The influence of various pressures in pneumatic tyre on braking process of car with anti-lock braking system

In this article has been presented the influence of various pressures inpneumatic tyre of passenger car Fiat Panda 1.3 JTD with anti-lock braking system on chosen parameters of braking process: course of braking deceleration, maximum value of deceleration, braking distances

Genetic variability of some Italian and Polish duck breeds

This study is aimed to estimate and compare the inter- and within-breed variability of duck populations under genetic conservation programmes. The following four duck breeds were analysed: Germanata Veneta (AGV) and Mignon (AMG) from Italy, Pekin Krajowy (33P) and Pomniejszona (2K) from Poland. The characterisation of the four populations was carried out through a panel of 23 microsatellite markers. The analysis involved 180 individuals: 39 for AGV, 41 for AMG, 50 for 33P and 50 for 2K. An average of 11.36 alleles per locus was identified. Twenty-two loci showed high values of polymorphism information content from 0.575 to 0.912, while CAUD136 was monomorphic for the Italian breeds. The breeds showed relatively high heterozygosity: higher for the Polish populations (0.6920 for 33P and 0.6521 for 2K), and lower for the Italian (0.4497 and 0.3718 for AGV and AMG, respectively). The inbreeding coefficient was higher for the Italian breeds, AMG in particular (0.133, 0.097 and 0.121), as well as the differentiation index (0.253). The Nei’s minimum distances (DM) and Reynolds distances (DR) were low between the Polish populations (0.131 and 0.088, respectively); these were associated to AGV (DM = 0.191 and DR = 0.259 for 33P; DM = 0.174 and DR = 0.226 for 2K). Finally, AGV was distant from AMG (DM = 0.259 and DR = 0.317). The molecular coancestry, or mean kinship was higher for the Italian breeds compared to Polish populations. The Italian populations showed intermediate values. The obtained results can be perceived as an important tool for the applied genetic conservation programmes

Driver safety in relation to the post–accident vehicle reparation

The paper presents the basic criteria for estimation of the post-accident reparation of a vehicle body. The article made reference to deceleration during an impact, to deformation of the vehicle body (as a result of a collision) and to the coefficient of restitution that describes such a collision

In-Compost Biodegradation of PLA Nonwovens

Presented in this work are the results of an investigation into the biodegradation of selected nonwoven materials made of commercial poly[(DL)-lactide] – PLA 6252D supplied by Nature Works® LLC, USA. The biodegradation was examined under laboratory conditions, simulating composting by the mass-loss method at constant process parameters: temperature t = 58 ± 2 °C, pH 7 and inoculum humidity W = 52.6%. The nonwovens examined, with a surface density of about 60 g/m2, revealed a varied crystallinity degree in the range of 10.4 - 35.6% and fibre diameter of 8.2 - 10.9 μm. The nonwovens were formed by the spun-bond method from a melt at 211 - 213 °C on a laboratory stand. The commercial PLA 6252D was also examined. The polymer PLA 6252D and nonwoven materials made thereof are entirely biodegradable in the research environment applied, and after 16 weeks of biodegradation weight loss in the materials reaches 100%

An ellipsoidal mirror for focusing neutral atomic and molecular beams

Manipulation of atomic and molecular beams is essential to atom optics applications including atom lasers, atom lithography, atom interferometry and neutral atom microscopy. The manipulation of charge-neutral beams of limited polarizability, spin or excitation states remains problematic, but may be overcome by the development of novel diffractive or reflective optical elements. In this paper, we present the first experimental demonstration of atom focusing using an ellipsoidal mirror. The ellipsoidal mirror enables stigmatic off-axis focusing for the first time and we demonstrate focusing of a beam of neutral, ground-state helium atoms down to an approximately circular spot, (26.8±0.5) μm×(31.4±0.8) μm in size. The spot area is two orders of magnitude smaller than previous reflective focusing of atomic beams and is a critical milestone towards the construction of a high-intensity scanning helium microscope

No-shows among female patients aged 18-35

Introduction. Patients’ failure to keep medical appointments or to cancel them is becoming an increasing problem for the health care system. The phenomenon of missing medical appointments refers to patients of both public and private healthcare facilities. It has a negative impact on the functioning of the health care system, by contributing to longer waiting times for health services and generating financial losses. Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze no-shows in female patients aged 18-35. Material and method. The research tool used in the study was a survey that was conducted among 705 women aged 18-35. The survey questionnaire had been developed by the authors of the study and consisted of particulars and five thematic areas. The first area concerned cancellation of medical appointments and the reasons behind it. In the second area, patients’ punctuality was assessed. The third area focused on preferred methods of arranging and cancelling medical appointments. In the fourth area, women’s opinion on the idea of spreading lists of negligent patients among medical facilities was examined. The fifth area referred to patients’ solutions to the problem of not keeping medical appointments. The obtained data was subjected to statistical analysis using the ² test, where p < 0.05 was considered to be a statistically significant. Results. The study shows that nearly 75% of women have canceled their medical appointment at least once. The phenomenon of not keeping appointments and not cancelling them concerned in particular women aged 29-35 (33%). In each of the three age groups, the most frequent reasons for not attending an appointment and not cancelling it were forgetfulness, recovery from a health condition, other more important errands and personal situation. Over a quarter of respondents declared having been late for an appointment at least once (28%). Nearly half of the respondents inform medical facilities about the fact of being late (46%). Conclusions. It is necessary to monitor patients’ failure to keep medical appointments, introduce a general system of reminding patients about medical appointments and educate patients about the obligation to inform medical facilities about cancelling appointments

An ellipsoidal mirror for focusing neutral atomic and molecular beams

Manipulation of atomic and molecular beams is essential to atom optics applications including atom lasers, atom lithography, atom interferometry and neutral atom microscopy. The manipulation of charge-neutral beams of limited polarizability, spin or excitation states remains problematic, but may be overcome by the development of novel diffractive or reflective optical elements. In this paper, we present the first experimental demonstration of atom focusing using an ellipsoidal mirror. The ellipsoidal mirror enables stigmatic off-axis focusing for the first time and we demonstrate focusing of a beam of neutral, ground-state helium atoms down to an approximately circular spot, (26.8±0.5) μm×(31.4±0.8) μm in size. The spot area is two orders of magnitude smaller than previous reflective focusing of atomic beams and is a critical milestone towards the construction of a high-intensity scanning helium microscope

Aerogel insulation materials for industrial installation : properties and structure of new factory-made products

In this article the comparisons of two new factory-made Chinese aerogel products with the Pyrogel® product, all available on the market, are presented. The aerogel products are in a flexible blanket form and all products are dedicated for high temperature applications. The properties of the samples such as their dimension stability, water vapour transmission and water absorption are also described. Additionally the microstructure and chemical composition of the products are analysed using SEM/ EDS (scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy). The differences in the maximum service temperature are presented. The internal self-heating of the aerogel samples is described and is compared to a similar effect observed in mineral wool samples. The results in the change of the thermal properties in a wide range of temperatures (+ 10–600°C) are shown. The obtained results are correlated with the mineral wool data. The correlation shows an advantage in a highefficiency thermal performance of aerogel products compared to other insulation materials at high temperatures

A High-Value, Low-Cost Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure System for Low-Resource Settings: Technical Assessment and Initial Case Reports

Acute respiratory infections are the leading cause of global child mortality. In the developing world, nasal oxygen therapy is often the only treatment option for babies who are suffering from respiratory distress. Without the added pressure of bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bCPAP) which helps maintain alveoli open, babies struggle to breathe and can suffer serious complications, and frequently death. A stand-alone bCPAP device can cost $6,000, too expensive for most developing world hospitals. Here, we describe the design and technical evaluation of a new, rugged bCPAP system that can be made in small volume for a cost-of-goods of approximately$350. Moreover, because of its simple designﾗconsumergrade pumps, medical tubing, and regulators—it requires only the simple replacement of a ,$1 diaphragm approximately every 2 years for maintenance. The low-cost bCPAP device delivers pressure and flow equivalent to those of a reference bCPAP system used in the developed world. We describe the initial clinical cases of a child with bronchiolitis and a neonate with respiratory distress who were treated successfully with the new bCPAP device

Estudio del perfil emprendedor de los administradores de las micro y pequeñas empresas de la región sureste de México

La ciudad de San Andrés Tuxtla, en el estado de Veracruz, se caracteriza por que la actividad comercial y de servicios la constituyen micros y pequeñas empresas lideradas por un solo individuo con dos o tres empleados. El presente trabajo, muestra los resultados de un estudio del perfil emprendedor de los administradores de las micros y pequeñas empresas en la región de San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz, con el propósito de establecer qué habilidades y características los han mantenido en una economía competitiva en dicho municipio. La metodología aplicada para el desarrollo del trabajo fue de tipo descriptivo-cuantitativo al realizar un diagnóstico que permitiera conocer el giro comercial de las empresas en estudio, así como la aplicación de una encuesta a 212 administradores empresariales. Entre los resultados obtenidos destacan que, de las 212 empresas estudiadas, 155 pertenecen al giro comercial y 57 al de servicios; la edad promedio de los empresarios oscila entre los 31 y 40 años; de igual manera se puede concluir que el perfil emprendedor de las micro y pequeñas empresas en la región de San Andrés Tuxtla, son personas jóvenes orgullosas con la actividad que desempeñan, creativas, con interés, capaces, persistentes, motivadas y asumidoras de riesgos. El estudio propone sugerencias para que los dirigentes adopten aspectos que puedan fortalecer las habilidades emprendedoras para la obtención de mayores resultados en su labor empresarial