Open Database of Epileptic EEG with MRI and Postoperational Assessment of Foci—a Real World Verification for the EEG Inverse Solutions

This paper introduces a freely accessible database http://eeg.pl/epi, containing 23 datasets from patients diagnosed with and operated on for drug-resistant epilepsy. This was collected as part of the clinical routine at the Warsaw Memorial Child Hospital. Each record contains (1) pre-surgical electroencephalography (EEG) recording (10–20 system) with inter-ictal discharges marked separately by an expert, (2) a full set of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for calculations of the realistic forward models, (3) structural placement of the epileptogenic zone, recognized by electrocorticography (ECoG) and post-surgical results, plotted on pre-surgical MRI scans in transverse, sagittal and coronal projections, (4) brief clinical description of each case. The main goal of this project is evaluation of possible improvements of localization of epileptic foci from the surface EEG recordings. These datasets offer a unique possibility for evaluating different EEG inverse solutions. We present preliminary results from a subset of these cases, including comparison of different schemes for the EEG inverse solution and preprocessing. We report also a finding which relates to the selective parametrization of single waveforms by multivariate matching pursuit, which is used in the preprocessing for the inverse solutions. It seems to offer a possibility of tracing the spatial evolution of seizures in time

A new methodological contribution for the geodiversity assessment: applicability to Ceará State (Brazil)

The concept of geodiversity aggregates the abiotic elements of nature and promotes the geoconservation. The main objective of this work is to contribute to the upgrade of the method for the assessment and quantification of geodiversity proposed by Pereira et al. (2013). The method is based on the superposition of a regular grid of 12 × 12 km on different maps (lithology, geomorphology, soil, paleonthology, mineral and geological energy resources) at scales of 1:250,000 to 1:600,000. In addition to other up- grades, the water resources are regarded here as a new com- ponent to consider when quantifying geodiversity. The sum of these maps generated the quantitative Map of Geodiversity Indices and the Map of Geodiversity Assessment, ranging from very low to very high geodiversity. The analysis of the geodiversity map of the State of Ceará (Brazil) shows the applicability and advantage of this method, highlighting two regions with higher levels of geodiversity (Northwest and South) and another region with the lowest levels (Sertões Cearenses). The results also allowed the characterization of the State of Ceará concerning the individual components of the geodiversity, especially the water resources. Geodiversity indices and maps are comprehensive and user-friendly data in the territorial planning, considering the geodiversity either as a whole, or each of its components, especially the more sensi- tive such as fossil conservation, and water, mineral, and non- renewable energy resources management.The authors express their gratitude to the Brazilian research fostering institution "Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior" (CAPES) for awarding the Ciência Sem Fronteiras (CsF) PhD scholarship that enabled this work. This work was partially co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, based on COMPETE 2020 (Programa Operacional da Competitividade e Internacionalização), project ICT (UID/GEO/04683/ 2013) with reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007690 and national funds provided by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia

Degradation of polyolefine wastes into liquid fuels

In Poland, the consumption of polymers like polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene amounts is nearly one million tons per year. Most of the products made of these polymers becomes wastes in short time. Polymers are very resistant to biodegradation, therefore technologies of their transformation into useful materials should be developed. In our Institute, the technology of catalytic cracking of polyolefines into liquid fuels is studied. Experiments are concentrated on the selection of proper catalyst and on the construction of continuously operated installation for cracking of polyolefine wastes. Experiments on the selection of catalyst were performed in a laboratory scale batch reactor. A big laboratory installation with a yield of ca. 1 kg/h of liquid products was tested with positive results and plans are to construct a pilot plant installation with a yield of 30 kg/h of liquid products. The products of catalytic cracking are separated in a distillation column into gas, gasoline, light oil and heavy oil fractions. The gas is used for heating the reactor. The heavy oil fraction is recycled to the reactor and the gasoline and light oil fractions are the final products. The gasoline fraction can be used as a component of motor gasoline and the light oil fraction can be used as a component of diesel fuel or as a heating oil

Diversification of meteorological conditions on the western coast of Spitsbergen during the summer season of 2005

W artykule przedstawiono porównanie warunków meteorologicznych w sezonie letnim 2005 r. na podstawie danych zebranych w trakcie trwania polskich wypraw polarnych do Hornsundu, Calypsobyen, doliny Ebby i Kaffiöyry. Dodatkowo, aby szczegółowiej poznać ich zróżnicowanie na zachodnim wybrzeżu Spitsbergenu skorzystano z dostępnych danych dla 2 norweskich stacji: Ny Alesund i Svalbard Lufthavn. Ze względu na różny czas pracy polskich ekspedycji polarnych do porównania warunków meteorologicznych wybrano wspólny okres 21.07-31.08. Stwierdzono, iż zróżnicowanie przestrzenne większości badanych elementów meteorologicznych na zachodnim wybrzeżu Spitsbergenu latem 2005 r. było znaczące. Na kształtowanie warunków meteorologicznych na badanym obszarze, a więc i na ich zróżnicowanie przestrzenne, w pełni sezonu letniego większy wpływ wywiera stopień kontynentalizmu klimatu niż szerokość geograficzna. Jednak wraz ze zbliżaniem się końca lata polarnego rola wspomnianych czynników się odwraca.The paper presents the data concerning the spatial diversification of meteorological conditions occurring on the western coast of Spitsbergen during the summer season of 2005. For the analysis daily data have been used from four Polish stations (Kaffiöyra - KH, Ebby valley - EBB, Calypsobyen - CAL and Hornsund - HOR) and two Norwegian stations (Ny Ĺlesund - NYA, Svalbard Lufthavn - SVA), mainly for the common period of observation (from 21st July to 31st August) (Fig. 1). The Hornsund station was used as a reference station. Differences have been computer for all the analysed meteo-rological variables between stations for every 24-hour period, ten- / eleven-day period, and for the common period of observations as a whole (the meterological variables analysed include air pressure (AP), wind speed (v), cloudiness (C), sunshine duration (SS), maximum daily temperature (Tmax), mean daily temperature (Ti), minimum daily temperature (Tmin), relative humidity (f), and atmospheric precipitation (P)) (Table 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 5). All results proved that the spatial diversification of almost all analysed variables is significant. It is very evident that in the summer the degree of climate continentality has a greater influence on this diversification than the geographical latitude. Local topography plays also important role in the diversification of meteorological variables on the western coast of Spitsbergen. A good example of this influence is presented in Figure 4, showing different kinds of wind roses. It can be seen that winds from different directions dominate in each station. Mean daily courses of some selected meteorological variables (Fig. 3) also show that spatial diversification is varied throughout the day. For example, greater differences are noted during "night" hours for atmospheric pressure and wind speed, while an opposite relation exists for air temperature and relative humidity. Extreme values of analysed meteorological variables during the common period of observation (from 21st July to 31st August 2005) are shown in Table 2. The highest temperature (13.1°C) occurred in Svalbard Lufthavn located in the most continental part of Spitsbergen, while the lowest (0.5°C) was in the Hornsund region, where cyclones bringing thick clouds are very common. Day-to-day variabilities of the majority of the analysed meteorological variables on the west coast of Spitsbergen are quite large (Table 3)

Potential sources of infection with selected zoonotic agents in the veterinary work environment - pilot studies

Introduction and Objective. The problem of occupational biohazards is very important, especially in the field of agriculture and in human and veterinary medicine. The aim of the study was to determine the potential sources of infection in veterinary professionals with selected zoonotic agents, including: Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia duodenalis, Leptospira spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Coxiella burnetii. Materials and Method. A total of 50 air samples from barns, piggeries and veterinary surgeries were examined for the presence of Leptospira spp. and C. burnetii DNA. Serum samples of 86 pigs and 80 cows were tested for the presence of antibodies to Leptospira spp. and to phase I and II C. burnetii antigens. Serum of 70 cats were tested for the presence of antibodies to T. gondii and 65 samples of cat faeces for the presence of T. gondii oocysts. The presence of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. were examined in 50 of dog faeces and 50 of bovine faeces samples. Results. DNA of Leptospira spp. was detected in 2 air samples from the piggeries (4%). C. burnetii DNA was not found in any sample. Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected in 51 (59.3%) of examined pigs. Neither anti-Leptospira spp. nor anti-C. burnetii antibodies were found among samples of bovine serum. Anti-T. gondii antibodies was found in 52 cat serum samples (74.3%). Among samples of cat faeces, no T. gondii oocysts were detected. In one sample of cattle stool (2%), G. duodenalis was detected and in another (2%) – Cryptosporidium spp. G. duodenalis was detected in 7 samples (14%) and Cryptosporidium spp. in 2 samples (2%) of dog faeces. Conclusions. The results of this study demonstrate the potential risk of infection with Leptospira spp. in veterinarians working with pigs. Veterinarians could be also be at risk of infection with T. gondii and G. duodenalis

Geomorphological settings of Polish research areas on Spitsbergen

Paper described geomorphological characteristics of landform sets which occur on research areas investigated by Polish geomorphologists on Spitsbergen. These area involve four areas along the western coast of Spitsbergen, i.e. vicinities of the Kaffiøyra, the Werenskioldbreen, the Calypsostranda, and the Hornsund, as wel as one area located in the central part of Spitsbergen, i.e. vicinity of Billefjord with special emphasis on surroundings of the Petuniabkukta. Landforms are characterized in different morphogenetic terms, mainly glacial, peryglacial, deundational, slope, fluvial, even eolian factors and processes