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Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), genetic algorithms, case based reasoning (CBR), and hybrid systems are all methods of artificial intelligence. This dissertation presents a literature overview and its author’s achievements in methods of utilizing artificial intelligence methods in energy efficient buildings, which include: an expert system for supporting the financing of thermo-modernization investment, a method of optimizing thermo-modernization strategies for groups of buildings using genetic algorithms, and a case based reasoning system (CBR) intended to facilitate the design of energy efficient single family housing. Case based reasoning consists of comparing new problems with past problems and using a past solution. In the CBR system, previously developed single family housing designs will be described using linguistic variables defined as fuzzy sets. The designer, who wants to create the documentation for a new energy efficient building after talking with the investor about his or her expectations, enters a query, defined as linguistic variables, into the system. The system finds the documentation of already constructed buildings, most closely matching the investor’s requirements. The designer performs the required adjustments, and after the investor’s approval, places the new documentation into the database for further use.

Civil engineering structures are highly responsible for the negative aspects of urbanization on the hydrological cycle. Due to the land cover change and an increase of impervious areas the risk of flooding can rise significantly. The paper presents the impact of urbanization processes on surface runoff estimation for a small mountainous catchment between 1990-2012.

In Poland, there are more than 5 million single-family detached houses, and 35% among them are non-insulated. In the article, we present a concept of application of the case-based reasoning (CBR) systems to support the process of energy retrofit of single-family detached houses. In the proposed CBR system, the energy retrofit process was described using parameters with text and numeric values and also using linguistic variables defined using fuzzy sets. If an investor, designer or contractor encounters a problem in the process of the energy retrofit, he may look for a solution to this problem or similar problems in the CBR system. If he does not find a solution and creates it himself or modifies an existing one, he should put it in the CBR system so that others can benefit from his experience. The proposed CBR system will help in solving the basic Polish (but also Eastern European) problem of energy-saving constructions which is the lack of adequate knowledge of participants in the investment process.

This article concerns the Life Cycle Assessment method of evaluation and the ways in which it can be applied as a tool facilitating the design of buildings to reduce embodied energy and embodied carbon. Three variants of a building were examined with the same functional ground plan and usable floor area of 142.6 m2. Each variant of the building was designed using different construction technologies: bricklaying technology utilizing autoclaved aerated concrete popular in Poland, wooden frame insulated with mineral wool, and the Straw-bale technology. Using digital models (Building Information Model) the building’s energy characteristics was simulated and the embodied energy and embodied carbon of the production stage (also called cradle-to-gate) were calculated. The performed calculations were used to compare the cumulative energy and embodied carbon of each variant for a 40 year long life cycle.

Nowadays in the construction sector, there are many challenges regarding technical and economic problems as well as those associated with the impact on human health and environment. Solving these problems is not straightforward and requires the involvement of experts from different fields. Expert systems are interesting and complex solutions for the above-mentioned aspects. The article presents characteristics of Polish and world experts system in which the authors participated.

Abstract Background Overweight and obesity among children have become significant global health concerns. Previous studies have highlighted the potential role of genetic factors, particularly polymorphisms in the FTO and MC4R genes, as well as environmental factors in the development of childhood obesity. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between genetic, socioeconomic and perinatal factors, adverse childhood events (ACEs), and lifestyle, and their impact on overweight, obesity and body composition parameters in children. Additionally, we explored potential interactions between genetic factors and ACEs. Methods Four hundred fifty-six children aged 6–12 years participated in our study. Information on the socioeconomic status, perinatal factors, ACEs and lifestyle of the children was collected with a questionnaire completed by their parents/guardians. We examined the children’s body weight and conducted an electrical bioimpedance analysis. Overweight and obesity were diagnosed based on the International Obesity Task Force and McCarthy criteria. We genotyped two selected polymorphisms in the FTO and MC4R genes using the TaqMan SNP allelic discrimination method. Results Higher BMI (Body Mass Index) z scores were related to higher paternal BMI and lower maternal age at the child’s birth. Higher FMI (Fat Mass Index) z scores were associated with higher paternal BMI, increased gestational weight, lower maternal education and the presence of the FTO risk allele. Higher FatM (fat mass in kg) z scores were linked to lower maternal education, lower maternal age at the child’s birth, higher maternal body weight gain, paternal BMI and the presence of the FTO risk allele. Moreover, interaction effects were observed on BMI z scores between ACE and FTO AA, and on FMI z scores and FatM z scored between ACE and MC4R CC. Conclusions The contribution of environmental factors is more strongly related to changes in body composition than genetic ones. Additionally, the presence of the risk allele combined with unfavourable environmental factors like ACEs leads to visible interaction effects, resulting in increased BMI z scores and FMI z scores in children.

The aim of this study was to determine the activity of common thyme (Thymus vulgare L.), Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum), and common oregano (Origanum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare) essential oils (EOs) against selected phytopathogenic microorganisms in relation to their chemical profile. The EOs were obtained from the herbs of 2-year-old plants cultivated in the organic farming system in a temperate climate in Central Europe. The EOs’ composition was determined by GC/MS and GC/FID. The investigated species were represented by the following three chemotypes: ‘thymol’ for common thyme, ‘carvacrol’ for Greek oregano, and mixed ‘caryophyllene oxide + β-caryophyllene’ for common oregano. The antimicrobial activity of the EOs was assessed based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) values. The plant pathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas syringae, Xanthomonas hortorum, Erwinia carotovora, and fungi: Fusarium culmorum, Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Epicoccum purpurascens, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Phoma strasseri, and Pythium debaryanum were tested. The EOs revealed a stronger inhibitory effect against fungal growth in comparison to bacterial growth (MIC: 0.016–2 µL/mL for fungi and 0.125–4 µL/mL for bacteria). Common thyme and Greek oregano EOs indicated stronger antimicrobial power than common oregano EO. These results were associated with the chemical profile of the analysed EOs. The growth of examined bacteria and fungi strains (in particular, X. hortorum, F. culmorum, and P. debaryanum) were negatively correlated with the content of phenolic monoterpenes and monoterpene hydrocarbons. Among the tested strains, P. strasseri turned out to be the most sensitive (MIC 0.016 µL/mL) and E. carotovora the most resistant (MIC 0.250–4 µL/mL) to all investigated EOs.

Abstract Background Sepsis in low-birth-weight neonates remains one of the most significant causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Approximately 3 million newborns suffer from sepsis globally every year. The aim of this study was to compare demographic and clinical features, as well as etiology and antibiotic susceptibility, of the main pathogens related to neonatal sepsis in two neonatal intensive units during a two-year period. Methods We observed early-onset (EO-BSI) and late-onset bloodstream infections (LO-BSI) cases in two high-reference neonatal intensive care units (NICU) over a 24-month period (2016–2017). Samples of patients’ blood were tested for the presence of the microorganisms. All bacterial isolates were tested for susceptibility to antibiotics. Results The majority of sepsis cases weighed above 1000 g and were born by cesarean section. About 10% of the EO-BSI group died. There were differences in the EO-BSI /LO-BSI ratio in the compared wards due to differences among the admitted children. The most common pathogens isolated from blood were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were represented by two dominating species: S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus, followed by Klebsiella spp. strains and E.coli, which were mostly found in EO-BSI cases. No single S. agalactiae (GBS) strain was isolated. The majority of CoNS strains were resistant to methicillin, half were resistant to aminoglycosides, and one-third were resistant to macrolides and lincosamides. Half of the Gram-negative rods were resistant to beta-lactams. Conclusions The epidemiology of sepsis in two observed NICUs is comparable to data obtained from other studies with a predominance of methicillin-resistant CoNS in LO-BSI and beta-lactam resistant E. coli in EO-BSI. It is of importance that the campaign for controlling GBS carriage in pregnant women in Poland resulted in the disappearance of GBS as a cause of sepsis. Unfortunately, there are no such measures to control E.coli related sepsis.

Introduction Introduction: Affective patients, especially depressive, have an increased risk of suicidal behavior. Identifying individuals at increased risk remains a challenge. Among the correlates that may be crucial, the impact of personality is emphasized. Attention is paid to impulsivity, measured by subjective or objective tests. Objectives Objectives: Comparative analyses were carried out to capture the differences and relationship between personality dimensions, impulsivity, and the decision-making style and coping with stress strategies in suicide attempters and non-attempters in the course of an affective disorder. Methods Methods: Data were obtained from 276 individuals diagnosed with unipolar and bipolar affective disorder, both sexes. The study group was disaggregated into a subgroup of patients with (N=95) and without (N=181) suicide attempts in an individual’s history. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was used to assess personality dimensions. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11 (BIS-11) was used to measure impulsivity subjectively, and the Simple Reaction Time (SRT) test and the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) were objective assessment methods. The Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) and Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) were applied to investigate coping and decision-making styles. Statistical analyses were performed in Statistica 13.3 StatSoft, Krakow, Poland. Results Results: In TCI, significant differences between suicide attempters and non-attempters concerned the following dimensions: harm avoidance (HA) (p=0.05) with at least moderate strength rs>0.4 were revealed: Novelty seeking (NS), SD, and C correlated with several CPT parameters; Persistence (P) correlated with SRT variables; NS, HA and SD with BIS-11 variables. Conclusions Conclusions: Objective computerized tests (SRT; CPT; IGT) did not differentiate suicide attempters and non-attempters more clearly than self-reporting personality inventory TCI. Personality traits correlated with SRT and CPT variables. BIS-11 and COPE parameters did not enable to distinguish suicide attempters and non-attempters in the investigated group. This suggests that tests used complement each other, and using a single tool may be insufficient to indicate patients at increased risk of suicidal behavior. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

This article proposes to present the issue of insularity in the archipelago of Cape Verde, an African country marked by several centuries of Portuguese colonization, with particular emphasis on the analysis of the interrelation between socio-historical factors and linguistic phenomena that occurred in this insular coun-try. Taking into consideration this context, we will draw attention to the importance of insularity in the process of miscegenation of the populations in the colonial era, to the process of the formation of Creole as a result of multilingual contacts, as well as to the long process of the construction of the social identity of Cape Verdeans in the history of this society.

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is related to mental and somatic disorders that result in alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), with 30% of AWS cases leading to life-threatening delirium tremens (DTs). Currently, studies do not support using any one biomarker in DTs. Neurotrophins affect neuromodulation, playing a role in the pathogenesis of AUD, AWS, and DTs. Methods: This review aims to summarize experimental and clinical data related to neurotrophins and S100B in neuroplasticity, as well as neurodegeneration in the context of AUD, AWS, and DTs. This work used publications that were selected based on the protocol consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Results: The BDNF level could be a good candidate biomarker for relapse susceptibility, as it is significantly reduced during consumption and gradually increases during abstinence. GDNF influences AUD through its integral role in the function of dopaminergic neurons and ablates the return to alcohol-drinking behavior. NGF protects neurons from ethanol-induced cytotoxic damage and affects recovery from cognitive deficits after brain damage. The NT-3 level is decreased after alcohol exposure and is involved in compensatory mechanisms for cognitive decline in AUD. NT-4 affects oxidative stress, which is associated with chronic alcohol consumption. S100B is used as a biomarker of brain damage, with elevated levels in serum in AUD, and can protect 5-HT neurons from the damage caused by alcohol. Conclusions: BDNF, GDNF, NT-3, NT-4, NGF, and S100B may be valuable markers for withdrawal syndrome. In particular, the most relevant is their association with the development of delirium complications. However, there are few data concerning some neurotrophins in AWS and DTs, suggesting the need for further research.

According to the World Health Organization, the improvement of people's health literacy is one of the fundamental public health challenges in the 21st century. The key issue in teaching health literacy is to develop critical thinking skills. As health literacy and critical thinking should be developed at school age, we reviewed teaching methods or educational interventions used in empirical studies focused on the development of critical thinking regarding health and implemented by teachers in preschools, primary schools, or secondary schools. We searched seven databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, ERIC, ProqQuest, PsycArticles, and CINAHL) from inception to 20 September 2023 for any type of empirical studies. Due to the heterogeneity in interventions and inadequate reporting of results, a descriptive synthesis of studies was performed in addition to quantitative analysis. Of the 15919 initial records, 115 studies were included in the review. Most of the educational interventions focused on lifestyle-related health issues such as substance use, sexual and reproductive health, and nutrition. The popularity of health issues changed over time and depended on the geographical context. Six dimensions that differentiated the teaching methods were identified: central teaching component, central educator, pupils' activity level, teaching context, educational materials, and significance of critical thinking. Many educational interventions did not address the development of critical thinking skills in a comprehensive manner, and the significance of critical thinking varied greatly. Interventions in which critical thinking had high and very high significance applied mainly problem-solving methods and involved pupils' activity. The evidence on the effectiveness of the teaching methods that develop critical thinking is limited because most articles failed to provide detailed information on the teaching methods or did not examine their effects. We recommend that a checklist is developed to facilitate a detailed description of health educational interventions and thus promoting their replicability. Study registration: The protocol of the review was registered in the OSF Registries on 13 January 2022 (doi: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/46TEZ).

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by restrictive eating and significant weight loss. In the course of AN, changes are observed in appetite regulation, including orexigenic ghrelin and potentially anorexigenic obestatin. The study aimed to determine if any changes in serum ghrelin and obestatin levels during treatment of AN are observed, while investigating the correlations between these peptides and the severity of disturbed eating attitudes, depression, and anxiety. Thirty adolescent inpatients with AN (examined twice: before hospitalization treatment AN-BT and after treatment AN-AT) and thirty healthy age- and height-matched girls (CG) participated in the study. Anthropometric, serum ghrelin and obestatin concentrations and psychometric evaluations (Eating Attitudes Test 26 Item-EAT-26, Beck Depression Inventory-BDI, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-HDRS, and Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-Y-BOCS) were performed. The study revealed significantly higher ghrelin and obestatin levels in AN-BT than in AN-AT. A trend toward lower levels during treatment provided partial normalizations. Analyzing correlations in the AN-BT vs. CG group, correlations of peptides with EAT-26, BDI, and HDRS scores were detected. These results suggest a potential role for ghrelin and obestatin in the context of defense mechanisms regulating appetite and body weight in the course of AN and in terms of psychopathological changes co-occurring with this eating disorder.

This paper presents a numerical method for determining the pressure distribution along the fluid flow path in a cross-current hightemperature heat exchanger. The pressure drop across the superheater was determined using the momentum conservation equation, which was solved by the finite difference method. Local pressure losses at tube elbows were also taken into account. A new formula for calculating friction factor on rough tubes' inner surface is proposed. A straightforward model for the friction factor in tubes with a rough inner surface for Reynolds numbers in the interval 3000 - 108 has been proposed. The pressure distribution in the last stage of the live steam superheater in a 900 MWe supercritical boiler was calculated.