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Making the world a safe place has been the aim of mankind since time immemorial. Representatives of various sciences have made an appreciable effort to help this dream come true. They have constructed theoretical systems and found practical solutions to problems which are the most significant for people. Unfortunately, in many cases research carried out by representatives of humanistic and social sciences has turned out to be unfruitful. Efforts which improve relations between people are particularly crucial for educationalists, that is they try to constrain or eliminate negative relationships with the view of benefits stemming from positive relations. In spite of considerable successes both in theory as well as in practical activities, we have to constantly face the necessity to answer the question: what should be done to bring together people who are willing to cooperate and love, not to perform diverse forms of aggression and rivalry?

Background: COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it, and the United States continues to accumulate the largest number of COVID-related deaths worldwide at the time of publication. There exists a paucity of data regarding the effect of COVID-19 on adult cardiac surgery trends and outcomes on a national level. Methods: The STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was queried and analyzed from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020. The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 database was queried from February 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021. Surgical and COVID-19 volumes, trends, and outcomes were analyzed on a national and regional level. Observed-to-expected ratios were used to analyze mortality for all risk-adjustable cardiac procedures. Findings: A total of 717,103 adult cardiac surgery patients and more than 20 million COVID-19 patients were included for analysis. The South Atlantic (21.1%) and Great Lakes (17.4%) regions contributed the most patients during the study period. Nationally, there was a 52.7% reduction in overall adult cardiac surgery volume, and a 65.5% reduction in elective cases. The Mid-Atlantic region was most affected by the first COVID-19 surge, with a 69.7% reduction in overall case volume and 80.0% reduction in elective cases. In the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions, the observed-to-expected mortality for isolated coronary bypass increased as much as 1.48 times (148% increase) pre-COVID rates. After the first COVID-19 surge, nationwide cardiac surgical case volumes increased but did not return to baseline, indicating a COVID-associated deficit of cardiac surgery patients. Interpretation: This study is the largest analysis of COVID-19 related impact on adult cardiac surgery volume, trends, and outcomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiac surgery volume suffered dramatically, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions during the first surge of COVID-19 cases, with a concurrent significant increase in observed-to-expected 30-day mortality. Funding: None. Conflict of Interest: TCN – Consultant, Edwards LifeSciences, Abbott, LivaNova, CryoLife. VHT – Consultant/research, Abbott, Boston Scientific, Edwards LifeSciences, W. L. Gore & Associates, Jenavalve. APN – None. RHH – None. JAD – None. JAC – None. AR – None. HM – None.DMS – None. JPJ – None. VB – Consultant, Abbott.

Nowadays interpersonal safety in social interactions is becoming increasingly significant. Words and phrases such as hatred, hate speech, discrimination, contempt, verbal aggression, and bias-motivated crimes have been constantly present in our daily life and public discussions, which led to the new forms of social pathology. These phenomena pose a considerable danger to the social continuity, especially to the constantly evolving democracy in Poland. The main aim of the article is to attract the reader’s attention to the danger triggered by verbal aggression, which has a detrimental impact on people’s safety and their interactions in different spheres of social life.

Objective To report the successful management of a dog with septic peritonitis and septic shock secondary to enterectomy dehiscence using novel techniques for identification of intestinal dehiscence and for septic shock treatment. Case Summary A 5-year-old castrated male Bernese Mountain Dog presented for lethargy 6 days following enterotomy for foreign body obstruction. Septic peritonitis was identified due to dehiscence of the enterotomy site, and resection and anastomosis were performed using a gastrointestinal anastomosis and thoracoabdominal stapling device. Postoperatively the patient experienced severe hypotension, which responded to norepinephrine constant rate infusion (CRI) after failing to improve with fluid therapy or dopamine CRI. Further treatment included antimicrobial CRI and supportive care including careful fluid therapy. Due to low effective circulating volume paired with intersititial fluid overload and large volume abdominal effusion, fluid therapy consisted of a combination of human serum albumin, canine albumin, synthetic colloids, and isotonic crystalloids. Cryopoor plasma (CPP) was used as a source of canine albumin and intravascular volume. On Day 4, food dye was given through a nasogastric tube due to suspicion of dehiscence of the anastomosis site. Dehiscence was confirmed during abdominal exploratory, and a second resection and anastomosis was performed. Abdominal partial closure with vacuum-assisted closure device was performed. Supportive care was continued with CPP CRI and imipenem CRI. Planned relaparotomy to change the vacuum-assisted closure device was performed 48 hours later, with abdominal closure 96 hours after anastomosis. The patient was discharged on Day 15. Recheck 12 months later was normal. New or Unique Information Provided This case includes novel techniques such food dye via nasogastric tube to identify anastomosis dehiscence, use of CPP as a source of canine albumin, and antimicrobial CRI in a dog with septic peritonitis.

SummaryObjectives: To retrospectively describe cases treated via percutaneous tibial physeal fracture repair (PTPFR), using intra-operative fluoroscopy (IFL) or digital radiography (DR). To describe a technique (“spiking”), used to treat tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures.Methods: Clinical data of 14 dogs and three cats were included. The “spiking” technique was described.Results: Intra-operative fluoroscopy (n = 11) and DR (n = 6) were successfully used in 11 tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures, one combined proximal physeal and tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture, and five distal tibial/fibular physeal fractures. Surgery times ranged from eight to 54 minutes. The “spiking” technique was successfully applied in six tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture cases. Return to function was at a mean (± standard deviation) of 1.9 (± 1.6) weeks. Long-term (>12 months; n = 17) follow-up was available at a mean of 40.6 (± 13.4) months. Major complications consisted of skin irritation from a pin (distal tibia / fibula physeal fracture case; 8 weeks post-PTPFR), and a bilateral grade II medial patella luxation (tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture case; 1.5 years post-PTPFR). One case developed a mild tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture re-avulsion. All conditions in these three cases were not of clinical concern at follow-up and final outcome was graded as good in these and excellent in the other 14 cases.Clinical significance: Percutaneous tibial physeal fracture repair can be considered as a technique to treat tibial physeal fractures. The “spiking” technique was successfully applied in six dogs. A larger, prospective case series is indicated to provide additional clinical information.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.3415/VCOT-16-07-0102

Nonenzymatic glycation (NEG) begins with the non-covalent binding of a glucopyranose to a protein. The bound glucopyranose must then undergo structural modification to generate a bound electrophile that can reversibly form a Schiff base, which can then lead to Amadori intermediates, and ultimately to glycated proteins. Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is known to accelerate the glycation of human hemoglobin (HbA), although the specific mechanism(s) of Pi as an effector reagent have not been determined. The aim of this study was to determine whether Pi and a glucopyranose can concomitantly bind to HbA and react while bound within the early, noncovalent stages to generate electrophilic species capable of progress in NEG. 31P and 1HNMR of model reactions confirm that bimolecular reactions between Pi and glucopyranose occur generating modified glucose electrophiles. Computations of protein/substrate interactions predict that Pi can concomitantly bind with a glucopyranose in HbA pockets with geometries suitable for multiple acid/base mechanisms that can generate any of four transient electrophiles. Pi-facilitated mechanisms in the noncovalent stages predict that the glycation of β-Val1 of HbA to HbA1c is a “hot spot” because the β-Val1 pocket facilitates many more mechanisms than any other site. The mechanistic diversity of the Pi effect within the early noncovalent stages of NEG predicts well the overall site selectivity observed from the in vivo glycation of HbA in the presence of Pi. These insights extend our basic understanding of the NEG process and may have clinical implications for diabetes mellitus and even normal aging.

Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used in the non-trauma setting for over 30 years. However, the use of ECMO in trauma remains a difficult question, as the risk of bleeding must be weighed against the benefits of cardiopulmonary support. Methods Retrospective review of children who sustained severe thoracic trauma (chest abbreviated injury score ≥ 3) and required ECMO support between 2009 and 2016. Results Of the 425 children who experienced severe thoracic trauma, 6 (1.4%) underwent ECMO support: 67% male, median age 4.8 years, median ISS 36, median GCS 3, and overall survival 83%. The median hospital day of ECMO initiation was 2 with a median ECMO duration of 7 days. All cannulations occurred through the right neck regardless of the size of the child. Five initially had veno-venous support with 1 requiring conversion to veno-arterial (VA) support. Both children on VA support suffered devastating cerebrovascular accidents, one of which ultimately led to withdrawal of care and death. Complications in the cohort included: paraplegia (1), neurocognitive defects/dysphonia (1), infected neck hematoma (1), deep femoral venous thrombosis (1), bilateral lower extremity spasticity (1). Conclusion This small cohort supports the use of ECMO in children with severe thoracic injuries as a potentially lifesaving intervention, however, not without significant complication. Level of Evidence IV.

The paper presents the most significant factors that in-fluence interpersonal and group communication in multi-cultural environment in education. It highlights main the-ories of intercultural communication and its effectiveness as well as ones which deal with coping with conflicts in the intercultural environment. In contemporary times, which require working in multicultural environment, communicative skills become more and more important. In teachers’ work cultural awareness and being open-minded about differences between nations and cultures are essential. These skills are especially important while there is a need to avoid or overcome problems, conflicts which may occur. The author shows the significance of these factors. The article closes with the recommenda-tions and clues concerning effective intercultural com-munication.

This perspective focuses on illustrating the underappreciated connections between reactive carbonyl species (RCS), initial binding in the nonenzymatic glycation (NEG) process, and nonenzymatic covalent protein modification (here termed NECPM). While glucose is the central species involved in NEG, recent studies indicate that the initially-bound glucose species in the NEG of human hemoglobin (HbA) and human serum albumin (HSA) are non-RCS ring-closed isomers. The ring-opened glucose, an RCS structure that reacts in the NEG process, is most likely generated from previously-bound ring-closed isomers undergoing concerted acid/base reactions while bound to protein. The generation of the glucose RCS can involve concomitantly-bound physiological species (e.g., inorganic phosphate, water, etc.); here termed effector reagents. Extant NEG schemes do not account for these recent findings. In addition, effector reagent reactions with glucose in the serum and erythrocyte cytosol can generate RCS (e.g., glyoxal, glyceraldehyde, etc.). Recent research has shown that these RCS covalently modify proteins in vivo via NECPM mechanisms. A general scheme that reflects both the reagent and mechanistic diversity that can lead to NEG and NECPM is presented here. A perspective that accounts for the relationships between RCS, NEG, and NECPM can facilitate the understanding of site selectivity, may help explain overall glycation rates, and may have implications for the clinical assessment/control of diabetes mellitus. In view of this perspective, concentrations of ribose, fructose, Pi, bicarbonate, counter ions, and the resulting RCS generated within intracellular and extracellular compartments may be of importance and of clinical relevance. Future research is also proposed.

This perspective focuses on illustrating the underappreciated connections between reactive carbonyl species (RCS), initial binding in the nonenzymatic glycation (NEG) process, and nonenzymatic covalent protein modification (here termed NECPM). While glucose is the central species involved in NEG, recent studies indicate that the initially-bound glucose species in the NEG of human hemoglobin (HbA) and human serum albumin (HSA) are non-RCS ring-closed isomers. The ring-opened glucose, an RCS structure that reacts in the NEG process, is most likely generated from previously-bound ring-closed isomers undergoing concerted acid/base reactions while bound to protein. The generation of the glucose RCS can involve concomitantly-bound physiological species (e.g., inorganic phosphate, water, etc.); here termed effector reagents. Extant NEG schemes do not account for these recent findings. In addition, effector reagent reactions with glucose in the serum and erythrocyte cytosol can generate RCS (e.g., glyoxal, glyceraldehyde, etc.). Recent research has shown that these RCS covalently modify proteins in vivo via NECPM mechanisms. A general scheme that reflects both the reagent and mechanistic diversity that can lead to NEG and NECPM is presented here. A perspective that accounts for the relationships between RCS, NEG, and NECPM can facilitate the understanding of site selectivity, may help explain overall glycation rates, and may have implications for the clinical assessment/control of diabetes mellitus. In view of this perspective, concentrations of ribose, fructose, Pi, bicarbonate, counter ions, and the resulting RCS generated within intracellular and extracellular compartments may be of importance and of clinical relevance. Future research is also proposed.

The article presents the most significant factors that influence interpersonal and group communication in a multicultural environment in the field of education. It emphasizes both the basic theories of intercultural communication and their effectiveness, and theories that solve the problems of overcoming conflicts in the intercultural environment. In our time, when it is necessary to work in a multicultural environment, communication skills are becoming increasingly important. In the work of the teacher, cultural awareness and understanding of the differences between nations and cultures is important. These skills are especially needed when it is necessary to avoid or overcome possible problems, conflicts. The author shows the significance of these factors. The article concludes with recommendations and advice on effective intercultural communication., L'article présente les facteurs les plus importants qui affectent la communication interpersonnelle et de groupe dans un environnement multiculturel dans le domaine de l'éducation. Ici, il a souligné que la théorie de base de la communication interculturelle et son efficacité, et la théorie que résoudre le problème de surmonter les conflits dans un environnement interculturel. A notre époque, quand il est nécessaire de travailler dans un environnement multiculturel, les compétences de communication sont de plus en plus important. En tant que travail des enseignants sensibilisation et la compréhension culturelle des différences entre les nations et les cultures est importante. Ces compétences sont particulièrement nécessaires quand il est nécessaire d'éviter ou de résoudre les problèmes éventuels, les conflits. L'auteur montre l'importance de ces facteurs. L'article se termine par des recommandations et des conseils pour la communication interculturelle efficace., В статье представлены наиболее значимые факторы, которые влияют на межличностные и групповые коммуникации в поликультурной среде в области образования. Здесь подчеркнуто как основные теории межкультурной коммуникации и их эффективность, так и теории, которые решают проблемы преодоления конфликтов в межкультурной среде. В наше время, когда необходимо работать в мультикультурной среде, коммуникативные навыки становятся все более важ-ными. В работе преподавателя культурная осведомленность и понимание различий между нациями и культурами имеет важное значение. Эти навыки особенно нужны тогда, когда необходимо избежать или преодолеть возможные проблемы, конфликты. Автор показывает значение этих факторов. Статья завершается рекомендациями и советами, касающиеся эффективного межкультурного общения., У статті представлені найбільш значущі фактори, які впливають на міжособистісні та групові комунікації в полікультурному середовищі в галузі освіти. Тут підкреслено як основні теорії міжкультурної комунікації та їх ефективність, так і ті теорії, які вирішують проблеми подолання конфліктів у міжкультурному середовищі. У наш час, коли необхідно працювати в мультикультурному середовищі, комунікативні навички стають все більш важливими. У роботі викладача культурна обізнаність та усвідомлення відмінностей між націями і культурами має важливе значення. Ці навички особливо потрібні тоді, коли є необхідність уникнути або подолати можливі проблеми, конфлікти. Автор показує значення цих факторів. Стаття завершується рекомендаціями та порадами, що стосуються ефективного міжкультурного спілкування.

The role of olfaction in the reproductive behavior of fishes is complex and not well understood. Olfactory signals may be important in communicating species identity, signaling the reproductive state of individuals, and initiating courtship behavior of males. The objective of this research was to study the influence of female visual and olfactory cues on the courtship behavior of male Kenyi Cichlids, Pseudotropheus lombardoi. Individual males were presented with gravid females contained in different types of chambers. Chambers varied in the color of their walls (black or clear) and in the type of their walls (solid or perforated). Clear chambers permitted males to receive visual cues, whereas perforated chambers allowed males to receive olfactory cues. Each male was presented with females contained in clear perforated (CP), clear solid (CS), black perforated (BP), and black solid (BS) chambers. Three-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) revealed that for six of the seven behaviors investigated, wall ...