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Abstract In this study, we evaluated the combined effect between MLE-15, a modular lytic enzyme composed of four building blocks, and reline, a natural deep eutectic solvent. The bioinformatic analysis allowed us to determine the spatial architecture of MLE-15, whose components were bactericidal peptide cecropin A connected via a flexible linker to the cell wall binding domain (CBD) of mesophilic 201ϕ2 − 1 endolysin and catalytic domain (EAD) of highly thermostable Ph2119 endolysin. The modular enzyme showed high thermostability with the melting temperature of 93.97 ± 0.38 °C, significantly higher than their natural counterparts derived from mesophilic sources. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of MLE-15 was 100 µg/mL for a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while the MIC of reline ranged from 6.25 to 25% v/v for the same strains. The addition of reline effectively reduced the MIC of MLE-15 from 100 µg/mL to 3.15–50 µg/mL. This combination displayed additive effects for most strains and synergism for extensively antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Bacillus subtilis. The subsequent evaluation revealed that MLE-15 eliminated planktonic cells of A. baumannii RUH134, but was ineffective against matured biofilms. However, combined with reline, MLE-15 reduced the bacterial load in the matured biofilm by 1.39 log units. Confocal fluorescence microscopy indicated that reline damaged the structure of the biofilm, allowing MLE-15 to penetrate it. Additionally, MLE-15 and its combination with reline eradicated meropenem-persistent cells of A. baumannii RUH134. Effectiveness in lowering the MIC value of MLE-15 as well as protection against antibiotic-tolerant persister cells, indicate that MLE-15 and reline combination is a promising candidate for effective therapies in bacterial infections, which is especially important in the light of the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance.

Strategies for successful healing of diabetic wounds are lacking. Natural-derived dressings have gained much attention due to their promising properties. We hypothesized that keratin-biphalin fiber-dressing accelerates skin wound healing in a mouse model of diabetes. Keratin fibers were obtained from mouse fur and soaked in a biphalin solution. Studies on NIH/3T3 cells showed that keratin-biphalin fibers increase cell viability. In vivo studies were made on C57BL/6J mice with iatrogenically induced diabetes. Two full-thickness wounds were created on the back of the mice, one untreated and the other treated with an experimental dressing. Western blot analysis, histopathological and immunohistochemical staining were performed. Biphalin was slowly released from keratin fibers. The obtained keratin-biphalin fibers were biocompatible and supported cell growth. Western blot analysis showed that cells treated with our dressing had an increasing expression level of mTOR, and p-AKT 72 h post-treatment compared to 24 h and 48 h. Animal studies showed that the keratin-biphalin dressing accelerated wound healing on days 5 and 15. Treated wounds showed faster reepithelization and developed thicker epidermis. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies confirmed that keratin-biphalin fibers stimulate macrophage infiltration, which promotes tissue remodeling and regeneration. Exogenous keratin-biphalin fibers p-AKT/mTOR expression protein in vitro and accelerate skin wound healing in diabetic mice.

Nosocomial infections means the penetration, and the development of a biological pathogenic factor in the body, which occurred in connection with the impartation of health services. These infections affect 5 to 10% of patients. Most of the hospital staff do not know or ignore the rules for reducing infections in healthcare facilities. In Poland, there is a shortage of epidemiological nurses, doctors specializing in epidemiology, bacteriology and microbiology, and statements about their position in the structure of hospital management structure. The most difficult to combat are MDRO. They are most often carried by non-disinfected hands and medical equipment, outdated ventilation and air-conditioning installations and drainage of water from healthcare facilities. In order to limit the transmission of infectious microorganisms as much as possible, health services provided in health care facilities should be properly organized. Medical personnel should be properly trained, and cleaning staff should be equipped with adequate cleaning and disinfection agents. Each medical facility should define a hospital environment monitoring program in which the rules for limiting the transmission of infectious pathogens are clearly defined. Additionally, a program should be created to encourage the selection of specializations in epidemiological and related fields for doctors and nurses in order to increase the number of personnel with such degree and direction of education.

Central nervous system infections are among the most devastating infections in the world. Pathogens may enter the central nervous system as a result of dissemination from the upper respiratory tract or other primary site via blood and then crossing the blood-brain barrier. Pathogens present in health care facilities are not an exception. In addition, the neurosurgical procedures performed there are an additional way of entering the central nervous system. Moreover, nosocomial infections are characterized by very high morbidity and mortality, therefore their early diagnosis and treatment is important. The aim of the study is to review the current knowledge and guidelines on the most common healthcare-associated infections of the central nervous system, their diagnosis and treatment. Information searches were carried out in online databases, scientific and educational editions. The most common healthcare-associated infection of the central nervous system is meningitis, followed by a subdural empyema and a brain abscess. The greatest risk factor is neurosurgery. In all of the most common infections of the central nervous system listed, rapid implementation of empiric antibiotic therapy is essential. Further antibiotic therapy depends on the identified etiological factor. As a rule, surgical treatment is required for subdural empyema and brain abscesses. Healthcare-related central nervous system infections remain a significant problem. Due to the risk posed by them to the patient's health, prophylaxis, prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential.

Unemployment is one of the most important problems affecting people in all countries. It affects the functioning of entire economies, industries, and enterprises; it also reduces the level and quality of people’s lives. The dynamic changes that are taking place in the labor market are forcing entrepreneurs to adopt a flexible approach to labor market resources – that is, employees – and also to choose appropriate forms of human capital management. This may lead to a reduction in unemployment in the market. Consequently, tackling unemployment is one of the important challenges facing the European Union, especially on its way to achieving sustainable development goals. High levels of unemployment could significantly hamper the achievement of the Agenda 2030 employment targets (SDG8), leading to poverty, social and economic inequality, and social instability. Therefore, the subject of this study is unemployment in EU countries; the main objective is to examine unemployment levels across EU member states. The deliberations and analysis are carried out in the context of the Agenda 2030 Goal 8 (SDG 8) for sustainable development. Taking into account the different degrees of implementation of SDG8 by individual Member States, and thus the different results in this respect, the study finds differences and similarities among the surveyed Member States in terms of types and levels of unemployment. The research is based on Eurostat data for 2022, and uses multidimensional comparative analysis methods such as cluster analysis and linear ordering. A review of selected sources on international and European law focuses on employment policy standards, including the problem of unemployment; this serves as a background for the analyses. The considerations are embedded in the concept of sustainable development, which influences the functioning of entire economies, but also in the processes of enterprise management. Based on the literature and the results of the analyses, it is concluded that levels of unemployment vary greatly in the analyzed countries. The best conditions for availability and accessibility of work are found in the Czech Republic and Malta; the worst are in Spain and Greece, where unemployment is very high.

Funding information: International Visegrad Fund Grant Number IVF 22230264. This article presents the results of a survey conducted in the first half of 2023. A total of 812 questionnaires were obtained from current and potential consumers (individual and B2B) in the Visegrad countries. The survey’s goal was to find out how consumers perceive and evaluate the quality and pro-ecological factors/challenges of the products of the electrical machinery industry, in the context of their declared personal purchases. Among other things, it sought to establish the actions consumers expect from manufacturers if they want to increase the market share of good-quality and environmentally friendly products. Improvements to the quality of products, with reductions in their negative environmental impact throughout their life cycle, were noticed most in Hungary and Poland. In all countries surveyed, consumers agreed most strongly with the statement that to increase the market share of good quality and environmentally friendly products, producers should enable recycling, disposal, and so on, and improve the availability of information.

Hydrogen is expected to be one of the most important fuels meeting stringent emission standards shortly. Using hydrogen as a fuel in an internal combustion engine (ICE) is an alternative application to replace hydrocarbon fuels that, when burned, produce harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, particulate matter, and greenhouse gases. This work provides an overview of the latest research results and future challenges and opportunities related to the use of hydrogen to power ICEs. The article presents the work of various research centres describing the technical use of hydrogen as a fuel in motor vehicles with combustion engines. Specific chemical and physical properties of hydrogen used in combustion engines were presented. The article presents modern research on a hydrogen-powered ICE. First, the basics of hydrogen engines are described, examining the engine-specific properties of hydrogen, followed by a review of the existing literature. Attention was paid to the fundamental importance of optimising the air composition from the point of view of combustion quality, NOx emissions, engine efficiency, and performance. Another issue under consideration is cleaning exhaust gases to meet future emissions regulations for hydrogen-fuelled combustion engines.

Objectives Running a business effectively requires ensuring continuity and regularity of the activity. For this purpose, it is important to effectively and rationally manage inventories and maintain them at various levels of optimality. Material and methods In the paper a design of the probabilistic model of reserves is discussed. The objective was an elaboration of the optimal strategy of materials reserves management in the series manufacturing. Results The model has been verified at an attainable scale using the numerical data concerning different assortment of materials in the serial production of furniture. The proposed probabilistic model makes it possible to elaborate the optimal strategy of type R, Z in the management of reserves of based materials of the manufacturing company with large-lot production. The strategy is based on minimal expenses connected with a supply of materials. Conclusions For each company to provide good quality services, it is necessary for individual, cooperating enterprises to function efficiently. The so-called "supply chain" is a specific sequence of activities enabling the satisfaction of market demand for a given product. The supply chain consists of companies and plants that are involved in supplying raw materials, processing them into semi-finished products and, ultimately, creating a finished product. The simplest supply chain consists of a company, suppliers and customers. However, it is good to know that many more companies are involved in most production processes, including transport, logistics, finance and IT.

Abstrakt Housing policy aspiring to have a general social impact, subtracting from the scale of the state, like any other policy in this scope, is conducted in the European Union countries by the public sector. This sector remains a significant point of reference for this policy. The activity of the public sector in the countries of post-war Western Europe varies in intensity over time and is carried out at different spatial levels - also in relation to housing. The public sector has been subject to a tendency towards apparent self-limitation for at least the last four decades. This occurs mainly by reducing the importance of the state and its agencies in socio-economic development. Housing policy is one of the important sectoral policies of the state - including the government and local authorities - engaging public entities, political and social organizations and private entities to achieve the main and long-term goals in the area of housing, which are: creating conditions for purchasing or renting apartments by all citizens; ensuring the availability of the housing stock, i.e. implementing an appropriate scale of housing investments using primarily the market mechanism, and supporting the appropriate quality of the housing stock throughout the entire period of use of the property.

Background/Objectives: Camptothecin (CPT) is a well-known chemical compound recognized for its significant anticancer properties. However, its clinical application remains limited due to challenges related to CPT’s high hydrophobicity and the instability of its active form. To address these difficulties, our research focused on the development of four novel nanoparticulate systems intended for either oral or intravenous administration. Methods: These nanosystems were based on a poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer/CPT complex, which had been coated with biodegradable homo- and copolymers, designed with appropriate physicochemical properties and chain microstructures. Results: The resulting nanomaterials, with diameters ranging from 110 to 406 nm and dispersity values between 0.10 and 0.67, exhibited a positive surface charge and were synthesized using biodegradable poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLACL), and poly(glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PGACL). Biological assessments, including cell viability and hemolysis tests, indicated that all polymers demonstrated less than 5% hemolysis, confirming their hemocompatibility for potential intravenous use. Furthermore, fibroblasts exposed to these matrices showed concentration-dependent viability. The entrapment efficiency (EE) of CPT reached up to 27%, with drug loading (DL) values as high as 17%. The in vitro drug release studies lasted over 400 h with the use of phosphate buffer solutions at two different pH levels, demonstrating that time-dependent processes allowed for a gradual and controlled release of CPT from the developed nanosystems. The release kinetics of the active compound at pH 7.4 ± 0.05 and 6.5 ± 0.05 followed near-first-order or first-order models, with diffusion and Fickian/non-Fickian transport mechanisms. Importantly, the nanoparticulate systems enabled the stabilization of the pharmacologically active form of CPT, while providing protection against hydrolysis, even in physiological environments. Conclusions: In our opinion, these results underscore the promising future of biodegradable nanosystems as effective drug delivery systems (DDSs) for targeted cancer treatment, offering stability and efficacy over short, medium, and long-term applications.

This research examines the influence of various pavement types on vehicle dynamics, specifically concentrating on vertical acceleration and its implications for unsprung mass, including the wheels and suspension system. The objective of this project was to categorize pavement types with accelerometer data, enabling a deeper comprehension of the impact of road surface conditions on vehicle stability, comfort, and mechanical stress. Two categorization methods were utilized: a neural network and a multinomial logistic regression model. Accelerometer data were gathered while a car navigated diverse terrain types, such as grates, potholes, and cobblestones. The neural network model exhibited exceptional performance, with 100% accuracy in categorizing all surface types, while the multinomial logistic regression model reached 97.14% accuracy. The neural network demonstrated exceptional efficacy in differentiating intricate surface types such as potholes and grates, surpassing the logistic regression model which had difficulties with these surfaces. These results underscore the neural network’s effectiveness in the real-time categorization of road surfaces, enhancing the comprehension of vehicle dynamics influenced by pavement conditions. Future studies must tackle the difficulty of identifying analogous surfaces by enhancing methodologies or integrating more data attributes for greater precision.

Background: A child’s cancer is a highly stressful experience for the entire family. Childhood cancer disrupts family functioning and is one of the most stressful and challenging events parents face, often beyond their control. Parents play a crucial role in providing emotional support to children throughout their illness, and their ability to cope can help reduce the child’s negative emotions. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among parents of children with cancer. Methods: This cross-sectional study followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines and included parents of children undergoing cancer treatment. Convenience sampling was used. The Beck Depression Inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were utilized to assess the parents. Results: This study included 270 participants (73% women, 27% men) with children at an average age of 8.75 ± 4.82 years. Diagnoses included leukemia (53%), lymphoma (29%), and other cancers. On the Beck Depression Inventory, 33% of parents were mildly depressed, 12% moderately depressed, and 32% severely depressed, with an average score of 20.63 ± 12.39 points. The HADS-M scale indicated anxiety at 48.43 ± 20.78%, depression at 45.01 ± 22.8%, and aggression at 54.72 ± 28.71%. Conclusions: Most parents of children with cancer have symptoms of depression and anxiety, which are influenced by the duration of the child’s illness. A strong correlation was observed between the level of anxiety and the tendency for depression.

The aim of this article is to examine which selected internal factors influence the profitability (ROA) of companies in the energy sector in Poland and how they do so, over the period 2018–2021, taking into account two groups: all types of activities (984 companies) and electricity production (508 companies). This study uses Pearson correlation analysis, Wilcoxon pairwise rank test, descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression to build eight ROA econometric models, four for each group. The research shows that in the energy sector, in particular, variables relating to the capital structure (total equity/total assets, long-term liabilities/total assets, short-term liabilities/total assets and long-term liabilities/short-term liabilities ratios) have a statistically significant impact (positive or negative) on the profitability (ROA). The aforementioned ratios appear in various combinations in all eight ROA models. The use of equity to finance the activities of companies in this sector seems to be particularly beneficial, as the total equity/total assets ratio occurs in as many as seven out of eight models and, moreover, it always has a positive impact on the ROA. The remaining analyzed variables relating to the structure of assets (fixed assets/total assets ratio), financial liquidity (current ratio) and the age of the company appear in the models as statistically significant quite rarely, having a different impact on the ROA (positively or negatively). However, variables such as the fixed assets/current assets and total liabilities/total equity ratios do not have a statistically significant impact on the ROA at all in any of the studied groups of enterprises. The research results suggest that managers, in order to shape profitability (measured by ROA), should pay special attention to the capital structure, i.e., the proportions of the use of equity, long-term liabilities and short-term liabilities to finance the operations of energy companies as these independent variables appear most often in ROA models. Other analyzed factors, such as the assets structure (the share of fixed assets in total assets) or financial liquidity, also have an impact on the return on assets; therefore, their use in energy companies should also be considered. Moreover, the research shows a large diversity of factors shaping ROA in econometric models, the way they affect the dependent variable (positive or negative) and the degree of model fit (R2), both in individual years and in the two groups of companies studied. This proves that it is not possible to clearly and finally determine which factors and how (positive or negative) they affect the profitability. This influence can change over time depending on the circumstances, which indicates the need for the continuous involvement of decision makers in the management process and making decisions based on reliable and appropriate-to-the-situation analyses.

Artificial neural network models for the task of detection are used in many fields and find various applications. Models of this kind require adequate computational resources and thus require adequate energy expenditure. The increase in the number of parameters, the complexity of architectures, and the need to process large data sets significantly increase energy consumption, which is becoming a key sustainability challenge. Optimization of computing and the development of energy-efficient hardware technologies are essential to reduce the energy footprint of these models. This article examines the effect of the type of model, as well as its parameters, on energy consumption during inference. For this purpose, sensors built into the graphics card were used, and software was developed to measure the energy demand of the graphics card for different architectures of YOLO models (v8, v9, v10), as well as for different batch and model sizes. This study showed that the increase in energy demand is not linearly dependent on batch size. After a certain level of batch size, the energy demand begins to decrease. This dependence does not occur only for n/t size models. Optimum utilization of computing power due to the number of processed images for the studied models occurs at the maximum studied batch size. In addition, tests were conducted on an embedded device.

Energy consumption in electric vehicles is a key element of their operation, determining energy efficiency and one of its main indicators, i.e., range. Therefore, in this article, mathematical models were developed to evaluate the impact of selected factors on energy consumption in electric vehicles. The phenomenon of energy recuperation was also examined. The study used data from mileage measurements of the electric vehicle (EV) driving on a motorway and in built-up areas. The results obtained showed a strong correlation between acceleration, vehicle speed, battery power, and energy consumption. In urban conditions, engine RPM and vehicle speed had an additional impact on energy consumption. Findings from this study can be used to optimize vehicle acceleration control modules to increase their range, develop eco-driving styles for EV drivers, and better understand the energy efficiency factors of EVs.

The growing demand for personal mobility is leading to an increase in vehicle use, which is in turn contributing to higher carbon emissions. It is widely acknowledged that emission-free electric vehicles (EVs) will play a pivotal role in the decarbonization process, particularly in the decarbonization of transport systems. The objective of this paper was to present the trends in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Poland, together with the identification of market shocks and an assessment of the programs supporting electromobility. The number of imported and domestically purchased new and used electric vehicle (BEV) registrations was analyzed using the TRAMO-SEATS and ARIMA-X-12 seasonal adjustment methods. The rise in sales of electric vehicles in Poland was driven by the government’s electromobility support programs and alterations to tax legislation, with no discernible seasonal impact. The number of registrations in Poland increased significantly, exhibiting an upward trajectory. However, this growth is constrained by the inadequate number of charging stations, which are primarily powered by electricity derived from coal. Consequently, while the development of electromobility in Poland is evident, the decarbonization process remains a challenge.

A series of phenyl β-carbonyl selenides with o-ester functionality substituted on the oxygen atom with chiral and achiral alkyl groups was synthesized. All compounds are the first examples of this type of organoselenium derivatives with an ester substituent in the ortho position. The obtained derivatives were tested as antioxidants and anticancer agents to see the influence of an ester functionality on the bioactivity of β-carbonyl selenides by replacing the o-amide group with an o-ester group. The best results as an antioxidant agent were observed for O-((1R,2S,5R)-(−)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl)-2-((2-oxopropyl)selanyl)benzoate. The most cytotoxic derivative against breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines was O-(methyl)-2-((2-oxopropyl)selanyl)benzoate and against human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 was O-(2-pentyl)-2-((2-oxopropyl)selanyl)benzoate.

BackgroundProducts containing cannabidiol (CBD) are attracting attention because of their potential therapeutic benefits and positive impacts on well-being and mental health. Although additional research is needed to understand their effectiveness in treating mental disorders, cross-sectional studies may help identify the factors influencing CBD use patterns. This study examined the impact of variables such as health status, medication use, medical supervision, gender, age, and cannabis use on CBD consumption patterns.Materials and methodsA self-selected sample (n =267) of current or former CBD users was recruited via social media and participated in an online survey designed to collect data on basic demographics, health status, cannabis use, and CBD usage patterns.ResultsThe sample (n = 267) consisted of 68.5% women with an average age of 30.21 years, of which 25.8% reported diagnosed psychiatric disorders and 49.4% reported cannabis use. The top five reasons for using CBD were self-reported stress (65.3%), sleep problems (51.7%), overall improvement in well-being (52.5%), improved mood (44.9%), and anxiety relief (40.9%). Our findings suggest that individuals with psychiatric disorders and those taking psychotropic medications are more likely to use CBD to relieve stress and anxiety. Overall, nearly 70% of the individuals found CBD products to be effective. Sublingual administration was more popular among non-cannabis users, while cannabis users preferred smoking and vaping to CBD administration.ConclusionOur results indicate that individuals using CBD for health and wellness reasons believe that it has potential health benefits. Further research using rigorous longitudinal designs is needed to delve deeper into the effectiveness of low-dose CBD and to better understand the therapeutic potential of CBD.

Na przykładzie dwóch wydarzeń historycznych: śpiewającej rewolucji z 1988 r. oraz protestów przeciw sfałszowanym wyborom w Białorusi z lat 2020–2021, artykuł prezentuje sposób wykorzystania zbiorowego śpiewu do celów społeczno-politycznych. Jednym z nich jest budowanie/wzmacnianie tożsamości narodowej, drugim wyrażenie żądania zmian. Mechanizmy wykorzystywane do osiągnięcia pożądanego efektu zawarte są w tradycyjnych funkcjach pieśni.

Przedmiotem rozważań jest postrzeganie wartości zabytków sakralnych z różnych perspektyw nauk społecznych, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem ekonomii, socjologii oraz psychologii i filozofii. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie możliwych sposobów postrzegania wartości zabytków sakralnych oraz podkreślenie, że o ich wymiarze decydują również aspekty subiektywne. Zamiarem szczegółowym publikacji jest ocena znaczenia wartości zabytków sakralnych dla interesariuszy w korelacji z Analizą Wartościowania Zabytków Waltera Frodela, stosowaną w konserwacji (nauki o sztuce). Opracowanie ma charakter przeglądowy i zostało przygotowane na podstawie przeglądu literatury oraz wyników własnych badań empirycznych (pilotażowych) autorów. Do kwerendy wykorzystano test ANOVA Kruskala-Wallisa oraz test niezależności chi-kwadrat Pearsona. Brak legalnej definicji zabytków sakralnych spowodował, że zaproponowano autorską definicję. Analiza wykazała, że największą wartością dla respondentów jest wartość historyczna zabytków sakralnych, a najniższą wartość techniczna. Mieszkający w mieście częściej wskazywali na konsumpcjonizm jako cechę obniżającą wartość i znaczenie zabytków sakralnych.

In the present work, we report a synthesis procedure for the preparation of vertically aligned mesoporous silica thin films containing long, nanometer-scale thin silver nanowires inside pores. The inter-channel nanowires had a fine crystalline structure and a diameter of no more than 2 nm. Despite the diameter being the edge of the theoretical possibility of synthesis, the nanowires were stable enough to be observed by transmission electron microscope and could be clearly observed. For the synthesis, we applied the idea of silica nanoreactors, and the procedure consists of two steps: fabrication of an initial organically-functionalized silica thin film containing silver ions distributed regularly inside vertically aligned pores and following thermal decomposition resulting in the decomposition of the organic anchoring groups and the formation of metallic crystalline nanowires from released silver atoms. Both the final nanocomposite and the initial material were studied by means of transition electron microscopy and electrochemical techniques: linear scan and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The crystallinity of silver nanowires inside silica mesopores was proved by electron diffraction. The spatial confinement realized by silica nanochannels facilitated the stabilization of relatively small and ultra-thin nanowires and the formation of a hexagonal P63/mmc silver crystalline structure instead of the more common Fm3m cubic.

Cel/hipoteza: W ostatnich latach zauważalny jest dynamiczny rozwój urządzeń mikromobilnych, przeznaczonych do transportu osób. Tego rodzaju pojazdy określa się mianem urządzeń transportu osobistego (UTO). Jak każdy pojazd drogowy, także i UTO mogą powodować liczne wypadki i kolizje. Naturalną konsekwencją szkodowości związanej z wykorzystaniem UTO jest postawienie pytania o zabezpieczenie interesów poszkodowanych. Mając powyższe na uwadze za cel niniejszego opracowania przyjęto przybliżenie roli ubezpieczeń od odpowiedzialności cywilnej użytkowników urządzeń transportu osobistego w kontekście szkodowości związanej z użytkowaniem tego rodzaju pojazdów oraz krótką charakterystyką dostępnych na rynku produktów ubezpieczeniowych. W pracy postawiono tezę: mimo iż przepisy nie zobowiązują kierujących UTO do posiadania polisy komunikacyjnej OC, szeroki katalog niekorzystnych zdarzeń związanych z użytkowaniem urządzeń transportu odpowiednio wymaga upowszechnienia ochrony ubezpieczeniowej użytkowników tego rodzaju pojazdów. W polu ochrony ubezpieczeniowej powinni się znaleźć: użytkownicy, wypożyczający sprzęt, sprzedawcy, operatorzy a także gospodarstwa domowe. Metodyka: Opracowanie ma charakter teoretyczno-analityczny. Obok przeglądu dostępnej literatury przeanalizowano również dostępną na rynku ofertę dobrowolnych ubezpieczeń adresowanych do użytkowników UTO. Wnioski z badań: Ubezpieczenie dedykowane posiadaczom urządzeń transportu osobistego jest stosunkowo nowym produktem na rynku i jeszcze niewiele towarzystw ubezpieczeniowych posiada je w swojej ofercie. Użytkownicy urządzeń transportu osobistego mogą korzystać z posiadanych ubezpieczeń odpowiedzialności cywilnej w życiu prywatnym, zawieranych głównie przy ubezpieczeniach domów i mieszkań, stanowiącym zabezpieczenie na wypadek wyrządzenia szkody osobom trzecim. Jednym z rozwiązań prowadzących do upowszechnienia ochrony ubezpieczeniowej mogłaby być propozycja ubezpieczeń dostosowanych do rodzaju ryzyka oraz krótkiego charakteru użytkowania sprzętu (np. ubezpieczeń na czas przejazdu).

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest określenie rozumienia i istoty globalnej etyki mediów w ujęciu czołowego na świecie jej inicjatora i popularyzatora – Stephena J.A. Warda. Artykuł ten stanowi zatem próbę odpowiedzi na następujące pytania: Jak jest rozumiana globalna etyka mediów przez Warda? Dlaczego w jego przekonaniu jest ona tak bardzo potrzebna? Jak przedstawia się stan badań na temat globalnej etyki mediów w działalności badawczej Warda? Kto spośród badaczy – oprócz Warda – podejmuje niniejszą tematykę? Aby zrealizować podstawowe założenia metodologiczne, posłużono się metodami analizy treści oraz systematycznego przeglądu literatury. Materiał badawczy służący określeniu teorii globalnej etyki mediów Warda stanowią publikacje naukowe tegoż badacza. The Idea of Global Media Ethics as Approached by Stephen J. A. Ward The aim of this article is to define the understanding of global media ethics in terms of its initiator and the world’s leading populariser – Stephen J.A. Ward. This article is therefore an attempt to answer the following questions: How is global media ethics understood by Stephen J.A. Ward? Why is it so necessary from his scientific perspective? What is the state of research on global media ethics in the research activities of Stephen J.A. Ward? Who among the researchers – apart from Ward – undertakes this topic? In order to implement the basic methodological assumptions, the methods of content analysis and systematic litera-ture review were used. The research material – to define the theory of global media ethics by Stephen J.A. Ward – consists of the scientific publications of Stephen J.A. Ward.

Piktel E, Markiewicz KH, Wilczewska AZ, et al. Int J Nanomedicine. 2020;15:4573–4589. It has been brought to the authors attention that Figure 6E showing nanosystem-mediated DNA fragmentation in DLD-1 colorectal cancer cells is a duplicate of part of Figure 3C that was previously published in the review article: Wnorowska U, Fiedoruk K, Piktel E, et al. J Nanobiotechnology. 2020;18(1):3 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-019-0566-z). In addition, both Figures 5E and 6E were described with incorrect treatment conditions. Data obtained during corresponding experiments were verified; consequently, Figure 5E and 6E were updated using data from the original study. The correct Figure 5 is as follows. Figure 5 Continued. Figure 5 Anticancer activity of ceragenin CSA-131 and ceragenin-containing nanoformulations against lung carcinoma A549 cells. Increase of intracellular levels of reduced thiols in A549 cells treated with CSA-131 (grey bar), MNP@CSA-131 (red bar), CSA-131+MNP (blue bar) and MNP (yellow bar) when compared to untreated control (0 μg/mL; black bar) (A). The percentages of dead cells (black columns), PI-negative cells with low viability (dark grey columns) and healthy cells (light grey columns) in lung carcinoma cells treated with CSA-131, MNP@CSA-131, CSA-131 and MNP or naked MNPs (B). The proliferation of cancer cells treated with CSA-131 (grey squares), MNP@CSA-131 (red circles), CSA-131 + MNP (blue diamonds) and MNP (yellow inverted triangles) when compared to untreated control (black squares) estimated using resazurin-based fluorimetric method (C). Induction of apoptosis in A549 cells by CSA-131 and its magnetic derivatives (D). Percentage of early apoptotic (black columns), late apoptotic/dead cells (dark grey columns) and dead cells (light grey columns). For the purpose of the clarity of the presented data, live cells (Annexin V-negative and 7-AAD-negative) were not presented in the provided figures. Morphological alternations in nuclei of A549 cells upon treatment with CSA-131, MNP@CSA-131 and CSA-131 + MNP when compared to uncreated cells (E). White arrows indicate treatment-induced morphological changes in nuclei of treated cells. All experiments were performed using agents at a concentration of 10 μg/mL for 24 h. (A–D) demonstrate results from 3 to 6 individual experiments ± SD, for panel E results from one representative experiment are shown. * and ^ indicate statistical significance (p-value

The purpose of this study is to outline the current problems with the company's documentation workflow process and propose a plan to implement a new automated system to eliminate waste and improve the company's cash flow. Every enterprise is required to accurately record business operations. Accounting is the foundation of an organization, serving not only to meet legal requirements, but also to support management processes. In the case of large enterprises, complex accounting carries the risk of problems with timely and correct accounting, which can lead to delays in payments, reminders, collection procedures and interruptions in deliveries. As a result, it becomes crucial to put processes in place to safeguard liquidity. The study includes an analysis of the company's current documentation workflow process and identification of problems associated with it. A plan is then proposed to implement a new automated system to eliminate waste. The methodology is based on an analysis of the company's internal data and available technological solutions. The main results of the study include the identification of existing problems in the documentation workflow process and a plan for implementing a new system. The findings indicate that improving process efficiency can help increase the company's cash flow. The study introduces a new perspective on records management in enterprises, especially in the context of eliminating waste and improving liquidity. The theoretical value of the work lies in identifying opportunities for effective records management in the context of supporting business processes. The introduction of an automated documentation workflow system can bring practical benefits, such as reducing payment delays, avoiding debt collection procedures and improving the overall efficiency of business operations.

Composite materials are a constantly evolving group of engineering materials, which has significantly changed their current, and potential role as structural materials over the past decades. Composites offer greater strength, stiffness, and less deformation to structural designers than previously available engineering materials. Resin matrix composites are widely used in the transportation, marine, aerospace, energy, and even sports industries. The manufacturing stage has a profound influence on the quality of the final product. This paper presents the production of composite materials by gravity casting in silicone moulds, using an epoxy/polyester resin matrix reinforced with wood chips and shredded glass fiber reinforced composite from recycled wind turbine blades. Some of the fabricated samples were degassed in a reduced-pressure chamber. The mechanical properties of the produced material were then examined. It was noted that the silicone moulds did not affect the resin self-degassing due to the large surface area to weight ratio, and the remaining small air bubbles had a limited effect on the mechanical properties of the samples. The filler used also played a significant role. Composites filled with crushed GFRC showed better strength properties than composites filled with wood chips. The conducted research is aimed at selecting materials for further testing with a view to their use in the manufacture of next-generation wood-based composite structural materials.

Trehalose is a naturally occurring, non-reducing saccharide widely distributed in nature. Over the years, research on trehalose has revealed that this initially thought simple storage molecule is a multifunctional and multitasking compound protecting cells against various stress factors. This review presents data on the role of trehalose in maintaining cellular homeostasis under stress conditions and in the virulence of bacteria and fungi. Numerous studies have demonstrated that trehalose acts in the cell as an osmoprotectant, chemical chaperone, free radical scavenger, carbon source, virulence factor, and metabolic regulator. The increasingly researched medical and therapeutic applications of trehalose are also discussed.

Oligodontia can be isolated or syndromic, associated with other ectodermal abnormalities. The aim of the study was to perform hair examination in orthodontic patients diagnosed with oligodontia with a low clinical expression of symptoms of ectodermal origin. All available orthodontic patients diagnosed with oligodontia in the permanent dentition were enrolled. Hair examination included clinical evaluation of the patients’ hair, trichoscopy, trichogram and evaluation of the hair shafts under a polarized light microscope. In total, 25 patients, 18 males and 7 females, aged 6 to 24 years were evaluated for the presence of dental and hair abnormalities. The number of congenitally absent teeth ranged from 6 to 24 teeth and diastemas, microdontia, taurodontism and altered tooth shape were found in 23 patients. Hair disorders were found in 68% of the subjects. Hypotrichosis, the heterogeneity of shaft color and loss of pigment, androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, trichoschisis, pili canaliculi, trichorrhexis nodosa and pseudomoniletrix were observed. Trichoscopy and trichogram are valid non-invasive diagnostic tests which could be used to differentiate between isolated and syndromic oligodontia in patients with a low clinical expression of ectodermal symptoms.

External apical root resorption in permanent teeth is a multifactorial process influenced by a variety of local and systemic factors. This report describes a case of multiple and severe apical root resorptions in a patient with Turner syndrome. The condition was discovered in a young female with Turner syndrome after 30 months of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance. The purpose of this report is to present reports by other authors on the potential causes of the increased risk of tooth resorption in patients with Turner syndrome and to share insights derived from its course, highlighting the implications and lessons learned. Patients with Turner syndrome are not ideal candidates for orthodontic treatment. Prior to commencing orthodontic treatment, it is essential to carefully consider the potential benefits of the therapy compared to the risk associated with exacerbating root resorption. In the case of Turner syndrome patients, where there is an elevated risk of such complications, a thorough analysis should be conducted to determine whether the expected benefits of the treatment outweigh the potential hazards to the patient’s dental health.

Background: The pandemic has proven to be a particular challenge for healthcare workers, not only in the professional but also individual sense. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively influenced their well-being and caused psychological distress. Undoubtedly, direct contact with sick patients, the fight against the pandemic, and observing the epidemiological situation influenced the attitudes of this group towards COVID-19 and vaccinations. The aim of the study was to analyse the level of anxiety among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess attitudes towards vaccinations against COVID-19. Methods: The cross-sectional study followed the recommendations of STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology). A convenience purposive sampling method was used and the study was led among nurses and doctors employed in healthcare facilities. The study used a survey and the Trait Anxiety Scale SL-C. Results: The study included 385 participants, with an average age of 48.41 ± 6.76 years. The nurses constituted 55% of the study group and the doctors 45%. A total of 70% of healthcare workers had over 10 years of work experience. Over half of the subjects (57%) became infected with COVID-19. A total of 85% of respondents have received vaccination. A total of 71% of respondents believe vaccinations are harmless. Frequently, the participants assessed their level of anxiety as moderate. Conclusions: Almost all surveyed doctors chose to be vaccinated, while the percentage of vaccinated nurses was significantly lower. As a result, it is possible to conclude that the employment position has a significant influence on the decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In self-assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic, most healthcare professionals experienced a moderate level of anxiety. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccination reduced the level of anxiety.

The primary objective of this paper is to identify and characterize the diplomatic communication of Pope Francis in speeches addressed to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See from 2013 to 2021. The formulated research objective can be presented in the form of the following questions: What is diplomatic communication? What are the characteristics of diplomatic communication of the Holy See? What are its objectives? How is it distinguished from other forms of communication? What issues does Pope Francis address in his speeches to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See? What are the characteristics of these speeches? What language and symbolism does Pope Francis use in this diplomatic message? The answers to these questions will be determined by analyzing the media content of Pope Francis’ speeches addressed to the Vatican diplomatic corps from 2013–2021, available on the Holy See’s official website: vatican.va. The article has an overview and research character. Its indirect purpose is to draw attention to the issue of diplomatic communication in the Roman Catholic Church.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought most forms of communication to the web. Most of those who are interested can learn about the activities of their favourite football club mainly from official websites and accounts on social networks. Due to the deepening climate crisis and the growing awareness of the society, so many people demand very detailed information about corporate environmental impact. Nowadays, a professional football club, wishing to maintain high popularity, should be focusing not only on sports results, but also on attitudes towards the environment and society it presents and promotes. The great example in that case can be top football clubs in the European league because, many other football clubs copy solutions from the best. This paper examines the 5 of top European football clubs’ activities area for the better natural environment and the way how these activities are communicated to the football fans. The main research was conducted using publicly available electronic information channels such as football clubs’ websites, reports or social media (like Facebook) accounts. The aim of the article is to indicate to what extent the functioning and reporting of leading football clubs is also subject to the principles of sustainable development in the field of the natural environment. The results can indicate the significance of the current contribution of the top European football clubs to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, as well as setting the directions of sustainable development for other football clubs in the future.

Abstract In the past years, scientific reports present statements of a specific trend of an increase in dental caries among the children all over the world. This condition is influenced, among the others, by dietary habits, such as presence or overload of sugars in the diet and improper oral hygiene habits. The increase of tooth decay in children under the age of six, resulting in severe teeth decay, corresponds to frequency of general anesthesia in the treatment of pediatric patients. Dental treatment is one of the most common causes of medication intake in children. Moreover, general anesthesia enables timely and effective comprehensive care, which is a crucial condition, especially in reference to patients with special treatment needs. The aim of the study This work aims to raise awareness that the knowledge of types and doses of medications used by anesthesiologists during general anesthesia and its importance in order to achieve and maintain a high-quality standard for patients undergoing dental procedures under the general anesthesia. Material and methods The authors reviewed the novel publications, relating to the topic of medications (general anesthetics) most commonly used in general anesthesia during dental procedures in children. Results The publication presents important information on general anesthesia and the characteristics of individual groups of drugs, considering the specific and characteristic substances used by anesthesiologists. Conclusion In the opinion of the authors, the presented work is a kind of compendium of knowledge in the field of anesthesiology for the dentists performing procedures under general anesthesia in children, as well as for the dentists preparing to perform such procedures and for the doctors who receive patients with special dental care needs (such as mentally retarded patients), whose treatment is possible only under general anesthesia. Key words: general anesthesia in children, anesthesiology, anesthetics, child dentistry

This paper presents the results of analyses that were focused on pollutant emissions from road vehicles classified into the generalised categories with respect to vehicle use. The analyses were performed using the authorised results of Poland's pollutant emission inventory, carried out in 1990–2020 by the National Centre for Emissions Management (KOBiZE) at the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute (IOŚ-PIB) in order to meet requirements for the national emissions reporting under EU legislation and the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The following road vehicle categories were analysed: passenger cars, light duty vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, buses (urban buses and coaches) and L category (motorcycles, mopeds, quads, microcars). The emissions of selected pollutants that are harmful to the health of living beings were studied, i.e. nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, sulfur compounds, particulate matter size fractions, carbon monoxide and lead compounds. The shares of national annual pollutant emissions from each studied vehicle category of the total pollutant emissions from road transport were determined. With the aim to assess trends in improving environmental properties of road vehicles, there were determined changes of the energy emission factors for individual pollutants in all the vehicle categories under the study. The results obtained showed dynamic decreases in the energy emission factors for nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide. In the case of particulate matter emission, the improvement was not as pronounced. The evident reduction in the emissions of sulfur and lead compounds in the 21st century was confirmed to be a consequence of practical elimination of these compounds from road vehicle fuels.

In this study, we evaluated the combined effect between MLE-15, a modular lytic enzyme composed of four building blocks, and reline, a natural deep eutectic solvent. The bioinformatic analysis allowed us to determine the spatial architecture of MLE-15, whose components were bactericidal peptide cecropin A connected via a flexible linker to the cell wall binding domain (CBD) of mesophilic 201ϕ2 − 1 endolysin and catalytic domain (EAD) of highly thermostable Ph2119 endolysin. The modular enzyme showed high thermostability with the melting temperature of 93.97 ± 0.38 °C, significantly higher than their natural counterparts derived from mesophilic sources. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of MLE-15 was 100 µg/mL for a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while the MIC of reline ranged from 6.25 to 25% v/v for the same strains. The addition of reline effectively reduced the MIC of MLE-15 from 100 µg/mL to 3.15–50 µg/mL. This combination displayed additive effects for most strains and synergism for extensively antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Bacillus subtilis. The subsequent evaluation revealed that MLE-15 eliminated planktonic cells of A. baumannii RUH134, but was ineffective against matured biofilms. However, combined with reline, MLE-15 reduced the bacterial load in the matured biofilm by 1.39 log units. Confocal fluorescence microscopy indicated that reline damaged the structure of the biofilm, allowing MLE-15 to penetrate it. Additionally, MLE-15 and its combination with reline eradicated meropenem-persistent cells of A. baumannii RUH134. Effectiveness in lowering the MIC value of MLE-15 as well as protection against antibiotic-tolerant persister cells, indicate that MLE-15 and reline combination is a promising candidate for effective therapies in bacterial infections, which is especially important in the light of the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resistivity of the silica SBA-15 type can be significantly improved by forming a thin layer of carbon on the pore surface. This is possible through the carbonization reaction of a surfactant used as a structure-directing agent in the synthesis of mesostructured silica materials. The synthesis of this type of silica-carbon composite (SBA-C) is based on the use of sulfuric acid to create a carbon layer from surfactant molecules encapsulated in silica mesopores. The action of sulfuric acid takes place through dehydration and sulfonation reactions, which promote the formation of aromatic structures and favor crosslinking processes. The same procedure was applied to prepare MTF-C composites based on mesostructured thin films (MTFs). Compared to pure silica materials, these silica-carbon composites exhibit reduced pore diameter and volume while maintaining morphology and structure. The pore structure characteristics were obtained by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and isothermal sorption analysis. The composite obtained after carbon layer formation exhibited enhanced conductivity in comparison to pure silica SBA-15. The resistivity of SBA-C composite material after annealing at 800 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere decreased to 1980 Ω cm in comparison with pure SBA-15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to fill this research gap, the authors undertook an analysis of the problem specified in the title in the context of public elementary schools in Białystok. First, a dogmatic approach was taken, which involved a detailed analysis of selected provisions of educational law. Second, an empirical approach was applied by reviewing documents in the form of statutes from 44 out of 47 elementary schools, focusing on the degree of implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Goal 4a. The research was based on criteria developed by the authors, grounded in the available literature, which focused on four key aspects considered essential for assessing the level of achievement of the stated goal. These criteria include ensuring the physical and psychological safety of students, internal and external aspects of security, safety education, and cooperation of schools with institutions charged with the provision of safety. The analyses partially confirmed the hypothesis that the examined national regulations and the statutes of public elementary schools are only minimally aligned with SDG 4a. These findings shed light on the existing theoretical and practical challenges related to the effective implementation of international educational standards at the local level and may serve as inspiration for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies indicate that reversible Nε-lysine acetylation in bacteria may play a key role in the regulation of metabolic processes, transcription and translation, biofilm formation, virulence, and drug resistance. Using appropriate mutant strains deficient in non-enzymatic acetylation and enzymatic acetylation or deacetylation pathways, we investigated the influence of protein acetylation on cell viability, protein aggregation, and persister formation in Escherichia coli. Lysine acetylation was found to increase protein aggregation and cell viability under the late stationary phase. Moreover, increased lysine acetylation stimulated the formation of persisters. These results suggest that acetylation-dependent aggregation may improve the survival of bacteria under adverse conditions (such as the late stationary phase) and during antibiotic treatment. Further experiments revealed that acetylation-favorable conditions may increase persister formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolate. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the relationship between acetylation and persistence in this pathogen remain to be elucidated.

Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) is a ferrimagnetic material which found applications in magnetics, electronics and optics. For those applications, a monocrystalline structure is often required. Although effective methods to grow large YIG single crystals exist, fabricating such structures in a powder form can be challenging. Here, we show a simple procedure to obtain large quantities of monocrystalline Y _3 Fe _5 O _12 particles based on the precipitation synthesis. The average size of the single crystals was evaluated to be 149(6) nm. The morphology of the particles was analysed using SEM, TEM, DLS and nitrogen adsorption techniques. The material was tested for its structural properties with the use of XRD and electron diffraction methods. The chemical composition was investigated using FTIR, EDS and Raman spectroscopy. Finally, the thermal characteristics were analysed using TGA, while magnetic properties were tested with the use of the SQUID magnetometry. The obtained results are in good agreement with the theoretical values.