Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Vibration Sensors

In the paper a feasibility study on the use of surface acoustic wave (SAW) vibration sensors for electronic warning systems is presented. The system is assembled from concatenated SAW vibration sensors based on a SAW delay line manufactured on a surface of a piezoelectric plate. Vibrations of the plate are transformed into electric signals that allow identification of the sensor and localization of a threat. The theoretical study of sensor vibrations leads us to the simple isotropic model with one degree of freedom. This model allowed an explicit description of the sensor plate movement and identification of the vibrating sensor. Analysis of frequency response of the ST-cut quartz sensor plate and a damping speed of its impulse response has been conducted. The analysis above was the basis to determine the ranges of parameters for vibrating plates to be useful in electronic warning systems. Generally, operation of electronic warning systems with SAW vibration sensors is based on the analysis of signal phase changes at the working frequency of delay line after being transmitted via two circuits of concatenated four-terminal networks. Frequencies of phase changes are equal to resonance frequencies of vibrating plates of sensors. The amplitude of these phase changes is proportional to the amplitude of vibrations of a sensor plate. Both pieces of information may be sent and recorded jointly by a simple electrical unit

Analysis of voice modifications for persons after tonsillectomy

The goal of the research described in the present paper was the determination of modification range for voice acoustic parameters resulting from tonsillectomy. Within the scope of the described research program, an attempt has been made to determine the changes of selected voice parameters for persons after such a treatment and also to elaborate work out some premises for prediction of potential voice modifications for persons who have not yet decided to undergo such a treatment. In order to achieve the goal, analyses have been carried out for voice utterances of persons before the tonsillectomy surgery and after the treatment. The first voice recordings took place between one and three days before the surgery. The post-treatment recordings have been carried out about 6 weeks after the surgery, as a procedure accompanying the follow-up examinations. In the present paper, an analysis has been carried out concerning phonemes /a/, /e/, /i/, and /u/ with prolonged phonation. The completed research shows that for evaluation of voice modification in the aspect of changes resulting from tonsillectomy, the most useful parameters are some of the mel-cepstral coefficients, the formant frequencies, and also the relative power coefficients

Microbial inactivation properties of a new antimicrobial/antithrombotic catheter lock solution (citrate/methylene blue/parabens)

Background. Microbial infections are the most serious complications associated with indwelling central venous catheters. A catheter lock solution that is both antibacterial and antithrombotic is needed. The goal of this study was to determine whether a new catheter lock solution containing citrate, methylene blue and parabens has antimicrobial properties against planktonic bacteria and against sessile bacteria within a biofilm. These effects were compared to the antimicrobial properties of heparin at 2500 units/ml

Heparin versus 0.9% sodium chloride intermittent flushing for prevention of occlusion in central venous catheters in adults

Background Heparin intermittent flushing is a standard practice in the maintenance of patency in central venous catheters. However, we could find no systematic review examining its effectiveness and safety. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of intermittent flushing with heparin versus 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) solution in adults with central venous catheters in terms of prevention of occlusion and overall benefits versus harms. Search methods The Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group Trials Search Co-ordinator searched the Specialised Register (last searched December 2013) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2013, Issue 11). Searches were also carried out in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and clinical trials databases (December 2013). Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in adults 18 years of age and older with a central venous catheter (CVC) in which intermittent flushing with heparin (any dose with or without other drugs) was compared with 0.9% normal saline were included. No restriction on language was applied. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently selected trials, assessed trial quality and extracted data. Trial authors were contacted to retrieve additional information, when necessary. Main results Six eligible studies with a total of 1433 participants were included. The heparin concentrations used in these studies were very different (10-5000 IU/mL), and follow-up varied from 20 days to 180 days. The overall risk of bias in the studies was low. The quality of the evidence ranged from very low to moderate for the main outcomes (occlusion of CVC, duration of catheter patency, CVC-related sepsis, mortality and haemorrhage at any site). Combined findings from three trials in which the unit of analysis was the catheter suggest that heparin was associated with reduced CVC occlusion rates (risk ratio (RR) 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29 to 0.94). However, no clear evidence of a similar effect was found when the results of two studies in which the unit of analysis was the participant were combined (RR 0.21, 95% CI 0.03 to 1.70), nor when findings were derived from one study, which considered total line accesses (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.40). Furthermore, results for other estimated effects were found to be imprecise and compatible with benefit and harm: catheter duration in days (mean difference (MD) 0.41, 95% CI -1.29 to 2.12), CVC-related thrombosis (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.99), CVC-related sepsis (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.34 to 3.03), mortality (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.32) and haemorrhage at any site (RR 1.37, 95% CI 0.49 to 3.85). Authors' conclusions We found no conclusive evidence of important differences when heparin intermittent flushing was compared with 0.9% normal saline flushing for central venous catheter maintenance in terms of efficacy or safety. As heparin is more expensive than normal saline, our findings challenge its continued use in CVC flushing outside the context of clinical trials

Polish Proverbs with the Name Anna

The article presents the proverbs including the most popular name in Poland – Anna. The analyzed material – surprisingly tiny, comprising twenty-two paremiological units – has been drawn from the Nowa księga przysłów i wyrażeń przysłowiowych polskich (New book of Polish proverbs and proverbial expressions). In the collected, semantically clear group of proverbs, the following has been pointed out and described: 1) weather proverbs connected to the calendar day of Saint Anna, 2) proverbs concerning various customs connected to the calendar day of Saint Anna, c) proverbs connected to the patronage of Saint Anna, 4) proverbs where names Anna, Hanka, Anulka symbolize a common rural girl

Biology of the hard tick, Ixodes ricinus (L.) (Chelicerata, Acari: Ixodidae)

Ixodes ricinus is the most common tick found in Poland. In its life the tick passes through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph and imago. It is an external parasite of warm – blooded vertebrates. Blood is necessary for the I. ricinus to transform and complete its life by depositing eggs. Their feeding activity involves alternate sucking blood, and injecting saliva with lytic substances. With these fluids, different types of pathogens are able to travel between the tick and its victim. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Borrelia burgdorferri are the most prevalent microorganisms in Poland, responsible for the tick-borne diseases. This thesis provides information about the external and internal physique of the I. ricinus, presents its biology, interindividual adaptation to parasitism and the direct and indirect effects which are inherent to ticks feeding. The paper also describes the economic importance of ticks, as well as methods of protection of humans and animals against these parasites.Ixodes ricinus to najpospolitszy kleszcz występujący w Polsce. Kleszcz ten w swoim życiu przechodzi przez 4 stadia rozwojowe: jajo, larwę, nimfę i wreszcie postać dojrzałą. Jest pasożytem zewnętrznym ciepłokrwistych kręgowców. Ich krew konieczna jest kleszczowi pospolitemu do rozwoju i dopełnienia cyklu życiowego, jakim jest złożenie jaj przez samice. Czynność pobierania pokarmu polega na naprzemiennym zasysaniu krwi i wstrzykiwaniu, mającej działanie lityczne, śliny. Wraz z tymi płynami mogą przemieszczać się w obu kierunkach, a wiec od i do organizmu kleszcza, różnego rodzaju patogeny. Wśród nich, wirusy kleszczowego zapalenia mózgu (KZM) oraz Borelia burgdorferri, odpowiedzialne za najczęściej występujące choroby odkleszczowe w Polsce. W pracy zawarto informacje o budowie zewnętrznej i wewnętrznej I. ricinus, przedstawiono jego biologię oraz osobnicze przystowania do pasożytnictwa. Opisano bezpośrednie i pośrednie skutki jakie niesie za sobą żerowanie kleszczy. W pracy opisano również znaczenie gospodarczego kleszczy oraz metody ochrony ludzi i zwierząt przed tymi pasożytami