Search

Introduction. Pain in the cervical spine affects about 22-70% of the population and the incidence of pain increases with age. Out of different types of therapies, most patients prefer a massage aimed at normalizing muscle tension and reducing pain. However, a comprehensive approach to a patient according to the Kinetic Control concept allows for the assessment of uncontrolled motion and enables the analysis of motion and its function. The assessment of motor errors as well as the re-education of muscle function is an important element in improving the range of motion and reducing pain in the cervical part of the spine. Aim. Assessment of the impact of classical massage and central stabilization exercises on the quality of life of people with cervical spine pain. Material and methods. The study covered 40 people (62,5% women, 37,5% men) aged 20 – 70 year who suffered from pain in the cervical spine. Two groups of 20 were formed. Group I was subjected to a series of classical massage, Group II performed exercises of central stabilization. The impact of both therapies was assessed by means of: the author's own survey, the VAS scale, the NDI-PL form, and the measurement of the range of motion in the cervical spine. Quality of life was assessed using a 100-degree scale. Results. VAS and NDI scores in both groups are significantly lower after treatment (p < 0,01), but it cannot be concluded that one form of therapy has had a better effect. The range of spine motion which was evaluated in the cervical segment significantly increased (p < 0,01) in both groups. It was noted that in terms of extension, central stabilization exercises proved to be more effective - the scope of extension increased on average by 1,3 units after exercises, whereas after massages only by 0,7 units (p = 0,045). Both therapies demonstrated effectiveness in the domain of general health (p = 0,54) – both massages and exercises (p = 0,01) brought patients a significant improvement. Conclusions. Both therapies are effective in fighting cervical spine pain, however, better results were obtained in the group performing central stabilization exercises. The quality of life increased significantly in both groups of patients.

Telerehabilitation (TR) was developed to achieve the same results as would be achieved by the standard rehabilitation process and to overcome potential geographical barriers and staff deficiencies. This is especially relevant in periodic crisis situations, including the current COVID-19 pandemic. Proper execution of TR strategy requires both well-educated staff and dedicated equipment. Various studies have shown that TR may have similar effects to traditional rehabilitation in terms of clinical outcomes and may also reduce total healthcare costs per participant, including rehospitalization costs. However, as with any method, TR has its advantages and disadvantages, including a lack of direct contact or prerequisite, rudimentary ability of the patients to handle mobile devices, among other competencies. Herein, is a discussion of the current status of TR, focusing primarily on cardiac TR, describing some technical/organizational and legal aspects, highlighting the indications, examining cost-effectiveness, as well as outlining possible future directions.

The fatigue response and high-temperature corrosion resistance of Inconel 740 nickel alloy in its as-received state, and the same material with aluminized surface layer, were investigated. The aluminized layer was applied by using the chemical vapor deposition process with the participation of AlCl3 vapors under a hydrogen protective atmosphere at a temperature of 1040°C for 8 h and internal pressure of 150 hPa. The microstructure of the aluminized layer was characterized through scanning electron microscopy and x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis. It was found that Inconel 740 with an aluminized surface exhibited an improved hardness and fatigue response of 100 MPa in the whole range of stress amplitudes from 350 MPa to 650 MPa. Additionally, the application of the aluminization process enhanced service life as well as the corrosion resistance of the alloy in question and effectively protected it against high-temperature corrosion.

The subject of this study is the analysis of the functioning of law firms during the Covid-19 pandemic. The lockdown introduced by the legislator resulted in the closure or limitation of the functioning of public administration bodies, including courts and related institutions, especially law firms (advocates or legal advisers). As a consequence, law firms significantly limited their activities and, moreover, were forced to equip their offices with ICT tools allowing for remote work and IT training for their employees. As a consequence, law firms experienced a drop in income, which was confirmed by the results of a survey conducted by the Supreme Bar Council. However, positive aspects of the changes caused by the pandemic should also be noted, including introducing flexible forms of work, greater use of ICT tools.

The paper reviews the methods for improving verbal communication in selected variants of Alzheimer’s disease, both in the typical and language variant. It emphasises the need to optimise the management within the framework of patientcentred care, allowing to address individual needs. As far as indirect interventions are concerned, the article presents techniques aimed at improving communication with the affected person, and more broadly – aimed at preserving the quality of life in the course of the illness. Among direct interventions, those aimed at selected system abilities and supporting language function in the context of cognitive and social function are presented. It is shown how speech and language therapy can integrate other therapeutic paradigms, developed in psychology, such as patientcentred therapy and cognitive neuropsychological rehabilitation.

This article presents the effect of an Indirect Plasma Nitriding process on the microstructure and properties of Titanium Grade- 2 samples manufactured by Direct Metal Laser Sintering Method (DMLS). It was determined, based on morphological analysis that the physical and chemical phenomena occurring at the surface during nitriding has a decisive effect on surface roughening. Phase and stress analysis shown the nitrided layer produced in a pure nitrogen at 760 °C and containing TiN + TiN0.30 + Ti2N is under compressive stress and its characteristic of a high hardness and Young Modulus as compare to Grade 2 titanium samples produced only by DMLS technique (without nitriding). Static tensile stress carried out at room temperature show that the nitrided samples containing TiN + TiN0.30 + Ti2N have much lower yield (YS0.2) and tensile strength (UTS) compared to the not nitrided samples. Tests carried out in Ringer’s solution, using impedance and potentiodynamic methods at temperatures elevated to 36.6 ± 0.3 °C to simulate human-’s’ body temperature, show that nitriding increased corrosion resistance of the alloy.

This article is the result of observing new social practices in the Polish society that are directly related to the createdand increasingly popular fashion of being fi t. To address the observed social changes, we have decided to analysemagazines devoted to a healthy and active lifestyle in terms of how they create a certain way of thinking about being active, healthy and fi t. An issue of interest to us is also how these periodicals contribute to creating a fashion forbeing fi t and how they promote a healthy lifestyle. These magazines were published between 2016 and 2018. Thetheoretical background is Simmels dualistic approach to fashion, as well as the ideology of healthism along withthe theory of objectifi cation. The main research method used was multimodal analysis.

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most common diseases in neonates and predominantly affects premature or very-low-birth-weight infants. Diagnosis is difficult and needed in hours since the first symptom onset for the best therapeutic effects. Artificial intelligence (AI) may play a significant role in NEC diagnosis. A literature search on the use of AI in the diagnosis of NEC was performed. Four databases (PubMed, Embase, arXiv, and IEEE Xplore) were searched with the appropriate MeSH terms. The search yielded 118 publications that were reduced to 8 after screening and checking for eligibility. Of the eight, five used classic machine learning (ML), and three were on the topic of deep ML. Most publications showed promising results. However, no publications with evident clinical benefits were found. Datasets used for training and testing AI systems were small and typically came from a single institution. The potential of AI to improve the diagnosis of NEC is evident. The body of literature on this topic is scarce, and more research in this area is needed, especially with a focus on clinical utility. Cross-institutional data for the training and testing of AI algorithms are required to make progress in this area. IMPACT: Only a few publications on the use of AI in NEC diagnosis are available although they offer some evidence that AI may be helpful in NEC diagnosis. AI requires large, multicentre, and multimodal datasets of high quality for model training and testing. Published results in the literature are based on data from single institutions and, as such, have limited generalisability. Large multicentre studies evaluating broad datasets are needed to evaluate the true potential of AI in diagnosing NEC in a clinical setting.

Pleiotropy, which consists of a single gene or allelic variant affecting multiple unrelated traits, is common across cancers, with evidence for genome-wide significant loci shared across cancer and noncancer traits. This feature is particularly relevant in multiple myeloma (MM) because several susceptibility loci that have been identified to date are pleiotropic. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify novel pleiotropic variants involved in MM risk using 28 684 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from GWAS Catalog that reached a significant association (P < 5 × 10−8) with their respective trait. The selected SNPs were analyzed in 2434 MM cases and 3446 controls from the International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium (InterLymph). The 10 SNPs showing the strongest associations with MM risk in InterLymph were selected for replication in an independent set of 1955 MM cases and 1549 controls from the International Multiple Myeloma rESEarch (IMMEnSE) consortium and 418 MM cases and 147 282 controls from the FinnGen project. The combined analysis of the three studies identified an association between DNAJB4-rs34517439-A and an increased risk of developing MM (OR = 1.22, 95%CI 1.13-1.32, P = 4.81 × 10−7). rs34517439-A is associated with a modified expression of the FUBP1 gene, which encodes a multifunctional DNA and RNA-binding protein that it was observed to influence the regulation of various genes involved in cell cycle regulation, among which various oncogenes and oncosuppressors. In conclusion, with a pleiotropic scan approach we identified DNAJB4-rs34517439 as a potentially novel MM risk locus.

The paper presents a method of automated modelling and performance evaluation of concurrent production flows carried out in Flexible Manufacturing Systems. The method allows for quick assessment of various variants of such systems, considering their structure and the organization of production flow of possible ways of their implementation. Its essence is the conditions imposed on the designed model, limiting the space of possible variants of the production flow only to deadlock-free variants. The practical usefulness of the model implemented in the proposed method illustrates the example, which describes the simultaneous assessment of alternative variants of the flexible machining module's structure and the planned multi-assortment production. The ability of the method to focus on feasible solutions offers attractive perspectives for guiding the Digital Twin-like scenario in situations caused by the need to change the production flow.

The accelerated growth of water demand globally calls for promising solutions in the field of water management. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems are among the solutions that are capable of increasing water supply and improving water quality through natural attenuation processes. Along with hydrogeologic considerations and institutional feasibility assessments, economic analysis is essential when evaluating MAR projects. This study is the first one to provide an economic feasibility assessment of a MAR scheme in Poland by performing a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) combined with a contingent valuation study to identify the willingness-to-pay, sensitivity analysis to address uncertainty regarding the realisation of benefits and costs together with expert assessment of socio-economic risks associated with the MAR scheme implementation. The results suggest that the total economic value of the MAR scheme’s extension (which includes both use and non-use benefits) exceeds the costs of putting this system in place and maintaining it. This paper can contribute to the existing literature as a practical example providing the base for economic assessment and policy considerations of future sustainable water management projects.

Interactions in a multicomponent Ni-Cr-Mo-Al-Re model alloy were determined by ab initio calculations in order to investigate the Re doping effect on Haynes 282 alloys. Simulation results provided an understanding of short-range interactions in the alloy and successfully predicted the formation of a Cr and Re-rich phase. The Haynes 282 + 3 wt% Re alloy was manufactured using the additive manufacturing direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) technique, in which the presence of the (Cr17Re6)C6 carbide was confirmed by an XRD study. The results provide useful information about the interactions between Ni, Cr, Mo, Al, and Re as a function of temperature. The designed five-element model can lead to a better understanding of phenomena that occur during the manufacture or heat treatment of modern, complex, multicomponent Ni-based superalloys.

Artykuł porusza temat nadużywania telefonów komórkowych przez uczniów w szkole oraz przedstawia autorski projekt z obszaru designu uważnego (zamiennie stosowanego w artykule z wyrażeniem Mindful Desing) będący odpowiedzią na ten wątek. Autorki zgodnie z ideą projektowania empatycznego pochylają się nad trudnościami i potrzebami uczniów oraz nauczycieli w celu trafnego zidentyfikowania sedna problemu. Mierzą się z pytaniami wynikającymi z obranej drogi projektowej, naznaczonej empatią, które towarzyszyły im w trakcie kilkumiesięcznych prac. Czy uczniowie dostrzegają problem nadużywania smartfonów w szkole? Czy i w jakim stopniu wątek dotyka również nauczycieli? Jakie towarzyszą im emocje? Czy kontrola zewnętrzna skutecznie przeciwdziała problemowi? Jakie metody i rozwiązania projektowe mogą mieć zastosowanie w efektywnej edukacji medialnej? Projektantki dokonują analizy krytycznej zarówno nietrafionych narzędzi i metod wykorzystywanych w istniejących rozwiązaniach, jak i dobrych praktyk, bazując na rzetelnych badaniach, raportach i projektach edukacyjnych. Łączą wiedzę z obszaru współczesnej edukacji, psychologii i projektowania wykorzystującego nowe technologie. Starają się wskazać optymalną drogę do zwalczenia destrukcyjnych nawyków uczniów z obszaru mediów cyfrowych, prezentując rozwiązanie z zakresu designu uważnego opracowane w oparciu o współczesne badania i przesłanki z zakresu edukacji.

Introduction The study aimed at evaluating the effect of subthalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS-STN) on restless legs syndrome (RLS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Materials and methods We assessed the presence of RLS before, 6 and 12 months after surgery in 36 patients. Differences between patients with RLS, without RLS, and with remission of RLS in terms of sleep measures (interview and validated questionnaires) and nonmotor symptoms (NMS). Polysomnography (PSG) was performed in 24 patients. Simple and multiple regression models were used to identify potential predictors of RLS outcome after DBS-STN. Results Before DBS-STN 14 of the 36 patients (39%) were diagnosed with RLS. DBS-STN resulted in the resolution of RLS in 43% (n = 6) and the emergence of RLS in 2 (9%) patients. During the study, 20 patients remained without RLS and the patients with unremitting RLS (n = 8) experienced alleviation of symptoms. At baseline patients with RLS had higher Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) total and sleep domain, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part IV and lower Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) scores. There were no differences between the groups without and with RLS in terms of PSG recordings. Conclusion DBS-STN provided relief of symptoms in most of the patients with PD and RLS. We found that RLS was associated with worse subjective sleep quality, more severe NMS, and complications of levodopa therapy. DBS-STN may have direct impact on RLS rather than related indirectly through post-surgery change in medications.

The subject of the study is to initiate a scientific discussion on the adequacy of human rights, their content and systematics. The reason for the concept of this topic is the fact that most of human activity is carried out in a virtual world built through the use of ICT devices. The aim of the study is to show the extent of increasing human activity in cyberspace. The second goal is to show the similarities and differences between the real and the virtual world. As a research hypothesis which was accepted is the claim, according to which the current wording of human rights does not fully correspond with human situation in the virtual world. This claim is even more justified in the perspective of dynamically developing artificial intelligence, which supports people in decisionmaking processes, but also displaces them from these processes. The study includes the following methods: the statistical method – thanks to which it was possible to analyze statistical data and the descriptive method – thanks to which the phenomena occurring in the virtual world were described. The result of the work is to demonstrate the need to start scientific research and discussion on human rights in virtual reality.

The aim of the study is to demonstrate the role of art and artists in the promotion of regional tourism in the post-pandemic period. The Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have suspended or severely restricted tourism worldwide. The negative effects of the pandemic are particularly visible in the regional economy. Despite financial support from states and international organisations, including the European Union (the EU Reconstruction Fund), many regions which lived off tourism until now are struggling with great economic difficulties. The aim of the study is to show the possibility of using art and artists as tools for the promotion and economic development of the local community. These activities may increase interest among potential tourists and investors. The analysis of the possibility for using the new method of local promotion with the use of artists is enriched with reference to the effects of the local economic recovery programme implemented in 2015 and 2016 by the Otwock district. The research hypothesis is the statement that today it is necessary to search for new and unconventional means of promoting countries and regions The result of the analysis is to show possible forms of using art and artists for local promotion in the post-pandemic period.

Aconitum bucovinense Zapał. is the European species of monkshood, endemic to the Eastern and Southern Carpathians. A protocol has been developed for the in vitro regeneration of adventitious shoots by indirect organogenesis from leaf explants. An initiation of cultures carried out on a medium with picloram and kinetin allowed obtaining a callus. More than a 200% FM increase of the callus and at the same time differentiation of adventitious buds were obtained on IBA and BAP supplemented media. Excised buds were used to establish shoot cultures and multiplied after a transfer to nutrient media with an addition of BAP with IBA, IAA or NAA. Almost 70% of rooted shoots were obtained on a 1.5 mg L− 1 IBA and 1.0 mg L− 1 BAP supplemented medium with simultaneous efficient multiplication. An analysis of peroxidase activity revealed its gradual increase in shoots until the appearance of roots. For the first time, an efficient way to regenerate, multiply and root A. bucovinense shoots has been developed and can be used for ex situ conservation of this species.

The subject of this study is the analysis of the contact between Christian values and human rights or the concept of human rights in the context of the dynamic development of IT technology and the shaping of not only global but digital society. The new organization of society is characterized by a multiplicity of value systems which interpenetrate each other. In the area of Western culture, the human rights system occupies a central place, which has become a kind of new decalogue. The aim of this study is an attempt to define the place of traditional Christian values in a digital society. The research hypothesis was the statement that Christian values are not only timeless, but also universal and perfectly fit into the functioning of the digital society. The study uses the method of legal and dogmatic analysis of legal provisions and judgments as well as the analysis of cases of conflicts between Christian values and human rights. In my conclusions, I state that the confrontation of these two systems of values leads to the need to rebuild the organization of Christians. An ideal model may be the diaspora life of people who not only preach but also practice these values.

Enzalutamide (ENZA) is a frequently used therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Baseline or acquired resistance to ENZA have been observed, but the molecular mechanisms of resistance are poorly understood. We aimed to identify proteins involved in ENZA resistance and to find therapy-predictive serum markers. We performed comparative proteome analyses on ENZA-sensitive parental (LAPC4, DuCaP) and -resistant prostate cancer cell lines (LAPC4-ENZA, DuCaP-ENZA) using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The top four most promising candidate markers were selected using bioinformatic approaches. Serum concentrations of selected markers (ALCAM, AGR2, NDRG1, IDH1) were measured in pretreatment samples of 72 ENZA-treated mCRPC patients using ELISA. In addition, ALCAM serum levels were measured in 101 Abiraterone (ABI) and 100 Docetaxel (DOC)-treated mCRPC patients' baseline samples. Results were correlated with clinical and follow-up data. The functional role of ALCAM in ENZA resistance was assessed in vitro using siRNA. Our proteome analyses revealed 731 significantly differentially abundant proteins between ENZA-sensitive and -resistant cells and our filtering methods identified four biomarker candidates. Serum analyses of these proteins revealed only ALCAM to be associated with poor patient survival. Furthermore, higher baseline ALCAM levels were associated with poor survival in ABI- but not in DOC-treated patients. In LAPC4-ENZA resistant cells, ALCAM silencing by siRNA knockdown resulted in significantly enhanced ENZA sensitivity. Our analyses revealed that ALCAM serum levels may help to identify ENZA- and ABI-resistant patients and may thereby help to optimize future clinical decision-making. Our functional analyses suggest the possible involvement of ALCAM in ENZA resistance.

Sealings recovered from the Omo M10 temple, a provincial center of the Andean Tiwanaku state (AD 500–1100), and from the Muru Ut Pata neighborhood of the Tiwanaku capital, as well as a signet ring from the Akapana East complex of Tiwanaku's highland capital, shed light on the hitherto undocumented use of seals and sealings in Central Andean complex society. The identification of Tiwanaku sealings related to the signet ring seal has implications for understanding the transmission of identity, authority, and authenticity over time and distance in early Andean states.

The study concerns the influence of graphene monolayer, as a 2 D platform, on cell viability, cytoskeleton, adhesions sites andmorphology of mitochondria of keratinocytes (HaCaT) under static conditions. Based on quantitative and immunofluorescent analysis, it could be stated that graphene substrate does not cause any damage to membrane or disruption of other monitored parameters. Spindle poles and cytokinesis bridges indicating proliferation of cells on this graphene substrate were detected. Moreover, the keratinocyte migration rate on the graphene substrate was comparable to control glass substrate when the created wound was completely closed after 38 hours. HaCaT morphology and viability were also assessed under dynamic conditions (lab on a chip - micro scale). For this purpose, microfluidic graphene system was designed and constructed. No differences as well as no anomalies were observed during cultivation of these cells on the graphene or glass substrates in relation to cultivation conditions: static (macro scale) and dynamic (micro scale). Only natural percentage of dead cells was determined using different methods, which proved that the graphene as the 2 D platform is cytocompatible with keratinocytes. The obtained results encourage the use of the designed lab on a chip system in toxicity testing of graphene also on other cells and further research on the use of graphene monolayers to produce bio-bandages for skin wounds in animal tests.

Long-lasting hyperglycaemia may alter the role of adenosine-dependent receptors (P1R) in the control of kidney function. We investigated how P1R activity affects renal circulation and excretion in diabetic (DM) and normoglycaemic (NG) rats; the receptors’ interactions with bioavailable NO and H2O2 were also explored. The effects of adenosine deaminase (ADA, nonselective P1R inhibitor) and P1A2a-R-selective antagonist (CSC) were examined in anaesthetised rats, both after short-lasting (2-weeks, DM-14) and established (8-weeks, DM-60) streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia, and in normoglycaemic age-matched animals (NG-14, NG-60, respectively). The arterial blood pressure, perfusion of the whole kidney and its regions (cortex, outer-, and inner medulla), and renal excretion were determined, along with the in situ renal tissue NO and H2O2 signals (selective electrodes). The ADA treatment helped to assess the P1R-dependent difference in intrarenal baseline vascular tone (vasodilation in DM and vasoconstriction in NG rats), with the difference being more pronounced between DM-60 and NG-60 animals. The CSC treatment showed that in DM-60 rats, A2aR-dependent vasodilator tone was modified differently in individual kidney zones. Renal excretion studies after the ADA and CSC treatments showed that the balance of the opposing effects of A2aRs and other P1Rs on tubular transport, seen in the initial phase, was lost in established hyperglycaemia. Regardless of the duration of the diabetes, we observed a tonic effect of A2aR activity on NO bioavailability. Dissimilarly, the involvement of P1R in tissue production of H2O2, observed in normoglycaemia, decreased. Our functional study provides new information on the changing interaction of adenosine in the kidney, as well as its receptors and NO and H2O2, in the course of streptozotocin diabetes.

Interactions in multicomponent Ni-Cr-Mo-Al-Re model alloy were determined by ab initio calculations in order to investigate the Re doping effect on Haynes 282 alloy. Simulation results provided an understanding of short-range interactions in the alloy and successfully pre-dicted the formation of a Cr and Re-rich phase. The Haynes 282 + 3 % wt. Re alloy was manu-factured using the additive manufacturing Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technique, in which the presence of the (Cr17Re6)C6 carbide was confirmed by an XRD study. The results ob-tained provide useful information about the interactions between Ni, Cr, Mo, Al, and Re as a function of temperature. The 5-element model designed can lead to a better understanding of phenomena that occur during the manufacturing or heat treatment of modern, complex, multi-component Ni-based superalloys.

The paper investigates the influence of ion nitriding on the microstructure, corrosion resistance, and tensile strength at elevated temperatures of Haynes 282 nickel superalloy specimens produced by the Direct Metal Laser Sintering-DMLS technique. Analysis of the specimens’ surface morphology revealed that the ion nitriding process significantly affects the physical and chemical phenomena occurring on the surface of the specimens. Phase composition and stress analysis showed that Haynes 282 nickel alloy specimens produced by the DMLS technique and a chromium nitride layer produced in the ion nitriding process have tensile stress. The layer is also characterized by high nanohardness compared to specimens produced using the classical method (wrought) and DMLS technique. The conducted corrosion resistance tests confirmed the positive effect of the nitrided layer on the corrosion resistance of Haynes 282 nickel alloy produced by the DMLS technique. The ion nitriding process did not significantly affect the elevated-temperature tensile strength of Haynes 282 nickel alloy specimens produced by the DMLS technique.

The development of powder metallurgy methods in recent years has caused traditional casting methods to be replaced in many industrial applications. Using such methods, it is possible to obtain parts having the required geometry after a process that saves both manufacturing costs and time. However, there are many material issues that decrease the functionality of these methods, including mechanical properties anisotropy and greater susceptibility to cracking due to chemical segregation. The main aim of the current article is to analyze these issues in depth for two powder metallurgy manufacturing processes: laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and hot-pressing (HP) methods—selected for the experiment because they are in widespread use. Microstructure and mechanical tests were performed in the main manufacturing directions, X and Z. The results show that in both powder metallurgy methods, anisotropy was an issue, although it seems that the problem was more significant for the samples produced via LPBF SLM technique, which displayed only half the elongation in the building direction (18%) compared with the perpendicular direction (almost 38%). However, it should be noted that the fracture toughness of LPBF shows high values in the main directions, higher even than those of the HP and wrought samples. Additionally, the highest level of homogeneity even in comparison with wrought sample, was observed for the HP sintered samples with equiaxed grains with visible twin boundaries. The tensile properties, mainly strength and elongation, were the highest for HP material. Overall, from a practical standpoint, the results showed that HP sintering is the best method in terms of homogeneity based on microstructural and mechanical properties.

This study examines the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns on access to crucial diagnostic procedures for breast cancer patients, including screenings and treatments. To quantify the impact of the lockdowns on patient outcomes and cost, the study employs a mathematical model of breast cancer progression. The model includes ten different states that represent various stages of health and disease, along with the four different stages of cancer that can be diagnosed or undiagnosed. The study employs a natural history stochastic model to simulate the progression of breast cancer in patients. The model includes transition probabilities between states, estimated using both literature and empirical data. The study utilized a Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation to model the natural history of each simulated patient over a seven-year period from 2019 to 2025. The simulation was repeated 100 times to estimate the variance in outcome variables. The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns caused a significant increase in breast cancer costs, with an average rise of 172.5 million PLN (95\% CI [82.4, 262.6]) and an additional 1005 breast cancer deaths (95\% CI [426, 1584]) in Poland during the simulated period. While these results are preliminary, they highlight the potential harmful impact of lockdowns on breast cancer treatment outcomes and costs., Accepted for International Conference on Computational Science (ICCS) 2023, Prague

Production optimization is a complex process because it must take into account various resources of the company and its environment. In this process, it is necessary to consider the enterprise as a whole, taking into account the interaction between its key elements, both in the technological and business layer. For this reason, the article proposes the use of enterprise architecture, which facilitates the interaction of these layers in the production optimization process. As a result, a proprietary meta-model of enterprise architecture was presented, which, based on good practices and the assumptions of enterprise architecture, facilitates the construction of detailed optimization models in the area of planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and routing. The production optimization model formulated as a mathematical programming problem is also presented. The model was built taking into account the meta-model. Due to the computational complexity of the optimization model, a method using an artificial neural network (ANN) was proposed to estimate the potential result based on the structure of the model and a given data instance before the start of optimization. The practical application of the presented approach has been shown based on the example of optimization of the production of an exemplary production cell where the cost of storage and the number of unfulfilled orders and maintenance are optimized.

This paper presents the results of the Ni substrate wetted with the liquid Sn-Zn eutectic alloy with the addition of Ag, Al, and Li (84.3 at.% Sn, 13.7 at.% Zn, 1 at.% Ag, 0.5 at.% Al, and 0.5 at.% Li-SZAAL). The wetting tests were performed using two methods: the wetting balance tests (WBT) and the sessile drop (SD) method at 250 °C, in the presence of an ALU33® flux. The wetting times were 5, 20, 60, 180, and 1800 s. Next, the microstructure of selected solidified solder joints was investigated using scanning electron microscope. The Ni-Zn system's intermetallic phases (IMCs) were identified at the solder–Ni substrate interface. The kinetics of the formation and growth of the IMC layer was determined. Interfacial tension and contact angle (CA) values were calculated from WBT measurements in the presence of the ALU33® flux. Interfacial tension was compared to surface tension from the maximum bubble pressure and CA values to those obtained using the SD method. The value of the contact angle of SZAAL on Cu (39°) substrate is lower than on Ni (43°). For the comparison, also the interaction between SZAAL and Cu substrate was measured. After 1800 s, the IMCs thickness is significantly reduced for Ni pad than for Cu substrate. The study found that the addition of Al, Ag, and Li improved the tensile strength and wettability of Sn-Zn eutectic-based alloys.

The technique of embedding components inside printed circuit boards (PCBs) is described, using different filling masses. To investigate the possibility of placing the components inside the printed circuit board, a residual circuit breaker with an overload protection (RCBO) system was adapted. Four types of fillings (two epoxy and two silicone) were used in the tests, which were carried out showing the full functionality of the systems embedded in the PCB, regardless of the applied sealing compound. A certain disadvantage was the shrinkage of the applied masses, which was visible in some cases in the occurrence of gaps in the flooding spaces. However, it should be emphasized that the tests were preliminary and that the adjustment of the filling shrinkage will be optimized in subsequent tests.

A Modular COsmic Ray Detector (MCORD) was prepared for use in various physics experiments. MCORD detectors can be used in laboratory measurements or can become a part of large measurement sets. MCORD can be used as a muon detector, a veto system, or a tool supporting the testing and calibration of other detectors. MCORD can also work as a stand-alone device for scientific and commercial purposes. The basic element of MCORD is one section consisting of eight oblong scintillators with a double-sided light reading performed by silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). This work presents a practical description of testing, calibration, and programming of analogue and digital electronics modules. The characterisation and calibration methods of the analogue front-end electronic modules, the obtained results, and their implementation into an operating system are presented. In addition, we describe the development environment and the procedures used to prepare our kit for practical use. The architecture of the FPGAs is also presented with a description of their programming as a data-collecting system in a simple coincidence circuit. We also present the possibilities of extending the data analysis system for large experiments.

Przedmiotem opracowania jest analiza sytuacji społecznej, gospodarczej i politycznej w powiązaniu z unijną polityką ochrony środowiska, zwłaszcza pakietu Fit for 55, czyli planów znaczących redukcji emisji dwutlenku węgla do roku 2035. Zmiana uwarunkowań, spowodowanych najpierw pandemią Covid-19, a następnie wojną na Ukrainie i złamaniem się dostaw gazu z Rosji do Europy, stało się przyczyną kryzysu energetycznego. Celem opracowania jest poszukiwanie odpowiedzi na pytanie o dalszy los unijnej polityki ochrony środowiska. Realizacja polityki ochrony środowiska jest niezwykle kosztochłonna, tymczasem Unia i państwa członkowskie muszą wydatkować znaczne środki na ratowanie gospodarki i obywateli przed skutkami kryzysu energetycznego. Poszukiwanie odpowiedzi na powyższe pytanie oparte zostało na analizie działań osób i instytucji odpowiedzialnych za politykę energetyczną. We wnioskach końcowych zostało zauważone, że Unia podjęła szereg działań celem zapobieżenia negatywnym skutkom kryzysu energetycznego. Jednak dalekosiężne, możliwe negatywne skutki tego kryzysu wymagają większego zaangażowania środków finansowych, co może mieć negatywny wpływ na realizację dotychczasowej polityk ochrony środowiska w planowanym kształcie. Dotyczy to również realizacji pakietu Fit for 55, niezwykle istotnego dla powstrzymania negatywnych skutków zmian klimatycznych.

Artykuł to studium przypadku doboru instalacji PV dla domu jednorodzinnego oraz optymalizacji położenia paneli na dachu płaskim z wykorzystaniem narzędzi projektowania generatywnego i optymalizacji genetycznej. Celem przeprowadzonych symulacji było wykazanie przydatności wybranego narzędzia do analiz zmiennych projektowanego systemu w relacji do zapotrzebowania na energię zdefiniowanego przez obecność i aktywności użytkowników obiektu.

Background The mechanism of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hypersensitivity reactions is unknown. COVID-19 vaccine excipient skin testing has been used in evaluation of these reactions, but its utility in predicting subsequent COVID-19 vaccine tolerance is also unknown. Objective To evaluate the utility of COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine excipient skin testing in both patients with an allergic reaction to their first messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine dose and patients with a history of polyethylene glycol allergy who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine dose. Methods In this multicenter, retrospective review, COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine excipient skin testing was performed in patients referred to 1 of 3 large tertiary academic institutions. Patient medical records were reviewed after skin testing to determine subsequent COVID-19 vaccine tolerance. Results A total of 129 patients underwent skin testing, in whom 12 patients (9.3%) had positive results. There were 101 patients who received a COVID-19 vaccine after the skin testing, which was tolerated in 90 patients (89.1%) with no allergic symptoms, including 5 of 6 patients with positive skin testing results who received a COVID-19 vaccine after the skin testing. The remaining 11 patients experienced minor allergic symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination, none of whom required treatment beyond antihistamines. Conclusion The low positivity rate of COVID-19 vaccine excipient skin testing and high rate of subsequent COVID-19 vaccine tolerance suggest a low utility of this method in evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine hypersensitivity reactions. Focus should shift to the use of existing vaccine allergy practice parameters, with consideration of graded dosing when necessary. On the basis of these results, strict avoidance of subsequent COVID-19 vaccination should be discouraged.

Globalization process has a gradually stronger influence on economic development. In this new reality the main indicator is innovation. Various regions of European Union formulate Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS). The goal of this document is to formulate essential elements of regional development strategy. This kind of strategy was created for the Mazovia region. In the document we can read that Mazovia is the most innovative region in Poland, however, it is still far behind regions in highly developed countries. The main strength of Mazovia is the fact that it is a capital region, which means a better access for enterprises to information, important contacts and promotion. Nevertheless, we still can experience many barriers, undermining regular regional development, such as insufficient grants for scientific research or inadequate engagement of public administration to help entrepreneurs.

The subject of this paper is to present the shape, the legal basis and the prospects for the development of the European Union regional policy. This policy assumes great importance in the face of weakening of state’s structures due to the European Union bodies and decentralization of management of local affairs. The EU regional policy is a very problematic area and requires extensive studies. Thus, I confined myself to analyze the development of basis of the EU regional policy primarily through the prism of treaty law. The analysis showed a rate of development which process still continues. Despite a good legal basis, the EU regional policy still requires constant adjustment, especially when it comes to rationalizing subsidies. The passive regional policy leads to promote only the economically under developed areas. Therefore, it is necessary for the implementation of programs to support the innovation, especially in highly developed regions, which are the engine of the whole European Union economy.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on health care systems worldwide, which has led to increased mortality of different diseases like myocardial infarction. This is most likely due to three factors. First, an increased workload per nurse ratio, a factor associated with mortality. Second, patients presenting with COVID-19-like symptoms are isolated, which also decreases survival in cases of emergency. And third, patients hesitate to see a doctor or present themselves at a hospital. To assess if this is also true for sepsis patients, we asked whether non-COVID-19 sepsis patients had an increased 30-day mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This is a post hoc analysis of the SepsisDataNet.NRW study, a multicentric, prospective study that includes septic patients fulfilling the SEPSIS-3 criteria. Within this study, we compared the 30-day mortality and disease severity of patients recruited pre-pandemic (recruited from March 2018 until February 2020) with non-COVID-19 septic patients recruited during the pandemic (recruited from March 2020 till December 2020). Results Comparing septic patients recruited before the pandemic to those recruited during the pandemic, we found an increased raw 30-day mortality in sepsis-patients recruited during the pandemic (33% vs. 52%, p = 0.004). We also found a significant difference in the severity of disease at recruitment (SOFA score pre-pandemic: 8 (5 - 11) vs. pandemic: 10 (8 - 13); p p = 0.798). Conclusions This led us to believe that the higher mortality of non-COVID19 sepsis patients during the pandemic might be attributed to a more severe septic disease at the time of recruitment. We note that patients may experience a delayed admission, as indicated by elevated SOFA scores. This could explain the higher mortality during the pandemic and we found no evidence for a diminished quality of care for critically ill sepsis patients in German intensive care units.