Additive Manufacturing as a Solution to Challenges Associated with Heat Pipe Production

The aim of this review is to present the recent developments in heat pipe production, which respond to the current technical problems related to the wide implementation of this technology. A novel approach in HP manufacturing is to utilise hi-tech additive manufacturing techniques where the most complicated geometries are fabricated layer-by-layer directly from a digital file. This technology might be a solution to various challenges that exist in HP production, i.e., (1) manufacturing of complex or unusual geometries HPs; (2) manufacturing complicated and efficient homogenous wick structures with desired porosity, uniform pore sizes, permeability, thickness and where the pores are evenly distributed; (3) manufacturing a gravity friendly wick structures; (4) high customisation and production time; (5) high costs; (6) difficulties in the integration of the HP into a unit chassis that enables direct thermal management of heated element and decrease its total thermal resistance; (7) high weight and material use of the part; (8) difficulties in sealing; (9) deformation of the flat shape HPs caused by the high pressure and uneven distribution of stress in the casing, among others.     

Cell-Free DNA: Potential Application in COVID-19 Diagnostics and Management

WHO has declared COVID-19 as a worldwide, public health emergency. The elderly, pregnant women, and people with associated co-morbidities, including pulmonary disease, heart failure, diabetes, and cancer are the most predisposed population groups to infection. Cell-free DNA is a very commonly applied marker, which is elevated in various pathological conditions. However, it has a much higher sensitivity than standard biochemical markers. cfDNA appears to be an effective marker of COVID-19 complications, and also serves as a marker of certain underlying health conditions and risk factors of severe illness during COVID-19 infection. We aimed to present the possible mechanisms and sources of cfDNA released during moderate and severe infections. Moreover, we attempt to verify how efficiently cfDNA increase could be applied in COVID-19 risk assessment and how it corresponds with epidemiological data.     

Pelvic osteoid osteoma in a skeletally mature female

Osteoid osteoma is the most common bone-producing tumor that typically presents with "throbbing night pain" and that improves dramatically with use of low-dose salicylates. Few cases of pelvic osteoid osteoma have been reported, and most have involved patients younger than age 30. Surgical excision classically has been the treatment of choice, but, recently, less invasive modalities, including radiofrequency ablation, have begun to supplant surgical management of osteoid osteoma, resulting in a decrease in the need for definitive surgical diagnosis and treatment. We present a rare case of osteoid osteoma in the pelvis of a woman older than age 30.     

Bitumen Binders Modified with Sulfur/Organic Copolymers

With the continuing growth of waste sulfur production from the petroleum industry processes, its utilization for the production of useful, low-cost, and environmentally beneficial materials is of primary interest. Elemental sulfur has a significant and established history in the modification of bitumen binders, while the sulfur-containing high-molecular compounds are limited in this field. Herein, we report a novel possibility to utilize the sulfur/organic copolymers obtained via the inverse vulcanization process as modifiers for bitumen binders. Synthesis and thermal characterization (TGA-DSC) of polysulfides derived from elemental sulfur (S₈) and unsaturated organic species (dicyclopentadiene, styrene, and limonene) have been carried out. The performance of modified bitumen binders has been studied by several mechanical measurements (softening point, ductility, penetration at 25 °C, frass breaking point, adhesion to glass and gravel) and compared to the unmodified bitumen from the perspective of normalized requirements concerning polymer-modified bitumen. The interaction of bitumen binder with sulfur/organic modifier has been studied by means of FTIR spectroscopy and DSC measurements. The impact of the modification on the performance properties of bitumen has been demonstrated. The bitumen binders modified with sulfur/organic copolymers are in general less sensitive to higher temperatures (higher softening point up to 7 °C), more resistant to permanent deformations (lower penetration depth), and more resistant to aging processes without intrusive deterioration of parameters at lower temperatures. What is more, the modification resulted in significantly higher adhesion of bitumen binders to both glass (from 25% up to 87%) and gravel surfaces in combination with a lower tendency to form permanent deformations (more elastic behavior of the modified materials).     

Contemporary use of P2Y12 inhibitors in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction referred to primary percutaneous coronary interventions in Poland: Data from ORPKI national registry

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - According to guidelines, it is recommended to give P2Y12 inhibitors (preferably ticagrelor or prasugrel) at the time of first medical contact in patients...     

Cor triatriatum with mitral incompetence--contribution to diagnosis and therapy

Authors presented difficulties in diagnosis of the cor triatriatum with the mitral incompetence in 34 years old female patient. Diagnosis was based on two-dimensional and doppler echocardiographic examinations and then angiocardiographically proved. Therapy consisted in resection of the fibromuscular intraatrial septum and implantation of the St. Jude mitral prosthetic valve.