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Joanna Narbutt,1 Janusz Krzyścin,2 Piotr Sobolewski,2 Małgorzata Skibińska,1 Marcin Noweta,1 Witold Owczarek,3 Bonawentura Rajewska-Więch,2 Aleksandra Lesiak1 1Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Oncology, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland; 2Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; 3Department of Dermatology, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, PolandCorrespondence: Janusz KrzyścinInstitute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, 01-452, PolandTel +48-2269-15950Email jkrzys@igf.edu.plBackground: Nowadays, patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis are treated with conventional immunosuppressants or with new biological agents. Phototherapy is the first-line treatment for patients in whom topical therapy is insufficient. Although numerous studies have been carried out, it is still difficult to predict the outcome of phototherapy in individual patients.Methods: Prior to standard narrow band (NB) ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy, the patients filled out a questionnaire about personal life and health status. Several standard blood tests, including selected cytokine levels, were performed before and after a course of 20 NB-UVB treatments. The questionnaire answers, results of the blood tests, and treatment outcomes were analyzed using an artificial intelligence approach—the random forest (RF) classification tool.Results: A total of 82 participants with moderate-to-severe psoriasis were enrolled. Prior to starting phototherapy, the patients with expected good outcome from the phototherapy, shorter remission, and quitting a possible second course of the NB-UVB treatment could be identified by the RF classifier with sensitivity over 84%, and accuracy of 75%, 85%, and 79%, respectively. The inclusion of cytokine data did not improve the performance of the RF classifier.Conclusion: This approach offers help in making clinical decisions by identifying psoriatic patients in whom phototherapy will significantly improve their skin, or those in whom other therapies should be recommended beforehand.Keywords: psoriasis, phototherapy, outcome prediction, artificial intelligence

Piotr Sobolewski,1,2 Waldemar Brola,1,3 Jacek Wilczyński,1 Wiktor Szczuchniak,2 Tomasz Wójcik,1 Aleksandra Wach-Klink,2 Marek Kos,2,4 Grzegorz Kozera5 1Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland; 2Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Holy Spirit Specialist Hospital in Sandomierz, Sandomierz, Poland; 3Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Saint Lukas Hospital in Końskie, Końskie, Poland; 4Department of Public Health, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland; 5Medical Simulation Center, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandCorrespondence: Piotr SobolewskiCollegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, 19 IX Wieków Kielc Str, Kielce 25-217, PolandTel +48 608510991Fax +48 158330593Email psobolewski@ujk.edu.plPurpose: The proportion of older people in Poland is higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Thus, we aimed to evaluate treatment rate and factors associated with outcome and safety of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in rural residents aged ≥ 80 years admitted to primary stroke centers.Patients and Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational cohort study of 873 patients treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in primary stroke centers between February 1, 2009 and December 31, 2017. Among them were 527 rural residents and 231 (26.5%) were ≥ 80 years of age. The analyses between rural and urban patients aged ≥ 80 and between rural patients aged < 80 and aged ≥ 80 were performed.Results: The proportion of patients aged ≥ 80 treated with rt-PA was comparable in rural and urban residents (27.9% vs 24.3% p = 0.24). Rural patients aged ≥ 80 were also characterized by lower incidence of cardiovascular risk factors and better patients’ conditions on admission to hospital. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage rate among ≥ 80-year-old stroke patients was lower in those living in rural areas than in those living in urban areas (5.4% vs 14.3%, p = 0.02); there were no differences regarding mortality and 3-month functional outcome between both populations. The older group of rural patients was characterized by a higher 3-month mortality (28.5% vs 12.6%, p < 0.001) and lower functional independence rate (34.0% vs 50.5%, p < 0.001) than rural younger patients. Antiplatelet (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.04– 5.66, p = 0.04) and anticoagulant therapy before stroke (OR 3.64, 95% CI 1.21– 10.99, p = 0.022), early ischemic changes in baseline computerized tomograprpahy (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.03– 6.82, p = 0.043) were associated with unfavorable outcome; and higher National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score on admission (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01– 1.20, p = 0.039), higher baseline count of white blood cells (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.10– 0.62, p = 0.003) were associated with mortality in rural patients over 80.Conclusion: We suggest that rural patients aged ≥ 80 may be safely treated with IVT in routine practice. However, lower efficacy and a higher mortality must be considered in former use of Vitamin K antagonist and antiplatelet or high white blood cells count.Keywords: ischemic stroke, rural patients aged ≥ 80, intravenous thrombolysis, atrial fibrillation, VKA

Hanna Pawluk,1 Grzegorz Grześk,2 Renata Kołodziejska,1 Mariusz Kozakiewicz,3 Alina Woźniak,1 Elżbieta Grzechowiak,4 Maciej Szumny,4 Piotr Sobolewski,5 Leszek Bieniaszewski,6 Grzegorz Kozera6 1Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland; 2Department of Cardiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland; 3Department of Geriatrics, Division of Biochemistry and Biogerontology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland; 4Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland; 5Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Holy Spirit Specialist Hospital in Sandomierz, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland; 6Medical Stimulation Center, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandCorrespondence: Hanna Pawluk Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of MedicineCollegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Karłowicza 24, Bydgoszcz 85– 092, PolandTel +48 52 585 37 55Email hannapawluk1@wp.plPurpose: We evaluated the relationship between pretreatment IL-6 and hsCRP levels, symptom severity and functional outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated with IV-thrombolysis.Patients and Methods: IL-6 and hsCRP samples were obtained from 83 consecutively treated Caucasian patients with AIS prior to initiation of IV-thrombolysis. Severity of stroke symptoms was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), whereas functional outcome was assessed with modified Rankin Scale (mRS). The commercially available sets of enzymatic immune tests were used to estimate the concentrations of inflammatory markers in serum.Results: Medians of IL-6 serum concentrations prior to IV-thrombolysis were lower in patients with favorable (mRS 0– 2 pts) functional outcome than in those with unfavorable (mRS 3– 6 pts) functional outcome, both at hospital dismission (5.92: 2.30– 7.71 vs 9.46: 3.79– 17.29 pg/mL; p< 0.01) and on the ninetieth day from stroke onset (5.87: 2.30– 10.58 vs 10.9: 5.94– 17.28 pg/mL; p< 0.01). There were no existing differences regarding hsCRP levels between groups (2.49: 0.11– 9.82 vs 4.44: 0.32– 9.87 mg/dL; p=0.30 and 2.57: 0.11– 2.57 vs 2.83: 0.32– 9.32 mg/dL; p=0.75, respectively). Patients with lacunar strokes were characterized by lower median of IL-6 (5.96: 2.87– 13.0% vs 7.29: 2.30– 17.28; p=< 0.02) and hsCRP (2.25: 0.11– 9.82 vs 4.84: 0.35– 9.87; p=0.01) than those with nonlacunar infarctions. Multivariate analysis showed an impact of IL-6 on mRS measured on hospital dismission and after three months, regardless of their initial NIHSS, presence of hemorrhagic transformation and type 2 diabetes. No impact of hsCRP, lacunar etiology and patients’ age on functional outcome existed.Conclusion: Regardless of the stroke etiology, pretreatment of IL-6, but not of hsCRP levels, may help to predict functional outcome after IV-thrombolysis independently of symptom severity and stroke complications.Keywords: inflammatory markers, ischemic stroke, thrombolysis, old age diseases

Waldemar Brola,1 Piotr Sobolewski,2 Małgorzata Fudala,1 Stanisław Flaga,3 Konrad Jantarski,4 Danuta Ryglewicz,5 Andrzej Potemkowski6 1Department of Neurology, Specialist Hospital, Końskie, 2Department of Neurology, Holy Spirit Specialist Hospital, Sandomierz, 3AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, 4Swietokrzyski Regional Branch of the Polish National Health Fund (NFZ), Kielce, 5First Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, 6Department of Psychology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland Background: The aim of the study was to analyze selected clinical and sociodemographic factors and their effects on the quality of life (QoL) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients registered in the Polish MS Registry.Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study performed in Poland. Data on personal and disease-specific factors were collected between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2015, via the web portal of the Polish MS Registry. All patients were assessed by a physician and asked to complete the Polish language versions of the following self-evaluation questionnaires: EuroQol 5-Dimensions, EuroQoL Visual Analog Scale, and Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale. Univariate analysis and logistic regression were performed to determine the factors associated with QoL.Results: The study included 2,385 patients (female/male ratio 2.3:1) with clinically confirmed MS (mean age 37.8±9.2 years). Average EuroQol 5-Dimensions index was 0.72±0.24, and the mean EuroQoL Visual Analog Scale score was 64.2±22.8. The average Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale score was 84.6±11.2 (62.2±18.4 for physical condition and 23.8±7.2 for mental condition). Lower QoL scores were significantly associated with higher level of disability (odds ratio [OR], 0.932; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.876–0.984; P=0.001), age >40 years (OR, 1.042; 95% CI, 0.924–1.158; P=0.012), longer disease duration (OR, 0.482; 95% CI, 0.224–0.998; P=0.042), and lack of disease modifying therapies (OR, 0.024; 95% CI, 0.160–0.835; P=0.024). No significant associations were found between QoL, sex, type of MS course, patient’s education, and marital status.Conclusion: The Polish MS Registry is the first national registry for long-term observation that allows for self-evaluation of the QoL. QoL of Polish patients with MS is significantly lower compared with the rest of the population. The parameter is mainly affected by the level of disability, duration of the disease, and limited access to immunomodulatory therapy. Keywords: multiple sclerosis, patient-reported outcomes, quality of life, Poland

Piotr Sobolewski,1 Grzegorz Kozera,2 Wiktor Szczuchniak,1 Walenty M Nyka2 1Department of Neurology and Stroke, Unit of Holy Spirit Specialist Hospital in Sandomierz, Sandomierz, Poland; 2Department of Neurology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland Introduction: Patients with ischemic stroke undergoing intravenous (iv)-thrombolysis are routinely controlled with computed tomography on the second day to assess stroke evolution and hemorrhagic transformation (HT). However, the benefits of an additional computed tomography (aCT) performed over the next days after iv-thrombolysis have not been determined.Methods: We retrospectively screened 287 Caucasian patients with ischemic stroke who were consecutively treated with iv-thrombolysis from 2008 to 2012. The results of computed tomography performed on the second (control computed tomography) and seventh (aCT) day after iv-thrombolysis were compared in 274 patients (95.5%); 13 subjects (4.5%), who died before the seventh day from admission were excluded from the analysis.Results: aCTs revealed a higher incidence of HT than control computed tomographies (14.2% vs 6.6%; P=0.003). Patients with HT in aCT showed higher median of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission than those without HT (13.0 vs 10.0; P=0.01) and higher presence of ischemic changes >1/3 middle cerebral artery territory (66.7% vs 35.2%; P1/3 middle cerebral artery (phi=0.03) existed, and the presence of HT in aCT was associated with 3-month mortality (phi=0.03).Conclusion: aCT after iv-thrombolysis enables higher detection of HT, which is related to higher 3-month mortality. Thus, patients with severe middle cerebral artery infarction may benefit from aCT in the decision-making process on the secondary prophylaxis. Keywords: ischemic stroke, iv-thrombolysis, computed tomography, hemorrhagic transformation

Introducing vegetation into towns and cities, for example through establishing green corridors which ensure a continuous character of urban green areas is a way to counteract negative effects of urban climate. The aim of the study was to assess the role of a green corridor and the contribution of vegetation to regulating the level of hourly tropospheric ozone concentrations in Legnica. Hourly values of tropospheric ozone concentrations (O3, μg m-3) and wind directions (D, °) collected between 2011 and 2014 from an urban background station for air quality monitoring of the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection were used in the study. To prepare a land cover map, data from the Database of Topographic Objects provided by the Geodesy and Cartography Department of the Marshal's Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodship were used. The estimations of frequency of hourly O3 concentrations for given seasons of the year and the analysis of land cover within 2 km from the measuring point were made based on an 8-wind compass rose. In summer, the frequency of hourly O3 concentrations was assessed for every direction and for every hour of the day. A Pearson correlation matrix was generated to illustrate the relationship between land cover type and the frequency of pollution coming from each direction, Between 21:00 and 6:00, increased frequency of hourly O3 concentrations in the 0-40 μg m-3 range coming from the southwest was recorded, which accounted for 70-90% of all concentration ranges. Correlation analyses showed a statistically significant relationship between increased high vegetation coverage and decreased frequency of hourly O3 concentrations in the 41-80 μg m-3 range. It was demonstrated that between 2011 and 2014, during summers, hourly O3 concentrations

Background The COVID-19 disease has a negative impact on the psychophysiological health of populations worldwide, including a decrease in overall physical performance and an increase in fatigue. Fatigue was one of the main symptoms reported by patients and persisted for several weeks after infection with COVID-19. Although the phenomenon of fatigue is still poorly understood, physical activity can be a supportive factor in combating feelings of fatigue and lack of energy. The purpose of this research was to assess the physical activity (PA) and fatigue levels of teachers in Poland and the United Kingdom in the first year after the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods The online research was carried out among 410 teachers from Poland and the United Kingdom. The PA level was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The level of fatigue was measured using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Results Polish teachers, regardless of sex, are more physically active (the differences relate mainly to walking and moderate activity). When assessing the level of fatigue, there is a significant difference between men and women – the former indicate a higher degree of fatigue, with the difference between the sexes being particularly large in the Polish community. Quite clearly, there is an association between less activity (except walking) and more fatigue. All models show a statistically significant effect of total fatigue on total effort. Physical activity is not very strongly correlated with age but the level of fatigue increases with age. Conclusions The problem of teacher fatigue is unfortunately widespread. They should be encouraged to engage in as much PA as possible during the day. When planning and targeting fatigue reduction campaigns, PA should be encouraged and variables such as age, sex should be taken into account. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2024;75(2):103–112

BackgroundThe use of targeted advertisements on social media platforms (eg, Facebook and Instagram) has become increasingly popular for recruiting participants for online survey research. Many of these surveys offer monetary incentives for survey completion in the form of gift cards; however, little is known about whether the incentive amount impacts the cost, speed, and quality of data collection. ObjectiveThis experiment addresses this gap in the literature by examining how different incentives in paid advertising campaigns on Instagram for completing a 10-minute online survey influence the response rate, recruitment advertising cost, data quality, and length of data collection. MethodsThis experiment tested three incentive conditions using three Instagram campaigns that were each allocated a US $1400 budget to spend over a maximum of 4 days; ads targeted users aged 15-24 years in three nonadjacent designated market areas of similar size to avoid overlapping audiences. Four ad creatives were designed for each campaign; all ads featured the same images and text, but the incentive amount varied: no incentive, US $5 gift card, and US $15 gift card. All ads had a clickable link that directed users to an eligibility screener and a 10-minute online survey, if eligible. Each campaign ran for either the full allotted time (4 days) or until there were 150 total survey completes, prior to data quality checks for fraud. ResultsThe US $15 incentive condition resulted in the quickest and cheapest data collection, requiring 17 hours and ad spending of US $338.64 to achieve 142 survey completes. The US $5 condition took more than twice as long (39 hours) and cost US $864.33 in ad spending to achieve 148 survey completes. The no-incentive condition ran for 60 hours, spending nearly the full budget (US $1398.23), and achieved only 24 survey completes. The US $15 and US $5 incentive conditions had similar levels of fraudulent respondents, whereas the no-incentive condition had no fraudulent respondents. The completion rate for the US $15 and US $5 incentive conditions were 93.4% (155/166) and 89.8% (149/166), respectively, while the completion rate for the no-incentive condition was 43.6% (24/55). ConclusionsOverall, we found that a higher incentive resulted in quicker data collection, less money spent on ads, and higher response rates, despite some fraudulent cases that had to be dropped from the sample. However, when considering the total incentive amounts in addition to the ad spending, a US $5 incentive appeared to be the most cost-effective data collection option. Other costs associated with running a campaign for a longer period should also be considered. A longer experiment is warranted to determine whether fraud varies over time across conditions.

Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy, in which a radiation source is placed directly or close to a tumor. It is commonly used to treat skin cancer, and enables precise irradiation treatment of affected area (planning target volume – PTV) while minimizing exposure dose to surrounding healthy tissue (organs at risk – OARs). Recently, the use of 3D printing has begun revolutionizing brachytherapy, as it allows manufacturing of custom-designed applicators for unique shape of skin topography, tumor, and surrounding tissues. Outcome of the combination of 3D printing and brachytherapy has several advantages over traditional treatment planning methods. Some of the advantages are intuitive, whereas others can be concluded from a literature overview as follows: 1) Possibility of developing patient-specific applicators that precisely match the shape of tumor area; 2) Reduction of the time required for applicator production, especially when custom-made devices are needed; 3) Reduction of manufacturing costs; 4) Treatment procedures improvement; 5) Improvement of safety measures accelerated by the development of smart materials (e.g., polymer filaments with admixture of heavy elements); 6) Possibility of nearly instant adjustment into tumor treatment (applicators can be changed as the tumor is changing its shape); and 7) Applicators designed to securely fit to treatment area to hold radioactive source always in the same place for each fraction. Consequently, tumor-provided dose is accurate and leads to effective treatment. In this review paper, we investigated the current state-of-the-art of the application of 3D printing in brachytherapy. A number of existing reports were chosen and reviewed in terms of printing technology, materials used, treatment effectiveness, and fabrication protocols. Furthermore, the development of future directions that should be considered by collaborative teams bridging different fields of science, such as medicine, physics, chemistry, and material science were summarized. With the indicated topics, we hope to stimulate the innovative progress of 3D printing technology in brachytherapy.

W artykule przedstawiono charakter finansów zdecentralizowanych (DeFi) jako potencjalnej alternatywy dla tradycyjnych modeli finansowania mikro- i małych przedsiębiorstw. Koncentrując się na ograniczeniach tradycyjnego systemu finansowego, wskazano główne bariery w dostępie mikro- i małych przedsiębiorstw do kapitału finansowego. Głównym celem artykułu jest analiza możliwości przeprowadzenia eksperymentu ekonomicznego badającego czy podejście oparte na zdecentralizowanych finansach może stać się rozwiązaniem zwiększającym dostępność mikro- i małych przedsiębiorstw do kapitału finansowego. Wyniki tego eksperymentu będą mogły w przyszłości stać się przyczynkiem do dalszej dyskusji oraz przeprowadzenia szerokich badań ilościowych.

Abstract Background The vast majority of people have experienced the problem of back pain at least once in their lives for a variety of reasons. It is well known that regular physical activity at a moderate level has a number of health benefits regardless of age or gender with positive effects on the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory or nervous systems improving fitness levels. During the pandemic, Poland experienced one of the longest periods of school lockdown in Europe. In Portugal, this period was considerably shorter. The aim of this study was to determine the level of physical activity and back pain as well as relationship between physical activity and back pain in a group of Polish and Portuguese students in the following year the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The study was conducted via the Internet among students from Poland and Portugal (398 respondents − 229 from Poland and 169 from Portugal) in October 2022. In the pilot study, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and The Oswestry Disability Index and Neck Disability Index questionnaires were used to assess the level of back pain. Results There are no statistically significant differences in the level of physical activity and pain complaints of respondents from the two countries. At least half of the students do not report any pain complaints (median in some groups being 0). In the Portuguese men, there is a correlation between the level of physical activity and the Neck Disability Index score (p = 0.0304). Conclusions The following year, after the pandemic COVID-19 was declared, the prevalence of back pain among students in Poland and Portugal is still significant.

Broadly, understood additive manufacturing techniques expand the spectrum of production of machine parts that are used in various types of devices. However, the requirements to ensure dimensional and shape accuracy require the determination of appropriate material allowances or clearances to enable correct assembly. For the above reasons, the study presents an analysis of the impact of the assumed geometry modifications on the possibility of assembling a splined connection manufactured using selected AM techniques. The work focused on the analysis of changes in geometry resulting from the technology used. Using the Atos II Triple Scan optical measurement system and Gom Inspect software, the possibility of installation was determined for four variants of the splined shaft connection geometry, resulting from the technologies used.

This article uses the inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging method to present real-world tests on 3-D radar imaging of noncooperative air targets. Initially, the fundamentals of 3-D ISAR are introduced. This is followed by a discussing of the challenges of obtaining high-quality 3-D radar images. An essential feature of the applied method is its basis on the back-projection family of techniques, eliminating the need for iterative image reconstruction. These theoretical concepts are validated using both simulations and real-life signals. This article also provides insights into the measurement campaign and the signal processing techniques applied to achieve the presented results.

Objective: Breast conserving surgery is an excellent option in the treatment of breast cancer. To achieve a good result with this modality, a surgeon needs to identify and excise the tumor with adequate margins. The radiofrequency identification (RFID) technique is a wireless localization technique used for intraoperative breast lesion identification. We assessed the efficacy and outcomes of the RFID technique in breast cancer patients at our institution. Materials and Methods: This is a single institution, retrospective study (BSMH 22-02X-MWH) of 73 patients. We analyzed the medical records of women with biopsy-proven breast cancer from June 2020 to August 2022; participants received surgical care at Mercy Health West Hospital. Data collected included demographics, clinicopathological characteristics, and surgical procedure. The primary objective was to determine the safety and efficacy of RFID. The secondary objective was to assess the impact of obesity and breast density on the RFID outcomes. Results: A total of 73 female patients met the eligibility criteria with stage I (59%) and grade 1 (51%) breast cancer with mean age of at diagnosis of 66.8 years and mean body mass index of 31.4 kg/m2. Patients had invasive ductal carcinoma (61%), hormonal positive (56%), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (68%) disease. All RFID tags were placed under image guidance with 100% accuracy of placement with no evidence of migration or procedure revision. Ninety percent of patients had free surgical margins and only seven patients needed margin re-excision with successful removal of the lesion and the tag. Conclusion: RFID localization technique is a safe, effective and reliable procedure that results in favorable patient outcomes and quality of life.

Abstract Photobiomodulation (PBM), the process of exposing tissue to red or near-infrared light, has become a topic of great interest as a therapy for diverse pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we aimed to evaluate the potential beneficial effect of PBM on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using behavioral and histological readouts from a well-established transgenic murine AD model (5xFAD mice) in a randomized and fully blinded long-term in-vivo study following GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) guidelines. The heads of the mice were illuminated with no (sham), low or high power 810 nm light, three times a week for 5 months from the first to the sixth month of life corresponding to the prodromal phase of the pathology. The results showed that there were no significant differences between the groups in behavioral tests, including the Morris water maze, novel object recognition, and Y-maze. Similarly, histological analyses showed no differences in amyloid load, neuronal loss or microglial response. In conclusion, under the conditions of our experiment, we were unable to demonstrate any therapeutic effect of PBM for AD. This study calls for further evidence and caution when considering PBM as an effective treatment for AD.

Prior to training, many athletes perform different soft-tissue preparation protocols. Many of these protocols involve stretching, foam rolling, and/or percussion massage. Many of these modalities have been studied, but not as a group to observe muscle alterations and differences in males and females. In total, 40 (20 males, 20 females) participants performed five minutes of static stretching, foam rolling, and percussion massage. Pre- and post-isometric leg strength, muscle activation and ultrasound assessments (cross-sectional area, echo intensity, pennation angle, fascicle length, and muscle thickness) were taken. The results indicate that there is no significant difference among modalities, and that they do not significantly alter any muscle characteristic or improve performance. There is a significant difference in size between males and female, with males having larger muscle and greater pennation angles than females. This allows males to generate significantly more muscle force. However, they both respond similarly to each modality. In conclusion, the muscle response to static stretching, foam rolling, and percussion massage do not differ among modalities and do not contribute to an increase or decrease in maximal isometric knee extension with similar effects between males and females.

Background: In the contemporary world, a cult of perfection is being created, and deviations from such an ideal image are becoming socially unacceptable. A particular situation arises when a defect or symptoms of a disease appear on the skin, which, in the case of people suffering from psoriasis, are a source of stress, dissatisfaction with the disease, and a reduction in quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess whether the quality of life related to the occurrence of psoriasis and the level of acceptance of the disease affect coping strategies in stressful situations. Methods: The study involved 111 people with common psoriasis (46.8% women and 53.2% men). Inclusion criteria were as follows: a diagnosis of common psoriasis for at least 0.5 years, no other types of psoriasis, no mental illnesses, and an informed consent of the respondent to participate in the study. In order to compile the research input, a proprietary questionnaire was used along with the following standardised tools: the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Results: The duration of the disease in the studied population varied and ranged from 0.5 years to over 50 years. Most respondents showed relatively low DLQI scores, with an average value of 10.8 points. In stressful situations (CISS), the respondents primarily used a strategy based on rational thinking (Task-oriented coping), with approximately 54 points on average; followed by an avoidant style (Avoidance-oriented coping), with approximately 50 points on average; and least often an emotional style (Emotion-oriented coping), with approximately 46 points on average. The average level of disease acceptance (AIS) in the studied group equalled approximately 26 points. Conclusions: Psoriatic lesions on the torso caused less rational behaviour in stressful situations (a decrease in the Task-oriented coping) in women but had the opposite result in men, whereas psoriatic lesions on the head stimulated the use of Task-oriented coping in women but had the opposite result in men. The higher the acceptance of the disease (AIS) presented by the respondents, the less often they used an emotional strategy (Emotion-oriented coping) in stressful situations. The higher the quality of life (DLQI) was, the lower the values of Emotion-oriented coping were noted.

Air pollution (AP) exposures have been associated with autism (ASD), schizophrenia (SCZ), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), male-biased neurodevelopmental disorders that are linked to alterations in brain fronto-striatal neurotransmitter systems. The current study sought to assess how developmental exposures of mice to inhaled ambient ultrafine particle (UFP) air pollution, considered its most reactive component, alters fronto-striatal functional correlations. Mice were exposed via inhalation to concentrated ambient UFPs from postnatal days (PND) 4–7 and 10–13. Frontal cortex, striatum, and serum were collected at PND14 and PND50 to evaluate both acute and persistent effects. UFP-induced changes, more extensive and persistent in males, included elimination of frontal cortical kynurenine correlations with striatal neurotransmitter function, persistent immunosuppression of approximately 50%, and striatal neurotransmitter turnover correlations with serum corticosterone. More limited effects in females did not show persistence. Collectively, these findings depict an apparently physiologically-integrated UFP-induced persistent male-biased vulnerability to brain fronto-striatal system dysfunction that could contribute to behavioral deficits associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Further studies are needed to ascertain the interactive physiological mechanisms of male fronto-striatal vulnerability and their relation to behavioral impairments, mechanisms of apparent female compensation, and specific contaminants of AP that underlie this vulnerability.

In this paper, we have researched implementing convolutional neural network (CNN) models for devices with limited resources, such as smartphones and embedded computers. To optimize the number of parameters of these models, we studied various popular methods that would allow them to operate more efficiently. Specifically, our research focused on the ResNet-101 and VGG-19 architectures, which we modified using techniques specific to model optimization. We aimed to determine which approach would work best for particular requirements for a maximum accepted accuracy drop. Our contribution lies in the comprehensive ablation study, which presents the impact of different approaches on the final results, specifically in terms of reducing model parameters, FLOPS, and the potential decline in accuracy. We explored the feasibility of implementing architecture compression methods that can influence the model’s structure. Additionally, we delved into post-training methods, such as pruning and quantization, at various model sparsity levels. This study builds upon our prior research [1] to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter at hand.

IntroductionThe complexity of the associations between religiosity and indicators of well-being suggests the presence of a mediating mechanism. Previous studies indicate that religion may influence subjective well-being because it helps to find meaning and purpose. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the mediating role of the presence and search dimensions of meaning in life in the relationship between religious meaning system and life satisfaction in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 600 MS patients recruited from Poland who completed the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Religious Meaning System Questionnaire (RMS) and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). Model 6 of Hayes PROCESS was used to test the hypotheses.ResultsThe results of our research indicate that there was a significant indirect effect of religious meaning system on life satisfaction through the presence of meaning in life. The specific indirect effect of religious meaning system on life satisfaction through searching for meaning in life was not significant.DiscussionThe results of our study are relevant because they show that religion as a meaning system is positively related to the presence of meaning in life, which in turn positively predicts life satisfaction. This is particularly important in the case of incurable illness, where finding meaning in life is one of the natural stages of adaptation. By incorporating these findings into mental health practice, professionals can enhance the holistic well-being of people coping with MS and contribute to a more comprehensive and effective approach to mental health care.

Purpose: Movement integration (MI) is a method to increase physical activity with numerous learning outcomes. However, MI implementation is low. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a job-embedded professional development intervention on teachers' MI barriers. An implementation science approach was used. Methods: The intervention was developed and delivered through six procedures. Mixed-methods data were used to develop the intervention and assess outcomes. The intervention was delivered over 3 weeks to 12 participants. Results: Reported barriers included time constraints, lack of space, fear of losing control, and limited confidence and competence. Results indicated a significant increase in teachers' self-reported MI use from pre- to postimplementation (Z = -2.138, p = 0.0165, r = 0.6), improved confidence (p = 0.048), and a strong positive correlation ([tau][subscript b] = 0.627, p = 0.018) between confidence and competence. Conclusion: Job-embedded professional development may be an effective strategy to support teachers in overcoming barriers to MI.

Ludwig Henry Bojanus was born on 16 July 1776 in Buchsweiler, Alsace. After studying in Jena and Vienna, L. H. Bojanus enrolled at the University of Jena for his doctoral studies. Bojanus’s scientific activities are closely associated with Vilnius, where he was a professor of veterinary medicine from 1806 (he was elected to this position in 1804). In 1815, he became a professor of comparative anatomy. These were the times of the greatest flourishing of Vilnius University, where the foundations of modern Polish science were being laid. At Vilnius University, he established a technical and anatomical-pathological office for the zoo, a veterinary clinic and a model forge for shoeing horses in 1823. Bojanus founded a veterinary school in Vilnius and drew up a plan for a veterinary institute, which was not opened until 1832, simultaneously with the opening of the medico-surgical academy. He became known as one of Europe’s most prominent anatomists and zoologists. A lasting memorial to the scientist is the monograph “Anatomy of the Tortoise”, which many scholars still point to today as a model of accurate and precise anatomical research. He was the first to identify the anatomical differences between the European bison (Bos bonasus) and the aurochs (Bos primigenius). In his lectures on comparative anatomy, Bojanus presented the principle of uninterrupted development. He can be described as one of the most decisive and consistent evolutionists before Darwin. He died in 1827.