, проведенных на валухах можно установить, что для консервирования влажных конских бобов, хранимых в фольговых мешках, самыми лучшими из исследуемых химических средств оказались уксусная и пропионовая кислоты, а также Ацидол.The aim of this study was to select the best chemical agent for preserving wet field bean seeds and to determine their nutritive value in feeding wethers. Following chemical agents were used; organic acids, concentrated and diluted in water (propionic, acetic and formic acids at doses 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00% formalin and its mixtures with those acids (at deoses 0,25 and 0.50%), Acidol (0.50%) and powdered urea (1.5, 3.0 nand 6.0%). The whole wet field bean seeds sontaining 78% of dry matter were treated with preserving agents and next kept in foil bags up to 8 months. In the preserved field bean the total number of bacteria was 5-50 times lower than in the wet seeds, directly after harvest, however, no dormant and proteolytic forms of bacteria or actinomycetes were found. The acetic and propionic acids as well as Acidol proved to be good inhibitors whereas the urea was not. The use of formalin did not prevent the growth of fungi in the field bean. The seeds preserved with various agents, and particularly with organic acids, were willingly eaten and their constituents (except fat) were better digested by wethers than dry seeds. The feeding of wethers with diet suplemented with preserved field bean exerted no adverse effect on N-retention. Based on the results obtained from chemical and microbiological analyses as well as feeding experiments on wethers, it can be stated that the acetic and propionic acids as well as Acidol proved to be the best of the studied chemical agents for preservation of wet horse-bean seeds, kept in foil bags