Assessment of indoor climate of Mogila Abbey in Kraków (Poland) and the application of the analogues method to predict microclimate indoor conditions.

The microclimatic monitoring of the historic church of Mogila Abbey (Kraków, Poland) was carried out to study the impact of the environmental parameters on the organic and hygroscopic artworks. Specific indexes were proposed to objectively assess the quality of time series of temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), and carbon dioxide (CO2) before applying the exploratory data analysis. The series were used to define the historic environmental conditions as stated in the European Standard EN 15757:2010 and with the use of the climate evaluation chart (CEC). It was found that the percentage of time in which T and RH values are within the allowable limits of the ASHRAE (2011) Class B is more than 85 %. This means that, for about 15 % of the time, there is a high risk of mechanical damage to highly vulnerable objects mainly due to the RH variability. The environment at the chancel resulted moister than that at the cornice, and the fungal growth is possible. In addition, the time-weighted preservation index (TWPI) is computed to evaluate the life expectancy of the objects, taking into account the environmental conditions of the site under study. The method of analogues, developed to predict the evolution of a system given observations of the past and without the knowledge of any equation among variables, was proposed and applied to the time series of temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide with a 1-h sampling time to avoid the influence of the autocorrelation.

Total (fumarolic + diffuse soil) CO2 output from Furnas volcano.

Furnas volcano, in São Miguel island (Azores), being the surface expression of rising hydrothermal steam, is the site of intense carbon dioxide (CO2) release by diffuse degassing and fumaroles. While the diffusive CO2 output has long (since the early 1990s) been characterized by soil CO2 surveys, no information is presently available on the fumarolic CO2 output. Here, we performed (in August 2014) a study in which soil CO2 degassing survey was combined for the first time with the measurement of the fumarolic CO2 flux. The results were achieved by using a GasFinder 2.0 tunable diode laser. Our measurements were performed in two degassing sites at Furnas volcano (Furnas Lake and Furnas Village), with the aim of quantifying the total (fumarolic + soil diffuse) CO2 output. We show that, within the main degassing (fumarolic) areas, the soil CO2 flux contribution (9.2 t day-1) represents a minor (~15 %) fraction of the total CO2 output (59 t day-1), which is dominated by the fumaroles (~50 t day-1). The same fumaroles contribute to ~0.25 t day-1 of H2S, based on a fumarole CO2/H2S ratio of 150 to 353 (measured with a portable Multi-GAS). However, we also find that the soil CO2 contribution from a more distal wider degassing structure dominates the total Furnas volcano CO2 budget, which we evaluate (summing up the CO2 flux contributions for degassing soils, fumarolic emissions and springs) at ~1030 t day-1.

Renal transplant in patients with polycystic disease: the Italian experience.

We analyzed the results of kidney transplantation in autosomal dominent polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients in Italy, including 14,305 transplantations performed from January 2002 to December 2010, including: 12,859 first single or double kidneys from cadaveric donors (13% polycystic), 172 combined liver-kidney cases (22% polycystic), and 1,303 living-donor organs (7% polycystic). Among the first transplantations (12,008 single, 851 double), with follow-ups ranging from 16 to 120 months, polycystic patients demonstrated better graft survival compared with other kidney diseases (86% vs 82% at 5 years; P < .01); mortality was not different (92% vs 79% at 1 year). A better trend was obtained also among combined liver-kidney transplantations in ADPKD. Regarding pretransplantation management of polycystic patients, we noticed a conservative attitude in 32/35 transplant centers. The main indication for nephrectomy was for the lack of abdominal space. Regarding instrumental studies, 86% of centers asked for second-level investigations computerized tomography for kidney dimensions. Radiologic investigations for vasculocerebral malformations were required in 97% of the centers: 74% as a routine and 23% in the presence of familial history of cerebral hemorrhage. Polycystic patients are good candidates for kidney transplantation with correct management before transplantation.

On-site first aid, CPR responders need to make fast, vital decisions.

The techniques of first aid and CPR can be learned easily through training programs offered by the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. Programs designed for all levels of care can be suited to the individual's needs. Basic CPR skills include one rescuer and two rescuer techniques. Adjunct equipment such as pocket masks offer the rescuer protection against possibly infectious body fluids. As the role of the competent person and first responder continue to grow, employers must continue to rely more on the employee to make emergency decisions and administer aid. To ensure effective compliance with the standard and to provide life-saving care, employers must have ready availability of first aid supplies, equipment and trained personnel. Only in this fashion will they be able to ensure timely, adequate care during these critical early moments.