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Background Exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) can occur in a variety of occupational situations. Ultrafine particles of natural and anthropological origin toxicity has been described in epidemiological studies. Meanwhile, the risks associated with NPs exposure are not comprehensively assessed. A wide spectrum of NPs toxicity has been demonstrated, mainly through the induction of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators. Among the newly described mechanisms of NPs toxicity is the induction of fibrosis via the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is also a key mechanism of cancer metastasis. The effect of NPs on EMT in the context of metastasis has not been sufficiently described so far, and the results of studies do not allow for the formulation of unambiguous conclusions. Therefore, the aim of the work was to determine the biological activity of silver NPs against MDA-MB-436 triple-negative breast cancer cells. Material and Methods Exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) can occur in a variety of occupational situations. Ultrafine particles of natural and anthropological origin toxicity has been described in epidemiological studies. Meanwhile, the risks associated with NPs exposure are not comprehensively assessed. A wide spectrum of NPs toxicity has been demonstrated, mainly through the induction of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators. Among the newly described mechanisms of NPs toxicity is the induction of fibrosis via the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is also a key mechanism of cancer metastasis. The effect of NPs on EMT in the context of metastasis has not been sufficiently described so far, and the results of studies do not allow for the formulation of unambiguous conclusions. Therefore, the aim of the work was to determine the biological activity of silver NPs against MDA-MB-436 triple-negative breast cancer cells. Results Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) cause a statistically significant increase in relative expression of all tested mesenchymal EMT markers – cadherin 2, vimentin, matrix metalloproteinase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9. At the same time, reduction of epithelial cadherin 1 expression was observed. The level of MDA-MB-436 migration and TGF-beta 1 secretion was slighty increased in AgNPs-treated cells, with no influence on invasion potential. Conclusions Potentially prometastatic effect of AgNPs encourages further work on the safety of nanomaterials. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(6):541–8.

Abstract Background Although chlorpyrifos (CPS) has been banned in many developed countries, it still remains one of the best-selling pesticides in the world. Widespread environmental and occupational exposure to CPS pose a serious risk to human health. Another environmental factor that can adversely affect human health is ultraviolet radiation B (UVB, 280–315 nm wave length). Here we attempt determine if exposure to CPS can modify toxic effects of UVB. Such situation might be a common phenomenon in agriculture workers, where exposure to both factors takes place. Methods Two skin cell lines; namely human immortalized keratinocytes HaCaT and BJ human fibroblasts were used in this study. Cytotoxicity was investigated using a cell membrane damage detection assay (LDH Cytotoxicity Assay), a DNA damage detection assay (Comet Assay), an apoptosis induction detection assay (Apo-ONE Homogeneous Caspase-3/7 Assay) and a cell reactive oxygen species detection assay (ROS-Glo H2O2 assay). Cytokine IL-6 production was also measured in cells using an ELISA IL-6 Assay. Results Pre-incubation of skin cells with CPS significantly increased UVB-induced toxicity at the highest UVB doses (15 and 20 mJ/cm2). Also pre-exposure of BJ cells to CPS significantly increased the level of DNA damage, except for 20 mJ/cm2 UVB. In contrast, pre-exposure of HaCaT cells, to CPS prior to UVB radiation did not cause any significant changes. A decrease in caspase 3/7 activity was observed in HaCaT cells pre-exposed to 250 µM CPS and 5 mJ/cm2 UVB. Meanwhile, no statistically significant changes were observed in fibroblasts. In HaCaT cells, pre-exposure to CPS resulted in a statistically significant increase in ROS production. Also, in BJ cells, similar results were obtained except for 20 mJ/cm2. Interestingly, CPS seems to inhibited IL-6 production in HaCaT and BJ cells exposed to UVB (in the case of HaCaT cells for all UVB doses, while for BJ cells only at 15 and 20 mJ/cm2). Conclusions In conclusion, the present study indicates that CPS may contribute to the increased UVB-induced toxicity in skin cells, which was likely due to the induction of ROS formation along with the generation of DNA damage. However, further studies are required to gain better understanding of the mechanisms involved.

Body temperature is one of the most important physiological parameters of a human being used to assess his basic vital functions. In medical practice, various types of measuring instruments are used to measure temperature, such as liquid thermometers, electronic thermometers, non-contact ear thermometers, and non-contact forehead thermometers. Such body temperature measurement techniques require the connection of appropriate sensors to a person, and non-contact thermometers operate over short distances and force a specific position of the person during the measurement. As a result, using the above methods, it is practically impossible to perform body temperature measurements of a moving human being. A thermal imaging camera can be used effectively for the purpose of the temperature measurement of moving objects, but the remote measurement of a human body temperature using a thermal imaging camera is affected by many factors that are difficult to control. Accurate remote measurement of human body temperature requires a measurement system that implements a specialized temperature determination algorithm. This article presents a model of a measurement system that facilitates the development of a highly accurate temperature measurement method. For the model, its parameters were determined on the calibration stand. The correct operation of the developed method and the effectiveness of temperature measurement have been confirmed by tests on a test stand using reference radiation sources.

The paper presents a practical implementation of the non-classified data hiding system (NDHS) understood as a military platform for information warfare that takes advantage of the hidden data transmission for voice connections in order to gain informational lead over a potential enemy. The NDHS performs here as a botnet network that is managed by the hidden transmission controller referred to as the master resident. Research studies are dedicated to investigation of various connections in heterogeneous links as well as functionalities of such components as hidden protocol bridges and the master resident

Introduction The modern dynamic development of nanotechnology provides many benefits to society. Due to almost unlimited manipulations of the matter at the nanoscale, nanomaterials (NMs) are created, which show different physicochemical properties compared to their counterparts of larger sizes. Objective The aim of this study is presentation of the factors determining the toxicokinetic behaviour of NPs due to inhalation exposure, and the potential fate of NPs in the respiratory system, as well as the toxic effects of their interaction with biological structures. The latest progress and limitations related to the assessment and management of risk of exposure to NPs are discussed. Brief description of the state of knowledge The ability to give NMs the desired characteristics translates into a wide range of applications of these materials in almost every area of life. This entails an increasing risk of human exposure to NMs, including NPs, which should not be treated analogously to other chemical pollutants. NPs exceed the protective barriers of the body by the dermal, ingestion and inhalation routes; however, the latter is of the greatest importance in relation to the toxic effects of exposure. Many engineered NPs have the ability to overcome the physical, biochemical and cellular barriers of the respiratory system and pass through the respiratory surface into the bloodstream. Conclusions Toxicological risk assessment of exposure to NMs should occur simultaneously with the development of new NMs to ensure human health and safety, and environmental protection. A thorough study of the toxicokinetics of inhaled NPs, therefore, is of great importance for a reliable exposure risk assessment.

Introduction and Objective Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway plays a central role in the regulation of cellular response to stress. The aim of the study was to investigate the ability of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), CdTe quantum dots (CdTeQDs) or their binary mixtures to stimulate NF-κB binding in HepG2 cells. A dual luciferase reporter system was used to investigate NF-κB binding. Material and methods Cells were transiently transfected with a firefly luciferase reporter system and Renilla luciferase expression plasmid as a transfection efficiency control. Twenty- four hours after transfection, the cells were treated with nanoparticles (10 μg/cm 3 AgNPs, 10 μg/cm 3 AuNPs, 3 μg/cm 3 CdTeQDs) or with 10 ng/cm 3 TNFα as a positive control. Six hours later, the cells were lysed and the activities of the luminescence of firefly and Renilla luciferases were measured using the Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System. Results AuNPs and CdTeQDs alone significantly inhibited NF-κB binding activity. Co-treatment with AgNPs and CdTeQDs resulted in an additive effect, whereas the presence of AgNPs diminished the inhibitory effect of AuNPs. Interestingly, significant antagonism was observed between AuNPs and CdTeQDs, suggesting a similar mode of action. Conclusions Comparison of the NF-κB binding activity induced by the mixtures of NPs suggests that in some cases NF-κB binding activity might differ from that observed for the NPs alone.

Meat aging is a process consisting of its storage in specific conditions which leads to an increase in its organoleptic qualities. The most common method of meat aging is the wet vacuum-bag based method, whereas the traditional method, called dry-aging, involves keeping meat at a low temperature for an extended time. However, this process is characterized by low repeatability of the results. Therefore, different approaches to stabilize the process are tested. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the Mucor flavus biostarter on the physicochemical characteristics and sensory quality of dry-aged beef (DAB). We hypothesized that a fungal biostarter positively influences the quality of DAB and stabilizes the dry-aging process. Meat control samples (N = 7) and samples inoculated with the Mucor flavus biostarter (N = 7), originating from 14 individuals crossbred from Holstein-Friesian cows with bulls of meat breeds, were put into the dry-aging fridge (DryAger, Bad Saulgau, Germany) for 28 days. The physicochemical parameters (pH, color parameters, WHC, GP (glycolytic potential), chemical composition of muscle, the content of malondialdehyde, shear force), muscular protein proteolysis (SDS-PAGE), sensory quality, and microbial composition of DAB were assessed after aging. The results showed a significant effect of the fungal biostarter on pH increase (0.25 units), and light myosin chain proteolysis (approximately 16%) as well as improvement of sensory quality (e.g., acceptability was improved by one unit in an applied scale 1–9). All together, the M. flavus-based biostarter was shown to increase the quality of DAB.

The article presents theoretical concepts and research in the extent of minors - police encounters, paying attention to their confrontational nature. This issue was analyzed from three perspectives: environmental, individual and situational. Family and peer groups were described as the basic environmental factors. Age, gender and social background were analyzed as typical individual factors. Describing situational context, attention was paid to resistance and injustice as factors leading to intensification of the police intervention. It was emphasized that the confrontational nature of the encounters may lead to the escalation of conflicts, applied sanctions, increase social distance, resistance and labeling process.

The article presents a new concept—steganography in thermography. Steganography is a technique of hiding information in a non-obvious way and belongs to sciences related to information security. The proposed method, called ThermoSteg, uses a modification of one of the parameters of the thermal imaging camera—integration time—to embed the signal containing hidden information. Integration time changing makes the microbolometer array heat up while reading the sensors. The covert information can be extracted from the stream of thermograms recorded by another thermal camera that observes the first one. The covert channel created with the ThermoSteg method allows the transmission of covert data using a thermal sensor as a wireless data transmitter. This article describes a physical phenomenon that is exploited by the ThermoSteg method and two proposed methods of covert data extraction, and presents the results of experiments.

The proposed StegoFrameOrder (SFO) method enables the transmission of covert data in wireless computer networks exploiting non-deterministic algorithms of medium access (such as the distributed coordination function), especially in IEEE 802.11 networks. Such a covert channel enables the possibility of leaking crucial information outside secured network in a manner that is difficult to detect. The SFO method embeds hidden bits of information in the relative order of frames transmitted by wireless terminals operating on the same radio channel. The paper presents an idea of this covert channel, its implementation, and possible variants. The paper also discusses implementing the SFO method in a real environment and the experiments performed in the real-world scenario.

Objective The electrophysiological characteristics may serve as valuable biomarkers for the genetic vulnerability underlying alcoholism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the SGIP1 gene and the theta ERP quantitative traits. Method The theta band (4–7 Hz) visual ERP occurring in the P300 response in the resting EEG were examined to explore the electrophysiological effects of alcohol on the brain in five regions: frontal, central, parietal, temporal and occipital in patients with alcohol addiction. In addition, we tested the potential associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the SGIP1 gene and ERP quantitative traits. Results We found that the amplitude of the auditory P300 response differed considerably among groups of alcoholics in the frontal, central and temporal areas of the brain and it was lower in the studied brain regions in alcoholics in comparison to non-alcoholics. However, among subjects in the young adult group (GR-1) there was no statistical difference in amplitude of P300 response with control subjects in all studied brain regions in comparison with non-alcoholics. Moreover, we revealed that SNP rs10889635 had a significant effect on P300 amplitude in the central and temporal regions. The reduced P300 amplitude was in AA carriers in comparison to both carriers of GG and GA alleles. Conclusions The present study demonstrated a possible association of target P300 evoked theta and of alcohol dependence with SNPs from the gene SGIP1 in the region of rs10889635, but further studies are required.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in many fields of industry and medicine. Despite the well-established antimicrobial activity, AgNPs are foreseen to be used as anticancer drugs due to the unusual feature—inability to induce drug resistance in cancer cells. The aim of the study was to assess biological activity of AgNPs against MDA-MB-436 cells. The cells were derived from triple-negative breast cancer, a type of breast cancer with poor prognosis and is particularly difficult to cure. AgNPs were toxic to MDA-MB-436 cells and the probable mechanism of toxicity was the induction of oxidative stress. These promising effects, giving the opportunity to use AgNPs as an anti-cancer agent should, however, be treated with caution in the light of further results. Namely, the treatment of MDA-MB-436 cells with AgNPs was associated with the increased secretion of several cytokines and chemokines, which were important in breast cancer metastasis. Finally, changes in the actin cytoskeleton of MDA-MB-436 cells under the influence of AgNPs treatment were also observed.

Introduction On the contrary to the adult population exposed to pesticides, mostly on occupational basis, rural children are mostly exposed to pesticides deposited in the environment. However, even this constant, distributed in time exposure to low concentrations of pesticides may led to permanent health disorders and limit children’s harmonious development. Objective The main objective of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of aacetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity determination as a marker of children’s environmental exposure to pesticides. An additional aim was to evaluate the usefulness of sweat patches as a novel, non-invasive method of detection of pesticides in sweat as a measure of pesticide exposure. Material and Methods A total of 108 children living in areas of intense pesticide use, and as a control group, 92 children living in an agro-tourist area were enrolled in the study. The AChE and BuChE activity was assayed colorimetricaly in diluted whole blood or plasma, respectively. In addition, selected pesticides were measured by GC/MS analysis in samples of the subject’s sweat absorbed onto a sorbent. Results The study demonstrated significantly lower AChE and BuChE activity, respectively, in the diluted whole blood and plasma of children exposed to pesticides, compared to the control group (p

The text examines the theoretical assumptions of the analysis and research of American sociologists and criminologists which describe the environmental determinants of juvenile delinquency. The interpretation of the term “environment” is focused on its spatial character. The various ways in which the term environment, and related terms (“local environment” and “educational environment”), can be defined are analyzed. In describing the criminal influences of an environment, references are made ranging from the Chicago School to the present day. Besides theoretical concepts other possible modes of action for prevention and rehabilitation that are to be carried out in the open environment are also presented.

This study, conducted in the period 2006-2008, involved an evaluation of yield and commercially useful traits of red cabbage grown from seedlings produced from seeds sown at three different times (the second decade of April, the third decade of April, and the first decade of May). Seedlings were produced in multicell trays in an unheated greenhouse and in a nursery bed from seeds sown at the same time. The experiment included 6 red cabbage cultivars (‘Huzaro F1’, ‘Kalibos’, ‘Langedijker Polana’, ‘Rodeo F1’, ‘Roxy F1’, ‘Zelox F1’). After cabbage heads were harvested in the second decade of October (in each year), total and marketable yield as well as head weight and the head shape index were determined. Red cabbage yield was shown to be significantly dependent on the cultivar, time of sowing, and method of seedling production. Among the cultivars studied, the following proved to be the most productive, irrespective of the other experimental factors: ‘Zelox F1’ (marketable yield averaged 398.11 kg×100 m-2), ‘Roxy F1’ (marketable yield averaged 368.82 kg×100 m-2), and ‘Rodeo F1’ (marketable yield averaged 331.59 kg×100 m-2). The cultivar ‘Kalibos’ was characterized by the lowest marketable yield (on average 257.09 kg×100 m-2). Delayed sowing (to produce seedlings) by 10 and 20 days, compared to the earliest sowing time, had a significant effect on the reduction in total and marketable yield. Irrespective of the time of sowing, the production of seedlings in multicell trays did not have a significant effect on higher head weight. But the influence of the cultivar was significant - heads of the highest weight were found in the yield of the cultivar ‘Zelox F1’ (head weight was on average 1.71 kg). The head shape index was more than 1 and on average it did not exceed 1.35. The cultivar ‘Kalibos’ had the most elongated heads (with a conical shape), while cabbage heads in the cultivar ‘Langedijker Polana’ were closest to the spherical shape.

Zucchini is a very valuable vegetable, easy to grow both in the field and under covers but it is often attacked by soil-borne fungi. The investigations were carried out in a farm near Lublin where three zucchini cultivars: Astra, Atena and Soraya, were grown in a tunnel and in the field in 2008-2009. Plants with stem and root rot were collected for laboratory tests. Mycological analysis showed that the predominant fungi were F. culmorum, F. equiseti and F. oxysporum. More Fusarium colonies were isolated from the roots of zucchini grown in the tunnel. In the pathogenicity test, all tested isolates of F. culmorum, F. equiseti and F. oxysporum proved to be pathogenic to zucchini seedlings, causing stunting, stem and root rot. The highest disease index was noticed in the combination with F. culmorum isolate fck61.