Evaluation of Wear Resistance in Tungsten-Doped Diamond-like Carbon Coatings (WC/C) on Coated and Uncoated Surfaces Under Starved Oil Lubrication with R452A Refrigerant.

This article assesses the potential of using a diamond-like carbon coating doped with tungsten, a-C:H:W (WC/C), on the sliding pairs of refrigeration compressors. The ability of WC/C coating to provide low wear and a low coefficient of friction was experimentally verified in a specific refrigeration compressor operating environment (lubrication with oil diluted with refrigerant) and under extreme operating conditions (starved lubrication with a small amount of oil). Conditions of starved lubrication with a substance of reduced lubricity promote a temperature increase and high mechanical (friction) stresses on the surface of the sliding pairs.

Effect of a Cat's Permanent Presence on the Health and Social Network of Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease or Disabilities in a Nursing Home.

Our study analyzes the effects of the permanent presence of cats on the health and social network of residents with pathologies in nursing home. Fifty-three residents, thirty-six caregivers, and four cats in three Alzheimer's Disease units ("ADU") and one Disability unit ("DISU") were observed for 180 hours. Social networks were created via instantaneous sampling of physical proximities and social exchanges between residents, caregivers, and the cats.

Inspection of Spot Welded Joints with the Use of the Ultrasonic Surface Wave.

Spot welded joints play a crucial role in the construction of modern automobiles, serving as a vital method for enhancing the structural integrity, strength, and durability of the vehicle body. Taking into account spot welding process in automotive bodies, numerous defects can arise, such as insufficient weld nugget diameter. It may have evident influence on vehicle operation or even contribute to accidents on the road.

Mixtures of Lubricants and Ecological Refrigerants under Starved Lubrication Conditions.

The presented results show that the presence of refrigerant significantly deteriorates the lubricating properties of compressor oil under starved lubrication conditions (with a small amount of oil). The change can be 40-120% compared to the properties of the oil alone. Additionally, in the group of oils that are substitutes (operational alternatives) compatible with a given refrigerant, the effect of the refrigerant on the lubricating properties varies.

The Influence of Aminoalcohols on ZnO Films' Structure.

Preparing structures with the sol-gel method often requires control of the basal plane of crystallites, crystallite structures, or the appearance of the voids. One of the critical factors in the formation of a layer are additives, such as aminoalcohols, which increase the control of the sol formation reaction. Since aminoalcohols differ in boiling points and alkalinity, their selection may play a significant role in the dynamics of structure formation.

Tribocorrosion and Abrasive Wear Test of 22MnCrB5 Hot-Formed Steel.

The article presents the results of research on abrasive and tribocorrosion wear of boron steel. This type of steel is used in the automotive and agricultural industries for the production of tools working in soil. The main goal of the article is the evaluation of tribocorrosion and abrasive wear for hot-formed 22MnCrB5 steel and a comparison of the obtained results with test results for steel in a cold-formed state.

COVID-19 infections in infants.

The study aimed to analyse the clinical course of COVID-19 in 300 infants, selected from 1283 children diagnosed with COVID-19 between March and December 2020, registered in the SARSTerPED multicenter database. Most of the infants were registered in October and November 2020. 44% of the group were girls, and 56% were boys.

Prosthetic Disuse Leads to Lower Balance Confidence in a Long-Term User of a Transtibial Prosthesis.

Residual limb wounds or ulcers are one of the most frequent skin problems reported by lower extremity prosthesis users. Healing often requires prosthesis disuse, which can logically impair physical functioning. However, there are limited data available to support this idea.

New RNA Structural Elements Identified in the Coding Region of the Coxsackie B3 Virus Genome.

Here we present a set of new structural elements formed within the open reading frame of the virus, which are highly probable, evolutionarily conserved and may interact with host proteins. This work focused on the coding regions of the CVB3 genome (particularly the V4-, V1-, 2C-, and 3D-coding regions), which, with the exception of the -acting replication element (CRE), have not yet been subjected to experimental analysis of their structures. The SHAPE technique, chemical modification with DMS and RNA cleavage with Pb, were performed in order to characterize the RNA structure.

Correction: The influence of diameter of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on mechanical, optical and electrical properties of Langmuir-Schaefer films.

Correction for 'The influence of diameter of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on mechanical, optical and electrical properties of Langmuir-Schaefer films' by Karol Rytel et al., Phys. Chem.

The influence of diameter of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on mechanical, optical and electrical properties of Langmuir-Schaefer films.

In this paper results of a study of mechanical, optical and electrical properties of thin films made of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) of various types were reported. The MWCNT films were obtained on quartz substrates using the Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) method. A gradual increase in transmittance was recorded with decreasing diameters of MWCNT used.

The Influence of Paracetamol on the Penetration of Sorafenib and Sorafenib N-Oxide Through the Blood-Brain Barrier in Rats.

Background And Objective: Sorafenib is an oral, multikinase inhibitor with established single-agent activity in several tumor types. Sorafenib was moderately transported by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and more efficiently by breast cancer resistance protein. The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor involved in P-gp regulation in the brain microvasculature.

The oxidation and hypoglycaemic effect of sorafenib in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Background: Diabetes reduces the activity of CYP3A4 and may increase the exposure for the drugs metabolized by the isoenzyme. Sorafenib is a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), used for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and radioactive iodine resistant thyroid carcinoma. The TKI undergoes CYP3A4-dependent oxidative transformation, which may be influenced by hyperglycaemia.

Combining physical therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to improve balance confidence and community participation in people with unilateral transtibial amputation who use lower limb prostheses: a study protocol for a randomized sham-control clinical trial.

Background: Low balance confidence is a prevalent yet overlooked issue among people who use lower limb prostheses (LLP) that can diminish community integration and quality of life. There is a critical need to develop rehabilitation programs that specifically target balance confidence in people who use LLP. Previous research has shown that multicomponent interventions including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques and exercise are feasible and effective for improving balance confidence in older adults.

Assessing quality of care for the dying from the bereaved relatives' perspective: Using pre-testing survey methods across seven countries to develop an international outcome measure.

Background:: The provision of care for dying cancer patients varies on a global basis. In order to improve care, we need to be able to evaluate the current level of care. One method of assessment is to use the views from the bereaved relatives.

The Influence of Diabetes Mellitus on Glucuronidation and Sulphation of Paracetamol in Patients with Febrile Neutropenia.

Background And Objectives: Numerous studies have confirmed the influence of diabetes mellitus on the pharmacokinetics of drugs. Paracetamol (APAP) is an antipyretic that is commonly used in febrile neutropenia (FN) therapy. APAP is chiefly metabolised by glucuronidation and sulphation.

Autophagy and Alzheimer's Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Implications.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of progressive dementia in the elderly. It is characterized by a progressive and irreversible loss of cognitive abilities and formation of senile plaques, composed mainly of amyloid β (Aβ), and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), composed of tau protein, in the hippocampus and cortex of afflicted humans. In brains of AD patients the metabolism of Aβ is dysregulated, which leads to the accumulation and aggregation of Aβ.

A phase III randomized controlled study on the efficacy and improved bowel function of prolonged-release (PR) oxycodone-naloxone (up to 160/80 mg daily) vs oxycodone PR.

Background: Oxycodone/naloxone (OXN PR) is a prolonged-release formulation containing oxycodone and naloxone in a 2:1 ratio. This study aimed to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of doses up to OXN160/80 mg PR compared with oxycodone prolonged-release formulation (OxyPR) in a randomised controlled trial.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-three patients were randomised to treatment with OXN PR (n = 123) or OxyPR (n = 120) during the 5-week double-blind study.

Long-term efficacy and safety of oxycodone-naloxone prolonged-release formulation (up to 180/90 mg daily) - results of the open-label extension phase of a phase III multicenter, multiple-dose, randomized, controlled study.

Background: The inclusion of naloxone with oxycodone in a fixed combination prolonged-release formulation (OXN PR) improves bowel function compared with oxycodone (Oxy) alone without compromising analgesic efficacy. In a recent 5-week, randomized, double-blind comparative trial of OXN PR and OxyPR, it could be shown that the beneficial properties of OXN PR extend to doses up to 160/80 mg.

Methods: Bowel function, pain, quality of life (QoL) and safety of OXN PR up to 180/90 mg daily were evaluated in a 24-week open-label extension phase of the 5-week randomized comparative study in patients with non-malignant or malignant pain requiring opioids and suffering from opioid-induced constipation.

Structure and function of RNA elements present in enteroviral genomes.

Enteroviruses are small RNA(+) viruses that encode one open reading frame flanked by two extensive noncoding regions carrying structural RNA regulatory elements that control replication and translation processes. For a long time the central, coding region was thought to remain single-stranded and its only function was supposed to be as the template for polyprotein synthesis. It turned out, however, that the protein coding region also encodes important RNA structures crucial for the viral life cycle and virus persistence in the host cells.

External validation of the IOTA ADNEX model performed by two independent gynecologic centers.

Objectives: The external, two-center validation of the IOTA ADNEX model for differential diagnosis of adnexal tumors.

Methods: A total of 204 patients with adnexal masses (134 benign and 70 malignant) treated at the Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland (Center I), and 123 patients (89 benign and 34 malignant) from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra School of Medicine, Pamplona, Spain (Center II), were enrolled into the study.

Results: ADNEX achieved high accuracy in discriminating between malignant and benign ovarian tumors in both centers (79.

How much does care in palliative care wards cost in Poland?

Introduction: The main task of palliative care units is to provide a dignified life for people with advanced progressive chronic disease through appropriate symptom management, communication between medical specialists and the patient and his family, as well as the coordination of care. Many palliative care units struggle with low incomes from the National Health Fund (NHF), which causes serious economic problems. The aim of the study was to estimate of direct and administrative costs of care and the actual cost per patient per day in selected palliative care units and comparison of the results to the valuation of the NHF.

Characterization of equine CSN1S2 variants considering genetics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.

Currently, research interest is increasing in horse milk composition and its effect on human health. Despite previously published studies describing the presence of intra- and interbreed variability of equine milk components, no investigations have focused on the genetic background of this variation. Among horse caseins and the genes encoding them, least is known about the structure and expression of the α-S2 casein gene, CSN1S2.