Background: The dairy industry heavily relies on fermentation processes driven in high proportion by Lactococcus lactis. The fermentation process can be perturbed or even stopped by bacteriophage activity leading to complete loss of fermentation batch or decreased quality product. Monitoring of the phage diversity and dynamics in the process allows to implement protective measures (e.g. starter rotation) in order to maintain unperturbed production.; Methods: Universal primers were used to amplify sequences of the 936, c2, and P335 Lactococcus phage types. The amplicons were sequences with Sanger method and obtained degenerate sequences were analyzed using simple bioinformatic pipeline in R environment.; Results: The most prevalent phage type is 936, followed by P335, whereas c2 type is less frequent.; Conclusions: Curd cheeses prepared on non-pasteurized milk based on native milk microbiota had higher diversity of phages distinct of these found in dairy plants. Sanger sequencing of heterogenous amplicons generated on metagenome DNA can be used to asses low-complexity microbiota diversity.

Gut microbiota is considered a key player modulating the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The study investigated the association between response to the anti-PD-1 therapy and the baseline gut microbiome in the Polish cohort of melanoma patients, alongside selected agents modifying the microbiome. Sixty-four melanoma patients enrolled for the anti-PD-1 therapy and 10 healthy subjects were recruited. Response to the treatment was assessed according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors, and patients were classified as responders or non-responders. The association between selected extrinsic factors and response was investigated using questionnaire-based analysis, and metataxonomics of the microbiota. The Bacteroidota to Firmicutes ratio was higher, and the richness was decreased in the responders. The abundance of Prevotella copri and Bacteroides uniformis was related to the response, whereas non-responder gut microbiota was enriched with Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Desulfovibrio intestinalis, and some unclassified Firmicutes. Dietary patterns, including plant, dairy, and fat consumption, but also gastrointestinal tract functioning were significantly associated with the therapeutic effects of the therapy. The specific gut microbiota alongside diet were found associated with response to the therapy in the Polish population of melanoma patients.

After proving, in a purely categorial way, that the inclusion functor InAlg(Σ) from Alg(Σ), the category of many-sorted Σ-algebras, to PAlg(Σ), the category of many-sorted partial Σ-algebras, has a left adjoint FΣ, the (absolutely) free completion functor, we recall, in connection with the functor FΣ, the generalized recursion theorem of Schmidt, which we will also call the Schmidt construction. Next we define a category Cmpl(Σ), of Σ-completions, and prove that FΣ, labeled with its domain category and the unit of the adjunction of which it is a part, is a weakly initial object in it. Following this we associate to an ordered pair (α,f), where α=(K,γ,α) is a morphism of Σ-completions from F=(C,F,η) to G=(D,G,ρ) and f a homomorphism in D from the partial Σ-algebra A to the partial Σ-algebra B, a homomorphism ΥαG,0(f):Schα(f)B. We then prove that there exists an endofunctor, ΥαG,0, of Mortw(D), the twisted morphism category of D, thus showing the naturalness of the previous construction. Afterwards we prove that, for every Σ-completion G=(D,G,ρ), there exists a functor ΥG from the comma category (Cmpl(Σ)↓G) to End(Mortw(D)), the category of endofunctors of Mortw(D), such that ΥG,0, the object mapping of ΥG, sends a morphism of Σ-completion in Cmpl(Σ) with codomain G, to the endofunctor ΥαG,0.

Secondary and tertiary prevention strategies targeting people with disabilities to improve their health and wellbeing is important. In Sweden, >95% of all children with cerebral palsy (CP) participate in a follow-up program, where one of the goals is the prevention of hip dislocations. We reviewed the incidence of hip dislocations from 2010 to 2019 and the number of children who underwent different types of hip surgeries. The number of hip dislocations was reduced from 8.8% before introduction of the program to 0.3-0.4% up to 2015, followed by a gradual increase to 0.8% in 2019. The proportion of children who underwent adductor-psoas lengthening as their primary preventive surgery decreased from 50% in 2017 to 37% in 2019 with a corresponding increase of children undergoing femoral osteotomy, indicating more children underwent surgery at a later stage. Reasons for the increased number of children with hip dislocation may be that more children have moved to Sweden in recent years without corresponding compensation in health care resources and increased waiting times for surgery due to, among other things, a shortage of nurses. The results highlight the importance of constantly monitoring follow-up programs.

Using of the organic base tetramethylammonium hydroxides (TMAH) is a viable, cheap and fast route, for the MgZnAl-LDH type materials synthesis by both co-precipitation and mechano-chemical methods. TMAH provided several advantages as smaller quantity of water required in the washing step compared to the use of inorganic alkalis, prevention of LDH contamination with alkali cations, acting as template molecule in texture tailoring along with disadvantages as its presence in small quantities in the resulting layered materials. Regardless the use of organic / inorganic bases and co-precipitation / mechano-chemical methods, zincite stable phase was found in all the synthesized solids. The basicity of catalysts followed the trend: mixed oxides > reconstructed > parent LDH. The memory effect of LDH is supported only by the presence of Mg and Al cations, while Zn remains as zincite stable phase. The catalytic activities for Claisen-Schmidt condensation of benzaldehyde with cyclohexanone provided values higher than 90% after 2h, with a total selectivity in 2,6-dibenzylidenecyclohexanone, while in self-condensation of cyclohexanone no more than 7.29% after 5h. These behaviors depended on catalysts basicity as well as the planar rigidity of the compound.

Pain is a natural bioassay for detecting and quantifying biological activities of venoms. The painfulness of stings delivered by ants, wasps, and bees can be easily measured in the field or lab using the stinging insect pain scale that rates the pain intensity from 1 to 4, with 1 being minor pain, and 4 being extreme, debilitating, excruciating pain. The painfulness of stings of 96 species of stinging insects and the lethalities of the venoms of 90 species was determined and utilized for pinpointing future promising directions for investigating venoms having pharmaceutically active principles that could benefit humanity. The findings suggest several under- or unexplored insect venoms worthy of future investigations, including: those that have exceedingly painful venoms, yet with extremely low lethality – tarantula hawk wasps (Pepsis) and velvet ants (Mutillidae); those that have extremely lethal venoms, yet induce very little pain – the ants, Daceton and Tetraponera; and those that have venomous stings and are both painful and lethal – the ants Pogonomyrmex, Paraponera, Myrmecia, Neoponera, and the social wasps Synoeca, Agelaia, and Brachygastra. Taken together, and separately, sting pain and venom lethality point to promising directions for mining of pharmaceutically active components derived from insect venoms.

Disputes on authorships or the order of authors on publications are among the most common conflicts in science, particularly where multi-author papers have become the norm. Here, I propose an adaptable and generalizable method to rationalize and democratize decisions about authorships, which can be applied in diverse scientific areas. In the process, the authors of a manuscript collect, discuss, score, and weight their contributions to the final manuscript. The decision process is assisted by a simple spreadsheet-based “authorship matrix”, which helps to break down the complexity of different contributions and their importance. The matrix generates a score s describing the percentage of the author’s total contributions and can be used to determine authorship and their order. The transparency and simplicity score s can reduce conflicts and thus increase productivity in collaborations.

In this paper, dual-rotor counter-rotating (CR) configurations of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) are briefly inspected and divided into three types. This investigation was focused on one of these types – the CR-VAWT with co-axial rotors, in which two equal rotors are placed on the same shaft, displaced from each other along it and rotate in opposite directions. For this CR-VAWT with three-blade H-Darrieus rotors, the properties of the design in terms of aerodynamics, mechanical transmission and electric generator, as well as control system are analyzed. A new direct-driven dual-rotor (DR) permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) was proposed, in which two built-in low-power PM electric machines have been added. They perform two functions – start-up and overclocking of the rotors to the angular velocity at which the lifting force of the blades is generated and stabilizing the CR-VAWT work as wind gusts act on the two rotors. Detailed in this paper is the evaluation of aerodynamic performance of the CR-VAWT via 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The evaluation was conducted using the CONVERGE CFD software with the inclusion of the actuator line model for the rotor aerodynamics, which significantly reduces the computational effort. Obtained results show that both rotors, while they rotate in opposite directions, had a positive impact on each other: the power coefficients of the upper and lower rotors in the CR-VAWT increased by 5.5% and 13.3% respectively compared to the single-rotor VAWT at the optimal distance between the rotors of 0.3 from a rotor height.

AGI could arise within the next decades, promising a decisive strategic advantage. This paper discusses risks, associated with the development of AGI: destabilizing effects on strategic balance, underestimating risks in the interest of victory in the race, egoistically exploiting the huge benefits by a tiny minority. Further: Developed AGI could be beyond human control. Human goals could not be implemented and an intelligence explosion to superintelligence could take place leading to a total loss of control and power. If competition for AGI is non-transparent, secret, uncontrolled and not regulated, it’s possible that risks could not be managed and would lead to catastrophic consequences. The danger corresponds to that of nuclear weapons. It is crucial that the key actors of a possible AI Race agree at an early stage on the prevention and transparent regulation of a possible AI Race - similar to measures to secure strategic stability, on arms control measures, disarmament, and prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The realization that an uncontrolled AI race can lead to the extinction of humanity - this time even independent of human will – requires analogous measures to contain, prevent, regulate and secure an AI race within the framework of AGI development.

Printed oral splints are a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of functional disorders. Their mechanical properties are crucial to their clinical success and their performance can vary depending on cleaning, post-polymerization, or build orientation. This in vitro study aimed to compare the biaxial flexural strength of the chosen materials depending on the aforementioned parameters. 720 discs (n = 15 per group, 16 mm x 2 mm) were printed from splint materials. Printing was performed under 90°, 45°, or 0° orientation to the building platform with supporting structures. Specimens were either automatically or manually cleaned with isopropanol. Post-polymerization was performed with LED- or Xenon-light. Biaxial flexural strength (BFS) was determined with a piston-on-3-ball test after 24 hours or 60 days water storage (37°C). Test specimens were preloaded with 0.5 N and the load was applied by a piston of 1.6 mm in diameter at 1 mm/min crosshead speed. Statistics were performed by using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Levene-tests. Mean BFS after 24 hours of storage varied between 79 MPa and 157 MPa. After 60 hours the BFS significantly decreased and revealed values ranging from 72-127 MPa (mean24 113 MPa, mean60 97 MPa; p<0.001). No significant differences could be determined between the materials (p=0.103) or between the different cleaning procedures (p=0.321). Post-polymerization yielded higher means with LED- (P1: 115 MPa) than with Xenon-light (P2: 95 MPa; p<0.001). Regarding position, the mean values ranged from 101 MPa for 0°, 102 MPa for 45°, and 115 MPa for 90°, which was significantly different (p<0.001). Build orientation of 90° and post-polymerization with LED-light provided significantly higher biaxial flexural strength and should be used to guarantee optimal strength of splint materials. Aging decreased the biaxial flexural strength of the tested specimens.

Cognitive impairment is a condition which affects aging patient populations and is becoming more prevalent as the geriatric population expands. It is categorized by the extent of cognitive decline, memory loss, functional abilities, and the capability to perform daily tasks. Based on the degree of impairment, it is classified as mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Considering the debilitating nature of cognitive decline and its impact on quality of life, prevention is key. In addition, given the gradual progression of the underlying causes of cognitive decline, early diagnosis and appropriate management has the potential to offer clinical advantages and better patient outcomes. Management options discussed vary from pharmaceutical regimens to neurosurgical interventions, with differing outcomes based on etiology of cognitive impairment.

The pandemic is fast moving, accelerating rapid changes that lead to new challenges and making organizations suffer an impact. A big mark has been left on the workplaces - places where we do business, because an ongoing change to remote work challenges the role of the office. It is highly possible that as the change is progressing, it is not only the workplace that will change its design, but also the way in which work will be planned, organized, done and controlled. However, as the restrictions ease up questions appear: What is the potential of office sustainability? How has the perception of flexible office space changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic? This paper used an online survey as a quantitative research method. In this paper, we looked at the employer’s vision of the office. We investigated employers’ perspectives of where and in what settings the work will be done in the post-pandemic time. Specifically, we discussed the changes employers will apply in terms of work environment and office layout. The findings suggest that an increasing mobile workforce and expansion of the new workstyle will not mean an office exodus, but will certainly have an impact on office utilization.

The characteristics of excess aerobic granular sludge, related to its structure and chemical composition, limit the efficiency of anaerobic digestion. For this reason, pre-treatment methods and compositions with other organic substrates are used. The aim of the research was to determine the effects of co-digestion of pre-hydrodynamically cavitated aerobic granular sludge with waste fats on the efficiency of methane fermentation under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The addition of waste fats improved the C/N ratio and increased its value to 19. The greatest effects were observed in thermophilic anaerobic digestion at 55°C, where a 15% waste fat content in volatile soilds was ensured. This resulted in the production of 1278.2±40.2 mL/gVS biogas and 889.4±29.7 mL/gVS CH4. The CH4 content of the biogas was 69.6±1.3%. The increase in biogas and CH4 yield compared to pure AGS anaerobic digestion was 34.4% and 40.1%, respectively. An increase in the proportion of waste fats in the substrate had no significant effect on the efficiency of methane fermentation.

Aim of the presented research was to develop an optical sensing system to investigate the demineralization process of the bones. Optical measurement techniques are widely used and increasingly adapted in biological and biomedical applications due to their non-destructive nature and safety. Optical examination of the bone condition could facilitate clinical trials and improve the safety of patients. The authors used a set of complementary methods: polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) and Raman spectroscopy. To stimulate the process of demineralization and gradual removal of the hydroxyapatite, the test samples of chicken bones were placed into 10% acetic acid. Measurements were carried out in two series. The first one took two weeks with data acquired every day. In the second series, the measurements were made during one day at an hourly interval (after 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 24 hours). Raman spectroscopy was used to evaluate the disappearance of the hydroxyapatite. The relation between the content of hydroxyapatite and images recorded using OCT was analyzed and discussed. Moreover, the polarization properties of the bones have been evaluated. Based on OCT images, the retardation angles of the bones have been calculated. This work presents a preliminary study on the mechanism of bone demineralization and confirms the potential of the applied optical methods.

The use of aerobic granular sludge is a promising and future-proof solution for wastewater treatment. The implementation of this technology requires the development of efficient and cost-effective methods for the management of excess sludge. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effects of hydrodynamic cavitation on the efficiency of aerobic granular sludge digestion. Respirometric measurements were performed at a temperature of 38°C and an initial organic load of 5.0 gVS/L. The changes in the properties of the pre-treated biomass, the kinetics of methane fermentation, the amount and composition of the biogas produced and an energetic evaluation of the process were carried out. A significant influence of hydrodynamic cavitation on the transfer of organic compounds into the dissolved phase was demonstrated. The degree of solubilisation was 37% for COD and 42% and for TOC. The efficiency of CH4 production from the pre-treated sludge reached a value of 496±12 mL/gVS, which corresponds to an increase of 19.6% compared to the raw biomass. The influence of cavitation on the CH4 content of the biogas was not observed. Strong correlations were found between the efficiency of anaerobic digestion and the concentration of dissolved organic compounds and the hydrodynamic cavitation time used. The highest net energy production of 2.89 Wh/gTS was achieved after 15 minutes of pre-treatment.

A 47-year-old physician suddenly noticed a persistent difficulty maintaining attention. He was awake, alert, and oriented. After two hours he developed fever, ageusia, and anosmia. He denied any previous history of psychiatric illness and was hydrated at the time of the subjective attention impairment. On admission, the patient remained oriented. He reported the persistence of attention problems, anosmia, and mild fatigue. The oxygen saturation 99% while he was breathing ambient air. Laboratory tests were unremarkable. A high-resolution computed tomography of the chest was normal. Nasopharyngeal and throat swabs specimens on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis tested positive for SARS-CoV2. On illness day 3, the examination was unchanged, but he continued to complain of difficulties to stay focused. Then, he performed an objective attention test. The test demonstrated a moderate attentional impairment. On day 6, the patient reported a subjective worse in his concentration and performed a second test. Although his physical examination remained normal, the attention performance was worse as compared to day 3. Eight hours after worsening of attention impairment, the patient’s oxygen saturation dropped to 94%. From illness days 9 to 14, the patient evolved with clinical improvement. On day 10, a third objective attention test indicated a mild deficit. On day 16, he did not report any other symptom and the attention test was completely normal. Then, the patient returned to work. Neurological symptoms had been previously described in COVID- 19 patients. However, no previous research had investigated early cognitive deficits preceding the traditional symptoms.

An ability of different molecular potentials to reproduce the properties of 2D molybdenum disulphide polymorphs is examined. Structural and mechanical properties, as well as phonon dispersion of the 2H, 1T and 1T’ single-layer MoS2 (SL MoS2) phases, were obtained using density functional theory (DFT) and molecular statics calculations (MS) with Stillinger-Weber, REBO, SNAP, and ReaxFF interatomic potentials. Quantitative systematic comparison and discussion of the results obtained are reported.

The article presents results of research consisting in an attempt to assess the influence of temperature, heating time and cooling method on microstructure and residual strength properties of steel previously tempered during the production process. Simulated environmental conditions to which high-strength bolts, commonly used in steel construction, were subjected, were intended to reflect conditions of a natural fire that may occur in public facilities where the obligation to ensure safety of users and rescue teams is of key importance, also required by law. Furthermore, the tests carried out also comprised a simulated effect of a rescue and firefighting operation using shock, rapid cooling of some of the heated bolts. Samples cut out from the tested bolts, after they were properly prepared, were subjected to microstructural tests using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), phase analysis with the use of an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and quantitative analysis of the microstructure involving, inter alia, measuring the surface area of grains, their equivalent diameter and mean diameter. As a result of the tests, considerable microstructure changes were identified occurring in the bolt material as a result of exposing it to fire conditions, leading to a change in key, from the point of view of structural safety, mechanical properties. The results of the microstructure tests were compared with the results of previous strength tests, including hardness of the material after the heat treatment and the residual tensile strength of the material Rm. A conducted comparative analysis showed a significant effect of all such factors as the temperature level of the simulated fire, its duration and the fire-fighting method on the mechanical properties of bolts. Results obtained were provided with required comments and the concept of using the microstructure for the post-fire assessment of steel structures was referred to.

Titanium alloys belong to the metal biomaterials that are one of the most widely used in medicine. In recent years, in order to reduce the use of vanadium, Ti6Al4V alloy is increasingly replaced by Ti6Al7Nb alloy. In addition, to ensure the best possible biocompatibility, its surface is subjected to appropriate modifications, for example, anodic oxidation. Despite the extensive use of anodic oxidation of titanium implants in orthopedics, there are few works focused on a detailed analysis of the chemical composition of the surface layers. In addition, the effect of treatments before anodic oxidation on the properties of the produced layer has not been analyzed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze in detail the chemical composition of the passive layer of Ti6Al7Nb alloy obtained by anodic oxidation preceded by sandblasting. Moreover, the physicochemical properties of the analyzed surface affecting biocompatibility were determined. For this purpose, surface observation, wettability and roughness tests, microhardness tests, electrochemical tests and phase composition analysis were carried out. In addition, the preclinical suitability, of the surface modified in this way, was evaluated by cytotoxicity tests.

Waste glycerol can be subjected to various processing operations, including purification and re-fining, to obtain glycerol of appropriate purity. In addition, alternative methods of utilising waste glycerol are also being sought, e.g. by converting it into other valuable chemical products or biofuels. Therefore, various technologies are being developed to utilise this type of waste effectively and sustainably. The production of value-added products from waste glycerol is an important issue that determines the improvement of the economic viability of biofuel production and corresponds to the model of a waste-free and emission-free circular economy. This paper characterised the mechanisms and evaluated the efficiency of existing methods of microbiological utilisation of waste glycerol into liquid biofuels, including biodiesel, bioethanol and biobutanol, and identified further directions for the production of value-added products. In addition, a bibliographical analysis of publications re-lated to the production of liquid fuels and economically valuable products from glycerol was carried out, the progress of research and application work was assessed and directions for future research were identified.

The naturally occurring dipeptide carnosine (β alanyl L histidine) specifically attenuates tumor growth. Here, we asked whether other small imidazole containing compounds also affect viability of tumor cells without affecting non-malignant cells, and whether formation of histamine is involved. Patient-derived fibroblasts and glioblastoma cells were treated with carnosine, L alanyl L histidine (LA-LH), ß alanyl L alanine, L histidine, histamine, imidazole, β alanine and L alanine. Cell viability was assessed by cell-based assays and microscopy. The intracellular release of L histidine and formation of histamine was investigated by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled Mass Spectrometry. Whereas carnosine and LA LH inhibited tumor cell growth with minor effects on fibroblasts, L-histidine, histamine and imidazole affected viability in both cell types. Compounds without imidazole moiety did not diminish viability. In the presence of LA LH but not in the presence of carnosine a significant rise of intracellular amounts of histidine was detected in all cells. Formation of histamine was not detectable in the presence of carnosine, LA LH or histidine. In conclusion, the imidazole moiety of carnosine contributes to its anti-neoplastic effect, which is also seen in the presence of histidine and LA LH. Despite histamine had a strong effect on cell viability, formation of histamine is not responsible for the effects on cell viability of carnosine, LA LH and histidine.

Background. This is a retrospective analysis of the results of treatment for varicose veins using the sandwich technique with cyanoacrylate glue and foam sclerotherapy. This novel method al-lows for substantial reduction of amount of glue needed for the vein closure, and minimizes the risk of granuloma formation and allergic reaction related to the epifascial administration of cy-anoacrylate. Methods: This technique was used in 60 patients, 77 intrafascial veins were managed. Vein closures were performed with Venex cyanoacrylate glue and 1-3% polidocanol foam. All proce-dures were done under ultrasonographic control, though direct percutaneous punctures of target veins. Follow-up were scheduled 1-3 week after the procedure. If revealed, unclosed segments of the target veins were obliterated at these follow-up visits, with glue and/or sclerotherapy. Results. There were no serious adverse events intra- or postprocedurally. The technical success rate was 100%. The primary success rate at 1-3 week follow-up was 84.4%. The primary assisted success rate, after additional closures, was 100%. Conclusions. We demonstrated that the treatment for varicose veins, using sandwich tech-nique, which combines cyanoacrylate glue and foam sclerotherapy, can be safe and efficient.

In order to investigate the coordination chemistry of O-alkyl N-aryl thiocarbamate ligands, BiI3 has been reacted with two equivalents of MeOC(=S)N(H)Ph in MeCN solution to afford the dinuclear title compound complexes [{I2Bi(μ2-I)2BiI2}{1-MeOC(=S)N(H)Ph}4] 1. Compound 1 has been characterized by IR, UV and NMR spectroscopy, the dinuclear framework has be ascertained by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study performed at 100 K.

Sulfur contamination of topsoil, spatial distribution of contamination and surface water chemistry were investigated on an area of over 200 ha of a new forest ecosystem. Common birch and Scots pine growth reaction, vitality and nutrients supply, as well as wood small-reed (Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth) chemical composition were assayed. The chemistry dynamics of soil leaching and the sulfur load leached from the sulfur contaminated soil-substrates were analyzed. The remediation effect of the birch and pine litter was assayed in an experiment under controlled conditions. It was found that reclamation was effective in a majority of the post-mining site, however hot-spots with sulfur contamination reaching even 45,000 mg kg-1, pH <2.0, and EC 6,500 µS cm-1 were reported. Surface waters typically displayed elevated concentrations of sulfate ions (average 935.13 mg L-1), calcium ions (up to 434 mg L-1) and high EC (average 1.795 µS cm-1), which was connected both with sulfur contamination and sludge lime used in neutralization. Wood small-reed was found to be species adapting well to the conditions of elevated soil salinity and sulfur concentration. We noted that an addition of organic matter had a significant impact on the chemistry of soil solutions but did not indicate in short term experiment a remediation effect by increased sulfur leaching.

There is a need to find methods to intensify the anaerobic digestion process. One possibility is the use of pre-treatment techniques. Many laboratory tests confirm their effectiveness, but in most cases, there is no verification work carried out on industrial plants. The aim of the research carried out under laboratory conditions and on a large scale was to determine the technological and energy efficiency of the use of hydrodynamic cavitation in the pre-treatment of a waste mixture from dairy farms. It has been shown that hydrodynamic cavitation significantly increases the concentration of organic compounds in the dissolved phase. In the most effective variants, the increase in the content of these indicators was over 90% for both COD and TOC. The degree of solubilisation achieved was 49±2.6% for COD and almost 52±4.4% for TOC. Under laboratory conditions, the highest effects of anaerobic digestion were achieved after 10 minutes of pre-treatment. The amount of biogas was on average 367±18 mL/gCOD and the amount of methane 233±13 mL/gCOD. Further large-scale optimisation trials showed that after 8 minutes of hydrodynamic cavitation, the biogas yield was 327±8 L/kgCOD with a CH4 content of 62.9±1.9%. With this variant, the net energy yield was 66.4±2.6 kWh/day, a value that was 13.9% higher than the original variant with 10 minutes of disintegration and 3.1% higher than the variant without pre-treatment.

Insufficient physical activity (PA) is associated with low cardiorespiratory fitness, which favors cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases. Besides, it evidentially affects mental health. Considering the WHO PA guidelines, CrossFit® represents a versatile exercise program, combining aerobic and resistance training with mobility and could help lowering disease incidences among sedentary people. Yet, long-term CrossFit research is sparse. We conducted a nine-months intervention (≥ 2 CrossFit workouts/week) in sixteen beginners (14 males, 35  6.8 years, 180  8.6 cm, 85. 5  19.1 kg). As primary endpoint, VO2max was assessed at baseline, after four, and nine months. A repeated-measures ANOVA and pearson correlation were conducted. Well-being was investigated by WHO-5-index pre- and post-intervention. For exploratory purpose, body composition was tracked. Main outcome was an 11.5 % VO2max improvement with large effect (p < .01, η_p^2 = .27). Strong negative correlations between baseline VO2max and its progression after nine months (p = .006, r = -.654) were found. Well-being increased by 8.7 % (p = .024, d = .51). Body composition improved without statistical significance. Resting metabolic rate increased by 2.2 % (p = .042). This study reveals the potential of CrossFit to enhance physiological and psychological health in beginners. For more robust results, bigger sample sizes with higher proportion of women are needed.

Pretreatment of cells with proteolysis inhibitors diminished intensity and changed shape of DNICs specific EPR signal in a treatment time-dependent manner. The level of DNIC formation was significantly influenced by the presence of protein degradation products. Interestingly, formation of HMWDNICs depended on the availability of LMWDNICs. The extent of glutathione involvement in the in vivo formation of DNICs is minor yet noticeable, aligning with our prior research findings.

The adoption of Machine Learning (ML) for building emulators for complex physical processes has seen an exponential rise in the recent years. While neural networks are good function approximators, optimizing the hyper-parameters of the network to reach a global minimum is not trivial, and often needs human knowl- edge and expertise. In this light, automatic ML or autoML methods have gained large interest as they automate the process of network hyper-parameter tuning. In addition, Neural Architecture Search (NAS) has shown promising outcomes for improving model performance. While autoML methods have grown in popularity for image, text and other applications, their effectiveness for high-dimensional, complex scientific datasets remains to be investigated. In this work, a data driven emulator for turbulence closure terms in the context of Large Eddy Simulation (LES) models is trained using Artificial Neural Networks and an autoML frame- work based on Bayesian Optimization, incorporating priors to jointly optimize the hyper-parameters as well as conduct a full neural network architecture search to converge to a global minima, is proposed. Additionally, we compare the effect of using different network weight initializations and optimizers such as ADAM, SGDM and RMSProp, to explore the best performing setting. Weight and function space similarities during the optimization trajectory are investigated, and critical differences in the learning process evolution are noted and compared to theory. We observe ADAM optimizer and Glorot initialization consistently performs better, while RMSProp outperforms SGDM as the latter appears to have been stuck at a local minima. Therefore, this autoML BayesOpt framework provides a means to choose the best hyper-parameter settings for a given dataset.

Background: Myometrial invasion (MI) is a parameter currently used in transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) in endometrial cancer (EC) to determine local staging, however, without molecular diagnostics, it is insufficient for selection of high-risk cases, i.e., those with a high risk of lymph node metastases (LNM). Methods: One hundred sixteen consecutive EC patients, who had received 2D transvaginal ultrasound examinations in their preoperative workup and final histopathology results as a reference standard, were included in this prospective study. Univariate and multivariate logistic models of analyzed TVS biomarkers (tumor [T] size, T area [AREA], T volume [SPE-VOL], MI, T-free distance to serosa [TFD], endo-myometrial irregularity, [EMIR], cervical stromal involvement, CSI) were evaluated to assess the relative accuracy of the possible LNM predictors. To avoid a potential bias in assuming linear relations between LNM and continuous predictors, spline functions were applied. Calculations were made in R with the use of libraries splines, glmulti, and pROC. Results: LNM was found in 20 out of 116 (17%) patients. In univariate analysis, only uMI, EMIR, uCSI and uTFD were significant predictors of LNM. Accuracy was 0.707 (AUC 0.684, 95% CI 0.568-0.801) for uMI (p<0.01), 0.672 (AUC 0.664, 95% CI 0.547-0.781) for EMIR (p<0.01), 0.776 (AUC 0.647, 95% CI 0.529-0.765) for uCSI (p<0.01), and 0.638 (AUC 0.683, 95% CI 0.563-0.803) for uTFD (p<0.05). The cut-off value for uTFD was 5.2 mm. However, AREA and VOL revealed significant relation by non-linear analysis as well. Among all possible multivariate models, the one comprising interactions of splines of uTFD with uMI and splines of SPE-VOL with uCSI showed most usefulness. Accuracy was 0.802 (AUC 0.791, 95% CI 0.673-0.91) Conclusions: A combination of uTFD for patients with uMI>50%, and SPE-VOL for patients with uCSI, allows for the most accurate prediction of LNM in EC, rather than uMI alone.

Trypanosome brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness, harbours a highly ordered, subpellicular microtubule cytoskeleton that defines many aspects of morphology, motility and virulence. This array of microtubules is associated with a large number of proteins involved in its regulation. Employing proximity-dependent biotinylation assay (BioID) using the well characterized cytoskeleton-associated protein CAP5.5 as a probe we identified CAP50 (Tb927.11.2610). This protein colocalizes with the subpellicular cytoskeleton microtubules but not with the flagellum. Depletion by RNAi results in defects in cytokinesis, morphology and partial disorganization of microtubule arrays. Published proteomics data indicate a possible association of CAP50 with two other, yet uncharacterized, cytoskeletal proteins, CAP52 (Tb927.6.5070) and CAP42 (Tb927.4.1300), which were therefore included in our analysis. We show that their depletion causes phenotypes similar to those described for CAP50 and that they are essential for cellular integrity.

The improvement of energy efficiency of hydraulic systems remains to be an essential challenge for the industry, and the demand for more sustainable solutions is increasing. A main focus in this endeavor is the ability to eliminate or strongly reduce the use of throttle control valves which have been the preferred control element in industrial hydraulic systems for decades. Components have been subject to continuous evolution, and current industrial grade hydraulic pumps and motors are both efficient and reliable. Even though few percentages of energy efficiency can still be achieved, the main achievements in terms of efficiency is associated with novel system designs rather than further development of components. An area subject to increasing attention is the field of variable-speed displacement control, allowing to avoid the main control valve throttle losses. Systems using this technology are, however, mainly developed as standalone drive systems, necessitating maximum force, speed and power installed in each axis, with limited hydraulic power distribution capability as compared to valve controlled systems. An emerging field addressing this challenge is so-called electro-hydraulic variable-speed drive networks which allow to completely eliminate the use of control valves and enables power sharing both electrically and hydraulically, potentially reducing the necessary installed power in many cases. The idea of such a technology was first proposed in 2022, and so far developments reported in literature have mainly been of theoretical nature. This article presents the first ever experimental results for a dual cylinder electro-hydraulic variable-speed drive network prototype. The prototype has been developed for an industrial application, but has initially been implemented in a laboratory testbench. Extensive data acquisition has been conducted while subject to the associated industrial motion cycle, under different load conditions. The data is further used in combination with models to predict the total efficiency of the drive network prototype under higher loads than what could be achieved in the laboratory, suggesting a total efficiency from the electric supply to the cylinder pistons of 68 %. Re-configuring the prototype to a known standalone drive system structure implies comparable efficiencies. Finally, the drive network is theoretically compared to a valve drive solution, generally suggesting the prototype drive network to provide efficiency improvements of at least 40 % in comparison.

Leukemia cutis (LC) is defined as leukemic infiltration of the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous tissue. Leukemia cutis may follow or occur simultaneously with the diagnosis of systemic leukemia. However, cutaneous lesions are occasionally diagnosed as the primary manifestation of leukemia. Leukemic skin infiltrations demonstrate considerable variation regarding number of changes, distribution, and morphology. The highest incidence of LC is observed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, monocytic and myelomonocytic acute myeloid leukemia, and in T-cell lineage leukemia. Although the pathogenic mechanism of the invasion of leukemic cells into the skin is not well understood, chemokine receptors and adhesion molecules as well as genetic characteristics of leukemia are thought to play a role. Leukemic skin lesions may be localized or disseminated and may occur alone or in combination on any site of the skin, most frequently in the trunk and extremities. The most common clinical presentations of leukemia cutis are papules, nodules, macules, plaques, and ulcers. In most patients, complete or partial resolution of cutaneous infiltrations occurs simultaneously with hematologic remission. However, in patients with resistant disease or recurrent skin infiltration, local radiotherapy can be used. This review presents recent data on the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of leukemic skin involvement in different types of leukemia

TRPOMI instrument aboard Sentinel-5P is a relatively new, high-resolution source of information about atmosphere composition. One of the primary atmospheric trace gases that we can observe through it is nitrogen dioxide. By now, we were using the chemical weather model (GEM-AQ) as a mean for estimating nitrogen dioxide concentration on a regional scale. Although well established in atmospheric science, the GEM-AQ simulations were always based on emission data, which in the case of the energy sector were reported by stack owners. In this paper, we attempted to compare the TROPOMI and GEM-AQ derived VCDs over Poland with a particular focus on large point emitters. We also checked how cloudy conditions influence TROPOMI results. Finally, we tried to link the NO2 column number densities with surface concentration using boundary layer height as an additional explanatory variable

High hopes were associated with the new anti-angiogenic medicament, bevacizumab, which due to the possibility of binding to isoform A of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), inhibited the creation of new blood vessels. However, not only blood vessels are responsible for the tumor cells' spread. During the process of tumor growth, lymphangiogenesis is mediated by other isoforms of the VEGF family, specifically VEGF-C and VEGF-D, which are independent of the bevacizumab action. Therefore, based on the mechanism of bevacizumab action and the processes of angio- and lymphangiogenesis, we formed three hypotheses: 1) if the lymph nodes in the primary ovarian cancers are metastatic, the outcome of bevacizumab treatment is worsened; 2) concerning the second-line treatment, bevacizumab will act in a weakened manner if the recurrence occurs in lymph nodes compared to local recurrences; 3) patients treated by bevacizumab are more likely to have recurrences in lymph nodes. These hypotheses raise the issue of the existing gap of knowledge, which concerns the effect of bevacizumab on the metastatic lymph nodes.

Nutritional limitations may shape populations and communities of organisms. This phenomenon is often studied by treating populations and communities as pools of homogenous individuals with average nutritional optima and experiencing average constraints and trade-offs that influence their fitness in a standardized way. However, populations and communities consist of individuals belonging to different sexes, each with specific nutritional demands and limitations. Taking this into account, we used the ecological stoichiometry framework to study sexual differences in the stoichiometric phenotypes, reflecting stoichiometric niches, of four spider taxa differing in hunting mode. The species and sexes differed fundamentally in their elemental phenotypes, including elements beyond those most commonly studied (C, N and P). Both species and sexes were distinguished by the C:N ratio and concentrations of Cu, K and Zn. Species additionally differed in concentrations of Na, Mg and Mn. Phosphorous was not involved in this differentiation. Sexual dimorphism in spiders’ elemental phenotypes, related to differences in their stoichiometric niches, suggests different nutritional optima and differences in nutritional limitation experienced by different sexes and species. This may influence the structure and functioning of spider populations and communities.

The main issue in this work is to study limit functions necessary for the reliability assessment of the structural steel with the use of the relative entropy apparatus. This would be done using a few different mathematical theories relevant to this relative entropy, namely those proposed by Bhattacharyya, Kullback-Leibler, Jeffreys, and Hellinger. Probabilistic analysis in the presence of uncertainty in material characteristics would be delivered using three different numerical strategies – Monte-Carlo simulation, stochastic perturbation method as well as the semi-analytical approach. All these methods are based on the Weighted Least Squares Method approximations of the structural response functions versus the given uncertainty source and they would allow efficient determination of the first two probabilistic moments of the structural responses including stresses, displacements, and strains. The entire computational implementation would be delivered using the Finite Element Method system ABAQUS and computer algebra program MAPLE, where relative entropies, as well as polynomial response functions, would be determined. This study would demonstrate that the relative entropies may be efficiently used in reliability assessment close to the widely engaged First Order Reliability Method (FORM).

High PM10 concentrations are still a significant problem in many parts of the world. In many countries, including Poland, 50μg/m3 is the permissible threshold for a daily averaged PM10 concentration. The number of people affected by this threshold’s exceedance is challenging to estimate and requires high-resolution concentration maps. This paper presents an application of random forests for downscaling regional model air quality results. As policymakers and other end users are eager to receive a detailed resolution PM10 concentration maps, we propose a technique which utilizes the results of regional CTM (GEM-AQ, with 2.5km resolution) and local Gaussian plume model. As a result, we receive a detailed, 250-meter resolution PM10 distribution, which resembles the complex emission pattern in a foothill area in southern Poland. The random forest results are highly consistent with the GEM-AQ and observed concentration. We also discuss different strategies of data training random forest - using additional features and selecting target variables.

In the drive towards environmental restoration and sustainable energy solutions, effective utilization and management of agricultural crop residues are vital to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and waste accumulation. Converting biogenic wastes into biofuels and bioproducts has the potential to tackle the energy crisis and contribute to environmental remediation. In this investigation, teff husk, primarily generated in Ethiopia during teff production within the agro-industrial sector, is used as the feedstock for the slow pyrolysis process. In Ethiopia, it is estimated that over 1.75 million tons of teff husk are generated annually, with a significant portion being incinerated in the fields, resulting in substantial environmental pollution. This study focuses on assessing teff husk as a potential material for slow pyrolysis, a crucial stage in biochar production, to tap into its biochar-producing potential. To determine the composition of the biomass, the teff-husk was initially analyzed by thermogravimetry. The significant presence of fixed carbon indicates that teff husk is a viable candidate for pyrolytic conversion into biochar particles. The process of slow pyrolysis took place at three varied temperatures—specifically, at 400, 450, and 500 °C. Process parameters of slow pyrolysis such as reaction time, temperature, and heating rate were enhanced to obtain maximum biochar yields. The highest biochar yield of 43.4 wt% was recorded at optimized reaction time, temperature, and heating rate of 120 min, 400 °C, and 4.2 °C/min, respectively. Furthermore, biochar's physicochemical, SEM-EDX, FTIR, and TGA characterization were performed. The thermal stability and carbon content of biochar were found to rise at higher temperatures. Unlike fuel recovery, the results suggest that teff-husk can be used as a feedstock for biochar production.

COVID-19 has harmful impact on health. It is especially important for endurance athletes (EAs). Sleep and psychology influence sport performance. Aims of this study were: (1) investigation of the consequences of mild COVID-19 on sleep and psychology and (2) assessment of the conse-quences of the infection on cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) results. 49 EAs (males= 43; 87.76%, females= 6; 12.24%, age= 39.9±7.8 years, height= 178.4±6.8 cm, weight= 76.3±10.4 kg; BMI= 24.0±2.6 kg·m−2) underwent maximal cycling or running CPET pre- and post- COVID-19 and completed a survey. Exercise performance was deteriorated after COVID-19 (maximal oxy-gen uptake; VO2max= 47.81±7.81 vs 44.97±7.00 ml·kg·min−1 respectively pre- and post- infection; p<0.001). Waking up at night affected heart rate (HR) at the respiratory compensation point (RCP) (p=0.028). Sleep time influenced pulmonary ventilation (p=0.013), breathing frequency (p=0.010), and blood lactate concentration (Lac) (p=0.013) at RCP. Maximal power/speed (p=0.046) and HR (p=0.070) linked with the quality of sleep. Stress management and relaxation techniques linked with VO2max (p=0.046), maximal power/speed (p=0.033), and maximal Lac (p=0.045). Cardiorespiratory fitness was deteriorated after mild COVID-19 and was correlated with sleep and mental health. Medical Professionals should encourage EAs to maintain proper mental health and sleep after COVID-19 infection to facilitate recovery.

There is experimental evidence of high vibronic activity that accompanies the strongly allowed transition between the ground state and the lowest electronic singlet excited state of oligofurans that contain 2,3, and 4 furan rings. The absorption and emission spectra of the three lowest oligofurans measured in liquid nitrogen temperature show distinct fine structures that are reproduced using the projection-based model of vibronic coupling (with Dushinsky rotation included) parameterized utilizing either DFT (with several different exchange-correlation functionals) or ab initio (CC2) quantum chemistry calculations. Using as reference the experimental data concerning the electronic absorption and fluorescence for the 8 lowest oligofurans we first analyze the performance of the exchange-correlation functionals for the electronic transition energies and the reorganization energies. Subsequently, we use the best functionals alongside the CC2 method to explore how the reorganization energies are distributed among the totally symmetric vibrations, identify the normal modes that dominate in the fine structures present in the absorption and emission bands, and trace their evolution with the increasing number of rings in the oligofuran series. Confrontation of the simulated spectra with the experiment allows for verification of the performance of the selected DFT functionals and the CC2 method.

Reduced nutrient mineralization rates under minimum tillage are usually compensated by mineral fertilizer application. These cannot be applied in organic farming systems, however. We hypothesized that organic minimum tillage based on frequent cover cropping and application of dead mulch will improve soil fertility and can compensate for the potential negative effects of minimum tillage. Two long-term field experiments were set up in 2010 and 2011 comparing plough versus minimum tillage including application of transferred mulch. As second factor, the application of compost versus mineral potassium and phosphorus was compared. In 2019, soils were analyzed for soil pH, organic carbon, macro-, micronutrients, microbial biomass, microbial activity and total nematode abundance. In addition, performance of pea in the same soils was determined under greenhouse conditions. Across both experiments, macronutrients (+52%), micronutrients (+11%), microbial biomass (+51%), microbial activity (+86%), and bacterivorous nematodes (+112%) increased in minimum tillage compared with the plough-based system. In the greenhouse, pea biomass was 45% higher in the soil that had been subjected to minimum tillage compared to the plough. In conclusion, soil fertility can be improved in organic minimum tillage systems by intensive cover cropping and application of dead mulch to levels higher than in a plough-based system.

The article proposes an indirect measurement method based on a dimensional and shape analysis of forgings for the evaluation of the manufacture and the proper operation of the key elements of the crank press, in which after modernization, a quick tool assembly based on SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die) was implemented. As a result of the introduced changes aiming at improving the forging aggregate and increasing the production efficiency, errors were observed on the manufactured products-forgings in the form of twists and joggles. The preliminary analysis showed that they can be clearances and dynamic deformation in the kinematic chain, the occurrence of side forces during automatic forging of the forging in a two-component system (a long, thin element), as well as the design and construction errors in the joining of the SMED instrument with the table tops of the press. In order to solve the presented problem, in the first place, a separate dimensional and shape analysis was made of selected elements of the press and the instrumentation with the use of the 3D scanning method with the purpose to analyze the construction tolerances of the key elements of the press geometry. Next, an evaluation of the effect of clearances and dynamic deformations of the press as well as the force distribution during the forging process was made through numerical modelling. Despite all of the above, such an approach did not make it possible to solve the problem. A proprietary method with the use of 3d reverse scanning was proposed, which allowed to solve the problem of forgings errors. Based on the measurement results and analyses for a few variants of production cycles the necessary changes was obtained, making it possible to minimize the errors and obtain proper products in respect of geometry and quality.

Maximal heart rate (HRmax) is a widely used measure of cardiorespiratory fitness. Prediction of HRmax is an alternative to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), but its accuracy among endurance athletes (EA) requires evaluation. This study aimed to externally validate HRmax prediction models in the EA independently for running and cycling CPET. 4043 runners (age=33.58 (8.12) years; 83.53% males; BMI=23.66 (2.54) kg·m−2) and 1026 cyclists (age=36.88 (9.03) years; 89.67% males; BMI=24.04 (2.65) kg·m−2) underwent maximum CPET. Student t-test, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE) were applied to externally validate 8 running and 5 cycling HRmax equations. HRmax was 184.60 (9.79) beats·min−1 and 182.66 (10.28) beats·min−1 respectively for running and cycling, p=0.001. Measured and predicted HRmax differed significantly (p=0.001) for 9 of 13 (69.23%) models. HRmax was overestimated by 8 (61.54%) and underestimated by 5 (38.46%) formulae. Overestimated HRmax ranged 0.08-4.94 beats·min−1 and underestimated HRmax ranged 0.03-4.90 beats·min−1. MAE and RMSE were 0.18-4.94 beats·min−1 and 9.13-10.47, respectively. MAPE ranged 3.95-4.69%. Prediction models do not allow for accurate estimation of HRmax. HRmax was more often underestimated than overestimated. Predicted HRmax can be implemented for EA as a supplemental method but CPET is the preferable approach.

Background: Ultrasonography’s usefulness in endometrial cancer (EC) diagnosis consists of its staging and predictive roles. Ultrasound-measured tumor-free distance from the tumor to the uterine serosa (uTFD) is a promising marker for this variable. The aim of the study was to determine the usefulness of this biomarker in locoregional staging, and thus in the prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM). Methods: We conducted a single-institutional, prospective study on 116 consecutive patients with EC who underwent 2D transvaginal ultrasound examination. The uTFD marker was compared with the depth of ultrasound-measured myometrial invasion (uMI). Univariate and multivariate logit models were evaluated to assess the predictive power of the uTFD and uMI in regard to LNM. The reference standard was a final histopathology result. Survival was assessed by the Kaplan-Meyer method. Results: LNM was found in 17% of the patients (20/116). In the univariate analysis, uMI and uTFD were significant predictors of LNM. Accuracy was 70.7%, and NPV was 92.68% (OR 4.746, 95% CI 1.710-13.174) for uMI (p = 0.002), and 63.8%, and 89.02% (OR 0.842, 95% CI 0.736 – 0.963), respectively, for uTFD (p = 0.01). The cut-off value for uTFD in the prediction of LNM was 5.2 mm. The absence of LNM was associated more with biomarker values uMI &lt;1/2 and uTFD &gt;=5.2 mm than with the presence of metastases with uMI &gt;1/2 and uTFD values &lt;5.2 mm. In the multivariate analysis, the accuracy of the uMI-uTFD model was 74%, and NPV was 90.24% (p = NS). Neither uMI nor uTFD are surrogates for overall and recurrence-free survivals in endometrial cancer. Conclusions: Both uMI and uTFD, either alone or in combination, are valuable tools for gaining additional preoperative information on expected lymph node status. Negative lymph nodes status is better described by ultrasound biomarkers than a positive status. It is easier to use uTFD measurement as a biomarker of EC invasion than uMI, and the former still maintains a similar predictive value for lymph node metastases to the latter at diagnosis.

Plate fin-tube heat exchangers are widely used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems and other industry fields. Various errors made in the manufacturing process can result in the formation of an air gap between the tube and fin. Several numerical simulations were carried out for a symmetric section of plate fin-tube heat exchanger to study the influence of air gap on heat transfer under periodic flow conditions. Different locations and sizes of an air gap spanning 1/2 circumference of the tube were considered for the range of airflow velocities. Velocity and temperature fields for cases with air gap were compared with ideal thermal contact cases. Blocking of heat flow by the gap leads to the reduction of heat transfer rate. Fin discontinuity in the front of the tube causes the smallest reduction of the heat transfer rate in comparison to the ideal tube-fin contact, especially for thin slits. The rear gap position is the worst in the smallest gap range. Therefore, reversing the flow direction can lead to up to a 15% heat transfer increase, if mainly the rear gaps are present. The introduction of a thin slit in the front of the tube leads to convective heat transfer enhancement, which should be further investigated.

In the transition towards sustainable energy sources, hydrogen has emerged as the predominant alternative after fossil fuels. This comprehensive literature review delves into the evolving landscape of hydrogen launching strategies within the energy market. Numerous countries have strategically initiated efforts to introduce products based on hydrogen, underscoring the global acknowledgment of the potential inherent in hydrogen. Despite witnessing significant growth in the adoption of hydrogen energy worldwide, impediments to its widespread commercialization persist. This review identifies key barriers, including cost structures, technical complexities, and marketing challenges, hindering the establishment of a robust hydrogen energy market. The article critically examines the actions already undertaken to harness hydrogen energy for commercial purposes, leveraging scientific insights and statistical data. By carefully examining the current state of hydrogen energy initiatives, the review highlights gaps in existing strategies that require thoughtful consideration. Insights derived from scientific and statistical analyses inform the identification of barriers and contribute to a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced in the journey towards hydrogen energy commercialization. Ultimately, the article presents a strategic proposal outlining marketing actions geared towards expediting the commercialization and widespread adoption of hydrogen energy. Grounded in a thorough review of existing literature and supported by scientific and statistical evidence, this comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights for stakeholders seeking to navigate the intricate landscape of hydrogen energy in the global energy market.

Clinical trials, by contributing to the development of diagnostics and to the search for modern, more effective, and safer therapies, have become one of the most important elements of the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to assess Poles' knowledge and beliefs about clinical trials. Methods: The survey was conducted among Poles aged 18 and over with the help of external company, Ariadna, which is an independent research panel. The questionnaire contained 22 questions, of which 13 questions concerned beliefs and attitudes towards clinical trials. Results: One thousand and seventy-nine participants took part in the study (N = 1079). The mean age of respondents was 44.96 years (SD = 16.30). Slightly more women (N = 568, 52.6%) than men (N = 511, 47.4%) took part in the study. Among the respondents, 86.5% (N = 933) were aware of clinical trials. The main sources of information about clinical trials were the media (53.8%) including the Internet (N= 355, 32.9%), TV (N = 175, 16.2%), press (N = 30, 2.8%) and radio (N = 21, 1.9%). 43.2% (N = 466) of respondents reported little knowledge of clinical trials, while more than three quarters (N = 805, 75.2%) said they would like to learn more about clinical trials. Most respondents (N = 879, 81.4%) agreed with the statement that participation in a clinical trial is completely voluntary, and more than half (N = 580, 53.7%) agreed with the statement that hospitals participating in clinical trials provide better healthcare. The statement that the results of clinical trials are made available to the public was disagreed with by 37.2% (N = 402) of participants. Only 30.3% (N = 327) of participants agreed that clinical trials should be conducted with children. Conclusions: Poles rate their knowledge of clinical trials as low and would like to learn more. To reach the largest possible group of Polish patients, parallel educational activities on multiple levels may have the best effect. Poles' knowledge of clinical trials is mainly based on commercial sources. Further studies in different groups, i.e., clinical trial patients and investigators, are needed.

Plastics have recently become an indispensable part of everyone's daily life due to their versatility, durability, light weight and low production costs. The increasing production and use of plastics poses a great danger due to the very long period of degradation, but also the negative impact on living organisms. Decomposing plastics lead to the formation of microplastics, which accumulate in the environment and living organisms becoming part of the food chain. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contamination of soil and water seriously threatens ecosystems around the world. The durability and low weight make microplastic particles easily transported with water or air and end up in the soil. Thus, the problem of microplastic pollution affects the entire ecosystem. Since microplastics are commonly found in both drinking and bottled water, humans are also exposed to the harmful effects of microplastics. Because of the existing risks associated with PVC microplastic contamination of the ecosystem, intensive research is underway to develop methods to clean and eliminate it from the environment. Pollution of the environment with plastic, especially microplastic, results in the reduction of both water and soil resources used for agricultural and utility purposes. This review provides an overview of PVC's environmental impact and disposal options.

In this paper we present magnetoelectric properties of metal/metal-oxide/metal junctions. We use Ti and Fe as metallic layers separated by the porous metal-oxides of iron or titanium formed with the anodization method. This allowed to prepare double junctions with at least one ferromagnetic layer. Here we show magnetoresistance and current-voltage characteristics of the junctions together with their magnetic characteristics. We found positive or negative magnetoresistance depending on junction composition. We discuss also the nature of differential resistance calculated from I-V characteristics. Our findings show that the strongest influence on observed behaviour has a top metallic layer and the interface between this layer and anodized oxide where strong interatomic diffusion is expected.

In MBSE there is yet no converged terminology. The term ’system model’ is used in different contexts in literature. In this study we elaborated the definitions and usages of the term ’system model’, to find a common definition. 104 publications have been analyzed in depth for their usage and definition as well as their meta-data e.g., the publication year and publication background to find some common patterns. While the term is gaining more interest in recent years it is used in a broad range of contexts for both analytical and synthetic use cases. Based on this three categories of system models have been defined and integrated into a more precise definition.

Background: ; Biotechnology is developing at an ever-increasing pace, and the progressive computerisation of health care and research is making it increasingly easy to share data. One of the fastest growing areas is biobanking. However, even with the best equipment and the best trained staff, a biobank will be useless without donors. For this reason, we have decided to gauge Polish citizens' awareness and attitudes towards biobanking and their willingness to donate biological samples. Methods: The survey was conducted among a nationwide group of 1,052 Poles aged 18 and over where the totals for gender, age and place of residence were selected according to representation in the population of adult Poles. The survey was conducted using the Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) technique. Results:; N=701 (66.6%) respondents indicated that they had heard of scientific studies in which samples of biological material such as blood, saliva or urine are collected. More than half of respondents (N=613, 58.3%) have a positive opinion regarding scientific research in which samples of biological material are taken. Only N=220 (20.9%) of respondents had previously encountered the term biobanking. N=687 (65.3%) respondents would participate in a scientific study that biobanked biological material and health information. Conclusions: The level of knowledge and awareness of biobanks and their role in scientific research and the health care system among Polish citizens is low and requires education and information activities.

This publication describes the influence of residue monomers in synthesized pressure-sensitive adhesives based on acrylics on main performance such as tack, peel adhesion, shear strength and shrinkage in form of transfer tapes used for joining wooden elements in furniture industry. The discussed carrier-free adhesive tapes are synthesized by photo-crosslinking and photopolymerization with UV radiation of photoreactive prepolymers sandwiched between two adhesive siliconized polyester films. The simultaneous crosslinking and polymerization process under UV lamps carried out under UV lamps placed simultaneously above and below the crosslinked photoreactive polymer layer leads to the production of a carrier-free adhesive film. In this test series it were investigated to what how the intensity of UV radiation and the time of its exposure affect the viscosity of photoreactive compositions, and then the content of unreacted monomers in them and, subsequently, the method of their crosslinking and polymerization, and the concentration of the photoreactive crosslinking compound leading to the obtaining of transfer adhesive tapes, and thus on their tray, peel adhesion, shear strength and shrinkage on the surface of the wood.

This article is devoted to the issues of thermal softening of materials in the surface layer of forging tools. The research covers numerical modeling of the forging process, laboratory tests of tempering of nitrided layers and the analysis of tempering of the surface layer of tools in the actual forging process. Numerical modeling was supported by measuring the temperature inside the tools with a thermocouple inserted into the tool to measure the temperature as close to the surface as possible. The modeling results confirmed the possibility of tempering the die material. The results of laboratory tests made it possible to determine the influence of temperature on tempering at different surface layer depths. Numerical analysis and measurement of surface layer microhardness of tools revealed the destructive effect of temperature during forging on the tempering of the nitrided layer and on the material layers located deeper below the nitrided layer.

The paper describes preliminary studies on the influence of humidity on the electrical resistance of a textile sensor made of carbon fibers. The concept of the sensor refers to externally bonded fiber reinforcement commonly used to strengthen building structures. However, the zig-zag arrangement of carbon fiber tow allows measuring strains, as it is done in popular resistive strain gauges. The sensor tests proved its effectiveness in the measurement of strains, but also showed a high sensitivity to changes in the temperature and humidity which unfavorably affects the readings and their interpretation. The influence of these factors must be compensated. Due to the size of the sensor, there is not possible electrical compensation by the combining of several sensors into the half or full Wheatstone bridge circuit. Only mathematical compensation based on known humidity resistance functions is possible. The described research is the first step to develop such relations. The tests were carried out at temperatures of 10 °C, 20 °C and 30 °C, with changing the humidity in the range of 30-90%.

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) sample analysis is an entirely non-invasive novel sample collection method that is fast, easy to perform, and effort-appeared independent. EBC samples can be very useful in identifying the biomarkers of many diseases. This review provides an updated overview of EBC pH disturbances in different disorders as well as physiological levels among healthy individuals since 2012. Our meta-analysis addresses some of the key questions related to sample processing before pH measurement and discusses various methods of condensate standardization that can be employed prior to conducting a pH assay. Given the recent widespread interest in research into the use of EBC to identify biomarkers, it is necessary to establish a pathway leading from analytical methods for biomarker evaluation using EBC pH to clinical applications of this technology. This review fills a gap in the literature and attempts to connect theory to practical analytical approaches to analyzing EBC samples and making critical treatment-related decisions next to the patient's bed.

Monitoring of structures is one of the engineering challenges of the 21st century. At the same time, as a result of changes in the conditions of use, design errors, many building structures require strengthening. The article presents research on the development of the external strengthening carbon fiber textile with an option of self-sensing. The idea is based on the pattern of resistive strain gauge, where thread is provided in a zig-zag of parallel lines. Already the first laboratory tests showed the high efficiency of the system in the measurement of strains, but also revealed the sensitivity of measurement to environmental conditions. The article presents studies on the influence of temperature and humidity on the measurement. To separate those effects, resistance changes were tested on unloaded concrete and wooden samples. The models were placed in a climatic chamber and the daily cycle of temperature and humidity changes was simulated. The results of the research confirm preliminary observations. Resistivity growths with the temperature. This effect is more visible on concrete samples, presumably due to its greater natural humidity. The strain measurement with carbon fibers is very sensitive to temperature changes and application of this method in practice requires compensation.

Cesiumtrifluoroacetate (CsTFA) is a key chemical for RNA-based stable isotope analyses to link the structure and function of microbial communities. We report a protocol to easily synthesize CsTFA from Cesiumcarbonate (Cs₂CO₃₎ and Trifluoroacetate (TFA) and show that self-synthesized CsTFA behaves similar to commercial CsTFA in the separation of isotopically labelled and unlabelled E. coli RNA.

Abstract: Plasma hemopexin (HPX) is the key antioxidant protein of the endogenous clearance pathway that limits the deleterious effects of heme released from hemoglobin and myoglobin. During intra-vascular hemolysis, heme partitioning to protein and lipid increases as the plasma concentration of HPX declines. Therefore, the development of HPX as a replacement therapy during high heme stress could be a relevant intervention for hemolytic disorders. A logical approach to enhance HPX yield involves recombinant production strategies from human cell lines. The present study focuses on a biophysical assessment of heme binding to recombinant human HPX (rhHPX) produced in the Expi293FTM (HEK293) cell system. In this report, we examine rhHPX in comparison with plasma HPX using a systematic analysis of protein structural and functional characteristics related to heme binding. Analysis of rhHPX by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), SEC-HPLC and catalase-like activity demonstrated a similarity to HPX fractionated from plasma. In particular, the titration of HPX apo-protein(s) with heme was performed for the first time using a wide range of heme concentrations to model HPX-heme interactions to approximate physiological conditions (from extremely low to more than 2-fold heme excess). The CD titration data showed an induced bisignate CD Soret band pattern typical for plasma and rhHPX versions at low heme-to-protein molar ratios and demonstrated that further titration is dependent on the amount of protein-bound heme to the extent that the arising opposite CD couplet results in a complete inversion of the observed CD pattern. The data generated in this study suggests more than one binding site in both plasma and rhHPX. Further, our study provides a useful analytical platform for detailed characterization of HPX-heme interactions and potentially, novel HPX fusion constructs.

Since the first published genome sequence of Trypanosoma cruzi in 2005, there has been tremendous technological advance in genomics, reverse genetics, and assay development for this elusive pathogen. However, there is still an unmet need for new and better drugs to treat Chagas disease. Here we introduce a T. cruzi assay strain that is useful for drug research as well as basic studies in host-pathogen interaction. Trypanosoma cruzi STIB980 is a strain of discrete typing unit TcI that grows well in culture as axenic epimastigotes or intracellular amastigotes. We have evaluated the optimal parameters for genetic transfection and constructed derivatives of T. cruzi STIB980 that express reporter genes for fluorescence- or bioluminescence-based drug efficacy testing, as well as a Cas9-expressing line for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing. The genome of T. cruzi STIB980 was sequenced by combining short-read Illumina with long-read Oxford Nanopore technologies. The latter served for the primary assembly, the former to correct mistakes and fill the gaps. This resulted in a high-quality nuclear haplotype assembly of 28 Mb in 400 contigs, containing 10,043 open-reading frames with a median length of 1077 bp. We believe that T. cruzi STIB980 is a useful addition to the antichagasic toolbox, and propose that it can serve as a DTU TcI reference strain for drug efficacy testing.

Purpose: The aim of the study is an approach to a nanocomposite with copper nanoparticles, constituting a bacteriostatic surface for maintaining the human lung cells' function. Methods: The polyelectrolyte layer coating with copper nanoparticles incorporated was designed. As a bacteriostatic factor, copper nanoparticles were applied as a colloidal solution of copper nanoparticles (ColloidCuNPs) and solution of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs). The influence of polyelectrolytes on selected Gram(+) and Gram(-) strains was examined. The function of the human adenocarcinoma A549 cell line of epithelial human lung cells cultured in the presence of nanocomposite layer coatings was analyzed, as well as their morphology using flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the material of layer coating was assessed using AFM and SEM-EDX characterization. Results: It was observed that polyelectrolytes polyethylenimine and poly-L-lysine do not induce proliferation of E.coli strain. On the other hand, it induces the proliferation of S. aureus strain. Due to CuNPs effectiveness against E.coli strain, CuNPs were selected for further research. The designed coatings at proper NPs share sustained the function of human lung cells cultured within 10 days of culture. The AFM and EDX characterization confirmed copper presence in the layer coating nanomaterial. The presence of CuNPs in polyethyleneimine-based nanocomposite deepens the bacteriostatic effect on E. coli compared with PEI alone. Meanwhile, incorporating CuNPs in PLL at share allowed A549 cell maintenance, did not exert a bacteriostatic influence on the examined strain.Conclusion: The platform based on polyelectrolytes incorporated with copper nanoparticles ensuring the growth and morphology of the human lung epithelial cells can be considered an element of the system components for medical devices for maintaining the human lung cells' function.

As part of our research for new leads against human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), we report on a 3D-QSAR study for antitrypanosomal activity and cytotoxicity of aminosteroid-type alkaloids recently isolated from the African medicinal plant Holarrhena africana A. DC. (Apocynaceae), some of which are strong trypanocides against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (Tbr) with low toxicity against mammalian cells. Fully optimized 3D molecular models of seventeen congeneric Holarrhena alkaloids were subjected to a comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). CoMFA models were obtained for both, the anti-Tbr and cytotoxic activity data. Model performance was assessed in terms of statistical characteristics (R², Q² and P² for partial least squares (PLS) regression, internal cross-validation (leave-one-out) and external predictions (test set), respectively, as well as the corresponding SDEP and F-values). With R²=0.99, Q²=0.83 and P²=0.79 for anti-Tbr activity and R²=0.94, Q²=0.64, P²=0.59 for cytotoxicity against L6 rat skeletal myoblasts, both models were of good internal and external predictive power. The regression coefficients of the models representing the most prominent steric and electrostatic effects on anti-Tbr and for L6 cytotoxic activity were translated into contour maps and analyzed visually, allowing suggestions for possible modification of the aminosteroids to further increase the antitrypanosomal potency and selectivity. Very interestingly, the 3D-QSAR model established with the Holarrhena alkaloids also applied to the antitrypanosomal activity of two aminocycloartane-type compounds recently isolated by our group from Buxus sempervirens L. (Buxaceae), which indicates that these structurally similar natural products share a common SAR and, possibly, mechanism of action with the Holarrhena steroids. This 3D-QSAR study has thus resulted in plausible structural explanations of the antitrypanosomal activity and selectivity of aminosteroid- and aminocycloartane-type alkaloids as an interesting new class of trypanocides and may represent a starting point for lead optimization.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a promising binary disease-targeted therapy, as neutrons preferentially kill cells labeled with boron (¹⁰B), which makes it a precision medicine treatment modality that provides a therapeutic effect exclusively on patient-specific tumor spread. Contrary to what is usual in radiotherapy, BNCT proposes cell-tailored treatment planning rather than to the tumor mass. The success of BNCT depends mainly on the sufficient spatial biodistribution of ¹⁰B located around or within neoplastic cells to produce a high-dose gradient between the tumor and healthy tissue. However, it is not yet possible to precisely determine the concentration of ¹⁰B in a specific tissue in real-time using noninvasive methods. Critical issues remain to be resolved if BNCT is to become a valuable, minimally invasive, and efficient treatment. Moreover, functional imaging technologies such as PET can be applied to determine biological information that can be used for the combined-modality radiotherapy protocol for each specific patient. Anyway, not only imaging methods but also proteomics and gene expression methods will facilitate BNCT becoming a modality of personalized medicine. This work provides an overview of the fundamental principles, recent advances, and future directions of BNCT as cell-targeted cancer therapy for personalized radiation treatment.

Residual stresses in fiber metal laminates (FML) inevitably develop during the manufacturing process. The main contributor to these stresses is the difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) between fibers and metal in combination with high process temperatures. To quantify these stresses, the use of specimens with an asymmetric layup is an easily adaptable method. The curvature that develops after the manufacturing of flat laminates with an asymmetrical layer stack is a measure of the level of residual stresses evolving during cure. However, the accuracy of the curvature evaluation is highly dependent on specimen design and other influencing parameters. In this work a large set of FML specimens is investigated to identify relevant influencing parameters and derive conclusions about specimen design and evaluation techniques. For certain layups and process parameters, there is a good correlation between the curvature and the stress-free temperature, which is further covered by analytical solutions for bimetals. This correlation is the basis to transfer curvature into a stress-free temperature that can consequently be used for the quantification of residual stress levels in more complex FMLs. The transfer is validated by in-situ strain measurements during cure using a strain gage technique. Based on the results, the application of asymmetric specimens for residual stress characterization in more complex laminates is presented in the form of a workflow.

Background: The thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) is thought to play a role in the development of LBP, but it is not yet clear which factor of TLF changes is a cause and which is an effect. Therefore, some studies used the cross-correlation function (CCR) to reveal time-dependent relationships between biomechanical and neuromotor factors. Methods: Ten patients with acute low back pain (aLBP) were matched to healthy controls. Simultaneous recording of surface electromyography (sEMG) of the erector spinae muscle (ES) and dynamic ultrasound (US) images of TLF deformation were performed during trunk extension. CCR functions and Granger causality were used to describe the relationship between the two measures. Results: CCR time lags were significant higher in the aLBP group (p = 0.04). Granger causality (GC) showed a direct effect of TLF deformation on ES activation only in the aLBP group (p &lt; 0.03). Conclusions: The results suggest that in aLBP, ES activity is significantly affected by TLF, whereas this relation-ship is completely random in healthy subjects studied with CCR and GC comparisons of dynamic US imaging and sEMG data signals. Fascia-related disturbances in neuromotor control, particularly due to altered muscle spindle functions, are suspected as a possible mechanism behind this.

Nearly one third of men will incur biochemical recurrence after treatment for localized prostate cancer. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the therapeutic mainstay, however almost all patients will eventually transition to a castrate resistant state (castrate resistant prostate cancer, CRPC). Subjects with CRPC generally develop symptomatic metastatic disease (mCRPC) and incur mortality several years later. Prior to metastatic disease, men acquire non-metastatic CRPC (nmCRPC) which lends the unique opportunity for intervention to delay disease progression and symptoms. This review addresses current therapies for nmCRPC, as well as novel therapeutics and pathway strategies targeting men with nmCRPC.

This study compared the mineral content and bioactive properties of flowers and fruit coming from wild elderberry plants with those of flowers and fruit harvested from elderberry cultivars grown in an orchard. Elderberry fruit and flowers were analysed for the content of selected minerals, phenolic compounds and anthocyanins and for antioxidant activity. Mineral content was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry method, while antioxidant activity and the content of polyphenols and anthocyanins were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Flowers were found to contain more total ash and to have much higher content of most of minerals, except magnesium, which was present in high concentrations in fruit. Fruit showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than flowers, whereas the total phenolic content varied depending on the growing location / cultivar. The material obtained from selected cultivars growing in an orchard had higher antioxidant activity and polyphenol and anthocyanin content than the material obtained from wild plants. Fruit of the ‘Haschberg’ cultivar and flowers of the ‘Sampo’ cultivar had the best bioactive properties of the studied samples.

Heavy and light quarks produced in high-pT partonic collisions radiate differently. Heavy quarks regenerate their color field, stripped-off in the hard reaction, much faster than the light ones and radiate a significantly smaller fraction of the initial quark energy. This peculiar feature of heavy-quark jets leads to a specific shape of the fragmentation functions observed in e+e− annihilation. Differently from light flavors, the heavy quark fragmentation function strongly peaks at large fractional momentum z, i.e. the produced heavy-light mesons, B or D, carry the main fraction of the jet momentum. This is a clear evidence of the dead-cone effect, and of a short production time of a heavy-light mesons. Contrary to propagation of a small qq¯ dipole, which survives in the medium due to color transparency, a heavy-light Qq¯ dipole promptly expands to a large size. Such a big dipole has no chance to remain intact in a dense medium produced in relativistic heavy ion collisions. On the other hand, a breakup of such a dipole does not affect much the production rate of Qq¯ mesons, differently from the case of light qq¯ meson production.

In this work a series of experiments on the retention of B1 (riboflavin), B2 (thiamine) and B3 (nicotinic acid) vitamins in the HILIC and RPLC conditions have been performed involving the effects of organic modifier type and content, pH of the eluent, and buffering salt (ammonium acetate) concentration in the mobile phase, as well as temperature of the system. For the needs of this studies three columns of different features have been chosen: Acclaim™ Mixed-Mode HILIC-1 (Dionex), Eurospher II 100-5 HILIC (Knauer) and the RPLC column Nucleodur® C18 Gravity – SB (Macherey –Nagel). The influence of acetonitrile and methanol content in the eluent and process temperature have been tested and basing on that the most promising systems have been selected regarding the possible separation of the vitamins mixture. Both pH and buffering salt concentrations in the eluent have been adjusted in order to indicate the most effective system which turned out to be the one involving the Nucleodur column and the eluent with 90% methanol, at pH 6 and Cbuff = 20 mmol/dm3 that enables separation of the mixture within the time as short as 2.5 minutes at 1.0 mL/s flowrate in isocratic conditions.

In the article, the authors presented the problem of the transition effect in bridge engineering, its causes, negative consequences, and suggested a solution involving the use of integral bridges with the embankment through a spatial bars structure using reinforced composite polymer material. Integral bridges are designed to collaborate with road or railway embankments in bearing loads. Additionally, their application minimizes maintenance and construction costs while enhancing durability. Current solutions in bridge engineering were described. It is predicted that the presented concept will reduce the amount of plastic waste and contribute to the long-term use of materials. The article emphasized the importance of sustainable development, recycling, and the potential application of substitute materials.

To understand forest dynamics under today’s changing environmental conditions, it is important to analyze the state of forests at large scales. Forest inventories are not available for all regions, so it is important to use other additional sources of information, e.g. remote sensing observations. Increasingly, remotely sensed data based on optical instruments and airborne LIDAR are becoming widely available for forests. There is great potential in analyzing these measurements and gaining an understanding of forests state. In this work, we combine the new generation radiative transfer model mScope with the individual-based forest model FORMIND to generate reflectance spectra for forests. Combining the two models allows us to account for species diversity at different height layers in the forest. We compare the generated reflectances for forest stands in Finland, in the region of North Karelia, with Sentinel-2 measurements. We investigate which level of forest representation gives the best results. For the majority of the forest stands, we generated good reflectances with all levels forest representation compared to the measured reflectance. Good correlations were also found for the vegetation indices (especially NDVI with R²=0.62). This work provides a forward modelling tool for relating forest reflectance to forest characteristics. With this tool it is possible to generate a large set of forest stands with corresponding reflectances. This opens the possibility to understand how reflectance is related to succession and different forest conditions.

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is a rare and inherited vascular disorder, characterized by the development of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in various organs and telangiectasia (small AVM) in the mucocutaneous. The majority of HHT patients have haploinsufficiency of genes involved in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) signaling pathway, including endoglin (ENG), activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1, also known as ACVRL1), or SMAD4. Active angiogenesis is also required for telangiectasia and AVM development. Anti-angiogenic strategies have been tested in patients and animal models extensively. However, the exact mechanisms for telangiectasia and AVM development remain unclear. In this review, we discuss recent advances in identifying disease mechanisms, and potential therapeutic targets.

Many factors affect the quality of red meat. The aim of the study, carried out on 44 Polish Merino lambs, was analysis of physicochemical traits (pH, meat color, expressed juice, content of moisture, protein, fat, total collagen and fatty acid ) and content of carnosine, taurine, L-carnitine on fresh and meat aged for 7 and 14 d in the longissimus lumborum (LL) and gluteus medius (GM) muscles., Higher (p&lt;0.05) redness value (a*), lower yellowness (b*) were recorded in meat after of aging in gluteus medius muscle. A lower value (p&lt;0.05) of expressed juice was found in both LL and GM after 7 days of aging. The increase (p&lt;0.05) in protein and fat content in both muscle and collagen content in LL was observed in aged meat. There was no difference in fatty acid groups and C18:2 c9, t11 content between GM and LL muscle and fresh and aging meat. A higher TBARS content (p&lt;0.05) was recorded in meat after aging in both GM and LL. The meat aging process increased (p&lt;0.05) the content of carnitine and taurine, while the content of carnosine decreased. In summary the processes that turn muscles into meat in different types of muscles affect the physicochemical characteristics and the content of bioactive ingredients.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry allows the generation of orthophoto and digital surface model (DSM) rasters of a terrain. However, DSMs of water bodies mapped using this technique often reveal distortions in the water surface, thereby impeding the accurate sampling of water surface elevation (WSE) from DSMs. This study investigates the capability of deep neural networks to accommodate the aforementioned perturbations and effectively estimate WSE from photogrammetric rasters. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) were employed for this purpose. Two regression approaches utilizing CNNs were explored: direct regression employing an encoder and solution based on prediction of the weight mask by an encoder-decoder architecture, subse-quently used to sample values from the photogrammetric DSM. The dataset employed in this study comprises data collected from five case studies of small lowland streams in Poland and Denmark, consisting of 322 DSM and orthophoto raster samples. Each sample corresponds to a 10 by 10 meter area of the stream channel and adjacent land. A grid search was employed to identify the optimal combination of encoder, mask generation architecture, and batch size among multiple candidates. Solutions were evaluated using two cross-validation methods: stratified k-fold cross-validation, where validation subsets maintained the same proportion of samples from all case studies, and leave-one-case-out cross-validation, where the validation dataset originates entirely from a single case study, and the training set consists of samples from other case studies. The proposed solution was compared with existing methods for measuring WSE in small streams using a drone. The results indicate that the solution outperforms previous photogrammetry-based methods and is second only to the radar-based method, which is considered the most accurate method available. The solution is characterized by a high degree of explainability and generalization.

Background: Deoxycholic acid (DCA) is a secondary bile acid produced by gut bacteria. Its serum concentration increases in cardiovascular disease (CVD). We hypothesized that DCA may affect hemodynamic parameters in rats. Methods: The concentration of DCA in systemic blood was measured with liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Arterial blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated in anesthetized, male, 3-4-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats administered intravenously (IV) or intracerebroventricularly (ICV) with investigated compounds. Mesenteric artery (MA) reactivity was tested ex vivo. Results: The baseline plasma concentration of DCA was 0.24 ± 0.03 mg/l. The oral antibiotic treatment produced a large decrease in the concentration. Administered IV, the compound increased BP and HR in a dose-dependent manner. DCA also increased heart contractility and cardiac output. None of the tested compounds: prazosin (an alpha-blocker), propranolol (beta-adrenolytic), atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist), glibenclamide (K-ATP inhibitor) or DY 268 (FXR antagonist), glycyrrhetinic acid (11HSD2 inhibitor) significantly diminished the DCA-induced pressor effect. ICV infusion did not exert significant HR or BP changes. DCA relaxed MAs. Systemic vascular resistance did not change significantly. Conclusions: DCA increases BP by increasing cardiac output. As a bioactive gut bacteria-derived metabolite, DCA may co the interaction between gut microbiota and the host’s circulatory system.

Cellular biomolecular condensates termed ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules often are enriched in messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules relative to the surrounding cytoplasm. Yet, the spatial localization and diffusion of mRNAs in close proximity to phase separated RNP granules is not well understood. In this study, we performed single molecule fluorescence imaging experiments of mRNAs in live cells in the presence of two types of RNP granules, stress granules (SG) and processing bodies (PB), which are distinct in their molecular composition and function. We developed a photobleaching- and noise-corrected colocalization imaging algorithm that was employed to determine the accurate positions of individual mRNAs relative to the granule’s boundaries. We found that mRNAs are often localized at granule boundaries, an observation consistent with recently published data. We suggest that mRNA molecules become spontaneously confined at the RNP granule boundary similar to the adsorption of polymer molecules at liquid-liquid interfaces, which is observed in various technological and biological processes. We also suggest that this confinement could be due to a combination of intermolecular interactions associated with, first, the screening of a portion of the RNP granule interface by the polymer and, second, electrostatic interactions due to a strong electric field induced by a Donnan potential generated across the thin interface.

To fully appreciate genetics, one must understand the link between genotype (DNA sequence) and phenotype (observable characteristics). Advances in high-throughput genomic sequencing technologies and applications, so-called “-omics”, have made genetic sequencing readily available across fields in biology from applications in non-traditional study organisms to precision medicine. Thus, understanding these tools is critical for any biologist, especially those early in their career. This comprehensive review discusses the chronological development of different sequencing methods, the bioinformatics steps to analyzing this data, and social and ethical issues raised by these techniques that must be discussed and evaluated.

Trends such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 have increased the need to use powerfull network technologies in industrial automation. The growing communication in industrial automation is harnessing the productivity and efficiency of manufacturing and process automation with minimum human intervention. Due to the ongoing evolution of industrial networks from Fieldbus technologies to Ethernet, the new opportunity has emerged to integrate the Software Defined Networking (SDN) technique. In this paper, we provide a brief overview of SDN in the domain of industrial automation. We propose a network architecture called Software Defined Industrial Automation Network (SDIAN), with the objective of improving network scalability and efficiency. To match the specific considerations and requirements of having a deterministic system in an industrial network, we propose two solutions for flow creation: Pro-active Flow Installation Scheme (PFIS) and Hybrid Flow-Installation Scheme (HFIS). We analytically quantify the proposed solutions in alleviating the overhead incurred from the flow setup cost. The analytical model is verified through monte carlo simulations. We also evaluate the SDIAN architecture and analyze the network performance of the modified topology using an emulator called Mininet. We further list and motivate SDIAN features and in particular report on an experimental food processing plant demonstration featuring Raspberry PIs (RPIs) instead of traditional Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). Our demonstration exemplifies the characteristics of SDIAN.

The chemical graph theory is a subfield of mathematical chemistry which applies classic graph theory to chemical entities and phenomena. Chemical graphs are main data structures to represent chemical structures in cheminformatics. Computable properties of graphs lay the foundation for (quantitative) structure activity and structure property predictions - a core discipline of cheminformatics. It has a historic relevance for natural sciences, such as chemistry, biochemistry and biology, and is in the heart of modern disciplines, such as cheminformatics and bioinformatics. This review first covers the history of chemical graph theory, then provides an overview of its various techniques and applications for CASE, and finally summarises modern tools using chemical graph theory for CASE.

The interest in the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique has continuously increased over the last few years. This article shows the possibility of the development of a SPS device used for material processing and synthesis both in both scientific and industrial applications. This work presents an example of processing Arc-Meleted (half-Heusler, cobalt triantimonide) and SHS-synthesized semiconductors (bismuth telluride) materials with SPS device. The system functionalities expansion is presented, showing the possible way of increasing the information amount obtained about SPS processes and using the SPS apparatus for conducting synthesis of materials and increasing reproducibility and accuracy of process parameters control.

Airborne wind energy (AWE) systems use tethered flying devices to harvest higher-altitude winds to produce electricity. For a successful deployment of these systems, it is crucial to understand how the public perceives them. If public concerns about the technology are not taken seriously, implementation could be delayed or, in some cases, prevented, resulting in increased costs for project developers and a lower contribution of the sector to renewable energy targets. This literature review assessed the current state of knowledge on public responses to AWE. An exhaustive literature search led to the identification of 40 relevant publications that were reviewed. The literature assumed that the safety, visibility, acoustic emissions, ecological impacts, and the siting of AWE systems shape public responses to the technology. The reviewed literature views people’s responses to AWE very optimistically but lacks scientific evidence to back up its claims. It seems to overlook that the influence of AWE’s characteristics (e.g., visibility) on public responses will also depend on a range of situational and psychological factors (e.g., people’s general attitude towards AWE, the public’s trust in project developers). Therefore, empirical social scientific research is needed to increase the field’s understanding of public responses to AWE and thereby facilitate deployment.

The study aims to elaborate a neural model and algorithm for optimising hardness and porosity of coatings and thus ensure that they have superior cavitation erosion resistance. Al2O3-13wt.%TiO2 ceramic coatings were deposited onto 316L stainless steel by atmospheric plasma spray (ASP). The coatings were prepared with different values of two spray process parameters: the stand-off distance and torch velocity. Microstructure, porosity and microhardness of the coatings were examined. Cavitation erosion tests were conducted in compliance with the ASTM G32 standard. Artificial neural networks (ANN) were employed to elaborate the model, and the multi-objectives genetic algorithm (MOGA) was used to optimise both properties and cavitation erosion resistance of the coatings. Results were analysed with Matlab software by Neural Network Toolbox and Global Optimization Toolbox. The fusion of artificial intelligence methods (ANN+MOGA) is essential for future selection of thermal spray process parameters, especially for the design of ceramic coatings with specified functional properties. Selection of these parameters is a multicriteria decision problem. The proposed method made it possible to find a Pareto front, i.e. trade-offs between several conflicting objectives – maximising the hardness and cavitation erosion resistance of Al2O3-13%TiO2 coatings and, at the same time, minimizing their porosity.

To our best knowledge this is the first study to assess and compare lower limb biomechanics and gait pattern between patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty with use of fixed-bearing medial-pivot and multi-radius design implants. Results of this study show that there were no statistical differences between both types of implants and even though there was significant improvement in patient-reported outcome and gait pattern, those parameters still differ significantly in comparison to healthy volunteers. The problem with dissatisfaction after operative treatment may not lay in the procedure itself, but many different factors may contribute to it. Next studies comparing other designs of implants, as well as proper rehabilitation protocol should be performed

We communicate the theoretical results in the study of utilizing the quantum phenomena in optical current for quantum computation in the context of high precision voltage measurements. These results can be used around computation by quantum sampling and quantum communication as the basis for further research and physical implementations. We propose a Main Optical Setup (MOS) for such computation which allows to make a superstructure to implement specific computations and algorithms. To create MOS we used the nonlinear units (e.g., beta- barium borate crystal), arranged in series, powered with pulsed laser pump, and ended with the beam splitter to generate the output state of a number of entangled photon pairs. The computation is made by propagation of entanglement with beam splitters applied crossword and adjustable phase shifters that are tools for parameter steering. We show how to implement the series of cosine-based components on the example of two-component case. The results opens a broad area for future research in the area of building quantum optimizer using the quantum sampling methods and in the area of high precision temporal measurement of voltage, which is the important process for building high-fidelity devices.

The results from laboratory tests and field tests, available in the open literature for over ten years, despite the announcement of high efficiency translating into increased energy efficiency and such significant ecological advantages, have not so far resulted in widespread use of fuel performance catalysts (FPC) on a global scale. Wishing to explain why the above situation occurred and to verify the operation of catalytic additives for fuels; this article presents the results of research on the effect of using catalytic additives for fuel in a brand new diesel engine. The article contains an analysis of the results of exhaust gas emission tests from the Doosan MD196TI engine. During the tests, the engine was fueled with a typical diesel fuel and the same fuel with the a catalyst additive. The catalyst was added to the liquid fuel in the form of a commercially available product distributed by ProOne company under the name FMAX. The research was carried out in the form of a test, much more developed than the approval test on a stationary braking station in accordance with the requirements of ISO 8178. The article is concluded with a comparative analysis of exhaust gas emission results illustrating the effects of a catalyst in the form of reduction of solid particles, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and a slight increase in nitrogen oxide emissions. In addition, the effect of the catalyst depends on the product of thermal (brake) efficiency of the engine and the calorific value (CV) of the fuel used.

Mink astrovirus infection remains a poorly understood disease entity, and the aetiological agent itself causes disease with a heterogeneous course, including gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms. This paper presents cases of astrovirus infection in mink from continental Europe. RNA was isolated from the brains and intestines of animals showing symptoms typical of shaking mink syndrome (n = 6). RT-PCR was used to detect astrovirus genetic material, and the reaction products were separated on a 1% agarose gel. The specificity of the reaction was confirmed by sequencing all samples. The presence of astrovirus RNA was detected in each of the samples tested. Sequencing and bioinformatic analysis indicated the presence of the same variant of the virus in all samples. Comparison of the variant with the sequences available in bioinformatics databases confirmed that the Polish isolates form a separate clade, closely related to Danish isolates. The similarity of the Polish variant to those isolated in other countries ranged from 2.4% (in relation to Danish isolates) to 7.1% (in relation to Canadian isolates). Phylogenetic relationships between variants appear to be associated with the geographic distances between them. To our knowledge, this work describes the first results on the molecular epidemiology of MAstV in continental Europe. The detection of MAstV in Central Europe indicates the need for further research to broaden our understanding of the molecular epidemiology of MAstV in Europe.

In this investigation steel P355NH has been successfully cladded with Inconel 625 through the method of explosive welding. Explosively welded bimetal clad-plate was subjected to the two separated post weld heat treatment processes: stress relief annealing (at 620oC for 90 minutes) and normalizing (at 910oC for 30 minutes). In order to analyze the microstructure of the joint in the as-welded state and to investigate the influence of the post weld heat treatment on it, the light and scanning electron microscope observations and microhardness analysis have been performed. The examination of the diffusion zone microstructure has been performed by using the scanning transmission electron microscope. It was stated that obtained joint has characteristic wavy-shape geometry with the presence of the melted zones and severe deformed grains of both joined materials. Strain hardening of the materials in joint zone was established with microhardness analysis. In both of the heat treatments the changes in the grain structure have been observed. The normalizing heat treatment has the most significant impact on the microstructure of the joint as well as the concentration of the chemical elements in the joint zone. It was reported that due to normalizing the diffusion zone has been formed together with precipitates in the joint zone. The analysis of the diffusion zone images leads to the conclusion that the diffusion of alloying elements from Inconel 625 to steel P355NH takes place along the grain boundaries with additional formation of the voids in this area. The precipitates in Inconel 625 in the joint zone are two type of carbides – chromium-rich and molybdenum-rich. Scanning transmission electron microscope observation of the grain microstructure in the diffusion zone shows that this area consists of equiaxed grains (from the side of Inconel 625 alloy) and columnar grains (from the side of steel P355NH).

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with hyperglycaemia-induced hypoxia and inflammation. The study assessed the effects of a single high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on glycaemia (BG) and serum level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an essential mediator of adaptive response to hypoxia in T1D patients. The macronutrients intake was also evaluated. Nine patients suffering from T1D for about 12 years and nine healthy individuals (CG) were enrolled and completed one session of HIIE at the intensity of 120% lactate threshold and duration of 4 x 5 min intermittent with 5 min rest after each bout of exercise. Capillary and venous blood was withdrawn at rest, immediately after and at the 24 h post-HIIE for analysis of BG, hypoxia-inducible factor alpha (HIF-1α), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Pre-exercise BG was significantly higher in the T1D compared to the CG (p = 0.043). HIIE led to a significant decline in T1D patients’ BG (p = 0.027) and to a tendency for a lower BG at 24-h post-HIIE vs pre-HIIE. HIF-1α was significantly elevated in the T1D compared to CG and there was a trend for HIF-1α to decline, and VEGF, TNF-α to increase in response to HIIE in the T1D group. Both groups consumed higher and lower than recommended amounts of protein and fat, respectively. In T1D group, a tendency for a higher digestible carbohydrate intake and more frequent hyperglycaemic episodes on the day after HIIE were observed. HIIE was effective in reducing T1D patients’ glycaemia and improving the short-term glycaemic control. HIIE has the potential to improve adaptive response to hypoxia by elevating the serum level of VEGF. Patients’ diet and level of physical activity should be screened on a regular basis, and they should be educated on the glycaemic effects of digestible carbohydrates.

We developed and applied a method for characterizing bacterial promoters genome-wide by in vitro transcription coupled to transcriptome sequencing specific for native 5’-ends of transcripts. This method called ROSE (Run-Off transcription/RNA-SEquencing), only requires chromosomal DNA, ribonucleotides, RNA polymerase (RNAP) core enzyme, and a specific sigma factor, recognizing the corresponding promoters, which have to be analyzed. ROSE was performed on E. coli K-12 MG1655 genomic DNA using E. coli RNAP holoenzyme (including σ70) and yielded 3,226 transcription start sites, 2,167 of which were also identified in in vivo studies, and 598 were new. Many new promoters not yet identified by in vivo experiments might be repressed under the tested conditions. Complementary in vivo experiments with E. coli K-12 strain BW25113 and isogenic transcription factor gene knockout mutants of fis, fur, and hns were used to test this hypothesis. Comparative transcriptome analysis demonstrated that ROSE could identify bona fide promoters that were apparently repressed in vivo. In this sense, ROSE is well-suited as a bottom-up approach for characterizing transcriptional networks in bacteria and ideally complementary to top-down in vivo transcriptome studies.

Knowledge of the temperature evolution is crucial to understand and control laser beam welding of low-melting materials. Existing temperature determination approaches are restricted to i) one-dimensional temperature information (e.g. ratio-pyrometers), ii) a priori knowledge of the emissivity (e.g. thermography) and iii) high temperature regions (e.g. two-wavelength imaging). In this paper, a ratio-based two-color-thermography approach is developed that allows for two-dimensional temperature determination in low-melting temperature ranges (< 1200 K). For static measurement situations it is demonstrated, that temperature can be determined despite variation in signal intensity and emissivity with high accuracy. The two-color-thermography set-up is further transferred into a commercial laser beam welding machine and experiments are conducted for varying process parameters. The direct application of the developed two-color-thermography system in dynamic process situations is limited as image artifacts presumably caused by internal reflections inside the optical beam path are present.

The rowing technique is a key factor in the overall rowing performance. Nowadays the athletes’ performance is so advanced that even small differences in technique can have an impact on sport competitions. To further improve the athletes’ performance, individualized rowing is necessary. This can be achieved by intelligent measurement technology that provides direct feedback. To address this issue, we developed a novel wireless rowing measurement system (WiRMS) that acquires rowing movement and measures muscle activity using electromyography (EMG). Our measurement system is able to measure several parameters simultaneously: the rowing forces, the pressure distribution on the scull, the oar angles, the seat displacement and the boat acceleration. WiRMS was evaluated in a proof-of-concept study with seven experienced athletes performing a training on water. Evaluation results showed that WiRMS is able to assess the rower’s performance by recording the rower’s movement and force applied to the scull. We found significant correlations (p&lt;0.001) between stroke rate and drive-to-recovery ratio. By incorporating EMG data, a precise temporal assignment of the activated muscles and their contribution to the rowing motion was possible. Furthermore, we were able to show that the rower applies the force to the scull mainly with the index and middle fingers.

Education outside the classroom (EOtC) can be beneficial for students. The relationship between biological stress markers and sedentary behavior (SB) plus physical activity (PA) is insufficiently evaluated in school settings. This exploratory study aims to evaluate the association between students’ cortisol, plus circulating cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) levels, and their SB, light PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) during outdoor and indoor classes in different seasons. We assessed data from an education outside the classroom (EOtC) program (n = 48; intervention group [IG], n = 37; control group [CG], n = 11). We sampled data on 3 school-days in three seasons (fall, spring, and summer) in normal teaching indoors (CG) and outdoor lessons (IG) in the forest. SB and PA were evaluated by accelerometry, and cortisol and cfDNA levels by saliva samples. The compositional data analysis approach analyzed SB and PA. Fitted Bayesian hierarchical linear models evaluated the association between cortisol and cfDNA, and SB/LPA/MVPA. A steady decline of cortisol in the outdoor setting is associated with relatively high levels of LPA. SB and MVPA tended to exhibit a similar effect in the indoor setting. CfDNA is positively associated with a relatively high amount of SB in the IG, the same association is likely for LPA and MVPA in both groups. LPA seems to support a healthy cortisol decrease in children during outdoor lessons. The relevance of SB/PA as a composition in relation to students stress response in school should be emphasized. This study facilitates the formulation of straightforward and directed hypotheses for further research.

Technical components should be produced sustainably and are subject to growing demands in terms of durability and reliability. To meet these expectations, the development of thermochemical processes is auspicious. Titanium alloys, which have a comparatively high gas solubility, allow temporary hydrogen (H) loading, often called thermo hydrogen treatment (THT). THT causes lattice deformation and reduces the β transformation temperature. These effects enable an adjustment of the microstructure, which improves the mechanical properties as compared to those produced conventionally. Furthermore, the process is applicable to complex geometries that cannot be surface hardened by mechanical surface treatment techniques. The investigation presented intends to realize a local microstructure gradient in additively via laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) manufactured cylindrical Ti–6Al–4V specimens by changing the distribution and morphology of strengthening precipitates as well as the β grain size depending on the distance to the surface, which should improve the material fatigue properties. To evaluate the mechanical properties of such THT-induced microstructure gradients, the resulting change in fatigue life in the LCF and HCF range was determined by stress-controlled cyclic deformation tests. Besides, the resulting microstructure was characterized by means of XRD and TEM. In addition to the additively manufactured and thermo hydrogen treated cylindrical specimens, conventionally produced tube-like specimens were thermo hydrogen treated and examined. For the THT-induced microstructure gradients, numerically simulated H concentration profiles as well as experimentally determined hardness profiles were used for the evaluation of the THT process. The study shows that H-loading at 500°C and H-degassing at 750°C, followed by aging at 550°C, allows the establishment of a microstructure gradient that shows an 8% improvement in fatigue properties compared to a reference condition without THT. The reason for this improvement is an increased volume fraction secondary alpha phase in the near-surface area of the specimens. Moreover, the results show that the process is applicable a tube-like specimen with varying wall thicknesses.

Most neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and intracerebral hemorrhage are associated with inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine that regulates cerebral infarction in stroke pathology, and its action is influenced by the bioavailability of its membrane-bound receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2, and microglial activation. During the initial onset of these diseases, the soluble variant of the cytokine presents with prolonged and excessive activation of TNFR1, resulting in cell death and long-term neurological impairments. Therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative diseases have targeted TNF to limit the onset of neuroinflammation. First-generation therapeutics have been demonstrated to inhibit membrane-bound TNF to TNFR2 receptor binding, resulting in severe side effects such as infections and cancer. As such, second-generation drugs, including XPro1595, have been developed to selectively inhibit soluble TNF and impede the effects of TNFR1 while still allowing for TNFR2 activation. Early results in murine TBI models demonstrate reduced glial reactivity by 50%, reduced dendritic degeneration by 30%, increased plasticity by 15%, and improved functional outcomes by 20% post-TBI. This scoping review of TNF receptors in various neurodegenerative diseases seeks to evaluate current and future therapeutic strategies as well as highlight potential strategies to eliminate confounding variables present in the current literature.

Many stable water dispersions of various chemical compositions containing bioactive chemical compounds: copper silicate, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide (and other auxiliary substances) were developed and fabricated - they were used for preparation of thin hybrid coatings having very good antimicrobial properties against gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and yeast fungus (Candida albicans). Polyester (PES) nonwovens were modified by dip-coating, and PES and cotton fabrics - by dip-coating and coating methods.

The aim of the paper is to identify the most likely factors that determine the demand for Renewa-ble Energy Consumption (R.E.C.) in European countries. Although in Europe a high environmen-tal awareness is omnipresent, countries differ in scope and share of R.E.C. due to historical ener-getic policies and dependencies, investments into renewable and traditional energetic sectors, R&D development, structural changes required by energetic policy change, and many other fac-tors. The study refers to a set of macroeconomic, institutional, and social factors affecting energetic renewable policy and R.E.C. in selected European countries in two points of time: i.e., before and after the Paris Agreement. The Bayesian Average Classical Estimates (BACE) is applied to indicate the most likely factors affecting R.E.C. in 2015 and 2018. The comparison of the results reveals that the G.D.P. level, nuclear and hydro energy consumption were the determinants significant in both analyzed years. Furthermore, it became clear that in 2015 the R.E.C. depended strongly on the energy consumption structure, while in 2018, the foreign direct investment and trade openness played their role in increasing renewable energy consumption. The direction of changes is positive and complies with sustainable development goals (S.D.G.s).

In continuation of our research on the influence of selenium incorporation on the biosynthesis, structure, immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides of fungal origin, we have isolated from a post-culture medium of Lentinula edodes a selenium (Se)-containing exopolysaccharide fraction composed mainly of a highly branched 1-6-α-mannoprotein of molecular weight 4.5x106 Da, with 15% protein component. The structure of this fraction resembled mannoproteins isolated from yeast and other mushroom cultures, but it was characterized by a significantly higher molecular weight. X-ray absorption fine structure spectral analysis in the near edge region (XANES) suggested that selenium in the Se-exopolysaccharide structure was present mainly at the IV oxidation state. The simulation analysis in the EXAFS region suggested the presence of two oxygen atoms in the region surrounding the selenium. On the grounds of our previous studies, we hypothesized that selenium-enriched exopolysaccharides would possess higher biological activity than the non-Se-enriched reference fraction. To perform structure-activity studies, we conducted the same tests of biological activity as for previously obtained mycelial Se-polyglucans. The Se-enriched exopolysaccharide fraction significantly enhanced cell viability when incubated with normal (human umbilical vein endothelial cells, HUVEC) cells (but this effect was absent for malignant human cervical HeLa cells) and this fraction also protected the cells from oxidative stress conditions. The results of tests on the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells suggested a selective immunosuppressive activity, like previously tested Se-polyglucans isolated from L. edodes mycelium. The Se-exopolysaccharide fraction, in concentrations of 10-100 µg/ml, inhibited human T lymphocyte proliferation induced by mitogens, without significant effects on B lymphocytes. As with previously obtained Se-polyglucans, in the currently tested Se-polymannans the selenium content increased the biological activity. However, the activity of selenium exopolysaccharides in all tests was significantly lower than that of previously tested mycelial isolates - most likely due to a different mode of selenium binding and its higher degree of oxidation.

Selenium is one of the inorganic compounds in human and animal nutrition and is involved in the proper functioning of the body. As a micronutrient, it actively contributes to the regulation of various metabolic activities, i.e., thyroid hormone, and protection against oxidative stress and cancer. Selenium anion also plays an essential role in the mechanism of immunity to viral infec-tions. However, this element can also be hazardous, especially in high concentrations. The toxicity of selenium is strongly associated with its chemical form. Se exhibits a narrow concentration window from having a positive to exerting a toxic effect. The daily uptake for humans is in the range of 55-400 µg/day. In higher doses (of the order of 900-1000 µg/day), it negatively affects the human body and causes DNA damage through the formation of free radicals. Increased reactivity of Se anion can also disrupt the integrity and function of DNA-repairing proteins. As the permis-sible concentration of Se in drinking water is 10 µg/L, it is vital to develop sensitive and robust methods of Se detection in aqueous samples.

New innovative green concepts in electrified vertical take-off and landing vehicles currently emerge as a revolution to urban mobility going into the third dimension (vertically). The high population density of cities makes the market share highly attractive while posing an extraordinary challenge for community acceptance due to the increasing and possibly noisier commuter traffic. In addition to passenger transport, package deliveries to customers by drones may enter the market. The new challenges associated with this increasing transportation need in urban, rural and populated areas pose challenges for established companies and startups to deliver low-noise emission products. The article's objective is to revisit the benefits and drawbacks of an affordable acoustic measurement campaign focused on early prototyping. In the very early phase of product development, often considerably limited resources are available. With this in mind, the article discusses the sound power results using the enveloping surface method in a typically available low-reflection room with a reflecting floor according to DIN EN ISO 3744:2011-02. The method is applied to a subsonic electric ducted fan (EDF) unit of a 1:2 scaled electrified vertical take-off and landing vehicle. The results show that considerable information at low costs can be gained for the early prototyping stage, despite this easy-to-use, easy-to-realize, and not fine-tuned measurement setup. Furthermore, the limitations and improvements to a possible experimental setup are presented to discuss a potentially more ideal measurement environment. Measurements at discrete operating points and transient measurements across the total operating range were conducted to provide complete information on the EDF's acoustic behavior. The rotor-self noise and the rotor-stator interaction were identified as primary tonal sound sources, along with the highest broadband noise sources located on the rotor. Based on engineering experience, a first acoustic improvement treatment is also quantified with a sound power level reduction of 4dB(A). In conclusion, the presented method is a beneficial first measurement campaign to quantify the acoustic properties of an electric ducted fan unit at minimal resources in a reasonable time of several weeks when starting from scratch.

The paper presents the problem of damage detection in steel girders. Static displacements at the selected point of the structure play the role of measured variables. Structural response signal decomposition is performed according to the Mallat pyramid algorithm, which is used to perform the discrete wavelet transform (DWT). This procedure allows us to quite well determine the location of structural damage. The geometry and the placement of any defective part of the structure may have a random character. It can be assumed that the random processes occurring in the broadly understood structure mechanics are Gaussian in nature. The first four probabilistic moments are estimated using three approaches independent: semi-analytical (SAM), perturbative (SPT), and Monte-Carlo simulations (MCS). The semi-analytical random approach seems to be the most optimal due to the necessary computation time. The incorporation of the mathematical stochastic apparatus into the classical (deterministic) analysis of the statics of the structure makes it possible to estimate the reliability measures of the analyzed girder.

We developed a novel machine learning algorithm to augment clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer utilizing first and second-order texture analysis metrics and novel application of machine learning radiomics analysis. We successfully discriminated between significant prostate cancers versus non-tumor regions and provided accurate prediction between Gleason score cohorts with statistical sensitivity of greater than 0.91 sensitivity across three separate cohorts. Tumor heterogeneity and prediction between GS cohorts were quantified using two feature selection approaches and two classifiers with tuned hyperparameters (including grid search and randomized search). There was a total of 71 patients analyzed in this study. Multiparametric MRI, incorporating T2WI and the ADC maps, were used to derive radiomics features. Recursive feature elimination (RFE), the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and two classification approaches, including a support vector machine (SVM) (with grid search) and random forest (RF) (with randomized search), were utilized to differentiate between non-tumor regions versus significant cancer and prediction among Gleason score groups. In T2WI images, the RFE feature selection approach combined with RF and SVM classifiers outperformed LASSO with SVM and RF classifiers regarding performance. The detection precision of the radiomics framework depending on multiple imaging modalities was lower than the diagnostic accuracy of single imaging modality model with every machine learning approach assessed. The best performance was achieved by combining LASSO and SVM into a model that used both T2WI and ADC. This model had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91. Radiomic features computed from ADC and T2WI images were used to predict three groups of Gleason score using two kinds of feature selection methods (RFE and LASSO), RF and SVM classifier models with tuned hyperparameters. Using combined sequences (T2WI and ADC map images) and combined radiomics (1st and GLCM features), LASSO, with a feature selection method with RF, was able to predict G3 with the highest sensitivity at a level AUC of 0.92. To predict G3 for single sequence (T2WI images) using GLCM features, LASSO with SVM achieved the highest sensitivity with an AUC of 0.92.