Long-term broncocele anamnesis, triggered by typical carcinoid

The paper presents a case of a single bronchocele (bronchogenic retention cyst) caused by a typical carcinoid that was observed for a long time. During the initial complex examination, including computed tomography with intravenous contrast, fibrobronchoscopy, and immunological and bacteriological examinations of tuberculosis, there were no changes for the oncological and infectious nature. The changes were interpreted as the result of a postponed nonspecific inflammatory process. Most of them were monitored using chest X-ray and the changes were stable. After 15 years, a control chest X-ray revealed an increase in the size of the compaction in the lung and the appearance of a mass with calcification in the medial sections of the compaction zone. Additional examination, including computed tomography with biopsy, determined that the obstruction of the bronchus was caused by a neoplasm [according to histological examination (typical carcinoid)]. It should be noted that the initial detection of negative study results requires oncological alertness and periodic examinations in dynamics.

Exploring Efficiencies: Examining the Possibility of Decreasing the Size of the Briquettes Used as the Batch in the Electric Arc Furnace Dust Processing Line

Sintering of well-prepared briquetted mixtures in a shaft furnace is one of the possible methods of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) utilization. Simultaneously, some metal oxides from exhaust gases can be separated. In this way, various metals are recovered, particularly zinc. As a result, zinc-free briquettes are produced with a high iron content, which can be used in the steelmaking process. This method is still being developed. In Ostrowiec Świetokrzyski, Poland, a prototype line of a new method for the reduction of zinc oxide in a shaft furnace with simultaneous sintering of briquettes was installed. The batch for the shaft furnace was actually briquetted in the roller press, which produces briquettes with a volume of 13 cm3. It may prove beneficial to reduce the size of the resulting briquettes, as a smaller size could prove more efficient in reducing zinc in the furnace. Decreasing the volume of the briquettes causes an increase in the power consumption in the drive system and brings an increase in the briquetting force, which occurred in the compaction zone. It could be harmful to the roller press construction. The aim of this article was to prove that decreasing the volume of briquettes of the EAFD mixtures had no negative effects on the roller press which was installed in the prototype line.

The Horizontal Bearing Capacity of Composite Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Piles

Steel casings (SCs) are extensively and increasingly used to stabilize the borehole wall in the construction of bridge pile foundations. Steel casings (SCs), together with reinforced concrete piles (RCPs), form composite concrete-filled steel tube piles (CCFSTPs), which differ significantly from ordinary RCPs in horizontal bearing capacity. In this study, based on the characteristics of CCFSTPs, the horizontal bearing capacity of a CCFSTP was examined through a centrifugal model test with the length of the steel casing (LSC) and the modulus of the soil mass in the steel casing soil compaction zone (ESCSC_zone) as variables. Pile-side soil resistance, load-displacement curves, and pile moment curves were obtained for the CCFSTP. The results show that increasing LSC within a range of 12 cm significantly increases the ultimate horizontal bearing capacity of the CCFSTP, and further increasing LSC beyond 12 cm produces a continuous increase in the ultimate horizontal bearing capacity of the CCFSTP but only to an insignificant extent. In addition, increasing ESCSC_zone increases the ultimate horizontal bearing capacity of the CCFSTP, but to a relatively small extent. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the design and construction of CCFSTPs.

FACTORS OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND ENERGY SATURES IN THE SOIL RELAXATION

The process of soil deformation is a trajectory in a multidimensional space of principal stresses and principal deformations, as well as time, that is, the speed of application of deformer forces. Consequently, it is possible to achieve its destruction at various energy costs. With more rational technologies, volume deformations are minimal, and vice versa. The destruction of the soil massif should be along lines and planes characterized by the least strength. More preferred are working elements, the elements of which are executed in such a way that the sizes of the compaction zone inevitably arising as a result of their action on the soil layer are minimized. The dynamics of this process is influenced by the shape of the loading curve, the after-effect speed. The evaluation of efficiency with continuous oscillation by constant amplitude and frequency did not reveal the maximum of the energy efficiency. A promising direction is the additional oscillation of the working organ by single impulses. The construction of a soil-working working organ, self-adapting to changing operating conditions, is proposed. On the basis of the equation of motion, factors influencing the quality and energy costs of the loosening of the soil are established. Design changes are proposed to improve efficiency.

CONSOLIDATION ZONES FEATURES FORMATION OF A GROUND AROUND SQUARE SHAPED PILES

Necessity to resolve the problem of concerning the analytical dimensions definition and constructing forms of compacted zones of ground around the lateral surface of square cross section pile in normal to pile axis direction are shown in this article. Various analytical methods of ground compacted zones radius determination around cylindrical elements driven into the ground considering its initial state were analyzed. Graph-analytical method of ground compaction zones construction around square cross-section piles was developed. Efficiency of the developed methodology and analytical expressions using possibility to determine the radius of compaction zone of a ground around the driven or jacked-in elements is confirmed by comparing obtained solutions with the experimental data. The developed methodology allows increasing the efficiency and reliability of piles and pile foundations use due to their rational design.

Tectonophysics map of discontinuous deformation of Rybnik region

In this paper, a Tectonophysics map of Rybnik region is presented which is based on the method of determining the direction of the trajectory of the principal stresses in the rock mass and axis orientation of these stresses. This method is used in tectonophysics and is based on the character and parameters of faults. The whole map of Rybnik region encompasses an area of active mines: Rydułtowy-Anna, Marcel, Chwałowice, Jankowice as well as closed ones: Rymer and 1 May of Marcel mine. The paper presents only some fragments of the maps made for the four fault systems and a collective map of tectonophysic, i.e., showing chart areas of compaction for all the systems. The tectonophysics map was made to a scale of 1:20 000. Before the proper work which was the reconstruction of the compaction zone, preparatory work was done. This consisted of updates in 2013 of the tectonics of this area. As a result, tectonic maps were obtained where faults were projected on one level to get their proper azimuth and their inclination. So, a map was made which was used to separate four fault systems arising in similar conditions of stress. Next followed the reconstruction of the main stress fields, which was the cause of faults. On the map there are plotted trajectories showing minimum stress (σ3) and areas of compaction. The maps thus constructed will be used for further studies on the stress spreading and the impact of these areas for geomechanical properties.