Search

The work establishes a requirement for glucose-dependent coordination between energy production and redox homeostasis, which is fundamental for the survival of cancer cells that accumulate Cu and contributes to tumor growth.

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used in the treatment of urogenital diseases, stomach and liver disorders, skin problems, etc. E. angustifolium extracts show anti-androgenic, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial activities. The unique combination of biological properties demonstrated by the results of some studies indicates that fireweed has a positive effect in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and potentially in the prostate cancer chemoprevention. However, the efficacy of E. angustifolium phytotherapy is still poorly tested in clinical trials, while numerous beneficial effects of extracts have been documented in the in vitro and in vivo tests. Fireweed is rich in polyphenolic compounds, particularly ellagitannins. Currently, polyphenols are considered to be modulators of beneficial gut microbiota. The literature data support the use of ellagitannins in the prostate cancer chemoprevention, but caution is advised due to the highly variable production of urolithins by the individual microbiota. A better understanding of the microbiota’s role and the mechanisms of its action are crucial for an optimal therapeutic effect. This paper aims to summarize and discuss experimental data concerning pharmacological properties of E. angustifolium and bioavailability of ellagitannins – important bioactive compounds of this plant.

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L., Onagraceae) is one of important medicinal plants used especially in the treatment of urogenital disorders, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. The therapeutic effects of E. angustifolium extracts comprise antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and also antimicrobial activities. The aim of the present review was to provide the information on the botany, phytochemistry and traditional uses of E. angustifolium. This plant is a widespread circumboreal species of North America and Eurasia, tolerant in terms of habitat conditions, and often occupying man-made open habitats. Phytochemical studies on E. angustifolium resulted in the identification of about 250 different metabolites, including about 170 substances found for the first time in this plant in the last six years (2014–2019). Fireweed has an abundance of polyphenolic compounds, particularly ellagitannins. Oenothein B and quercetin-3-O-glucuronide are proposed as markers for the identification and standardization of the plant raw material. E. angustifolium exhibits significant phytochemical variability in relation to the geographical origin, plant part and time of harvest/vegetation phase. Survey of the ethnobotanical literature showed that the above-mentioned species has been widely used not only as a medicinal, but also as an edible, honey and decorative plant.

Introduction: For centuries, mosses have been used in traditional medicine due to their antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities. Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts obtained from 12 moss species: Brachythecium albicans, Bryum argenteum, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranum scoparium, Dryptodon pulvinatus, Orthotrichum anomalum, Oxyrrhynchium hians, Plagiomnium undulatum, Polytrichum juniperinum, P. piliferum, Schistidium crassipilum, and Syntrichia ruralis. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of extracts was investigated against three Gram(+) bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes) and two Gram(-) bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae), using the agar disc-diffusion method. Results: The high activity against all investigated bacteria was determined for extracts of D. pulvinatus, P. undulatum, B. argenteum, S. crassipilum, O. anomalum (mean inhibition zone: 11.3-13.1 mm) and to a lesser extent in the case of D. scoparium (8.3 mm). Extracts from P. juniperinum and P. piliferum showed activity only against Gram-positive bacteria, with an inhibition zone from 7.3 to 9.7 mm. Four species: B. albicans, C. purpureus, O. hians, and S. ruralis had not antibacterial properties. Conclusions: The obtained results indicate that mosses could be a significant source of antibacterial agents. For the first time, we presented antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts from S. crassipilum and O. anomalum.

ABSTRACT Aims/Introduction Placental glucose transport is regulated by glucose transporter proteins (GLUTs). The study aimed to examine placental expression of GLUT‐1, GLUT‐3, and GLUT‐4 mRNA in patients with type 1 diabetes, early gestational diabetes (eGDM), and healthy controls, and to investigate correlations between GLUTs expression and clinical parameters. Additionally, we compared placental transcriptome profiles in recruited subgroups. Materials and Methods We recruited 59 pregnant women: 23 with type 1 diabetes, 17 with eGDM, and 19 controls. Patients with diabetes attended follow‐up visits at each trimester. Transcriptome studies were performed in 4 patients per subgroup. Results The mean age was similar across all subgroups. eGDM patients had significantly higher BMI and were predominantly obese. We observed a significant 2‐fold (P = 0.009) decrease in placental GLUT‐3 mRNA expression in the type 1 diabetes and eGDM groups. GLUT‐4 mRNA expression was significantly lower in the eGDM group compared to type 1 diabetes (3‐fold) and controls (6‐fold) (P = 0.007). There was a significant negative correlation between GLUT‐3 (R = −0.29) and GLUT‐4 (R = −0.27) mRNA expression and neonatal birth weight. GLUT‐4 expression was negatively correlated with 1st trimester HbA1c (R = −0.72) and OGTT 120′ (R = −0.82) results in eGDM patients, and 3rd trimester glycemic variability (R = −0.49) in type 1 diabetes. Microarray analysis revealed significant transcriptomic changes, with 45 down‐regulated and 365 up‐regulated genes in type 1 diabetes, and 21 significant changes in eGDM. Conclusions Placental samples from patients with diabetes exhibit changes in GLUTs expression, which correlates with neonatal growth and several glycemic parameters. Additionally, multiple changes in transcriptomic profiles are observed in hyperglycemic patients.

Introduction: The inflorescence of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench shows anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, detoxifying properties and is traditionally used in liver and biliary tract diseases. Because of its difficult and expensive cultivation, the plant raw material is mainly harvested from natural sites.

The present paper experimentally analyses the subjective assessment of indoor environment comfort based on a questionnaire survey conducted in a climate chamber located at Kielce University of Technology (Poland), if two types of face masks are worn by the respondents: thin (medical) and thick (cotton-made) masks. Air temperature and relative humidity in the chamber ranged from around 19 to 28oC and 20 – 70%, respectively. Precise measurement of the microclimate parameters was obtained with a microclimate meter, which recorded air temperature and relative humidity at the moment of completing the questionnaires. The respondents were of similar age (22 – 31 years old) and wore two types of clothing during the experiments: summer and winter, which differed by thermal resistance. This value amounted to 0.5 clo for the summer outfit and 0.8 clo for the winter one.In total 960 questionnaires were analysed in the study. The results indicate that the increase in air temperature led to poorer overall comfort, while the largest comfort sensation was recorded for the most favourable thermal sensation range. In general, thicker masks provided lower overall comfort than thinner masks for all relative humidity values.

The paper analyses thermal comfort of people wearing face masks. The study took place in the selected classrooms of the smart building “Energis” located in Poland. In the experiments 100 respondents participated. They filled in the questionnaire forms, in which they expressed their subjective assessment of the indoor thermal environment. Simultaneously, measurements of the physical parameters within the rooms were performed with a microclimate meter. The results clearly show that the use of face masks influenced thermal sensations of the people - they felt warmer than without the face mask on (at the same air temperature). Moreover, the respondents who wore the masks indicated that the air was more humid in relation to the case when the masks are not applied. The comparison of the obtained actual thermal sensations of the respondents with the calculation results according to the thermal comfort model proved that the model was unable to properly predict thermal sensations of people wearing face masks.

This paper reports how high failure rates in the first quantitative course that college business majors take were significantly reduced by implementing course-embedded remediation. More specifically, this paper details our process for identifying students at risk, placing them in special sections of the first quantitative course, and adding an additional hour of application of course concepts which resulted in a statistically significant increase in pass rates. The study focused on the learning environment, the attitude of the student, the utility of the material and the role of the professor for this special course. We feel this research is timely, as many colleges in the United States consider removing entrance exams as a means of evaluation into higher education.

The article presents the results of archaeobotanical studies on plant macroremains preserved both in charred form and as imprints in pottery and daub. The materials were collected from Funnel Beaker culture sites in Kałdus, Sławęcinek, Kietrz, and Małe Czyste. In total, 218 daub fragments and 33 pottery sherds were analysed. Most of the assemblages contained at least one of the searched items, such as imprints and/ or charred macroremains. Hulled wheat (Triticum monococcum/dicoccon/spelta) chaff, including glumes, glume bases, spikelet forks, and culms and blades of indeterminate cereals and/or wild grasses (Cerealia/Poaceae indet.), were among the most commonly found imprints. Interestingly, some assemblages contained crushed bones and microscopic charred wood fragments, illustrating a husbandry strategy that utilised all accessible resources.

Muonic atoms have been used to extract the most accurate nuclear charge radii based on the detection of X-rays from the muonic cascades. Most stable and a few unstable isotopes have been investigated with muonic atom spectroscopy techniques. A new research project recently started at the Paul Scherrer Institut aims to extend the highresolution muonic atom spectroscopy for the precise determination of nuclear charge radii and other nuclear structure properties of radioactive isotopes. The challenge to combine the high-energy muon beam with small quantity of stopping mass is being addressed by developing the concept of stopping the muon in a high-density, a high-pressure hydrogen cell and subsequent transfer of the muon to the element of interest. Status and perspectives of the project will be presented.

This paper focuses on the challenges in educational area or, more precisely, we narrow down our considerations to the context of teaching English as a foreign language (EFL). Research on multilingualism points to the need for a heteroglossic approach to language use in educational process [García, Leiva 2014]. The aim of our research is to delve into the mindset of EFL teachers regarding (1) their acceptance of translingual practices during an EFL class taught to plurilinguals, (2) the articulation of potential benefi ts or drawbacks for the language learning process aff ected by translingual practices, and, ultimately, (3) the perception of these practices with reference to TCLA (teacher critical language awareness). The obtained data shows an interesting picture of teaching EFL in the multilingual context of mixed nationality students. Both Polish and German teachers of EFL seem to reach beyond the monolingual paradigm in the classroom. The majority of teachers can speak or understand additional languages to their native language and EFL. This may be construed as a potential for the strategic use of translanguaging for educational purposes and, ultimately, it is interpreted as a transformative quality of the language teacher in the education.

Growth of structural mass and energy reserves influences individual survival, reproductive success, population and species life history. Metrics of structural growth and energy storage of individuals are often used to assess population health and reproductive potential, which can inform conservation. However, the energetic costs of tissue deposition for structural growth and energy stores and their prioritization within bioenergetic budgets are poorly documented. This is particularly true across marine mammal species as resources are accumulated at sea, limiting the ability to measure energy allocation and prioritization. We reviewed the literature on marine mammal growth to summarize growth patterns, explore their tissue compositions, assess the energetic costs of depositing these tissues and explore the tradeoffs associated with growth. Generally, marine mammals exhibit logarithmic growth. This means that the energetic costs related to growth and tissue deposition are high for early postnatal animals, but small compared to the total energy budget as animals get older. Growth patterns can also change in response to resource availability, habitat and other energy demands, such that they can serve as an indicator of individual and population health. Composition of tissues remained consistent with respect to protein and water content across species; however, there was a high degree of variability in the lipid content of both muscle (0.1-74.3%) and blubber (0.4-97.9%) due to the use of lipids as energy storage. We found that relatively few well-studied species dominate the literature, leaving data gaps for entire taxa, such as beaked whales. The purpose of this review was to identify such gaps, to inform future research priorities and to improve our understanding of how marine mammals grow and the associated energetic costs.

This article presents a comprehensive improvement in the experimental analysis of cracking processes in smooth and sharp V-notched samples taken from gas transport pipelines, utilizing the acoustic emission (AE) method. The research aimed to establish a robust correlation between the failure mechanisms of uni-axially tensile samples and the distinct characteristics of AE signals for enhanced quality management in pipeline integrity. The study encompassed materials from two different straight pipe sections, encompassing both long-term used materials and new, unused materials. Through the application of the k-means grouping method to AE signal analysis, we achieved the identification of AE signal parameters characteristic of various stages of the material destruction process. This advancement introduces a significant improvement in monitoring and managing the operational safety of pipeline networks, offering a methodology that leverages advanced acoustic emission signal analysis. The outcomes present significant implications for the pipeline industry by proposing methods to enhance safety systems and more effectively manage the integrity and quality of gas infrastructure.

The final result of rolling bearing quality control is influenced by many factors that are not always taken into account. If non-conforming products leave the factory, then the reliability of equipment containing rolling bearings is significantly weakened. The paper presents an analysis of the reasons for the variability of vibration measurement results in rolling bearing quality control. The paper describes the organisation of rolling bearing acceptance inspection on the production line and its place in the rolling bearing production process. The study evaluates the influence of the measuring device and the location of the sensor on the result of the rolling bearing vibration monitoring process. The problem of repeatability and reproducibility of rolling bearing vibration measurement was also investigated. On the basis of the obtained results, conclusions were drawn regarding the improvement of the quality control process of rolling bearings in production plants.

Dragon Bridge - The world’s largest dragon-shaped steel bridge, with an installation cost of $85 million USD, features 6 lanes for two separate directions, 666 meters of undulating steel in the shape of a dragon in the Ly Dynasty, the symbol of prosperity in Vietnamese culture. This unique and beautifully lit bridge, which also breathes fire and sprays water. It’s the purposeful integration of the lighting hardware articulates the dragon’s form, and the fire-breathing dragon head. This project transcends the notion of monumental bridge with dynamic colour-changing lighting, creating an iconic sculpture in the skyline that is both reverent and whimsical. The signature feature of the bridge was the massive undulating support structure resembling a dragon flying over the river. The dragon is prominent in Vietnamese culture as a symbol of power and nobility. Dragon Bridge stands out as a model of innovation. It has received worldwide attention in the design community and from the global media for its unique arch support system. Dragon Bridge serves as an example of how aesthetic quality of a design can serve cultural, economic and functional purposes. The article presents design solutions of the object and the evaluation of the technical condition before putting the facility into service.

This dataset compiles radiocarbon dates received for botanical macroremains and animal bones from domestic and ritual pits and human graves unearthed during excavations at the archaeological site of Kałdus (Poland) that can be related to the Funnel Beaker culture (TRB). Prior to radiocarbon dating by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), plant macroremains were checked against diagnostic attributes of species identification by standard paleobotanical analysis. The dataset contains already published (n = 4) and new (n = 10) radiocarbon dates that were used to establish the absolute chronology of the TRB habitus at Kałdus and its diachronic spatial organization. This dataset serves as an archive for future studies focusing on the TRB settlement pattern and organization in the region of modern Poland. It also has a utility to be reused in archaeological and chronological research on the movement of copper metalwork and the gradual spread of human cremation rite in the region.

Purpose: The aim of the article is to verify the impact of the use of electronic notification of deliveries on the service time of a means of transport in a distribution center. Methodology: The study used electronic notification in the form of EDI DESADV messages. The research was carried out in one of the distribution centers of a retail company operating in Poland. The study used the method of recording the time of logistics operations. The study was conducted in two stages (each lasting a week), in which the time of logistics operations was recorded in conditions without and with the DESADV message implemented. Results: The results of the conducted research show that the use of electronic despatch advice allows you to reduce the time of handling the means of transport in the distribution center. Conclusion: Reducing the time of handling the means of transport in the distribution center brings numerous additional benefits, such as faster release of the means of transport and enabling it to carry out subsequent transport tasks, handling a larger number of unloadings with the same number of resources (e.g. warehouse ramps), accelerating the internal process and enabling faster reloading to other means of transport performing the distribution process.

Background: In this study, we aimed to determine the presence of any potential gender differences and relationships in terms of creativity, physical activity (PA), motor fitness, and motor creativity in children aged 8–9 years. Methods: The study included 195 primary school children (92 girls and 103 boys) aged 8–9 years old from grade 2. To determine creativity, the Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing Production was used, while motor creativity was assessed using Torrance’s ‘Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement’ test. Motor fitness was assessed with the selected items from the Eurofit battery and Piórkowski tests. The level of moderate-to-vigorous PA was determined with the Physical Activity Screening Measure. The Mann–Whitney U test was employed for in-between group comparison and Spearman’s correlation to determine relationships between the variables. Results: The results of the research showed the presence of differences in motor fitness between boys and girls, but no differences in PA, creativity, as well as motor creativity between genders. Moreover, it was found there was no association between PA and motor fitness and creativity or motor creativity in either boys or girls at this age. Conclusions: Thus, it can be assumed that to develop creativity through PA in children aged 8–9 years, it might be necessary to create an appropriate environment and strategy that will strengthen, inspire, and promote children’s creativity through movement. Having established that there is no difference in creativity between genders at this age, it was pointed out that it is necessary to look for teaching methods that would effectively awaken this ability in a co-educational setting.

In this study, we decided to test the hypothesis that the fungal biostarter M. flavus used during a 21-day beef dry-aging process significantly impacts the composition of other microorganisms, the profile of volatile compounds, meat hardness characteristics, and, consequently, the sensory quality. The experiments were performed on samples derived from animals crossbred between Holstein–Fresian cows and meat breed bulls. Two groups of samples were studied, including the control group, without biostarter, and a group inoculated with the M. flavus biostarter. Both sample groups were seasoned for 21 days in the dry-aging fridge. The physicochemical parameters (pH, color parameters), the chemical composition of muscle, the determination of the shear force, the profile of volatile compounds (VOCs), and the sensory quality were evaluated after aging. During this study, classical microbiological methods were used to investigate the influence of fungal biostarters on the growth and survival of bacteria and other fungi (e.g., yeasts) during the dry-aging process of beef (DAB). The M. flavus biostarter improved the sensory quality of DAB, allowing high sensory quality to be achieved after just 21 days. This is likely due to the diverse VOCs produced by the fungus, including 1-tetradecanol, 2-nonenal, trans-2-undecenoic acid, and the following esters: formic acid hexyl ester, 10-undecenoic acid methyl ester, and 4-methylpentanoic acid methyl ester. The presence of the biostarter had no significant effect on the number of the bacteria or the survivability of the L. monocytogenes on the meat’s surface in laboratory conditions.

This paper presents the outcomes of quality tests conducted on specimens, both smooth and V-notched, subjected to uniaxial tension, which were extracted from a gas transport pipeline. The introduction of the V-notch introduced variations in the stress and strain component fields near the plane of maximum constriction, consequently leading to their failure through different mechanisms. The process included the implementation of quality management practices such as numerical modeling and simulation of the loading of the specimens using ABAQUS. The material model employed in these calculations was defined and verified to ensure quality control. Subsequent to the numerical calculations, maps of the stress and strain component fields were generated, contributing to the quality assessment of the specimens. It was determined that the quality management process for the smooth specimen identifies the initiation of failure primarily due to the normal stress component in the central region of the plane with the largest constriction. In contrast, in the V-notched specimen, quality management efforts revealed that failure initiation occurs due to the tangential stress component, and failure proceeds through the shear mechanism. These results are valuable in developing a quality-driven methodology for monitoring the operational safety of gas network pipelines, primarily based on the analysis of acoustic emission signals.

Racial and ethnic discrimination persist in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, including ecology, evolution and conservation biology (EECB) and related disciplines. Marginalization and oppression as a result of institutional and structural racism continue to create barriers to inclusion for Black people, Indigenous people and people of colour (BIPOC), and remnants of historic racist policies and pseudoscientific theories continue to plague these fields. Many academic EECB departments seek concrete ways to improve the climate and implement anti-racist policies in their teaching, training and research activities. We present a toolkit of evidence-based interventions for academic EECB departments to foster anti-racism in three areas: in the classroom; within research laboratories; and department wide. To spark restorative discussion and action in these areas, we summarize EECB's racist and ethnocentric histories, as well as current systemic problems that marginalize non-white groups. Finally, we present ways that EECB departments can collectively address shortcomings in equity and inclusion by implementing anti-racism, and provide a positive model for other departments and disciplines.