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The present paper investigates linguistic data that include hate speech motivated by the alleged or real ethnic or national identity of its addressee in German and Polish Internet-based communication. Focusing on hate speech on Facebook, this paper contributes to the studies of hate speech (e.g. Meibauer, 2013; Meibauer, 2021) in online communication (e.g. Baider & Constantinou, 2020; He et al., 2021; Founta & Specia, 2021) and, in a more general sense, to the vast area of research on the use of aggressive language. Based on a representative corpus, the predominant categories of user-generated hateful statements are teased out relative to their form and stance by means of critical discourse analysis and corpus linguistics tools. In the analytical part, we discuss the discursive practices used in the posts, together with the meanings they communicate, followed by a comparative analysis of their frequencies in comparable corpora. Our findings confirm that hate speech is linguistically conditioned by its socio-cultural context. For instance, our contrastive analysis of German and Polish online data indicates that the two nationalities use different discursive practices to express their aversion to the Other, and that Polish comments are more overtly insulting than German comments.

The paper analyses thermal comfort of people wearing face masks. The study took place in the selected classrooms of the smart building "Energis" located in Poland. In the experiments 100 respondents participated. They filled in the questionnaire forms, in which they expressed their subjective assessment of the indoor thermal environment. Simultaneously, measurements of the physical parameters within the rooms were performed with a microclimate meter. The results clearly show that the use of face masks influenced thermal sensations of the people - they felt warmer than without the face mask on (at the same air temperature). Moreover, the respondents who wore the masks indicated that the air was more humid in relation to the case when the masks are not applied. The comparison of the obtained actual thermal sensations of the respondents with the calculation results according to the thermal comfort model proved that the model was unable to properly predict thermal sensations of people wearing face masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The final result of rolling bearing quality control is influenced by many factors that are not always taken into account. If non-conforming products leave the factory, then the reliability of equipment containing rolling bearings is significantly weakened. The paper presents an analysis of the reasons for the variability of vibration measurement results in rolling bearing quality control. The paper describes the organisation of rolling bearing acceptance inspection on the production line and its place in the rolling bearing production process. The study evaluates the influence of the measuring device and the location of the sensor on the result of the rolling bearing vibration monitoring process. The problem of repeatability and reproducibility of rolling bearing vibration measurement was also investigated. On the basis of the obtained results, conclusions were drawn regarding the improvement of the quality control process of rolling bearings in production plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article’s subject is the transformation of film distribution models due to post-pandemic changes and the development of streaming platforms. The text identifies four currently coexisting models of film distribution, in which the novelty is the shortening of the exclusivity windows for screenings of premiere film titles only in cinemas. An analysis of the traditional model, based on the priority of the cinema window, is presented, followed by new models: the corporate production model, the executive production model, the mixed model, and the traditional 2.0 model. The methodological assumptions of the article were based on the use of not only printed sources but also in-depth interviews with market participants (producers, distributors, and cinema managers). In the article, we use BMC (Business Model Canvas) to precisely determine the logic of operation of currently coexisting competing models and the principal value offered to consumers in them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are modern epidemics worldwide and have become a severe public health problem. Chronic kidney disease progression in T2D patients is linked to the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation and represents the risk factor predisposing to serious cardiovascular complications. In recent years, important progress has occurred in nephroprotective pharmacotherapy in CKD patients with T2D. In the current position paper, we described a nephroprotective approach in CKD patients with T2D based on the five following pillars: effective antihyperglycemic treatment, SGLT2 inhibitor or semaglutide, antihypertensive therapy, use of RASi (ARB or ACEi), and in selected patients, finerenone, as well as sodium bicarbonate in patients with metabolic acidosis. We thought that the current statement is comprehensive and up-to-date and addresses multiple pathways of nephroprotection in patients with CKD and T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic glasses, especially those based on zirconium have garnered significant attention due to their unique amorphous structure, offering a combination of high strength, corrosion resistance, and unique wear properties. The cold spray process, a solid-state coating deposition method, has emerged as a promising technique for applying metallic glass coatings, preserving the amorphous structure. The presented studies aimed to analyze the microstructure and mechanical properties of a cold sprayed Zr-based amorphous powder. The coating was sprayed using the Impact Innovations 5/8 system with the robot Fanuc M-20iA at Kielce University of Technology. The feedstock used for this study was commercial AMZ-4 powder. The high kinetic energy of feedstock particles and their morphology caused significant deformation, and particular splats strongly adhered to the substrate and each other. Throughout the cross-section, the coating was homogenous and exhibited negligible porosity. On the other hand, histograms and probability distributions of the hardness and Young's modulus of cold sprayed coating showed significant differences. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the deposited coating had the same amorphous structure as the feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, we aimed to determine the presence of any potential gender differences and relationships in terms of creativity, physical activity (PA), motor fitness, and motor creativity in children aged 8–9 years. Methods: The study included 195 primary school children (92 girls and 103 boys) aged 8–9 years old from grade 2. To determine creativity, the Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing Production was used, while motor creativity was assessed using Torrance's 'Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement' test. Motor fitness was assessed with the selected items from the Eurofit battery and Piórkowski tests. The level of moderate-to-vigorous PA was determined with the Physical Activity Screening Measure. The Mann–Whitney U test was employed for in-between group comparison and Spearman's correlation to determine relationships between the variables. Results: The results of the research showed the presence of differences in motor fitness between boys and girls, but no differences in PA, creativity, as well as motor creativity between genders. Moreover, it was found there was no association between PA and motor fitness and creativity or motor creativity in either boys or girls at this age. Conclusions: Thus, it can be assumed that to develop creativity through PA in children aged 8–9 years, it might be necessary to create an appropriate environment and strategy that will strengthen, inspire, and promote children's creativity through movement. Having established that there is no difference in creativity between genders at this age, it was pointed out that it is necessary to look for teaching methods that would effectively awaken this ability in a co-educational setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the number of scientific publications on the role of intestinal microbiota in shaping human health, as well as the occurrence of intestinal dysbiosis in various disease entities, has increased dynamically. However, there is a gap in comprehensively understanding the factors influencing a child’s gut microbiota. This review discusses the establishment of gut microbiota and the immunological mechanisms regulating children’s microbiota, emphasising the importance of prioritising the development of appropriate gut microbiota in a child from the planning stages of pregnancy. The databases PubMed, Web of Sciences, Cochrane, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant articles. A child’s gut microbiota composition is influenced by numerous factors, such as diet during pregnancy, antibiotic therapy, the mother’s vaginal microbiota, delivery method, and, later, feeding method and environmental factors. During pregnancy, the foetus naturally acquires bacterial strains from the mother through the placenta, thereby shaping the newborn’s immune system. Inappropriate maternal vaginal microbiota may increase the risk of preterm birth. Formula-fed infants typically exhibit a more diverse microbiota than their breastfed counterparts. These factors, among others, shape the maturation of the child’s immune system, impacting the production of IgA antibodies that are central to cellular humoral immune defence. Further research should focus on identifying specific microbiota–immune system interactions influencing a child’s immune health and developing personalised treatment strategies for immune-related disorders.

Tekst jest recenzją książki Krzysztofa Loski W cieniu Imperium Wschodzącego Słońca. Japoński projekt kolonialny i kultura filmowa w Azji Wschodniej (2022) poświęconej planowi imperialnemu realizowanemu przez Japonię od końca XIX w. do 1945 r. Znaczącą rolę odgrywało w nim kino. Zaletą publikacji jest ukazanie projektu kolonialnego prowadzonego przez mocarstwo niezachodnie w odniesieniu do wspólnot pokrewnych kulturowo hegemonowi. W książce omówiono dzieje japońskiego planu kolonizacyjnego realizowanego względem podbitych społeczeństw Tajwanu, Korei oraz Chin. Istotnym elementem analiz jest przedstawienie polityki pamięci. Wywód historyczny uzupełniają interludia poświęcone współczesnym filmom traktującym o wydarzeniach historycznych związanych z japońskimi próbami mocarstwowymi.

The detection of dairy processing is pivotal to our understanding of ancient subsistence strategies. This culinary process is linked to key arguments surrounding the evolution of lactase persistence in prehistory. Despite extensive evidence indicating the presence of dairy products in ceramics in the European Neolithic, questions remain about the nature and extent of milk (and lactose) processing and consumption. In order to investigate past patterns of dairy processing, here we analyse ancient proteins identified from Late Neolithic Funnel Beaker ceramics, scrutinizing the principle that curd and whey proteins partition during the production of dairy foods from milk. Our results indicate the presence of casein-rich dairy products in these vessels suggesting the creation of curd-enriched products from raw milk. Moreover, this analysis reveals the use of multiple species for their dairy products in the Late Neolithic, adding to a growing body of evidence for the period. Alongside palaeoproteomic analysis, we applied well-established lipid residue analysis. Differential interpretations between these two approaches show that palaeoproteomics is especially useful where the effects from isotope mixing may underestimate the frequency of dairy products in archaeological ceramics, highlighting the potential utility of a multi-stranded approach to understand life histories of vessel use.

W artykule zostaje postawione pytanie o możliwość istnienia w światowym przemyśle filmowym różnych kultur produkcji. Innymi słowy: czy można w tym względzie wyodrębnić jakąś alternatywną dla tej zachodniej (hollywoodzkiej czy też europejskiej), traktowanej jako uniwersalna. Przykładem tak rozumianej różnorodności dotyczącej procesu produkcji są kinematografie indyjskie (bollywoodzka oraz tamilska). Materiał badawczy stanowiły wywiady z pracownikami polskich ekip produkcyjnych indyjskich filmów. Współpraca ta była okazją do spotkania (lub zderzenia) dwóch kultur produkcji na planie jednego filmu. Na podstawie wywiadów zrekonstruowano osiem kluczowych różnic między europejską i indyjską kulturą produkcji. Umożliwiają one identyfikację modelu alternatywnego, opartego w mniejszym stopniu na procedurach, dokumentacji i planowaniu każdego elementu procesu produkcyjnego, a w większym na spontaniczności i elastyczności w podejściu do niego.

Objectives: ABO blood type was hypothesised to be related to a number of infertility processes. There is still an open debate on ABO blood group's incompatibility and infertility. It was associated with ovarian reserve in women with subfertility. There is still not enough information on the influence of blood type and the immunology of follicular fluid (FF). Material and methods: 78 patients were selected, who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) between April 2021 and January 2022. FF samples from each individual patient were taken on the day of ovarian puncture and stored at -80°C until immunological assessment. Concentration of chosen interleukins - IL-1a, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8 IL-10, IL-15, IL-1ß, IL-18, IFN, LIF, TNFa, GCSF and PIBF-1 were measured using commercially available ELISA kits. Results: All assessed cytokines were present in the FF of exanimated patients. The concentration was compared to the blood type ABO of all women undergoing in vitro fertilization. No statistical relevance was found between blood type ABO and the concentration of GCSF, PIBF1, LIF, IL-15, IL-5, IL-8, IL-1 alfa, IL-1 beta, INF gamma, IL-2HS, IL-4HS, IL-6HS, IL-10HS in the FF obtained during ovarian puncture (p > 0,05). There was no statistically significant correlation between blood type ABO and the quality of embryo, and the positive pregnancy test in patients undergoing IVF/ET. Conclusions: The blood type ABO does not influence the wide cytokine profile of FF obtained during ovarian puncture in women with infertility of different origin, as well as embryo quality and pregnancy rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to provide an overview of available information on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of Epilobium angustifolium extracts. A literature search of Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and June 2023 was undertaken. A total of 23 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. Significant variation of antimicrobial activity depending on the tested species and strains, type of extract solvent, or plant organs utilized for the extract preparation was found. E. angustifolium extracts were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and showed antimycotic effects against the fungi of Microsporum canis and Trichophyton tonsurans and the dermatophytes Arthroderma spp. Greater susceptibility of Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria to fireweed extracts was found. A strong antibacterial effect was recorded for Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii including multi-drug resistant strains. E. angustifolium extract might find practical application as an antimicrobial in wound healing, components of cosmetic products for human and animals, or as food preservatives.

Objective Cytokines and enzymes in follicular fluid (FF) may have a crucial role in fertility. This study aimed to analyse the results of in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET) and compare them with matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and cytokine concentrations in FF. Methods This case–control study included 20 randomly selected patients with a positive pregnancy (PPG) test and 20 with a negative pregnancy (NPG) test after IVF/ET. In FF obtained during oocyte retrieval, the concentrations of soluble forms of MMP-9, interleukin 1 (IL-1) alpha, IL-1 beta, interferon gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were measured. Their effect on the characteristics of follicles, embryos, and the efficiency of IVF and ET were analysed. Results High-sensitivity IL-4 concentrations were significantly higher in patients with a PPG test than in those with an NPG test (3.15 ± 3.23 vs 1.91 ± 0.35 pg/mL). The number of top-quality embryos achieved was significantly higher in patients with a PPG test than in those with an NPG test (2.6 ± 1.39 vs 1.75 ± 1.21), and they were negatively correlated with IL-8 concentrations in FF. Conclusion Further research on the role of IL-4 and IL-8 in FF is required to establish any clinical benefit of determining their concentrations in FF of infertile women.

Some of the most common power quality disturbances are voltage fluctuations. They are interconnected with the presence of voltage subharmonics and interharmonics. Voltage fluctuations, subharmonics and interharmonics exert a negative effect on various elements of a power system, including cage induction motors. This work is devoted to the impact of voltage fluctuations on the current of a one-phase induction motor. The results of empirical investigations are presented for sinusoidal amplitude modulations of various frequencies and are compared with the effects of voltage subharmonics occurring as a single power quality disturbance.