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BackgroundThe clinical application of voice technology provides novel opportunities in the field of telehealth. However, patients’ readiness for this solution has not been investigated among patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). ObjectiveThis paper aims to evaluate patients’ anticipated experiences regarding telemedicine, including voice conversational agents combined with provider-driven support delivered by phone. MethodsA cross-sectional study enrolled patients with chronic CVD who were surveyed using a validated investigator-designed questionnaire combining 19 questions (eg, demographic data, medical history, preferences for using telehealth services). Prior to the survey, respondents were educated on the telemedicine services presented in the questionnaire while being assisted by a medical doctor. Responses were then collected and analyzed, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of willingness to use voice technology. ResultsIn total, 249 patients (mean age 65.3, SD 13.8 years; 158 [63.5%] men) completed the questionnaire, which showed good repeatability in the validation procedure. Of the 249 total participants, 209 (83.9%) reported high readiness to receive services allowing for remote contact with a cardiologist (176/249, 70.7%) and telemonitoring of vital signs (168/249, 67.5%). The voice conversational agents combined with provider-driven support delivered by phone were shown to be highly anticipated by patients with CVD. The readiness to use telehealth was statistically higher in people with previous difficulties accessing health care (OR 2.920, 95% CI 1.377-6.192) and was most frequent in city residents and individuals reporting a higher education level. The age and sex of the respondents did not impact the intention to use voice technology (P=.20 and P=.50, respectively). ConclusionsPatients with cardiovascular diseases, including both younger and older individuals, declared high readiness for voice technology.

Cryptorchidism, the absence of one or both testicles in the scrotum, is the most common anomaly of genitourinary tract in males. The pathogenesis of undescended testes is unknown however the role of inflammation, tissue remodeling and oxidative stress is postulated. The aim of this study was to explore the role of HSP-70, MMP-3, MMP-17 and IL-8 in possible pathogenic pathways connected with cryptorchidism. Cryptorchid patients with high scrotal and inguinal canal localization were included. The study group consisted of 63 patients aged 12–24 months, whereas the control group included 17 healthy infants with the same demographic characteristics. The analysis of plasma samples was carried out using ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The plasma concentration of MMP-17 in boys with cryptorchidism was significantly higher compared to the control group (p = 0.0365). The concentration of plasma IL-8, MMP-3, and HSP-70 in boys with cryptorchidism increased in comparison to the control group but these increases were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A positive correlation was found between plasma MMP-17 and HSP-70 concentration (r = 0.5153; p < 0.0001). Our results demonstrate that MMP-17 and HSP-70 might be involved in pathogenesis of cryptorchidism and are in line with current knowledge that high temperature has a negative influence on male gonads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of pomace in bakery products opens up new possibilities for the management of waste products from the fruit industry. Such activities are integral to the concept of sustainable development and the circular economy. In this research, the quality of dough and final products was analyzed by replacing 10–50% of the typical flour (wheat, rice, and corn) with chokeberry pomace flour. The instrumental color measurements and the sensory analysis showed that the dough and the muffins made with the fruit flour were significantly different from the control samples. Flour substitutions of over 10%, while enriching muffins with chokeberry flour, led to a decrease in product quality (texture, dough rise, sensory quality), especially for muffins with gluten. The sensory study showed that a substitution of 10% of typical flour resulted in products acceptable to potential consumers, but a higher substitution reduced the overall quality. It was found that the use of chokeberry pomace in making muffins was limited and more feasible for gluten-free products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare organizations worldwide face challenges in retaining their healthcare workforce, with individual and organizational factors influencing their intentions to leave. This study conducted eight online co-creation workshops and four Delphi sessions to gain qualitative and in-depth insights into job retention interventions, involving healthcare workers, hospital managers, and policymakers. A thematic analysis was conducted, resulting in multiple interventions that were clustered in four pre-defined themes: professional and personal support, education, financial incentives, and regulatory measures. Professional and personal support interventions included regular interprofessional team meetings, leadership training programs, self-scheduling and sabbaticals, support for administrative and non-clinical work, and the provision of psychological counselling. Educational interventions encompassed facilitating development opportunities, periodic evaluations, onboarding, mentorship programs, and peer support groups. Financial incentives included the provision of competitive salaries, adequate infrastructure, extra benefits, transport possibilities, and permanent employment contracts. Regulatory measures addressed the need for complementary legislation across various levels, fixed healthcare worker-to-patient ratio, and instruments to monitor workload. To optimize retention strategies, healthcare organizations should tailor these interventions to address the unique factors influencing their workforce's intentions to leave within their specific context. The study concludes that combining personal and professional support, educational opportunities, financial incentives, and regulatory measures is necessary because there is no one-size-fits-all solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic and multifactorial inflammatory dermatosis. Recurrent eczematous lesions and intense pruritus very often reduce the quality of life of patients, affecting their mental health. For this reason, it is necessary to undertake treatment. Treatment should be characterized by an individual approach to the patient, taking into account the predominant pathogenetic factors in the development of atopic dermatitis and systematic skin care. Soothing the typical symptoms of AD, i.e., dry skin and persistent itching, involves emollients, which counteract xerosis and reduce the feeling of itching. Studies confirm that the regular use of emollients in patients with AD prolongs the period between relapses and alleviates the intensity of symptoms during periods of disease severity. This review paper aims to highlight the challenges that patients with atopic dermatitis face. This work will also present an indication of the rationale for the use of emollients in this condition, as well as an indication of the forms of their application in therapeutic and care preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Students with special educational needs (SEN) may exhibit difficult behaviour in school, disturbing the learning environment, which gives rise to management problems for those involved in their education. In light of the current approach, special-needs education in Poland should be a high-quality educational service that provides for the specific needs of students with disabilities in terms of teaching organisation and methods. Work with SEN students places teachers at a great professional risk. This may lead to stress, job burnout or the experience of intensive emotional stimulation from SEN students. This paper is intended to explore risks to teachers working with special educational needs students in a selected educational institution. Design/methodology/approach: A survey to determine risks to teachers working with special educational needs students was carried out at the turn of September and October 2023. It was completed electronically by 42 SEN teachers. The survey addressed the issues of qualifications to work with SEN students, fears of finding fulfilment in a SEN school environment, and risks to teachers in SEN children’s behaviour, among other things. The SEN teachers were also asked about their institution’s readiness for working with SEN students. Findings: The responses given in the survey showed the SEN teachers were generally satisfied with their work. More than 90% have no fears of finding fulfilment in their SEN children environment. More than 95% believe the institution they work at is well adapted to working with SEN students. In spite of the satisfaction and absence of fears, 59.5% SEN teachers have experienced verbal and non-verbal aggression from SEN students. Research limitations/implications: Such research helps to make teachers’ work with SEN children more efficient and safer. Practical implications: The study implies such research is reasonable as it obtains reliable information from teachers about what problems and events may be encountered when working with SEN students. Originality/value: The conclusions show how important the preparation for work with SEN students is. Pedagogic qualifications are insufficient, continuous improvement through training or workshops as well as contacts with other teachers from similar institutions, especially those with long experience, are important as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Medical students experience numerous demands during the education process, which determine their quality of life (QoL). In particular, the first years of medical studies are a challenge for students. This paper aims to identify and evaluate the quality of life with simultaneous assessment of their determinants in Polish medical students in Poland during longitudinal observation. Material and Methods: The authors analyzed data collected from the first follow-up of the cohort study named POLLEK (Polski Lekarz -- The Polish Physician) conducted among medical students at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. The QoL was assessed using the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Test -- Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Students were followed at 2 points of time: in their first year of studies -- the academic year 2021/2022 (T1) (N = 427), and then in their second year -- the academic year 2022/2023 (T2) (N = 335). Results: Changes in QoL indicators were analyzed using paired data. A significant decrease in the QoL scores in the somatic and psychological domain in T2 was observed, while scores in the environmental domain showed an increase by T2. In addition, it was found that better self-rated health (SRH), higher physical activity (PA), and better socioeconomic status (SES) were the key determinants of higher quality of life domains across both T1 and T2 domains. Conclusions: In conclusion, although the overall QoL remained stable throughout the observation period, the QoL in the somatic and psychological domains deteriorated among medical students between T1 and T2. However, there was a slight improvement in the environmental domain during the second year. The observations suggest that medical schools should actively promote a balance between schoolwork and the personal life of medical students, and courses on coping with difficult, stressful situations. These activities should be introduced at an early stage of medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author juxtaposes two extreme approaches to the relationship between consciousness and the physical world: phenomenological-idealistic (represented by Edmund Husserl) and radically naturalistic (represented by Paul Churchland). These two positions are interpreted in terms of opposite if symmetrical types of reduction (on the one hand, the reduction of the world to a sense for consciousness, and on the other hand, the reduction of consciousness to an element of the physical world). They emerge as two ways of abstracting from the ambivalence of ordinary experience, in which consciousness and the physical world are both mutually entangled and non-identical with each other. In conclusion, the author argues that contemporary philosophy, which follows both the idealistic and the naturalistic path, fails to solve the problem of this relationship.

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to analyse employee absences in a selected enterprise and suggest methods or solutions helping to determine the causes of absenteeism. Design/methodology/approach: Some actions intended to minimize the problem of employee absences are described. The methods of interviews, observations, and data and document reviews are applied. The impact of frequent employee absenteeism on social relations in a selected production enterprise is examined. Findings: The results confirm the levels of sudden absences are minimum in social groups characterized by strong cooperation and transparent communication among colleagues and direct supervisors. Research limitations/implications: The topic of absenteeism is a very sensitive topic. Statistical data was easy to obtain. However, during direct interviews with employees, there were people who did not want to talk and did not want to fill out surveys, which constituted minor limitations. Practical implications: The tools and methods suggested in this study provide some exceptionally useful knowledge to employers, helpful with identifying the existence and background of employee absenteeism in their organizations. Oryginality/value: Some selected practical and optimum methods of examining employee absences are presented that help to identify the causes of employee absenteeism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylcellulose polymer was used as a coating material in the preparation of controlled release fertilizers. The materials have been prepared with the use of an immersion method. The mass ratio of polymer to fertilizer was in the range of 0.165–0.285 and the layer thickness was in the range of 204–244 μm. Mechanical properties of the prepared materials were significantly better in comparison with the initial fertilizer. Measurements of time and the degree of release of mineral components from the obtained materials were determined with a standard method. Ethylcellulose-coated materials have met the requirements of controlled release fertilizers.

This paper presents the results of studies on the preparation of cellulosic membranes, from a solution in 1-ethyl-3- methylimidazolium acetate (EMIMAc), using the phase inversion method. Initially, the membranes were obtained by coagulation of the polymer film in water and primary alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol), 1-hexanol, 1-octanol) resulting in membranes with significantly differing morphologies. Subsequently, composite membranes were produced, with the support layer being a membrane with the largest pores, and the skin layer a membrane with smaller pores. The resulting membranes were tested for physicochemical and transport properties. The morphology of the membrane surfaces and their cross-sections were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The structure of the membranes, on the other hand, was investigated by FTIR spectroscopy and WAXS structural analysis.