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Spherical Ti-MCM-41, synthetized by co-condensation method, presented very promising activity in catalytic and photocatalytic oxidation of diphenyl sulfide with H2O2 to obtain diphenyl sulfoxide and diphenyl sulfone. Mesoporous silica materials with various titanium content were analyzed with respect to chemical composition (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), structure properties (X-ray diffraction), textural properties (low-temperature N2 adsorption–desorption), morphology (scanning electron microscopy), forms and aggregation introduced titanium species (diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy), and surface acidity (NH3-TPD). Titanium introduced in the samples was present mainly in the form of highly dispersed species, presenting catalytic and photocatalytic activities in diphenyl sulfide oxidation with H2O2. Efficiency of the reaction increased with an increase in titanium loading in the samples and was significantly intensified under UV irradiation. The role of various Ti species in diphenyl sulfide oxidation was presented and discussed.

Joanna Pieńkowska,1 Beata Brzeska,1–3 Mariusz Kaszubowski,4 Oliwia Kozak,5 Anna Jankowska,6 Edyta Szurowska11II Department of Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland; 2Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland; 3Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland; 4Institute of Statistics, Department of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland; 5I Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland; 6Department of Radiology, University Clinical Centre in Gdansk, Gdansk, PolandPurpose: Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) exceeding 30 kg/m2, is a serious health problem, which can be called an epidemic on a global scale and is one of the most important causes of preventable death. The aim of this study was to assess ectopic fat accumulation in pancreas, liver and skeletal muscle in patients with obesity, overweight and normal BMI in correlation with metabolic syndrome (MetS).Patients and methods: The study included 267 consecutive patients who underwent a standard clinical assessment with BMI calculation. Ectopic fat accumulation in pancreas, liver, and skeletal muscle was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using fat–water separated Dixon imaging. MetS was defined according to the criteria modified by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Guidelines. Central obesity was defined using gender and ethnic-specific values for waist circumference.Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between the degree of steatosis of the assessed organs and BMI value as well as waist circumference ratio, that determined the degree of central obesity. It was found that the most rapid relative fat accumulation was in muscle, then in pancreas and then in liver. Higher steatosis of pancreas, liver, and muscle was demonstrated depending on the number of the satisfied MetS criteria.Conclusion: Knowing that pancreatic fatty disease is a risk factor for MetS, it seems that assessment and monitoring of ectopic fat accumulation may have important clinical implications and may be used in the prediction of metabolic risk and its early prevention.Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging, obesity, pancreatic steatosis, liver steatosis, metabolic syndrome, fat fraction

IntroductionGrowing evidence exists that greenspace exposure can reduce metabolic syndrome risk, a growing public health concern with well-documented inequities across population subgroups. We capitalize on the use of g-computation to simulate the influence of multiple possible interventions on residential greenspace on nine metabolic biomarkers and metabolic syndrome in adults (N = 555) from the 2014-2017 Community of Mine Study living in San Diego County, California.MethodsNormalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) exposure from 2017 was averaged across a 400-m buffer around the participants residential addresses. Participants fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c (%), waist circumference, and metabolic syndrome were assessed as outcomes of interest. Using parametric g-computation, we calculated risk differences for participants being exposed to each decile of the participant NDVI distribution compared to minimum NDVI. Differential health impacts from NDVI exposure by sex, ethnicity, income, and age were examined.ResultsWe found that a hypothetical increase in NDVI exposure led to a decrease in hemoglobin A1c (%), glucose, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, an increase in fasting total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations, and minimal changes to systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and metabolic syndrome. The impact of NDVI changes was greater in women, Hispanic individuals, and those under 65 years old.ConclusionsG-computation helps to simulate the potential health benefits of differential NDVI exposure and identifies which subpopulations can benefit most from targeted interventions aimed at minimizing health disparities.

This study examines the publishing and citation trends of the Electronic Green Journal: Professional Journal on International Environmental Information (EGJ) over the past three decades (1994–2024). This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of research articles, top authors, countries, organizations, collaboration patterns, and highly cited articles. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using data extracted from the journal's metadata, Google Scholar database, and Google Scholar Profiles. A thorough search strategy was employed to ensure relevant data extraction. A total of 49 records (n=49) were selected for analysis using an Excel spreadsheet.The findings indicate 169 research articles were published during this period, with the highest number of articles published in the year 2000 and 2001 (n=20). The year 1994 garnered the most citations, totaling 1,767. Authors from the United States and Canada were the most prolific, contributing the highest number of research studies and author collaborations. Single authorship was the most common pattern, followed by collaborations between two authors. This paper provides an opportunity to examine the evolution of open international scholarly communication published in the EGJ over the past 30 years (1994–2024) and to highlight its most impactful contributions.Analyzing productivity and citation metrics, this study is the first to offer a detailed understanding of the environmental sustainability literature published in the EGJ.

This article reports on personal observations and experiences gathered while teaching, working and consulting with librarians, students, and faculty during the author’s Fulbright Senior Fellowship in Poland. It discusses multiple opportunities and rewards for American librarians willing to serve as Fulbright Fellows including professional growth, knowledge sharing, meeting new people, experiencing new library cultures, traveling, and increasing the appreciation and visibility of librarians to the academic world. Additionally, it presents a short history of Polish academic libraries and the challenges they are currently facing.

Physical activity (PA) is significantly associated with many health outcomes. The wide usage of wearable accelerometer-based activity trackers in recent years has provided a unique opportunity for in-depth research on PA and its relations with health outcomes and interventions. Past analysis of activity tracker data relies heavily on aggregating minute-level PA records into day-level summary statistics in which important information of PA temporal/diurnal patterns is lost. In this paper we propose a novel functional data analysis approach based on Riemann manifolds for modeling PA and its longitudinal changes. We model smoothed minute-level PA of a day as one-dimensional Riemann manifolds and longitudinal changes in PA in different visits as deformations between manifolds. The variability in changes of PA among a cohort of subjects is characterized via variability in the deformation. Functional principal component analysis is further adopted to model the deformations, and PC scores are used as a proxy in modeling the relation between changes in PA and health outcomes and/or interventions. We conduct comprehensive analyses on data from two clinical trials: Reach for Health (RfH) and Metabolism, Exercise and Nutrition at UCSD (MENU), focusing on the effect of interventions on longitudinal changes in PA patterns and how different modes of changes in PA influence weight loss, respectively. The proposed approach reveals unique modes of changes, including overall enhanced PA, boosted morning PA, and shifts of active hours specific to each study cohort. The results bring new insights into the study of longitudinal changes in PA and health and have the potential to facilitate designing of effective health interventions and guidelines.

Katarzyna Malewicz,1 Aleksandra Pender,2 Mariusz Chabowski,3,4 Beata Jankowska-Polańska5,6 1Division of Family and Pediatric Nursing, Department of Nursing and Obstetrics, Faculty of Health Science, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 2Student Research Group No. 180, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland; 3Department of Surgery, 4th Military Clinical Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland; 4Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland; 5Department of Preclinical Sciences, Pharmacology and Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland; 6Center for Research and Innovation, 4th Military Clinical Hospital, Wroclaw, 50-981, PolandCorrespondence: Mariusz Chabowski, Email mariusz.chabowski@gmail.comIntroduction: Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases characterized by progressive and irreversible damage to the optic nerve. The aim of the study was to examine the impact of sociodemographic and psychological factors on adherence to glaucoma therapy.Methods: The study was carried out among 190 adults treated for glaucoma at the Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic of the University Teaching Hospital in Wroclaw between January 2019 and September 2019. Treatment adherence was measured using the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS). We used the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), the Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT–R) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).Results: 58.9% patients reported low treatment adherence. Educated females aged 68 or under living in cities had higher adherence. The regression analysis showed an association between dispositional optimism and glaucoma treatment adherence. The higher the level of dispositional optimism, the better the adherence. Higher dispositional optimism is directly associated with a sense of self-esteem and self-efficacy and a feeling of internal control. Patients reporting a high level of illness acceptance were found to have 2.5 times higher odds of adhering to glaucoma therapy. Illness acceptance is an indicator of the degree of adaptation to an illness and is positively correlated with a sense of self-esteem and self-efficacy and engagement in healthy behavior.Conclusion: More than half of patients with glaucoma have low adherence. Sociodemographic characteristics (female gender, age 68 or under, tertiary education and living in an urban area) and psychological characteristics (high level of illness acceptance, dispositional optimism and satisfaction with life) are significant predictors of high adherence.Keywords: glaucoma, adherence, LOT-R, acceptance, SWLS

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sedentary behavior (SB) has both movement and postural components, but most SB research has only assessed low movement, especially in children. The purpose of this study was to compare estimates and health associations of SB when derived from a standard accelerometer cut-point, a novel sitting detection technique (CNN Hip Accelerometer Posture for Children; CHAP-Child), and both combined. METHODS: Data were from the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle, and the Environment (ISCOLE). Participants were 6103 children (mean ± SD age 10.4 ± 0.56 years) from 12 countries who wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer on the right hip for approximately one week. We calculated SB time, mean SB bout duration, and SB breaks using a cut-point (SBmovement), CHAP-Child (SBposture), and both methods combined (SBcombined). Mixed effects regression was used to test associations of SB variables with pediatric obesity variables (waist circumference, body fat percentage, and body mass index z-score). RESULTS: After adjusting for MVPA, SBposture showed several significant obesity associations favoring lower mean SB bout duration (b = 0.251-0.449; all p

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that viruses can have multiple receptor properties, penetrating various tissues and causing mutations in various genes, thus promoting a range of metabolic disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the connection between three factors: diabetic status, pre-hospitalization oxygen therapy, and saturation levels, to the values of morphological, inflammatory, and biochemical parameters in the blood serum of COVID-19 patients. The study group consisted of 2139 patients, 1076 women (50.30%) and 1063 men (49.70%), with an average age of 63.73 ± 15.69 years. The population was divided into three groups based on a three-stage scale, taking into account patients with either type 2 diabetes/prediabetes (473 patients), those who received oxygen therapy before hospitalization, and those with a saturation value of below 95% (cut-off value). Among patients who did not receive pre-hospitalization oxygen therapy, those with diabetes and a SpO2 level

Chemical signaling through pheromones is an ancient and widespread mode of communication. Turtles and tortoises (chelonians) secrete pheromones via mental (chin) glands and have superior olfactory capacities rendering them a promising group to study the evolution and function of chemical communication in vertebrates. Here, we use state-of-the art proteomics and lipidomics techniques to identify and explore the possible functions of proteins and lipids secreted by mental glands in turtles. We examined four turtle species all from the family Geoemydidae, to understand among-species as well as sexual variation in the composition of mental gland secretions. Differential expression of a relatively small number (ca. 65) of proteins explained a large portion of the proteome variation across species, highlighting the existence of specific signals evolving even in closely related species. Lipidomic analysis revealed high inter-individual variation, but species differences could be attributed to five different lipid classes. The lipids found in mental glands could have a dietary origin or be related to individual condition, but may nonetheless be used in communication. We also examined sex-specific differences in the proteome of a single species (Mauremys leprosa) and found that males expressed a much larger array of proteins than females. Our findings establish a group of candidate proteins potentially involved in chemical signaling in freshwater geoemydid turtles. Alternatively, differently expressed proteins in mental glands could have an indirect link to chemical communication, being involved in pheromone transport and/or antioxidant protection.

This research touches upon the challenges related to attracting and retaining foreign direct investment (FDI) in times of digital transformation. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been crucial for post-transition dependent market economies (DMEs), and was critical during the transformation processes. This study takes the perspective of the host economies, and in particular, the (post) transition V4 countries. The focus of this research is on the antecedents of investment-attractive locations in the Industry 4.0 era and the factors that have determined this attractiveness during the digital transformation. This paper is based on a critical literature review and in-depth expert interviews. The authors put forward three research proposals that stipulate the necessity of assuring absorption capabilities, embeddedness and upgrading, the importance of state intervention and incentives, the need for new regulations, and a digital ecosystem. The study indicates that in the realm of Industry 4.0, firms investing abroad need to look for locations rich in knowledge. Knowledge pools embedded in a particular location play the most important role in luring foreign investors.

The “Kłodawa” salt mine, due to geological conditions and continuous salt extraction, is subject to a range of measurements documenting the speed of changes in the geometry of the chambers. Cyclic surveys are conducted under challenging conditions several hundred metres underground. Consequently, measurement methods used for determining the parameters of the ongoing clamping should be of high precision but also be resistant to dense dust (in fields of active mining) and strong gusts (near ventilation shafts).

BackgroundSevere tricuspid regurgitation is a progressive disease with an unfavourable prognosis. In recent years there have been extraordinary gains in knowledge through both clinical and basic scientific work. We performed a bibliometric analysis on tricuspid regurgitation with a focus on imaging techniques and treatment approaches and to identify scientific milestones and emerging research trends.MethodsPublications, published between 2015 and 2023 were identified. Study characteristics, impact factors and countries of origin studies were recorded. Heat maps were created to visualise data and to identify leading centers. Most frequently cited publications were recognised as milestones.ResultsWe screened 3,519 studies. 368 studies were included, of which 326 were clinical studies. Clinical studies were further subdivided into interventional (n = 138), surgical (n = 115) or studies on imaging modalities (n = 74). We detected an enormous increase in scientific output worldwide, especially in imaging and interventional studies. The United States, Germany and Poland were identified as leading countries in imaging, interventions and preclinical studies respectively.ConclusionsOur study reflects the global gain in knowledge over the last 9 years. We were able to identify an annually rising number of interventional studies. Imaging studies have also seen a rapid increase, especially since 2020. In recent years, we monitored a decline in surgical studies.

Context: Defining long-term care (LTC) is relevant to determining the access, coverage, and types of services. European Union (EU) countries are guided by the same principles for providing long-term care. However, there is variation in how individual countries define long-term care. Objective: To review available policy documents from European Union countries that provide a definition of LTC and create a framework that captures these definitions. Methods: We conducted a qualitative document review analysis. The sources of evidence included policy documents, such as reports by or for the European Commission, official EU websites, and national websites providing information about the LTC system or services. Long-term care definitions were extracted verbatim from the sources or adapted based on the described eligibility for accessing LTC services. We conducted a thematic analysis through a focused reading and re-reading, identifying and refining codes, and categorizing these codes into themes. Findings: Official definitions of long-term care were found for 22 European Union countries. We identified eight codes that were categorized into three themes: physical disability, person-centered care, and mental capacity. Most of the countries mentioned physical disability, while only a limited few were explicit about providing person-centered care services and evaluating mental capacity. Limitations: We only explored reports written in English and did not conduct interviews with local experts. Implications: Our review suggests that most European Union countries define long-term care mainly based on physical disabilities. Broadening this definition to include mental capacity and person-centered care could promote more comprehensive care. Future research should explore documents in national languages and interviews with experts.

IntroductionThe growing population of heart failure (HF) patients places a burden on the healthcare system. Patient-centered outcomes such as health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-care behaviors are key elements of modern HF management programs. Thus, optimized strategies to improve these outcomes are sought.PurposeTo assess the effects of a new model of medical telecare on HRQoL and self-care in patients with HF (the AMULET study).MethodsThe study was prospective, randomized, open-label, and controlled with two parallel groups: telecare and standard care. In the telecare group, HF nurses performed patient clinical assessments with telemedical support by a cardiologist and provided education focused on the prevention of HF exacerbation. In the standard care group, patients were followed according to standard practices in the existing healthcare system. At the baseline and at 12 months, HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLwHF). The level of self-care was assessed with the 12-item standardized European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale (EHFScBS-12).ResultsIn the overall study group, 79% of the subjects were male, the mean age was 67 ± 14 years, and 59% of the subjects were older than 65 years of age. The majority of the subjects (70%) had a left ventricular ejection fraction below 40%. After 12 months, statistically significant increases in physical component of the SF-36 (43.3 vs. 47.4 for telecare vs. 43.4 vs. 46.6 for standard care) and mental component of SF-36 (58.4 vs. 62 for telecare vs. 60.4 vs. 64.2 for standard care) were noted, with no intergroup differences. However, patients receiving telecare showed improvement in specific domains, such as physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health. There was a significant decrease in MLwHF (29 vs. 35.0; lower is better) at follow-up for both groups. Telecare patients had a statistically significant decrease in EHFScBS-12 (lower is better) at 12 months.ConclusionAMULET outpatient telecare, which is based on nurse-led non-invasive assessments supported by specialist teleconsultations, improved the HRQoL and self-care of HF patients after an episode of acute HF.

IntroductionGastroparesis is a disorder characterized by impaired gastric emptying and the accumulation of food in the intestines without any clear mechanical cause. Gastroparesis in critical care patients is a prevalent issue in the intensive care unit. The disruption of normal gastrointestinal motility in critically ill patients is linked to a significant risk of intolerance to enteral feeding, colonization of the gastrointestinal tract with pathogenic bacterial strains, increased permeability of the intestinal wall, translocation of the intestinal microbiota, leading to progressive malnutrition, and potential development of bacterial infection.Materials and methodsThe literature was reviewed to assess the benefits and risks associated with the use of this medication.AimThe aim of the study was to treat the symptoms of gastroparesis and stimulate gastrointestinal motility. Consequently, the aim was to reduce the amount of backed-up food content in the stomach, accelerate gastrointestinal motility, and return to intestinal feeding.ResultsGastroparesis is a frequent issue among patients in the intensive care unit. Critical illness can lead to gastrointestinal motility disorders, causing slowed gastric emptying. This increases the risk of problems such as intolerance to enteral feeding, regurgitation, and aspiration of gastrointestinal contents into the respiratory tract, as well as colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by pathogens. Over time, impaired intestinal absorption can result in malnutrition, necessitating the initiation of parenteral nutrition.ConclusionAfter analysis of the literature and published scientific reports, as well as considering their own research, it is evident that erythromycin, as a prokinetic drug, effectively enhances gastrointestinal motility. This contributes to stimulating gastric emptying in critically ill patients with gastroparesis who are hospitalized in an intensive care unit. The use of erythromycin in combination with metoclopramide and/or itopride hydrochloride allows for a synergistic effect, leading to the quickest possible return to enteral feeding.

Neopterin is one of biochemical markers of immune activity, which seems to be useful in monitoring inflammatory diseases. Increased serum concentration of neopterin is observed in conditions with cell-mediated immune response involvement. In clinical practice, neopterin evaluation is applied in medical conditions such as: infectious diseases, oncology, rheumatology, transplantology, transfusiology, cardiology, neurology and many others. Neopterin can be detected in serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, saliva, ascitic fluid, bile, pancreatic juice and gastric juice. In recently published studies, various non-specific indicators of inflammation such as neopterin, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin were compared and proved to be independently useful.

AimsIron deficiency is a common finding among patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with adverse outcomes, including decreased quality of life, increased risk of hospitalization, and decreased survival. Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) has been shown to improve outcomes among patients with HF and concomitant iron deficiency, but FCM is associated with an increased risk of hypophosphataemia. We aimed to better characterize this risk among HF populations.Methods and resultsThis pooled analysis examined data from 41 studies of adults with iron deficiency across disease states and therapeutic areas. Among the 7931 patients treated with FCM available for analysis, 14% made up the HF subgroup. Additional subgroups included women's health (36%), non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD; 27%), haemodialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (HD-CKD; 1%), gastrointestinal (10%), neurology (3%), and other (10%). The incidence of post-baseline moderate or severe hypophosphataemia (i.e. serum phosphate [PO4 3- ] level 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second cause of death from malignant tumors. Colorectal cancers are treated with surgery, chemotherapy, gene therapy and immunotherapy. PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins have recently been considered as potential targets of anticancer therapy in colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of immunohistochemical expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins in colorectal cancer patients with selected clinical and morphological parameters and their survival. Ninety-eight cases of colorectal cancer were studied. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins. Correlations were found between the expression of PD-L1 protein in lymphocytes and lack of lymph node metastases and a lower clinical stage. There was also a correlation between PD-L1 protein expression in cancer cells and a higher grade of histological malignancy.

Abstract tRNA modifications affect ribosomal elongation speed and co-translational folding dynamics. The Elongator complex is responsible for introducing 5-carboxymethyl at wobble uridine bases (cm5U34) in eukaryotic tRNAs. However, the structure and function of human Elongator remain poorly understood. In this study, we present a series of cryo-EM structures of human ELP123 in complex with tRNA and cofactors at four different stages of the reaction. The structures at resolutions of up to 2.9 Å together with complementary functional analyses reveal the molecular mechanism of the modification reaction. Our results show that tRNA binding exposes a universally conserved uridine at position 33 (U33), which triggers acetyl-CoA hydrolysis. We identify a series of conserved residues that are crucial for the radical-based acetylation of U34 and profile the molecular effects of patient-derived mutations. Together, we provide the high-resolution view of human Elongator and reveal its detailed mechanism of action.

Katarzyna Uzdrowska,1 Narcyz Knap,1 Jacek Gulczynski,2 Alicja Kuban-Jankowska,1 Wiktoria Struck-Lewicka,3 Michal J Markuszewski,3 Tomasz Bączek,3 Ewa Izycka-Swieszewska,2 Magdalena Gorska-Ponikowska1 1Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, 80-211, Poland; 2Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, 80-211, Poland; 3Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, 80-416, PolandCorrespondence: Magdalena Gorska-Ponikowska, Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 1 Debinki St, Gdansk, 80-211, Poland, Tel +48 58 349 14 50, Fax +48 58 349 14 56, Email magdalena.gorska-ponikowska@gumed.edu.plAbstract: Graphene and graphene-based materials have attracted growing interest for potential applications in medicine because of their good biocompatibility, cargo capability and possible surface functionalizations. In parallel, prototypic graphene-based devices have been developed to diagnose, imaging and track tumor growth in cancer patients. There is a growing number of reports on the use of graphene and its functionalized derivatives in the design of innovative drugs delivery systems, photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapy, and as a platform to combine multiple therapies. The aim of this review is to introduce the latest scientific achievements in the field of innovative composite graphene materials as potentially applied in cancer therapy. The “Technology and Innovation Roadmap” published in the Graphene Flagship indicates, that the first anti-cancer drugs using graphene and graphene-derived materials will have appeared on the market by 2030. However, it is necessary to broaden understanding of graphene-based material interactions with cellular metabolism and signaling at the functional level, as well as toxicity. The main aspects of further research should elucidate how treatment methods (e.g., photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, combination therapy) and the physicochemical properties of graphene materials influence their ability to modulate autophagy and kill cancer cells. Interestingly, recent scientific reports also prove that graphene nanocomposites modulate cancer cell death by inducing precise autophagy dysfunctions caused by lysosome damage. It turns out as well that developing photothermal oncological treatments, it should be taken into account that near-infrared-II radiation (1000– 1500 nm) is a better option than NIR-I (750– 1000 nm) because it can penetrate deeper into tissues due to less scattering at longer wavelengths radiation.Keywords: graphene-based materials, oncological therapies, cancer treatment, biomedical innovations, drugs delivery systems

Joanna Styszko,1 Tomasz Kostrzewa,1 Magdalena Gorska-Ponikowska,1,2 Alicja Kuban-Jankowska1 1Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland; 2Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, GermanyCorrespondence: Alicja Kuban-Jankowska, Email alicja.kuban-jankowska@gumed.edu.plPurpose: Citric acid (CA) is a tricarboxylic acid with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Based on previous studies, the small compound with its three carboxylic groups can be considered a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. YopH, a protein tyrosine phosphatase, is an essential virulence factor in Yersinia bacteria.Materials and Methods: We performed enzymatic activity assays of YopH phosphatase after treatment with citric acid in comparison with the inhibitory compound trimesic acid, which has a similar structure. We also measured the cytotoxicity of these compounds in Jurkat T E6.1 and macrophage J774.2 cell lines. We performed molecular docking analysis of the binding of citric acid molecules to YopH phosphatase.Results: Citric acid and trimesic acid reversibly reduced the activity of YopH enzyme and decreased the viability of Jurkat and macrophage cell lines. Importantly, these two compounds showed greater inhibitory properties against bacterial YopH activity than against human CD45 phosphatase activity. Molecular docking simulations confirmed that citric acid could bind to YopH phosphatase.Conclusion: Citric acid, a known antioxidant, can be considered an inhibitor of bacterial phosphatases.Keywords: protein tyrosine phosphatase, citric acid, trimesic acid, bacterial virulence factors, YopH, Yersinia, CD45 phosphatase

The paper aims to investigate the correlation between knowledge management and business sustainability through sustainability-oriented projects. The role of projects in promoting sustainability is already recognized, with sustainability-oriented projects emerging as a pivotal mechanism for companies to actively contribute to sustainability goals. Theoretical arguments also suggest that the enhancement of knowledge management is crucial for the advancement of sustainable business. Still, assertions in both areas lack solid empirical verification. Simultaneously, there is a growing emphasis on exploring the connection between knowledge management and project management, as existing studies indicate that knowledge management enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of projects. However, the nexus between knowledge management, project management, and business sustainability remains largely unexplored. This study aims to address two questions: whether knowledge management has a positive effect on business sustainability, and whether it is mediated by sustainability-oriented projects. The research hypotheses are verified through a large-scale empirical study utilizing SEM.

Exposure of organisms to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF; 50 Hz) has been increasing in recent decades, which is connected with dynamic technological development. ELF-EMF is considered a stress factor and its effects on organisms are still being investigated. We aimed to determine its impact on the locus coeruleus–noradrenergic (LC-NA) system enabling adaptation to stressful conditions. For this purpose, we exposed rats to 50 Hz ELF-EMF of 1 and 7 mT, 1 h/day for 7 days. The procedure was repeated three times to examine the organism's adaptive capabilities. Subsequently, the concentration of adrenaline, noradrenaline and its metabolite MHPG as well as the expression of the β2-adrenergic receptor was assessed. After the end of each exposure, part of the animals were subjected to a behavioural test to assess the influence of repeated ELF-EMF exposure on stress response to subsequent stress factors. Our research proved that mechanisms underlying the effects of ELF-EMF on stress response include the LC-NA system. ELF-EMF of 1 mT induced adaptive changes in the NA-LC system. However, exposure to 7 mT caused increased activity of the stress system which resulted in sensitization to subsequent, heterotypic (different from the one previously acting) stress factor. As ELF-EMF of 7 mT caused a profound decrease in β2-AR level would strongly inhibit the potential for neuroplastic processes in the hippocampus. Moreover, rats exposed to ELF-EMF of 7 mT showed moderately increased anxiety-related behaviour. Disturbances in NA-LC transmission may underlie the development of some neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases which indicates the possible involvement of ELF-EMF in the pathogenesis of these disorders.

ABSTRACTDemand for alpaca fiber is subject to an increase, which is due to its beneficial properties. The study aimed to determine the differences in physical and mechanical properties, as well as heat insulation properties of alpaca fibers differing in color. The research material consisted of Huacaya alpaca fiber samples of white (W), light fawn (LF), medium fawn (MF), dark fawn (DF), and black (BLK) colors. The following properties were examined: diameter, comfort factor (CF), breaking force, elongation at break, tenacity and heat transfer rate. The finest fibers were found in W and DF fleece, while the coarsest ones in MF. CF was the highest in DF fibers. Breaking force LF varied between 6.4 (DF) and 11.7 cN (BLK), while elongation at break was 43.6 (LF) to 54.7% (BLK). No significant differences were found in case of tenacity. The best insulation properties were found for DF fibers. Correlations were confirmed between diameter and mechanical properties, and they differed slightly depending on colors.

ABSTRACTThe following manuscript describes 10 newly synthesised pentafluorostilbene derivatives that are diverse in the character of the substituent attached to the second phenyl ring, as well as in the substitution site. The compounds were investigated for their applicability as iodonium salt photosensitisers for initiating cationic, radical and hybrid photopolymerisation. For this purpose, various spectroscopic studies were performed, such as absorbance and fluorescence quenching experiments. For kinetic research, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (real-time FT-IR) was utilised, which enabled analysis of the performance of the investigated two-component photoinitiating systems in real time. According to a variety of kinetic studies, the most effective initiator system was selected and applied for application studies in the subsequent stage, namely the preparation of photocurable polymer nanocomposites using light-initiated 3D printing technology (DLP – Digital Light Processing). The most effective two-component initiating system was tested in seven different photo-curable resins by thermogravimetry (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) to demonstrate its applicability in 3D printing of nanocomposites.