Construction and Validation of Simulation Models of Samples Made from 316L Steel by Applying Additive Technique

The main aim of the study includes research concerning the strength of samples printed out of 316L steel in the form of laminates and the creation of reflective simulation models with regard to the results obtained during the research. In addition, the tests addressed the effect of the arrangement of the printed layers on the final strength of the object. Static tensile tests allowed the material constants of 316L steel in the form of dimensionally printed laminate to be determined. Tests were conducted on samples with different printed angles. The tests also covered the impact of the printing envelope on samples with the printing angles. Based on the determined material constants, simulation models for calculations using the finite element method were created. Furthermore, the study includes analytical and simulation calculations of plain laminate in order to verify the accuracy of the Composite Layup module in Abaqus CAE software. The study was summarized by compiling and commenting on the results obtained from the conducted research. Tests showed that there is a possibility of simulating the strength of the printouts from 316L steel using the FEM calculations. It was shown that the FEM model results are similar to those obtained in the tests. The calculated errors were from 3.6 to 14.4%. The linear model describes well the first part of the stress–strain curve, but in further research, it is strongly recommended that a proper and checked nonlinear anisotropic one is presented.     

Microbiologically Pure Cotton Fabrics Treated with Tetrabutylammonium OXONE as Mild Disinfection Agent

The microbiological purity of textiles plays a pivotal role in the use of textiles, especially in hospitals and other medical facilities. Microbiological purity of cotton fabric was achieved by a new disinfection method using tetrabutyloammonium OXONE (TBA-OXONE) before washing. As a result of the disinfection, the cotton fabric became microbiologically pure, despite the markedly decreased washing time with respect to the widely used standard procedure. Shortening of the washing time allowed for significant energy savings. In addition, the effect of the number of disinfection and washing cycles on the tensile properties and tearing force of the fabric was examined. After 120 disinfection and washing cycles the mechanical properties of cotton fabric were only slightly worsened.     

Development of a CT Image Analysis Model for Cast Iron Products Based on Artificial Intelligence Methods

This paper presents an assessment of the possibility of using digital image classifiers for tomographic images concerning ductile iron castings. The results of this work can help the development of an efficient system suggestion allowing for decision making regarding the qualitative assessment of the casting process parameters. Special attention should be focused on the fact that automatic classification in the case of ductile iron castings is difficult to perform. The biggest problem in this aspect is the high similarity of the void image, which may be a sign of a defect, and the nodular graphite image. Depending on the parameters, the tests on different photos may look similar. Presented in this article are test scenarios of the module analyzing two-dimensional tomographic images focused on the comprehensive assessment by convolutional neural network models, which are designed to classify the provided image. For the purposes of the tests, three such models were created, different from each other in terms of architecture and the number of hyperparameters and trainable parameters. The described study is a part of the decision-making system, supporting the process of qualitative analysis of the obtained cast iron castings.     

Molnupiravir When Used Alone Seems to Be Safe and Effective as Outpatient COVID-19 Therapy for Hemodialyzed Patients and Kidney Transplant Recipients

Background: Molnupiravir demonstrated an in vitro antiviral activity against positive-sense RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The study aimed to present the results of outpatient molnupiravir use in kidney transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients during the first months of 2022 in Poland. Methods: The retrospective observational cohort study at one kidney transplant center included 36 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with an automated nucleic acid amplification test on nasopharyngeal swab specimens. All patients received molnupiravir for home-based therapy at a dose of 800 mg every 12 h orally for 5 days. Both kidney transplant recipients (n = 16) and hemodialysis patients (n = 20) presented a lot of comorbidities with a Charlson comorbidity index of 4.1 and 5.1, respectively. Results: Patients presented with fever, cough, and weakness followed by muscle and joint pain. Five kidney transplant recipients experienced acute kidney injury with a rise in serum creatinine level from 0.4 to 1.9 mg/dL. No serious side effects of molnupiravir therapy or interactions with immunosuppressive medications were observed. Symptoms of COVID-19 improved rapidly or resolved within 24–48 h of starting treatment. Conclusion: The study suggests the safety and efficacy of molnupiravir therapy alone early after the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but further investigations should be performed to confirm our preliminary results. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first published report on molnupiravir use in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients on hemodialysis and the third concerning kidney transplant recipients.     

Reproducibility of the German and Slovakian Versions of the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire (KomPAN)

Purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility and reliability of the KomPAN questionnaire among two groups of university students from Germany and Slovakia. Methods. A total of 422 individuals (mean age 21.4 years, SD 4.0), including 197 from Slovakia (men 26.2%) and 225 from Germany (men 22.3%), were tested using the self-administered (SA-Q) version of the KomPAN questionnaire and then retested two weeks later. A cross-classification analysis, kappa coefficients, Cronbach’s ɑ coefficients, and a test-retest result comparison were conducted separately for each group of students to assess the reproducibility and reliability of the questionnaire. Results. The cross-classification values were higher than 46.2% among the German students and higher than 55.8% among the Slovakian students. The kappa coefficients ranged from 0.21 to 0.90 in the German students and from 0.38 to 0.94 in the Slovakian students. Cronbach’s ɑ ranged from 0.58 to 0.78. Conclusion. The questionnaire displayed a moderate to very good reproducibility, which was slightly higher in the Slovakian group than in the German group. Therefore, the questionnaire can be recommended for further analysis and comparison of the dietary habits among Germans and Slovakians on a larger scale.     

Oestrogen receptor α gene polymorphisms,insomnia, and cognitive functions in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women in non-manual employment

IntroductionA potential way to explain the relationships between sleep disorders and cognitive disorders during menopausal transition is the identification of genetic markers related to changes in cognitive functions, as well as changes in quality of sleep during menopause. The objective was an analysis of the relationship between sleep disorders and cognitive disorders, according to the possessed oestrogen receptor α gene polymorphism (ESR1) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.Material and methodsThe study included 300 women aged 44–66 years, employed as non-manual workers. A computerised battery of the Central Nervous System Vital Signs (CNS VS) test was used to diagnose cognitive functions. ESR1 polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR-RFLP methods. The Athens Insomnia Scale was used to diagnose sleep disorders.ResultsMore severe insomnia was related to worse complex memory, visual memory, and simple attention in the total group of examined women. More severe insomnia was related to worse simple attention in women with genotypes AG Xba I or TC Pvu II ESR1, in perimenopausal women with genotypes AG Xba I or TC Pvu II ESR1. During the postmenopausal period, the severity of insomnia negatively correlated with visual memory in carriers of Pvu II TT, and with reaction time in carriers of Xba I AA.ConclusionsThe results indicate an important role of oestrogen receptor α gene polymorphism in the modulation of the effect of insomnia on cognitive functions in peri- and postmenopausal women.     

Computational and Experimental Studies of Selected Types of Biomass Combustion in a Domestic Boiler

The paper analyzes the suitability of four types of biomass pellets as a fuel for heating purposes. Three types of waste biomass (sunflower husks, rapeseed cake, and corn straw) and one type of biomass grown for energy purposes (willow) were selected. After appropriate preparation, the selected starting materials were subjected to the pelletization process. Selected physical and chemical properties of the studied biomass pellets were determined. All four types of the analyzed pellets met the EN-ISO-17225-2:2014 standard in terms of bulk density, dimensions, as well as nitrogen and moisture content. The highest calorific value was pellets made of sunflower husk (17.27 MJ/m³) and willow (16.81 MJ/m³), while the calorific value of pellets made of corn straw and rapeseed cake did not exceed 16.5 MJ/m³ and did not meet the standard. In addition, the ash content for these two types of pellets was well above the standard. A 10 kW domestic biomass boiler was employed for burning the tested pellets. The consumption of analyzed fuels during boiler operation was determined. The concentration of CO, CO₂, and NO_x in exhaust gases was also examined. The obtained experimental results were compared with the numerical calculations with the use of ANSYS Chemkin-Pro using two mechanisms. The highest concentrations of CO₂ and CO were observed during the combustion of sunflower and willow husk pellets, which probably resulted from the highest carbon content and, thus, the highest calorific value when compared to cake and straw pellets. For all analyzed pellets, the value of NO and NO₂ concentration was similar and did not exceed 368 ppm and 18 ppm, respectively. The results closest to the experiment were obtained for calculations using the mechanism developed by Glarborg et al. The research carried out in the article shows that out of the four analyzed types of pellets, only sunflower and willow husk pellets can be burned in a domestic boiler adapted to burning wood pellets, which is a cheap alternative to wood pellets.     

Treatments and compositions targeting α-synuclein: a patent review (2010-2016)

Introduction: Abnormal deposition of α-synuclein (ASN) is a hallmark and possible central mechanism of Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies. Their therapy is currently hampered by the lack of early, screening-compatible diagnostic methods and efficient treatments.

Areas covered: Patent applications related to synucleinopathies obtained from Patentscope and Espacenet databases are described against the background of current knowledge regarding the regulatory mechanisms of ASN behavior including alternative splicing, post-translational modifications, molecular interactions, aggregation, degradation, and changes in localization.

Expert opinion: As the central pathological feature and possibly one of root causes in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, deregulation of ASN is a potentially optimal diagnostic and therapeutic target. Changes in total ASN may have diagnostic value, especially if non-invasive /peripheral tissue tests can be developed. Targeting the whole ASN pool for therapeutic purposes may be problematic, however. ASN mutations, truncation, and post-translational modifications have great potential value; therapeutic approaches selective towards aggregated or aggregation-prone ASN forms may lead to more successful and safe treatments. Numerous ASN interactions with signaling pathways, protein degradation and stress mechanisms widen its potential therapeutic significance dramatically. However, significant improvement in the basic knowledge on ASN is necessary to fully exploit these opportunities.     

Levels of biological markers of nitric oxide in serum of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

The aim of the study was a determination of the levels of nitric oxide（NO）and its biological markers such as malonyldialdehyde（MDA）and nitrotyrosine in the serum of patients with squamous cell carcinoma（SCC）of the oral cavity and identification of the relationships between NO and those markers.These studies were performed on patients with SCC of the oral cavity before and after treatment.Griess reaction was used for the estimation of the total concentration of NO in serum.The nitrotyrosine level in serum was assessed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）kit,and MDA level using a spectrophotometric assay.Higher concentrations of NO in blood serum were determined in patients with stage IV of the disease before treatment in comparison to the control group and patients with stages II and III of the disease.Moreover,higher concentrations of MDA and nitrotyrosine were determined in the serum of patients in all stages of the disease in comparison to healthy people.After treatment,lower concentrations of NO in the serum of patients with stage IV of the disease were observed in comparison to the amounts obtained prior to treatment.In addition,lower levels of nitrotyrosine in the serum of patients with all stages of the disease were recorded,whereas higher concentrations of MDA were determined in these patients in comparison to results obtained before treatment.The compounds formed with the contribution of NO,such as MDA and nitrotyrosine,may lead to cancer progression in patients with SCC of the oral cavity,and contribute to formation of resistance to therapy in these patients as well.Moreover,the lack of a relationship between concentrations of NO and MDA,and between NO and nitrotyrosine in serum suggests that the process of lipid peroxidation and nitration in patients with SCC does not just depend on NO.     

Occurrence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Demodex</Emphasis> species in patients with blepharitis and in healthy individuals: a 10-year observational study

Purpose

Two Demodex species (eyelash mites)—D. folliculorum and D brevis—are believed to be associated with human skin and eye diseases. However, the clinical significance of infection with Demodex species remains controversial.

Study design

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ocular demodicosis in patients with blepharitis as compared with the prevalence in the healthy population in Poland.

Methods

This case-control prospective study was carried out from 2007 to 2016. The enrolled patients (668) were divided into 2 groups: the study group, comprising 553 patients with blepharitis (349 women and 204 men, aged 17–88 years), and the control group, comprising 115 healthy volunteers without a history of ocular pathologies (78 women and 37 men, aged 17–88 years). A sample of 10 eyelashes was taken aseptically from each eye of the examined person and later studied under a light microscope.

Results

Demodex species were found in 62.4% (345/544) of the patients in the study group and in 24.3% (28/100) of the controls (P = .001, OR = 0.006). The overall prevalence was 55.8% (373/668) in all the examined participants. The presence of Demodex infection increased with age in both groups. No association of Demodex infection with gender was found (119/204 vs 226/349; P > .05, OR 1.086). A high mean number of mites was present more frequently in patients aged older than 50 years and in those who complained especially about itching (P < .05).

Conclusion

The prevalence of ocular demodicosis is significantly correlated with blepharitis and increases with age.