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Abstract Lithium is an effective augmenting agent for depressed patients with inadequate response to standard antidepressant therapy, but numerous adverse effects limit its use. We previously reported that a lithium-mimetic agent, ebselen, promoted a positive emotional bias—an indicator of potential antidepressant activity in healthy participants. We therefore aimed to investigate the effects of short-term ebselen treatment on emotional processing and brain neurochemistry in depressed patients with inadequate response to standard antidepressants. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled 7-day experimental medicine study in 51 patients with major depressive disorder who were currently taking antidepressants but had an inadequate response to treatment. Participants received either ebselen 600 mg twice daily for seven days or identical matching placebo. An emotional testing battery, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and depression and anxiety rating scales were conducted at baseline and after seven days of treatment. Ebselen did not increase the recognition of positive facial expressions in the depressed patient group. However, ebselen increased the response bias towards fear emotion in the signal detection measurement. In the anterior cingulate cortex, ebselen significantly reduced the concentrations of inositol and Glx (glutamate+glutamine). We found no significant differences in depression and anxiety rating scales between visits. Our study did not find any positive shift in emotional bias in depressed patients with an inadequate response to antidepressant medication. We confirmed the ability of ebselen to lower inositol and Glx in the anterior cingulate cortex. These latter effects are probably mediated through inhibition of inositol monophosphatase and glutaminase respectively.

AUSTRIA’S POLICY TOWARDS IMMIGRATION AND EU IMMIGRATION POLICY Austria’s migration policy has changed over the past years. The analysis of contemporary immigration processes taking place in Austria is not only an interesting, but also a very dynamic issue. The mentioned changes had an influence on internal situation of the country, as well as on the attitude towards the EU migration policy. The aim of the analysis will be to diagnose the main line of Austrian policy towards contemporary migration processes. The research goal was to indicate the nature of changes in Austria’s policy towards immigration and their causes. The analysis concerned both the internal dimension and Austria’s activity on the European forum. The thesis was accepted that these two levels are interconnected, and Austria’s attitude towards the EU immigration policy is a reflection of the changes that can be observed in the state’s internal policy. The article first presents the stages of shaping Austria’s internal immigration policy, and then the state’s attitude towards the EU proposals to solve the so-called migration issue. With regard to the second issue, the focus was on two elements: the European Union’s response to the events related to the outbreak of the migration crisis and the work on a new pact on migration and asylum, undertaken in connection with the abandonment of the forced relocation program.

The purpose of this case report is to present a poorly differentiated sarcoma in a pet rat. A veterinarian detected a small-sized nodular lesion in the ventral region of the neck during a follow-up visit related to another ailment. The anatomical structures found in the neck region in the rat and the differential diagnosis when deformities are palpated in this body part are discussed in detail. The patient underwent a total of four surgical procedures, as well as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The rat survived in good condition for 144 days after finding the tumor.

The structure and size of droplets of the inner phase of a multiple emulsion and rheological properties of the produced multiple emulsion are presented in this paper. The multiple emulsion was produced in a stirred vessel equipped with four baffles. In the study, two different stirrers: turbine impeller and Rushton turbine impeller were used. The liquids used in the produced multiple emulsion were: distilled water and refined sunflower oil. 8 g and 16 g lecithin from soya beans were used as an emulsifier. The preparation time was respectively 15 min. and 45 min. The structure of the obtained emulsions is presented in the form of photos taken with the diagnostic inverted microscope. The results size of droplets were presented in the form of graphics as a distribution of drops. The rheological properties of the multiple emulsion were presented graphically and it was described using the rheological model.

BackgroundEfforts to develop neuroimaging-based biomarkers in major depressive disorder (MDD), at the individual level, have been limited to date. As diagnostic criteria are currently symptom-based, MDD is conceptualized as a disorder rather than a disease with a known etiology; further, neural measures are often confounded by medication status and heterogeneous symptom states.MethodsWe describe a consortium to quantify neuroanatomical and neurofunctional heterogeneity via the dimensions of novel multivariate coordinate system (COORDINATE-MDD). Utilizing imaging harmonization and machine learning methods in a large cohort of medication-free, deeply phenotyped MDD participants, patterns of brain alteration are defined in replicable and neurobiologically-based dimensions and offer the potential to predict treatment response at the individual level. International datasets are being shared from multi-ethnic community populations, first episode and recurrent MDD, which are medication-free, in a current depressive episode with prospective longitudinal treatment outcomes and in remission. Neuroimaging data consist of de-identified, individual, structural MRI and resting-state functional MRI with additional positron emission tomography (PET) data at specific sites. State-of-the-art analytic methods include automated image processing for extraction of anatomical and functional imaging variables, statistical harmonization of imaging variables to account for site and scanner variations, and semi-supervised machine learning methods that identify dominant patterns associated with MDD from neural structure and function in healthy participants.ResultsWe are applying an iterative process by defining the neural dimensions that characterise deeply phenotyped samples and then testing the dimensions in novel samples to assess specificity and reliability. Crucially, we aim to use machine learning methods to identify novel predictors of treatment response based on prospective longitudinal treatment outcome data, and we can externally validate the dimensions in fully independent sites.ConclusionWe describe the consortium, imaging protocols and analytics using preliminary results. Our findings thus far demonstrate how datasets across many sites can be harmonized and constructively pooled to enable execution of this large-scale project.

BackgroundDepressive disorder is common among haemodialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to explore approaches to diagnosing depression in the context of a real-life setting, with the view of creating practical recommendations. It also aimed to evaluate the prevalence of depression and dementia.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in two Dialysis Centres in Poland. Cognitive functions were evaluated using Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE). The screening for depressive symptoms was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). The diagnosis of major depressive disorder was confirmed by a psychiatrist using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5). Sociodemographic and clinical data were also collected.ResultsInitially, 136 patients agreed to participate in the study. Dementia was found in 13% of the study group. Sixty-two patients did not agree to perform all the proposed tests and were not included in the analysis, which eventually consisted of 70 patients. According to BDI-II, depressive symptoms were present in 35.7% of patients, while the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) was confirmed by the psychiatrist in 25.7%. According to the ROC analysis the optimal cut-off score for diagnosing MDD using BDI-II was ≥13 points.ConclusionsThis study suggests that the regular screening for depressive symptoms, followed by a psychiatric consultation in selected patients, might improve diagnosing depression with the goal of achieving a higher quality of life and a lower mortality rate. It may also be a cost-effective model for the management of depression among the haemodialysis population.

Abstract Background The objective of the study was to indicate social and psychological (inner) motives associated with the desire and needs of travelling to health resorts (push) as well as external motives resulting from destination’s attributes, and explaining the choice of the health tourism establishment (pull) by Polish treatment-seekers divided into two social groups: persons in employment and retired persons. The research hypothesis assumed the two groups of people differ very much in terms of preferences motivating them to participate in health resort tourism, destination choices and services offered by health resort establishments. Methods Of the 258 health resorts, 154 establishments were selected for research purposes taking into account a proportional distribution of health resorts throughout Poland. An authorial questionnaire was developed and it included three questions with multiple answers, each answer being assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. The research adds new insights by analysing motives associated with health resort tourism in terms of benefits sought by visitors. The main and strongest motive for choosing health resort tourism is concern for health. In addition to old age pensioners, it was legitimate to analyse the group of employed respondents as their stays at a health resort are undertaken to regain not only physical fitness but also work motivation. Results The present study has demonstrated that motives and age groups have a significant effect on destination choice. Based on the results, it can be concluded that these groups often have diverse needs, expectations and, as a result, motives for choosing this form of tourism and a given health resort. What follows is a possibility of dividing the visitors to health resorts in terms of push and pull motives. Conclusions The research hypothesis assuming the two groups varied considerably in terms of preferences motivating them to participate in health resort tourism, destination selection and choice of services offered by the health resort establishment has been confirmed. The ramifications of the study’s findings may also be relevant for health resort/spa tourism outside of Poland because healthy lifestyle promotion is a worldwide trend.

The modern work environment is constantly evolving, and with it, the emphasis on employee health and well-being is increasing. Background: Nutritional education has become a key component of health promotion strategies in many companies that recognize the benefits of healthy eating habits for enhancing efficiency and job satisfaction. Objectives: The aim of this study was to understand employees’ nutritional needs at work, and to assess the support provided by employers. The analysis focused on employees’ eating habits and their attitudes towards eating at work, motives and barriers to healthy eating. Methods: The study was conducted using an anonymous survey completed by 1.056 individuals from across Poland. A discriminant function was selected for data analysis, which examined the differences between groups. Results/Conclusions: The larger enterprises are more inclined to establish meal consumption spaces, which contributes to a more organised work culture. The larger the business, the more time employees spend eating meals, it being influenced by better-developed eating facilities, which undoubtedly encourages the workers to take longer breaks. The people with obesity were found to place the highest value on healthy food options and the people with a normal BMI are more responsive to healthy food subsidies, nutritional advice provided by a dietitian, and access to fitness facilities.

This study explores the efficient decolorization and complete mineralization of the diazo dye Evans blue, using an integrated aerobic bioreactor system coupled with a double-chamber microbial fuel cell (DCMFC) including a bio-cathode and acetate as a cosubstrate. The research addresses the environmental challenges posed by dye-laden industrial effluents, focusing on achieving high decolorization efficiency and understanding the microbial communities involved. The study utilized mixed strains of actinomycetes, isolated from garden compost, to treat initial dye concentrations of 100 mg/L and 200 mg/L. Decolorization efficiency and microbial community composition were evaluated using 16S rRNA sequencing, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to assess anode and DCMFC resistance. The results demonstrated decolorization efficiencies ranging from 90 ± 2% to 98 ± 1.9% for 100 mg/L and from 79 ± 2% to 87% ± 1% for 200 mg/L. An anode resistance of 12.48 Ω indicated a well-developed biofilm and enhanced electron transfer. The microbial community analysis revealed a significant presence of Pseudomonadota (45.5% in dye-acclimated cultures and 32% in inoculum cultures), with key genera including Actinomarinicola (13.75%), Thermochromatium (4.82%), and Geobacter (4.52%). This study highlights the potential of the integrated DCMFC–aerobic system, utilizing mixed actinomycetes strains, for the effective treatment of industrial dye effluents, offering both environmental and bioenergy benefits.

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic medical condition with no specific pharmacological treatment. Creatine, a nutrient essential for maintaining energy homeostasis in the cells, is a candidate for interventions in ME/CFS. Methods: Fourteen participants with ME/CFS received supplementation with 16 g creatine monohydrate for 6 weeks. Before starting creatine and on the last day of treatment, participants underwent brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) scanning of the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), followed by symptom, cognition, and hand-grip strength assessments. Results: Eleven participants completed the study. Creatine treatment increased creatine concentration in both the pgACC and DLPFC (p = 0.004 and 0.012, respectively), decreased fatigue and reaction time (RT) on congruent and incongruent trials of the Stroop test (p = 0.036 and 0.014, respectively), and increased hand-grip strength (p = 0.0004). There was a positive correlation between increases in pgACC creatine and changes in RT on Stroop congruent and incongruent trials (p = 0.048 and p = 0.022, respectively). Creatine was well tolerated, and none of the participants stopped treatment. Conclusion: Creatine supplementation over six weeks in ME/CFS patients increased brain creatine and improved fatigue and some aspects of cognition. Despite its methodological limitations, this study encourages placebo-controlled investigations of creatine treatment in ME/CFS.

The increase in the variety of nano-based tools offers new possibilities to approach the therapy of poorly treatable tumors, which includes glioblastoma multiforme (GBM; a primary brain tumor). The available nanocomplexes exhibit great potential as vehicles for the targeted delivery of anti-GBM compounds, including chemotherapeutics, nucleic acids, and inhibitors. The main advantages of nanoparticles (NPs) include improved drug stability, increased penetration of the blood–brain barrier, and better precision of tumor targeting. Importantly, alongside their drug-delivery ability, NPs may also present theranostic properties, including applications for targeted imaging or photothermal therapy of malignant brain cells. The available NPs can be classified into two categories according to their core, which can be metal or non-metal based. Among non-metal NPs, the most studied in regard to GBM treatment are exosomes, liposomes, cubosomes, polymeric NPs, micelles, dendrimers, nanogels, carbon nanotubes, and silica- and selenium-based NPs. They are characterized by satisfactory stability and biocompatibility, limited toxicity, and high accumulation in the targeted tumor tissue. Moreover, they can be easily functionalized for the improved delivery of their cargo to GBM cells. Therefore, the non-metal NPs discussed here, offer a promising approach to improving the treatment outcomes of aggressive GBM tumors.

Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), exhibits dual agonist or antagonist effects contingent upon its binding to either G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) or estrogen nuclear receptor (ESR). Estrogen signaling plays a pivotal role in initiating epigenetic alterations and regulating estrogen-responsive genes in breast cancer. Employing three distinct breast cancer cell lines—MCF-7 (ESR+; GPER+), MDA-MB-231 (ESR−; GPER−), and SkBr3 (ESR−; GPER+)—this study subjected them to treatment with two tamoxifen derivatives: 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-HT) and endoxifen (Endox). Through 2D high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (HPLC-MS/MS), varying levels of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) were found, with MCF-7 displaying the highest levels. Furthermore, TET3 mRNA expression levels varied among the cell lines, with MCF-7 exhibiting the lowest expression. Notably, treatment with 4-HT induced significant changes in TET3 expression across all cell lines, with the most pronounced increase seen in MCF-7 and the least in MDA-MB-231. These findings underscore the influence of tamoxifen derivatives on DNA methylation patterns, particularly through modulating TET3 expression, which appears to be contingent on the presence of estrogen receptors. This study highlights the potential of targeting epigenetic modifications for personalized anti-cancer therapy, offering a novel avenue to improve treatment outcomes.

Innovation networks help to create innovation ecosystems by strengthen interactions between government, academia, business, and special institutions. The purpose of the article is to identify the relationship between the local context, i.e., the conditions and environment in which the Local Government Unit operates and their participation in the innovation networks. The analysis is based on a survey of 184 local government authorities in Poland, Local Administrative Unit level 2. The present study examines the hypothesis that the more supportive the local context is in the Polish municipalities and cities on district rights, the greater the engagement of local government authorities in local or regional innovation networks. The supportive local context was defined by a set of institutional, economic, geographical, demographic, cultural, political, managerial, and administrative factors. The research findings indicate that the key factors that influence the engagement of local government in local or regional innovation networks are institutional factors.

Aging of polymers is a natural process that occurs during their usage and storage. Predicting the lifetime of polymers is a crucial aspect that should be considered at the design stage. In this paper, a series of bio-based thermoplastic poly(ether-urethane) elastomers (bio-TPUs) with modified hard segments were synthesized and investigated to understand the structural and property changes triggered by accelerated aging. The bio-TPUs were synthesized at an equimolar ratio of reagents using the prepolymer method with the use of bio-based poly(trimethylene ether) glycol, bio-based 1,3-propanediol, and hexamethylene diisocyanate or hexamethylene diisocyanate/partially bio-based diisocyanate mixtures. The polymerization reaction was catalyzed by dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL). The structural and property changes after accelerated aging under thermal and hydrothermal conditions were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Among other findings, it was observed that both the reference and aged bio-TPUs decomposed in two main stages and exhibited thermal stability up to approximately 300 °C. Based on the research conducted, it was found that accelerated aging impacts the supramolecular structure of TPUs.

This study showed that a polylactide (PLA)-based composite filled with nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HAp) and a natural extract from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. could provide an alternative to commonly used fossil-based plasticsfor food packaging. The incorporation of HAp into the PLA matrix had a positive effect on improving selected properties of the composites; the beneficial effect could be enhanced by introducing a green modifier in the form of an extract. Prior to the fabrication of the composite, the filler was characterized in terms of morphology and composition, and the composite was then fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and the mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical, and optical properties were investigated. The proposed material exhibits antioxidant properties against DPPH radicals and antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results showed that the nanocomposite has the highest antioxidant and antibacterial properties for 10 wt% HAp with an average diameter of rod-shaped structures below 100 nm. In addition, the introduction of turmeric extract had a positive effect on the tensile strength of the nanocomposites containing 1 and 5% HAp. As the resulting material adsorbs light in a specific wavelength range, it can be used in the medical sector, food-packaging, or coatings.

In this study, the potential impact of wind farm locations on the sustainable development of cities in Poland was evaluated, considering the availability of wind-generated electricity. We analyzed 37 cities in Poland with populations over 100,000. Research indicates that wind farms located 30–80 km from large cities perform best in terms of generating capacity, while greater distances increase transmission costs and energy losses. In Poland, wind farms are primarily situated in the northwestern regions, posing challenges for energy transmission to the southern cities, which are the main centers of energy consumption. The findings show that wind farms with the highest generating capacity are generally about 50 km from major cities. Key factors influencing wind farm locations include technical criteria, economic feasibility, environmental impact, public opinion, and the availability of transmission networks. Sustainable development of wind farms requires strategic cooperation between urban and rural municipalities, joint spatial planning, coordinated land acquisition, and the exchange of know-how.

The ecofriendly tin selenide (SnSe) is expected to find multiple applications in optoelectronic, photovoltaic, and thermoelectric systems. This work is focused on the thermoelectric properties of thin films. SnSe single crystals exhibit excellent thermoelectric properties, but it is not so in the case of polycrystalline bulk materials. The investigations were motivated by the fact that nanostructuring may lead to an improvement in thermoelectric efficiency, which is evaluated through a dimensionless figure of merit, ZT = S2 σ T/λ, where S is the Seebeck coefficient (V/K), σ is the electrical conductivity (S/m), λ is the thermal conductivity (W/mK), and T is the absolute temperature (K). The main objective of this work was to obtain SnSe films via magnetron sputtering of a single target. Instead of common radiofrequency (RF) magnetron sputtering with a high voltage alternating current (AC) power source, a modified direct current (DC) power supply was employed. This technique in the classical version is not suitable for sputtering targets with relatively low thermal and electrical conductivity, such as SnSe. The proposed solution enabled stable sputtering of this target without detrimental cracking and arcing and resulted in high-quality polycrystalline SnSe films with unprecedented high values of ZT equal to 0.5 at a relatively low temperature of 530 K. All parameters included in ZT were measured in one setup, i.e., Linseis Thin Film Analyzer (TFA). The SnSe films were deposited at sputtering powers of 120, 140, and 170 W. They had the same orthorhombic structure, as determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), but the thickness and microstructure examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were dependent on the sputtering power. It was demonstrated that thermoelectric efficiency improved with increasing sputtering power and stable values were attained after two heating–cooling cycles. This research additionally provides further insights into the DC sputtering process and opens up new possibilities for magnetron sputtering technology.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with an increased risk of brain atrophy, aging-related diseases, and mortality. We examined potential advanced brain aging in adult MDD patients, and whether this process is associated with clinical characteristics in a large multicenter international dataset. We performed a mega-analysis by pooling brain measures derived from T1-weighted MRI scans from 19 samples worldwide. Healthy brain aging was estimated by predicting chronological age (18-75 years) from 7 subcortical volumes, 34 cortical thickness and 34 surface area, lateral ventricles and total intracranial volume measures separately in 952 male and 1236 female controls from the ENIGMA MDD working group. The learned model coefficients were applied to 927 male controls and 986 depressed males, and 1199 female controls and 1689 depressed females to obtain independent unbiased brain-based age predictions. The difference between predicted "brain age" and chronological age was calculated to indicate brain-predicted age difference (brain-PAD). On average, MDD patients showed a higher brain-PAD of +1.08 (SE 0.22) years (Cohen's d = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.08-0.20) compared with controls. However, this difference did not seem to be driven by specific clinical characteristics (recurrent status, remission status, antidepressant medication use, age of onset, or symptom severity). This highly powered collaborative effort showed subtle patterns of age-related structural brain abnormalities in MDD. Substantial within-group variance and overlap between groups were observed. Longitudinal studies of MDD and somatic health outcomes are needed to further assess the clinical value of these brain-PAD estimates.

In recent years, the interest in supporting working parents has become a more and more popular motivator for companies. Employers notice that introducing work-life balance support strategies may be crucial to the development of an organization by the better access to skilled employees who require some flexibility in working conditions due to their caring responsibilities. Therefore, they do not limit themselves only to the fulfilment of obligations under the law, but grant additional rights to caregivers and the children themselves. Because although, as a rule, in the Polish legal system, the care of employees is regulated by the Labour Code and other acts, various forms of supporting care may also be provided in corporate sources of labour law, collective agreements, work regulations, and other documents. The principle of satisfying the living, social and cultural needs of employees expressed in Article 16 of the Labour Code is interpreted most often as an axiological basis for the functioning of the company's social benefits fund, while the content of Article 16 of the Labour Code should be understood as an instrument of social and employment policy, especially in the context of supporting parenthood. Further research is recommended on this principle, which is essential for the content of the labour law.

Background The aim of the present research was to evaluate the relationship between the level of work involvement and emotional attitude to work and the quality of marital relationships of partners in dual career relationships, divided into ‘early career’ and ‘late career’ relationships. In addition, the mediating role of satisfaction with one’s accomplishments was assessed. Participants and procedure The study included 184 dual career couples, where both partners pursued a professional career in a competitive labour market, often performed managerial functions and reconciled their professional roles with parental roles, where 69 were ‘early career’ relationships and 115 were ‘late career’ relationships. All subjects in the dual career marriages had higher education; the age of the respondents ranged from 28 to 43 years and all of them had at least one child. With respect to the applied research tools, the AVEM Questionnaire, the Labour-Family Matching Questionnaire, the Matching Marriage Questionnaire (KDM-2) and the Feeling of Happiness Questionnaire were used. Results The results show a negative impact of the level of professional and emotional work engagement on the quality of marital relations in the relationship; however, the observed trend only refers to the ‘late career’ relationships. Therefore, it can be concluded that the level of engagement in professional roles at the moment of entering into a relationship is an important moderating factor in these relationships. In addition, it was found that the level of self-satisfaction eliminates this negative relationship. We can say that the level of satisfaction is the mediator of the relationship between involvement in profes-sional roles and the quality of marital relationships. Conclusions The level of work engagement and emotional attitude toward work affects the quality of personal life and relationships in a couple. However, this impact can vary due to additional variables such as satisfaction with one’s own accomplishments and type of relationship.

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic had forced intensive care unit (ICU) nurses to adapt to extreme conditions in a short period of time. This resulted in them experiencing extremely stressful situations. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between post-traumatic growth (PTG) and religiosity and spirituality (R/S) among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in intensive care during the pandemic.Materials and methods120 nurses working in Lublin, eastern Poland, participated in the cross-sectional study. The questionnaire was made up of three standardised tools: The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, The Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire, The Spiritual Attitude and Involvement List.ResultsIn terms of spirituality, the study group of nurses achieved the highest score in the Connectedness with Nature subscale (4.37 ± 1.07), while the strength of religious beliefs had a positive correlation with post-traumatic growth only in the Spiritual changes subscale (r = 0.422, p

This research paper pertains to the method of student performance evaluation applied to the process of online collaborative learning. The model of evaluation is intended for the developing translation sub-competences and involves the analysis of the team members’ discourse in the process of negotiating meanings, in compliance with Gery Stahl’s claim that discourse constitutes interpretation (2004: 22). The devised individual assessment form encompasses the study of performance of collaborating team members in two dialogic spaces, the content space and the relational space of collaboration (Janssen and Bodemer 2013). The assessment procedure comprises the analysis of the students’ individual achievements as well as their contribution to the team expert knowledge building. The main goal of this research paper is to highlight the regulatory function of the formative performance assessment method for team learning and to indicate the interdependences between the collaborative learning, formative performance assessment as well as the communicative approach to learning, the latter constituting the theoretical framework for this research.

We disseminated the Awareness Questionnaire to the first-year cohorts at 10 Ontario universities in 2014. Co-designed with over 200 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit educators and community members across Ontario, the survey investigated how students are learning to think about colonialism and its relationship to Indigenous peoples and Canadian society. Statistical analysis of 2,899 student responses reveals that first-year university students who graduated from Ontario high schools are substantially unaware of Indigenous presence and vitality. The majority of students do not understand the fundamental laws structuring conditions of life for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people or the contributions Indigenous peoples make to all aspects of Canadian society. Although they know slightly more about what is happening with regard to Indigenous peoples today, students have little sense of the historical circumstances and forces that shape current events. Arguably, students are this ignorant because the Ontario K-12 curriculum, which remains deeply inadequate, is the primary source of information for most students. However, when students have opportunities to engage with Indigenous perspectives and topics, it can make a difference to what students know and think. These results indicate that curricular reform is key to eradicating mass ignorance but cannot occur in isolation. Teacher education programs must play a central role in enacting the promise of new curricular emphases.

The intracellular level of podoplanin (PDPN), a transmembrane protein of still unclear function, is frequently altered in metastatic tumors. High expression of PDPN is frequently observed in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) specimens. Similarly, PTC-derived cell lines (BCPAP and TPC1, harboring the BRAF V600E mutation and RET/PTC1 fusion, respectively), also present enhanced PDPN yield. We previously reported that depletion of PDPN impairs migration of TPC1 cells, but augments metastasis of BCPAP cells. Interestingly, this phenomenon stays in contrast to the migratory pattern observed for wild-type cells, where TPC1 exhibited higher motility than BCPAP cells. Here, we aimed to elucidate the potential role of PDPN in regulation of molecular mechanisms leading to the diverse metastatic features of the studied PTC-derived cells. We consider that this phenomenon may be caused by alternative regulation of signaling pathways due to the presence of the mutated BRAF allele or RET/PTC1 fusion. The high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technique was used to uncover the genes and signaling pathways affected in wild-type and PDPN-depleted TPC1 and BCPAP cells. We found that changes in the expression of various factors of signaling pathways, like RHOA and RAC1 GTPases and their regulators, are linked with both high PDPN levels and presence of the BRAF V600E mutation. We imply that the suppressed motility of wild-type BCPAP cells results from overactivation of RHOA through natively high PDPN expression. This process is accompanied by inhibition of the PI3K kinase and consequently RAC1, due to overactivation of RAS-mediated signaling and the PTEN regulator.

Abstract Background Efforts to develop neuroimaging-based biomarkers in major depressive disorder (MDD), at the individual level, have been limited to date. As diagnostic criteria are currently symptom-based, MDD is conceptualized as a disorder rather than a disease with a known etiology; further, neural measures are often confounded by medication status and heterogeneous symptom states. Methods We describe a consortium to quantify neuroanatomical and neurofunctional heterogeneity via the dimensions of novel multivariate coordinate system (COORDINATE-MDD). Utilizing imaging harmonization and machine learning methods in a large cohort of medication-free, deeply phenotyped MDD participants, patterns of brain alteration are defined in replicable and neurobiologically-based dimensions and offer the potential to predict treatment response at the individual level. International datasets are being shared from multi-ethnic community populations, first episode and recurrent MDD, which are medication-free, in a current depressive episode with prospective longitudinal treatment outcomes and in remission. Neuroimaging data consist of de-identified, individual, structural MRI and resting-state functional MRI with additional positron emission tomography (PET) data at specific sites. State-of-the-art analytic methods include automated image processing for extraction of anatomical and functional imaging variables, statistical harmonization of imaging variables to account for site and scanner variations, and semi-supervised machine learning methods that identify dominant patterns associated with MDD from neural structure and function in healthy participants. Results We are applying an iterative process by defining the neural dimensions that characterise deeply phenotyped samples and then testing the dimensions in novel samples to assess specificity and reliability. Crucially, we aim to use machine learning methods to identify novel predictors of treatment response based on prospective longitudinal treatment outcome data, and we can externally validate the dimensions in fully independent sites. Conclusion We describe the consortium, imaging protocols and analytics using preliminary results. Our findings thus far demonstrate how datasets across many sites can be harmonized and constructively pooled to enable execution of this large-scale project.

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is the most common human autoimmune disease. The two major clinical manifestations of AITD are Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). AITD is characterized by lymphocytic infiltrat ion of the thyroid gland, leading either to follicular cell damage, thyroid gland destruction, and development of hypothyroidism (in HT) or thyroid hyperplasia, induced by thyroid antibodies which activate thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) on thyrocytes, leading to hyperthyroidism. The aim of this review is to present up-to-date picture of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie the pathology of AITD. Based on studies involving patients, animal AITD models, and thyroid cell lines, we discuss the key events leading to the loss of immune tolerance to thyroid autoantigens as well as the signaling cascades leading to the destruction of thyroid gland. Special focus is given on the interplay between the environmental and genetic factors, as well as ncRNAs and microbiome contributing to AITD development. In particular, we describe mechanistic models by which SNPs in genes involved in immune regulation and thyroid function, such as CD40, TSHR, FLT3, and PTPN22, underlie AITD predisposition. The clinical significa nce of novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers based on ncRNAs and microbiome composition is also underscored. Finally, we discuss the possible significance of pr obiotic supplementation on thyroid function in AITD.

Background Given the stress that we feel in various parts of our lives, it seems important to concentrate on identifying inner resources that assist employees in coping with problems of the modern world and functioning better in it. This study evaluates two types of internal resources – the manner of approaching successes and failures (growth mindset) and self-efficacy – and their influence on life and job satisfaction. Both these resources are negatively related to the perceived stress; however, they have not been considered in a single study to date. Participants and procedure The aim was to examine the relation between growth mindset and life and job satisfaction with the mediatory role of per-ceived stress and self-efficacy among white-collar workers. The present study concerned 283 employees who completed self-report questionnaires. Results A substantial relationship was found between growth mindset and life and job satisfaction. However, when perceived stress was included in the model, the relation between these two variables became weaker but was still significant, which consti-tutes evidence of partial mediation. The relationship between focus on development and life and job satisfaction became statistically significant when self-efficacy was considered. Conclusions Shaping a growth mindset and strengthening self-efficacy can positively affect life and job satisfaction, especially in stressful situations.

Spinning and weaving have commonly been associated with women's primary occupations. In the cosmology of many cultures, there were divine spinners of human destiny, responsible for life and death. In medieval reality, in which the division of roles was very defined and marked, any deviation from the generally accepted scheme could constitute an offense. It was at this time that specialized craft guilds emerged. Textiles, spinning, and weaving ceased to be the domain of women and became the domain of men. It was not an accident, but a conscious act. Linked to the human subconscious of deep-rooted symbolism. Socially and culturally, spinning has always belonged to women. It usually took place in the privacy of the home, where the energy of the work was directed inwards, towards the production of material for personal use. Weaving was associated with male power. The first reason was related to the changeability and ambiguity of the nature of spinning. The second was the constancy, dynamism, and movement that accompanied weaving. It is identified with outward-directed activity. With the changing economic situation, men took over the weaving market and brought it outside the home. They formed craft guilds and engaged in distribution. The takeover of the former domain of women by men was a deliberate action and a consequence of a series of symbolic events preceding this process.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to explore the tolerability and effect of static stretching (SS) and whole body cryotherapy (WBC) upon fatigue, daytime sleepiness, cognitive functioning and objective and subjective autonomic nervous system functioning in those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) compared to a control population. Methods Thirty-two CFS and eighteen healthy controls (HC) participated in 2 weeks of a SS + WBC programme. This programme was composed of five sessions per week, 10 sessions in total. Results A significant decrease in fatigue was noted in the CFS group in response to SS + WBC. Some domains of cognitive functioning (speed of processing visual information and set-shifting) also improved in response to SS + WBC in both CFS and HC groups. Our study has confirmed that WBC is well tolerated by those with CFS and leads to symptomatic improvements associated with changes in cardiovascular and autonomic function. Conclusions Given the preliminary data showing the beneficial effect of cryotherapy, its relative ease of application, good tolerability, and proven safety, therapy with cold exposure appears to be an approach worth attention. Further studies of cryotherapy as a potential treatment in CFS is important in the light of the lack of effective therapeutic options for these common and often disabling symptoms.

This paper analyses the coverage of Indigenous topics in K-12 education in British Columbia (BC) using curriculum documents and course enrolment. It focuses on curriculum documents published between 1995 and 2010 and mandated in public education from 1995 to 2019, and argues that Indigenous topics were marginalized in the curriculum overall. Motivated by decades of work by Indigenous leaders and educators to grapple with non-Indigenous people's prejudices, ignorance, and lack of understanding, the British Columbia Ministry of Education has increasingly recognized the importance of integrating Indigenous topics into core curricula and has offered all students Indigenous Studies course options. However, coverage remained marginalized in the core curriculum and recent curricular revisions have relied increasingly on teachers' voluntary integration of Indigenous topics and meaningful consultation with local Indigenous educators and communities, for which insufficient support and resources are provided by the Education Ministry. The paper explores challenges to the curriculum's ability to combat prejudice, eliminate discrimination and promote tolerance, understanding and good relations among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the province.

The studied bogs of the Siedlce Heights in eastern Poland are currently undergoing decession. In the course of pedological studies, a significant modification of the structure of soil profiles caused by the murshing process was found. The TC/TN values (11.1–17.3) obtained in the study, as well as slight acidification (pHKCl 5.42–6.15) indicate the eutrophy of the studied soil environment, high biological activity and a significant degree of organic matter processing as a result of the processes of mineralization and humification. In addition, the upper levels covered by the process of murshing, compared to peat, are characterized by a lower carbon content and, most often, a similar nitrogen content. In the studied soils, humic substances are mostly represented by the fraction of humic acids. As a consequence, we note high values of the quotient expressing quantitative relations between soil humus fractions (HAs/FAs). For all profiles, the highest share of fulvic acids was recorded in turf murshic levels (M1). The occurrence of the most mature humic acids was found in peat levels not covered by secondary transformation processes after dehydration.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of innate immunity. Here, we report the antimicrobial properties of a peptide derived from the Male fertility factor kl2 (MFF-kl2) protein of Drosophila melanogaster, which was identified as a functional analog of the mammalian antibacterial chemerin-p4 peptide. The antimicrobial activity of multifunctional chemerin is mainly associated with a domain localized in the middle of the chemerin sequence, Val66-Pro85 peptide (chemerin-p4). Using bioinformatic tools, we found homologs of the chemerin-p4 peptide in the proteome of D. melanogaster. One of them is MFF-p1, which is a part of the MFF kl2 protein, encoded by the gene male fertility factor kl2 (kl-2) located on the long arm of the Y chromosome. The second detected peptide (Z-p1) is a part of the Zizimin protein belonging to DOCK family, which is involved in cellular signaling processes. After testing the antimicrobial properties of both peptides, we found that only MFF-p1 possesses these properties. Here, we demonstrate its antimicrobial potential both in vitro and in vivo after infecting D. melanogaster with bacteria. MFF-p1 strongly inhibits the viable counts of E. coli and B. subtilis after 2 h of treatment and disrupts bacterial cells. The expression of kl-2 is regulated by exposure to bacteria and by the circadian clock.

In this study, we investigated the structures of lanthanide (Eu(III), Dy(III), and Gd(III)) complexes with p-coumaric (p-CAH2) and caffeic (CFAH3) acids using the FTIRKBr, FTIRATR, and Raman spectroscopic methods. The compositions of the solid phase caffeinates and p-coumarates were obtained on the basis of the amounts of hydrogen and carbon determined using an elemental analysis. The degree of hydration and the thermal decomposition of each compound were examined via a thermal analysis of TG, DTG, and DSC. Antioxidant spectroscopic tests were performed using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant activity), and ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (diammonium salt radical cation) methods. The antimicrobial activity of each compound against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans was investigated. The electrical properties of the liposomes which mimicked the microbial surfaces formed in the electrolyte containing the tested compounds were also investigated. The above biological properties of the obtained complexes were compared with the activities of p-CAH2 and CFAH3. The obtained data suggest that lanthanide complexes are much more thermally stable and have higher antimicrobial and antioxidant properties than the ligands (with the exception of CFAH3 in the case of antioxidant activity tests). The Gd(III) complexes revealed the highest biological activity among the studied lanthanide complexes.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) has a long tradition of use in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. However, due to hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), the EMA restricts the use of comfrey root (CR) to external use only and for short periods of time. Recent studies indicate a low permeability of PAs across the skin, calling into question the safety of topical application of products containing comfrey preparations. The aim of our work was to develop and validate an HPLC method enabling the separation of isomeric PAs from comfrey and, on this basis, to assess the potential toxicity of CR and comfrey leaf (CL) obtained from various Polish sources. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of PAs via HPLC-MS/MS was performed in MRM mode. The results obtained confirmed a lower content of PAs in CL than in CR and showed a wide variation in the composition of PAs in CR, with a much more stable profile of PAs in CL. Factor analysis confirmed that CRs and CLs differ in PA content, which is influenced by the growth conditions and geographical origin. The determined concentrations of PAs prove that in some CRs available on the Polish herbal market, the content of PAs may exceed the daily dose considered safe.

Canada has long been a colonial country and an extractive economy. In the 20th century, with the adoption of multiculturalism and a global peace keeping mission, the country seemed to embrace a new ethos. However, Canada remains deeply colonial and, in spite of a judiciary that since the repatriation of the Constitution in 1982, increasingly recognizes Indigenous land, resource and identity rights, its economy continues to be extractive, with abiding impacts on the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island (North America). Our study of the knowledge, ignorance and social attitudes of exiting undergraduate students at Queen's University suggests that students in this part of Canada (Ontario) are educated to misunderstand the fundamental geographies of Indigenous peoples, their land, and their identity. But the contradiction between image and reality is beginning to attract the students' attention and disrupt their sense of being part of a just society.