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Mammals have 2 primary types of adipose tissue: brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT). White adipose tissue, one of the largest organs, spans the entire body and persists throughout an individual's life, with the highest concentrations found in the abdominal cavity or subcutaneously. In obese individuals, the amount of WAT can reach up to 70% of total body weight. Today, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs have gained popularity in the treatment of obesity, insulin resistance, and related metabolic disorders. Patients using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have improved lipid profiles, reduced visceral fat accumulation, and improved glucose tolerance. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder strongly associated with insulin resistance and obesity. It is the most common heterogeneous endocrine disorder, affecting an estimated 1 in 5 women of reproductive age. The introduction of GLP-1 analog treatment in women with PCOS could help to manage the disease, improve the quality of life of PCOS patients, increase their chances of conception, and maintain pregnancy until delivery. This review presents the latest reports on the use of GLP-1RAs and the treatment of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to develop a method for the separation of dispersed dyes extracted from polyester fibers. Nine commercially available disperse dyes, which were used to dye three polyester fabrics, were tested. Extraction of dyes from 1 cm long threads was carried out in chlorobenzene at 100 °C for 6 h. The separation was performed using microemulsion electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEEKC) with photodiode array detection. Microemulsion based on a borate buffer with an organic phase of n-octane and butanol and a mixture of surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulphate and sodium cholate, were used. The addition of isopropanol and cyclodextrins to microemulsion resulted in a notable improvement in resolution and selectivity. The content of additives was optimized by using the Doehlert experimental design. Values of the coefficient of variance obtained in the validation process, illustrating the repeatability and intermediate precision of the migration times fit in the range of 0.11–1.24% and 0.58–3.21%, respectively. The developed method was also successfully applied to the differentiation of 28 real samples—polyester threads collected from clothing. The obtained results confirmed that proposed method may be used in the discriminant analysis of polyesters dying by disperse dyes and is promisingly employable in forensic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stretching is one of the popular elements in physiotherapy and rehabilitation. When correctly guided, it can help minimize or slow down the disabling effects of chronic health conditions. Most likely, the benefits are associated with reducing inflammation; recent studies demonstrate that this effect from stretching is not just systemic but also local. In this review, we present the current body of knowledge on the anti-inflammatory properties of stretching at a molecular level. A total of 22 papers, focusing on anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties of stretching, have been selected and reviewed. We show the regulation of oxidative stress, the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory genes and mediators, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix, expressed by changes in collagen and matrix metalloproteinases levels, in tissues subjected to stretching. We point out that a better understanding of the anti-inflammatory properties of stretching may result in increasing its importance in treatment and recovery from diseases such as osteoarthritis, systemic sclerosis, and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber traces are one of (micro)traces that can be found at a crime scene. They are easily transferable and, like other forms of evidence, can provide a link between a suspect and a victim. The main purpose of this review is to present methods developed to examine textile dyes extracted for forensic purposes using different capillary electromigration methods (CEMs). Scientific papers, mainly from the 20th century, provide reliable methods for the separation of water-soluble dyes. However, dyes insoluble in aqueous solutions have been and still are a challenge. Another problem is the sensitivity of the developed methods, which is, in most cases, insufficient for forensic examination of dyes extracted from a single fiber preserved at the crime scene. Although the methodologies already developed and presented in this review have the potential to be applied in a comparative analysis of textile dye traces, there seems to be a lot of work to be conducted. Some ideas on how to resolve these problems are presented and discussed in the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmetics are becoming more and more popular; consequently, the chance of finding them as microtraces at a crime scene increases. They are easily transferable and can provide a link between a suspect and a victim. For this reason, identifying and comparative analysis of red lipstick – the most popular and used – is required. The aim of this study was to apply a multitechnique methodology for the comparative forensic analysis of the red lipsticks traces of a very similar hue. For this purpose, four methods of different physicochemical basics – two nondestructive spectroscopic and two destructive separation techniques – were used. The possibilities and advantages of attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR), confocal Raman microscopy (CRM), capillary electrophoresis (MEKC) and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) have been combined. Specially prepared lipstick traces in various forms (imprints, smears) on different surfaces (absorbent and nonabsorbent) were analyzed to confirm the usefulness of the proposed methods. The premise is that if two methods yield a consistent result, the investigation is terminated at this stage. All investigated traces were properly identified. First, the ATR‐FTIR method as a nondestructive technique is recommended. Sometimes, due to strong interferences from the substrates, the newly proposed method with the use of confocal Raman microscopy may be an alternative. The next recommendation is the MEKC method. Only in case of the absence of unambiguous conclusions, it is proposed to use the GC‐MS method. This methodology has the potential to be applied in the comparative analysis of red lipsticks for forensic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to apply capillary electrophoresis (CE) to the discrimination of red lipsticks - the first step towards developing the methodology for forensic purposes. The separation method was optimized using a mixture of eight dyes and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC). The influence of the buffer pH and the concentration of SDS on the separation of dye mixtures was investigated. The best separation (highly efficient with the large resolution capacity in relatively short time) was accomplished using a buffer at pH 9 enriched with 80 mM SDS. The developed separation method was evaluated, determining the stability of sample (5 h) and buffer (10 h), the limit of detection of dyes (LOD < 1 μg·mL-1), the repeatability of migration times in one day (RSD < 1.2%), and over three days (RSD < 2.4%), as well as the reproducibility using different capillaries and CE instruments. In order to develop a versatile extraction method for compounds from red lipsticks, various types of solvents, temperatures and durations of ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) were tested. The use of a specially designed and constructed device for repetitive sampling without contamination was suggested. The extraction method was characterized in terms of precision, obtaining very good results for the qualitative (RSD of migration time < 2.0%) and quantitative (RSD of peak height < 10.0%) methods. The proposed UAE/MEKC-DAD method was successfully applied to distinguish red lipstick samples with a very similar hue, achieving a high value of discrimination power (DP = 0.998). It was found that it has great potential in forensic investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Full-scale experiments were carried out in a real road tunnel. • The airflow velocities were measured for one cross-sectional profile. • The natural caused airflow and different fans operation modes were examined. • Theoretical considerations on natural caused airflow in the tunnel was presented. Abstract This article presents the results of full-scale in situ measurements of airflow, conducted in a real-world road tunnel. The tunnel is located in Gdańsk city under one of the limbs of the Wisła river. The total length of the tunnel is 1378 m and the middle section of the tunnel is located at the deepest level. The inclination of the road is 3% and 4% for both directions from the deepest point. The tests covered measurements of airflow at 56 separate measuring points. The natural draught was determined, in addition to airflow rates for varying configurations of jet fan operation. The results were compared to those which were taken from automatic tolls mounted in the tunnel. The article also contains a theoretical discussion concerning a method for determining the natural draught in a tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • 43 red lipsticks of a very similar hue were examined. • Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) followed by GC–MS method was developed. • In optimization process Doehlert designs was applied (only 13 experiments required). • The visual inspection of chromatograms and the likelihood ratio model were used. • Successful differentiation was done (2 of 903 not distinguished lipstick pairs). Abstract In this study, the effective and robust semi -destructive ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) method followed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method used for analysis of red lipsticks samples was developed, optimized and evaluated. 43 red lipsticks of a very similar hue representing of 21 different manufacturers were investigated. The red lipsticks (approximately 0.05 mg) were applied on a disc (of ø 2 mm) placed on specially designed stand printed with a 3D printer. In order to optimize the main factors affecting extraction process, Doehlert experimental design with response surface methodology was applied. The optimal for all analysed lipsticks UAE extraction conditions were: 21 min – time, 35 °C – temperature of the ultrasonic bath, and the 100 μL of extraction mixture of acetonitrile, methanol and acetone (50:30:20, v/v/v). The developed, qualitative UAE/GC–MS method was evaluated and then successfully used for the differentiation of 43 red lipsticks. In this case, the two approaches were utilized: the visual inspection of chromatograms and the likelihood ratio model. The results confirmed that the proposed method has a great potential in lipsticks differentiation and after adaptation to real samples it seems to be a good alternative to the methods routinely used in forensic science investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on comparison of on-line sample concentration techniques, i.e. sample stacking modes, applied in capillary electrophoresis in order to improve the detection of components of stamp pad inks so that destruction of analysed document could be minimized. In particular, such techniques were taken into consideration as: normal stacking mode/field amplified sample stacking (NSM/FASS), high-salt concentration, sweeping, electrokinetic injection + FASS, and field enhanced sample injection (FESI). At first, two mixtures of 4 red dyes and 4 violet/blue dyes were examined. As a result, in case of red dyes two environments: ACN/1 mg mL −1 aqueous NaCl (95:5, v/v) and 10-fold water dilution of BGE preceded by water plug (6 s, 0.7 psi) injection, were chosen as the most promising for further examination. Regarding the blue/violet dyes, the 100-fold water dilution of BGE was selected as giving the best increase of height of peaks. Ultimately, nine stamp pad inks in three colours (red, blue and violet) produced by different manufacturers were examined under the optimal conditions. Only 5 dots cut-out from inked paper were sampled. Almost all examined samples were possible to be differentiated basing on the obtained electrophoretic profiles. In conclusion, the developed sample stacking mode of MECC–based method was found as a useful tool in the differentiation of stamp pad inks for the purposes of forensic questioned document analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied to the preliminary examination of Polish documents - passports and identity cards - for forensic purposes. Several security features of potentially high discrimination capability were selected at both the passports (Alphagram, serial number, the contour map of Europe, and emblem) and identity cards (kinegram, the date of birth, and emblem). Different elemental compositions were identified after comparing the spectra recorded from various measurement locations. It was possible to identify characteristic atomic emission from several elements (such as Ti, Ca, K, Fe, Cr, Mg, Na, La, Cd, Li, V, Al, Mn, Ni, and Cu) based on the type of document, issue date, and evaluated area. In the case of passports, the potentially good discriminators with unique elemental composition were identified, e.g., the serial number and the contour map of Europe printed with the use of intaglio printing technique. Identity cards with the cover of polycarbonate foil constitute a very difficult sample to analyze because of the foil’s influence on the laser ablation phenomenon. This study presents the potential of LIBS as an effective and useful technique to analyze Polish passports for forensic purposes. Its many advantages provide a good alternative to the analytical methods routinely used for the examination of these objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An overview of ways of jet fan modeling with the use of Ansys Fluent methods is presented. The theoretical models were built and validated basing on the experimental measurements made by Giesen et al. (2011). The results obtained with the all models were compared with this experimental data and next the detailed discussion was provided. A special attention was paid to the turbulence modeling, the range and the shape of the jet produced by the fan. Ansys Fluent supports three suitable approaches allowing for accurate mapping of the axial fan operation, which differ in the degree of simplification of the reality. The first approach involves modeling a fan as a volume source of momentum. All three momentum components can be set, so the fan axis can be freely oriented in the space. The second approach involves modeling a fan with known characteristic. A fan is here a 3D object, but the fan rotor is a plane surface of zero thickness. The model is more accurate, but requires a set of parameters, which should be determined by the measurements. In the third approach a fan is also modeled as a 3D object, in this case the rotor has the real spatial dimensions. This model is capable to calculate all fan features by itself, but requires more computational resources. Apart from the above the fourth fan model as a velocity inlet is willingly used. The selection of the model is dependent on data available and required minuteness of the fan representation and operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of hot smoke tests, which were conducted in a real road tunnel. The tunnel is located within the expressway S69 in southern Poland between cities Żywiec and Zwardoń. Its common name is Laliki tunnel. It is a bidirectional non-urban tunnel. The length of the tunnel is 678 m and it is inclined by 4%. It is equipped with the longitudinal ventilation system. Two hot smoke tests have been carried out according to Australian Standard AS 4391-1999. Hot smoke tests corresponded to a Heat Release Rate (HRR) equal to respectively 750 kW and 1500 kW. The fire source was located in the middle of the road lane imitating an initial phase of a car fire (respectively 150 m and 265 m from S portal). The temperature distribution was recorded during both tests using a set of fourteen thermocouples that were mounted at two stand poles located at the main axis of the tunnel on windward. The stand poles were placed at distances of 5 m and 10 m. The recorded data were applied to validate a numerical model, which was built and solved using Ansys Fluent. The calculated temperature distribution matched the measured values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoke management in the atrium with natural smoke venting is influenced by many parameters. The analysis presented considered the impact of atrium height, atrium shape and layout of air inlets, wind direction, wind speed and location of the fire outbreak. Experimental research is here very awkward due to the costs, thus the numerical analysis is a convenient way to examine such a large parameters domain. So wide range of research was feasible thanks to the use of Taguchi method of experiment design. The flow volume through the exhaust vents and the soot mass fraction at the ground floor were chosen as criteria to evaluate the efficiency of the smoke removal system As a result, the relative importance of examined parameters were obtained, and above all the interactions between parameters were revealed. This allows to formulate some hints for designers to make the smoke removal systems robust on the wind influence and other unpredictable factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the research performed was to check the operation of a ventilation system in a conventionally operated road tunnel in Southern Poland. The length of the examined tunnel is 678 m and it has a gradient of 4%. It includes longitudinal ventilation. The measurements of normal and reversed velocity of air flows (which were forced by the fans) were conducted at two cross-sectional profiles inside the tunnel. A set of fourteen thermal anemometers was applied there. In addition, at the intake and exit portals the wind direction, wind velocity and temperature were recorded during the tests. The fans worked according to the emergency operation pattern. The results were compared to estimated critical velocity and the correct functioning of the ventilation system was confirmed. The results showed a significant influence of the naturally caused airflows. Numerical simulations were performed to determine the air velocity resulting from this effect. CFD Ansys Fluent was used to solve the simplified model of the tunnel. The results confirmed that the combination of the stack effect and wind influence is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main challenge for the identification and differentiation of lipsticks for forensic purposes is the fact that they have a similar chemical composition - in particular, samples of the same hue. The objective of the presented research was to solve this problem using a nondestructive analytical technique - attenuated total reflection spectroscopy (ATR). 38 red lipsticks produced by 20 different manufacturers were examined in optimized experimental conditions. To facilitate discrimination and provide more extensive analyses of the obtained data, two chemometric techniques: principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used. Ultimately, nine groups of investigated lipstick samples with comparable chemical compositions were differentiated. Moreover, lipstick smears on six different interfering surfaces were analyzed and spectral subtraction was performed in order to identify individual samples. The established approach succeeded in identifying the index number and the manufacturer of the samples by using an in-lab built ATR spectra library. The developed method demonstrates a great potential for the differentiation and identification of red lipsticks with a very similar hue. It also seems to have good prospects for future application in forensic science investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the major challenges related to the principles of the correct technique of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK US). All the crucial aspects of correct MSK soft tissue diagnosis have been discussed, including equipment settings, use of recent image software innovations and ultrasound standoff pads, and correct transducer positioning. The importance of the fundamental principles of MSK US, facilitating good quality image and limiting the occurrence of artifacts, has been highlighted. The most common artifacts of the musculoskeletal system have been described, including those that diagnostically helpful, such as the presence of echo enhancement deep to a fluidfilled structure, or an acoustic shadow behind a calcification. The presence of acoustic shadow in the context of lesions of a different type has also been discussed. The common anisotropy-related artifacts, frequently leading to diagnosis of a pathological condition where none is present, have been elaborated on. The frequently encountered mirror reflection artifact has been described. Special attention has been paid to the means of either eliminating, or taking advantage of artifacts for the correct diagnosis of musculoskeletal lesions. The possibilities and technique of correct differentiation of hypoechoic or anechoic foci, commonly found in the pathological conditions of the musculoskeletal system, have been analysed. Non-typical ultrasound findings leading to misdiagnosis of given pathological conditions have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The mechanism of the piston effect is analyzed. • An analytical formula for airflow velocity due to the piston effect is proposed. • An algorithm for assessing the external wind impact on tunnel airflow is proposed. • The results are compared with the bulk data recorded by tunnel sensors. A novel analytical formula is introduced for calculation the average longitudinal airflow velocity in tunnels as a result of the piston effect. Existing correlations were analyzed and reworked to better represent the piston effect of vehicles travelling in bulk, which allows relating the airflow velocity to not only average vehicle velocity, but also the traffic intensity and the traffic structure. The approach was validated using the recorded bulk data for an urban road tunnel located in Gdańsk (Poland). Air velocity, weather conditions, wind parameters at tunnel portals, traffic intensity and structure as well as average traffic speed by lane were recorded at 1 s intervals, and analyzed in form of 10 s and 5 min averages. Since ambient conditions may affect the flows inside the tunnel, their impact on flow measurements was studied with a numerical model of the tunnel portals. Despite its simplicity, the proposed model accurately predicted the air velocity due to vehicle movement. The significance of this approach is related to the ease of achieving the initial data, which allows for easy implementation in tunnel ventilation design, risk assessment methods, determination of initial conditions for fire related CFD analyses, continuous tunnel management or estimation of the potential of energy recuperation from airflow within the tunnel. The mean absolute error (MAE) of calculated air velocity to measurements was 0.28–0.38 m/s, with mean average percentage error (MAPE) of 7.8–10.9 %. The determination coefficient for the relation with the measured data was significantly over 0.9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry with electrospray ion source and time of flight analyser (CE-ESI-TOF-MS) in the analysis of inkjet inks was investigated. The developed and validated method allowed reliable and repeatable analysis of black inkjet inks extracted from printouts. Over a dozen inkjet printouts printed on various printer models from different manufacturers were analysed under selected conditions to determine the variation of chemical composition of inks between different brands and types. It was ascertained that the developed method is capable of revealing qualitative differences between ink samples. For most of the investigated inks, the studies showed the presence of a characteristic mass spectrum originating from the surfactant or polymer. The mass distribution of the additive is distinctive for some inkjet ink producers, and allows for group identification of inks. The results showed the strength of the CE-ESI-TOF-MS method as an effective technique for forensic purposes, requiring a small amount of inkjet ink samples and giving analytical information that is useful in the identification of compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic laboratories are increasingly engaged in the examination of fraudulent documents, and what is important, in many cases these are inkjet-printed documents. That is why systematic approaches to inkjet printer inks comparison and identification have been carried out by both non-destructive and destructive methods. In this study, micro-Raman spectroscopy and capillary electrophoresis (CE) were applied to the analysis of colour inkjet printer inks. Micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to study the chemical composition of colour inks in situ on a paper surface. It helps to characterize and differentiate inkjet inks, and can be used to create a spectra database of inks taken from different cartridge brands and cartridge numbers. Capillary electrophoresis in micellar electrophoretic capillary chromatography mode was applied to separate colour and colourless components of inks, enabling group identification of those components which occur in a sufficient concentration (giving intensive peaks). Finally, on the basis of the obtained results, differentiation of the analysed inks was performed. Twenty-three samples of inkjet printer inks were examined and the discriminating power (DP) values for both presented methods were established in the routine work of experts during the result interpretation step. DP was found to be 94.0% (Raman) and 95.6% (CE) when all the analysed ink samples were taken into account, and it was 96.7% (Raman) and 98.4% (CE), when only cartridges with different index numbers were considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questioned document examination in a wide variety of criminal and civil cases often focuses on the identification and comparison of stamp inks. Increasingly frequent counterfeiting of documents, especially those that have been stamped, has led to a growing need for instrumental methods that will allow an in-depth examination of stamp inks on a document. Therefore, the usefulness of two capillary electrophoresis techniques: micellar electrophoretic capillary chromatography with UV/Vis diode array detection (MECC-DAD) and capillary zone electrophoresis with electrospray mass spectrometric detection (CZE-ESI/MS) was verified for this purpose. Violet, red, blue and green stamp inks on paper surfaces were investigated. Electropherograms and mass spectra of inks purchased from 10 different producers were obtained in accordance with optimized and validated analytical procedures. It was shown that effective differentiation of individual inks was possible in terms of migration time and UV/ Vis spectra provided that there was more than one characteristic peak. However, the most problematic inks with only one very similar (or identical) dye component - violet and blue ones - were additionally differentiated by CZE-MS. The obtained results showed that the proposed procedures can be useful for the objective analysis of questioned documents involving stamp inks. Consequently, the developed methods can be applied in the forensic field, including in the investigation of the authenticity of documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Counterfeiting of documents is a common phenomenon in the modern world. A large proportion of forgeries relates to inkjet printed documents. Hence there is an evident need to develop an effective and reliable method for the differentiation and identification of inkjet inks on questioned documents. The aim of the presented study was to investigate the possibility of applying micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) to forensic analysis of inkjet inks extracted from black and white printouts. In order to achieve the above aim, a capillary electrophoresis system equipped with a diode array detector was used. The separation was performed using a fused silica capillary (60/50cm total/effective length, 75μm i.d.) with a background electrolyte composed of 40mM sodium borate, 20mM SDS and 10% (v/v) acetonitrile (pH 9.5) at 25°C and 30kV. Ink samples were extracted from black inkjet printouts with the use of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). Differentiation of inks was based on the number of significant peaks at different wavelengths, the relative migration times and the characteristic UV–Vis spectra. The electropherograms of the inks extracted from paper showed patterns which in most cases were distinctly different from each other. The greatest diversity of electrophoretic profiles was revealed for documents printed by Hewlett-Packard inkjet technology. A database of electrophoretic separation results of inks has been constructed for further forensic use. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Accumulating data confirm the usefulness of transcranial sonography (TCS) in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. The relevance of basal ganglia abnormalities depicted by TCS in atypical parkinsonian syndromes still needs further assessment. In the present study, 20 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and 13 patients with corticobasal syndrome (CBS) were studied with the use of transcranial sonography. Echogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) and lenticular nucleus (LN) were assessed. 0/20 patients with PSP and 8/12 (66.6 %) patients with CBS were characterized with SN hyperechogenicity. LN hyperechogenicity was observed in 9/20 patients diagnosed with PSP and 0/11 of CBS patients. The combination of SN isoechogenicity and LN hyperechogenicity reached 100 % sensitivity and positive predictive value for the diagnosis of PSP. The results of this study point out that CBS has to be taken into consideration when SN hyperechogenicity is depicted in a patient with parkinsonian syndrome. Normal echogenicity of the SN coexisting with LN hyperechogenicity practically excludes CBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Examination of lipsticks and their traces is considered. • Non-destructive and destructive methods of lipsticks analyses are presented. • The effects of various factors on lipstick chemical composition are discussed. • The protocol for forensic expertise of lipsticks is suggested. Lipsticks traces are one of the traces which can be found at a crime scene. They are easily transferable and, like other forms of evidence, can provide a link between a suspect and a victim. Although even the unambiguous results of the lipstick examination do not constitute conclusive evidence of a crime, the information obtained may be useful as an aid to an investigation or as corroborative evidence. The main purpose of this review is to present methods of lipstick examination for forensic purposes. The literature research was divided into two parts concerning non-destructive and destructive methods of lipsticks analyses. Since lipsticks are found at a crime scene as a trace left on various surfaces, the topic of direct analysis of lipstick traces is also discussed. The effects of different surfaces and exposure to a variety of common environmental storages as well as other factors (e.g. human variation, smoking, drinking) on changes in the chemical composition of lipsticks are also mentioned. Ultimately, it can be concluded that the methodologies already developed and presented in the review have the potential to the application in a comparative analysis of lipstick traces for forensic purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of tunnels systems is often evaluated using numerical simulations. This concerns both to normal and emergency mode of tunnel systems operation. Therefore the safety level of tunnel users may depend on the quality of numerical models being built. The most often studied areas cover the researches on natural and forced airflows in the normal mode and on fire development and smoke spreading in the emergency mode as well as modeling of fan operation. Thus, many software packages implementing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) are applied here. Despite the available software is recognized as reliable, the problem arises because the built numerical models should be validated at least partially with experimental data. There is a shortage of experimental data from real tunnels due to high costs and many organizational or formal difficulties. Some researchers use data from scaled experiments, but this leads to problems connected with scaling. The paper presents the application of two widely used software packages—Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) and ANSYS Fluent to reproduce some scenarios of the operation of a tunnel ventilation system for normal and emergency mode. Most of results were compared with data obtained by own full scale measurements or data available in literature. Some practical issues concerning the application of FDS and ANSYS Fluent were discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fire scenarios for a congested urban tunnel are examined. • An algorithm for assessing the fire safety level in a urban tunnel is proposed. • Individual histories of evacuees are visualized. • Some propositions of increasing the safety level in urban tunnels are provided. A fire outbreak in a urban tunnel with congested traffic may pose a great danger to all tunnel users. The main threat to human life in an urban tunnel fire is thick toxic smoke quickly filling large parts of the tunnel. It hinders evacuation and may even lead to lethal intoxication. Due to the potentially rapid development of the fire, people trapped will need to evacuate on their own. Thus, tunnel safety systems must support their self-rescue efforts. In this paper, several scenarios of fire accidents in a real urban tunnel are numerically investigated. The scenarios differed in road traffic state, fire power and fire detection time. To make them realistic the entire sequence of events during a tunnel fire was numerically modeled. First, the formation of congestion is examined using VISSIM software, then fire development is simulated by Fire Dynamic Simulator and finally, the evacuation process is modeled by PATHFINDER software. All data needed to build these numerical models correspond to real conditions of the selected urban tunnel under the Martwa Wisła river in Gdansk (Poland). The outcomes of the work suggest the number of threatened people may be very large even under common circumstances. In the worst case over a half of people trapped inside may come into contact, at least temporarily, with factors threatening health or live. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two very promising techniques, micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) were applied to the examination of Polish banknotes – Polish zloty (zl). Several areas on each banknote were selected and analysed. Different elemental compositions were identified after comparing the spectra recorded from various measurement locations. It was possible to identify characteristic atomic emissions from one or several elements such as Ca, Ti, Fe, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, V, and Zr, depending on the banknote denomination, issue date, and evaluated spot. Potentially good discriminators with unique elemental composition were identified: black serial number (C) and microlettering (A). A comparison of brand-new banknotes with used banknotes (which have been in circulation) was also performed. The middle horizontal section of the banknotes shows higher exposure to contamination and consequently constitutes the most difficult part to analyse. Counterfeit banknotes were also analysed and were clearly distinguished from authentic notes in all cases. It was demonstrated that a comparison of the elemental composition is a useful way to detect counterfeit banknotes (10, 20, 50 and 100 zl) in 'real-world' cases. This study shows the potential of LIBS and μXRF as effective and practical techniques to analyse Polish banknotes. Their many advantages provide a good alternative to the analytical methods routinely used for the examination of these objects. Unlabelled Image • Several areas on each banknote were selected and analysed by LIBS and μXRF • Different elemental profile based on banknote denomination, emission date, area • Good discriminators with unique composition: black serial number and microlettering • The middle horizontal area shows the highest exposure to contamination • Counterfeit banknotes clearly distinguished from authentic notes in all cases [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The best ME was 3% SDS, 6% butanol, 0.8% n-octane (w/w) in borate buffer (pH = 10). • Short-end mode enabled the method to be reduced to 3.5 min. • UAE (10 min at 25 °C in ME) was found to be the most effective for lipstick samples. • UAE/MEEKC method was successfully used for discrimination of 6 red lipsticks. • UAE/MEEKC enabled group identification of dyes contained in lipsticks. Lipsticks, due to their easy transfer and widespread use, can provide important evidence in crime investigations, in particular in cases of rape, murder or burglary. Discrimination between and identification of lipstick samples is a challenge because of their similar chemical composition. The main components of lipsticks – oils and waxes – are a difficult matrix to analyse. Furthermore, lipsticks contain various additional compounds, both ionic and neutral. A promising approach to the examination of lipstick traces is the use of microemulsion electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEEKC). In order to optimize the MEEKC method, a series of mixtures of dye standards in various microemulsions (MEs) (differed in qualitative and quantitative composition) and measurement conditions were analysed. The influence of the type and pH of the buffer, the type and amount of surfactant and oil phase, as well as the effect of the addition of a second surfactant, organic solvent and cyclodextrin, were investigated. The ME with the best separation properties contained 3% SDS, 6% butanol and 0.8% n-octane (w/w) in a borate buffer at pH 10. Short-end mode enabled the separation to be reduced to less than 4 min. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) performed for 10 min at 25 °C was found to be the most effective for real lipstick samples preparation. The developed UAE-MEEKC method was verified in terms of precision (RSD tm for real samples analysed in one day was < 2.2%, and over three days was < 3.0%) and successfully used for the discrimination of six red lipsticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the stability of the chemical composition of lipsticks after exposure to various factors (substrate, time, individual variability, the impact of smoking, the effect of consuming beverages) and storage conditions (laboratory, insolation, without access to light) was examined. The following three analytical methods were used in the study: Attenuated Total Reflection technique (ATR), Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography (MEKC). Seven red lipsticks characterized by different chemical composition were analyzed. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to estimate the impact of a given factor. It was noticed the lack of influence of individual variability, cigarette smoking and consumed beverages on the stability of the chemical composition of lipsticks. On the other hand, the changes in the chemical composition in lipstick traces depending on the time and storage conditions can be observed - especially when using the GC-MS method. In most cases, the results also indicated the possibility of identifying the lipstick left as a trace, using the ATR and MEKC method even after exposure to various factors and storage conditions. However, the main problem in the case of the ATR analysis is the occurrence of interference originating from the surface on which the trace of lipstick was applied. Ultimately, the conducted research provided evidence for the effectiveness of the MEKC method to the application in forensic science investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of numerical experiments on fire development and the backdraft phenomenon. The numerical model of fire development built with the use of Ansys Fluent was then validated based on literature data taken from real fire experiments. Some theoretical foundations of airflow and combustion modelling were added. Some features of the numerical model, which allowed for its high accuracy to be achieved, were widely discussed. Since large buoyancy forces were involved, to reproduce the decrease of the atmospheric pressure with height, a variable static pressure was applied using UDF (user-defined function).The results showed good accordance taking into account both the temperature profiles and the distribution of the airflow velocity. Once the model was validated, the research was extended to examine the backdraft phenomenon. The results revealed characteristic phases of the phenomenon and the occurrence of the gravity current as well, which were reported by empirical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fire outbreak in a road tunnel is the most dangerous threat to the people who are trapped inside. The main danger is the generation of large amounts of toxic smoke. Tunnel fires develop in an unpredictable way, but the conditions get worse very quickly. Therefore the self-evacuation involving suitable decisions and proficient actions is of crucial importance. The work presents a number of scenarios of the tunnel fires and the following evacuation. Different tunnel fire detection delays, types of ventilation system, traffic conditions, fire locations and fire powers were taken into account. The research was conducted by the combined numerical simulation: VISSIM software was used to simulate the traffic and the formation of congestion, FDS was used to reproduce the fire development and PATHFINDER was used to simulate the evacuation and to estimate injures. To embrace the great number of factors influencing the described issue the Taguchi method of experiment design was applied. It allowed also for determining the relative influence of these factors on the evacuation process. • Factors influencing the safety level in a road tunnel were studied. • Combined simulations using VISSIM, FDS and PATHFINDER were used. • Taguchi method of experiment design was applied. • Individual histories of evacuating people were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Factors influencing the accuracy of numerical models of airflow in a tunnel were discussed. • A short discussion of the selection of suitable turbulence model was presented. • Calculated profiles of air velocity were compared to the measurements. • Compliance at the level of the detailed air velocity distribution was obtained. • Some tips for building reliable numerical model of tunnels are listed. The paper presents the results of the numerical modeling of the air velocity distribution in a road tunnel. The results were validated by full-scale in situ measurements of air velocity in a normally operated real tunnel. The preparation of the numerical models was preceded by a detailed study on the selected features influencing the structure of modeled flow. Eventually, the results of numerical simulations were compared with those of the measurements. The overall distributions of air velocity were almost the same as the experimental values; slightly larger deviations were observed only at a few points close to the tunnel walls. The variation of the calculated velocity did not exceed 9%, which proved the reliability of the numerical models. The conclusions also include certain recommendations which would be helpful for those who facing the issue of numerical modeling of airflows in tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The full-scale measurements of airflow in a road tunnel are presented. • A CFD model of the spatio-temporal airflow structure is introduced. • A theoretical model of airflow dynamics is introduced. • Longitudinal and semi-transverse operation modes are compared. This paper presents full-scale experimental, numerical, and theoretical research on the spatial and temporal structure of airflow for different modes of ventilation system operation in a road tunnel. The tunnel under investigation is equipped with a semi-transverse ventilation system. There are 19 pairs of axial jet fans in each tunnel tube and 164 air supply vents on both sides of a tube located just above the road surface. A set of seven stand poles with mounted vane anemometers were arranged along the tunnel tube axis. Different configurations of axial jet fans and air supply vents were employed, and changes in airflow velocity were recorded. Since the main objective of the study is to achieve a deeper understanding of the examined phenomena, a numerical model of the flows in the tunnel was built, and the acquired data was used to validate it. Some theoretical considerations are provided and also validated. All of this together reveals a very uneven distribution of longitudinal air velocity along the tunnel axis. Then, time constants when switching the fans on and off are determined. It is shown that the time needed to achieve a stable flow after the fans are turned on is in the order of five minutes, and the decay time after the fans are turned off is much longer; it takes about 15 min to calm down the flow. Next, it is determined that the transverse air supply significantly changes the airflow structure: the average longitudinal air velocity at the inlet portal was up to 25% lower than without it, while values at the outlet portal were similar. Finally, it is indicated that axial fans that operate in the suction mode are similarly efficient to those in the pumping mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of airflow dynamic in a road tunnel is considered in this study and its impact on smoke management and people safety is highlighted. It was an attempt to estimate the time needed to reach a final steady state of airflow when the operation mode of jet fans was switched. The numerical model of the tunnel was solved with the use of Ansys Fluent. To reproduce the decrease of atmospheric pressure with height, relative static pressure was applied using UDF (User Defined Function). The ambient weather conditions were taken into account as well. The wind influence was introduced by the additional component of dynamic pressure applied against one of the tunnel portals also using UDF. There are some theoretical foundations of airflow in a tunnel presented in this paper. The obtained results were compared with the measurements carried out in a real road tunnel and the results obtained while applying the above-mentioned physical model. The main contribution of the presented work is the indication of a relatively high relaxation time of airflow in a tunnel, which could be important when designing the emergency pattern of a ventilation system. Additionally, some considerations of kinetic energy exchange between fan jet and air volume would be helpful when choosing fans for ventilation systems being designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Marrow Donor Organization recommends original granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for the mobilization of stem cells in healthy unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donors. We report the comparison of a biosimilar G-CSF (Zarzio) with two original G-CSFs (filgrastim and lenograstim) in mobilization in unrelated donors. We included data of 313 consecutive donors who were mobilized during the period from October 2014 to March 2016 at the Medical University of Warsaw. The primary endpoints of this study were the efficiency of CD34+ cell mobilization to the circulation and results of the first apheresis. The mean daily dose of G-CSF was 9.1 μg/kg for lenograstim, 9.8 μg/kg for biosimilar filgrastim, and 9.3 μg/kg for filgrastim (p < 0.001). The mean CD34+ cell number per microliter in the blood before the first apheresis was 111 for lenograstim, 119 for biosimilar filgrastim, and 124 for filgrastim (p = 0.354); the mean difference was even less significant when comparing CD34+ number per dose of G-CSF per kilogram (p = 0.787). Target doses of CD34+ cells were reached with one apheresis in 87% donors mobilized with lenograstim and in 93% donors mobilized with original and biosimilar filgrastim (p = 0.005). The mobilized apheresis outcomes (mean number of CD34+ cells/kg of donor collected during the first apheresis) was similar with lenograstim, biosimilar filgrastim, and filgrastim: 6.2 × 106, 7.6 × 106, and 7.3 × 106, respectively, p = 0.06. There was no mobilization failure in any of the donors. Biosimilar G-CSF is as effective in the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells in unrelated donors as original G-CSFs. Small and clinically irrelevant differences seen in the study can be attributed to differences in G-CSF dose and collection-related factors. Active safety surveillance concurrent to clinical use and reporting to donor outcome registry (e.g., EBMT donor outcome registry or WMDA SEAR/SPEAR) might help to evaluate the possible short- and long-term complications of biosimilar G-CSF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Bone marrow harvesting is one of the essential sources of stem cells for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We describe here the current 'up-to-date' standard of the bone marrow harvest in unrelated stem cell donors. Methods We analyzed medical data of 187 unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donors who underwent bone marrow harvest without previous peripheral blood stem collection at the center between 2011 and 2015. The methodology of marrow collection includes multiple cells aimed at safety of the procedure, for example, educational movie, modified skin disinfection protocol, cell enumeration during the procedure, reduction of the contamination surfaces, and ongoing monitoring of the quality of work of the doctors. Results The total nucleated cell count over 2×108 per kg of recipient has been reached in 93.6% of harvests. All of the donors harvested more than 1×108 per kg of the recipient. There were no donors who required transfusions or had serious adverse events during and after the harvest. Conclusion We describe here the current up-to-date standard of bone marrow harvest, which leads to excellent results in majority of donors without causing significant complications during the donation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years attempts are made to develop efficient methods for transformation of medicinal plants via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. It is a soil bacteria which possess a natural ability to infect plants in places of injures which results in arise of cancerous growths (crown gall). This is possible thanks a transfer of fragment of Ti plasmid into plant cells and stable integration with a plant genome. Efficiency of medicinal plant transformation depends on many factors for example: Agrobacterium strain, methods and procedures of transformation as well as on plant species, type and age of the explants and regeneration conditions. The main goal of plant transformation is to increase the amount of naturally occurring bioactive compounds and the production of biopharmaceuticals. Genetic plant transformation via bacteria of the genus Agrobacterium is a complex process which requires detailed analysis of incorporated transgene expression and occurs only in the case when the plant cell acquires the ability to regenerate. In many cases, the regeneration efficiency observed in medicinal plants are inefficient after applied transformation procedures. To date there have been attempts of genetic transformation by using A. tumefaciens of medicinal plants belonging to the families: Apocynaceae, Araceae, Araliaceae, Asphodelaceae, Asteraceae, Begoniaceae, Crassulaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Linaceae, Papaveraceae, Plantaginaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Solanaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to assess the origin of the substantia nigra hyperechogenicity in Parkinson disease patients. The cause of hyperechogenicity was tested on an animal model. Fresh porcine brains were injected consecutively with ferritin, apoferritin and water. Then, glioma samples were inserted into animal model. The echogenicity of the region of interest was assessed before and after experimental procedures. We observed the same echogenicity of porcine brain before and after injections of iron-loaded ferritin, apoferritin and water. Increased echogenicity of glioma samples compared to surrounding porcine brain tissue could be clearly seen. We postulate that the relative gliosis might be, at least partially, responsible for the increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra in Parkinson disease patients. Keeping in mind all limitations and inaccuracies of animal model used, it seems that hyperechogenicity of substantia nigra is caused rather by structural changes within the brain tissue than by increased iron concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvage autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) constitutes a therapeutic option for a group of well-selected patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM). However, if an insufficient number of stem cells were harvested and stored before the first auto-HSCT, stem cells need to be remobilized. Patients diagnosed with MM who following relapse after auto-HSCT, had remobilization and afterward, auto-HSCT with remobilized cells were included in this retrospective analysis. Thirty-three patients, 61% males, the median age 61 years, were included. With a median follow-up of 1.8 years, 2-year progression-free survival was 56.2%, non-relapse mortality 4.8%. The 2-year cumulative incidence of t-MDS was 4.9%. Factors important for the outcome were: the quality of response, previous radiotherapy, the time between the first and salvage auto-HSCT. To conclude, salvage auto-HSCT performed with cells procured after the previous auto-HSCT can be efficacious in relapsed MM, especially if a sufficiently long response had been obtained to the first auto-HSCT(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bone marrow harvest (BMH) for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a well‐established procedure. The guidelines of World Marrow Donor Association provide information on donor selection. However, some of the guidelines regarding donors with anaemia prior to harvest lack in supporting data from clinical studies. With this study, we aimed to provide such data. Material and Methods: In this retrospective, single‐centre study, we analysed the interplay between haemoglobin levels and BMH and BMH impact on haemoglobin levels in a cohort of 149 unrelated BM donors, including 13 subjects with mild anaemia. Results: The BMH led to significantly lower decrease in haemoglobin levels in donors with anaemia than in control group (1·79 g/dl vs. 2·56 g/dl, P < 0·0001). The following parameters: BMH volume (ml), BMH volume/donor body weight (ml/kg), total nucleated cells (TNC) in product (×108) and TNC/kg recipient body weight in product (×108/kg) did not differ significantly between those two analysed groups (P > 0·05). Median BM volume harvested from anaemic donors was 16·34 ml/kg; none of them required blood transfusion after BMH. Conclusion: Mild anaemia prior to BMH does not significantly impact the collection results. The BMH is safe and feasible in donors with mild anaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Dialysis‐dependent (DD) multiple myeloma patients (MM) have a poor prognosis and high tumour burden, thus may benefit from autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto‐PBSCT), however, these patients have an increased risk of toxicity. Aims: To evaluate the outcomes (toxicity, PFS, OS) of high dose therapy followed by auto‐PBSCT during an observational study and after propensity score matching. Patients and methods: Between 2004‐2015, 24 DD patients, (aged 38‐67 years), ISS 3, treated with auto‐PBSCT, requiring dialysis at diagnosis and auto‐PBSCT were evaluated, matched and compared to 55 normal renal function MM patients (NRF) with ISS 3 for outcomes of interest. Results: In DD patients compared to NRF patients risk of mucositis (88% vs 55%), infection (79% vs 51%), parenteral nutrition (50% vs 24%), diarrhoea (71% vs 38%), prolonged duration of hospitalisation (medians: 30 vs 21 days), requirement for RBC transfusion (83% vs 36%) were significantly higher, while no significant differences were found in post‐transplant response (ORR; 75% vs 87%), 5‐year PFS (36% vs 20%) and OS (39% vs 50%). Subgroup analyses based on toxicity supported these results. Conclusions: Despite the increased risk of toxicity in DD patients these events do not significantly affect both the PFS and OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess metabolic control in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus who underwent immunoablation followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) as a treatment of diabetes.Methods: APBSCT was performed in 23 patients. Control group comprised 8 non-APBSCT patients in whom after diagnosis insulin therapy was initiated. Fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, fasting and postprandial C-peptide were assessed in all subjects and continuous glucose monitoring was performed at 6th, 12th, 24th, 36th, 48th month after transplantation. The APBSCT group was observed for 72 months.Results: Six months after the procedure, 22 of 23 transplant patients remained insulin-free, but after 6 years, there was only one APBSCT insulin-free patient. Good glycemic control was observed in all patients throughout the observation period, although fasting plasma glucose in control group was significantly higher in comparison with the both transplanted groups up to the 36th month. HbA1c values were significantly lower in the insulin-free group only at the 24th and 36th month. Fasting and postprandial C-peptide concentrations were higher in APBSCT group as compared with control group. The most serious adverse event was a fatal case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis.Conclusions: The effectiveness of APBSCT as a treatment for newly diagnosed DM1 seems to be limited in time. The metabolic control of APBSCT patients is similar to conventionally treated patients. The lower fasting plasma glucose and higher C-peptide achieved with APBSCT seem to not exceed the risks associated with the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recently, novel protocol utilizing Continuous Mononuclear Cell Collection (cMNC) have been introduced for leukapheresis. We compared the efficacy of cMNC with an older protocol – mononuclear cell collection (MNC) for CD34+ cell collection in unrelated donors with negative stem cell collection predictors. Material and methods Retrospective data from a series of 258 consecutive unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donors was included in this single-center study (80 donors collected with cMNC and 178 with MNC). The donors with poor predictors for collection such as low number of circulating CD34+ cells and/or weight disproportion were assigned to the cMNC arm. Results The cMNC protocol yielded a higher number of CD34 + cells per donor body weight (7.63 × 10 6 /kg vs 6.82 × 10 6 /kg, p = 0.027). One apheresis was sufficient for collection of target cell number in 89% individuals from both groups despite negative predictors in the cMNC group. In donors with CD34 + cell count <100/μL and a body weight disproportion between donor and recipient one apheresis was sufficient in 83% of donors in cMNC group and in 58% in MNC group (p = 0.0345) with collection efficiency CE2% values of 61% for cMNC and 62% for MNC (p = 0.77). Conclusion cMNC protocol is more efficient in donors with low pre-apheresis CD34+ cell count and weight disproportion between donor and recipient. This suggests that the use of cMNC in unrelated donors could possibly further improve the results of HSC collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen-blended natural gas has widely used in energy fuel systems in industrial and domestic applications. During storage, transportation and usage of the fuel, temperature characteristics make a key contribution to energy leak gas fire accidents. In this manuscript experimentally, the buoyant turbulent diffusion axial temperature profile of a hydrogenated methane jet fire is experimentally investigated under free fire and wall fire. Different hydrogen addition ratios, nozzle diameters, and fire heat release rates were considered in the experimental conditions. Temperature profiles and virtual origins were recorded and analyzed. It is found that the wall fire temperature is somewhat higher than that in the free fire at a fixed height. And the vertical temperature of the jet fire increases with the increase of the hydrogen addition ratio, while the flame height decreases. With the addition of hydrogen, the virtual origin is increased, and virtual origin of wall fire is clearly larger than that of the free fire. Due to the restriction of air entrainment from the sidewall and the hydrogen addition, the physical mechanism of restricted air entrainment was analyzed. In addition, a non-dimensional model of the virtual origin was proposed and analyzed for different conditions. Finally, the normalized vertical temperature profile in the continuous flame region, intermittent flame region and buoyant plume region based on the virtual origin and mirror-approach are still well characterized for air entrainment under all conditions. The results of this paper may demonstrate the potential for the risk assessment of hydrogen-blended natural gas fire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of forged and genuine historical banknotes is an important problem for private collectors and researchers responsible for the care of numismatic collections. This paper presents a research approach for detecting material differences in historical banknotes through the use of microfading spectrometry along with other techniques such as hyperspectral image analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Microfading spectrometry results showed higher sensitivity to light irradiation for an overprint ink used on a suspicious banknote relative to its counterparts. In addition, the spectrocolorimetric changes experienced by the paper substrates during microfade testing also provided a way for discriminating between two groups of banknotes. These variations have been confirmed after analyzing the spectral and physico-chemical data obtained using the abovementioned complementary techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is an emerging treatment option in new onset type 1 diabetes (T1DM), leading to a remission of the T1DM for a longer time period in up to 50 % of patients. The aim of the study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of this treatment option compared with standard insulin therapy. Methods: The medical records of patients who had undergone immunoablation with AHSCT for new onset T1DM were analyzed for the cost-effectiveness of the treatment using the IMS CORE Diabetes Model. Results: The expected survival of patients with T1DM treated solely with insulin (without transplantation) was estimated to be 34.4 years, and their quality-adjusted survival was 13.8 QALY, whereas the expected survival of the patients treated with AHSCT was 34.9 years when the HbA1c benefit over standard treated patients lasted for 2, 35.4 years with 8-year benefit and even up to 40.3 years with the lifelong benefit scenario. Values under the threshold of ICER were reached after 8 years of sustained benefit in terms of HbA1c concentration. If discounting was not applied, the threshold values were reached after 3 years of HbA1c benefit over the standard group, independent of insulin use after transplantation. Conclusions: The results of our study show that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation could be cost-effective in treating new onset T1DM, providing that the benefits of the transplantation lasted over 3-8 years, depending on application of discounting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study was to evaluate the levels of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in the atmosphere in administrative units of the Upper Silesia Industrial Area, and to analyze their changes in the period 1980-2005. We calculated the average annual concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene for the administrative units of Katowice, Bytom, Dąbrowa Górnicza, and Ruda Śląska. Join point regression analysis was used to evaluate time trends of BaP pollution levels. The obtained values of BaP concentrations indicate that the allowable average annual concentration of the compound was significantly exceeded. The highest concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene were recorded in Bytom and Ruda Sląska. Favorable decreasing trends have occurred in all administrative units. The trend persisted until the end of the studied period (excluding Dąbrowa Górnicza). Nevertheless, in 2005 the annual average concentration of BaP still exceeded the Polish norm of 1 ng/m³. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes a really successful trial of angiogenic gene therapy in human beings. We treated a patient with critical limb ischemia using plasmid encoding vascular-endothelial growth factor. The patient before the procedure had rest-pain, nocturnal-pain and necrosis of the left toe. After our therapy the state of the patient systematically got better. A few months post gene transfer, the wound after amputation was healthy, the distance of claudication intermittent elongated and after treatment is about one thousand meters. The only adverse events were spider angiomas and mild edema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

W artykule przedstawiono skuteczne leczenie pacjenta z krytycznym niedokrwieniem kończyny dolnej drogą stymulacji angiogenezy. Pacjentowi podano plazmid kodujący naczyniowo-śródbłonkowy czynnik wzrostu (VEGF). Przed zabiegiem występował ból w nocy, ból spoczynkowy i martwica palucha. W wyniku zastosowanego leczenia obserwowano stopniową poprawę stanu pacjenta. Kilka miesięcy po wszczepieniu plazmidu rana po amputacji palucha zagoiła się, a dystans chromania zwiększył się do około 1000 m. Jedynymi działaniami niepoŻądanymi były wystąpienie pajączków naczyniowych i obrzęku kończyny, który ustąpił samoistnie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine whether spirituality at work moderates the direct and indirect (through burnout) effects of quantitative and emotional job demands on turnover intention among teachers. The sample consisted of 952 Polish primary and secondary school teachers. Burnout mediated the relationship between both types of job demands and turnover intention. In the model with quantitative job demands as an independent variable, spirituality at work moderated the second stage path of the indirect effect, i.e., the relationship between burnout and turnover intention (b = −0.022; SE = 0.004; p < 0.001; β = −0.14). In the model with emotional job demands as an independent variable, spirituality at work moderated the first and second stage paths of the indirect effect, i.e., the relationship between emotional job demands and burnout (b = −0.001; SE = 0.001; p = 0.032; β = −0.05) and the relationship between burnout and turnover intention (b = −0.020; SE = 0.004; p < 0.001; β = −0.14). In both models, the indirect effect of job demands on turnover intention through burnout weakened as spirituality at work increased. The results of the study support the inclusion of spirituality at work as a subcategory of personal resources in studies using the job demands-resources model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many reports on factors predicting the outcome of PBSC (peripheral blood stem cell) mobilization, such as the donor's gender, age, weight, white blood cell count, platelets pre apheresis, LDH and iron status. Although there are reports of seasonal variation in the physiology of the human immune system and hematopoiesis there are no data that such differences play a role in the response to G-CSF in healthy hematopoietic stem cell donors. The response to G-CSF could also impact the collection results during different seasons. To assess the possible impact of seasonal variation we performed a retrospective, single-center analysis of mobilization and harvest of PBSC in 330 healthy unrelated donors. We found no significant differences in the number of CD34+ cells in peripheral blood after G-CSF mobilization and in collection results when all donors were analyzed. In the subgroup of male donors the number of CD34+ stem cells after G-CSF mobilization was higher than average in summer and autumn (p = 0.036), however, it did not translate into clinically relevant differences in stem cell harvest. We conclude that although there is possible seasonal variation in the response to G-CSF in male donors there is no impact on PBSC harvest in healthy unrelated donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]