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Background Clinical bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples are rich in biomolecules, including proteins, and useful for molecular studies of lung health and disease. However, mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic analysis of BALF is challenged by the dynamic range of protein abundance, and potential for interfering contaminants. A robust, MS-based proteomics compatible sample preparation workflow for BALF samples, including those of small and large volume, would be useful for many researchers. Results We have developed a workflow that combines high abundance protein depletion, protein trapping, clean-up, and in-situ tryptic digestion, that is compatible with either qualitative or quantitative MS-based proteomic analysis. The workflow includes a value-added collection of endogenous peptides for peptidomic analysis of BALF samples, if desired, as well as amenability to offline semi-preparative or microscale fractionation of complex peptide mixtures prior to LC–MS/MS analysis, for increased depth of analysis. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this workflow on BALF samples collected from COPD patients, including for smaller sample volumes of 1–5 mL that are commonly available from the clinic. We also demonstrate the repeatability of the workflow as an indicator of its utility for quantitative proteomic studies. Conclusions Overall, our described workflow consistently provided high quality proteins and tryptic peptides for MS analysis. It should enable researchers to apply MS-based proteomics to a wide-variety of studies focused on BALF clinical specimens.

Long-term and short-term changes in ambient temperature can cause stress in birds, leading to changes in the level of hematological parameters. The H:L ratio (heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) is a hematological index that allows for the assessment of the stress induced by environmental changes, including weather conditions. In this paper, we examined the influence of temperatures and the sum of precipitation on the health of nestling pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) by using the H:L ratio reflecting the body’s response to stress. All examined temperature indicators influenced the H:L ratio, yet the average value of daily minimum temperature during the first 12 days of nestling life had the strongest influence, maximum temperature had the weakest effect, while precipitation had no significant influence. Our research indicates that even a small increase in temperature caused a stress reaction in nestling pied flycatchers, which was reflected by an increase in the H:L ratio. The increase in the stress index (H:L ratio) was probably a result of poor weather conditions (precipitation, low temperature), which prevented the adult birds from actively foraging and properly feeding the nestlings.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) affects more than 1,000,000 people worldwide each year. Recently, the number of young patients with early-onset colorectal cancer has increased, and right-sided colorectal cancer is still often diagnosed only in advanced stages. The TNM classification is not perfect for CRC staging. This study aimed to perform, for the first time, simultaneous analysis of tumor-infiltrating immune cell density, presence of lymphoid follicles, and budding status in CRC tissue. Intraoperative samples of neoplastic tissue were collected from 195 consecutive patients who were admitted to the surgical ward for elective colorectal surgery. Histological parameters were assessed in the tissue samples: tumor budding foci, poorly differentiated clusters and areas of poorly differentiated components. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells (tumor-associated neutrophils and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) were detected in five randomly chosen, areas at the tumor center and at the invasive front. Additionally, the presence of lymphoid follicles in CRC tissue was assessed. Tumor budding parameters were positively correlated with colorectal cancer advancement or histologic (mucinous) type of CRC. The number of poorly differentiated clusters was higher in younger patients. Lower densities of CD3 and CD4 lymphocytes were seen in CRC with a greater depth of tumor invasion. Lower densities of CD3 and CD8 lymphocytes were found in CRC with metastases to the surrounding lymph nodes. The lower density of CD8 lymphocytes was observed in CRC with distant metastases. Lower densities of tumor-associated neutrophils and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (CD3 and CD8) were revealed in CRC without lymphoid follicles. The number of lymphoid follicles was higher in patients with less advanced CRCs. Three histopathology markers, such as high tumor budding, scanty lymphocyte infiltration, and the poverty of lymphoid follicles, complement each other, appear to be reliable indicators of colorectal cancer progression, and could be useful in everyday medical practice, but their widespread use requires further research. We propose to take into account these markers, in the assessment of colorectal cancer advancement, in addition to the TNM classification.

When developing a plan to restore or modify a wetland within the Pacific Northwest of the United States (PNW), land managers must consider all of the potential ecological impacts, including the unintended production of mosquitoes which can adversely impact the health of people and wildlife in the area. Case studies in this article highlight mitigation activities conducted in cooperation with local mosquito control professionals for water conveyances in the states of Washington and Oregon that effectively minimize production of mosquitoes in managed wetlands. Communicating with mosquito control professionals early in the wetland restoration planning process can save valuable time and resources if the restored wetland becomes an ideal breeding site for pestiferous mosquitoes. By preventing unintentional mosquito production, resources that would be spent controlling mosquitoes and responding to public health concerns post restoration could be redirected towards achieving the overall mission of the wetland restoration. The authors will demonstrate how mosquito control professionals and wetland managers worked cooperatively to achieve mutually-beneficial results, while complying with all local, state, and federal regulations. The following broad steps for a wetland restoration project are recommended: (1) Create a long-term vision for the project; (2) Build a team of collaborators and gather stakeholders; (3) Outline the regulatory guidelines; (4) Prepare required planning documents/acquire permits; (5) Conduct project, while monitoring (target and non-target) impacts including mosquitoes; and (6) Periodically review environmental impacts.

Approximately 1.2 million family forest landowners (FFOs) manage nearly 37 million acres of forestland in five New England states. This means that efforts to sustain and conserve forests in the region are contingent upon short- and long-term management decisions of these owners. We applied the transtheoretical model of behavior change to understand which activities and behaviors FFOs have pursued in relation to forest legacy planning. We conducted a regional mail survey of 2500 FFOs across Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York. Findings indicate that the majority of FFOs are preparing for or are currently engaging in beginning-level legacy planning decisions while few are thinking about nor planning for more advanced-level decisions. Findings from three stepwise multiple regression models also provide support for predicting a substantive amount of variance in FFOs’ decisions to engage in beginning-level and conservation-oriented planning decisions.

Nests of secondary-cavity breeding birds are structures constructed to lay and incubate eggs and raise nestlings to fledging. These nests are characterized by relatively stable conditions, which makes them a suitable habitat for various microorganisms. It has been suggested that bacteria inhabiting nests and nestling skin may affect nestlings both positively and negatively. In this study, nests of Great Tits Parus major were replaced with artificial nests on the fifth day of the nestling phase in two different study sites to create two categories of nests: (i) natural and (ii) artificial with a reduced bacterial load. Four days later, bacterial samples were collected from the nestling skin and from the edge of the nest to assess skin and nest bacterial loads, expressed as colony forming units (CFUs). It was predicted that (i) the previous season occupancy of nest boxes would influence bacterial loads, (ii) the experimental treatment would reduce nest and skin bacterial loads, and (iii) that nest and skin bacterial loads would affect the condition of the nestlings, assessed as the hemoglobin concentration in blood when nestlings were 14 days old. Occupancy in the previous season did not affect the bacterial load. The skin bacterial load was significantly lower in artificial nests, although the nest bacterial load did not differ between natural and artificial nests. Nestlings from artificial nests had higher hemoglobin, and hemoglobin concentration was negatively associated with the nest but not the skin bacterial load. Our results suggest that the bacterial load in nests may negatively affect the physiological condition of avian hosts.

Nonspecific innate immune response is activated by toll-like receptors (TLRs), which recognize conserved molecular motifs characteristic for a broad spectrum of pathogens. In this study, we examined nucleotide substitution patterns and allelic diversity at five TLR genes in a wild nonpasserine bird, the black-headed gullChroicocephalus ridibundus. We hypothesized that balancing selection can maintain high allelic diversity of TLR genes in the black-headed gull because of its ecological characteristics, coloniality, and migratoriness, which are associated with increased exposure and transmission of pathogens. Although we found moderately high levels of sequence polymorphism (8–49 haplotypes retrieved per locus within a sample of 60 individuals), most of these haplotypes were recorded at low frequencies within our study population. At the same time, we found no convincing evidence for the role of balancing selection in the maintenance of this variation (Tajima’s D 1) were recorded only at two loci (TLR5 and TLR7). This pattern is consistent with relaxation of selective constraints, where most mutations are slightly deleterious and usually removed by purifying selection. No differences in the diversity and nucleotide substitution rates were found between endosomal loci responsible for viral RNA sensing and loci responsible for the recognition of extracellular pathogens. Our study provides the first information on evolutionary mechanisms shaping polymorphism of TLRs in a species from Lari suborder (gulls and allies) and suggests that TLR genes may be poorly responsive to ecological and life-history characteristics of hosts.

It has been suggested that extreme weather events may be treated as natural experiments that may unravel the mechanisms by which birds adjust their phenology and breeding parameters to environmental variability. In 2017, a sudden and heavy drop of temperatures for several days affected many European bird populations. This event occurred during the laying–early incubation period in the great tit (Parus major) population in central Poland, causing a large delay in hatching and had sustained reproductive consequences. This cold snap occurring once breeding activity had already started in 2017 was followed by the warm and invariable breeding season of 2018. This natural experiment had an essential influence on great tit reproductive parameters. We found a significant difference in hatching date, number of fledglings, hatching success, and fledging success between 2017 and 2018. In 2017, there were about two fledglings per nest fewer than in 2018. Fledging success was positively associated with hatching delay in 2017, while the relation was negative in 2018. Hatching success differed significantly between both years, being higher in 2018. Mean level of hemoglobin (used as index of body, physiological condition) in the blood of nestling great tits was higher in 2017 than in 2018. We argue that the moment of hatching may be (at least in some years) more tightly related to the moment of maximum food demand of tit nestlings than the traditionally used laying date. Also in extreme years, phenotypic plasticity of hatching delays may be insufficient to adjust the timing of breeding to the upcoming extreme weather events. Further examining its limits may be an important goal for future research.

The management pathways of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have considerably evolved in the past 5 years, presenting a particular challenge during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this Comment, we propose a management algorithm on the basis of the current evidence to safely manage patients with advanced RCC during this pandemic.

Complete surgical resection of metastatic sites has been shown to prolong survival in select patients with oligometastatic RCC. This treatment strategy is dependent upon the accurate characterization of a patient’s extent of disease. The objective of this study was to explore the utility of PSMA-targeted 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT in patients with presumed oligometastatic clear cell RCC. This is a subset analysis of a prospective study in which patients with RCC were imaged with 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02687139). In the present analysis, patients with oligometastatic clear cell RCC, defined as ≤ 3 metastatic lesions on conventional imaging, were evaluated. 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT scans were reviewed for sites of disease and compared to conventional imaging. The final cohort included 14 patients with oligometastatic clear cell RCC. Conventional imaging revealed 21 metastatic lesions and 3 primary tumors. 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT detected 29 sites of metastatic disease and 3 primary tumors. Of the 21 metastatic lesions detected on conventional imaging, 17 (81.0%) had radiotracer uptake. Additionally, all 3 primary tumors had radiotracer uptake. In 4 (28.6%) patients a total of 12 more lesions were identified on 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT than conventional imaging. Notably, 3 (21.4%) patients were no longer considered oligometastatic. The detection rates of conventional imaging and 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT for identifying sites of disease were 66.7% and 88.9%, respectively. PSMA-targeted PET/CT appears to aid in the identification of patients with oligometastatic clear cell RCC. If borne out in future studies, this suggests that PSMA-targeted imaging has the potential to help select candidates for metastasis-directed therapy.

Sixty percent of family forest ownerships in the United States of America (USA) own between 0.4 and 4.0 ha (1–9 ac). Yet, little is known about this segment of family forest ownerships because they are often excluded from data collection or analyses. We utilized national data for the USA collected through the National Woodland Owner Survey to examine small-area ownerships, as well as compare attributes of this ownership group to larger-area ownerships. Small-area ownerships are less active than ownerships of greater than 4.0 ha, but not inactive. Approximately 60% of small-area ownerships have undertaken at least one of the following activities in the previous 5 years: harvesting for personal use, treating invasive plants, reducing fire hazards, and reducing unwanted insects/diseases. While 74% of small-area ownerships rate wildlife habitat protection as an important ownership objective, only 11% have undertaken a wildlife habitat improvement project in the previous 5 years. Both small- and large- (> 4.0 ha) area ownership classes are most interested in the amenity aspects of woodland ownership, but small-area ownerships are significantly less interested in ownership for firewood, timber, recreation and hunting on their land than larger ownerships. Neither ownership class is very likely to have received professional advice about their forestland in the previous 5 years, but the percentage of small-area ownerships who have done so is half that of larger-area ownerships. Both area ownership classes want their forestland to remain forested in the future. Our findings suggest needs and opportunities to engage small-area forest landowners, but likely in different ways and on different topics than when dealing with larger-area ownerships.

Animals living in anthropogenic habitats bear a multitude of costs, which are directly or indirectly associated with human activities. Among others, an elevated exposure to environmental pollution can have negative consequences for wildlife populations. We examined the differences in the concentrations of trace elements between the field and forest ecotype of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Naturally, roe deer inhabited various types of woodlands (forest ecotype), but within the last century, they adapted to life in a human-transformed agricultural areas (field ecotype), which could be associated with an increased exposure to pollution. In this study, we measured concentrations of seven trace metals (barium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, strontium, zinc) and fluoride in skull bones and permanent teeth of more than 230 roe deer from 8 study plots in East-Central Europe. We found that field roe deer had higher concentrations of four trace metals (copper, iron, lead, strontium) and fluoride compared with forest roe deer. These differences were consistent with variations in the general level of environmental contamination within the study plots, as assessed with trace element content in wild plants. Our study indicates that bone and teeth of the European roe deer can be used as a valid indicator of environmental pollution. Also, we expect that elevated exposure of field roe deer to environmental pollution can have negative consequences for wild populations of this species, as well as for the consumers of venison. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00244-018-0580-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Hairy root cultures are an efficient tool for the biotechnological production of plant metabolites and a convenient experimental model for analyzing the effect of various compounds on plant metabolism. In contrast to many other types of in vitro plant cultures, hairy roots do not require an external supply of phytohormones to the medium. Consequently, plant growth regulators such as auxins and cytokinins are rarely used as elicitors in hairy root in vitro cultures; however, they can strongly influence plant defense responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of two auxins: natural indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and synthetic 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), as well as two cytokinins: natural kinetin and synthetic 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) at a concentration of 0.75 mg/L on the metabolism of sterols and triterpenoids in Calendula officinalis hairy roots. Auxins prevented the accumulation of triterpenoid saponins (oleanolic acid glycosides), while cytokinin BAP increased their accumulation by 17% and their release into the culture medium by a factor of 10. Other cytokinins and kinetins increased the sterol levels by 17%, the level of stigmasterol by 15%, and the level of isofucosterol by 7 times.

Neurofibrillary tangles are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, and their levels correlate with the severity of cognitive dysfunction in humans. However, experimental evidence suggests that soluble tau species cause cognitive deficits and memory impairment. Our recent study suggests that caspase-2 (Casp2)-catalyzed tau cleavage at aspartate 314 mediates synaptic dysfunction and memory impairment in mouse and cellular models of neurodegenerative disorders. Δtau314, the C-terminally-truncated cleavage products, are soluble and present in human brain. In addition, levels of Δtau314 proteins are elevated in the brain of the cognitively impaired individuals compared to the cognitively normal individuals, indicating a possible role for Δtau314 proteins in cognitive deterioration. Here we show that (1) Δtau314 proteins are present in the inferior temporal gyrus of human brains; (2) Δtau314 proteins are generated from all six tau splicing isoforms, (3) levels of both Casp2 and Δtau314 proteins are elevated in cognitively impaired individuals compared to cognitively normal individuals, and (4) levels of Δtau314 proteins show a modest predictive value for dementia. These findings advance our understanding of the characteristics of Δtau314 proteins and their relevance to cognitive dysfunction and shed light on the contribution of Casp2-mediated Δtau314 production to cognitive deterioration.

Abstract The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. In this study, we experimentally tested whether aromatic plants in blue tit nests affect physiological condition of nestlings as indicated by hemoglobin and glucose in the blood. Nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants had elevated blood hemoglobin, and therefore improved physiological condition, as compared with control nestlings. There was no difference between nestlings in two contrasting habitats (urban parkland and forest). Although mean levels of blood glucose did not differ between treatment and control nestlings, the blood of forest nestlings contained more glucose than the blood of parkland nestlings, which indicates poorer health for forest nestlings. In general, knowledge of the effects of incorporating fresh green, aromatic plant material into avian nests on physiological condition of nestlings is still fragmentary and more experimental studies are needed. Significance statement The blue tit is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. Little is known about the impact of this material on nestling body condition, and there is a need to understand this behavior and its effects. We tested whether nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants improved their physiological condition in comparison with control nestlings. The experiment showed that nestlings from supplemented nests improved their physiological condition by exhibiting elevated hemoglobin.

Since the 2015 elections, Poland has ‘enjoyed’ the attention of social sciences—political science in particular—to an extent greater than at any time since the period of “Solidarity” in the early 1980s. In contrast to that period, Poland’s idiosyncratic development over the last two and a half years can hardly be said to play the function of a normative role model. Political developments in Poland in recent times devolve into two stories: one of profound civilizational, economic and social development prior to the 2015 elections; the other of an unexpected and sudden shift toward the dismantling of the liberal democratic system after the Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in late 2015. The first part of this article describes the most important features of pre-2015 political developments in Poland and identifies key determinants of vote choice in the 2015 parliamentary election in Poland. In brief, this analysis shows two things: that there was no ‘demand’ for systemic change at these elections, and that support for the winning party was mainly determined by socio-cultural factors rather than economic ones. The second part of the article aims to answer the question of why the PiS government has embarked on a course of political action that violates both the abstract principles of liberal democracy and concrete, binding provisions of Poland’s 1997 Constitution. Several theoretical and speculative ideas are offered in answer to this question.

PURPOSE: To investigate the utility of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted [(18)F]DCFPyL positron emission tomography (PET)/X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging for the detection of sites of disease in patients with metastatic non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PROCEDURES: Eight patients with metastatic non-clear cell RCC underwent imaging with PSMA-targeted [(18)F]DCFPyL PET/CT. Imaged RCC histologic subtypes included papillary RCC (n = 3), chromophobe RCC (n = 2), unclassified RCC (n = 2), and Xp11 translocation RCC (n = 1). Using comparison to conventional CT and/or magnetic resonance imaging as reference, two radiologists with expertise in nuclear medicine identified putative sites of disease on [(18)F]DCFPyL PET/CT and classified each lesion as having no radiotracer uptake, equivocal uptake, or definitive uptake. RESUTS: In total, 73 metastatic sites and 3 primary tumors compatible with sites of non-clear cell RCC were identified on conventional imaging. Metastatic sites of disease included lymph nodes (n = 40), venous thrombi (n = 3), pulmonary nodules (n = 10), bone lesions (n = 15), brain lesions (n = 3), and retroperitoneal masses (n = 2). Only 10 of the 73 lesions (13.7 %) were classified as having definitive radiotracer uptake (median SUV(max) = 3.25, range = 1.2–9.5), 14 lesions (19.2 %) had equivocal uptake (median SUV(max) = 2.85, range = 0.5–6.5), and 49 lesions (67.1 %) had no definitive uptake above background (median SUV(max) = 1.7, range = 0.2–3.0). The three primary renal tumors demonstrated lower radiotracer avidity relative to surrounding normal renal parenchyma. CONCLUSIONS: A small proportion of sites of non-clear cell RCC showed uptake of the PSMA-targeted radiotracer [(18)F]DCFPyL. Unlike for clear cell RCC, the results of this study indicate that PSMA-based PET is not appropriate for imaging other RCC subtypes.

Background It is well known that the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota can influence the metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of cancer therapies. Conversely, the effect of cancer treatments on the composition of the GI microbiota is poorly understood. We hypothesized that oral androgen receptor axis-targeted therapies (ATT), including bicalutamide, enzalutamide, and abiraterone acetate, may be associated with compositional differences in the GI microbiota. Methods We profiled the fecal microbiota in a cross-sectional study of 30 patients that included healthy male volunteers and men with different clinical states of prostate cancer (i.e., localized, biochemically recurrent, and metastatic disease) using 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Functional inference of identified taxa was performed using PICRUSt. Results We report a significant difference in alpha diversity in GI microbiota among men with versus without a prostate cancer diagnosis. Further analysis identified significant compositional differences in the GI microbiota of men taking ATT, including a greater abundance of species previously linked to response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Ruminococcaceae spp. In functional analyses, we found an enriched representation of bacterial gene pathways involved in steroid biosynthesis and steroid hormone biosynthesis in the fecal microbiota of men taking oral ATT. Conclusions There are measurable differences in the GI microbiota of men receiving oral ATT. We speculate that oral hormonal therapies for prostate cancer may alter the GI microbiota, influence clinical responses to ATT, and/or potentially modulate the antitumor effects of future therapies including immunotherapy. Given our findings, larger, longitudinal studies are warranted.

Thermal faceting of clean and oxygen-covered Pt nanocrystals was investigated at the nanoscale by means of field ion microscopy (FIM) and field emission microscopy (FEM) in the 500–700 K temperature range. FIM and FEM are used to study the morphology of the crystal prepared in the form of a sharp tip. The tip extremity is observed with nanoscale lateral resolution and corresponds to a suitable model of a single nanoparticle of a real catalyst. By contrast to similar studies on iridium, palladium and rhodium, small oxygen exposures (~ 10 L) and annealing treatments at 700 K did not lead to strong surface modifications. The field ion micrograph was similar to the pattern obtained for the nanocrystals annealed under vacuum conditions, revealing only low index {001} and {111} facets. For higher oxygen doses, i.e. ≥ 100 L, and in field-free conditions, the flat {100}, {111} and {113} facets were developed after annealing the tip at 700 K, which was attributed to the formation of oxide layers. For comparison, the surface modification was studied under oxygen-rich conditions but in the presence of an electric field at 700 K. The results showed that only former reconstruction was observed regardless of oxygen doses. These results are also promising in the frame of engineering catalysts since different gas exposure may lead to the extension or shrinking of specific facets, which may impact the efficiency of the catalyst.

Variation in ambient temperature affects various life stages of organisms. It has been suggested that climate change not only implies higher global temperatures but also more unpredictable weather and more frequent extreme weather events. Temperature has a major influence on the optimal laying-incubation-hatching dates of insectivorous passerines, because it poses energetic constraints and affects the timing of food abundance. We have been studying breeding characteristics of great tits Parus major and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus in two areas, an urban parkland and a deciduous forest, around the city of Łódź since 2002. During the egg-laying period in 2017, both tit species at both study areas faced an unusual cold spell as reflected by a sudden decrease in the mean ambient temperature to ca. 2–3 °C for about 5 days, which caused mean hatching delays of up to 6 days. Since flexibility of behavior plays a major role in adjusting to unpredictable weather conditions, examining its limits may be an important goal for future research.

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of microwave-vacuum pretreatment conducted at 100, 500 and 800 W on the drying kinetics of whole cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) during hybrid osmotic and microwave-vacuum drying. Additionally, the effect of microwave-vacuum pretreatment and subsequent osmo-microwave-vacuum drying on selected quality indicators of dried cranberries, including phenolic content, antioxidant activity and color, was studied, and the quality of samples was compared with freeze dried, microwave-vacuum dried and osmo-microwave-vacuum dried samples. Irrespective of microwave power, the initial pretreatment accelerated mass transfer during osmotic dehydration of cranberries, and the Weibull model well fitted the experimental data. Final microwave-vacuum drying of cranberries was a two-stage process involving a relatively long phase with a constant drying rate, followed by a short period with a decreasing drying rate. Microwave-vacuum and osmo-microwave-vacuum drying resulted in similar retention of polyphenols and similar antioxidant activity, both of which were relatively higher than in freeze-dried cranberries. However, microwave-vacuum pretreatment at low microwave power (100 W) before dehydration also resulted in high retention of phenolic compounds, high antioxidant activity and attractive color, which were consistent with the high content of total anthocyanins and flavonoids. Microwave-vacuum, osmo-microwave-vacuum and osmo-microwave-vacuum drying combined with microwave-vacuum pretreatment at low microwave power (100 W) were the most suitable methods for the production of high-quality dried whole cranberries.