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Abstract Structure of interphase cell nuclei remains dynamic and can undergo various changes of shape and organisation, in health and disease. The double-membraned envelope that separates nuclear genetic material from the rest of the cell frequently includes deep, branching tubular invaginations that form a dynamic nucleoplasmic reticulum (NR). This study addresses mechanisms by which NR can form in interphase nuclei. We present a combination of Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS) approach and light microscopy techniques to follow formation of NR by using pulse-chase experiments to examine protein and lipid delivery to nascent NR in cultured cells. Lamina protein incorporation was assessed using precursor accumulation (for lamin A) or a MAPLE3 photoconvertible tag (for lamin B1) and membrane phospholipid incorporation using stable isotope labelling with deuterated precursors followed by high resolution NanoSIMS. In all three cases, nascent molecules were selectively incorporated into newly forming NR tubules; thus strongly suggesting that NR formation is a regulated process involving a focal assembly machine, rather than simple physical perturbation of a pre-existing nuclear envelope.

The one-step carbonization of low cost and abundant chitosan biopolymer in the presence of salt eutectics ZnCl 2 /NaCl results in nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures (8.5 wt.% total nitrogen content). NaCl yields the spacious 3D structure, which allows external oxygen to easily reach the active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) distinguished by their high onset potential and the maximum turnover frequency of 0.132 e site⁻ 1  s⁻ 1 . Data show that the presence of NaCl during the synthesis exhibits the formation of pores having large specific volumes and surface (specific surface area of 1217 m 2  g -1 ), and holds advantage by their pores characteristics such as their micro-size part, which provides a platform for mass transport distribution in three-dimensional N-doped catalysts for ORR. It holds benefit over sample pre-treated with LiCl in terms of the micropores specific volume and area, seen as their percentage rate, measured in the BET. Therefore, the average concentration of the active site on the surface is larger., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Treatment of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD), based on autologous transplantation of the patient's stem cells, is one of the few medical stem cell therapies approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It relies on isolating and culturing in vivo Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells (LESC) and then populating them on the fibrin substrate, creating a scaffold for corneal epithelial regeneration. Such a solution is then implanted into the patient's eye. The epithelial cell culture process is specific, and its results strongly depend on the initial cell seeding density. Achieving control of the density and repeatability of the process is a desirable aim and can contribute to the success of the therapy. The study aimed to test bioprinting as a potential technique to increase the control over LESCs seeding on a scaffold and improve process reproducibility. Cells were applied to 0.5 mm thick, flat, transparent fibrin substrates using extrusion bioprinting; the control was the traditional manual application of cells using a pipette. The use of 3D printer enabled uniform coverage of the scaffold surface, and LESCs density in printed lines was close to the targeted value. Moreover, printed cells had higher cell viability than those seeded traditionally (91.1 ± 8.2% vs 82.6 ± 12.8%). The growth rate of the epithelium was higher in bioprinted samples. In both methods, the epithelium had favorable phenotypic features (p63 + and CK14 +). 3D printing constitutes a promising approach in LSCD therapy. It provides favorable conditions for LESCs growth and process reproducibility. Its application may lead to reduced cell requirements, thereby to using fewer cells on lower passages, which will contribute to preserving LESCs proliferative potential., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To gain a deeper understanding of skeletal muscle function in younger age and aging in elderly, identification of molecular signatures regulating these functions under physiological conditions is needed. Although molecular studies of healthy muscle have been conducted on adults and older subjects, there is a lack of research on infant muscle in terms of combined morphological, transcriptomic and proteomic profiles. To address this gap of knowledge, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), morphometric analysis and assays for mitochondrial maintenance in skeletal muscle biopsies from both, infants aged 4-28 months and adults aged 19-65 years. We identified differently expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in adults compared to infants. The down-regulated genes in adults were associated with functional terms primarily related to sarcomeres, cellular maintenance, and metabolic, immunological and developmental processes. Thus, our study indicates age-related differences in the molecular signatures and associated functions of healthy skeletal muscle. Moreover, the findings assert that processes previously associated solely with aging are indeed part of development and healthy aging. Hence, combined findings of this study also indicate that age-dependent controls are crucial in muscle disease studies, as otherwise the comparative results may not be reliable., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The etiology of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), frequently observed following COVID-19 infection, remains elusive. This study unveils insights derived from cytokine analysis in the sera of MIS-C patients, both before and after the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and glucocorticosteroids (GCS). In this study, we employed a comprehensive 45-cytokine profile encompassing a spectrum of widely recognized proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines, as well as growth factors, along with other soluble mediators. The analysis delineates three principal cytokine-concentration patterns evident in the patients' sera. Pattern no.1 predominantly features proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-15, IL-1ra, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10/ IP-10), and IL-10) exhibiting elevated concentrations upon admission, swiftly normalizing post-hospital treatment. Pattern no. 2 includes cytokines (IL-17 A, IL-33, IFNγ, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and programmed death ligand (PD-L1)) with moderately elevated levels at admission, persisting over 7-10 days of hospitalization despite the treatment. Pattern no. 3 comprises cytokines which concentrations escalated after 7-10 days of hospitalization and therapy, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-13, platelet-derived growth factor AA/BB (PDGF AA/BB). The observed in cytokine profile of MIS-C patients showed a transition from acute inflammation to sustaining inflammation which turned into induction of humoral memory mechanisms and various defense mechanisms, contributing to recovery., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The purpose was to evaluate the use of 3D CT-DCG-assisted and endoscopically guided coronary catheter balloon dacryoplasty (CC-BDCP) in adults with focal stenosis of the nasolacrimal duct (NLD) and report their long-term outcomes. A prospective, non-randomized, single-center clinical study was performed, and the patients underwent endoscopy-guided CC-BDCP using percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) balloon catheters. 25 patients were enrolled in the study. The CC-BDCP procedure was performed in 21 of 25 (84%) patients, and the remaining 4 (16%) patients had significant procedural difficulties due to unfavorable anatomical conditions. Of the 21 patients, 10 (47.6%) were procedurally assessed as "easy" (eCC-BDCP) and in 11 (52.4%) as procedurally "difficult" (dCC-BDCP). Values on Munk's epiphora intensity scale changed overall from 4.0 preoperatively to 1.4 ± 1.6 (p = 0.00001) postoperatively overall. FDDT changed overall from 2.9 ± 0.3 to 1.1 ± 1.2 after treatment (p = 0.00008) (from 2.8 ± 0.4 to 0.3 ± 0.6 in the eCC-BDCP group and from 2.9 ± 0.3 to 1.4 ± 1.2 in the dCC-BDCP group (p = 0.01352). The anatomical and functional success rate was 77% overall, 90% in the eCC-BDCP group, and 64% in the dCC-BDCP group. The CC-BDCP led to a statistically significant decrease in epiphora in a particular group of adult patients with demonstrable focal stenosis of the NLD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

MRI is becoming increasingly available and more common. However, it is a long examination, within a limited space, and making strong demands on the patient for proper co-operation. Using survey data collected by prospective questionnaire, this work examines the influence of patient preparation and type of MRI device on patients' subjective perception of the examination. The work analysed 800 patient questionnaires from 7 radiology centres, 12 MRI machines from 3 manufacturers. It was shown that 20% of patients were not informed at all or only insufficiently about the MRI examination by the referring physician, and this had a statistically significant effect on subjective perception as to the length of the examination. In claustrophobic patients, there was no significant difference in the perception of MRI examination between machine types (open vs. closed) or between bore size. This work demonstrated the influence of technical parameters of MRI devices on some other evaluated aspects in terms of patients' perception of MRI examinations (such as noise perception or peripheral nerves irritation) and that the preparation prior to the examination itself plays also an important role. Sufficient explanation from the referring physician, good workplace time management, and sufficient communication with the patient influence the subjective perception of the examination and thus indirectly its diagnostic benefit., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Increasing crop diversity is a way for agriculture to transition towards a more sustainable and biodiversity-friendly system. Growing buckwheat intercropped with paulownia can contribute not only to mitigating climate change but can also enrich the environment with species of agricultural importance, without causing a decline in pollinators, since buckwheat is pollinated mainly by the honeybee. In a field experiment comparing growing buckwheat with paulownia against a monoculture crop, we investigated differences in flower visitation and beekeeping value, as well as the associated impact on crop yields. We analysed the effect of intercropping on the beekeeping value of buckwheat in terms of bee population size and the sugar mass in buckwheat flowers, nectar mass in buckwheat flowers, the quality of the delivered raw sugar and biometric characteristics. We found significant differences in the number of branches on the main shoot and the total number of branches. Significantly higher parameters were obtained in sites with buckwheat monoculture. The cultivation method variant did not cause differentiation in either the structure elements or the yield itself. Yields ranged from 0.39 (2021) to 1.59 (2023) t·ha -1 . The average yield in intercropping was slightly lower (0.02 t·ha -1 ) than in the monoculture system of buckwheat (0.93 t·ha -1 ). More flowers per plant per day of observation and more flowers in millions of flowers per hectare per day of observation were observed in the intercropping of buckwheat with paulownia. Based on our experiment, we concluded that growing buckwheat in monoculture significantly increased the number of flowers, resulting in an increase in pollinator density and an increased number of pollinators per unit area., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) have a high reproductive rate because they reach sexual maturity very early. This short rearing time results in increasing interest among breeders and consumers. The aim of the study was a comparative analysis of two genotypes and sexes of Japanese and Pharaoh quails and their impact on body weight, carcass composition, meat quality, digestive system morphometry and leg bone dimensions. The study involved 40 birds (10 females and 10 males), Japanese quail and Pharaoh quail, 42 days old. Quail genotype had an effect (P < 0.05) on body weight, carcass weight, and some percentage of carcass elements. In addition, there was a significant effect of quail genotype on intramuscular fat and water content of pectoral and leg muscles. The origin of the quails interacted (P < 0.05) with the lightness (L*), yellowness (b*), cutting work, hardness, springiness, chewiness, gumminess, fibre cross-sectional area, vertical fibre diameter, and perimysium thickness of pectoral muscle. In addition, genotype was found to influence some anatomical traits, such as the percentage of proventriculus, heart, and liver on body weight, lengths and diameters of duodenum, caeca, and colon, and most dimensions of leg bones (femur and tibia). The sex of the birds significantly (P < 0.05) affected body weight, carcass weight, percentage of skin with subcutaneous fat in the carcass, as well as water content, lightness (L*), and springiness, most microstructure characteristics of pectoralis muscle, and also water and protein contents, and yellowness (b*) of leg muscles. In addition, differences were found between males and females (P < 0.05) in terms of duodenum and caeca diameter, length of greatest and medial femur, and greatest length of tibia. It can be stated that in terms of body weight and carcass weight as well as some meat quality features (protein content, fat content, fiber cross-sectional area), the pharaoh quail was the better genotype, while in terms of the proportion of muscles in the carcass and selected meat quality features: hardness, gumminess, chewiness, Japanese quails turned out to be better., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to examine the ability of adolescents to maintain breathing rhythm while swimming with and without goggles, in the context of pedagogical interventions for implementation of water competence skills, rather than simply teaching swimming technique (strokes). 25 females and 25 males, 12-13 years old, swam the front crawl both with goggles and without goggles. Distance covered and the ability to maintain breathing rhythm were evaluated by experts. For both girls and boys, the lack of goggles reduced the breath control. The boys in contrast to the girls, could "swim" (cover a distance) but did not have the "competence" to swim effectively/safely-with breathing rhythm-regardless of the goggle factor. Goggle-free swimming as an autonomous component of water competence is highly recommended in elementary swimming education. The following elements for pedagogical intervention in the area of water competence development are proposed: (1) the formatting of breath control on the basis of the student's preferred, simplest form of swimming (not strokes); (2) the a priori treatment of swimming goggles as an unnecessary teaching aid; (3) the gender differences in area of both adaptation in visual perception (the goggles factor) and motor control (breath control factor) should be considered., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most prevalent hematological malignancy, characterized by infiltration of the bone marrow by malignant plasma cells. Extramedullary disease (EMD) represents a more aggressive condition involving the migration of a subclone of plasma cells to paraskeletal or extraskeletal sites. Liquid biopsies could improve and speed diagnosis, as they can better capture the disease heterogeneity while lowering patients' discomfort due to minimal invasiveness. Recent studies have confirmed alterations in the proteome across various malignancies, suggesting specific changes in protein classes. In this study, we show that MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry fingerprinting of peripheral blood can differentiate between MM and primary EMD patients. We constructed a predictive model using a supervised learning method, partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and evaluated its generalization performance on a test dataset. The outcome of this analysis is a method that predicts specifically primary EMD with high sensitivity (86.4%), accuracy (78.4%), and specificity (72.4%). Given the simplicity of this approach and its minimally invasive character, this method provides rapid identification of primary EMD and could prove helpful in clinical practice., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The problem of artifacts in whole slide image acquisition, prevalent in both clinical workflows and research-oriented settings, necessitates human intervention and re-scanning. Overcoming this challenge requires developing quality control algorithms, that are hindered by the limited availability of relevant annotated data in histopathology. The manual annotation of ground-truth for artifact detection methods is expensive and time-consuming. This work addresses the issue by proposing a method dedicated to augmenting whole slide images with artifacts. The tool seamlessly generates and blends artifacts from an external library to a given histopathology dataset. The augmented datasets are then utilized to train artifact classification methods. The evaluation shows their usefulness in classification of the artifacts, where they show an improvement from 0.10 to 0.01 AUROC depending on the artifact type. The framework, model, weights, and ground-truth annotations are freely released to facilitate open science and reproducible research., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The escalating prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) underscores the urgent need for improved early detection techniques and effective treatment strategies. In this context, our study presents a proteomic analysis of post-exercise skeletal muscle biopsies from individuals across a spectrum of glucose metabolism states: normal, prediabetes, and T2D. This enabled the identification of significant protein relationships indicative of each specific glycemic condition. Our investigation primarily leveraged the machine learning approach, employing the white-box algorithm relative evolutionary hierarchical analysis (REHA), to explore the impact of regulated, mixed mode exercise on skeletal muscle proteome in subjects with diverse glycemic status. This method aimed to advance the diagnosis of IR and T2D and elucidate the molecular pathways involved in its development and the response to exercise. Additionally, we used proteomics-specific statistical analysis to provide a comparative perspective, highlighting the nuanced differences identified by REHA. Validation of the REHA model with a comparable external dataset further demonstrated its efficacy in distinguishing between diverse proteomic profiles. Key metrics such as accuracy and the area under the ROC curve confirmed REHA's capability to uncover novel molecular pathways and significant protein interactions, offering fresh insights into the effects of exercise on IR and T2D pathophysiology of skeletal muscle. The visualizations not only underscored significant proteins and their interactions but also showcased decision trees that effectively differentiate between various glycemic states, thereby enhancing our understanding of the biomolecular landscape of T2D., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The prevalence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of all lung cancers, with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway exhibiting robust activation in this particular subtype. The expression of FAM83A (family with sequence similarity 83, member A) has been found to be significantly upregulated in lung cancer, leading to the stabilization of β-catenin and activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. In this study, we conducted a screening of down-regulated miRNAs in lung cancer with FAM83A as the target. Ultimately, we identified miR-1 as a negative regulator of FAM83A and confirmed that FAM83A is a direct target gene of miR-1 through dual luciferase reporter assays. The overexpression of miR-1 significantly attenuated the expression level of FAM83A and suppressed the Wnt signaling pathway, leading to a reduction in the expression levels of downstream target genes AXIN2, CyclinD1, and C-MYC. Additionally, it decreased the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. In addition, overexpression of miR-1 accelerated the degradation of β-catenin by inhibiting FAM83A, promoted the assembly of β-catenin degradation complex, and inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. In summary, miR-1 may be a potential candidate miRNA for the treatment of NSCLC., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Bird sex determination is fundamental in various ecological and biological studies, although many avian species cannot be sexed visually due to their monomorphic and/or monochromatic appearance. Thus, reliable laboratory methods for sexing are a prerequisite. Most avian nestlings lack sex-related signs, including the Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum). We performed laboratory sex determination analysis of this species using blood samples of 242 juveniles and nine adults. It relied on the qPCR of the specific intron from the chromo-helicase DNA-binding protein 1 gene. We tested three primer sets, the P2/P8, 2550F/2718R, and CHD1F/CHD1R, commonly used for bird laboratory sexing. The outcomes were displayed on an agarose gel electrophoresis and a plot from melt curve analysis, which had not been previously conducted in Eurasian pygmy owls. We found that only primer set CHD1F/CHD1R proved reliable, as the only one determined sex with one and two band/s and peak/s on the electrophoresis and the melt curve plot for males and females, respectively. The other two primer pairs failed and depicted one band/peak in all specimens regardless of their sex. Therefore, we recommend performing Eurasian pygmy owls' laboratory sexing by qPCR with CHD1F/CHD1R primers only., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Currently, pathogenic microorganisms are becoming more active in public utility areas like parking lots and waste shelters due to the accumulation of organic waste. This uncontrolled waste leads to decay, altering its composition and presenting a microbiological risk to public health. Additionally, it emits unpleasant odors containing chemicals that irritate the mucous membranes, causing discomfort in the nose, throat, and eyes by stimulating the trigeminal nerve. These odors can have various negative effects on both quality of life and public health. The study investigated the physicochemical properties of oil composites enriched with natural additives and determined their effectiveness in reducing the intensity of nuisance odours. The research showed over 82% reduction in decaying meat odour and almost 65% reduction in ammonia odour. A higher impact of the given composites on reducing the odour from decaying meat than from ammonia was observed. This may be due to the biocidal properties of the additives used (turmeric, thymol, salicylic acid, hops and curly sorrel) and the higher intensity of ammonia odor compared to meat-derived odour. Despite the non-porous nature of the solids tested (with similar specific surface areas ranging from 0.66 to 0.88 m 2 /g), they were capable of sorbing NH 3 ., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The quality of life (QoL) is now recognised as a central indicator of the effectiveness of interventions especially in patients after myocardial infarction (MI). The QoL may be important predict poor outcomes in cardiac patients.The present work aims to increase knowledge of the level of QoL in patients after MI. Moreover, the paper analyses the QoL in relation to sociodemographic factors and the degree of functioning in chronic disease. The study was conducted among 231 patients who were hospitalized due to MI within the period of June 2021 to June 2022 in the Hospital in Racibórz in Poland. The WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Chronic Disease Functioning Scale were used. The analysis showed a statistically significant correlation (coefficient value 0.5 <|r/rho|≤ 0.7) between general functioning in chronic disease and the average QoL (rho = 0.56; p < 0.001)and somatic QoL levels(rho = 0.52; p < 0.001), as well as a moderately strong positive correlation with the QoL level on the psychological domain (rho = 0.50; p < 0.001), social domain(rho = 0.48; p < 0.001) and environmental domain (rho = 0.43; p < 0.001). The results of this study suggested that healthcare workers adopts appropriate policies for the implementation of quality of life, which can reduce the number of repetitive referrals to the hospital and costs imposed on the health system., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Identifying novel epigenetic biomarkers is a promising way to improve the clinical management of patients with breast cancer. Our study aimed to determine the methylation pattern of 25 tumor suppressor genes (TSG) and select the best methylation biomarker associated with clinicopathological features in the cohort of Slovak patients diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Overall, 166 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues obtained from patients with IDC were included in the study. The methylation status of the promoter regions of 25 TSG was analyzed using semiquantitative methylation-specific MLPA (MS-MLPA). We identified CDH13 as the most frequently methylated gene in our cohort of patients. Further analysis by ddPCR confirmed an increased level of methylation in the promoter region of CDH13. A significant difference in CDH13 methylation levels was observed between IDC molecular subtypes LUM A versus HER2 (P = 0.0116) and HER2 versus TNBC (P = 0.0234). In addition, significantly higher methylation was detected in HER2+ versus HER2- tumors (P = 0.0004) and PR- versus PR+ tumors (P = 0.0421). Our results provide evidence that alteration in CDH13 methylation is associated with clinicopathological features in the cohort of Slovak patients with IDC. In addition, using ddPCR as a methylation-sensitive method represents a promising approach characterized by higher precision and technical simplicity to measure the methylation of target CpGs in CDH13 compared to other conventional methods such as MS-MLPA., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Bivalves are an extraordinary class of animals in which species with a doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI) of mitochondrial DNA have been described. DUI is characterized as a mitochondrial homoplasmy of females and heteroplasmy of male individuals where F-type mitogenomes are passed to the progeny with mother egg cells and divergent M-type mitogenomes are inherited with fathers sperm cells. However, in most cases only male individuals retain divergent mitogenome inherited with spermatozoa. Additionally, in many of bivalves, unique mitochondrial features, like additional genes, gene duplication, gene extensions, mitochondrial introns, and recombination, were observed. In this study, we sequenced and assembled male-type mitogenomes of three Donax species. Comparative analysis of mitochondrial sequences revealed a lack of all seven NADH dehydrogenase subunits as well as the presence of three long additional open reading frames lacking identifiable homology to any of the existing genes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected all aspects of our lives. Through real-time monitoring and rapid vaccine implementation, we succeeded in suppressing the spread of the disease and mitigating its consequences. Finally, conclusions can be summarized and drawn. Here, we use the example of Poland, which was seriously affected by the pandemic. Compared to other countries, Poland has not achieved impressive results in either testing or vaccination, which may explain its high mortality (case fatality rate, CFR 1.94%). Through retrospective analysis of data collected by the COVID-19 Data Portal Poland, we found significant regional differences in the number of tests performed, number of cases detected, number of COVID-19-related deaths, and vaccination rates. The Masovian, Greater Poland, and Pomeranian voivodeships, the country's leaders in vaccination, reported high case numbers but low death rates. In contrast, the voivodeships in the eastern and southern parts of Poland (Subcarpathian, Podlaskie, Lublin, Opole), which documented low vaccination levels and low case numbers, had higher COVID-19-related mortality rates. The strong negative correlation between the CFR and the percentage of the population that was vaccinated in Poland supports the validity of vaccination. To gain insight into virus evolution, we sequenced more than 500 genomes and analyzed nearly 80 thousand SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences deposited in GISAID by Polish diagnostic centers. We showed that the SARS-CoV-2 variant distribution over time in Poland reflected that in Europe. Haplotype network analysis allowed us to follow the virus transmission routes and identify potential superspreaders in each pandemic wave., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Underground coal storage bunkers serve as crucial infrastructural components in the coal mining industry, providing secure and accessible locations for the storage of mined coal. The interaction between stored coal and underground water in coal storage bunkers indeed poses significant challenges due to the unpredictable nature of the resulting coal-water mixture. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in coal mines operating under water hazards, where groundwater infiltration into storage areas can lead to the formation of coal-water mixtures, altering the physical properties of the stored coal. The interaction between coal and water can result in the formation of coal-water mixtures (hydromixture), which exhibit complex rheological properties. These mixtures may vary in viscosity, density, and particle size distribution, making their behavior difficult to predict. Underground water may exert hydrostatic pressure on the stored coal, influencing its mechanical behavior and compaction properties. Changes in pressure can result in coal compaction or expansion, affecting bunker stability and the integrity of surrounding rock strata. The main goal of the paper was to determine the values of pressure field variations exerted by the flowing hydromixture within underground coal storage bunkers. This objective reflects a critical aspect of understanding the dynamic behavior of coal-water mixtures (hydromixture) under varying conditions, particularly in environments where water hazards pose significant challenges to storage and operational stability. The paper utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods to examine the changes in pressure within underground coal storage bunkers induced by the flow of coal-water mixtures. The examination of damage to an underground coal storage bunker due to stress distribution was conducted using the finite element method (FEM). This computational technique is widely utilized in engineering and structural analysis to model complex systems and predict the behavior of materials under various loading conditions The results of the CFD numerical simulation were compared with the mathematical models., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study examines whether exposure to ambient temperature in nineteenth-century urban space affected the ratio of boys to girls at birth. Furthermore, we investigate the details of temperature effects timing upon sex ratio at birth. The research included 66,009 individual births, aggregated in subsequent months of births for the years 1847-1900, i.e. 33,922 boys and 32,087 girls. The statistical modelling of the probability of a girl being born is based on logistic GAM with penalized splines and automatically selected complexity. Our research emphasizes the significant effect of temperature in the year of conception: the higher the temperature was, the smaller probability of a girl being born was observed. There were also several significant temperature lags before conception and during pregnancy. Our findings indicate that in the past, ambient temperature, similar to psychological stress, hunger, malnutrition, and social and economic factors, influenced the viability of a foetus. Research on the effects of climate on the sex ratio in historical populations may allow for a better understanding of the relationship between environmental factors and reproduction, especially concerning historical populations since due to some cultural limitations, they were more prone to stronger environmental stressors than currently., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) serves as the primary receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has implications for the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Based on our previously published bioinformatic analysis, in this study we aimed to analyze the diagnostic and predictive utility of miRNAs (miR-10b-5p, miR-124-3p, miR-200b-3p, miR-26b-5p, miR-302c-5p) identified as top regulators of ACE2 network with potential to affect cardiomyocytes and cardiovascular system in patients with COVID-19. The expression of miRNAs was determined through qRT-PCR in a cohort of 79 hospitalized COVID-19 patients as well as 32 healthy volunteers. Blood samples and clinical data of COVID-19 patients were collected at admission, 7-days and 21-days after admission. We also performed SHAP analysis of clinical data and miRNAs target predictions and advanced enrichment analyses. Low expression of miR-200b-3p at the seventh day of admission is indicative of predictive value in determining the length of hospital stay and/or the likelihood of mortality, as shown in ROC curve analysis with an AUC of 0.730 and a p-value of 0.002. MiR-26b-5p expression levels in COVID-19 patients were lower at the baseline, 7 and 21-days of admission compared to the healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Similarly, miR-10b-5p expression levels were lower at the baseline and 21-days post admission (P = 0.001). The opposite situation was observed in miR-124-3p and miR-302c-5p. Enrichment analysis showed influence of analyzed miRNAs on IL-2 signaling pathway and multiple cardiovascular diseases through COVID-19-related targets. Moreover, the COVID-19-related genes regulated by miR-200b-3p were linked to T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase and the HIF-1 transcriptional activity in hypoxia. Analysis focused on COVID-19 associated genes showed that all analyzed miRNAs are strongly affecting disease pathways related to CVDs which could be explained by their strong interaction with the ACE2 network., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study explored sex-specific patterns in the relationship between maturity, body morphology, and change of direction (COD) and agility (AG) in adolescent volleyball players. The sample comprised 22 males and 24 females aged 15-17 with at least 4 years of sports experience. Measurements included body height, weight, muscle and fat mass, leg length, and center of mass. The study determined the Age of Peak Height Velocity (APHV) and evaluated sensorimotor ability through pre-planned COD and not-planned AG five-time shuttle runs, measuring the time difference as the index of reactivity. Positive correlations were found between COD and AG with fat mass index (FMI) in boys, while negative relative lower limb length (rLL) correlated with COD. In females, age of peak height velocity (APHV) showed a significant negative relationship with sensorimotor ability. Linear and polynomial regressions confirmed predictive and curvilinear relationships, respectively. Cluster analysis identified different associations in boys and girls, emphasizing sex-specific patterns. Body fat percentage had a negative impact on COD-AG in boys, while the optimal lower limb length proportion positively influenced COD due to enhanced maneuverability. Maturation affected sensorimotor abilities in girls. The findings suggest a need for a tailored approach to COD-AG development based on sex-specific considerations in adolescent volleyball players., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to investigate the potential differences in the match running performance of professional soccer players 5 min. before scoring and conceding a goal in the Polish Ekstraklasa. The sample consisted of 278 matches with 570 goals scored during official matches of the 2022/23 Polish Ekstraklasa season. All data was collected utilising the computerised multiple-camera optical tracking system TRACAB. Total distance covered (TD), standing distance (StD; < 0.72 km h -1 ), walking distance (WD; 0.73-7.2 km h -1 ), jogging distance (JG; 7.21-14.4 km h -1 ), running distance (RD; 14.41-19.8 km h -1 ), high-speed running distance (HSR; 19.81-25.2 km h -1 ) and sprinting distance (SprD; > 25.2 km h -1 ) were analysed in 5-min intervals prior to a goal scored for both teams. The employed linear mixed models showed that all examined match-running performance metrics were higher in teams that scored a goal compared to teams that conceded a goal. Within 5 min before scoring a goal in Polish Ekstraklasa matches, the scoring team produced significantly greater TD (∆ 95%CI 256.8-300.4 m; p = 0.001), WD (∆ 95%CI 52.3-95.8 m; p = 0.001), JG (∆ 95%CI 100.5-144.1 m; p = 0.001) and RD (∆ 95%CI 16.2-59.8 m; p = 0.001) compared to the conceding team, although no differences were found for HSR and SprD. These results demonstrate the enhanced identification potential of key physical performance factors influencing goal scoring in the Polish Ekstraklasa, thereby optimising the training process and improving overall performance. To enhance the effectiveness of soccer training, coaching and performance staff should consider this study's findings, that indicate an increase in the volume of medium- and low-intensity running efforts preceding a goal., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Heart rate is under constant autonomic influence but the development of the influence in children is not fully understood. Continuous electrocardiograms were obtained in 1045 healthy school-age children (550 females) during postural provocations with body position changes between supine, sitting, standing, supine, standing, sitting and supine (in this order), 10 min in each position with position changes within 20 s. Heart rate was measured in each position and speed of heart rate changes between positions were assessed by regressions of rates versus timing of individual cardiac cycles. Supine heart rate was gradually decreasing with age: 82.32 ± 9.92, 74.33 ± 9.79, 67.43 ± 9.45 beats per minute (bpm) in tertile age groups < 11, 11-15, > 15 years, respectively (p < 0.0001), with no significant sex difference. Averaged speed of heart rate changes differed little between sexes and age groups but was significantly faster during rate deceleration than acceleration (e.g., supine ↔ standing: 2.99 ± 1.02 vs. 2.57 ± 0.68 bpm/s, p < 0.0001). The study suggests that in children, vagal heart rate control does not noticeably change between ages of approximately 6-19 years. The gradual resting heart rate decrease during childhood and adolescence is likely caused by lowering of cardiac sympathetic influence from sympathetic overdrive in small children to adult-like sympatho-vagal balance in older adolescents., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This technique-focused observational study explores the impact of a 6-week Nordic Walking (NW) program on physiological and biomechanical aspects in ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients. Twelve male IHD patients (66.2 ± 5.2 years, 12.2 ± 7.5 years of disease duration) were evaluated pre- and post-training for (i) gait parameters, (ii) exercise tolerance using electrocardiographic (ECG) stress test, (iii) a 6-min walk test (6MWT). The NW training, adhering to IHD patient guidelines, involved a 100-m walk at a self-selected, preferred speed without sticks, with classic NW sticks and mechatronic sticks. A mechatronic measuring system, specifically engineered for measuring, diagnosing and monitoring the patient's gait, was integrated into mechatronic sticks. Post-training, significant enhancements were observed in ECG stress test duration, metabolic equivalency, and 6MWT distance, irrespective of the stick type. However, no significant changes were noted in spatiotemporal parameters concerning the measured side, stick utilisation, or type. The results suggest that NW training boosts exercise capacity and refines gait mechanics in male IHD patients. However, the improvement in exercise capacity was not linked to changes in gait mechanics from NW training but rather to the movement during NW gait. Hence, the key to enhancing exercise capacity in IHD patients is the movement during NW gait, not the quality of gait mechanics., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Blood-based biomarkers that reliably indicate disease activity in the intestinal tract are an important unmet need in the management of patients with IBD. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membranous microparticles, which reflect the cellular and functional state of their site of site of origin. As ultrasound waves may lead to molecular shifts of EV contents, we hypothesized that application of ultrasound waves on inflamed intestinal tissue in IBD may amplify the inflammation-specific molecular shifts in EVs like altered EV-miRNA expression, which in turn can be detected in the peripheral blood. 26 patients with IBD were included in the prospective clinical study. Serum samples were collected before and 30 min after diagnostic transabdominal ultrasound. Differential miRNA expression was analyzed by sequencing. Candidate inducible EV-miRNAs were functionally assessed in vitro by transfection of miRNA mimics and qPCR of predicted target genes. Serum EV-miRNA concentration at baseline correlated with disease severity, as determined by clinical activity scores and sonographic findings. Three miRNAs (miR-942-5p, mir-5588, mir-3195) were significantly induced by sonography. Among the significantly regulated EV-miRNAs, miR-942-5p was strongly induced in higher grade intestinal inflammation and correlated with clinical activity in Crohn's disease. Prediction of target regulation and transfection of miRNA mimics inferred a role of this EV-miRNA in regulating barrier function in inflammation. Induction of mir-5588 and mir-3195 did not correlate with inflammation grade. This proof-of-concept trial highlights the principle of induced molecular shifts in EVs from inflamed tissue through transabdominal ultrasound. These inducible EVs and their molecular cargo like miRNA could become novel biomarkers for intestinal inflammation in IBD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cluster analyzes of facial models of autistic patients aim to clarify whether it is possible to diagnose autism on the basis of facial features and further to stratify the autism spectrum disorder. We performed a cluster analysis of sets of 3D scans of ASD patients (116) and controls (157) using Euclidean and geodesic distances in order to recapitulate the published results on the Czech population. In the presented work, we show that the major factor determining the clustering structure and consequently also the correlation of resulting clusters with autism severity degree is body mass index corrected for age (BMIFA). After removing the BMIFA effect from the data in two independent ways, both the cluster structure and autism severity correlations disappeared. Despite the fact that the influence of body mass index (BMI) on facial dimensions was studied many times, this is the first time to our knowledge when BMI was incorporated into the faces clustering study and it thereby casts doubt on previous results. We also performed correlation analysis which showed that the only correction used in the existing clustering studies-dividing the facial distance by the average value within the face-is not eliminating correlation between facial distances and BMIFA within the facial cohort., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Male sex is a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) with higher illness burden and earlier onset. Thus, we hypothesized that loss of chromosome Y (LOY) in the tumor micro-environment (TME) might be involved in oncogenesis. Previous studies show that LOY in circulating leukocytes of aging men was associated with shorter survival and non-hematological cancer, as well as higher LOY in CD4 + T-lymphocytes in men with prostate cancer vs. controls. However, nothing is known about LOY in leukocytes infiltrating TME and we address this aspect here. We studied frequency and functional effects of LOY in blood, TME and non-tumorous tissue. Regulatory T-lymphocytes (Tregs) in TME had the highest frequency of LOY (22%) in comparison to CD4 + T-lymphocytes and cytotoxic CD8 + T-lymphocytes. LOY score using scRNA-seq was also linked to higher expression of PDCD1, TIGIT and IKZF2 in Tregs. PDCD1 and TIGIT encode immune checkpoint receptors involved in the regulation of Tregs function. Our study sets the direction for further functional research regarding a probable role of LOY in intensifying features related to the suppressive phenotype of Tregs in TME and consequently a possible influence on immunotherapy response in CRC patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Air pollution stands as a significant modern-day challenge impacting life quality, the environment, and the economy. It comprises various pollutants like gases, particulate matter, biological molecules, and more, stemming from sources such as vehicle emissions, industrial operations, agriculture, and natural events. Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), among these harmful gases, is notably prevalent in densely populated urban regions. Given its adverse effects on health and the environment, accurate monitoring of NO 2 levels becomes imperative for devising effective risk mitigation strategies. However, the precise measurement of NO 2 poses challenges as it traditionally relies on costly and bulky equipment. This has prompted the development of more affordable alternatives, although their reliability is often questionable. The aim of this article is to introduce a groundbreaking method for precisely calibrating cost-effective NO 2 sensors. This technique involves statistical preprocessing of low-cost sensor readings, aligning their distribution with reference data. Central to this calibration is an artificial neural network (ANN) surrogate designed to predict sensor correction coefficients. It utilizes environmental variables (temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure), cross-references auxiliary NO 2 sensors, and incorporates short time series of previous readings from the primary sensor. These methods are complemented by global data scaling. Demonstrated using a custom-designed cost-effective monitoring platform and high-precision public reference station data collected over 5 months, every component of our calibration framework proves crucial, contributing to its exceptional accuracy (with a correlation coefficient near 0.95 concerning the reference data and an RMSE below 2.4 µg/m 3 ). This level of performance positions the calibrated sensor as a viable, cost-effective alternative to traditional monitoring approaches., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Sarcopenia is a serious systemic disease that reduces overall survival. TAVI is selectively performed in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not indicated for open cardiac surgery due to severe polymorbidity. Artificial intelligence-assisted body composition assessment from available CT scans appears to be a simple tool to stratify these patients into low and high risk based on future estimates of all-cause mortality. Within our study, the segmentation of preprocedural CT scans at the level of the lumbar third vertebra in patients undergoing TAVI was performed using a neural network (AutoMATiCA). The obtained parameters (area and density of skeletal muscles and intramuscular, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissue) were analyzed using Cox univariate and multivariable models for continuous and categorical variables to assess the relation of selected variables with all-cause mortality. 866 patients were included (median(interquartile range)): age 79.7 (74.9-83.3) years; BMI 28.9 (25.9-32.6) kg/m 2 . Survival analysis was performed on all automatically obtained parameters of muscle and fat density and area. Skeletal muscle index (SMI in cm 2 /m 2 ), visceral (VAT in HU) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT in HU) density predicted the all-cause mortality in patients after TAVI expressed as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI): SMI HR 0.986, 95% CI (0.975-0.996); VAT 1.015 (1.002-1.028) and SAT 1.014 (1.004-1.023), all p < 0.05. Automatic body composition assessment can estimate higher all-cause mortality risk in patients after TAVI, which may be useful in preoperative clinical reasoning and stratification of patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The study determined the influence of changes in land use and land cover (LULC) on land surface temperature (LST) over a 33-year period based on a medium-sized European city (Poznań, Poland). The LST was estimated from Landsat 5, 8 and Terra (MOD11A2v6) satellites. The local estimation of climate patterns was based on the Local Climate Zones (LCZ) classification utilised with the methodology proposed by the World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT). Moreover, the Copernicus' imperviousness density product (IMD) was used. Between 2006 and 2018 the area with IMD of 41-100% increased by 6.95 km 2 , 0-20% decreased by 7.03 km 2 . The contribution of built-up LCZs increased by 7.4% (19.21 km 2 ) between 1988 and 2021 reaching 13% (34 km 2 ) within open mid-rise LCZ. Due to urbanisation and reforestation, low plants LCZ shrunk by 12.7%. For every 10% increase in IMD, LST increases by up to 0.14 °C. Between 1988 and 2021 the LSTm in specific LCZs rose from 1.52 up to 2.97 °C. As per LST models LCZ change from natural to built-up led up to 1.19 °C LST rise. The increase of the LSTm was registered even when the LCZ remained unchanged., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Obesity is associated with increased ovarian inflammation and the establishment of leptin resistance. We presently investigated the role of impaired leptin signalling on transcriptional regulation in granulosa cells (GCs) collected from genetically obese mice. Furthermore, we characterised the association between ovarian leptin signalling, the activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and macrophage infiltration in obese mice. After phenotype characterisation, ovaries were collected from distinct group of animals for protein and mRNA expression analysis: (i) mice subjected to a diet-induced obesity (DIO) protocol, where one group was fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and another a standard chow diet (CD) for durations of 4 or 16 weeks; (ii) mice genetically deficient in the long isoform of the leptin receptor (ObRb; db/db); (iii) mice genetically deficient in leptin (ob/ob); and (iv) mice rendered pharmacologically hyperleptinemic (LEPT). Next, GCs from antral follicles isolated from db/db and ob/ob mice were subjected to transcriptome analysis. Transcriptional analysis revealed opposing profiles in genes associated with steroidogenesis and prostaglandin action between the genetic models, despite the similarities in body weight. Furthermore, we observed no changes in the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome components in the ovaries of db/db mice or in markers of M1 and M2 macrophage infiltration. This contrasted with the downregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome components and M1 markers in ob/ob and 16-wk HFD-fed mice. We concluded that leptin signalling regulates NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the expression of M1 markers in the ovaries of obese mice in an ObRb-dependent and ObRb-independent manner. Furthermore, we found no changes in the expression of leptin signalling and NLRP3 inflammasome genes in GCs from db/db and ob/ob mice, which was associated with no effects on macrophage infiltration genes, despite the dysregulation of genes associated with steroidogenesis in homozygous obese db/db. Our results suggest that: (i) the crosstalk between leptin signalling, NLRP3 inflammasome and macrophage infiltration takes place in ovarian components other than the GC compartment; and (ii) transcriptional changes in GCs from homozygous obese ob/ob mice suggest structural rearrangement and organisation, whereas in db/db mice the impairment in steroidogenesis and secretory activity., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study provides insights into factors that influence the water balance of selected European lakes, mainly in Central Europe, and their implications for water quality. An analysis of isotopic, chemical and land use data using statistical and artificial intelligence models showed that climate, particularly air temperature and precipitation, played a key role in intensifying evaporation losses from the lakes. Water balance was also affected by catchment factors, notably groundwater table depth. The study shows that lakes at lower altitudes with shallow depths and catchments dominated by urban or crop cover were more sensitive to water balance changes. These lakes had higher evaporation-to-inflow ratios and increased concentrations of total nitrogen in the water. On the other hand, lakes at higher elevations with deeper depths and prevailing forest cover in the catchment were less sensitive to water balance changes. These lakes, which are often of glacial origin, were characterized by lower evaporation losses and thus better water quality in terms of total nitrogen concentrations. Understanding connections between water balance and water quality is crucial for effective lake management and the preservation of freshwater ecosystems., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This paper presents active analgesic and anti-inflammatory dressings based on cotton woven material with surface functionalization enabling drug implementation. For this purpose, lactide was polymerized on the surface of cotton textiles to achieve better compatibility with hydrophobic drug and polylactide (PLA)-based macromolecules. Subsequently, ibuprofen-loaded PLA and PLA-PEG were implemented through the exhausting method. Such material was tested for cytotoxicity (toward L929 mouse fibroblasts) and anti-inflammatory activity (towards human Hs68 fibroblasts) based on the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. The results showed that the drug attachment and its performance are influenced by a combination of mercerization, bleaching and polylactide grafting, and the release of ibuprofen depends on the drug-loaded layer structure. Moreover, we show that cotton woven fabric with ibuprofen-loaded PLA and PLA-PEG cover layers had anti-inflammatory properties. These new dressings may open possibilities for developing prolonged analgesic and anti-inflammatory materials for wound healing or transdermal drug delivery., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Decreased left atrial appendage velocity (LAAV) is considered a significant risk factor thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage (LAA). The aim of this study was to assess the role of echocardiographic left atrial (LA) function parameters in predicting LAAV in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing catheter ablation. We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with persistent AF undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) directly before the first AF ablation in 2019-2022. Of the 150 patients enrolled in the study, 29.3% (n = 44) had reduced LAAV values defined as < 25 cm/s. Patients with decreased LAAV values exhibited significantly reduced left atrial reservoir and conduit strain (LASr and LAScd), LA emptying fraction, and average e' values. This group also presented with a high LA stiffness index (LASI), high LA and right atrial area, and high LA volume index (LAVI) and E/e' ratio. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, LASI and LAVI remained significant predictors of the reduced LAAV. The threshold values were 1.6 for LASI and 44.47 ml/m 2 for LAVI, with area under the curve values of 0.809 and 0.755, respectively. Among all noninvasive echocardiographic parameters, LASI and LAVI were found to be the best predictors of reduced LAAV, with good sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, LASI was found to be the only significant predictor of reduced LAAV defined as < 20 cm/s as well as < 25 cm/s., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The article presents the effect of the addition of short straight steel fibers on the behavior of high-strength concrete (HSC) under compression (σ-ε curves). Deformations of cylindrical samples were measured simultaneously with the use of linear variable differential transformers (LVDT), strain gauges and the method of digital image correlation (DIC). The study showed that as the content of short straight steel fibers increases, both the composite compressive strength (f c ) and strains (ε 0 ), which correspond to the stress equal to the compressive strength, increase as well. To a lesser extent, the effect of short straight fibers on the descending part of the σ-ε curve was observed. An increase in the density and toughness ratio of the compressive strength of high-strength concrete with fibers compared to concrete without fibers was also observed. Moreover, compressive strength of the composite was estimated using the ultrasonic method. Based on the obtained results, a statistical analysis and an estimation of parameters f c and ε 0 were carried out, and an analytical model was proposed to describe σ-ε relationship for HSC reinforced with short straight fibers under compressive loading. The results obtained for compressed fiber-reinforced concrete were compared with data available in literature., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The active DNA demethylation process, which involves TET proteins, can affect DNA methylation pattern. TET dependent demethylation results in DNA hypomethylation by oxidation 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) and its derivatives. Moreover, TETs' activity may be upregulated by ascorbate. Given that aberrant DNA methylation of genes implicated in breast carcinogenesis may be involved in tumor progression, we wanted to determine whether breast cancer patients exert changes in the active DNA demethylation process. The study included blood samples from breast cancer patients (n = 74) and healthy subjects (n = 71). We analyzed the expression of genes involved in the active demethylation process (qRT-PCR), and 5-mC and its derivatives level (2D-UPLC MS/MS). The ascorbate level was determined using UPLC-MS. Breast cancer patients had significantly higher TET3 expression level, lower 5-mC and 5-hmC DNA levels. TET3 was significantly increased in luminal B breast cancer patients with expression of hormone receptors. Moreover, the ascorbate level in the plasma of breast cancer patients was decreased with the accompanying increase of sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters (SLC23A1 and SLC23A2). The presented study indicates the role of TET3 in DNA demethylation in breast carcinogenesis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Increasing temperature influences the habitats of various organisms, including microscopic invertebrates. To gain insight into temperature-dependent changes in tardigrades, we isolated storage cells exposed to various temperatures and conducted biochemical and ultrastructural analysis in active and tun-state Paramacrobiotus experimentalis Kaczmarek, Mioduchowska, Poprawa, & Roszkowska, 2020. The abundance of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and ultrastructure of the storage cells were examined at different temperatures (20 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, 37 °C, 40 °C, and 42 °C) in storage cells isolated from active specimens of Pam. experimentalis. In the active animals, upon increase in external temperature, we observed an increase in the levels of HSPs (HSP27, HSP60, and HSP70). Furthermore, the number of ultrastructural changes in storage cells increased with increasing temperature. Cellular organelles, such as mitochondria and the rough endoplasmic reticulum, gradually degenerated. At 42 °C, cell death occurred by necrosis. Apart from the higher electron density of the karyoplasm and the accumulation of electron-dense material in some mitochondria (at 42 °C), almost no changes were observed in the ultrastructure of tun storage cells exposed to different temperatures. We concluded that desiccated (tun-state) are resistant to high temperatures, but not active tardigrades (survival rates of tuns after 24 h of rehydration: 93.3% at 20 °C, 60.0% at 35 °C, 33.3% at 37 °C, 33.3% at 40 °C, and 20.0% at 42 °C)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Gram-negative spiral-shaped Helicobacter pylori (Hp) bacteria induce the development of different gastric disorders. The growing resistance of Hp to antibiotics prompts to search for new therapeutic formulations. A promising candidate is Mycobacterium bovis BCG (BCG) with immunomodulatory properties. Biodegradable mucoadhesive chitosan is a good carrier for delivering BCG mycobacteria to the gastric mucosal environment. This study aimed to show whether BCG bacilli are able to increase the phagocytic activity of Cavia porcellus-guinea pig macrophages derived from the bone marrow towards fluorescently labeled Escherichia coli. Furthermore, to encapsulate live BCG bacilli, in spray-dried chitosan microparticles (CHI-MPs), and assess the pH-dependent release of mycobacteria in pH conditions mimicking gastric (acidic) or gut (alkaline) milieu. Microparticles (MPs) were made of chitosan and coated with Pluronic F-127-(Plur) or N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine-(GlcNAc) to increase the MPs resistance to low pH or to increase anti-Hp effect, respectively. Spray-drying method was used for microencapsulation of live BCG. The biosafety of tested CHI-MPs has been confirmed using cell models in vitro and the model of guinea pig in vivo. The CHI-MPs loaded with BCG released live mycobacteria at pH 3.0 (CHI-GlcNAc-MPs) or pH 8.0. (CHI-Plur-MPs). The CHI-MPs loaded with live BCG can be used for per os inoculation of Cavia porcellus to check the effectiveness of delivered mycobacteria in increasing anti-H. pylori host response., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Knowing about the antibiotic resistance, serotypes, and virulence-associated genes of Group B Streptococcus for epidemiological and vaccine development is very important. We have determined antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, serotype, and virulence profiles. The antibiotic susceptibility was assessed for a total of 421 Streptococcus agalactiae strains, isolated from pregnant women and neonates. Then, 89 erythromycin and/or clindamycin-resistant strains (82 isolates obtained from pregnant women and seven isolates derived from neonates) were assessed in detail. PCR techniques were used to identify the studied strains, perform serotyping, and assess genes encoding selected virulence factors. Phenotypic and genotypic methods determined the mechanisms of resistance. All tested strains were sensitive to penicillin and levofloxacin. The constitutive MLS B mechanism (78.2%), inducible MLS B mechanism (14.9%), and M phenotype (6.9%) were identified in the macrolide-resistant strains. It was found that macrolide resistance is strongly associated with the presence of the ermB gene and serotype V. FbsA, fbsB, fbsC, scpB, and lmb formed the most recurring pattern of genes among the nine surface proteins whose genes were analysed. A minority (7.9%) of the GBS isolates exhibited resistance to lincosamides and macrolides, or either, including those that comprised the hypervirulent clone ST-17. The representative antibiotic resistance pattern consisted of erythromycin, clindamycin, and tetracycline resistance (71.9%). An increase in the fraction of strains resistant to macrolides and lincosamides indicates the need for monitoring both the susceptibility of these strains and the presence of the ST-17 clone., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A posterior approach is recommended for the correction of mild to moderate upper eyelid ptosis in adults. The aim of this study is to propose a new algorithm that helps to predict outcomes in the transconjunctival correction of moderate to severe blepharoptosis. This study included adult patients with moderate to severe upper eyelid ptosis treated between 2019 and 2021. Patients meeting inclusion criteria underwent ptosis correction through a posterior approach using an algorithm: 4 mm Mueller's muscle transconjunctival resection to correct 1 mm ptosis (depending on a test with 10% phenylephrine: 3-12 mm) ± tarsal plate resection: 1 mm for every 1 mm of residual ptosis after phenylephrine test, but leaving a minimum of 4 mm upper tarsus intact. Outcomes were ovserved within at least 6-months. Outcomes were assessed based on pre- and postoperative MRD1 changes, inter-eyelid height symmetry, cosmetic effect, and complications. Outcomes of 118 procedures in 81 patients (average age 69, range: 47-87) were analyzed. MRD1 changes were statistically significant, from 0.2 ± 1.6 mm before to 4.1 ± 1 mm after surgery. The function of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle was 10.2 ± 3.4 (range 5-17) mm. Upper eyelid lifted by an average of 1.8 ± 0.7 (range 0-3) mm after the instillation of 10% phenylephrine eyedrops. An average of 8.5 ± 0.8 (range 8-10) mm of conjunctiva and Mueller's muscle and 2.2 ± 0.9 (range 1-5) mm of the tarsal plate were resected during the procedure. Inter-eyelid height symmetry within 1 mm was achieved in 95% of outcomes. The algorithm introduced in this study appears to be useful to achieve repeatable satisfactory outcomes in the transconjunctival correction of moderate to severe upper eyelid ptosis in adults with at least "fair" levator function., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Modern applications of neural-network-based AI solutions tend to move from datacenter backends to low-power edge devices. Environmental, computational, and power constraints are inevitable consequences of such a shift. Limiting the bit count of neural network parameters proved to be a valid technique for speeding up and increasing efficiency of the inference process. Hence, it is understandable that a similar approach is gaining momentum in the field of neural network training. In the face of growing complexity of neural network architectures, reducing resources required for preparation of new models would not only improve cost efficiency but also enable a variety of new AI applications on modern personal devices. In this work, we present a deep refinement of neural network parameters limitation with the use of the asymmetric exponent method. In addition to the previous research, we study new techniques of floating-point variables limitation, representation, and rounding. Moreover, by leveraging exponent offset, we present floating-point precision adjustments without an increase in variables' bit count. The proposed method allowed us to train LeNet, AlexNet and ResNet-18 convolutional neural networks with a custom 8-bit floating-point representation achieving minimal or no results degradation in comparison to baseline 32-bit floating-point variables., (© 2024. The Author(s).)