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Celem przedstawionych w artykule badań była diagnoza kluczowych problemów, z jakimi mierzyły się w roku 2020 i 2021 krakowskie instytucje kultury. Na potrzeby artykułu w czerwcu 2021 roku przeprowadzono trzy ustrukturyzowane wywiady pogłębione z przedstawicielami krakowskich instytucji kultury. Pytania badawcze wyprowadzono z przeglądu zastanej literatury przedmiotu (szczegóły metodologiczne w artykule). Badanie miało charakter pilotażowy.

Abstract Iron phosphates are a wide group of compounds that possess versatile applications. Their properties are strongly dependent on the role and position of iron in their structure. Iron, because of its chemical character, is able to easily change its redox state and accommodate different chemical surroundings. Thus, iron-phosphate crystallography is relatively complex. In addition, the compounds possess intriguing magnetic and electric properties. In this paper, we present crystal structure properties of a newly developed iron-phosphate compound that was obtained by devitrification from iron-phosphate glass of pyrophosphate stoichiometry. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, the new compound (Fe7P11O38) was shown to adopt the hexagonal space group P63 (No. 173) in which iron is present as Fe3+ in two inequivalent octahedral and one tetrahedral positions. The results were confirmed by Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopies, and appropriate band positions, as well as hyperfine interaction parameters, are assigned and discussed. The magnetic and electric properties of the compound were predicted by ab initio simulations. It was observed that iron magnetic moments are coupled antiferromagnetically and that the total magnetic moment of the unit cell has an integer value of 2 µB. Electronic band structure calculations showed that the material has half-metallic properties.

Niphargus enslini Karaman, 1932 was collected only once in 1905 from the Falkensteiner Höhle (Baden-Württemberg, Germany). Two years after its description, the species was synonymized with Niphargus virei and not studied any more. During recent surveys on German niphargids, further samples collected in this cave did not yield N. enslini specimens, but this species was collected in the Blätterteighöhle and in the Schwarzer Brunnen, two caves located in Baden-Württemberg and intercepting the same karstic aquifer feeding Falkensteiner Höhle. In an integrative taxonomic approach, we carefully studied the morphology of the newly collected specimens and sequenced two molecular markers (fragments of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and of the nuclear 28S rRNA gene) to test for possible conspecificity of N. enslini with N. virei. Morphological analysis confirmed that N. enslini is distinct from the N. virei species complex. We provide a redescription of newly collected material, together with new drawings of a more than 100 years old topotypic female. We briefly discuss the putative origin of N. enslini and the age of its split from the N. virei species complex.

Abstract Islatravir (MK‐8591) is a nucleoside analogue in development for the treatment and prevention of HIV‐1. Two phase 1 trials were conducted during initial evaluation of islatravir: rising single doses (Study 1) and rising multiple doses (Study 2) of oral islatravir in male and female participants without HIV (aged 18–60 years). Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of islatravir (plasma) and islatravir‐triphosphate (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) were assessed. In Study 1, 24 participants, assigned to 1 of 3 panels, received alternating single doses of islatravir in a fasted state from 5 mg to 400 mg, or placebo, over 3 dosing periods; a 30 mg dose was additionally assessed following a high‐fat meal. In Study 2, 8 participants per dose received 3 once‐weekly doses of 10, 30, or 100 mg islatravir or placebo in a fasted state. For each panel in both trials, 6 participants received active drug and 2 received placebo. Islatravir was generally well‐tolerated, with no serious adverse events or discontinuations due to adverse events. Islatravir was rapidly absorbed (median time to maximum plasma concentration 0.5 hours); plasma half‐life was 49–61 h; intracellular islatravir‐triphosphate half‐life was 118–171 h. Plasma exposure increased in an approximately dose‐proportional manner; there was no meaningful food effect. There was a modest degree of intracellular islatravir‐triphosphate accumulation after multiple weekly dosing. After single oral doses of islatravir greater than or equal to 5 mg, intracellular islatravir‐triphosphate levels were comparable to levels associated with efficacy in preclinical studies. These results warrant continued clinical investigation of islatravir.

Summary: Background: Vaccines against COVID-19 are needed to overcome challenges associated with mitigating the global pandemic. We report the safety and immunogenicity of V590, a live recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Methods: In this placebo-controlled, double-blind, three-part phase 1 study, healthy adults were randomised to receive a single intramuscular dose of vaccine or placebo. In Part 1, younger (18–54 years) and, in Part 2, older (≥55 years) adults seronegative for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid received one of four V590 dose levels (5.00 × 105; 2.40 × 106; 1.15 × 107; or 5.55 × 107 plaque-forming units [pfu]) or placebo. In Part 3, a single V590 dose level (5.55 × 10⁷ pfu) or placebo was administered to younger SARS-CoV-2 seropositive adults. Primary endpoints included adverse events (AEs) and for Parts 1 and 2 anti-SARS-CoV-2 serum neutralising antibody responses measured by 50% plaque reduction neutralisation (PRNT50) assay at Day 28. Registration NCT04569786 [P001-02]. Findings: 232 participants were randomised and 219 completed the study. In seronegative participants, anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibody responses to V590 were low and comparable to placebo across the lower dose levels. At the highest dose level (5.55 × 107 pfu), anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific PRNT50 was 2.3-fold higher than placebo. The most frequently reported AEs were injection-site pain (38.4%), headache (15.1%) and fatigue (13.4%). Interpretation: V590 was generally well-tolerated. However, Day 28 anti-SARS-Cov-2 spike-specific antibody responses in seronegative participants following a single intramuscular administration of V590 were not sufficient to warrant continued development. Funding: The study was funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

A group of four amphoras found in the anchialine cave of Vodeni Rat in the Croatian island of Sveti Klement, on a rocky ledge at 24 m water depth, indicates that a freshwater source was exploited at the bottom of this karstic pit by islanders and/or passing-by sailors from the late Roman Republican Period to the Early Medieval Period. In other words, prior to the 4th–7th century CE, Vodeni Rat was not an anchialine cave but a Pleistocene karstic pit with a freshwater pool at the bottom. Seawater started to infiltrate this cavity via newly opened fissures in the surrounding limestone after the 4th–7th century CE, as the archeometric age of the youngest intact amphora found down in the pit suggests. At present, the 29-m-deep water body is stratified, with a saline water layer at the bottom, a freshwater layer at the surface, and a transitional brackish water layer in the middle. Our study of the physical and biological characteristics of the cave water column revealed diversified and highly partitioned populations of stygobitic crustaceans including ostracods, copepods, amphipods, and thermosbaenaceans. Some species known to be exclusively endemic of highly saline habitats were collected from the bottom saline layer, whereas others known to be of freshwater origin were found in the upper water layer. This suggests that the freshwater dwellers were already present in this cave prior to the early medieval event that caused seepage of seawater into this karstic pit.

Abstract Gefapixant (MK‐7264) is a first‐in‐class, selective antagonist of the P2X3 purinergic receptor currently being investigated as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of refractory or unexplained chronic cough. In non‐clinical studies, gefapixant was eliminated primarily by renal excretion of the parent drug. The objective of this study was to assess the disposition of gefapixant in humans. The absorption, metabolism, and excretion profiles of gefapixant were assessed after oral administration of a single dose of [14C]gefapixant to six healthy adult males. Following a single‐oral [14C]gefapixant dose to healthy adult males, the mass balance was achieved, with 98.9% of the administered radioactivity recovered in urine and feces. Elimination of gefapixant occurred primarily via renal excretion of the intact drug (64%); metabolism was a minor pathway of elimination of gefapixant (12% and 2% recovered in urine and feces, respectively). Single‐dose administration of [14C]gefapixant 50 mg was generally well tolerated in healthy adult males. The fraction of the anticipated therapeutic oral dose of gefapixant absorbed is estimated to be at least 78%. Gefapixant is expected to be the major circulating drug‐related material in plasma, and the majority of the dosed drug will be excreted unchanged in urine.

Summary: Background: We report on the safety and immunogenicity of V591, a measles vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate. Methods: In this multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 1/2 trial, healthy adults with no history of COVID-19 disease were assigned to intramuscular injection of V591 or placebo (4:1 ratio). In part 1, younger adults (18-55 years) received V591 median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50)-levels of 1×105 or 1×106 or placebo, 56 days apart. In part 2, younger and older (>55 years) adults received a single dose of one of four (104/105/106/107) or one of two (105/106) V591 TCID50 levels, respectively, or placebo. Primary outcome: safety/tolerability. Secondary outcome: humoral immunogenicity. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04498247. Findings: From August–December 2020, 444 participants were screened and 263 randomised (210 V591; 53 placebo); 262 received at least one and 10 received two doses of V591 or placebo. Adverse events were experienced by 140/209 (67.0%) V591 dose-group participants and 37/53 (69.8%) placebo-group participants following injection 1; most frequent were fatigue (57 [27.3%] vs 20 [37.7%]), headache (57 [27.3%] vs 19 [35.8%]), myalgia (35 [16.7%] vs 10 [18.9%]), and injection-site pain (35 [16.7%] vs 4 [7.5%]). No deaths nor vaccine-related serious adverse events occurred. At Day 29, no anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike serum neutralising antibody and IgG-responses were identified in placebo or the three lower V591 dose-groups; responses were detected with V591 1×107 TCID50, although titres were lower than convalescent serum. Interpretation: V591 was generally well tolerated, but immunogenicity was insufficient to warrant continued development. Funding: Merck Sharp & Dohme, Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.

Temporary ponds are the most peculiar and representative water bodies in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, where they often represent diversity hotspots that greatly contribute to the regional biodiversity. Being indissolubly linked to these ecosystems, the so-called “large branchiopods” are unanimously considered flagship taxa of these habitats. Nonetheless, updated and detailed information on large branchiopod faunas is still missing in many countries or regions. Based on an extensive bibliographical review and field samplings, we provide an updated and commented checklist of large branchiopods in Tunisia, one of the less investigated countries of the Maghreb as far as inland water crustaceans are concerned. We carried out a field survey from 2004 to 2012, thereby collecting 262 crustacean samples from a total of 177 temporary water bodies scattered throughout the country. Large branchiopod crustaceans were observed in 61% of the sampled sites, leading to the identification of fifteen species. Among these, the halophilic anostracan Branchinectella media is here reported for the first time for the country; conversely, four of the species reported in literature were not found during the present survey. Based on literature and novel data, the known large branchiopod fauna of Tunisia now includes 19 species, showing a noteworthy species richness when the limited extension of the country is considered. For each species, the regional distribution is described and an annotated list of references is provided. Under a conservation perspective, the particular importance of the temporary ponds occurring in the Medjerda river alluvial plain is further stressed. In this location, several large branchiopod taxa with different ecological requirements converge and form unique and species-rich assemblages that should be preserved.

Praktyka w obszarze arteterapii wymaga namysłu nad jej fundamentami: rozumieniem zdrowia oraz rozumieniem sztuki, które uzasadnia jej miejsce w podejmowanych procesach terapeutycznych. Pojęcie zdrowia obecnie podlega dyskusji, a pojęcie sztuki jest z natury otwarte. W każdych działaniach terapeutycznych rozumianych jako towarzyszenie w procesie zdrowienia obowiązuje zasada: primum non nocere. Bezrefleksyjne angażowanie sztuki w działania terapeutyczne jest potencjalnie szkodliwe. Rozumiem zdrowie jako dynamiczny stan równowagi, który zawdzięczamy żywotności procesów homeostazy i allostazy, a zdrowienie jako skuteczny wysiłek podejmowany przez organizm w celu zarządzania tymi procesami. Zdrowie jest zarówno byciem w dobrej formie, jak i zdolnością dążenia do dobrej formy. Żywotność i efektywność procesów homeostazy łączę z ludzką zdolnością do bycia obecnym. Podobnie sztukę rozumiem jako specyficzne ludzkie doświadczenie trudnego, często bolesnego procesu dążenia do dobrej formy, jak i samą formę, którą za Robertem Plantem Armstrongiem (1971) nazywam „poruszającą obecnością”. Twórcze procesy ekspresyjne, w wyniku których takie formy powstają, widzę jako kierowane potrzebą adaptacji i transcendencji, a obecność jako warunek, który pozwala nam bezpośrednio spotkać zarówno to, co tożsame, jak i inne. Poświecenie równej uwagi procesowi i formie uważam za kluczowe w arteterapii.

Background: Neutralizing mAbs can prevent communicable viral diseases. MK-1654 is a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F glycoprotein neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) under development to prevent RSV infection in infants. Development and validation of methods to predict efficacious doses of neutralizing antibodies across patient populations exposed to a time-varying force of infection (i.e., seasonal variation) are necessary. Methods: Five decades of clinical trial literature were leveraged to build a model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) describing the relationship between RSV serum neutralizing activity (SNA) and clinical endpoints. The MBMA was validated by backward translation to animal challenge experiments and forward translation to predict results of a recent RSV mAb trial. MBMA predictions were evaluated against a human trial of 70 participants who received either placebo or one of four dose-levels of MK-1654 and were challenged with RSV [NCT04086472]. The MBMA was used to perform clinical trial simulations and predict efficacy of MK-1654 in the infant target population. Findings: The MBMA established a quantitative relationship between RSV SNA and clinical endpoints. This relationship was quantitatively consistent with animal model challenge experiments and results of a recently published clinical trial. Additionally, SNA elicited by increasing doses of MK-1654 in humans reduced RSV symptomatic infection rates with a quantitative relationship that approximated the MBMA. The MBMA indicated a high probability that a single dose of ≥ 75 mg of MK-1654 will result in prophylactic efficacy (> 75% for 5 months) in infants. Interpretation: An MBMA approach can predict efficacy of neutralizing antibodies against RSV and potentially other respiratory pathogens.

Calanoids of the family Diaptomidae are the most widespread copepods in the lentic inland waters of the Palearctic region. In Italy, studies on the family date back to the end of 19th century. Since then, several papers contributed to increasing the knowledge on their presence, distribution, and ecological preferences. Nevertheless, new records for the area and the discovery of putative new species stress that the current knowledge on these inland water crustaceans is still far from being exhaustive. This paper presents an updated and annotated checklist and bibliography of the Diaptomidae of the Italian peninsula and surrounding islands, including Corsica and the Maltese islands, compiled through a critical review of the existing literature and carrying out further field research. The doubtful records reported in the literature are discussed and clarified. The updated checklist includes 30 diaptomid species and subspecies; among them, an alien species and three putative new species pending formal description are reported. About 20% of the observed species are endemic or subendemic to the study area. The faunal provinces ascribed to the Mediterranean limnofaunistic region host the highest species richness and contribute to the checklist with rare species and unique occurrences. The high species richness observed in the Mediterranean area supports the hypothesis of a long-lasting persistence of an ancient and peculiar copepod fauna.

Transition to novel environments, such as groundwater colonization by surface organisms, provides an excellent research ground to study phenotypic evolution. However, interspecific comparative studies on evolution to groundwater life are few because of the challenge in assembling large ecological and molecular resources for species‐rich taxa comprised of surface and subterranean species. Here, we make available to the scientific community an operational set of working tools and resources for the Asellidae, a family of freshwater isopods containing hundreds of surface and subterranean species. First, we release the World Asellidae database (WAD) and its web application, a sustainable and FAIR solution to producing and sharing data and biological material. WAD provides access to thousands of species occurrences, specimens, DNA extracts and DNA sequences with rich metadata ensuring full scientific traceability. Second, we perform a large‐scale dated phylogenetic reconstruction of Asellidae to support phylogenetic comparative analyses. Of 424 terminal branches, we identify 34 pairs of surface and subterranean species representing independent replicates of the transition from surface water to groundwater. Third, we exemplify the usefulness of WAD for documenting phenotypic shifts associated with colonization of subterranean habitats. We provide the first phylogenetically controlled evidence that body size of males decreases relative to that of females upon groundwater colonization, suggesting competition for rare receptive females selects for smaller, more agile males in groundwater. By making these tools and resources widely accessible, we open up new opportunities for exploring how phenotypic traits evolve in response to changes in selective pressures and trade‐offs during groundwater colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is an introduction to the critical analysis of media messages in the times of post-truth politics. In the first part we can find basic informations about fake news, and their distinction into their two main types: disinformation and misinformation. In the next chapter, the Author focuses on describing the contemporary media context. We find here a reference to the work of Jean Baudrillard and his theory of replacing the truth with its simulation. The article closes recommendations for media users who want to develop their media competences.