Non-excitonic defect-assisted radiative transitions are responsible for new D-type blinking in ternary quantum dots.

This work addresses the issue of dark states formation in QDs by cooperative excitonic and intrinsic defect-assisted radiative transitions. Here we refer to the observed blinking as D-type to distinguish it from purely excitonic types. It is shown experimentally that defect-assisted radiative relaxations in a single I-III-VI QD result in atypical blinking characteristics that cannot be explained on the basis of charged exciton models.

An analysis of deaths in Tuliszków parish caused by a cholera epidemic in 1831.

Background: Information is presented about cholera as an infectious disease and an epidemic in Polish lands and in Europe in 1831 based on old and modern sources.

Objective: To analyze the difference in the percentages of deaths from cholera depending on age, in the Tuliszków parish during the cholera epidemic in 1831.

Material And Methods: A query was carried out in the archives.

Functional CdS-Au Nanocomposite for Efficient Photocatalytic, Photosensitizing, and Two-Photon Applications.

We demonstrate a low-temperature synthesis of hydrophilic, penicillamine-stabilized hybrid CdS-Au nanoparticles (NPs) utilizing different Au concentrations. The obtained hybrid nanomaterials exhibit photoluminescence quenching and emission lifetime reduction in comparison with their raw semiconductor CdS NPs counterparts. An increase of concentration of Au present at the surface of CdS leads to lower photoluminescence intensity and faster emission decays, suggesting more efficient charge separation when larger Au domains are present.

Phosphorus recovery from acidic wastewater by hydroxyapatite precipitation.

Phosphorus recovery from acidic wastewater was carried out using lime milk at various Ca/P molar ratios in the range of 0.6-1.8.

Light-induced confinement of electrons in stacked distorted graphene layers - a (TD-)DFT study.

Recently observed white-light emission from graphene ceramics cannot be explained by black body radiation theory because of a relatively low temperature of the sample. Furthermore the intensity of the emission stays at the same level even at temperatures as low as 10 K, indicating the purely electronic nature of the observed emission. In this work a model of light emission from locally interacting stacked graphene layers after intense continuous wave laser excitation is proposed.

Laser induced white lighting of graphene foam.

Laser induced white light emission was observed from porous graphene foam irradiated with a focused continuous wave beam of the infrared laser diode. It was found that the intensity of the emission increases exponentially with increasing laser power density, having a saturation level at ca. 1.

Broadband anti-Stokes white emission of SrCeO nanocrystals induced by laser irradiation.

The laser induced white emission (LIWE) from SrCeO nanocrystals upon irradiation with a focused IR laser beam was investigated. It was observed to be a threshold phenomenon with its intensity increasing exponentially with the excitation power density. This process was investigated under double laser beam simultaneous excitation in the UV range leading to Stokes emission in the visible range and in the IR range leading to anti-Stokes LIWE.

Polymeric nanocapsules with up-converting nanocrystals cargo make ideal fluorescent bioprobes.

An innovative approach for up-converting nanoparticles adaptation for bio-related and theranostic applications is presented. We have successfully encapsulated multiple, ~8 nm in size NaYF4 nanoparticles inside the polymeric nanocarriers with average size of ~150 nm. The initial coating of nanoparticles surfaces was preserved due to the hydrophobic environment inside the nanocapsules, and thus no single nanoparticle surface functionalization was necessary.

Two blinking mechanisms in highly confined AgInS2 and AgInS2/ZnS quantum dots evaluated by single particle spectroscopy.

Ternary AgInS2 quantum dots (QDs) have been found as promising cadmium-free, red-shifted, and tunable luminescent bio-probes with efficient Stokes and anti-Stokes excitations and luminescence lifetimes (ca. 100 ns) convenient for time resolved techniques like fluorescence life-time imaging. Although the spectral properties of the AgInS2 QDs are encouraging, the complex recombination kinetics in the QDs being still far from understood, limits their full utility.

[Cigarette smoking--a new path in prophylaxis?].

Unlabelled: Not much is known why there are less smokers among girls than among boys. The aim of the study was to investigate what caused a lower incidence of smoking among girls than among boys, and how to make use of this fact in anti-tobacco prophylaxis.

Material And Methods: The study was based on surveys and a multiple choice picture test study.

Analysis of fatality due to cholera epidemics in Tuliszków parish in 1852.

Introduction: Little is known about the correlation between age, gender-distribution and fatality rate during cholera epidemics.

Aim: To analyze the change in the fatality rate with regard to age and gender during cholera epidemics in 1852 in Tuliszków Parish.

Material And Methods: Data for the present study were retrieved from the archives.

The impact of shell host (NaYF₄/CaF₂) and shell deposition methods on the up-conversion enhancement in Tb³⁺, Yb³⁺ codoped colloidal α-NaYF₄ core-shell nanoparticles.

Lanthanide doped, up-converting nanoparticles have found considerable interest as luminescent probes in the field of bio-detection. Although the nanoparticles (NPs) have already been successfully applied for fluorescent bio-imaging and bio-assays, the efficiency of the up-conversion process seems to be the bottle-neck in rigorous applications. In this work, we have shown enhancement of the up-conversion in colloidal α-NaYF₄:Yb(3+), Tb(3+) doped nanocrystals owing to passivation of their surface.

Acutrak versus Herbert screw fixation for scaphoid non-union and delayed union.

Purpose: To compare the treatment outcome of Acutrak versus Herbert screw fixation for scaphoid non-union and delayed union.

Methods: Records of 132 patients who underwent Herbert screw fixation (n=61) or Acutrak screw fixation (n=71) with or without bone grafting for scaphoid non-union and delayed union by a single surgeon were reviewed. The most common fracture site was the waist of the scaphoid (n=95), followed by the proximal pole (n=31) and the distal pole (n=6).

Atypical femoral neck stress fracture in a marathon runner: a case report and literature review.

Background: Femoral neck stress fractures are relatively rare and may present as sports-related injuries. The presentation is variable, and prompt diagnosis facilitates the earliest return to pre-morbid functional activity levels. Delayed detection may precipitate femoral non-union or avascular necrosis, resulting in long-term functional deficit.

Food multiphosphates-preparation and properties.

Test results of the equilibrium between potassium mono- (ortho), di-, and triphosphates present in products of condensation of potassium orthophosphate mixtures, with regard to the molar ratio K/P, are discussed. Tests were performed within the molar ratio K/P range of 1.5 to 2.

Changes in gait parameters in total hip arthroplasty patients before and after surgery.

Background: The ideal outcome in total hip arthroplasty (THA) with endoprosthesis is the elimination of pain and the recovery of a normal range of movement in the affected hip joint, which is essential in order to improve the gait and restore the quality of life. In rehabilitation programs aimed at teaching patients to walk after THA, it is of particular importance to restore proper gait rhythm, speed, and fluidity of motion.

Material/methods: We examined 30 patients with degenerative changes of the hip joint (11 men, 19 women), who had been referred for THA in the period 2002--2004 due to unilateral degeneration of the hip joint.

Gait analysis in osteoarthritis of the hip.

Background: Several characteristic groups of changes can be observed during full instrumental evaluation of gait in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip. However, this procedure is expensive and causes patient discomfort. We attempted to determine the most clinically useful parameters of gait changes in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip measured by pedobarography, a simple and non-invasive technique.

Pathogenic and carcinogenic properties of silicon carbide.

The article presents the influence of silicon carbide upon an organism, on the basis of the publications which, according to Chemical Abstracts, appeared on this subject from 1944 until 1987. The insolubility of silicon carbide, in the liquids of an organism and its indigestibility are indicated. A connection is presented between the size and shape of micrograins and the probability of tumor formation in rats; and the difference between silicon carbide and other dusts in the absorption of x-rays, inhibition of the TTC-dehydrogenase activity, collagenisation of lesions, carcinogenicity are also presented.