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The publication is devoted to several examples of the practice of criticism of the Head of State and executive power in Polish history. The authors have chosen three moments of interest: the first one is the first decade of the “Congress” Polish Kingdom established in 1815, and the second refers to the Second Polish Republic in the period after the coup d’État by Józef Piłsudski in 1926. Finally, the authors refer to some practical aspects of criticism of the authority in the public space in recent times, also recalling the high-profile criminal trial that reached the highest instance – the Supreme Court in 2023. In these examples, the authors focus on aspects of the permissibility of criticism, its specific forms and the reaction of the executive in the early history of the constitutional state and camouflaged criticism of power respectively, through the interwar liberal model of protection of freedom of speech and of the press, which failed in the face of authoritarian changes and the political will to protect the good name of one particular individual; after the death of Piłsudski, the lack of adequate legal protection post mortem was finally “remedied” by a particular repressive law. The last section of the discussion refers to the contemporary Polish state of law, and here the focus is on the faces of criticism and the forms of its suppression. In particular, attention was paid to the problem of the extensive use of means used by the police against criticism particularly unpleasant to the power camp (up to the bizarre action with the hiring of a jib) and the question of maintaining specific protection of the Head of State against defamation in the Criminal Code.

The research aimed to determine the phenotypic characteristic, pathogenicity and molecular characterization of Hypomyces perniciosus isolates responsible for wet bubble disease of the white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Phenotypic characteristics such as colony appearance, mycelium texture, and pigmentation were studied on four different agar media, i.e., potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt extract agar (MEA), Czapek-Dox yeast agar (CYA), and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), after eight days of incubation. Additionally, the growth rate of the tested isolates was studied depending on the pH of the medium. Fungal isolates showed the highest mycelial growth on MEA and SDA at pH 6.0. However, on CYA at pH 7.0, the mycelium exhibited the worst growth. Isolate identification and genetic relationship analysis were carried out using internal transcribed spacer region sequencing and the random amplified polymorphic DNA method. The research confirmed that all Polish isolates belong to the species H. perniciosus, and the genetic diversity is relatively low. Phylogenetic analyses revealed three subgroups of H. perniciosus isolates. The first group included three genetically distinct isolates with a similarity coefficient in the range of 0.76–0.85 to isolates CBS 815.73 and CBS 322.52. The second group was divided into two subgroups and included 16 isolates with a genetic similarity range of 0.91 to 1.0 to CBS 815.73 and CBS 322.52 isolates. Furthermore, the eight genetically similar isolates exhibited the greatest pathogenicity towards A. bisporus.

Abstract Investigating the potential of human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs) in in vitro heart models is essential to develop cardiac regenerative medicine. iPSC-CMs are immature with a fetal-like phenotype relative to cardiomyocytes in vivo. Literature indicates methods for enhancing the structural maturity of iPSC-CMs. Among these strategies, nanofibrous scaffolds offer more accurate mimicry of the functioning of cardiac tissue structures in the human body. However, further research is needed on the use of nanofibrous mats to understand their effects on iPSC-CMs. Our research aimed to evaluate the suitability of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and polyurethane (PU) nanofibrous mats with different elasticities as materials for the maturation of iPSC-CMs. Analysis of cell morphology and orientation and the expression levels of selected genes and proteins were performed to determine the effect of the type of nanofibrous mats on the maturation of iPSC-CMs after long-term (10-day) culture. Understanding the impact of 3D structural properties in in vitro cardiac models on induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte maturation is crucial for advancing cardiac tissue engineering and regenerative medicine because it can help optimize conditions for obtaining more mature and functional human cardiomyocytes.

Urszula Ko&sacute;ciuczuk, Katarzyna Tarnowska, Ewa Rynkiewicz-Szczepanska Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University in Bialystok, Bialystok, PolandCorrespondence: Urszula Ko&sacute;ciuczuk, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University of Bialystok, Kilinskiego Street 1, Bialystok, Poland, Email urszula.kosciuczuk@umb.edu.plPurpose: The methods of perioperative analgesia and pain control have changed. The principle of opioid-based analgesia has been modified to multimodal analgesia, followed by LOA (low opioid anaesthesia) and OFA (opioid-free anaesthesia). The aim was to describe the effects of LOA on nausea, vomiting, and pain control during general anaesthesia and postoperative period after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Patients and Methods: The protocol included the study group-40 patients received low-opioid anaesthesia (LOA), and the control group-40 patients received general anaesthesia with opioid analgesia (OA). The scheme of LOA was based on ketamine, lidocaine, magnesium sulfate, paracetamol, and metamizole. The OA was based on standard opioid (fentanyl) administration in induction and maintenance phase due to clinical observation. Postoperative analgesia included 1g of paracetamol and 1g of metamizol intravenously, with a 6-hour interval between doses.Results: Significant differences in the pain score in the periods of 2– 6, 6– 12, and 12– 24 hours after anaesthesia between the groups were noticed (p < 0.001). Moreover, a significant difference in the frequency of nausea (p = 0.005) and vomiting (p = 0.04) between groups were presented. Nausea occurred in 54.05% of OA group, while in the LOA group, it occurred in a 23.08%. Vomiting occurred in 32.43% of control group, while in the study group, it occurred in 12.82% of patients.Conclusion: The LOA protocol was more beneficial in reducing nausea and vomiting than the opioid-based method of anaesthesia. The LOA protocol of general anaesthesia during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and non-opioid postoperative analgesia have better outcomes in pain control, as well as nausea and vomiting, and improve postoperative patient comfort. The LOA protocol during anaesthesia and non-opioid postoperative analgesia should be considered in routine practice.Keywords: analgesia, coanalgesics, perioperative safety

Abstract Background The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has been observed from the very beginning of the fight against COVID-19, some mutations are indicators of potentially dangerous variants of the virus. However, there is no clear association between the genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 and the severity of COVID-19. We aimed to analyze the genetic variability of RdRp in correlation with different courses of COVID-19. Results The prospective study included 77 samples of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from outpatients (1st degree of severity) and hospitalized patients (2nd, 3rd and 4th degree of severity). The retrospective analyses included 15,898,266 cases of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences deposited in the GISAID repository. Single-nucleotide variants were identified based on the four sequenced amplified fragments of SARS-CoV-2. The analysis of the results was performed using appropriate statistical methods, with p T, 14697C > T, 15096 T > C, and 15279C > T), while the 15240C > T mutation was common among strains isolated from outpatients. The selected mutations were searched worldwide in the GISAID database, their presence was correlated with the severity of COVID-19. Conclusion Identified mutations have the potential to be used to assess the increased risk of hospitalization in COVID-19 positive patients. Experimental studies and extensive epidemiological data are needed to investigate the association between individual mutations and the severity of COVID-19.

Satellite cells, the stem cells of skeletal muscle tissue, hold a remarkable regeneration capacity and therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine. However, low satellite cell yield from autologous or donor-derived muscles hinders the adoption of satellite cell transplantation for the treatment of muscle diseases, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). To address this limitation, here we investigated whether satellite cells can be derived in allogeneic or xenogeneic animal hosts. First, injection of CRISPR/Cas9-corrected [Dmd.sup.mdx] mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into mouse blastocysts carrying an ablation system of host satellite cells gave rise to intraspecies chimeras exclusively carrying iPSC-derived satellite cells. Furthermore, injection of genetically corrected DMD iPSCs into rat blastocysts resulted in the formation of interspecies rat-mouse chimeras harboring mouse satellite cells. Notably, iPSC-derived satellite cells or derivative myoblasts produced in intraspecies or interspecies chimeras restored dystrophin expression in DMD mice following intramuscular transplantation and contributed to the satellite cell pool. Collectively, this study demonstrates the feasibility of producing therapeutically competent stem cells across divergent animal species, raising the possibility of generating human muscle stem cells in large animals for regenerative medicine purposes., Introduction Muscle degeneration denotes the loss of skeletal muscle mass as a consequence of pathological conditions in the form of sarcopenia, cachexia, or muscular dystrophies (1, 2). Following muscle insult, [...]

The purpose of the article/hypothesis. The purpose of the article is to identify and assess the underpricing of initial public offerings in Poland on the regulated and alternative markets, considering the division of total underpricing into primary underpricing and secondary underpricing. The study also takes into account different types of IPOs (cold, neutral and hot). Such an approach to measuring underpricing based on the data coming from both the regulated market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange and the alternative market – NewConnect, is pioneering on the Polish market. Methodology. The statistical analysis covers 271 companies debuting on the regulated market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange between 2005 and 2022 and 585 companies debuting on the alternative market between 2007 and 2022. Total underpricing was divided into primary underpricing and secondary underpricing. All IPOs were split into cold, hot, and neutral offerings according to the secondary underpricing. T-tests for estimating the significance of the rate of returns were conducted for both the regulated and alternative markets. The correlations were estimated using Pearson’s index. Results of the research. The results of the analysis show that in Poland, the IPO underpricing occurring on the primary market is significantly positive, representing the remuneration of subscribers for participating in the initial public offering. Moreover, it is higher for an IPO on the alternative market than on the regulated market. In contrast, returns calculated from opening prices to closing prices on the first day of trading are negative in both markets, with lower returns in the NewConnect market. The average primary underpricing for cold IPOs is higher than for hot IPOs for both the regulated and alternative markets. Average secondary underpricing is negative for cold IPOs and positive for hot IPOs on both the regulated market and NewConnect. Furthermore, there is a significant positive correlation between primary and total underpricing regardless the hotness of the IPOs and a positive significant correlation between primary and secondary underpricing occurs only for hot offers while for cold offers it is negative.

Theoretical background: Much attention has been paid in the finance literature to the issue of raising capital through the capital market. However, there is still not much focus on the analysis of this issue in the context of the transition of companies from the lower to the higher end of the stock market, e.g. the switch from the alternative market to the regulated market. In the Polish literature, the analysis of the going public in two stages is relatively unexplored. Purpose of the article: The purpose of the study is the identification of the impact of switching listing venue from an alternative market to the regulated one on the possibility of raising capital and the financial leverage. The research presents the results of the analysis of raising capital by the companies firstly entering the NewConnect and then transferring to the main market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Research methods: The analyses used the following metrics: debt-to-asset ratio and debt-to-equity ratio calculated over a longer time horizon covering the observation window beginning 3 years before the transfer and ending 3 years after the transfer (in total, 7 years). To examine if the ratios differ significantly between before and after the change, the significance analysis was based on the parametric tests: t-student’s paired test for means and the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test for medians. Main findings: Listing switch on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and entering a regulated market has triggered the growth of companies but did not lead in equity being raised by companies during the debut on the regulated market. Companies did not reduce financial leverage, debt-to-asset-ratios and debt-to-equity ratios increased in the years following the change of listing venue from the alternative market to the regulated market.

Artykuł Historia z morskim brzegiem. O pseudobiografii Brunona Schulza w powieści Dawida Grosmana „Patrz pod: Miłość” jest komparatystyczną analizą ważnego wątku zawartego w pochodzącej z 1986 roku powieści izraelskiego pisarza Dawida Grosmana. Grosman przedstawia w swym utworze alternatywną wersję biografii Brunona Schulza, fakty biograficzne mieszając z oniryzmem. Bruno ucieka bowiem z drohobyckiego getta, jedzie do Gdańska i w morzu ulega transformacji w niższą formę bytu: zachowując ludzką tożsamość, staje się łososiem. Realizuje tym samym jedną z reguł Schulzowskiej ontologii, wedle której „wędrówka form jest istotą życia”. Punkt kulminacyjny powieści stanowi dialog bohatera-narratora i alter ego autora – Szlomy Neumanna – z Brunonem, który w głębinach morza przechowuje swoje nieznane dzieło Mesjasz. Szloma chce poznać sens Schulzowskiej „genialnej epoki” i związanej z tym pojęciem, kabalistycznej z ducha koncepcji progresywno-regresywnego ruchu ku przyszłości (czasom mesjaszowym), tożsamej z powrotem do mitycznego prapoczątku oraz wymazaniem ludzkiej historii. Porozumienie artystów niweczy Szloma, który – obciążony traumą Holocaustu – nie jest w stanie odrzucić pamięci. Otrzymuje jednakże od Schulza wskazówkę dotyczącą pisania powieści o Zagładzie: nie śmierć, ale miłość powinna być jej tematem. Powieść Grosmana, będąca hołdem złożonym drohobyckiemu artyście, jest przykładem oryginalnego odczytania jego dzieła i zarazem kontynuacji pojawiających się w nim motywów i tematów.

Celem artykułu jest rozważenie emancypacyjnego wymiaru samofolkloryzacji – kategorii zaproponowanej przez Ewę Klekot na określenie strategii odzyskiwania głosu przez podmioty podporządkowane, rozumianej jako jeden z ważnych elementów procesów nowoczesności. Materiałem do analizy procesów społeczno-kulturowych okresu powojennego przy użyciu tej kategorii jest powieść Edwarda Redlińskiego Awans (1973), przedstawiająca dylematy samofolkloryzacji mieszkańców fikcyjnej socjalistycznej wsi w kontekście powojennych procesów modernizacyjnych. Analiza tej powieści pozwala zadać pytanie, po pierwsze, o emancypacyjny wymiar samofolkloryzacji, a po drugie, o związki utworu Redlińskiego z przemianami społecznymi w Polsce Ludowej drugiej połowy XX w.

Abstract The construction of the St. Adalbert Church in Gdansk dates to 1310. It is a church of rich history and great historical value, and its care is challenging. In this study, the combination of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was used to accurately build a 3D model of the church. Together with the collected historical inventory documentation, the historic building information model (HBIM) was generated. The Autodesk-Revit® tool was used for this purpose. On the basis of the generated model, the reflection properties of the laser scanner beam and red–green–blue (RGB) images, a methodology was proposed for analysing the degradation of the church’s components. The main hypothesis of this study is based on the analysis of sunlight outside the church. In addition to the importance of the method for determining the risks of church degradation, a high-quality method for model visualization combining two photogrammetric techniques (TLS + UAV) is presented.

Theoretical background: Entering the stock market is an important moment in the development of a company. However, whether the timing of the decision is determined by capital needs or driven by attractive market conditions is debated in literature studies. On the other hand, neither in financial theory nor in practice there is a single universal formula, the use of which would enable the determination of the most favourable capital structure for a given company, reconciling both the optimum profitability of its own capitals and a reasonable scale of risk. The decisions regarding the selection of sources of financing depend on several factors. There is no question the cost of capital is an important criterion used by companies when deciding on a financing decision. In the case of initial public offers (IPO), the total costs consist of directand indirect costs. This study fills a specific gap in the literature due to the lack of such analyses based on data coming from the Polish market especially in the context of the type of IPO and market conditions. Purpose of the article: The purpose of this article is to present the results of a study on the costs of IPO conducted on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) between 2005 and 2020. Research methods: The hypotheses were verified using the statistical analysis and an econometric linear regression. Analysis covers 249 companies debuting on the WSE between 2005 and 2020. Information on the costs of the analysed offers was obtained from the companies’ current reports published after the completion of the share subscription. Main findings: The analysis confirmed that indirect cost of the offer are higher than direct costs. Although the average total costs of the offer are highest in the case of the issuance of new shares but they are not statistically significant. Furthermore, the higher the value of the offer, the lower its total cost. The interest rates affect the total cost of IPO but the total offer costs may not be directly explained by the activity on the IPOs market. The results of the analysis indicate that the explainability of the estimated model is the biggest for the direct costs. There is also a significant difference between the years with the highest and the lowest total costs of the offer.

The aim of the article is to evaluate the market reaction to the change of listing venue of companies moving from the alternative market to the regulated market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange. To do so, we investigated 71 switches, and their effect on market returns and liquidity. While the transfer itself creates a negative market reaction, the announcement of the transfer of a company and the institutional confirmation by the supervision of the company’s readiness for this transfer resulting from the approval of the prospectus creates positive market reactions. As a result of the transfer of companies there is an improvement in the liquidity of the shares. The empirical findings of the study could assist managers and investors in understanding the impact of stock exchange migration on returns and the liquidity of shares in the shorter and longer term.

The V-O-N coating set was produced at different relative oxygen concentrations of O2(x) = O2/(N2 +O2) using cathodic arc evaporation. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of oxygen on coating properties. The coatings’ composition and structural properties (X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX)) and mechanical properties—hardness, adhesion, and wear resistance (nano-indenter, scratch tester, ball-on-disc tester)—were extensively investigated. EDX and XRD analyses indicate that in coatings formed with a relative oxygen concentration in the range of 20–30%, the oxygen concentration in the coating increases dramatically from approximately 16 at.%. to 63 at.%, and the nitrogen concentration drops from about 34 at.% up to 3 at.%. This may indicate greater activity of oxygen compared to nitrogen in forming compounds with vanadium. The occurrence of the V5O9 phase belonging to the Magnéli phases was observed. Microscopic observations indicate that the number of surface defects increases with the oxygen concentration in the coating. The opposite effect is characterized by mechanical properties—hardness, adhesion, and wear resistance decrease with increasing oxygen concentration in the coating.

Polyandry, a fundamental aspect of honeybee biology, influences genetic diversity within bee colonies. The Csd gene, responsible for sex determination, exhibits a high intraspecific polymorphism, making it a promising candidate for studying patrilines. This study investigates the potential of the complementary sex-determiner gene (Csd) as a marker for genetic studies of honeybee colonies, comparing its efficacy with standard microsatellite markers. A worker bee brood from five colonies was genotyped using both Csd and microsatellite markers. The results showed that Csd alleles offer higher variability than microsatellite markers, providing a superior resolution in genotyping. The number of distinct Csd alleles in each colony surpassed microsatellite markers, demonstrating the potential of Csd for detailed genetic analyses. Despite challenges in Csd amplification efficiency, a two-step nested PCR protocol proved effective. Interestingly, Csd genotyping alone identified more patrilines than the set of five microsatellite markers, emphasizing its efficacy. Combining Csd and microsatellite genotyping enhances the resolution of genetic studies in honeybee colonies, offering valuable insights into genetic diversity, reproductive success, and social dynamics. The Csd gene emerges as a promising tool for advancing genetic studies in honeybee populations.

Since the Komodo dragon has been included on The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, it is crucial to know in detail its biology as there is a limited availability of research material on these animals—mainly those who died in zoos or whose remains were found in the wild. Anatomy is essential for understanding physiology, identification of diseases, adaptations in the environment, and behavior. In this dissection study, the relationship of individual anatomical structures was analyzed, the anatomy of the active and passive movement system of the thoracic limb was described, photographs were taken, and a radiographic examination was conducted. This species has its own differences, even within closely related lizard species. Varanus komodoensis possesses triceps muscles with three heads, and the wrist is extended with additional bones for greater flexibility of the hand. The muscles of the forelimb are analogous to the hind limb; however, they differ in the mass of individual muscles, especially those predisposed to perform the most important antigravity and locomotive functions.

The paper presents an evaluation of the surface quality and properties of multilayer coatings, obtained using cathodic arc evaporation, of the same structure, in which the top layer is a CrN chromium nitride layer. The second components of a double-layer module with a thickness of 400 nm and a thickness of each layer about 200 nm are two component TiN, Mo2N systems and three component TiAlN and CrCN systems. In studies using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy, the surface density of the macroparticles of the coating and their dimensions were estimated. The largest amount of macroparticles was recorded on the surface of the TiAlN/CrN coatings and the lowest on CrCN/CrN and Mo2N/CrN coatings. Their adhesion to steel substrates using a scratch test and Rockwell test and wear were also investigated. The results indicated that the melting point of the cathode material directly affected the number and size of the macroparticles on the surface of the growing coating. The number of macroparticles increased with the lowering of the melting point of the cathode material. All the coatings showed good adhesion with the critical load Lc2, greater than 60 N with a hardness above 20 GPa. The Mo2N/CrN coating, despite its relatively low critical load compared to the other tested coatings, had the best wear-resistant properties, which was probably due to the Mo2N → MoO3 transformation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant disruption to education. To adapt to new conditions, academics immediately had to restructure their teaching programmes. Not all of them, however, had sufficient skills to be able to deliver effective online classes. Neither did the less qualified have enough time to increase their competencies by getting pre-emptive support coming from peers and technical staff, nor did they have an opportunity to self-direct their training. Yet, to achieve the best effect, to develop an e-learning environment in which they could deliver high-quality teaching that would meet various language needs of their students, they needed general and specific support mechanisms. The former relates to the technological aspect, that is the functionalities of available tools and the affordances they allow. The latter comes from the course structure, educational material designed to engage students in learning, teachers and fellow students. With strong support provided by certified peers, the English teachers at Gdansk University of Technology managed to engage their students in interactive, collaborative and active learning. The ideas shared in the paper are supported by qualitative and quantitative research conducted in 2020 and 2021.

Acts with the Force of Statute – Models, Theory, and Practice in the Polish Parliamentary-Cabinet System in the Years 1921–1926 and after 1989 The centenary of the enactment of the March Constitution in Poland prompts questions about the constituent parts of the achievements of Polish constitutionalism of that period. The authors have found the issue of the sources of law worthy of attention, and among the latter, especially those acts that are situated between the classically conceived competences of the authorities, i.e., acts with the force of statute issued by the organs of executive authority. These acts, formally absent from the system of sources of law of the March Constitution until the enactment of the August amendment of 1926, appeared in the practice of the Second Republic at the time of the budgetary crisis in 1924, in the form of acts issued “by the President of the Republic on the basis of resolutions of the Council of Ministers”. These “special kinds of autonomous regulations” [Z. Cybichowski] provoked intensive discussions regarding both the admissibility of such delegation of legislative power, as well as the legal essence and constitutionality of aforementioned regulations. The authors would like to take a closer look at the institution of legal acts with the force of statutes as sources functioning in the era of democratic constitutional solutions establishing a parliamentary-cabinet system [i.e., in the years 1921–1926 and after 1989], without neglecting the historical and comparative context in which the examined institution evolved. * Niniejsze opracowanie pozostaje w części wynikiem badań przeprowadzonych w ramach realizacji grantu „Law-making delegation in representative democracy” Narodowego Centrum Nauki, w konkursie Opus 11, umowa nr 2016/21/B/HS5/00197.

The national curricula of the EU member states are structured around learning outcomes, selected according to Bloom’s Taxonomy. The authors of this paper claim that using Bloom’s Taxonomy to phrase learning outcomes in medical education in terms of students’ achievements is difficult and unclear. This paper presents an efficient method of assessing course learning outcomes using Fuzzy Logic.

Abstract Molluscs are one of the sources of biologically active substances, which are now intensively studied, especially for their anti-cancer properties. Malignant melanoma originates from melanocytes, develops very quickly and is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the properties of biologically active compounds in sterile mucus isolated from slugs Limax maximus and Arion rufus. Tested mucus were isolated using the new self-developed method which is safe for the environment and the animal donors. The impact of the mucus on human keratinocytes CCD 1106 KERTr and malignant melanoma cells A-375 was examined using MTT assay and SRB assay, which allowed us to determine the cell metabolic activity and cell number after treating them with slug mucus isolated from Limax maximus and Arion rufus decreased human keratinocytes and melanoma cells metabolic activity as well as manifested properties of reducing the number of cells in both tested cell lines, and therefore can be a source of biologically active substances with anticancer potential.

The HLA-G molecule is widely accepted as an important factor for pregnancy success. Its expression has been detected in the extravillous trophoblasts. Soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) was found in the genital tract, pre-implanted embryos as well as in seminal fluid. In this study, we investigated the concentration of sHLA-G (sHLA-G1 and sHLA-G5) in media from 344 single cultured embryos following in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). The level of sHLA-G (U/ml) was tested with a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. We correlated sHLA-G secretion with ovarian stimulation protocols, the type of embryo transfer (fresh or frozen cycle) and the quality of the embryos. The ovarian stimulation protocol affects the secretion of sHLA-G by the embryo. Embryos obtained from the long agonist protocol secreted more sHLA-G than those originating from the short antagonist protocol (p = 0.0001). Embryos whose transfer resulted in a clinical pregnancy and/or live birth secreted more sHLA-G compared to those whose transfer ended without pregnancy. This was particularly observable in embryos following the long ovarian stimulation protocol and from a frozen embryo cycle. In conclusion, sHLA-G secreted by the embryo has an impact on implantation and live birth and could be a developmental potential marker of the embryo. Its concentration depends on the ovarian stimulation protocol used.

BackgroundTinnitus, known as “ringing in the ears”, is a widespread and frequently disabling hearing disorder. No pharmacological treatment exists, but clinical management techniques, such as tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), prove effective in helping patients. Although effective, TRT is not widely offered, due to scarcity of expertise and complexity because of a high level of personalization. Within this study, a data-driven clinical decision support tool is proposed to guide clinicians in the delivery of TRT.MethodsThis research proposes the formulation of data analytics models, based on supervised machine learning (ML) techniques, such as classification models and decision rules for diagnosis, and action rules for treatment to support the delivery of TRT. A knowledge-based framework for clinical decision support system (CDSS) is proposed as a UI-based Java application with embedded WEKA predictive models and Java Expert System Shell (JESS) rule engine with a pattern-matching algorithm for inference (Rete). The knowledge base is evaluated by the accuracy, coverage, and explainability of diagnostics predictions and treatment recommendations.ResultsThe ML methods were applied to a clinical dataset of tinnitus patients from the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Center at Emory University School of Medicine, which describes 555 patients and 3,000 visits. The validated ML classification models for diagnosis and rules: association and actionable treatment patterns were embedded into the knowledge base of CDSS. The CDSS prototype was tested for accuracy and explainability of the decision support, with preliminary testing resulting in an average of 80% accuracy, satisfactory coverage, and explainability.ConclusionsThe outcome is a validated prototype CDS system that is expected to facilitate the TRT practice.

Abstract The wild boar Sus scrofa is one of the widely spread ungulate species in Europe, yet the origin and genetic structure of the population inhabiting Central and Eastern Europe are not well recognized. We analysed 101 newly obtained sequences of complete mtDNA genomes and 548 D-loop sequences of the species and combined them with previously published data. We identified five phylogenetic clades in Europe with clear phylogeographic pattern. Two of them occurred mainly in western and central part of the continent, while the range of the third clade covered North-Eastern, Central and South-Eastern Europe. The two other clades had rather restricted distribution. In Central Europe, we identified a contact zone of three mtDNA clades. Population genetic structure reflected clear phylogeographic pattern of wild boar in this part of Europe. The contribution of lineages originating from the southern (Dinaric-Balkan) and eastern (northern cost of the Black Sea) areas to the observed phylogeographic pattern of the species in Central and Eastern Europe was larger than those from the regions located in southern France, Iberian, and Italian Peninsulas. The present work was the first mitogenomic analysis conducted in Central and Eastern Europe to study genetic diversity and structure of wild boar population.

Fungal diseases are a persistent problem in the cultivation of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). The chemical control of pathogens is becoming less effective and less desirable, so new ways to limit these infections are urgently required. What is more, the disease is mostly controlled through cultural practices and good hygiene on mushroom farms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fungicidal effects of ozone on fungal pathogens of common mushrooms. Experiments with the use of ozone gas for disinfection of growing rooms after the completion of the mushroom growing cycle were carried out. The fungicidal effectiveness of ozone fumigation was evaluated on the basis of the survival rate of the spores of the pathogens tested (Lecanicillium fungicola, Cladobotryum dendroides, Mycogone perniciosa, and Trichoderma aggressivum). Spore suspension was applied to aluminum plates and then was exposed to gaseous ozone. The assessment of the growth of colonies of fungal isolates obtained from infected surfaces was carried out using Rodac contact test plates. The results showed that L. fungicola, M. perniciosa, and C. dendroides isolates were sensitive to the gas ozone. In order to achieve 100% efficacy against Mycogone strains, a minimum of 6 hours of ozonation had to be applied, whereas for Cladobotryum strains, a minimum of 8 hours had to be applied. The Lecanicillium species was the most sensitive to ozonation because 30 minutes of ozonation was enough to gain 100% inhibition of its growth. No satisfactory results were obtained in the case of the pathogenic species of Trichoderma, regardless of the experimental conditions. Nevertheless, this study has demonstrated the usefulness of ozone as a disinfectant for empty growing rooms after the completion of the mushrooms’ cultivation cycle.

Background. Gluten-free and casein-free diet is frequently used in the support of therapy of children with autism spectrum disorders. In addition, many parents restrict the consumption of simple sugars for their children. Objective. The aim of this paper was to understand factors influencing purchase decision in case of family with children with autism spectrum disorders on gluten-free and/or casein-free and/or sugar-free diet and the difficulties associated with this type of nutrition. Material and methods. The study covered a group of 40 families with children with autism spectrum disorders (32 boys and 8 girls) aged 3 to 10 years. Data were collected with questionnaire included questions concerning overall characteristics of caregivers, availability of foods used in the special diet, factors affecting decision on the purchase of products, difficulties in maintaining the child nutrition method. Results. The factors having strongest impact on parents’ decisions on the purchase of products were product composition, presence of a certificate confirming the absence of gluten and/or milk and taste values. Exclusion diet constituted a considerable obstruction for traveling, social gatherings and resulted in conflicts with family and the environment. The limited range of healthy gluten-free, casein-free and sugar-free foods, low taste quality and unsatisfactory quality impeded purchase and preparation of varied meals. Conclusions. The surveyed parents were aware consumers, paying attention primarily to product composition and safety. The respondents were looking for healthy, organic and nutritionally valuable products with low sugar content. Further development of the gluten/casein/ sugar free products market may considerably improve certain aspects of family’s life with children with autism spectrum disorders.

Abstract The digit ratio (2D:4D) is said to be a potential marker of exposure to prenatal sex steroids. Some studies suggest that the 2D:4D is also linked with the testosterone response to challenging situations due to organizational effect of prenatal hormonal milieu on adult endocrine functioning. However, up to date, there were only four studies (conducted on small samples) that examined the 2D:4D and the testosterone response to a challenging situation (i.e. physical exertion or aggressive context). Here, we examined the relationship between the 2D:4D and the testosterone change under an acute exercise among 97 men. We found that the digit ratios (the right 2D:4D, the left 2D:4D, and the right minus left 2D:4D) were neither predictors of pre-exercise testosterone, nor the change in testosterone level after a cycling task. Our results add a contradictory to previous studies evidence in a discussion on the links of the 2D:4D and the testosterone change.

Celem artykułu jest prezentacja wstępnych wyników badań nad prozą nurtu chłopskiego powstającą w Polsce w latach 60., 70. i 80. XX w. w kontekście dominującego w PRL dyskursu o awansie społecznym wsi. Kategorie dyskursów hegemonicznych i kontrhegemonicznych posłużą autorce do roboczego określenia dwóch skrajnych wersji opowieści o chłopskości: tej konstruowanej przez władze PRL i tej podważającej ją, a niekiedy sutuującej się do niej w kontrze, która wyłania się z prozy nurtu chłopskiego. Przegląd literatury pokazuje, że proza ta była ważną uczestniczką procesów komunikacyjnych dotyczących kształtowania figury chłopskości w polskiej kulturze powojennej i jako taka może stanowić jedno ze źródeł rewizji historii Polski w ramach „zwrotu ludowego”.

Successful reproduction depends on many factors. Male factors contribute to infertility in approximately 50% of couples who fail to conceive. Seminal plasma consists of secretions from different accessory glands containing a mixture of various cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, which together can induce a local immune response that might impact on a male’s as well as a female’s fertility. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G expression has been suggested as an immunomodulatory molecule that influences pregnancy outcome. The HLA-G gene encodes either membrane-bound or/and soluble proteins. The aim of this study was the evaluation of HLA-G polymorphisms and their impact on soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) production. We tested the HLA-G polymorphism in three positions: rs1632947: c.-964G>A; rs1233334: c.-725G>C/T in the promoter region; rs371194629: c.∗65_∗66insATTTGTTCATGCCT in the 3′ untranslated region. We tested two cohorts of men: 663 who participated in in vitro fertilization (test material was blood or sperm), and 320 fertile controls who possessed children born after natural conception (test material was blood). Since 50% of men visiting assisted reproductive clinics have abnormal semen parameters, we wondered if men with normal sperm parameters differ from those with abnormal parameters in terms of HLA-G polymorphism and secretion of sHLA-G into semen. We found that certain rs1632947-rs1233334-rs371194629 HLA-G haplotypes and diplotypes were associated with male infertility, while others were protective. Normozoospermic men with the A-C-del haplotype and A-C-del/A-C-del diplotype secreted the most sHLA-G into semen (574.1 IU/mL and 1047.0 IU/mL, respectively), while those with the G-C-ins haplotype and G-C-ins/G-C-ins diplotype – the least (80.8 IU/mL and 75.7 IU/mL, respectively). Men with the remaining haplotypes/diplotypes secreted sHLA-G at an intermediate level. However, only in one haplotype, namely G-C-ins, did we observe strong significant differences in the concentration of sHLA-G in the semen of men with teratozoospermia compared to men with normal sperm parameters (p = 0.009). In conclusion, fertile men differ in the profile of HLA-G polymorphism from men participating in IVF. Among all HLA-G haplotypes, the most unfavorable for male fertility is the G-C-ins haplotype, which determines the secretion of the lowest concentration of the soluble HLA-G molecule. This haplotype may reduce sperm parameters.

The complementary sex determiner (csd) gene is responsible for controlling the sex-determination molecular switch in western honey bees (Apis mellifera): bees that are heterozygous for csd develop into females, whereas bees that are hemizygous or homozygous develop into males. The homozygous diploid males are destroyed at an early stage of their development. It has been proposed that the minimal number of amino acid differences between two csd alleles needed to fully determine femaleness is five and it has also been shown that smaller differences may result in forming an evolutionary intermediate that is not fully capable of female determination, but has increased fitness compared to the homozygous genotype. In this study, we have implemented a terminal restriction length polymorphism-based method of identifying and distinguishing paternal alleles in a given bee colony and assigning them to a particular maternal allele in order to gather information on large number of functional csd pairs and also to identify, to some extent, genotypes that are underrepresented or absent in bee colonies. The main finding of this study is the identification of a fully functional genotype consisting of csd alleles that differed from each other by a one amino acid position. The individuals carrying this genotype expressed only female-specific transcripts of feminizer and double-sex genes. By comparing the sequences differences between the csd pair identified in our study with those described earlier, we conclude that functional heterozygosity of the csd gene is dependent not only on the number of the amino acid differences but also on the sequence context and position of the change. The discovery of a functional allele pair differing by a single amino acid also implies that the generation of a new csd specificity may also occur during a single mutation step with no need for evolutionary intermediates accumulating further mutations.

The growing perspective of running out of crude oil followed by increasing prices for all crude oil-based materials, e.g., crude oil-based polymers, which have a huge number of practical applications but are usually neither biodegradable nor environmentally friendly, has resulted in searching for their substitutes—namely, bio-based polymers. Currently, both these types of polymers are used in practice worldwide. Owing to the advantages and disadvantages occurring among plastics with different origin, in this current review data on selected popular crude oil-based and bio-based polymers has been collected in order to compare their practical applications resulting from their composition, chemical structure, and related physical and chemical properties. The main goal is to compare polymers in pairs, which have the same or similar practical applications, regardless of different origin and composition. It has been proven that many crude oil-based polymers can be effectively replaced by bio-based polymers without significant loss of properties that ensure practical applications. Additionally, biopolymers have higher potential than crude oil-based polymers in many modern applications. It is concluded that the future of polymers will belong to bio-based rather than crude oil-based polymers.

This research proposes a novel strategy for constructing a knowledge-based recommender system (RS) based on both structured data and unstructured text data. We present its application to improve the services of heavy equipment repair companies to better adjust to their customers’ needs. The ultimate outcome of this work is a visualized web-based interactive recommendation dashboard that shows options that are predicted to improve the customer loyalty metric, known as Net Promoter Score (NPS). We also present a number of techniques aiming to improve the performance of action rule mining by allowing to have convenient periodic updates of the system’s knowledge base. We describe the preprocessing-based and distributed-processing-based method and present the results of testing them for performance within the RS framework. The proposed modifications for the actionable knowledge miner were implemented and compared with the original method in terms of the mining results/times and generated recommendations. Preprocessing-based methods decreased mining by 10–20×, while distributed mining implementation decreased mining timesby 300–400×, with negligible knowledge loss. The article concludes with the future directions for the scalability of the NPS recommender system and remaining challenges in its big data processing.

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The mother’s uterine immune system is dominated by uterine natural killer (NK) cells during the first trimester of pregnancy. These cells express killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) of inhibitory or activating function. Invading extravillous trophoblast cells express HLA-C molecules, and both maternal and paternal HLA-C allotypes are presented to KIRs. Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) and 2 (ERAP2) shape the HLA class I immunopeptidome. The ERAPs remove N-terminal residues from antigenic precursor peptides and generate optimal-length peptides to fit into the HLA class I groove. The inability to form the correct HLA class I complexes with the appropriate peptides may result in a lack of immune response by NK cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ERAP1 and ERAP2 polymorphisms in the context of KIR and HLA-C genes in recurrent implantation failure (RIF). In addition, for the first time, we showed the results of ERAP1 and ERAP2 secretion into the peripheral blood of patients and fertile women. We tested a total of 881 women. Four hundred ninety-six females were patients who, together with their partners, participated in in vitro fertilization (IVF). A group of 385 fertile women constituted the control group. Women positive for KIR genes in the Tel AA region and HLA-C2C2 were more prevalent in the RIF group than in fertile women (p/pcorr. = 0.004/0.012, OR = 2.321). Of the ERAP polymorphisms studied, two of them (rs26653 and rs26618) appear to affect RIF susceptibility in HLA-C2-positive patients. Moreover, fertile women who gave birth in the past secreted significantly more ERAP1 than IVF women and control pregnant women (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0005, respectively). In the case of ERAP2, the opposite result was observed; i.e., fertile women secreted far less ERAP2 than IVF patients (p = 0.0098). Patients who became pregnant after in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET) released far less ERAP2 than patients who miscarried (p = 0.0032). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses indicate a value of about 2.9 ng/ml of ERAP2 as a point of differentiation between patients who miscarried and those who gave birth to a healthy child. Our study indicates that both ERAP1 and ERAP2 may be involved in processes related to reproduction.

Proper embryo implantation depends on the tolerance of the maternal immune system to the fetus and its foreign paternal antigens. During implantation and early pregnancy, the dominant leukocytes in the uterus are uterine NK cells, expressing killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). KIRs recognize human leukocyte antigens (HLA-C) on the human trophoblast inherited from the father and mother. The antigenic peptides presented by the HLA are formed via their cleavage by endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases ERAP1 and ERAP2. The aim of this study was to assess the association of combined KIR genes and their HLA-C ligands, as well as ERAP1 and ERAP2 polymorphisms with recurrent implantation failure after in vitro fertilization (RIF). We tested 491 couples who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) and 322 fertile couples. Genotype CC rs27044 ERAP1 in female with a male’s HLA-C1C1 or HLA-C1C2 protected from RIF (p/pcorr. = 0.005/0.044, OR = 0.343; p/pcorr. = 0.003/0.027, OR = 0.442, respectively). Genotype TT rs30187 ERAP1 in female with a male’s HLA-C1C2 genotype increased the risk of RIF. Summarizing, in the combination of female ERAP1 and an HLA-C partner, the rs30187 C>T and rs27044 C>G polymorphisms play an important role in implantation failure.

Plants are a valuable source of biologically active molecules, mainly phenolic compounds. In the present study, the total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH· and ABTS+ scavenging activity as well as ferric reducing ability (FRAP) of aqueous ethanolic (70%) extracts of Cistus incanus L. and Asarum europaeum L. herb, Geum urbanum L. rhizome, Angelica archangelica L. root, white mulberry (Morus alba L.), lemon balm (Melisa officinalis L.), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and Betula pendula Roth. leaves were determined. In addition, the phenolic profiles of the studied plant extracts and antibacterial activity have been investigated. The extracts from C. incanus and G. urbanum demonstrated the highest TPC and antioxidant capacity, while the extracts from A. archangelica and white mulberry were characterized by the lowest values. A remarkable correlation was also found between the TPC and antioxidant activity of the examined extracts. HPLC analysis showed that the studied extracts were sources of both phenolic acids and flavonoids. More flavonoids than phenolic acids were identified in the extracts of C. incanus, M. alba, R. idaeus and B. pendula compared to the other extracts tested. Not all extracts showed a significant impact on the growth of the tested bacterial strains. Escherichia coli was the most sensitive strain to lemon balm extract (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL), whereas the strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and Bordetella bronchiseptica were sensitive to the G. urbanum extract (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL). Among Gram-positive bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis was the most sensitive to G. urbanum extract. In turn, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were sensitive to the extracts from C. incanus herb (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL), red raspberry (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL) and lemon balm leaves (MIC. 0.25 mg/mL). Based on the obtained results, the applicability of the studied plant extracts as additives to food and cosmetic products may be considered in the future.