Search

Background: Learning arrangements in health care profession education are increasingly taking place in digital environments. Virtual reality (VR) in nursing education, as a digital element, is the subject of controversial debate. On one hand, it supports the authenticity of case studies by adding realistic perspectives and information. On the other hand, the costs of developing and maintaining software and hardware hinder its long-term implementation. Based in the German context, our aim is to promote the adoption of innovative digital methods in nursing education and to offer invaluable experiences from the field. Methods: In this paper, we describe our findings and insights from two different research projects focused on the incorporation of digital tools, particularly VR, into nursing education. Results: Starting with a brief recapitulation of the projects, we elucidate pedagogical strategies for embedding VR-driven scenarios in nursing education. Based on our experiences during the projects, we identify various positive aspects, such as changing perspective and simulating acute situations. Key findings: Although potential drawbacks remain, we advocate the long-term implementation and specific use of VR at the interface between theory and practice. Nevertheless, it is crucial to establish regular evaluation, observing the value of digitalisation, especially VR, for nursing education.

In treating acute bronchiolitis in infants, the decision to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) often involves infant referral from the pediatric ward to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). We present our experience of CPAP use in a general pediatric ward, aiming to reduce the pressure on the PICU in recent outbreaks of bronchiolitis. Clinical data of patients less than 12 months of age and admitted for bronchiolitis from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2023 were retrospectively collected. Of 82 infants admitted for bronchiolitis, 16 (19%) were treated with nasal CPAP (nCPAP group); of the remaining 66, 21 (26%) were treated with a low-flow nasal cannula (LFNC) only, 1 (1%) was also treated a with high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), 12 (15%) were treated with an HFNC only, and 41 (50%) were treated without oxygen support (no-nCPAP group). Overall, coinfection with RSV and SARS-CoV-2 was observed in three patients and SARS-CoV-2 infection was observed in two patients. None of them required any type of oxygen support. Only 3/16 (19%) infants in the nCPAP group were referred to the PICU due to worsening clinical conditions despite nCPAP support. In our experience of treating epidemic bronchiolitis, nCPAP can be safely managed in a general pediatric ward, thus reducing the burden of admissions to the PICU. Training and regular updating of the pediatric staff, careful monitoring of the patient, and close cooperation with the PICU were instrumental for our team.

Radiotherapy (RT) may have a cardiotoxic effect on the heart and cardiovascular system. Postulated mechanisms mediating these complications include vascular endothelium damage and myocardial fibrosis. The aim of our study was to assess endothelial damage and myocardial fibrosis in the early period after RT on the basis of cardiac biomarkers and in relation to the radiation dose applied to individual heart structures in patients treated for non-small-cell lung cancer. This single-center prospective study included consecutive patients with lung cancer (LC) who were referred for treatment with radiochemotherapy (study group) or chemotherapy (control group). The study protocol included performing an echocardiographic examination, a standard ECG examination, and collecting blood samples for laboratory tests before starting treatment for lung cancer in the first week after completing RT (after four cycles of chemotherapy in the control group) and after 12 weeks from the end of treatment. The study included 23 patients in the study group and 20 patients in the control group. Compared to the baseline values, there was a significant increase in total cholesterol concentration in the study group immediately after the end of RT, which persisted for three months after the end of therapy. After taking into account the use of statins in the analysis, it was found that an increase in total cholesterol concentration after oncological treatment was observed only among patients who did not use statins. Taking into account the assessment of myocardial fibrosis markers, there were no significant changes in the concentration of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) in the study group. In patients treated with radiochemotherapy, there was a significant increase in the concentration of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) immediately after RT, when compared to the baseline. After taking into account the use of statins, an increase in ICAM-1 concentration immediately after RT was observed only in patients who did not use statins. There was also a significant correlation between the radiation dose received by the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and left circumferential coronary artery, and vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1) concentration measured at three months after the end of RT. Immediately after completion of radiotherapy, a significant increase in the level of ICAM-1 is observed indicating endothelial damage. The radiation dose to coronary arteries should be minimized, as it correlates with the concentration of VCAM-1. The use of statins may prevent the increase in total cholesterol and ICAM-1 concentration after irradiation for lung cancer; however, further studies designed for this specific purpose are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of statins in this area.

This study examined the possibility of using various types of waste paper—used newsprint (NP), used lightweight coated paper (LWC), used office paper (OP), and used corrugated cardboard (CC)—for the removal of anionic dyes, Acid Red 18 (AR18) and Acid Yellow 23 (AY23), and cationic dyes, Basic Violet 10 (BV10) and Basic Red 46 (BR46), from aqueous solutions. The scope of this research included the characterization of sorbents (FTIR, SEM, BET surface area, porosity, pHPZC, effectiveness of water coloration), determination of pH effect on the effectiveness of dye sorption, sorption kinetics (pseudo-first-order model, second-order model, intraparticular diffusion model), and the maximum sorption capacity (Langmuir models and Freundlich model) of the tested sorbents. The use of waste paper materials as sorbents was found to not pose any severe risk of aquatic environment contamination. AR18, AY23, and BV10 sorption intensities were the highest at pH 2, and that of RB46 at pH 6. The waste paper sorbents proved particularly effective in removing cationic dyes, like in the case of, e.g., NP, which had a sorption capacity that reached 38.87 mg/g and 90.82 mg/g towards BV10 and BR46, respectively, and were comparable with that of selected activated carbons (literature data).

Global warming increases the risk of power outages. Mine water pumping stations pump approximately 100 million m3 of water per year (2023). The cessation of mine water pumping would expose neighboring mines and lower lying areas to flooding. The pumping stations have some containment, but a prolonged shutdown could cause environmental problems. Remediation of the resulting damage would be costly and time-consuming. The combination of the problems of dewatering abandoned mines and storing energy in the form of hydrogen to ensure continuity of power supply to pumping stations has not been the subject of extensive scientific research. The purpose of this paper was to develop options for protecting mine water pumping stations against the “blackout” phenomenon and to assess their investment relevance. Six technically feasible options for the modernization of mine water pumping stations were designed and analyzed in the study. All pumping station modernization options include storage of the generated energy in the form of green hydrogen. For Q1 2024 conditions, the option with the partial retail sale of the produced hydrogen and the increased volume of produced water for treatment is recommended for implementation.

This paper presents the application of two versions of the multilayer fluidized bed made out of two materials with significantly different densities. The first type of fluidized bed was composed of raw cenospheres and quartz sand. The second type of fluidized bed was composed of cenospheres coated with iron oxides and quartz sand. A variable vertical density profiles in the prepared fluidized beds were confirmed, making them suitable for processing polymeric materials, specifically, polyolefins with a density below 1 g/cm3. The polyolefin pyrolysis process was investigated in both versions of the fluidized bed at temperatures of 520, 540, 560, and 590 °C. The products of the pyrolysis were monitored using high-resolution infrared spectroscopy (with a resolution of 1 cm−1). While the process is organized in these fluidized beds, the absence of the accumulation of solid residues is notable. The results show that the pyrolytic gaseous mixture is composed of numerous compounds, namely, unsaturated and saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons and benzene. The possibility of producing a gas rich in ethylene, propylene, and 1-butene during the pyrolysis was demonstrated. Additionally, during the pyrolysis of both polymers, the production of benzene was shown with yields, ranging from 5%wt. in the fluidized bed made out of raw cenospheres to 11 %wt. in the fluidized bed made out of cenospheres modified by iron oxides. Due to the complex nature of the resulting pyrolytic gas, it is suggested that we process the created gaseous mixtures entirely in a steam conversion process, making them a potential source of hydrogen.

In samples of Artemisia campestris (AC), Artemisia herba-alba (AHA) and Salvia jordanii (SJ) essential oils, up to 200 distinct volatile compounds were identified. Using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–olfactometry–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-O-MS), different panelists detected 52 of these compounds. This study offers the most detailed analysis of bioactive compound profiles conducted so far. The most abundant compounds identified were curcumene, making up 12.96% of AC, and camphor, constituting 21.67% of AHA and 19.15% of SJ. The compounds with the highest odor activity value (OAV) were (E,Z)-2,4-nonadienal (geranium, pungent), 3-nonenal (cucumber) and 2-undecenal (sweet) in AC, AHA and SJ, respectively. AHA essential oil showed significant antioxidant activity (IC50 = 41.73 ± 4.14 mg/g) and hydroxyl radical generation (hydroxylation percentage = 29.62 ± 3.14), as assessed by the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. In terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), the strongest antioxidant activity was obtained for SJ essential oil (antioxidant activity of the essential oils, AOX = 337.49 ± 9.87).

Cloud infrastructures operate in highly dynamic environments, and today, energy-focused optimization become crucial. Moreover, the concept of extended cloud infrastructure, which, among others, uses green energy, started to gain traction. This introduces a new level of dynamicity to the ecosystem, as “processing components” may “disappear” and “come back”, specifically in scenarios where the lack/return of green energy leads to shutting down/booting back servers at a given location. Considered use cases may involve introducing new types of resources (e.g., adding containers with server racks with “next-generation processors”). All such situations require the dynamic adaptation of “system knowledge”, i.e., runtime system adaptation. In this context, an agent-based digital twin of the extended green cloud infrastructure is proposed. Here, knowledge management is facilitated with an explainable Rule-Based Expert System, combined with Expression Languages. The tests were run using Extended Green Cloud Simulator, which allows the modelling of cloud infrastructures powered (partially) by renewable energy sources. Specifically, the work describes scenarios in which: (1) a new hardware resource is introduced in the system; (2) the system component changes its resource; and (3) system user changes energy-related preferences. The case study demonstrates how rules can facilitate control of energy efficiency with an example of an adaptable compromise between pricing and energy consumption.

(1) Background: “Eagle Syndrome”, also known as “stylalgia” or a “stylohyoid chain anomaly”, typically manifests with ipsilateral orofacial pain, a foreign body sensation in the throat, and ear-related symptoms. Despite these common presentations, its potential association with carotid artery dissection is not widely acknowledged. (2) Methods: This article presents an extremely rare case of a patient diagnosed with an ischemic stroke in the left hemisphere, followed by the dissection of the left internal carotid artery, initially with an unidentified cause. Subsequent examinations revealed elongated left styloid processes directly compressing the dissected artery. (3) Results: After initial treatment involving pharmacological and mechanical thrombectomy, styloidectomy restored blood flow to the internal carotid artery. The patient remained symptom-free during a 12-month follow-up. (4) Conclusions: This case emphasizes the importance of considering anatomical variations within the stylohyoid chain when assessing young individuals with neurological symptoms. Furthermore, it underscores the potential benefits of early surgical intervention in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.

The aim of this study is to assess the storability and nutritional value of new Polish apple cultivars recommended for cultivation after storage under low-oxygen atmospheric conditions (ULO and DCA). Fruit characteristics of ‘Chopin’ and clone ‘JB’ were evaluated in relation to commonly grown apple cultivars. Fruits of six selected apple cultivars were stored for a period of 9 months in conventional (0.04% CO2: 21% O2), Ultra-Low Oxygen (1.5% CO2: 1.5% O2), and Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere (0.6% CO2: 0.6% O2) cold storage. Physicochemical characteristics of the apples (firmness, soluble solids, acidity, and fibre content), nutritional and antioxidant values of the fruit (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity), and safety of consumption (residues of pesticides) were assessed. The new cultivar ‘Chopin’ and clone ‘JB’ were characterised by above-average acidity and clone ‘JB’ stood out in terms of antioxidant properties. Storage in a low-oxygen atmosphere in DCA was more effective in limiting fruit ripening than conventional cold storage, contributing to the preservation of the high potential of biologically active compounds in the apples. Apples after 9 months of storage were characterised by higher firmness (from 3.5 to 14 N), higher total polyphenol content in the flesh (from 8 to 23 mg∙100 g−1 FW) and peel (from 32 to 97 mg∙100 g−1 FW), as well as higher antioxidant capacity in the flesh (from 15 to 37 mg AAE∙100 g−1 FW) and peel (from 28 to 59 mg AAE∙100 g−1 FW) when stored in DCA compared to cold storage.

Deep-brain subthalamic nucleus stimulation (DBS-STN) has become a well-established therapeutic option for advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). While the motor benefits of DBS-STN are widely acknowledged, the neuropsychiatric effects are still being investigated. Beyond its immediate effects on neuronal circuits, emerging research suggests that DBS-STN might also modulate the peripheral inflammation and neuroinflammation. In this work, we assessed the effects of DBS-STN on food-related motivation, food intake pattern, and the level of anxiety and compared them with markers of cellular and immune activation in nigrostriatal and mesolimbic areas in rats with the 6-OHDA model of early PD. To evaluate the potential mechanism of observed effects, we also measured corticosterone concentration in plasma and leukocyte distribution in peripheral blood. We found that DBS-STN applied during neurodegeneration has beneficial effects on food intake pattern and motivation and reduces anxiety. These behavioral effects occur with reduced percentages of IL-6-labeled cells in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars compacta in the stimulated brain hemisphere. At the same brain structures, the cFos cell activations were confirmed. Simultaneously, the corticosterone plasma concentration was elevated, and the peripheral blood lymphocytes were reduced after DBS-STN. We believe that comprehending the relationship between the effects of DBS-STN on inflammation and its therapeutic results is essential for optimizing DBS therapy in PD.

With climate change, more intense weather phenomena can be expected, including pressure drops related to the arrival of an atmospheric front. Such drops of pressure are the main reason for gas emissions from closed mines to the surface, and a closed, empty mine shaft is the most likely route of this emission. Among the gases emitted, the most important are carbon dioxide and methane, creating a twofold problem—greenhouse gas emissions and gas hazards. The work presented in this paper simulated the spread of the mentioned gases near such an abandoned shaft for four variants: model validation, the most dangerous situations found during measurements with or without wind, and a forecast variant for a possible future pressure drop. It was found that a momentary CO2 emission of 0.69 m3/s and a momentary CH4 emission of 0.29 m3/s are possible, which for one hour of the appropriate drop would give hypothetically 2484 m3 CO2 and 1044 m3 CH4. In terms of gas hazards, the area that should be monitored and protected may exceed 25 m from a closed shaft in the absence of wind influence. The wind spreads the emitted gases to distances exceeding 50 m but dilutes them significantly.

Agro-industrial residues have attracted attention for their applications in the field of biodegradable packaging. Recently, our research group has developed onion-based films with promising properties for this type of application due to their non-toxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of Laponite clay concentration on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of the onion-based films, which were prepared by a casting method. The XRD and FTIR data confirm the presence of the mineral clay in the onion-based films. These findings are consistent with those obtained from FE-SEM analysis, which revealed the presence of typical Laponite grains. In terms of wettability, the results show that the clay decreases the hydrophilic character of the material but slightly increases the water vapor permeation. Optical characterization revealed that the materials exhibited zero transmittance in the UV region and increased opacity in the visible region for composites containing 5% and 10% Laponite. Furthermore, the antioxidant test demonstrated higher antioxidant potential in the composites compared to the pure films. Consequently, these results suggest that the formation of Laponite and onion composites could be an essential strategy for developing natural polymers in the field of food contact packaging.

Portal hypertension is a complex medical condition characterized by elevated blood pressure in the portal venous system. The conventional diagnosis of such disease often involves invasive procedures such as liver biopsy, endoscopy, or imaging techniques with contrast agents, which can be uncomfortable for patients and carry inherent risks. This study presents a deep neural network method in support of the non-invasive diagnosis of portal hypertension in patients with chronic liver diseases. The proposed method utilizes readily available clinical data, thus eliminating the need for invasive procedures. A dataset composed of standard laboratory parameters is used to train and validate the deep neural network regressor. The experimental results exhibit reasonable performance in distinguishing patients with portal hypertension from healthy individuals. Such performances may be improved by using larger datasets of high quality. These findings suggest that deep neural networks can serve as useful auxiliary diagnostic tools, aiding healthcare professionals in making timely and accurate decisions for patients suspected of having portal hypertension.

This work presents the experimental validation of a 40 kW electric vehicle (EV) charger. The proposed system comprises two 20 kW modules connected in parallel at the input and output. Each module has two stages—as a grid converter Vienna Rectifier (VR) was chosen, and as an isolated DC/DC stage, two Series-Resonant Dual-Active-Bridges (SRDABs) in input-series-output-parallel (ISOP) configurations were applied. The AC/DC and DC/DC stages were enclosed in 2U rack standard housing. A bipolar DC-link with ±400 V DC voltage was employed to connect both stages of the charger module while the charger’s output is dedicated to serving 800 V batteries. VRs operated at 66 kHz switching frequency and the SRDABs operated at 100 kHz. The converters used in the charger structure were based on silicon carbide (SiC) power devices. The description and parameters of the built hardware prototypes of both—AC/DC and DC/DC—converters are provided. Moreover, the experimental validation of each stage and the whole charging system, including oscilloscope waveforms and power analyzer measurements at nominal power, are included. Such a configuration enables energy conversion with high efficiency without a negative impact on the grid and high-quality grid waveforms.

Regenerative 3agriculture prioritizes soil health to build up organic soil carbon and nitrogen stocks while supporting the active and diverse soil biota that is a prerequisite for maintaining crop productivity and quality in sustainable food production. This study aimed at unravelling the impact of organic and inorganic soil maintenance systems in a ‘Red Jonaprince’ apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) orchard on soil microbiota biodiversity and soil physico-chemical properties. During our study, we compared seven floor management systems in terms of microbial community diversity. Fungal and bacterial communities on all taxonomic levels differed largely between systems that augmented organic matter (organic) and other tested inorganic regimes. The dominant phylum of the soil in all management systems was Ascomycota. The operational taxonomic units (OTUs) within the Ascomycota were largely identified as members of Sordariomycetes, followed by Agaricomycetes, and both dominated in organic systems versus inorganic. The most prominent phyla, Proteobacteria, accounted for 43% of all assigned bacteria OTUs. Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidia, and Alphaproteobacteria were predominant in organic samples, while Acidobacteriae, Verrucomicrobiae, and Gemmatimonadetes were more abundant in inorganic mulches.

Agent-based computing remains an active field of research with the goal of building (semi-)autonomous software for dynamic ecosystems. Today, this task should be realized using dedicated, specialized frameworks. Over almost 40 years, multiple agent platforms have been developed. While many of them have been “abandoned”, others remain active, and new ones are constantly being released. This contribution presents a historical perspective on the domain and an up-to-date review of the existing agent platforms. It aims to serve as a reference point for anyone interested in developing agent systems. Therefore, the main characteristics of the included agent platforms are summarized, and selected links to projects where they have been used are provided. Furthermore, the described platforms are divided into general-purpose platforms and those targeting specific application domains. The focus of the contribution is on platforms that can be judged as being under active development. Information about “historical platforms” and platforms with an unclear status is included in a dedicated website accompanying this work.

A novel method for the determination of lipid oxidation using Raman microscopy was developed. A home-made surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate based on silver nanoparticles deposited on a glass Petri dish was used. The degradation of ground pork stored at 5 °C was monitored for 16 days. Two packages were considered: an active packaging containing an oregano extract with antioxidant properties and a conventional one consisting of a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film. The lipid fraction of the ground pork was extracted with a mixture of diethyl ether/n-hexane (1:1). A remarkable maximum signal enhancement factor of 1.64 × 107 at 1439 cm−1 shift (and up to 8.58 × 106 at 1655 cm−1, chosen for fat oxidation assessment) was obtained with SERS compared to conventional Raman. In addition, SERS provided better discrimination among samples than the results obtained by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) method. The experimental conditions for SERS were optimized and discussed.

Clinicians frequently assess asymmetry in strength, flexibility, and performance characteristics as a method of screening for potential musculoskeletal injury. The identification of asymmetry in countermovement jumps may be an ideal method to reveal asymmetry in other lower extremity characteristics such as strength that otherwise may require additional testing, potentially reducing the time and burden on both the athlete and clinicians. The present study aims to examine the ability of asymmetry in both the single-leg and two-leg countermovement jump tests to accurately detect hip abduction, hip adduction, and eccentric hamstring strength asymmetry. Fifty-eight young male elite soccer players from the same professional academy performed a full battery of functional performance tests which included an assessment of hip adductor and abductor strength profiles, eccentric hamstring strength profiles, and neuromuscular performance and asymmetries during countermovement jumps. Bilateral variables attained from both the single-leg and two-leg countermovement jump tests included concentric impulse (Ns), eccentric mean force (N), and concentric mean force (N) computed by the VALD ForceDecks software. Average maximal force (N) was calculated bilaterally for the strength assessments. Asymmetry was calculated for each variable using 100 × |(right leg − left leg)/(right leg)| and grouped into three categories: 0 to

Natural polymers are very widespread in the world, which is why it is so important to know about the possibilities of their use. Chitin is the second most abundant reproducible natural polymer in nature; however, it is insoluble in water and basic solvents. Chitin is an unused waste of the food industry, for which there are possibilities of secondary management. The research led to obtaining a soluble, environmentally friendly form of chitin, which has found potential applications in the many fields, e.g., medicine, cosmetics, food and textile industries, agriculture, etc. The deacetylated form of chitin, which is chitosan, has a number of beneficial properties and wide possibilities of modification. Modification possibilities mean that we can obtain chitosan with the desired functional properties, facilitating, for example, the processing of this polymer and expanding the possibilities of its application, also as biomimetic materials. The review contains a rich description of the possibilities of modifying chitin and chitosan and the main directions of their application, and life cycle assessment (LCA)—from the source of the polymer through production materials to various applications with the reduction of waste.

The sensitivity of tunneling magnetoresistance sensors is an important performance parameter. It depends on the derivative of resistance versus magnetic field (transfer curve) and the current and is expressed as the product of the two factors. Previous research has demonstrated that the bias voltage has a significant impact on the sensitivity. However, no research has been conducted into the dependence of current and the derivative on bias voltage magnitude and polarity, and their contribution to the sensitivity. Thus, this paper investigates the dependence of sensitivity, derivative of resistance versus magnetic field curve and current on bias voltage magnitude and polarity in CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB-based tunneling magnetoresistance sensors with weak, strong and no voltage-controlled perpendicular magnetic anisotropy modification. It demonstrates that the sensitivity dependence on bias voltage for sensors with voltage controlled magnetic anisotropy modification showed no saturation up to 1 V. Moreover, the sensitivity asymmetry with respect to bias polarity changed significantly with bias, reaching a ratio of 6.7. Importantly, the contribution of current and the derivative of resistance versus magnetic field curve to the sensitivity showed a crossover. The current dominated the bias dependence of sensitivity below the crossover voltage and the derivative above the voltage. Furthermore, the crossover voltage in sensors without voltage controlled magnetic anisotropy modification did not depend on polarity, whereas in sensors with voltage controlled magnetic anisotropy modification, it appeared at significantly higher voltage under positive than negative polarity.

In order to achieve sustainable food production, non-chemical weed management practices need to be developed for fruit growing. Tailor-made floor management systems enable efficient weed regulation, but they also affect the soil quality in an orchard. In this article, the effects of various floor management systems in a ‘Red Jonaprince’ apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) orchard on the soil properties and the trees’ nutritional status and initial development during the first two years after the orchard’s establishment were assessed. The experiment was set up in the spring of 2017 in the Experimental Orchard of WULS. ‘Red Jonaprince’ cv. trees grafted on M.9 rootstock were planted with 3.5 × 1 m spacing between them. Different floor management systems were applied to the rows, including the selected organic mulches: Miscanthus × giganteus straw (MG1 and MG2), spent mushroom substrates (SMS1 and SMS2), herbicide strip (HS), clear mechanical soil cultivation (MC), and synthetic black mulch (BC). The organic mulches affected the soil properties significantly. Spent mushroom substrates (SMS1, SMS2) increased the P and K contents in the soil, increased the salinity 10-fold, and retarded the growth in terms of the trunk cross-section area (TCSA) and its increment compared with other systems. Miscanthus × giganteus straw mulch (MG1, MG2) was associated with a more vigorous shoot growth compared with other combinations in the first year of the study as it provided a better tree nitrogen nutritional status. The floor management system affected the generative development of the trees. Mulching with a spent mushroom substrate boosted the flower bud formation intensity, but it did not affect the yielding quantity. Moreover, due to the poor fruit set, the trees mulched with a spent mushroom substrate (SMS2) gave a low initial bearing. High crop loads were noted for the trees treated with black synthetic mulch (BC) and the trees mulched with Miscanthus × giganteus straw (MG1). This was an effect of the tree size rather than the blooming intensity, while there were no differences in the cropping efficiency index (CEI) parameter.

Contemporary trends in horticulture are aimed at limiting the use of mineral fertilizers to the necessary minimum, which is to guarantee adequate profitability of production while maintaining high-quality fruit and at the same time preventing environmental pollution. Thus, in the presented study, we investigate the effect of diversified nitrogen fertilization on soil mineral nitrogen content during vegetation season, yielding of apple trees and the nutritional status of apple leaves and fruits. We compared several ammonium nitrate treatments as well as growth without fertilization as a control. The results of our study show that under the conditions of humus-rich soils and with appropriate agrotechnics, N mineralization from the organic matter available in the soil may completely cover demand of apple trees for this component. Achieved outcomes clearly revealed that nitrogen fertilization in the amount of 100 kg N · ha−1 on the entire soil surface carries a real risk of groundwater contamination, and the same nitrogen dose applied within the grassland does not bring any production effects, therefore it should be considered as unjustified. Obtained results revealed that in a rationally managed, fully fruiting apple orchard, the annual dose of N should not exceed 50 kg N∙ha−1. This dosage of N should fully secure the nutritional needs of apple trees, guaranteeing their high yield and complete safety for the environment. What is important is, nitrogen fertilization strongly affects macroelemental composition of apple leaves and fruits.

The disorder of adult neurogenesis is considered an important mechanism underlying the learning and memory impairment observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The sporadic nonhereditary form of AD (sAD) affects over 95% of AD patients and is related to interactions between genetic and environmental factors. An intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (STZ-ICV) is a representative and well-established method to induce sAD-like pathology. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is used for multiple sclerosis treatment. The present study determines whether a 26-day DMF therapy ameliorates the disruption of adult neurogenesis and BDNF-related neuroprotection in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb (OB) in an STZ-ICV rat model of sAD. Considering age as an important risk factor for developing AD, this study was performed using 3-month-old (the young group) and 22-month-old (the aged group) male Wistar rats. Spatial cognitive functions were evaluated with the Morris water maze task. Immunofluorescent labelling was used to assess the parameters of adult neurogenesis and BDNF-related neuroprotection in the hippocampus and OB. Our results showed that the STZ-ICV evoked spatial learning and memory impairment and disturbances in adult neurogenesis and BDNF expression in both examined brain structures. In the aged animals, the deficits were more severe. We found that the DMF treatment significantly alleviated STZ-ICV-induced behavioural and neuronal disorders in both age groups of the rats. Our findings suggest that DMF, due to its beneficial effect on the formation of new neurons and BDNF-related neuroprotection, may be considered as a promising new therapeutic agent in human sAD.

The genetic and/or the agronomic approaches are two main ways to enhance concentrations of biologically active compounds in fruits and vegetables. In this study, the apple antioxidant status was evaluated from the second to the fourth year after planting in relation to an increasing N-dose applied—with or without plant microbial inoculation in the field conditions. Cultivar ‘Šampion Arno’ was selected to test these relationships. In the growing season, N treatment and inoculation effects were monitored for the apple peel total phenolics and selected individual phenolic compounds ((+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, chlorogenic and caffeic acids, rutin and phloridzin) and total ascorbate concentration. Additionally, as an environmental stress marker measurement of glutathione reductase, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activity were conducted. The year effect was most pronounced, while the N or applied inoculum effects were much weaker. Great differences in antioxidative enzyme activity and phenolic concentrations between years were revealed. Nitrogen fertilization reduced the fruit’s global phenolic accumulation compared to the control, but the N-effect varied depending on individual phenolic compounds, N dose and N application method. None of the tested factors influenced the ascorbate concentration. There was a certain tendency to increase antioxidant properties in the control group (without mineral N fertilization) but with the application of bio-fertilizer, which may seem promising for future research in this scope.

A series of new polymeric materials consisting of polylactide (PLA), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and berberine chloride (B) was evaluated. PEG was incorporated into the polymer matrix with the aim of obtaining a plasticizing effect, while berberine was added in order to obtain antibacterial properties in formed packaging materials. Materials were formed using the solvent-casting procedure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used so as to establish the structural changes resulting from the introduction of berberine. Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry were applied to study the thermal properties. Further, mechanical properties and differences in colour and transparency between the control sample and films containing berberine were also studied. The recorded data indicates that berberine formed a network on the surface of the PLA-based materials. Introduction of an active compound significantly improved thermal stability and greatly affected the Young’s modulus values of the studied polymeric films. Moreover, it should be stressed that the addition of the studied active compound leads to an improvement of the antibacterial properties, resulting in a significant decrease in growth of E. coli and the S. aureus bacteria cultures.

A software-based procedure consisting of colour measurement of mushrooms was developed for assessing the effectiveness of a new antioxidant active packaging. As active agents, sodium metabisulphite combined with citric acid, green tea extract combined with α-tocopherol and purple carrot extract were evaluated. After obtaining the image of mushrooms with a conventional flatbed scanner, a MATLAB code was specially designed to obtain and compare histograms. Then, data were processed using principal component analysis (66% of the accumulated variance explained) and a successful classification of samples according to their age and antioxidant system was obtained. The developed procedure greatly exceeded the discrimination capabilities of other commonly used methods such as CIE L*a*b* (which was unable to find any significant difference between blank and antioxidant-treated mushrooms; L*blank = 70 ± 3; L*metabisulphite = 75 ± 5; L*green tea = 75 ± 5; L*carrot = 69 ± 5) and visual panel (where only sodium metabisulphite sample was perceived to be significantly different from the rest of the samples, with 27 positive votes out of 50). The developed method classified correctly up to 90% of blank samples according to their age. Besides, 100% and 70% of the mushrooms treated with sodium metabisulphite and green tea, respectively, were found to be fresher than their corresponding blanks. Among samples with sodium metabisulphite, 33% behaved as one-day blank samples, and 67% acted as 4-day blank samples, while among samples with green tea, 10% were found in the 1-day group, and 60% were found in the 4-day group. In contrast, purple carrot proved to be inefficient as an antioxidant. Thus, the difference between blank mushroom samples and those treated with antioxidants was objectively measured.

In this pilot study, we aim to determine differences in pathogenetic pathways between interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF), connective-tissue-disease-associated interstitial lung diseases (CTD-ILDs), and idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs). Forty participants were recruited: 9 with IPAF, 15 with CTD-ILDs, and 16 with IIPs. Concentration of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1), surfactant proteins A and D (SP-A, SP-D), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and chemokine 1 (CXCL1) were assessed with ELISA assay in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. We revealed that IL-8 and TGF-β1 concentrations were significantly lower in the IPAF group than in the CTD-ILD group (p = 0.008 and p = 0.019, respectively), but similar to the concentrations in the IIP group. There were significant correlations of IL-8 (rs = 0.46; p = 0.003) and CXCL1 (rs = 0.52; p = 0.001) and BAL total cell count (TCC). A multivariate regression model revealed that IL-8 (β = 0.32; p = 0.037) and CXCL1 (β = 0.45; p = 0.004) are significant predictors of BAL TCC. We revealed that IL-8 and TGF-β1 BAL concentrations vary in patients with different ILDs and found that IL-8 is a predictor of BAL TCC in IPAF. However, this needs to be confirmed in a multicenter cooperative study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03870828).

The present study reports runs of homozygosity (ROH) distribution in the genomes of six horse breeds (571 horses in total) representing three horse types (primitive, light, and draft horses) based on the 65k Equine BeadChip assay. Of major interest was the length, quantity, and frequency of ROH characteristics, as well as differences between horse breeds and types. Noticeable differences in the number, length and distribution of ROH between breeds were observed, as well as in genomic inbreeding coefficients. We also identified regions of the genome characterized by high ROH coverage, known as ROH islands, which may be signals of recent selection events. Eight to fourteen ROH islands were identified per breed, which spanned multiple genes. Many were involved in important horse breed characteristics, including WFIKNN2, CACNA1G, STXBP4, NOG, FAM184B, QDPR, LCORL, and the zinc finger protein family. Regions of the genome with zero ROH occurrences were also of major interest in specific populations. Depending on the breed, we detected between 2 to 57 no-ROH regions and identified 27 genes in these regions that were common for five breeds. These genes were involved in, e.g., muscle contractility (CACNA1A) and muscle development (miR-23, miR-24, miR-27). To sum up, the obtained results can be furthered analyzed in the topic of identification of markers unique for specific horse breed characteristics.

The aim of the study was to describe the physicochemical properties, with particular emphasis on nutritional value, of apples ‘Chopin’ and clone ‘JB’. The new cultivars were compared with the cultivars commonly cultivated in Polish orchards, namely ‘Gala Brookfield’, ‘Šampion’, ‘Ligol’ and ‘Idared’. The study focuses on the evaluation of physicochemical characteristic (firmness, soluble solids content and titratable acidity) and the content of monosaccharides, sucrose and organic acids based on HPLC with an RI detector. In addition, the nutritional value of apples were described separately for the flesh and peel of the fruit, focusing on the assessment of the antioxidant activity and the content of total polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonols using the HPLC technique. ‘Chopin’ and ‘JB’ clone apples are characterized by very high acidity, over 1%, which is related to the high content of malic acid. The red flesh ‘JB’ clone is characterized by a high content of bioactive compounds in both the peel and flesh of apples. High temperatures and a lack of precipitation contribute to a higher polyphenol content in apples, which proves that apart from the genetic features of the cultivars, the climatic conditions also determine the nutritional value of the fruit.

The purpose of the experiment was to demonstrate a comparison of fertilization with and without biostimulation. A study was carried out in an experimental blueberry field in central Poland (51°55′42.7″ N 20°59′28.7″ E) during the three growing seasons of 2019, 2020 and 2021, on ‘Bluecrop’ shrubs growing at a distance of 1 × 3 m. The plants were re-planted in the spring of each year and irrigated using drip irrigation. The experiment was conducted using a random block design (four fertilizer treatments × five replications × six bushes). The fruits were tested for antioxidant activity and amount of total polyphenols. Additionally, anthocyanin quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed. The results indicated a significant effect of fertilizer combinations on the values of the evaluated parameters. The positive effect of biostimulants on the content of antioxidant compounds in highbush blueberry fruit was significant. In most of the combinations in which additional biostimulants were used, higher values of the analyzed indicators (antioxidant activity and polyphenol content) were observed. The most noteworthy was the T4 fertilization program, where during treatment, soil and foliar fertilization were carried out with preparations that contained biostimulants.

Nivolumab and ipilimumab combination became the first-line standard in advanced melanoma. We assessed its efficacy in a real-life study in Poland. In a one-year follow-up, we evaluated the medical records of 50 melanoma patients treated with that modality in five oncology centers. We recorded therapy outcomes and adverse events (AEs) after 3 and 12 months of therapy. At the first checkpoint, the disease control rate (DCR) was recorded in 58% (n = 29) of patients, but the same number of patients (n = 29, 58%) stopped immunotherapy due to disease progression (PD, n = 14, 48.3%), toxicity (n = 11, 37.9%) or death (n = 4, 13.8%). Among patients with DCR after the induction phase, 8 (27.6%) terminated due to toxicity, and 21 (72.4%) continued. However, at the 12-month checkpoint, only 14 patients (27% of all) were still receiving immunotherapy. In 7 (33.3%) it was discontinued due to PD (n = 2), toxicity (n = 2, 28.6% each), or death (n = 3, 42.9%). AEs occurred in 66.7% (n = 34) of patients; severe (grade 3 or 4) in half of them. Interestingly, those with AEs had an 80% lower risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] 0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07–0.57, p = 0.001) and PD (HR 0.2, 95%CI 0.09–0.47, p < 0.0001). In the entire group of patients, after a 12-month follow-up, the median overall survival was not reached (NR, range: 6.8 months-NR) and progression-free survival was 6.3 (range: 3-NR) months. Our results demonstrate that combined immunotherapy is less effective in real-life than in pivotal trials. However, early responders will likely continue the therapy after a one-year follow-up. AEs occurrence might be a predictor of clinical effectiveness.

Great efforts are undertaken by scientists and manufacturers to reduce noise generated by devices present in the human environment. This task is particularly difficult in the case of low-frequency noise; however, active noise reduction methods can be a solution to such problems. The purpose of this article is to present the active noise-controlling casing method applied to a washing machine, whose noise generated during the spinning process is to be reduced. The paper presents a set of experimental measurements and analyses. It also provides hardware and software configuration details. The employed active control system can efficiently reduce noise, even by 16 dBA in the low-frequency range up to 300 Hz, which is an important step towards making the technology ready for manufacturing. The conclusions drawn are valid for different active noise-control applications, considering a variety of devices.

Technological development generates social changes while providing new tools that can be implemented in the fields of architecture and urban design. It creates the need to enrich architects’ competencies with knowledge and experience, enabling the conscious use of technology in designing future functional solutions for responsive space and the optimization of accessibility for various groups of users. This paper presents a teaching method developed to study the integration of architecture, urban planning and mechatronics to create a dynamic common space, responding to changing user needs and environmental conditions. Four experimental projects for a chosen public space were designed by students in order to investigate research by design and as an agenda for further design research. In the final part of the article, we present predictions for the future development of kinetic and responsive architecture in public spaces, including potential opportunities and challenges.

Fungal pathogens cause significant yield losses of many important crops worldwide. They are commonly controlled with fungicides which may have negative impact on human health and the environment. A more sustainable plant protection can be based on carbohydrate biopolymers because they are biodegradable and may act as antifungal compounds, effective elicitors or carriers of active ingredients. We reviewed recent applications of three common polysaccharides (chitosan, alginate and cellulose) to crop protection against pathogenic fungi. We distinguished treatments dedicated for seed sowing material, field applications and coating of harvested fruits and vegetables. All reviewed biopolymers were used in the three types of treatments, therefore they proved to be versatile resources for development of plant protection products. Antifungal activity of the obtained polymer formulations and coatings is often enhanced by addition of biocontrol microorganisms, preservatives, plant extracts and essential oils. Carbohydrate polymers can also be used for controlled-release of pesticides. Rapid development of nanotechnology resulted in creating new promising methods of crop protection using nanoparticles, nano-/micro-carriers and electrospun nanofibers. To summarize this review we outline advantages and disadvantages of using carbohydrate biopolymers in plant protection.

In this paper, we describe the lithiation of N-benzylpyrene-1-carboxamide with RLi-TMEDA. We found that the reaction outcome strongly depends on the electrophile used in the quenching step. The electrophile can be introduced at either the benzylic position or at the C-2 position in the pyrene nucleus. Furthermore, when H+ was used as the quencher, the product of the intramolecular carbolithiation of the pyrene K-region was formed. Dehydrogenation of the obtained compound with DDQ allowed the synthesis of a novel nitrogen polycyclic compound with an aza-benzo[c,d]pyrene (azaolympicene) skeleton. Attempts to extend the reaction scope to the amides substituted in the phenyl ring 8a and 8b gave an unexpected result. The reaction of both compounds with BuLi gave 1-valerylpyrene (9) in good yield. Photophysical properties, including absorption spectra, emission spectra and quantum yields of the emission of selected products, were studied and discussed.

Construction works, especially in the case of large road or tunnel investments, require the active participation of surveyors. It applies to classic geodetic procedures such as staking out or conducting control measurements and continuously monitoring displacements and deformations. Negative factors at surveying sites may hinder the implementation or directly affect the instruments, especially total stations. Heavy dust and rainfall containing harmful and destructive substances can be mentioned here. Contemporary measuring instruments are technologically complex and expensive devices, often exposed to the sun, wind, and frost. To mainly protect robotic total stations, various preventing housings are used. Practice shows, however, that these are half-hearted solutions, often negatively influencing the accuracy of the surveys. Based on the authors’ professional and scientific experience, a technological line using the modeling and 3D printing of protective housings for robotic electronic total stations has been developed. The workflow includes dedicated online modeling and printing unique instrument covers that best suit certain sites. The prototype was shielded with an additional hydrophobic layer and tested in a geodetic laboratory. The validation results confirm the high usability of the technological line while maintaining the appropriate millimeter level positioning accuracy and effectiveness of the geodetic monitoring.