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This study aims to identify what determines the use of biometric technologies in the financial applications of banks and FinTechs. The analysis uses data from a survey of 1,000 adult Polish residents. The estimated logit model indicates that the probability of using biometric solutions decreases with age and increases with the level of education and technological sophistication related to personal innovativeness, experience with biometric technology and the use of digital technology in both financial and non-financial areas. The work identifies the COVID-19 pandemic as a factor accelerating the adoption of biometric solutions and fostering awareness of the threat of digital technologies invading respondents’ privacy. The study demonstrates the positive impact of trust that phone manufacturers use to ensure the security of stored funds and data processing on the acceptance of biometric solutions in financial services. This relationship underpins the recommendation to financial institutions in the field of promoting biometric technologies.

This paper presents selected German film music composers who were active in Germany during the inter-war period as musicians trying to regain their position and renegotiate their role in the German post-war society marked by trauma and transition processes. Film music composers were believed to have stayed above politics and associated with a “harmless” type of music; therefore, they could adapt to the new situation comparatively more easily, particularly since the Allies had already treated musicians ambivalently. While pinpointing the reasons behind such a lenient attitude towards film music composers, the paper also touches on those rare cases when film music composers were actually accused of supporting the Nazi system.

AbstractBackground The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a Finnish sauna on the immune status parameters. The hypothesis was that hyperthermia would improve immune system’s functioning by changing the proportion of lymphocyte subpopulations and would activate heat shock proteins. We assumed that the responses of trained and untrained subjects would be different.Material and methods Healthy men (20–25 years old) were divided into groups: the trained (T; n = 10), and the untrained group (U; n = 10). All participants were subjected to 10 baths (each one consisted of: 3 × 15-minute exposure with cooled down for 2 min. Body composition, anthropometric measurements, VO2 peak were measured before 1st sauna bath. Blood was collected before the 1st and 10th sauna bath, and 10 min after their completion to asses an acute and a chronic effect. Body mass, rectal temperature and heart rate (HR) were assessed in the same time points. The serum levels of cortisol, Il-6, HSP70 were measured with use of ELISA method, IgA, IgG and IgM by turbidimetry. White blood cells (WBC), leukocyte populations counts: neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils were determined with use of flow cytometry as well as T-cell subpopulations.Results No differences were found in the increase in rectal temperature, cortisol and immunoglobulins between groups. In response to the 1st sauna bath, a greater increase in HR was observed in the U group. After the last one, the HR value was lower in the T group. The impact of sauna baths on WBC, CD56+, CD3+, CD8+, IgA, IgG and IgM was different in trained and untrained subjects’ responses. A positive correlation between the increase in cortisol concentrations and increase in internal temperatures after the 1st sauna was found in the T (r = 0.72) and U group (r = 0.77), between the increase in IL-6 and cortisol concentrations in the T group after the 1st treatment (r = 0.64), between the increase in IL-10 concentration and internal temperature (r = 0.75) and between the increase in IL-6 and IL-10 (r = 0.69) concentrations, also.Conclusions Sauna bathing can be a way to improve the immune response, but only when it is undertaken as a series of treatments.

The growing popularity of TV serials (broadly defined as multi-episode TV productions of various character) goes along with the rapidly expanding reputation of music accompanying such shows. We can talk about the international success of several soundtracks. Recognizing this situation, the article prompts undertaking profound studies on music featured in TV shows suggesting analytical procedures embracing three, interdependent perspectives: referring to one episode, to a musical scene/sequence and to the whole serial understood as a cohesive entity. The first approach is of normative character and involves gauging the length of musical fragments versus the length of the episode, measuring how often and determining where musical fragments appear, checking the patterns of their distribution with the episode, etc. We also need to identify characteristic musical (leit) motifs (most specifically the central motif, usually the one opening all episodes) and divide musical fragments into those of diegetic and non-diegetic character. While discussing scenes or sequences with musical components, we focus on musical solutions assessing to what extent they are (a)typical for the whole serial. The third stage involves an attempt to look at music in all episodes as a structural element of the whole serial, as well as is aimed at answering the question concerning the functions which music plays in a particular serial. The article is deeply rooted in the tradition of Film Musicology making use of its terminology, concepts, definitions as well as analytical tools. The theoretical framework provided in the article is designed as a modest proposal for musicologists and film specialists alike, as well as all those interested in musical and sonic aspects of TV shows, who can also develop their own, methodological approaches to music in TV shows. Рост популярности телевизионных сериалов сочетается с быстрым распространением известности сопровождающей их музыки. Можно говорить о международном успехе нескольких подобных саундтреков. Исходя из этой ситуации, в статье ставится цель провести академическое исследование музыки телевизионных сериалов, осуществляя анализ с трех взаимообусловленных позиций: по отношению к отдельной серии, к отдельной музыкальной сцене/последовательности сцен, и, наконец, по отношению ко всему сериалу, понимаемому как единое целое. В первом случае анализ носит статистический характер и включает в себя определение времени звучания музыкальных фрагментов относительно длительности серии, фиксацию того, где и когда появляется музыка, как она распределяется внутри серии и т. д. На этом этапе также необходимо обнаружить лейтмотивы (в частности, главный лейтмотив, который обычно звучит в начале каждой серии) и разделить музыкальные фрагменты на диегетические и недиегетические. Анализируя отдельные музыкальные сцены, мы фокусируемся на их музыкальных решениях, оценивая, насколько они характерны для всего сериала. Третий этап включает попытку взглянуть на музыку каждой из серий как на структурный элемент сериала в целом, а также ответить на вопрос о функциях, которые выполняет музыка в том или ином сериале. Автор статьи опирается на устоявшиеся традиции исследования кино-музыки, используя сложившуюся терминологию, концепции, определения, а также аналитические приемы. При этом теоретические принципы, представленные в статье, разработаны автором и предлагаются к использованию музыковедам и киноведам, а также всем тем, кто интересуется музыкальными и звуковыми аспектами телевизионных сериалов и способен создать свои собственные методологические подходы к исследованию музыки телеэкрана.

Abstract Chitinase-like proteins have multiple biological functions that promote tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Expression of CHI3L2, which is similar in structure to CHI3L1, is detected in glioma cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in glioma and breast cancer. However, its exact role remains unclear. We analyzed the expression of CHI3L2 in 74 invasive ductal breast carcinoma (IDC) tumors, breast cancer and macrophages cell cultures using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blot and PCR methods. Clinicopathologic data were included in the analysis. The results obtained show that CHI3L2 expression decreases with increasing degree of tumor grade and negative status of estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). Furthermore, CHI3L2 is significantly and positively correlated with phosphorylation of STAT-3 and ERK1/2 signaling pathways, but negatively correlated with macrophage infiltration. CHI3L2 is expressed both in the cytoplasm of cancer cells and in macrophages and may regulate STAT-3 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in breast cancer cell lines. Analysis of the clinicopathologic data revealed that CHI3L2 levels had no effect on patient survival. CHI3L2 expression may be specific for cancer cells in IDC and involved in cross-talk with the tumor microenvironment. Our study has shown that IDC cancer cells express the CHI3L2 protein, possibly indicating a novel function of this protein.

Malwina Sosnowska,1 Mateusz Wierzbicki,1 Barbara Nasiłowska,2 Totka Nikolaeva Bakalova,3 Klara Piotrowska,4 Barbara Strojny-Cieślak,1 Ewa Sawosz,1 Marta Kutwin1 1Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; 2Biomedical Engineering Center, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland; 3Department of Material Science, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Liberec, Liberec, Czech Republic; 4Department of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, PolandCorrespondence: Malwina Sosnowska, Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, st. Ciszewskiego 8, Warsaw, 02-786, Poland, Tel +48 22 593 66 71, Email malwina_sosnowska@sggw.edu.plIntroduction and Objective: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enters the nasal cavity, penetrates the nasal epithelial cells through the interaction of its spike protein with the host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and then triggers a cytokine storm. We aimed to assess the biocompatibility of fullerenol nanoparticles C60(OH)40 and ectoine, and to document their effect on the protection of primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) against the effects of interaction with the fragment of virus - spike protein. This preliminary research is the first step towards the construction of a intranasal medical device with a protective, mechanical function against SARS-CoV-2 similar to that of personal protective equipment (eg masks).Methods: We used HNEpCs and the full-length spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 to mimic the first stage of virus infection. We assessed cell viability with the XTT assay and a spectrophotometer. May–Grünwald Giemsa and periodic acid–Schiff staining served to evaluate HNEpC morphology. We assessed reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and commercial kit. Finally, we employed reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and confocal microscopy to determine the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and inflammatory cytokines.Results: There was normal morphology and unchanged viability of HNEpCs after incubation with 10 mg/L C60(OH)40, 0.2% ectoine or their composite for 24 h. The spike protein exerted cytotoxicity via ROS production. Preincubation with the composite protected HNEpCs against the interaction between the spike protein and the host membrane and prevented the production of key cytokines characteristic of severe coronavirus disease 2019, including interleukin 6 and 8, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and 2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 and macrophage colony-stimulating factor.Conclusion: In the future, the combination of fullerenol and ectoine may be used to prevent viral infections as an intranasal medical device for people with reduced immunity and damaged mucous membrane. Keywords: ACE2, cytokine storm, ectoine, nasal epithelium, polyhydroxylated fullerene, spike

Both Russian and non-Russian composers and music critics willingly used the notion of Russian exoticism to differentiate the Russian musical legacy from the (western) European tradition, especially in the 19th century. At the same time, various Russian musical practices were considered to be exotic in Russia itself. In this article it is suggested that these two perceptions of Russian music influenced each other, having an impact on the formation of Russian national music. It is further claimed that Russian music served both as an internal and external tool for defining the country’s musical culture on the multicultural map of Europe.

The evaluation of the microbiological and sensory quality of 30 assortments of market milk was the objective of the presented research. The study also compared the sensory profile of selected samples of milk differing in preservation method. Microbiological tests included determination of the presence and number of Enterobacteriaceae and the total number of microorganisms. Sensory characteristics of all the milk samples was performed by scaling method (5-points scale). Selected samples of milk were additionally assessed by means of profile method. Microbiological tests showed satisfactory microbiological purity of milk, which indicates the effectiveness of the heat treatment and the lack of secondary contamination. Regardless of the preservation method, all the evaluated milk samples were characterised by a high sensory quality (4.25-5 points). There were no changes in smell and taste, resulting from the development of undesirable microflora. The tested samples of milk differing in the preservation method (sterilisation, pasteurisation at high temperature and subjected to microfiltration and low pasteurisation) varied in the sensory profile. Milk pasteurised at high temperature was characterised by the most harmonised overall quality.

The paper presents the results of investigations concerning the application of zinc oxide - a wideband gap semiconductor in optical planar waveguide structures. ZnO is a promising semiconducting material thanks to its attractive optical properties. The investigations were focused on the determination of the technology of depositions and the annealing of ZnO layers concerning their optical properties. Special attention was paid to the determination of characteristics of the refractive index of ZnO layers and their coefficients of spectral transmission within the UV-VIS-NIR range. Besides that, also the mode characteristics and the attenuation coefficients of light in the obtained waveguide structures have been investigated. In the case of planar waveguides, in which the ZnO layers have not been annealed after their deposition, the values of the attenuation coefficient of light modes amount to a~ 30 dB/cm. The ZnO layers deposited on the heated substrate and annealed by rapid thermal annealing in an N2 and O2 atmosphere, are characterized by much lower values of the attenuation coefficients: a~ 3 dB/cm (TE0 and TM0 modes). The ZnO optical waveguides obtained according to our technology are characterized by the lowest values of the attenuation coefficients a encountered in world literature concerning the problem of optical waveguides based on ZnO. Studies have shown that ZnO layers elaborated by us can be used in integrated optic systems, waveguides, optical modulators and light sources.

IntroductionProstaglandins (PG) are important regulators of the myometrial contractility in mammals. Endometrosis, a condition characterized by morphological changes in the equine endometrium, also affects endometrial secretory function. However, it remains unclear whether and how endometrosis affects myometrial function.MethodsThis study investigated: (i) mRNA transcription of genes encoding specific enzymes responsible for PG synthesis, such as prostaglandin—endoperoxide synthase (PTGS2), PGE2 synthase (PTGES), PGF2α synthase (PTGFS) and PG receptors: PGE2 receptors (PTGER1- 4), and PGF2α receptor (PTGFS) in equine myometrium and, (ii) the effects of PGE2 and PGF2α on myometrial contractile activity, during endometrosis in mares. The myometria used in experiments 1 and 2 were collected from mares in the mid-luteal (n = 23) and follicular (n = 20) phases of the estrous cycle, according to the histological classification of the endometrium (Kenney and Doig categories I, IIA, IIB, and III).ResultsIn experiment 1, changes in mRNA transcription of PG synthase or PG receptors in the myometrium during the course of endometrosis were determined using qPCR. During the mid-luteal phase, myometrial mRNA transcription of PTGES increased in mares with endometrial category IIB compared to category I. However, myometrial mRNA transcription of PTGER1 decreased during the progression of endometrosis compared to category I. During the follicular phase, mRNA transcription of PTGER1 and PTGER2 increased in mares with endometrial categories III or IIA, respectively. In addition, mRNA transcription of PTGFS increased in mares with endometrium category IIA compared to category I. In experiment 2, the force of myometrial contractions was measured using an isometric concentration transducer. In the follicular phase, PGE2 decreased the force of contractions in mares with endometrial categories IIA, IIB, and III compared to the respective control groups. Prostaglandin F2α increased the force of myometrial contractions in mares with category IIA endometrium, whereas it decreased in category IIB compared to the respective control groups.DiscussionWe concluded that in the progression of endometrosis there are changes in the myometrial transcription of mRNA encoding PG synthases and receptors, particularly PTGER1 and PTGER2. Mares with endometrosis had abnormal myometrial contractile responses to PG. These findings suggest that myometrial function may be compromised during the progression of endometrosis.

To answer NASA’s call for a sensitive X-ray observatory in the 2030s, we present the High Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P) mission concept. HEX-P is designed to provide the required capabilities to explore current scientific questions and make new discoveries with a broadband X-ray observatory that simultaneously measures sources from 0.2 to 80 keV. HEX-P’s main scientific goals include: 1) understand the growth of supermassive black holes and how they drive galaxy evolution; 2) explore the lower mass populations of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and stellar-mass black holes in the nearby universe; 3) explain the physics of the mysterious corona, the luminous plasma close to the central engine of accreting compact objects that dominates cosmic X-ray emission; and 4) find the sources of the highest energy particles in the Galaxy. These goals motivate a sensitive, broadband X-ray observatory with imaging, spectroscopic, and timing capabilities, ensuring a versatile platform to serve a broad General Observer (GO) and Guest Investigator (GI) community. In this paper, we present an overview of these mission goals, which have been extensively discussed in a collection of more than a dozen papers that are part of this Research Topic volume. The proposed investigations will address key questions in all three science themes highlighted by Astro2020, including their associated priority areas. HEX-P will extend the capabilities of the most sensitive low- and high-energy X-ray satellites currently in orbit and will complement existing and planned high-energy, time-domain, and multi-messenger facilities in the next decade.

In this paper the possibility of a uses control system with a signal processor DSP to control hydrostatic transmission was described. A hydrostatic transmission with pump variable efficiency and engine radial with constant working absorptivity was chosen. The control of the efficiency of pump was realized by using the electrohydraulic control system. This hydraulic system consists of a servo-cylinder and electrohydraulic servovalve. Such an object is one of the most important parts of working machines. Because the object is nonlinear and not time invariant its control is very difficult. In the last few years using the signal processor DSP for control has become very popular. In this paper the use of cascade controllers in DSP was described. The cascade controllers realize control of the position of the servo-cylinder and the control of the rotational speed of the hydraulic engine To chose the controllers parameters the simulation model adopted in Matlab/Simulink was used. The object used parameters from simulation tests. Many different tests were conducted on a laboratory hydrostatic transmission.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has swept around the world since the beginning of 2020, has had a significant impact on education. Overnight, there has been a transition from traditional to distance learning. Both teachers and students of all types and levels of education had to face a new, unknown reality for which, in the vast majority, they were not properly prepared. The paper attempts to comprehensively identified the determinants of geographic education online at the level of primary and secondary schools, and analyzed selected conditions that have the greatest impact on its implementation. Qualitative and quantitative data was provided by literature research and the results of a survey conducted among 123 geography teachers. The model of the determinants of the geographic education process in the distance form adopted in the study indicates the extraordinary complexity of the online education process. Three groups of determinants were subjected to in-depth analysis: technological, law, and the teacher's capacity, considering them necessary for the implementation of the distance learning process.