Convergence of Intelligent Data Acquisition and Advanced Computing Systems.

This editorial article briefly outlines the objectives and achieved goals of the Special Issue on "Convergence of Intelligent Data Acquisition and Advanced Computing Systems" running between September 2019 and September 2020 in the journal [...

Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Children with Severe Atopic Dermatitis.

In the course of atopic dermatitis (AD), the overactivity of the immune system, associated with predominant Th2 lymphocyte responses, is observed, which leads to an increased inflammatory reaction. Cases of a severe course of atopic dermatitis lead to the search for new therapeutic options. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment for severe cases of AD in children.

Recanalization after cerebral venous thrombosis. A randomized controlled trial of the safety and efficacy of dabigatran etexilate versus dose-adjusted warfarin in patients with cerebral venous and dural sinus thrombosis.

Background: The effect of different anticoagulants on recanalization after cerebral venous thrombosis has not been studied in a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: RE-SPECT CVT (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02913326) was a Phase III, prospective, randomized, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter, exploratory trial with blinded endpoint adjudication.

Effect of Different Wavelengths of Laser Irradiation on the Skin Cells.

The invention of systems enabling the emission of waves of a certain length and intensity has revolutionized many areas of life, including medicine. Currently, the use of devices emitting laser light is not only an indispensable but also a necessary element of many diagnostic procedures. It also contributed to the development of new techniques for the treatment of diseases that are difficult to heal.

New methods of posturographic data analysis may improve the diagnostic value of static posturography in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Early and accurate diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is crucial for its effective treatment. In MS diagnostic, neuronal networks that control posture and movement are of particular importance, which performance can be assessed using static posturography. Unfortunately, most of the commercially available posturographic platforms are not equipped with the appropriate procedures.

The impact of polystyrene consumption by edible insects Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio on their nutritional value, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress parameters.

The objective of this study was to determine of nutritional value, in vitro cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress parameters in cells of selected insect species (Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio) after 30 days of Styrofoam consumption. Furthermore, part of our research is also a consumer survey on the willingness to eat insects fed with Styrofoam (EPS 80). Mealworms fed with Styrofoam were determined to have higher protein (48.

The Quality of Emulsions with New Synthetized Lipids Stabilized by Xanthan Gum.

The study investigated the quality of emulsions containing rabbit fat modified with vegetable oil. The modification of the fat and introducing it as a fatty base into the emulsion was dictated by consumer preferences. Emulsion systems containing various fatty bases and viscosity modifier contents were evaluated in the terms of their stability (by means of Turbiscan test), texture properties, color, and viscosity.

Power-Oriented Monitoring of Clock Signals in FPGA Systems for Critical Application.

This paper presents a power-oriented monitoring of clock signals that is designed to avoid synchronization failure in computer systems such as FPGAs. The proposed design reduces power consumption and increases the power-oriented checkability in FPGA systems. These advantages are due to improvements in the evaluation and measurement of corresponding energy parameters.

The soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 as a potential early diagnostic and prognostic markers in intensive care unit patients with severe infections.

Introduction: Substantial causes of high mortality (30-50%) of people with severe infections treated in intensive care units (ICUs) are still inadequately known in terms of mechanisms and insufficient diagnostic tools for immune responses in sepsis.

Material And Methods: The aim of this study was to establish a practical value of determining the concentration of chosen proteins (by ELISA) in peripheral blood as potential in early diagnostics of severe infections, paying special attention to their prognostic values.

Results: In 163 patients treated in ICUs, changes were assessed in the concentration of chosen proteins relating to the TLR4 receptor signalling pathway, including its effectors of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1Ra, TNF-α, sTNFR1, IL-6, IL-10, sTLR4, MyD88, TNFAIP3/A20, HSP70, and HMGB1).

Wear Resistance Improvement of Cemented Tungsten Carbide Deep-Hole Drills after Ion Implantation.

The paper is dedicated to the lifetime prolongation of the tools designed for deep-hole drilling. Among available methods, an ion implantation process was used to improve the durability of tungsten carbide (WC)-Co guide pads. Nitrogen fluencies of 3 × 10 cm, 4 × 10 cm and 5 × 10 cm were applied, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) measurements were performed for both nonimplanted and implanted tools.

Ecological Cutting Fluids.

This study deals with metalworking fluids (MWFs). According to DIN 51385, depending on their base, the fluids are divided into oil and water fluids. The oil bases include, among others, mineral, synthetic, vegetable and paraffin oils.

Retinoic Acid and Its Derivatives in Skin.

The retinoids are a group of compounds including vitamin A and its active metabolite all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Retinoids regulate a variety of physiological functions in multiple organ systems, are essential for normal immune competence, and are involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Vitamin A derivatives have held promise in cancer treatment and ATRA is used in differentiation therapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

Novel Microwave-Assisted Method of Y2Ti2O7 Powder Synthesis.

In the paper, a novel technique for highly dispersed pyrochlore YTiO is proposed. The experimental results proved that the application of microwave irradiation at a certain stage of calcination allowed synthesizing of YTiO in much shorter time, which ensured substantial energy savings. An increase up to 98 wt.

Changes in Neuroendovascular Procedural Volume During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Multicenter Study.

Background And Purpose: The effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on performance of neuroendovascular procedures has not been quantified.

Methods: We performed an audit of performance of neuroendovascular procedures at 18 institutions (seven countries) for two periods; January-April 2019 and 2020, to identify changes in various core procedures. We divided the region where the hospital was located based on the median value of total number of COVID-19 cases per 100,00 population-into high and low prevalent regions.

Effect of SiC Addition to AlO Ceramics Used in Cutting Tools.

In this study, the effect of the addition of silicon carbide to alumina ceramics commonly used in cutting tool applications is addressed. Performance of AlO-SiC composite cutting inserts during the machining of hardened steels and ductile iron was compared to the results obtained for a cutting tool made out of 99 wt.% AlO, AlO-TiC, AlO-TiC-ZrO, and AlO-TiN.

Test-Retest Reliability of Handgrip Strength Measurement in Children and Preadolescents.

The reliability of handgrip strength (HGS) measurement has been confirmed in adults but has been sparsely addressed in pediatric populations. The aims of this study are twofold: to determine whether sex, age and/or hand-dominance influence the test-retest differences and to establish the reliability level of the HGS measurement in typical developing pediatric participants. A total of 338 participants aged 7-13 years were tested using a digital handgrip strength (HGS) dynamometer (Jamar Plus+ Dynamometer) by the same rater on two testing trials separated by a one-day interval between sessions.

Effect of Yttrium and Rhenium Ion Implantation on the Performance of Nitride Ceramic Cutting Tools.

In the paper, the results of experimental investigations of ion implanted cutting tools performance are presented. The tools, made out of SiN with additives typically used for turning of Ti-6Al-4V alloy, underwent implantation with ions of yttrium (Y) and rhenium (Re) using the metal vapor vacuum arc method. Distribution of ions on the tool surface was measured.

Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae After Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

Background And Purpose: This analysis examined the frequency of dural arteriovenous fistulae (dAVF) after cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) in patients included in a randomized controlled trial comparing dabigatran etexilate with dose-adjusted warfarin (RE-SPECT CVT [A Clinical Trial Comparing Efficacy and Safety of Dabigatran Etexilate With Warfarin in Patients With Cerebral Venous and Dural Sinus Thrombosis]), who had systematic follow-up magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Methods: RE-SPECT CVT was a Phase 3, prospective, randomized, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter, exploratory trial with blinded end point adjudication. We allocated patients with acute CVT to dabigatran 150 mg twice daily or dose-adjusted warfarin, for 24 weeks and obtained a standardized MR protocol including time-of-flight MR angiography, 3-dimensional phase-contrast venography, and 3-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR venography at the end of the treatment period.

Safety and early outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke patients with prestroke disability.

Background: There are limited data on intravenous thrombolysis treatment in ischemic stroke patients with prestroke disability.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate safety and outcomes of intravenous thrombolysis treatment in stroke patients with prestroke disability.

Methods: We analyzed 88,094 patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis, recorded in the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke (SITS) International Thrombolysis Register between January 2003 and December 2017, with available NIHSS data at stroke-onset and after 24 h.

Performance of Maraging Steel Sleeves Produced by SLM with Subsequent Age Hardening.

In the paper, the researches on sleeves made out of maraging steel 1.2709 using selective laser melting (SLM) technology are presented. This additive technology is recognized as favorable for the environment, due to 100% use of material and durability of manufactured details.

Tribological Performance of Porous Ti-Nb-Ta-Fe-Mn Alloy in Dry Condition.

The tribological properties of a novel porous Ti-Nb-Ta-Fe-Mn alloy with 0%, 30%, and 60% porosity were evaluated for biomedical applications. The tribotesting was performed using a ball-on-disc under dry conditions, using an alumina ball and 1 N of a load. The coefficient of friction at the early stage of the porous samples was lower than that of the bulk, 0.

Modifications of Hydroxyapatite by Gallium and Silver Ions-Physicochemical Characterization, Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Evaluation.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) powders enriched with silver or gallium ions or both were synthesized by two different routes: standard precipitation and the solid-state method. The powders were characterized by using several methods: inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (ssNMR). The effects of enrichment of the HAs in Ag or Ga or both on in vitro cytotoxicity and microbiological activity were discussed.

Asbestosis hospitalizations in Poland (2006-2016): results from the National Hospital Discharge Registry.

Introduction And Objective: Occupational asbestos exposure is one of the major public health issues. Although asbestos use in Poland has decreased, asbestosis continues to remain an important health concern in the area of occupational medicine. The aim of the study is to perform a descriptive analysis of hospitalization cases in patients suffering from asbestosis in Poland.

Repeatability of High-Pressure Measurement in a Diesel Engine Test Bed.

This paper addresses the issue of metrological accuracy of instantaneous in-cylinder pressure measurement in a diesel engine test bed. In studies, the central unit has been the single-cylinder AVL 5402 engine. The pressure measurement was performed with a sensor designed for thermodynamic analysis, and the results were related to the crank angle, where two rotations corresponding to the four-stroke working cycle were denoted as angles between -360° and +360°.