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Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with high lithium conductivity are very beneficial as a safe material for lithium battery applications. Herein we present new set of SPEs based on lithium 2-trifluoromethyl-4,5-dicyanoimidazolate (LiTDI) with wide range of ether oxygen to lithium molar ratios. The phase composition was characterized in detail with thermal, diffraction, and spectroscopic techniques, and its influence on conductivity behavior was examined. Two detected crystalline phases of LiTDI–poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were simulated with computational methods. The obtained results allowed insight into the structure of these electrolytes and helped us to understand on the molecular level factors influencing electrochemical properties and phase behavior. It was shown that ability to form a low-melting phase can be used to lower the temperature window of operation. That made it possible to keep such SPEs amorphous at 30 °C during 80 days. The thermal stability of the samples was checked to prove the safety of the electrolytes.

At the end of the twentieth century, Á. Császár pointed out the possibility of the transition from topology to generalized topology and vice versa. One of the tools used for this purpose are semi-open sets. In this paper, we investigate properties of functions in GTS in the context of semi-open sets, and problems connected with transfer of properties of functions defined and assuming their values in primal spaces to functions considered as mappings in the spaces generated by primal spaces.

We investigate some properties of functions belonging to the Zahorski classes. In particular, we answer the question: Is it possible to find close to a function from ith Zahorski class (i = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) a function belonging to exactly the same Zahorski class and having a special (local) properties connected with the entropy?

Suicide is a leading cause of death among Canadian adolescents. The present practice point provides paediatricians and child health professionals with a framework for assessing the adolescent with suicidal thoughts and/or behaviours. The epidemiological context, general considerations and practical suggestions for how to approach the suicidal adolescent are reviewed. Paediatricians can and should screen youth for mental illness and significant psychosocial stressors. Early identification and treatment of mental illness are important ways in which paediatricians can assist in self-injury prevention for adolescents who are considering suicide.

This article aims to build the concept of sustainable development of public passenger transport in Koszalin. The analysis and evaluation concerned communication network that is planned to be used to carry out public transport, as well as transport needs, financing transport services, preferences towards means of transport, the rules of the organization of transport market and the desired standard of transport services. The conclusions include scenarios for the development of the studied public passenger transport process in Koszalin.

The growth of B2C e-commerce market results in the increase of importance of last mile deliveries in the city area. Due to e-commerce's generic specificity, functioning of the deliveries in e-commerce on B2C market is based on home deliveries. Due to influence on the growing demand for deliveries, which consequently could have the impact on traffic and congestion problem as well as city environment, it is important to look for the alternative measures, which will help to reduce this negative impact. In recent years a very interesting and popular solution became parcel lockers as the efficient last mile delivery system. This paper is focused on the assessment of usability of this measure based on the example of InPost company system.

The article is the result of research on the impact of non-pharmacological therapies for diseases of the locomotor system on the prescribed drug use and lifestyles of the patients of the sanatoria in Busko-Zdroj. The reported research uses primary and secondary measures. The former includes the assessment of the impact of non-pharmacological sanatorium treatments for locomotor system diseases on the use of prescribed drug regimes, while the latter is aimed at assessing the patients’ quality of life. The research was conducted on adult patients of both genders in the sanatoria in Busko-Zdroj. The subjects were patients suffering from disorders of the musculoskeletal system such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and discopathies. The research included two visits, the first at the start of the research and the second at the end of the research. The patients were examined for a period of three consecutive weeks. The study involved 170 patients, 50% of them were women and 50% men.

This was a randomised controlled trial studying the safety of a new short metaphyseal fixation (SMF) stem. We hypothesised that it would have similar early clinical results and micromovement to those of a standard-length tapered Synergy metaphyseal fixation stem. Using radiostereometric analysis (RSA) we compared the two stems in 43 patients. A short metaphyseal fixation stem was used in 22 patients and a Synergy stem in 21 patients. No difference was found in the clinical outcomes pre- or post-operatively between groups. RSA showed no significant differences two years post-operatively in mean micromovement between the two stems (except for varus/valgus tilt at p = 0.05) (subsidence 0.94 mm (sd1.71) vs0.32 mm (sd0.45), p = 0.66; rotation 0.96° (sd1.49) vs1.41° (sd2.95), p = 0.88; and total migration 1.09 mm (sd1.74) vs0.73 mm (sd0.72), p = 0.51). A few stems (four SMF and three Synergy) had initial migration > 1.0 mm but stabilised by three to six months, with the exception of one SMF stem which required revision three years post-operatively. For most stems, total micromovement was very low at two years (subsidence < 0.5 mm, rotation < 1.0°, total migration < 0.5 mm), which was consistent with osseous ingrowth. The small sample makes it difficult to confirm the universal applicability of or elucidate the potential contraindications to the use of this particular new design of stem.Cite this article: Bone Joint J2015; 97-B:595–602.

This article presents the construction of a prototype three-wheeled vehicle for people with disabilities, approved in the L2e category. The vehicle is equipped with a special tilt mechanism that allows people with disabilities, who cannot balance their body, to return to an upright position after completing a driving maneuver on a curve of the road. The tilt angle of the vehicle depends on its speed and steering angle. When designing the vehicle, the availability and price of spare parts for scooters and motorcycles were taken into account to make the vehicle as cheap as possible.

Regeneration is a process aimed at an improvement of the functionality of a town in numerous areas: an improvement of life quality as the town's management including the logistics infrastructure. This article attempts to analyze and evaluate this process in the urban commune of Piła. Source materials were analyzed and a survey was conducted to evaluate the regeneration process of post-military sites in Piła in the period of 2004-2013.

Mathematical modeling of the complex process in the human cardiovascular system is powerful tool to evaluate the dynamic system response for the parameters change. Widely used continuous flow pumps (Left Ventricle Assist Device - LVAD) interacting with the circulatory system and work parameters of the assist device are changing dynamically. Different parameters of the system affect the pump operating conditions and on the contrary. Mathematical modeling of interaction between the cardiovascular system and mechanical assist device allows to identify the dangerous effects in the pump and system operation, and to eliminate such situations in the practical using of such pumps.

This paper presents new construction of a submersible pump which is highly efficient due to the new solutions for flow channels. It includes the results of laboratory tests of the pump of the new construction. It also presents the results of numerical calculations of liquid’s movement in the flow channels of the pump, comparison of computing characteristics and characteristics measured in the laboratory.and an analysis of the essential parameters of the pump’s work which transgression could become a danger for the pump. In case of the danger the security system turns off the engine temporally or permanently.

The paper presents the construction of single-staged centrifugal pump with the impeller supported in longitudinal and transversal sealing clearances. In the state of equilibrium the impeller is supported by axial and radial forces and moments of pressure, which occur on both sides of the impeller in annular clearances. In the result the impeller adopts optimal non-contact position in which all the external forces that works on this are in balance. A description of the statics and the dynamics of the impeller has been presented.

ABSTRACTIn this study, fecal samples from 586 healthy humans were investigated to determine the occurrence of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceaein Swiss people. A total of 5.8% of the human fecal samples yielded ESBL producers, and all of the 34 isolated strains were Escherichia coli. PCR analysis revealed that 14 strains produced CTX-M-15, 10 produced CTX-M-1, 7 strains produced CTX-M-14, and 2 strains produced CTX-M-2 ESBLs. One strain produced SHV-12 ESBL. Of the 34 isolates, 15 produced additional TEM-1 broad-spectrum β-lactamases. By serotyping, a high degree of diversity among the strains was found.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniaeis an important respiratory pathogen causing pleuropneumonia in pig. The species is genetically characterized by the presence of 4 RTX (Repeats in the Structural ToXin) toxin genes: apxI, apxII, and apxIIIgenes are differentially present in various combinations among the different serotypes, thereby defining pathogenicity; the apxIVgene is present in all serotypes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based apxgene typing is done in many veterinary diagnostic laboratories, especially reference laboratories. The present report describes the isolation of atypical A. pleuropneumoniaefrom 4 independent cases from 2 countries. All isolates were beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (β-NAD) dependent and nonhemolytic but showed strong co-hemolysis with the sphingomyelinase of Staphylococcus aureuson sheep blood agar. Classical biochemical tests as well as Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and sequence-based analysis (16S ribosomal RNA [rRNA] and rpoBgenes) identified them as A. pleuropneumoniae. Apx-toxin gene typing using 2 different PCR systems showed the presence of apxIVand only the apxIIIoperon (apxIIICABD). None of the apxIor apxIIgenes were present as confirmed by Southern blot analysis. The 16S rRNA and rpoBgene analyses as well as serotype-specific PCR indicate that the isolates are variants of serotype 3. Strains harboring only apxIVand the apxIIIoperon are possibly emerging types of A. pleuropneumoniaeand should therefore be carefully monitored for epidemiological reasons.

The article focuses on the implications of climate change in penguins and pinnipeds in King George Island, Antarctica. It says that Antarctic fishery population were strongly affected by climate change, including krill fishing, the most important food for penguins and pinnepids, and ice-intolerant chinstrap. Likewise, sea-mammal and pinnepids populations including weddell, crabeater, and southern elephant, has experienced different trends which almost lead to its extinction.

To investigate the effects of three articulatory features of speech (i.e., vowel-space contrast, place of articulation of stop consonants, and voiced/voiceless distinctions) on cortical event-related potentials (ERPs) (waves N1, mismatch negativity, N2b, and P3b) and their related behavioral measures of discrimination (d-prime sensitivity and reaction time RT) in normal-hearing adults to increase our knowledge regarding how the brain responds to acoustical differences that occur within an articulatory speech feature and across articulatory features of speech.

We tested the use of multiplex real-time PCR for detection and quantification of Campylobacter jejuniand Campylobacter colion broiler carcass neck skin samples collected during 2008 from slaughterhouses in Switzerland. Results from an established TaqMan assay based on two different targets (hipOand ceuEfor C. jejuniand C. coli,respectively) were corroborated with data from a newly developed assay based on a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the fusAgene, which allows differentiation between C. jejuniand C. coli.Both multiplex real-time PCRs were applied simultaneously for direct detection, differentiation, and quantification of Campylobacterfrom 351 neck skin samples and compared with culture methods. There was good correlation in detection and enumeration between real-time PCR results and quantitative culture, with real-time PCR being more sensitive. Overall, 251 (71.5%) of the samples were PCR positive for Campylobacter,with 211 (60.1%) in the hipO–ceuEassays, 244 (69.5%) in the fusAassay, and 204 (58.1%) of them being positive in both PCR assays. Thus, the fusAassay was similarly sensitive to the enrichment culture (72.4% positive); however, it is faster and allows for quantification. In addition, real-time PCR allowed for species differentiation; roughly 60% of positive samples contained C. jejuni,less than 10% C. coli,and more than 30% contained both species. Real-time PCR proved to be a suitable method for direct detection, quantification, and differentiation of Campylobacterfrom carcasses, and could permit time-efficient surveillance of these zoonotic agents.

Rapid changes in the major environmental variables like: temperature, wind and precipitation have occurred in the Antarctic region during the last 50 years. In this very sensitive region, even small changes can potentially lead to major environmental perturbations. Then the climate change poses a new challenge to the survival of Antarctic wildlife. As important bioindicators of changes in the ecosystem seabirds and their response to the climate perturbations have been recorded. Atmospheric warming and consequent changes in sea ice conditions have been hypothesized to differentially affect predator populations due to different predator life-history strategies and substantially altered krill recruitment dynamics.

ABSTRACTWe present an optimized multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme with universal primer sets for amplifying and sequencing the seven target genes of Campylobacter jejuniand Campylobacter coli. Typing was expanded by sequence determination of the genes flaAand flaBusing optimized primer sets. This approach is compatible with the MLST and flaAschemes used in the PubMLST database and results in an additional typing method using the flaBgene sequence. An identification module based on the 16S rRNA and rpoBgenes was included, as well as the genetic determination of macrolide and quinolone resistances based on mutations in the 23S rRNA and gyrAgenes. Experimental procedures were simplified by multiplex PCR of the 13 target genes. This comprehensive approach was evaluated with C. jejuniand C. coliisolates collected in Switzerland. MLST of 329 strains resulted in 72 sequence types (STs) among the 186 C. jejunistrains and 39 STs for the 143 C. coliisolates. Fourteen (19%) of the C. jejuniand 20 (51%) of the C. coliSTs had not been found previously. In total, 35% of the C. colistrains collected in Switzerland contained mutations conferring antibiotic resistance only to quinolone, 15% contained mutations conferring resistance only to macrolides, and 6% contained mutations conferring resistance to both classes of antibiotics. In C. jejuni, these values were 31% and 0% for quinolone and macrolide resistance, respectively. The rpoBsequence allowed phylogenetic differentiation between C. coliand C. jejuni, which was not possible by 16S rRNA gene analysis. An online Integrated Database Network System (SmartGene, Zug, Switzerland)-based platform for MLST data analysis specific to Campylobacterwas implemented. This Web-based platform allowed automated allele and ST designation, as well as epidemiological analysis of data, thus streamlining and facilitating the analysis workflow. Data networking facilitates the exchange of information between collaborating centers. The described approach simplifies and improves the genotyping of Campylobacter, allowing cost- and time-efficient routine monitoring.

Pasteurellaceaeare bacteria with an important role as primary or opportunistic, mainly respiratory, pathogens in domestic and wild animals. Some species of Pasteurellaceaecause severe diseases with high economic losses in commercial animal husbandry and are of great diagnostic concern. Because of new data on the phylogeny of Pasteurellaceae, their taxonomy has recently been revised profoundly, thus requiring an improved phenotypic differentiation procedure to identify the individual species of this family. A new and simplified procedure to identify species of Actinobacillus, Avibacterium, Gallibacterium, Haemophilus, Mannheimia, Nicoletella, and Pasteurella, which are most commonly isolated from clinical samples of diseased animals in veterinary diagnostic laboratories, is presented in the current study. The identification procedure was evaluated with 40 type and reference strains and with 267 strains from routine diagnostic analysis of various animal species, including 28 different bacterial species. Type, reference, and field strains were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rrs) and rpoBgene sequencing for unambiguous species determination as a basis to evaluate the phenotypic differentiation schema. Primary phenotypic differentiation is based on β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (β-NAD) dependence and hemolysis, which are readily determined on the isolation medium. The procedure divides the 28 species into 4 groups for which particular biochemical reactions were chosen to identify the bacterial species. The phenotypic identification procedure allowed researchers to determine the species of 240 out of 267 field strains. The procedure is an easy and cost-effective system for the rapid identification of species of the Pasteurellaceaefamily isolated from clinical specimens of animals.

ABSTRACTClassical antibody-based serotyping of Escherichia coliis an important method in diagnostic microbiology for epidemiological purposes, as well as for a rough virulence assessment. However, serotyping is so tedious that its use is restricted to a few reference laboratories. To improve this situation we developed and validated a genetic approach for serotyping based on the microarray technology. The genes encoding the O-antigen flippase (wzx) and the O-antigen polymerase (wzy) were selected as target sequences for the O antigen, whereas fliCand related genes, which code for the flagellar monomer, were chosen as representatives for the H phenotype. Starting with a detailed bioinformatic analysis and oligonucleotide design, an ArrayTube-based assay was established: a fast and robust DNA extraction method was coupled with a site-specific, linear multiplex labeling procedure and hybridization analysis of the biotinylated amplicons. The microarray contained oligonucleotide DNA probes, each in duplicate, representing 24 of the epidemiologically most relevant of the over 180 known O antigens (O antigens 4, 6 to 9, 15, 26, 52, 53, 55, 79, 86, 91, 101, 103, 104, 111, 113, 114, 121, 128, 145, 157, and 172) as well as 47 of the 53 different H antigens (H antigens 1 to 12, 14 to 16, 18 to 21, 23 to 34, 37 to 43, 45, 46, 48, 49, 51 to 54, and 56). Evaluation of the microarray with a set of defined strains representing all O and H serotypes covered revealed that it has a high sensitivity and a high specificity. All of the conventionally typed 24 O groups and all of the 47 H serotypes were correctly identified. Moreover, strains which were nonmotile or nontypeable by previous serotyping assays yielded unequivocal results with the novel ArrayTube assay, which proved to be a valuable alternative to classical serotyping, allowing processing of single colonies within a single working day.

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides LC can be combined into one taxon on the basis of several contributions on both DNA sequence and protein analyses reported in the literature. Moreover, for the differentiation and identification of mycoplasmas of the "mycoides cluster", we investigated the rpoB gene, encoding the ?-subunit of the RNA polymerase. A segment of 527 bp of the rpoB gene was amplified from 31 strains of ruminant mycoplasmas by PCR. The nucleotide sequences were determined and aligned, and accurate genetic relationships were calculated. Cluster analysis of rpoB DNA allowed species differentiation within the "mycoides cluster" and confirmed that M. mycoides subsp. capri and M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC cannot be distinguished from each other. "Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri" is proposed as a common name for both subspecies

To systematically investigate the combined effects of sensorineural hearing loss and prescribed personal hearing aid(s) on cortical event-related potentials (ERPs) (waves N1, MMN, N2b, and P3b) and their related behavioral measures of discrimination (d-prime sensitivity and reaction time) to the speech sounds /ba/ and /da/ presented at 65 and 80 dB peak-to-peak equivalent SPL.

ABSTRACTForty Escherichia colistrains isolated primarily from neonatal meningitis, urinary tract infections and feces were screened for the presence of virulence genes with a newly developed microarray on the array tube format. A total of 32 gene probes specific for extraintestinal as well as intestinal E. colipathotypes were included. Eighty-eight percent of the analyzed strains were positive for the K1-specific probe on the microarray and could be confirmed with a specific antiserum against the K1 capsular polysaccharide. The gene for the hemin receptor ChuA was predominantly found in 95% of strains. Other virulence genes associated with K1 and related strains were P, S, and F1C fimbriae specific for extraintestinal E. coli, the genes for aerobactin, the a-hemolysin and the cytotoxic necrotizing factor. In two strains, the O157-specific catalase gene and the gene for the low-molecular-weight heat-stable toxin AstA were detected, respectively. A total of 19 different virulence gene patterns were observed. No correlation was observed between specific virulence gene patterns and a clinical outcome. The data indicate that virulence genes typical of extraintestinal E. coliare predominantly present in K1 strains. Nevertheless, some of them can carry virulence genes known to be characteristic of intestinal E. coli. The distribution and combination of virulence genes show that K1 isolates constitute a heterogeneous group of E. coli.