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IntroductionFungal fruit rots are a perennial threat to the production of cranberries. Eleven genera of fungi have been reported to cause cranberry rot in the field and/or during cold storage. Oregon and Washington rank fourth and fifth in the production of cranberries in the USA, but much of the research on cranberry fruit rots has been conducted in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this project was to describe the current composition of cranberry fruit rot complex in Oregon and Washington.MethodsA survey of fungal fruit rot pathogens was conducted over four years in commercial cranberry farms located in the Pacific Ocean coastal zone in Oregon and Washington.ResultsYield, rot incidence, and fungal pathogens isolated varied year-to-year. Pathogens isolated frequently from field-rotted cranberries included the cranberry fruit rot genera described in other cranberry production regions of the USA, such as Colletotrichum, Coleophoma, and Physalospora. Neofabraea actinidiae, a recently described cranberry fruit rot, was isolated consistently from field-rotted cranberries from beds with specific fungicide usage patterns. N. actinidiae also was one of the more common storage rot pathogens in this region, alongside other well-established storage rots like Coleophoma and black rots caused by Allantophomopsis cytisporea, A. lycopodina, and Strasseria geniculata.ConclusionsThese findings may have important implications for Washington cranberry production because a large proportion of the crop is dry-harvested, placed in cold storage, and then sold as fresh cranberries. Climatic differences among the cranberry production areas across the United States may affect the disease incidence and prevalence of different genera of cranberry fruit rot pathogens, as summer months in Oregon and Washington are often much cooler and dryer than in Wisconsin and east coast states and may account for differing presence of various cranberry fruit rot fungi.

The current clinical management of Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) primarily depends on conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, underscoring the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. This study explores the clinical significance and therapeutic implication of c-MYC (MYC) in ENKTL. Initially, we identified MYC protein overexpression in approximately 75% of cases within a large cohort of 111 patients. MYC overexpression was strongly correlated with lymphoma cell proliferation and poor clinical outcomes. Intriguingly, integrating MYC expression into the PINK-E prognostic model significantly enhanced its predictive power. Subsequently, we implemented MYC knockdown (KD) in NK malignancy cell lines with MYC overexpression, resulting in significant viability reduction. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) used to determine MYC function revealed a high overlap with canonical MYC-regulated genes and enrichment in metabolism and cell cycle regulation. Integrative analysis of the RNA-seq data upon MYC KD with gene expression profiles of primary ENKTL cases identified a subset of genes closely associated with MYC overexpression. Among these, CDK4 emerged as a potential therapeutic target, and its inhibition not only abrogated MYC function but also decreased MYC expression in NK malignancy cells. Furthermore, the clinical-grade CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib exhibited a potent anti-tumor effect in xenograft mouse models, especially when combined with gemcitabine. In summary, our study firmly establishes MYC as an oncogene with prognostic significance in ENKTL and highlights CDK4 inhibition as a promising therapeutic strategy for treating ENKTL with MYC overexpression.

Abstract Background Large-river decision-makers are charged with maintaining diverse ecosystem services through unprecedented social-ecological transformations as climate change and other global stressors intensify. The interconnected, dendritic habitats of rivers, which often demarcate jurisdictional boundaries, generate complex management challenges. Here, we explore how the Resist–Accept–Direct (RAD) framework may enhance large-river management by promoting coordinated and deliberate responses to social-ecological trajectories of change. The RAD framework identifies the full decision space of potential management approaches, wherein managers may resist change to maintain historical conditions, accept change toward different conditions, or direct change to a specified future with novel conditions. In the Upper Mississippi River System, managers are facing social-ecological transformations from more frequent and extreme high-water events. We illustrate how RAD-informed basin-, reach-, and site-scale decisions could: (1) provide cross-spatial scale framing; (2) open the entire decision space of potential management approaches; and (3) enhance coordinated inter-jurisdictional management in response to the trajectory of the Upper Mississippi River hydrograph. Results The RAD framework helps identify plausible long-term trajectories in different reaches (or subbasins) of the river and how the associated social-ecological transformations could be managed by altering site-scale conditions. Strategic reach-scale objectives may reprioritize how, where, and when site conditions could be altered to contribute to the basin goal, given the basin’s plausible trajectories of change (e.g., by coordinating action across sites to alter habitat connectivity, diversity, and redundancy in the river mosaic). Conclusions When faced with long-term systemic transformations (e.g., > 50 years), the RAD framework helps explicitly consider whether or when the basin vision or goals may no longer be achievable, and direct options may open yet unconsidered potential for the basin. Embedding the RAD framework in hierarchical decision-making clarifies that the selection of actions in space and time should be derived from basin-wide goals and reach-scale objectives to ensure that site-scale actions contribute effectively to the larger river habitat mosaic. Embedding the RAD framework in large-river decisions can provide the necessary conduit to link flexibility and innovation at the site scale with stability at larger scales for adaptive governance of changing social-ecological systems.

Continued large-scale public investment in declining ecosystems depends on demonstrations of “success”. While the public conception of “success” often focuses on restoration to a pre-disturbance condition, the scientific community is more likely to measure success in terms of improved ecosystem health. Using a combination of literature review, workshops and expert solicitation we propose a generalized framework to improve ecosystem health in highly altered river basins by reducing ecosystem stressors, enhancing ecosystem processes and increasing ecosystem resilience. We illustrate the use of this framework in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB) of the central United States (U.S.), by (i) identifying key stressors related to human activities, and (ii) creating a conceptual ecosystem model relating those stressors to effects on ecosystem structure and processes. As a result of our analysis, we identify a set of landscape-level indicators of ecosystem health, emphasizing leading indicators of stressor removal (e.g., reduced anthropogenic nutrient inputs), increased ecosystem function (e.g., increased water storage in the landscape) and increased resilience (e.g., changes in the percentage of perennial vegetative cover). We suggest that by including these indicators, along with lagging indicators such as direct measurements of water quality, stakeholders will be better able to assess the effectiveness of management actions. For example, if both leading and lagging indicators show improvement over time, then management actions are on track to attain desired ecosystem condition. If, however, leading indicators are not improving or even declining, then fundamental challenges to ecosystem health remain to be addressed and failure to address these will ultimately lead to declines in lagging indicators such as water quality. Although our model and indicators are specific to the MARB, we believe that the generalized framework and the process of model and indicator development will be valuable in an array of altered river basins.

Rehabilitation of large Anthropocene rivers requires engagement of diverse stakeholders across a broad range of sociopolitical boundaries. Competing objectives often constrain options for ecological restoration of large rivers whereas fewer competing objectives may exist in a subset of tributaries. Further, tributaries contribute toward building a “portfolio” of river ecosystem assets through physical and biological processes that may present opportunities to enhance the resilience of large river fishes. Our goal is to review roles of tributaries in enhancing mainstem large river fish populations. We present case histories from two greatly altered and distinct large-river tributary systems that highlight how tributaries contribute four portfolio assets to support large-river fish populations: 1) habitat diversity, 2) connectivity, 3) ecological asynchrony, and 4) density-dependent processes. Finally, we identify future research directions to advance our understanding of tributary roles and inform conservation actions. In the Missouri River United States, we focus on conservation efforts for the state endangered lake sturgeon, which inhabits large rivers and tributaries in the Midwest and Eastern United States. In the Colorado River, Grand Canyon United States, we focus on conservation efforts for recovery of the federally threatened humpback chub. In the Missouri River, habitat diversity focused on physical habitats such as substrate for reproduction, and deep-water habitats for refuge, whereas augmenting habitat diversity for Colorado River fishes focused on managing populations in tributaries with minimally impaired thermal and flow regimes. Connectivity enhancements in the Missouri River focused on increasing habitat accessibility that may require removal of physical structures like low-head dams; whereas in the Colorado River, the lack of connectivity may benefit native fishes as the disconnection provides refuge from non-native fish predation. Hydrologic variability among tributaries was present in both systems, likely underscoring ecological asynchrony. These case studies also described density dependent processes that could influence success of restoration actions. Although actions to restore populations varied by river system, these examples show that these four portfolio assets can help guide restoration activities across a diverse range of mainstem rivers and their tributaries. Using these assets as a guide, we suggest these can be transferable to other large river-tributary systems.

Introduction: Fungal fruit rots are a perennial threat to the production of cranberries. Eleven genera of fungi have been reported to cause cranberry rot in the field and/or during cold storage. Oregon and Washington rank fourth and fifth in the production of cranberries in the USA, but much of the research on cranberry fruit rots has been conducted in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Objective: The primary objective of this project was to describe the current composition of cranberry fruit rot complex in Oregon and Washington. Methods: A survey of fungal fruit rot pathogens was conducted over four years in commercial cranberry farms located in the Pacific Ocean coastal zone in Oregon and Washington. Results: Yield, rot incidence, and fungal pathogens isolated varied year-to-year. Pathogens isolated frequently from field-rotted cranberries included the cranberry fruit rot genera described in other cranberry production regions of the USA, such as Colletotrichum, Coleophoma, and Physalospora. Neofabraea actinidiae, a recently described cranberry fruit rot, was isolated consistently from field-rotted cranberries from beds with specific fungicide usage patterns. N. actinidiae also was one of the more common storage rot pathogens in this region, alongside other wellestablished storage rots like Coleophoma and black rots caused by Allantophomopsis cytisporea, A. lycopodina, and Strasseria geniculata. Conclusions: These findings may have important implications for Washington cranberry production because a large proportion of the crop is dry-harvested, placed in cold storage, and then sold as fresh cranberries. Climatic differences among the cranberry production areas across the United States may affect the disease incidence and prevalence of different genera of cranberry fruit rot pathogens, as summer months in Oregon and Washington are often much cooler and dryer than in Wisconsin and east coast states and may account for differing presence of various cranberry fruit rot fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the optimization of HVAC design coordination using building information modeling (BIM). The aim is to identify and compare ways of coordination in construction projects and to evaluate BIM method for clash detection. This method is verified by clash detection of HVAC design in practice using the BIM tool Trimble Connect. 3D clashes are detected between different project models according to selected parameters. The result is a quick and accurate identification of clashes. Timely solution prevents cost increases and schedule shifts of the construction project.

Management actions intended to benefit fish in large rivers can directly or indirectly affect multiple ecosystem components. Without consideration of the effects of management on non-target ecosystem components, unintended consequences may limit management efficacy. Monitoring can help clarify the effects of management actions, including on non-target ecosystem components, but only if data are collected to characterize key ecosystem processes that could affect the outcome. Scientists from across the U.S. convened to develop a conceptual model that would help identify monitoring information needed to better understand how natural and anthropogenic factors affect large river fishes. We applied the conceptual model to case studies in four large U.S. rivers. The application of the conceptual model indicates the model is flexible and relevant to large rivers in different geographic settings and with different management challenges. By visualizing how natural and anthropogenic drivers directly or indirectly affect cascading ecosystem tiers, our model identified critical information gaps and uncertainties that, if resolved, could inform how to best meet management objectives. Despite large differences in the physical and ecological contexts of the river systems, the case studies also demonstrated substantial commonalities in the data needed to better understand how stressors affect fish in these systems. For example, in most systems information on river discharge and water temperature were needed and available. Conversely, information regarding trophic relationships and the habitat requirements of larval fishes were generally lacking. This result suggests that there is a need to better understand a set of common factors across large-river systems. We provide a stepwise procedure to facilitate the application of our conceptual model to other river systems and management goals.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused considerable disruption worldwide. For efficient SARS-CoV-2 detection, new methods of rapid, non-invasive sampling are needed. This study aimed to investigate the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in a novel medium for gargle-lavage (GL) self-sampling and to compare the performance of SARS-CoV-2 detection in paired self-collected GL and clinician-obtained nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) samples. The stability study for SARS-CoV-2 preservation in a novel medium was performed over 14 days (4 °C, 24–27 °C, and 37 °C). In total, 494 paired GL and NPS samples were obtained at the University Hospital in Olomouc in April 2021. SARS-CoV-2 detection in paired samples was performed with a SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Detection Kit (Zybio, Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing, China), an Elecsys® SARS-CoV-2 Antigen assay (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany), and a SARS-CoV-2 Antigen ELISA (EUROIMMUN, Lübeck, Germany). The stability study demonstrated excellent SARS-CoV-2 preservation in the novel medium for 14 days. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 55.7% of NPS samples and 55.7% of GL samples using rRT-PCR, with an overall agreement of 91.9%. The positive percent agreement (PPA) of the rRT-PCR in the GL samples was 92.7%, and the negative percent agreement (NPA) was 90.9%, compared with the NPS samples. The PPA of the rRT-PCR in the NPS and GL samples was 93.2% when all positive tests were used as the reference standard. Both antigen detection assays showed poor sensitivity compared to rRT-PCR (33.2% and 36.0%). rRT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 detection in self-collected GL samples had a similar PPA and NPA to that of NPSs. GL self-sampling offers a suitable and more comfortable alternative for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

AbstractTranscriptomic, proteomic, and methylation aging clocks demonstrate that aging has a predictable preset program, while transcriptome trajectory turning points indicate that the 20–40 age range in humans is the likely stage at which the progressive loss of homeostatic control, and in turn aging, begins to have detrimental effects. Turning points in this age range overlapping with human aging clock genes revealed five candidates that we hypothesized could play a role in aging or age-related physiological decline. To examine these gene’s effects on lifespan and health-span, we utilized whole body and heart-specific gene knockdown of human orthologs in Drosophila melanogasterCDH1DrosophilaDrosophila

Climate change has and is projected to continue to alter historical regimes of temperature, precipitation, and hydrology. To assess the vulnerability of climate change from a land management perspective and spatially identify where the most extreme changes are anticipated to occur, we worked in collaboration with land managers to develop a climate change vulnerability map for the midwestern United States with a focus on riparian systems. The map is intended for use by regional administrators to help them work across various program areas (e.g. fisheries, endangered species) to prioritize locations needing support for adaptation planning. The tool can also be utilized locally by managers to better understand the effects that projected climate scenarios have on the hydrology of management units as they develop adaptation strategies. The vulnerability map is watershed-based (360 watershed units within the region) and combines 15 climate change indicators that were selected by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service natural resource managers based upon known and anticipated effects to species and habitats. The projected change in each of these indicators from the historical period (1986–2005) to the future period (2040–2059) was aggregated into a composite score for each watershed. Landscape-scale metrics reflective of a watershed’s adaptive capacity were combined with the climate change indicators to produce a vulnerability score. We found sub-regional variation in vulnerability to climate change with the greatest vulnerability in Iowa, central Illinois, and northwest Ohio. Greater vulnerability was seen in the higher greenhouse gas concentration scenario, Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 compared to the lower greenhouse gas concentration scenario RCP 4.5, when looking at the mean of the five downscaled climate models used in this study. By quantifying and mapping climate change vulnerability, natural resource managers can better understand the degree of vulnerability for individual watersheds and identify areas of prioritization in regional and local planning efforts.

Background: Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26:H11 is the second most common cause of severe diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome worldwide. The implementation of whole genome sequencing (WGS) enhances the detection and in-depth characterization of these non-O157 STEC strains. The aim of this study was to compare WGS to phenotypic serotyping and pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for characterization of STECO26 strains following a zoonotic outbreak from cattle to humans. Methods and results: This study evaluated seven E. coli strains; two strains isolated from two children with gastrointestinal symptoms and five strains from five calves suspected as the source of infection. Six of these isolates were serotyped phenotypically and by WGS as E. coli O26:H11 while one bovine isolate could be serotyped only by WGS as E. coli O182:H25. Stx1 was detected in two human- and two bovine-isolates using PCR and WGS. Using WGS, all four STECO26 isolates belong to sequence type (ST) 21 while the two stx1 negative E. coli O26 were ST29. All four STECO26 isolates were indistinguishable by PFGE. However, the data generated by WGS linked the two human STECO26 isolates to only one bovine STECO26 strain by having identical high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (hqSNPs) and identical virulence factor profiles while the remaining bovine STECO26 isolate differed by 7 hqSNPs and lacked virulence factor toxB. Conclusions: These data demonstrated that WGS provided significant information beyond traditional epidemiological tools allowing for comprehensive characterization of the STEC. Using this approach, WGS was able to identify the specific source of infection in this study. Keywords: Whole genome sequencing, Shiga toxin, E. coli O26, Public health

B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) encompasses multiple clinically and phenotypically distinct subtypes of malignancy with unique molecular etiologies. Common subtypes of B-NHL, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, have been comprehensively interrogated at the genomic level, but rarer subtypes, such as mantle cell lymphoma, remain less extensively characterized. Furthermore, multiple B-NHL subtypes have thus far not been comprehensively compared using the same methodology to identify conserved or subtype-specific patterns of genomic alterations. Here, we employed a large targeted hybrid-capture sequencing approach encompassing 380 genes to interrogate the genomic landscapes of 685 B-NHL tumors at high depth, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and Burkitt lymphoma. We identified conserved hallmarks of B-NHL that were deregulated in the majority of tumors from each subtype, including frequent genetic deregulation of the ubiquitin proteasome system. In addition, we identified subtype-specific patterns of genetic alterations, including clusters of co-occurring mutations and DNA copy number alterations. The cumulative burden of mutations within a single cluster were more discriminatory of B-NHL subtypes than individual mutations, implicating likely patterns of genetic cooperation that contribute to disease etiology. We therefore provide the first cross-sectional analysis of mutations and DNA copy number alterations across major B-NHL subtypes and a framework of co-occurring genetic alterations that deregulate genetic hallmarks and likely cooperate in lymphomagenesis.

AbstractThe spectrin cytoskeleton has been shown to be critical in diverse processes such as axon development and degeneration, myoblast fusion, and spermatogenesis. Spectrin can be modulated in a tissue specific manner through junctional protein complexes, however, it has not been shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) interact with and modulate spectrin. Here, we provide evidence of a lncRNA CR45362 that interacts with α-Spectrin, is required for spermatid nuclear bundling during DrosophilaCR45362CR45362CR45362

The transcription factor foxo is a known regulator of lifespan extension and tissue homeostasis. It has been linked to the maintenance of neuronal processes across many species and has been shown to promote youthful characteristics by regulating cytoskeletal flexibility and synaptic plasticity at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). However, the role of foxo in aging neuromuscular junction function has yet to be determined. We profiled adult Drosophila foxo- null mutant abdominal ventral longitudinal muscles and found that young mutants exhibited morphological profiles similar to those of aged wild-type flies, such as larger bouton areas and shorter terminal branches. We also observed changes to the axonal cytoskeleton and an accumulation of late endosomes in foxo null mutants and motor neuron-specific foxo knockdown flies, similar to those of aged wild-types. Motor neuron-specific overexpression of foxo can delay age-dependent changes to NMJ morphology, suggesting foxo is responsible for maintaining NMJ integrity during aging. Through genetic screening, we identify several downstream factors mediated through foxo-regulated NMJ homeostasis, including genes involved in the MAPK pathway. Interestingly, the phosphorylation of p38 was increased in the motor neuron-specific foxo knockdown flies, suggesting foxo acts as a suppressor of p38/MAPK activation. Our work reveals that foxo is a key regulator for NMJ homeostasis, and it may maintain NMJ integrity by repressing MAPK signaling.

Extra-nodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTCL) is a highly aggressive lymphoma, where the tumor suppressor gene (TSG) PRDM1 is frequently lost/inactivated. We employed two different CRISPR/Cas9 approaches to generate PRDM1-/- primary NK cells to study its role in NK-cell homeostasis. PRDM1-/- NK cells showed a marked increase in cloning efficiency, higher proliferation rate and less apoptosis compared with their wild type counterparts. Gene expression profiling demonstrated a marked enrichment in pathways associated with proliferation, cell cycle, MYC, MYB and TCR/NK signaling in PRDM1-/- NK cells, but pathways associated with normal cellular functions including cytotoxic functions were down-regulated, suggesting that the loss of PRDM1 shifted NK cells toward proliferation and survival rather than the performance of its normal functions. We were also able to further modify a PRDM1 deleted clone to introduce heterozygous deletions of common TSG in ENKTCL such as TP53, DDX3X, or PTPN6. We have established an in vitro model to elucidate the major pathways through which PRDM1 mediates its homeostatic control of NK-cells. This approach can be applied to the study of other relevant genetic lesions and oncogenic collaborations in lymphoma pathogenesis.

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is a rare, indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that affects 0. 13 per 100,000 persons annually. Overall survival of SMZL is estimated to reach 8–11 years in most cases, but up to 30% of SMZL cases develop aggressive presentations resulting in greatly diminished time of survival. SMZL presents with a very heterogeneous molecular profile, making diagnosis problematic, and accurate prognosis even less likely. The study herein has identified a potential diagnostic gene expression signature with highly specific predictive utility, coined the SMZL-specific Gene Expression Signature (SSGES). Additionally, five of the most impactful markers identified within the SSGES were selected for a five-protein panel, for further evaluation among control and SMZL patient samples. These markers included EME2, ERCC5, SETBP1, USP24, and ZBTB32. When compared with control spleen and other B-cell lymphoma subtypes, significantly higher expression was noticed in SMZL samples when stained for EME2 and USP24. Additionally, ERCC5, SETBP1, USP24, and ZBTB32 staining displayed indications of prognostic value for SMZL patients. Delineation of the SSGES offers a unique SMZL signature that could provide diagnostic utility for a malignancy that has historically been difficult to identify, and the five-marker protein panel provides additional support for such findings. These results should be further investigated and validated in subsequent molecular investigations of SMZL so it may be potentially incorporated into standard oncology practice for improving the understanding and outlook for SMZL patients.

Peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCLs) represent a significant unmet medical need with dismal clinical outcomes. The T cell receptor (TCR) is emerging as a key driver of T lymphocyte transformation. However, the role of chronic TCR activation in lymphomagenesis and in lymphoma cell survival is still poorly understood. Using a mouse model, we report that chronic TCR stimulation drove T cell lymphomagenesis, whereas TCR signaling did not contribute to PTCL survival. The combination of kinome, transcriptome, and epigenome analyses of mouse PTCLs revealed a NK cell-like reprogramming of PTCL cells with expression of NK receptors (NKRs) and downstream signaling molecules such as Tyrobp and SYK. Activating NKRs were functional in PTCLs and dependent on SYK activity. In vivo blockade of NKR signaling prolonged mouse survival, demonstrating the addiction of PTCLs to NKRs and downstream SYK/mTOR activity for their survival. We studied a large collection of human primary samples and identified several PTCLs recapitulating the phenotype described in this model by their expression of SYK and the NKR, suggesting a similar mechanism of lymphomagenesis and establishing a rationale for clinical studies targeting such molecules., Introduction Peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are highly heterogenous, comprising at least 30 post-thymic (i.e., mature) T or NK cell-derived entities according to the current 2016 WHO classification (1). PTCLs [...]

The research paper introduces the problems of technical support of a model in projects in the area of BIM. Planning Requirements (BIM protocol) describe the technical preparedness of models, data repletion, information sharing, communications and other processes in construction projects. This BIM protocol was developed for Skanska Inc. It consists of several parts, which are described in the article. At the introduction Skanska Inc. is presented together with its position in the area of BIM in the Czech market. The research analyzed the document itself, including its annexes. Another section is devoted to the importance of BIM protocol in project management of company Skanska. The document was prepared in cooperation with Skanska Inc. It applies only to commercial and residential projects in the area of building construction.

A spectroscopic ellipsometry study on as-deposited and annealed non-stoichiometric indium zinc tin oxide thin films of four different compositions prepared by RF magnetron sputtering was conducted. Multi-sample analysis with two sets of samples sputtered onto glass slides and silicon wafers, together with the analysis of the samples onto each substrate separately, was utilized for as-deposited samples. Annealed samples onto the glass slides were also analyzed. Spectroscopic ellipsometry in a wide spectral range (0.2–6 eV) was used to determine optical constants (refractive index n and extinction coefficient k) of these films. Parameterized semiconductor oscillator function, together with Drude oscillator, was used as a model dielectric function. Geometrical parameters (layer thickness and surface roughness) and physical parameters (direct optical bandgap, free carrier concentration, mobility, and specific electrical resistivity) were determined from spectroscopic ellipsometry data modeling. Specific electrical resistivity determined from the Drude oscillator corresponds well with the results from electrical measurements. Change in the optical bandgap, visible especially for annealed samples, corresponds with the change of free carrier concentration (Moss–Burstein effect). Scanning electron microscope did not reveal any noticeable annealing-induced change in surface morphology.