Saproxylic beetles (Coleoptera) of the strictly protected area Bukowa Góra in the Roztoczański National Park

The aims of this study were to demonstrate the role of forests in the Roztoczański National Park as a refuge for rare and endangered saproxylic Coleoptera as well as recognition of entomological fauna related to dead wood. The study was conducted in the strictly protected are of Bukowa Góra from 20th April to 30th September 2012 and focused on the wood of beech and fir. We inventoried saproxylic beetles by means of nine ‘Netocia’ traps, which resulted in a total of 135 recorded species, of which 52 had not been reported in the park before. Twenty-one rare and endangered species were found. The high number of new species in the Roztoczański National Park indicates a high biodiversity value of the area. Our studies therefore show that the strictly protected area of Bukowa Góra is a biodiversity hot spot of saproxylic Coleoptera.Przemysław Szmi

Upgrade and performance evaluation of REPS facility

Murdoch University’s Renewable Energy Power Systems (REPS) Facility is designed to give students a practical understanding of how a stand-alone power system operates. The facility allows students and faculty to monitor, adjust and observe a range of system components in the energy generation process. The facility is designed to manage the power generation of two wind turbines with the option of isolation through a switch located on the main wall of the facility. The Soma 1kW wind turbine has been erected and placed on top of the previous Ginlong WT tower and requires integration into the facility. This involved the current WB inverter to be checked for compatibility as well as its existing parameters to be changed to allow for the new turbine to be compatible. The SOMA turbine’s controller and dump load location inside the facility needed to be connected (Fig 3). The housing for the controller remained in its position on the main wall of the facility whilst the dump load was removed from the controller and secured inside the previous Ginlong dump load housing on the outside wall of the building. The separation of the dump resistor was needed for it posed a safety concern in its previous location. The controller and dump load were then connected via 2.5mm diameter wires to the main wall and turbine. The Fortis Passaat turbine located to the West of the SOMA required various wind data for the creation of a power curve. The Wind Monitoring tower (WMT) located north of the turbine was recording data on the system however was not logging information over the required intervals needed to perform an adequate test which adhered to International Standards. The LabVIEW system that monitored the wind data was modified and adjusted to allow the data to be recorded to the needed specification to perform the test. This report delves into the work required in integrating a new turbine into an existing system and the steps taken in the upgrade of the existing system. The system now allows for monitoring data to be collected in a user friendly table based on ten minute averages. A risk assessment document was compiled suggesting the possible improvements to the current maintenance of the wind turbines. The changes made to the system and investigation into the integration of a new turbine are shown in detail throughout this paper

Declaration

Declaration of the Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the Kiev-Halicz Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, Archbishop Metropolitan of Przemyśl of the Latins Józef Michalik, the President of Polish Bishops Conference, Archbishop Metropolitan of Lviv of the Latins Mieczysław Mokrzycki, the President of Roman-Catholic Ukrainian Bishops Conference, Archbishop Metropolitan of Przemyśl-Warsaw of the Byzantine-Ukrainian Church Jan MartyniakDeclaration of the Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the Kiev-Halicz Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, Archbishop Metropolitan of Przemyśl of the Latins Józef Michalik, the President of Polish Bishops Conference, Archbishop Metropolitan of Lviv of the Latins Mieczysław Mokrzycki, the President of Roman-Catholic Ukrainian Bishops Conference, Archbishop Metropolitan of Przemyśl-Warsaw of the Byzantine-Ukrainian Church Jan Martynia

Minimizing Hemodialysis Catheter Dysfunction: An Ounce of Prevention

The maintenance of tunneled catheter (TC) patency is critical for the provision of adequate hemodialysis in patients who are TC-dependent. TC dysfunction results in the need for costly and inconvenient interventions, and reduced quality of life. Since the introduction of TCs in the late 1980s, heparin catheter lock has been the standard prophylactic regimen for the prevention of TC dysfunction. More recently, alternative catheter locking agents have emerged, and in some cases have shown to be superior to heparin lock with respect to improving TC patency and reducing TC-associated infections. These include citrate, tissue plasminogen activator, and a novel agent containing sodium citrate, methylene blue, methylparaben, and propylparaben. In addition, prophylaxis using oral anticoagulants/antiplatelet agents, including warfarin, aspirin, ticlodipine, as well as the use of modified heparin-coated catheters have also been studied for the prevention of TC dysfunction with variable results. The use of oral anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet agents as primary or secondary prevention of TC dysfunction must be weighed against their potential adverse effects, and should be individualized for each patient

Tubular cell and keratinocyte single-cell transcriptomics applied to lupus nephritis reveal type I IFN and fibrosis relevant pathways.

The molecular and cellular processes that lead to renal damage and to the heterogeneity of lupus nephritis (LN) are not well understood. We applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to renal biopsies from patients with LN and evaluated skin biopsies as a potential source of diagnostic and prognostic markers of renal disease. Type I interferon (IFN)-response signatures in tubular cells and keratinocytes distinguished patients with LN from healthy control subjects. Moreover, a high IFN-response signature and fibrotic signature in tubular cells were each associated with failure to respond to treatment. Analysis of tubular cells from patients with proliferative, membranous and mixed LN indicated pathways relevant to inflammation and fibrosis, which offer insight into their histologic differences. In summary, we applied scRNA-seq to LN to deconstruct its heterogeneity and identify novel targets for personalized approaches to therapy