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Forestry in Poland finds itself currently at a crossroads. On the one hand, there is powerful social pressure and concern for sustainable development and landscape assets of forests, while on the other hand, the output function is still important. Forest complexes are a crucial element contributing to the esthetic value of landscapes. The esthetic and landscape assets of forests at a regional or local level are determined by numerous elements. Examples of measures at the regional level are afforestation programs, while at the local level, one of the most important factors influencing the landscape is the extent of clear-cut areas or the increase in the proportion/use of natural regeneration. Forest management must take into account the multifaceted role of forests, in which the landscape function is extremely important. Allowing for a variety of ecosystem services that forests supply can contribute to minimizing the risk of potential conflicts whilst maximizing the benefits derived from forest ecosystems by different stakeholder groups. The aim of this paper is to present the results of a literature review relating to the impact of forest management (with its tools) on ecologic and esthetic landscape values at both regional and local levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing population of urban areas results in the need to deal with the noise pollution from the transportation system. This study presents experimental test results of static and dynamic elastic characteristics of under slab mats (USMs) according to the procedure of DIN 45673-7. Prototype USMs based on recycled elastomeric materials, i.e., SBR granules and fibres produced from waste car tires, are analysed. Vibration isolation mats with different thicknesses (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 mm), densities (500 and 600 kg/m3), and different degrees of space filling (no holes, medium holes, large holes) are considered. Moreover, a practical application of the laboratory test results of USMs in the design of ballastless track structures of two different types (with a concrete slab and longitudinal beams) is presented. Deflections of the rail and the floating slab system, as well as stresses acting on the mat, are determined according to EN 16432-2. The use of shredded rubber from recycled car tires as a material component of sustainable and environmentally friendly tram track structures may be one of the most effective ways to manage rubber waste within the current trend toward a circular economy, and this study intends to introduce methods for experimental identification and analytical selection of basic static and dynamic parameters of prototype USMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common causes of dementia, accounting for more than 60% of all cases. It is a neurodegenerative disease in which symptoms such as a decline in memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills develop gradually over many years and eventually become more severe. To date, there is no effective treatment for the cause of Alzheimer's disease, and the existing pharmacological options primarily help manage symptoms. Treatment is mainly based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors such as donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine, which exhibit numerous adverse cardiovascular and gastrointestinal effects due to excessive stimulation of peripheral cholinergic activity involving muscarinic receptors. Therefore, in addition to the obvious drugs that act on the cause of the disease, new drugs based on AChE inhibition that show the fewest side effects are needed. One potential drug could be a new compound under study, tetrahydroacridine derivative (CHDA), which showed significant potential to inhibit the AChE enzyme in previous in vitro studies. The present study shows that while having very potent AChE inhibitory properties, CHDA is a compound with low toxicity to nerve cell culture and living organisms. In addition, it exhibits dissociative activity against amyloid β fibrils, which is extremely important for applications in Alzheimer's disease therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of differently structured organic materials, such as low-weight dyes, macromolecular chains, or those functionalized by metal ions, have been widely investigated and are crucial for various applications in fields such as photonics, optical sensing, and data transmission. In this study, we explore the use of a 1,3,5-triazine core for constructing new azo/stilbene-based octupolar NLO chromophores (NLOPhores) and investigate their linear, second-order, and third-order NLO properties. Specifically, we examine their all-optical switching, causing remote optical anisotropy of the refractive index through the global re-ordering of photochromic molecules in host–guest polymeric thin films using the Optical Kerr effect. Additionally, NLOPhores were analyzed experimentally using the Z-scan methodology, as well as the comparative techniques defining the second and third harmonics of light generation (SHG and THG). These comprehensive studies demonstrate the significant potential of azo/stilbene-based octupolar chromophores with an embedded 1,3,5-triazine core in optoelectronics and quantum optics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Civil Engineering (Polish Academy of Sciences) is the property of Polish Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study investigates the usage of a novel natural dye derived from red algae of Morocco in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for the first time. The main pigments responsible for sensitizing the semiconductor TiO2 coatings in the red algae were identified as phycoerythrin, carotenoid, and chlorophyll. The efficiency of a DSSC made from red algae was compared to that of a solar cell made from chlorophyll alone. The photovoltaic performance of the DSSC was evaluated through photocurrent density to photovoltage (J-V) characteristic analysis, and the efficiency was found to be 0.93%. To gain insights into its behavior, the absorbance and photoluminescence in a broad range were studied. Both absorbance and photoluminescence exhibited a broad-spectrum range. Additionally, electronic properties, such as HOMO, LUMO, energy gap, and chemical reactivity parameters, were studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented research explores the relationship between intrinsic and materialistic goals and activist identity and commitment, and whether this relationship is moderated by participation in a mass gathering. Six studies were conducted (n = 997). These included participants of mass gatherings for diverse purposes, for example, minority rights demonstrations and religious gatherings (Studies 1–4), as well as participants from the general population (Studies 5 and 6). The results of regression analysis and meta‐analysis showed that the pursuit of both intrinsic and materialistic goals predicts activist identity and commitment. Regardless of whether respondents were involved in a mass gathering during the study or not, and regardless of the cause of the gathering, community feeling—an intrinsic goal—was consistently a positive significant predictor of activist identity and commitment (Study 1–6). However, for respondents who were not involved in a mass gathering during the study, popularity—a materialistic goal – also emerged as an important positive predictor of activist identity and commitment (Study 5 and 6). Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restoration of blood flow to the ischemic myocardium inflicts ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) heart injury (IRI). The main contributors to IRI are increased oxidative stress and subsequent excessive production of ROS, increased expression of NOS and peroxinitate, activation of MMPs, and enhanced posttranslational modifications of contractile proteins, which make them more susceptible to proteolytic degradation. Since the pathophysiology of IRI is a complex issue, and thus, various therapeutic strategies are required to prevent or reduce IRI and microvascular dysfunction, in the current study we proposed an innovative multi-drug therapy using low concentrations of drugs applied intracoronary to reach microvessels in order to stabilize the pro- and antioxidant balance during a MI in an in vivo pig model. The ability of a mixture of doxycycline (1 μM), ML-7 (0.5 μM), and L-NAME (2 μM) to modulate the pro- and antioxidative balance was tested in the left ventricle tissue and blood samples. Data showed that infusion of a MIX reduced the total oxidative status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and malondialdehyde (MDA). It also increased the total antioxidant capacity, confirming its antioxidative properties. MIX administration also reduced the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and then decreased the release of MLC1 and BNP-26 into plasma. This study demonstrated that intracoronary administration of low concentrations of doxycycline in combination with ML-7 and L-NAME is incredibly efficient in regulating pro- and antioxidant balance during MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Civil Engineering (Polish Academy of Sciences) is the property of Polish Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The 2,4,5-Triphenyl Imidazole (TPI) C21H16N2 samples were deposited as thin film by means of the physical vapor deposition (PVD) on glass and silicon substrates. As well as, three solutions with different concentrations using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent. The physical properties of all samples were investigated using different techniques. The thin film's morphology was examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the sample on silicon substrates, revealing a highly rough surface. The optical characteristics of both the thin film on glass substrate, the solutions, and the powder were studied through transmittance and absorbance measurements, which helped determine a value of the band gap of 3.45 eV. Photoluminescence and thermal photoluminescence spectroscopy showed the high emission of the material in its different aspects. Theoretical simulations of the HOMO–LUMO gap and electronic absorption spectra were obtained using the density functional theory (DFT) approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The fact that during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, myosin light chain 1 (MLC1) and troponin I (TnI) are degraded by matrix metalloproteases activity has already been well established in both in vitro and ex vivo studies. However, I/R injury is a complex issue based on several overlapping mechanisms. Increased activity of myosin light chain kinase and nitric oxide synthase due to oxidative stress leads to post-translational modifications of MLC1, thus leading to the increased degradation of these proteins. Methods: Wistar rats were subjected to left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. To measure the pharmacological effect of doxycycline, transthoracic echocardiography as well as biochemical tests, concentrations of TnI, LDH, MLC1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were performed. Gelatinize activity and cytotoxicity level were also assessed; Results: I.p., administration of doxycycline before LAD occlusion surgery increased TnI and LDH content in the heart and decreased cytotoxicity. A reduction of MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentration and MMP-2 activity after administration of Doxy was also observed, as well as improvement in echocardiographic parameters just 7 days after surgery. Conclusions: Inhibition of MMPs by doxycycline, in vivo, may serve as a protective agent in future therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specifying the role of genetic mutations in cancer development is crucial for effective screening or targeted treatments for people with hereditary cancer predispositions. Our goal here is to find the relationship between a number of cancerogenic mutations and the probability of cancer induction over the lifetime of cancer patients. We believe that the Avrami–Dobrzyński biophysical model can be used to describe this mechanism. Therefore, clinical data from breast and ovarian cancer patients were used to validate this model of cancer induction, which is based on a purely physical concept of the phase-transition process with an analogy to the neoplastic transformation. The obtained values of model parameters established using clinical data confirm the hypothesis that the carcinogenic process strongly follows fractal dynamics. We found that the model's theoretical prediction and population clinical data slightly differed for patients with the age below 30 years old, and that might point to the existence of an ancillary protection mechanism against cancer development. Additionally, we reveal that the existing clinical data predict breast or ovarian cancers onset two years earlier for patients with BRCA1/2 mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The almost unlimited possibilities of modern computational tools create the temptation to study phenomena related to the operation of engineering objects exclusively using complex numerical simulations. However, the fascination with multi-parametric complex computational models, whose solutions are obtained using iterative techniques, may result in qualitative discrepancies between reality and virtual simulations. The need to verify on real objects the conclusions obtained from numerical calculations is therefore indisputable. The enormous cost and uniqueness of large-scale test stands significantly limit the possibility of conducting tests under real conditions. The solution may be an experiment focused on testing features relevant to the given task, while minimising the dimensions of the objects under consideration. Such conditions led to the concept of conducting a series of field experiments to verify the effectiveness of prototype track components, which were developed using numerical simulations to reduce the noise caused by passing trains. The main aim of this study is to examine the acoustic efficiency of prototype porous concrete sound absorbing panels, in relation to the ballasted and ballastless track structures. Presented results of the proposed unconventional experiments carried out on an improvised test stand using the recorded acoustic signals confirm the effectiveness of the developed vibroacoustic isolators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article covers selected properties of organic–inorganic thin films of hybrid perovskites with the summary formulas CH3NH3MI3, where M = Pb, Cd, Ge, Sn, Zn. The paper discusses not only the history, general structure, applications of perovskites and the basics of the theory of nonlinear optics, but also the results of experimental research on their structural, spectroscopic, and nonlinear optical properties. The samples used in all presented studies were prepared in the physical vapor deposition process by using co-deposition from two independent thermal sources containing the organic and inorganic parts of individual perovskites. Ultimately, thin layers with a thickness of the order of nanometers were obtained on glass and crystalline substrates. Their structural properties were characterized by atomic force microscopy imaging. Spectroscopic tests were used to confirm the tested films' transmission quality and determine previously unknown physical parameters, such as the absorption coefficient and refractive index. Experimental results of the nonlinear optical properties were obtained by studying the second and third harmonic generation processes and using initial sample polarization in the so-called Corona poling process. The obtained experimental results allowed us to determine the second- and third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of the tested materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elaboration and characterization of Cz-P(2,7) in solution and as thin films are the main topics of this work based on a carbazole unit for perovskite solar cells. Our study focuses on studying optical properties. The elaboration of thin films was performed using sol–gel spin-coating onto a glass substrate. Thin films deposited from different solvents were characterized by UV−vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The absorption maxima of the investigated compounds are not significantly shifted with different solvents. The result of photoluminescence shows a green-yellow emission. The optical studies revealed that the investigated material can be a promising material for the development of perovskite solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to propose a model of risk factors for adolescent materialism related to insecurity feeling from parents and peers. Teenagers aged 13–16 were surveyed. The results of the study showed a good fit for the tested model of the sources of materialism linked to insecurity feeling. Parental emotional support, occurrence of threatening events in the life of the teenager and peer pressure were important predictors of teen materialism. Peer pressure mediated the relationship between parental support, both emotional and material, and teen materialism. The assumed effect of peer pressure mediation in the relationship between peer to peer consumer communication and teen materialism was not confirmed while a direct relationship between peer to peer consumer communication and adolescent materialism was observed. In conclusion, the results of the presented study indicate that the simultaneous occurrence of the three: lack of parental support, occurrence of life-threatening events, and peer pressure constitutes a risk factor of adolescent materialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) was introduced in Poland over 200 years ago, and its distribution area now covers the whole country, with the highest concentration of occurrence in the western part. Breeding of this species has been started in Poland for about 20 years, albeit on a limited scale, and two selected seed stands, 34 plus trees and two seed orchards have been registered. So far, selection efforts have not been coupled with the recognition of variation in the genetic structure of local populations. To fill the knowledge gap on genetic diversity, we selected the seven qualitatively best populations of R. pseudoacacia for our study. To clarify the origin of the Polish population of R. pseudoacacia, a sample from a seed stand in eastern Germany and from a seed orchard with Hungarian clones from the Oborniki Śląskie Forest District was added. In this study, three microsatellites were used to evaluate genotypes: Rops15, Rops16 and Rops18, with the Rops15 locus (motif AG) showing hypermutability. Moderate or high variability was observed in all microsatellite loci examined, with a total of 27 alleles identified. In all stands, the average observed number of alleles per locus was higher than the average effective number of alleles per locus. Three main clusters have been identified in the genetic structure of the population, one of which is represented by the population from the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Zielona Góra. The second group comprised the populations from Mieszkowice, the populations Pińczów and Wołów, and the population from Germany. The last one included population from Strzelce and Oborniki Śląskie, where the population from Hungary is represented. This may be of great importance for practice. Perhaps it is worth postulating the separation of two seed regions. Under most scenarios, climate change is projected to change the distribution of forest types and tree species in all biomes. It can be assumed that the importance of black locust in times of climate change is likely to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global material wealth rises and young people are heavily exposed to advertising across a range of channels, including rapidly developing social media where material goods are flaunted as symbols of a happy and successful lifestyle, materialism levels across the world seem likely to rise. Given consistent research showing the correlation between materialism and low well-being, this gives cause for concern. However, no studies have so far tested whether current measures of youth materialism are generalizable across different countries and cultures. Our article fills this gap by exploring through a range of internal and external validity tests whether the popular Youth Materialism Scale (YMS) can be used with confidence across China, France, Belgium, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We show that a 5-item version of YMS is invariant across the countries (internal validity) and that it broadly correlates in expected ways with six different theoretically related constructs: Self-Esteem, Life Satisfaction, Attitude to Advertising, Parental Support, TV Use, and Internet Use (external validity). We believe that researchers and policy makers can confidently use this 5-item version of the scale in international contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) of the heart involves the activation of oxidative and proapoptotic pathways. Simultaneously Klotho protein presents anti-aging, antiapoptotic and antioxidative properties. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of Klotho protein on oxidative stress in hearts subjected to IRI. Isolated rat hearts perfused with the Langendorff method were subjected to ischemia, followed by reperfusion, in the presence or absence of recombinant rat Klotho protein. The factors involved in the activation of insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R)/phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signalling pathway were evaluated. IRI caused activation of the IGF1R (p = 0.0122)/PI3K (p = 0.0022) signalling, as compared to the aerobic control group. Infusion supply of Klotho protein during IRI significantly reduced the level of phospho-IGF1R (p = 0.0436), PI3K (p = 0.0218) and phospho-AKT (p = 0.0020). Transcriptional activity of forkhead box protein O3 (FOXO3) was reduced (p = 0.0207) in hearts subjected to IRI, compared to aerobic control. Administration of Klotho decreased phosphorylation of FOXO3 (p = 0.0355), and enhanced activity of glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.0452) and superoxide dismutase (p = 0.0060) in IRI + Klotho group. The levels of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) (p = 0.0480) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (p = 0.0460), and heart injury (p = 0.0005) were significantly increased in hearts from the IRI group in comparison to the aerobic group. Klotho reduced NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) (p = 0.0390), ROS/RNS (p = 0.0435) and H2O2 (p = 0.0392) levels, and heart damage (p = 0.0286) in the hearts subjected to IRI. In conclusion, Klotho contributed to the protection of the heart against IRI and oxidative stress via inhibition of the IGF1R/PI3K/AKT pathway, thus can be recognized as a novel cardiopreventive/cardioprotective agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The melt-quenching technique was used to prepare strontium phosphate glasses with bismuth oxide. The impact of replacing Bi3+ with Sr2+ on density (d), molar volume (Vm), and glass transition temperature (Tg) was investigated. The FTIR spectra revealed that the structural units of the samples consisted of [BiO3], [BiO6], [PO3], and [PO4]. UV-visible spectroscopy was used to study the optical transmittance, energy band gap (Eopt), and Urbach energy (Etail). The Wemple-Didomenico model successfully described the dispersive behavior of the refractive index. Impedance spectroscopy is utilized to determine the electrical and dielectric properties. The AC conductivity followed Jonscher's universal power law, and it was observed that as the concentration of Bi2O3 increased, the frequency exponent (s) decreased. The dielectric constant (ϵ') and dielectric loss (tan δ) were found to be frequency and composition dependent. The parameters describing the dispersion of dielectric constant are obtained through the Cole-Davidson relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transplanted organs are subjected to harmful conditions through stopping blood flow, hypothermic storage of the graft, and subsequent reperfusion. In particular, kidneys donated from patients after cardiac arrest (DCD) are classified as more vulnerable to ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI). Hypothermic machine perfusion is proposed as a solution for better kidney storage before transplantation, and it is a good platform for additional graft treatment. Antioxidants have gained interest in regenerative medicine due to their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play a key role in IRI. We evaluated the effect of Mitoquinone (MitoQ), a strong mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, administered directly to the perfusing buffer. Rat kidneys were isolated, randomly classified into one of the following groups, donation after brainstem death (DBD), DCD, and DCD with MitoQ, and perfused for 22 hours with a hypothermic machine perfusion system. Subsequently, we detected levels of kidney injury (KIM-1) and oxidative stress (ROS/RNS, cytochrome C oxidase, and mitochondrial integrity) markers. We compared the activation of the apoptosis pathway (caspase 3 and 9), the concentration of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt), and the pAkt/total Akt ratio. MitoQ reduces KIM-1 concentration, total ROS/RNS, and the level of caspases. We observed a decrease in pAkt and the pAkt/total Akt ratio after drug administration. The length of warm ischemia time negatively impacts the graft condition. However, MitoQ added to the perfusing system as an 'on pump' therapy mitigates injury to the kidney before transplantation by inhibiting apoptosis and reducing ROS/RNS levels. We propose MitoQ as a potential drug for DCD graft preconditioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Civil Engineering (Polish Academy of Sciences) is the property of Polish Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this work, we explore a new experimental study of Barium oxide (BaO) thin films, fabricated using the physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique on both glass and silicon substrates. The BaO thin films have emerged as highly adaptable materials with immense potential across multiple technological domains. The investigation focuses on the morphological, optical, and electrical properties of BaO thin films to determine their potential for various applications. These films, consistently tailored to a thickness of 100 nm, exhibit exceptional optical properties, boasting an impressive transmittance rate of up to 90%. This makes them exceptionally well-suited for applications that demand superior optical transmission, such as flat-panel displays, photovoltaic devices, and various optoelectronic applications. The films' low roughness values, measured at 6.31 nm for glass-deposited films and 13.32 nm for silicone-deposited ones, underscore their uniformity, ensuring stable and precise performance control in diverse applications. Further underscoring their versatility is the wide energy gap of 2.93 eV, suggesting their potential utility in advanced optoelectronic devices that require higher energy levels. In addition to their optical prowess, BaO thin films exhibit impressive electrical resistance, measuring at 3.3 × 108 ohms, rendering them promising candidates for specialized applications, including pressure and humidity sensors, as well as electrical insulation devices. Overall, these films represent an exciting avenue for addressing specific technological needs and driving innovation in the realm of thin film technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel experimental investigation of photoluminescence properties of Znq2 thin films co-doped with different concentrations of DCM were performed. The thin films were successfully deposited on glass substrates with different compositions, under high vacuum, by using the vacuum evaporation technique. For all compositions, the photoluminescence was measured at room temperature and also at low temperature in a wide range from 77 to 300 K with a step of 25 K in a high vacuum. The lifetime of the sample studied in real time was also measured using the decay time technique. The results obtained confirm that the doping influences the intensity of the DCM photoluminescence and also shows a complete energy transfer occurred from Znq2 to DCM which may have shifted the photoluminescence peak from Znq2 to the orange wavelength region which is related to DCM. The lifetime of the sample studied in real time was about 4.47 ns for Znq2 and while all the other samples showed two decay time components. As a result, the doping influences the optical properties of Znq2 and makes it a potential candidate for optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new tetrahydroacridine derivative (CHDA) with acetylcholinesterase inhibitory properties was synthesized. Using a range of physicochemical techniques, it was shown that the compound strongly adsorbs onto the surface of planar macroscopic or nanoparticulate gold, forming a nearly full monolayer. The adsorbed CHDA molecules reveal well-defined electrochemical behavior, being irreversibly oxidized to electroactive species. The CHDA also exhibits strong fluorescence, which is effectively quenched after adsorption onto gold via a static quenching mechanism. Both CHDA and its conjugate reveal considerable inhibitory properties against acetylcholinesterase activity, which is promising from the perspective of therapeutic application in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, both agents appear to be non-toxic as demonstrated using in vitro studies. On the other hand, conjugation of CHDA with nanoradiogold particles (Au-198) offers new potential diagnostic perspectives in medical imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Civil Engineering (Polish Academy of Sciences) is the property of Polish Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the study was to explore the factors that could alleviate the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on employee life satisfaction. We analyzed personal resources such as belief in free will and self-evaluated work efficiency, as well as condition and energy resources related to working conditions (i.e., employment stability, remuneration, and change on mode of work) as moderators of the relationship between COVID-19 fear and COVID-19 worries and life satisfaction. The results showed that life satisfaction among employees was negatively associated with COVID-19 worries, belief in free will and remuneration level. However, it was not associated with COVID-19 fear. The results also indicate that belief in free will may be a personal resource that increases life satisfaction only when the level of this arousal is low in the case of worries of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischaemia, followed by reperfusion, causes the generation of reactive oxygen species, overproduction of peroxynitrite, activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and subsequently the degradation of heart contractile proteins in the cardiomyocytes. Klotho is a membrane-bound or soluble protein that regulates mineral metabolism and has antioxidative activity. This study aimed to examine the influence of Klotho protein on the MMP-mediated degradation of contractile proteins during ischaemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) to the cardiomyocytes. Human cardiac myocytes (HCM) underwent in vitro chemical IRI (with sodium cyanide and deoxyglucose), with or without the administration of recombinant Klotho protein. The expression of MMP genes, the expression and activity of MMP proteins, as well as the level of contractile proteins such as myosin light chain 1 (MLC1) and troponin I (TnI) in HCM were measured. Administration of Klotho protein resulted in a decreased activity of MMP-2 and reduced the release of MLC1 and TnI that followed in cells subjected to IRI. Thus, Klotho protein contributes to the inhibition of MMP-dependent degradation of contractile proteins and prevents injury to the cardiomyocytes during IRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, experiential purchases have been found to make people happier than material purchases. However, previous research has ignored a crucial issue—the importance of the brand and the consumer−brand relationship in this context. Since many purchases are associated with a brand and the brand is often the main motivation for the purchase, we argue that researchers should include the consumer−brand relationship in studies on the effects of material versus experiential consumption on happiness. Building on the social exchange theory, the current research examines the moderating role of consumers' tendency to include brands as part of the self in the relationship between purchase type and happiness. Across three studies, using different methods (a comparative survey: N1 = 422 individuals; two experiments: N2 = 206 and N3 = 177 individuals), we found that individuals with high levels of brand engagement in self‐concept (BESC) derive similar levels of purchase‐related happiness from experiential and material purchases, while individuals with low levels of BESC find more purchase‐related happiness in experiential than in material purchases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agronomy Science is the property of University of Life Sciences in Lublin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is accompanied by an increase of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) activity, which degrades heart contractile proteins. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of MMP-2 small interfering RNA (MMP-2 siRNA) administration on I/R heart. Isolated rat hearts perfused by the Langendorff method were subjected to I/R in the presence or absence of MMP-2 siRNA. The hemodynamic parameters of heart function were monitored. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was measured in coronary effluents. Activity and concentration of MMPs in the hearts were measured. Concentration of troponin I (TnI) in coronary effluents was examined as a target for MMP-2 degradation. Recovery of heart mechanical function was reduced after I/R; however, administration of MMP-2 siRNA resulted in restoration of proper mechanical function (p < 0.001). LDH activity was decreased after the use of MMP-2 siRNA (p = 0.02), providing evidence for reduced cardiac damage. Both MMP-2 and MMP-9 syntheses as well as their activity were inhibited in the I/R hearts after siRNA administration (p < 0.05). MMP-2 siRNA administration inhibited TnI release into the coronary effluents (p < 0.001). The use of MMP-2 siRNA contributed to the improvement of heart mechanical function and reduction of contractile proteins degradation during I/R; therefore, MMP-2 siRNA may be considered a cardioprotective agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney transplantation is the standard procedure for the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). During kidney storage and before implantation, the organ is exposed to damaging factors which affect the decline in condition. The arrest of blood circulation results in oxygen and nutrient deficiency that lead to changes in the cell metabolism from aerobic to anaerobic, damaging organelles and cell structures. Currently, most kidney grafts are kept in a cold preservation solution to preserve low metabolism. However, there are numerous reports that machine perfusion is a better solution for organ preservation before surgery. The superiority of machine perfusion was proved in the case of marginal donor grafts, such as extended criteria donors (ECD) and donation after circulatory death (DCD). Different variant of kidney machine perfusions are evaluated. Investigators look for optimal conditions to protect kidneys from ischemia-reperfusion damage consequences by examining the best temperature conditions and comparing systems with constant or pulsatile flow. Moreover, machine perfusion brings additional advantages in clinical practice. Unlike cold static storage, machine perfusion allows the monitoring of the parameters of organ function, which gives a real possibility to make a decision prior to transplantation concerning whether the kidney is suitable for implantation. Moreover, new pharmacological therapies are sought to minimize organ damage. New components or cellular therapies can be applied, since perfusion solution flows through the organ. This review outlines the pros and cons of each machine perfusion technique and summarizes the latest achievements in the context of kidney transplantation using machine perfusion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined how adolescents' materialism relates to interpersonal materialism role models (i.e., mothers', fathers', siblings', and peers'), media exposure, and family socio-economic status (SES). We obtained our data from the adolescent, his/her mother and father, and one each of his/her siblings and peers. The results showed that mother's, father's, sibling's and peer's', materialism are approximately equally strong predictors of adolescents' materialism. Further analyses, using structural equation modeling, revealed that interpersonal materialism role models and media exposure both positively predicted adolescents' materialism; in contrast to past literature, family SES was also significantly positively related to adolescents' materialism. Limitations and implications of the current project are discussed. Highlights: Adolescents' materialism is approximately equally strongly predicted by siblings', peers' and parents' materialism. Adolescents' materialism is strongly positively related to interpersonal modeling (materialism of parents, siblings and peers), media exposure (TV and Internet) and, unexpectedly, family SES. The role of family SES in adolescents' materialism may depend on the cultural or national context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to examine the role of self-esteem in resisting the influence of materialistic goals of four social role models (mother, father, peers, and media) in adolescents (aged 13–16). Previous studies showed a negative correlation between the psychological health of teens and striving for materialistic goals, one of the main sources is the social modeling of materialism. Two studies were carried out. The first, correlational study, was conducted on target teens and their mothers, fathers, and peers of their choice. It examined if self-esteem is a moderator of the relationship between the materialism of social role models (mothers, fathers, peers, and media) and the materialism of teens. The second, experimental study, was conducted on target teens only. It examined how boosting the self-esteem of teens and activating materialism of social role models (mothers, fathers, peers, and media) may affect the materialism of teens. Study 1 showed a significant interaction effect of self-esteem and the materialism of peers on the materialism of teens. The interaction effects of self-esteem and other role models (parents and media) were not significant. Study 2 showed that elevated self-esteem lowered the influence of the materialism of peers on the materialism of teens. The results were not significant when other role models (parents and media) were analyzed. The results obtained in the presented studies indicate that the self-esteem of teens may have an important role in resisting the influence of materialism role models of peers. Practical implications of the studies for the psychological health of teens are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present research was to examine the influence of situational priming of materialistic social models on adolescents' materialistic and non-materialistic life aspirations. Three experimental studies were conducted on students aged 13-16 years. Each study used a different means of cuing materialism (scrambled sentences, questions concerning events, and images with materialistic themes) and tested the effects of four distinct social models (mother, father, peer, and media). Life aspirations were measured with the Aspiration Index. The results indicated that activation of materialistic social models increases the importance that adolescents place on financial success (Studies 1, 2, 3) and image (Study 3) aspirations, but does not generally affect popularity or non-materialistic aspirations (Studies 1, 2, 3). Effects were typically of the same magnitude across the four social models examined. A meta-analysis of the three studies confirmed these conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New experimental results of morphological and optical properties of Curcuma longa dye thin film were investigated. The thin films were deposited by physical vapor deposition technique. Morphological properties were measured using atomic force microscopy technique and they show a granular structure which above there are nanotubes shapes. Photoluminescence of Curcuma longa at low temperature was investigated and discussed for the first time. The temperature effect from 77 to 300 K of Curcuma longa thin film has been shown and luminescence was strongly observed. Photoelectrochemical parameters of the dye-sensitized solar cell based on Curcuma longa have been computed via the finite element method. The power conversion efficiency is about 0.86% obtained from short circuit current, open-circuit voltage, and fill factor of 0.13 mA/cm2, 0.52 mV, and 0.83, respectively. As a result, Curcuma longa dye can be applied to dye-sensitized solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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According to the available international recommendations, at least one independent verification of the calculations of number of monitor unit (MU) is required for every patient treated by teleradiotherapy. The aim of this study was to estimate the differences of dose distributions calculated with two treatment planning systems: Eclipse (Varian) and Oncentra MasterPlan (Elekta). The analysis was performed for 280 three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy treatment (3D-CRT) plans with photon beams from Varian accelerators: CL 600C/D X6 MV (109 plans), CL 2300C/D X6 MV (43 plans), and CL 2300C/D X15 MV (128 plans). The mean doses in the planning target volume (PTV) and doses at the isocenter point obtained with Eclipse and Oncentra MasterPlan (OMP) were compared with Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test. Additionally, the treatment planning system (TPS) calculations were compared with dosimetric measurements performed in the inhomogeneous phantom. Data were analysed for 6 MV plans and for 15 MV plans separately, independently of the treatment machine. The dose values calculated in Eclipse were significantly (p <0.001) higher compared to calculations of OMP system. The average difference of the mean dose to PTV was (1.4 ± 1.0)% for X6 MV and (2.5 ± 0.6)% for X15 MV. Average dose disparities at the isocenter point were (1.3 ± 1.9)% and (2.1 ± 1.0)% for X6 MV and X15 MV beams, respectively. The largest differences were observed in lungs, air cavities, and bone structures. Moreover the variation in dosimetric measurements was less as compared to Eclipse calculations. OMP calculations were introduced as the independent MU verification tool with the first action level range equal to 3.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest bathing is an outdoor activity, and it might be a promising preventive treatment for social problems involving stress. A vast number of studies confirm the positive effects of this activity on people's health. Nevertheless, little is known about the influence of winter forest bathing when conducted in an environment with snow cover on the ground and trees. Thus, a crossover experiment was designed in this study, with the participation of twenty-two healthy university students from Finland. During the experiment, a short exposition by a forest environment or landscape with buildings (as a control) was applied. Participants self-reported their psychological relaxation before and after the exposition, and the results were analyzed and compared. The mood, emotions, restorativeness, and subjective vitality were recorded as indices reflecting the psychological relaxation effect. The negative mood indices decreased significantly after exposition by the snow-covered environment, but the positive 'vigor' indices did not increase or decrease significantly. The level of negative emotions increased after the exposition with the control environment. Likewise, positive emotions decreased after the interaction with the control. Restorativeness was significantly increased after the exposition by the experimental forest but decreased after the viewing of the control buildings. The size of the effect in terms of restorativeness was the highest in this experiment. The subjective vitality was lowered as affected by the control, but it did not increase or decrease after the exposition with the experimental forest. There is probably an effect from the slight interruption in the process from the influence of the forest greens on participants because their vigor and vitality did not increase after the exposition with this environment in the study. However, snow might influence the participants as a calming and emotion-lowering component of the environment, but this idea needs to be further explored with the involvement of participants from other countries who would be viewing forest environments with snow cover and whose psychological relaxation could be measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In civil engineering, there is an occasional need to assure an additional support for a structure due to the loss of the load carrying capacity (e.g., as a result of natural disasters or aging) or for a lightweight structure to support temporary objects (e.g., tents, big advertisement banners, temporary antenna masts). In the present study, the authors propose deployable tensegrity columns to be used in such cases. This paper is aimed at answering the question: Which tensegrity column would be the best for the specified application? Four tensegrity columns are analyzed in various deployment configurations to find the answer to this question. Computer simulations are performed in the finite element (FE) and multibody dynamics (MBD) software to provide quantitative and qualitative results. The applied methods are validated by comparing self-stress states at various steps of the analysis. The most important part of the article is the comparative table, which contains quantitative results obtained from the performed analyses, which can be used to indicate the structures that are most appropriate for certain applications. The results may also be used as a starting point for research in other fields of science like robotics or mechatronics. This paper is focused on obtaining full data for building scaled models for laboratory tests in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoration of blood flow to ischaemic heart inflicts ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, which manifests in metabolic and morphological disorders. Klotho is a protein with antioxidative and antiapoptotic activity, and is involved in the regulation of inflammation and fibrosis. The aim of the current research was to determine the role of Klotho in the heart subjected to I/R injury, as well as to study Klotho as a potential cardioprotective agent. Human cardiomyocytes and Wistar rat hearts perfused using Langendorff method subjected to I/R have been used. Hemodynamic parameters of heart function, markers of I/R injury, and gene and protein expression of Klotho were measured. Human cardiomyocytes were also incubated in the presence of recombinant Klotho protein, and the viability of cells was measured. There was a higher expression of Klotho gene and protein synthesis in the cardiomyocytes subjected to I/R injury. The compensatory production and release of Klotho protein from cardiac tissue during I/R were also shown. The treatment of cardiomyocytes subjected to I/R with Klotho protein resulted in increased viability and metabolic activity of cells. Thus, Klotho contributes to compensatory mechanism during I/R, and could be used as a marker of injury and as a potential cardiopreventive/cardioprotective agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Values define the directions of human activities and are related to people's motivation to undertake specific activities and roles (Schwartz, 1994; Brown, 2002). Researchers and employers observe differences in motivation to work among representatives of different generations and genders (Twenge, Campbell, & Freeman, 2012; Gursoy & Karadag, 2013). In this research project, the authors asked what motivated contemporary employees, whether the intensity of their motives was different in different generations, what relationships there were between the dominant work motives and employees' dominant values, and whether there were differences between women and men regarding work motives. To verify the hypotheses, they conducted a study with a sample of 307 professionally active people. They used their own Types of Work Motives Questionnaire designed for the purposes of the study and the Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ; Wilson & Murrell, 2004). The obtained results indicate that younger employees choose the kind of work that gives them comfort and adequate pay. Regardless of age, however, social security support is the most important for all groups of respondents. For women, security and social security support are important at work. Moreover, the study has shown that there is a relationship between work values and work motives. For example people who appreciate values such as friendship and stability are motivated to work by good relationships and security, those who value recreation and stability are motivated by comfort and salary, those for whom respect and education are crucial are motivated by the possibility of development etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Coronary reperfusion procedure leads to ischemia/reperfusion injury of the heart (IRI). IRI arises from increased degradation of myosin light chains and increased activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2). Increased production of toxic peroxynitrite (ONOO−) during oxidative stress is a source of increased nitration/nitrosylation of contractile proteins, which enhance their degradation through MMP-2. Hence, an imbalance in nitric oxide (NO) metabolism along with oxidative stress is an important factor contributing to pathophysiology of cardiovascular disorders, including myocardial infarction. The aim of the current study was to provide an important insight into understanding the interaction of iNOS, eNOS, and ADMA during oxidative stress and to propose the beneficial therapy to modulate this interaction. Material and Methods. Pathogen-free Wistar rats were used in this study as a surrogate heart model ex vivo. Rat hearts perfused using the Langendorff method were subjected to global no-flow ischemia with or without administration of DOXY (1 µM), ML-7 (0.5 µM), and L-NAME (2 µM) mixture. Haemodynamic parameters of heart function, markers of I/R injury, tissue expression of iNOS, eNOS, and phospho-eNOS, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and NO production as well as MMP-2 activity were measured. Results. Mechanical heart function and coronary flow (CF) were decreased in the hearts subjected to I/R. Treatment of the hearts with the tested mixture resulted in a recovery of mechanical function due to decreased activity of MMP‐2. An infusion of Doxy, ML-7, and L-NAME mixture into I/R hearts decreased the expression of iNOS, eNOS, and phospho-eNOS and in consequence reduced ADMA expression. Decreased ADMA production led to enhanced NO synthesis and improvement of cardiac function at 85% of aerobic control. Conclusions. Synergistic effect of the multidrug therapy with the subthreshold doses allows addressing a few pathways of I/R injury simultaneously to achieve protection of cardiac function during I/R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the greatest challenges facing the field of organ transplantation is the shortage of donor organs for transplantation. Renal transplantation increases quality of life and survival of patients suffering from end-stage renal disease. Although kidney transplantation has evolved greatly over the past few decades, a not insignificant amount of injury occurs to the kidney during recovery, preservation, and implantation and leads to the loss of function and loss of years of dialysis-free living for many patients. The use of kidneys from expanded criteria donors (ECD) and donation after circulatory determination of death (DCDD) has been adopted partly in response to the shortage of donor kidneys; however these kidneys are even more susceptible to ischemic injury. It has been shown that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in mechanisms of injury to the transplant kidney. There is also some evidence that inhibition of MMP activity and/or ROS production can protect the kidney from injury. We review possible pharmacological strategies for protection of kidney graft from injury during recovery, preservation, and implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Polish publishing market of the 1970s produced a wealth of advice books on topics such as hygiene, manners, interpersonal relationship, sex and family life as well as timemanagement (from day-to-day planning to general life planning). Hygiene manuals, for instance, were used to train children in primary and secondary schools to live in socialist families. Examining the context of life manual writing as a genre, Zawadzka focuses on three aspects - modernisation, urbanisation and class advancement. She also asks what brand of socialism was being promoted in the 1970s, when this type of writing encouraged specific practices and attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxic injury of cardiovascular system is one of the most frequent complications following ischaemia. Heart injury arises from increased degradation of contractile proteins, such as myosin light chains (MLCs) and troponin I by matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP‐2). The aim of the current research was to study the effects of 5‐phenyloxyphenyl‐5‐aminoalkyl nitrate barbiturate (MMP‐2‐inhibitor‐NO‐donor hybrid) on hearts subjected to ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Primary human cardiac myocytes and Wistar rat hearts perfused using Langendorff method have been used. Human cardiomyocytes or rat hearts were subjected to I/R in the presence or absence of tested hybrid. Haemodynamic parameters of heart function, markers of I/R injury, gene and protein expression of MMP‐2, MMP‐9, inducible form of NOS (iNOS), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), as well as MMP‐2 activity were measured. Mechanical heart function, coronary flow (CF) and heart rate (HR) were decreased in hearts subjected to I/R Treatment of hearts with the hybrid (1‐10 µmol/L) resulted in a concentration‐dependent recovery of mechanical function, improved CF and HR. This improvement was associated with decreased tissue injury and reduction of synthesis and activity of MMP‐2. Decreased activity of intracellular MMP‐2 led to reduced degradation of MLC and improved myocyte contractility in a concentration‐dependent manner. An infusion of a MMP‐2‐inhibitor‐NO‐donor hybrid into I/R hearts decreased the expression of iNOS and reduced the levels of ADMA. Thus, 5‐phenyloxyphenyl‐5‐aminoalkyl nitrate barbiturate protects heart from I/R injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three studies were carried out in natural settings of mass gatherings to examine the interplay between activist identity and self-expansion and their relationship with willingness to engage in future collective actions. Study 1 was conducted among activists and supporters of equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals; Study 2 involved participants in a nationwide charity event; and Study 3 included members of a religious group. The results showed a statistically significant positive relationship between self-perceived activist identity and collective action (CA) tendency (Studies 1, 2, and 3). Moreover, the interaction between activist identity and self-expansion plays a role in predicting CA, with self-expansion related to willingness to engage in progroup behaviors when activist identity is low but not when activist identity is high (Studies 2 and 3). This interaction statistically significantly predicted collective action tendency when nonmaterialistic relational self-expansion and nonrelational self-expansion were considered but not when materialistic self-expansion was tested (Study 3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]