Search

During the early fifth millennium BC, Linearbandkeramik groups along the Danube in Central Europe constructed hundreds of circular enclosures, or 'rondels'. These monumental sites signalled major social, economic and ideological change among these early farming communities. Their absence north of the Carpathian and Sudeten Mountains has been taken to suggest that this area lay on the periphery of this Early Neolithic world. Here, the authors report on a systematic programme of non-invasive prospection, including aerial photography, in Lower Silesia. The survey has identified eight previously undocumented rondels, significantly extending their distribution. Their detection emphasises the importance of combining prospection methods, and calls for a re-evaluation of core-periphery interpretations of Early Neolithic Central Europe. Keywords: Central Europe, Poland, Early Neolithic, enclosures, aerial photography, remote sensing, Introduction Neolithic circular enclosures, or 'rondels', are considered to be one of the earliest forms of monumental architecture in Central Europe, first appearing c. 4800 BC (Kovarnik et al. 2006; [...]

BackgroundThe effects of SARS-CoV-2 have varied between significant waves of hospitalization.Research questionAre cardiovascular complications different among the first, delta and omicron waves of hospitalized COVID-19 pneumonia patients?Study design and methodsThis was a multi-centre retrospective study of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: 632 were hospitalized during the first wave (March–July 2020), 1013 during the delta wave (September 2020–March 2021), and 323 during the omicron wave (January 2022–July 2022). Patients were stratified by wave and occurrence of cardiovascular events.ResultsAmong all hospitalized patients with cardiovascular events, patients in the omicron wave were younger (62.4 ± 14 years) than patients in the first wave (67.4 ± 7.8 years) and the delta wave (66.9 ± 12.6 years) and had a higher proportion of non-Hispanic White people than in the first wave (78.6% vs. 61.7%). For COVID-19 patients who suffered from cardiovascular events, the omicron wave patients had significantly higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, white blood cell and platelet counts when compared to the first wave. Omicron wave patients had significantly lower albumin and B-type natriuretic peptide levels (only 5.8% of the first wave and 14.6% of the delta wave) when compared to either the first wave or delta wave patients. In COVID-19 patients who suffered cardiovascular events during hospitalization, mortality rate in the omicron wave (26.8%) was significantly lower than the first wave (48.3%), time to mortality for non-survivors of COVID-19 patients who suffered cardiovascular events was significantly longer in the omicron wave (median 16 days) than in the first wave (median 10 days).ConclusionsYounger and white patients were affected with cardiovascular complications more often by the omicron variant. Despite higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and WBC counts, the omicron patients with cardiovascular events showed lower heart injuries, lower mortality and longer time to mortality for non-survivors when compared to the first and delta waves.

W artykule wskazuję na to, komu potrzebna jest pedagogika pracy. Są to: badacze zajmujący się problematyką człowieka, pedagodzy, nauczyciele, rodzice i uczniowie, a także wszyscy interesujący się edukacją. Pracę uznaję za podstawową formę aktywności wyłącznie człowieka. Z uwagi na jej zmianotwórczą moc powinna być wykorzystywana przez pedagogów w procesach edukacji. Tylko człowiek pracuje. Niezbędność badań w zakresie problematyki pracy wynika także z dążeń badaczy do zrozumienia istoty człowieka i jego człowieczeństwa. Powszechne jest oczekiwanie na unowocześnienie pedagogiki pracy. Kierunki tegoż unowocześniania są jednak różne. W prezentowanym opracowaniu wskazuję na potrzebę budowy humanistycznej pedagogiki pracy przyjmującej homocentryczny punkt widzenia w problematykę badań.

Objective: For transradial amputees, robotic prosthetic hands promise to regain the capability to perform daily living activities. Current control methods based on physiological signals such as electromyography (EMG) are prone to yielding poor inference outcomes due to motion artifacts, muscle fatigue, and many more. Vision sensors are a major source of information about the environment state and can play a vital role in inferring feasible and intended gestures. However, visual evidence is also susceptible to its own artifacts, most often due to object occlusion, lighting changes, etc. Multimodal evidence fusion using physiological and vision sensor measurements is a natural approach due to the complementary strengths of these modalities.Methods: In this paper, we present a Bayesian evidence fusion framework for grasp intent inference using eye-view video, eye-gaze, and EMG from the forearm processed by neural network models. We analyze individual and fused performance as a function of time as the hand approaches the object to grasp it. For this purpose, we have also developed novel data processing and augmentation techniques to train neural network components.Results: Our results indicate that, on average, fusion improves the instantaneous upcoming grasp type classification accuracy while in the reaching phase by 13.66% and 14.8%, relative to EMG (81.64% non-fused) and visual evidence (80.5% non-fused) individually, resulting in an overall fusion accuracy of 95.3%.Conclusion: Our experimental data analyses demonstrate that EMG and visual evidence show complementary strengths, and as a consequence, fusion of multimodal evidence can outperform each individual evidence modality at any given time.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major cause of illness and death worldwide (1,2). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies CDI as an urgent public health threat [...]

Research using stable isotopes for the reconstruction of breastfeeding strategies are based on assumptions that have not yet been verified by experimental studies. Interpreting the results of isotope analysis is associated with a certain degree of uncertainty, mainly due to the lack of information on how isotopes are distributed in mothers, breast-fed and weaned offspring. Culinary practices also can affect the interpretation of isotope results. Considering positive correlation between oxygen isotope composition of drinking water and bone phosphates, experimental studies were carried out using rats as an animal model. The experiment showed that apatites of breast-fed offspring were enriched 1.6‰ in comparison to the values observed in their mothers. In the boiled water model, the difference was 1.8‰. On the basis of the animal model, it was estimated that the difference in 18O between mother and child in the human species may amount to approximately 2.7‰, and long-term intake of boiled liquid food and beverages will not compensate the difference. The experiment allowed observation of the effect of changes in isotope ratios to a change in trophic levels during breastfeeding and weaning, as well as the additional effect associated with the consumption of isotope enriched water during thermal treatment.

The primary goal of this research endeavor is to delineate the challenges associated with classifying computer games as “aggressive or violent”. These terms are frequently invoked in media and public discourse, particularly concerning the influence of computer games on aggressive behaviours, such as those observed in mass shooting incidents. However, both a comprehensive literature review and the findings derived from this study affirm the absence of definitive criteria for characterising what truly constitutes “aggressive or violent” computer games. The data underscore the necessity for deliberation in defining the categories of aggression or violence within gaming spheres, enabling a clear demarcation between so-called aggressive or violent computer games and other types. This delineation is crucial given that most games center around competition or resolving diverse conflict scenarios, wherein various forms of aggression or violence are employed—for instance, the act of fouling a player in FIFA, a simulation of football. The research focused on computer players aged 13-14 and were selected for participation based on their behaviour related to computer games.

Abstract Introduction Nearly all existing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) incidence estimates are based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) testing of nasal or nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs. Adding testing of additional specimen types to NP swab RT–PCR increases RSV detection. However, prior studies only made pairwise comparisons and the synergistic effect of adding multiple specimen types has not been quantified. We compared RSV diagnosis by NP swab RT–PCR alone versus NP swab plus saliva, sputum, and serology. Methods This was a prospective cohort study over two study periods (27 December 2021 to 1 April 2022 and 22 August 2022 to 11 November 2022) of patients aged ≥ 40 years hospitalized for acute respiratory illness (ARI) in Louisville, KY. NP swab, saliva, and sputum specimens were collected at enrollment and PCR tested (Luminex ARIES platform). Serology specimens were obtained at acute and convalescent timepoints (enrollment and 30–60-day visit). RSV detection rate was calculated for NP swab alone and for NP swab plus all other specimen type/test. Results Among 1766 patients enrolled, 100% had NP swab, 99% saliva, 34% sputum, and 21% paired serology specimens. RSV was diagnosed in 56 (3.2%) patients by NP swab alone, and in 109 (6.2%) patients by NP swab plus additional specimens, corresponding to a 1.95 times higher rate [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62, 2.34]. Limiting the comparison to the 150 subjects with all four specimen types available (i.e., NP swab, saliva, sputum, and serology), there was a 2.60-fold increase (95% CI 1.31, 5.17) compared to NP swab alone (3.3% versus 8.7%). Sensitivities by specimen type were: NP swab 51%, saliva 70%, sputum 72%, and serology 79%. Conclusions Diagnosis of RSV in adults was several-fold greater when additional specimen types were added to NP swab, even with a relatively low percentage of subjects with sputum and serology results available. Hospitalized RSV ARI burden estimates in adults based solely on NP swab RT–PCR should be adjusted for underestimation.

Although Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) incidence is high in the United States, standard-of-care (SOC) stool collection and testing practices might result in incidence overestimation or underestimation. We conducted diarrhea surveillance among inpatients >50 years of age in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, during October 14, 2019–October 13, 2020; concurrent SOC stool collection and CDI testing occurred independently. A study CDI case was nucleic acid amplification test‒/cytotoxicity neutralization assay‒positive or nucleic acid amplification test‒positive stool in a patient with pseudomembranous colitis. Study incidence was adjusted for hospitalization share and specimen collection rate and, in a sensitivity analysis, for diarrhea cases without study testing. SOC hospitalized CDI incidence was 121/100,000 population/year; study incidence was 154/100,000 population/year and, in sensitivity analysis, 202/100,000 population/year. Of 75 SOC CDI cases, 12 (16.0%) were not study diagnosed; of 109 study CDI cases, 44 (40.4%) were not SOC diagnosed. CDI incidence estimates based on SOC CDI testing are probably underestimated.

Abstract In 2019, outbreaks of hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS) were observed in six commercial layer chicken flocks, belonging to three different Polish farms, and characterized by increased mortality, hemorrhagic hepatitis with attached blood clots on the liver surface, and splenomegaly. Diseased flocks were initially investigated for the presence of avian hepatitis E virus (aHEV) – the etiological agent of HSS – by conventional reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, which revealed aHEV sequences clustering separately from all known aHEV genotypes. Additionally, an aHEV genome was identified for the first time in common pheasants, from a flock in France, using Next Generation Sequencing. This genome clustered together with the Polish aHEVs here investigated. Complete genome aHEV sequences from the HSS outbreaks confirmed the divergent cluster, with a shared nucleotide sequence identity of 79.6–83.2% with other aHEVs, which we propose to comprise a novel aHEV genotype – genotype 7. Histology and immunohistochemistry investigations in the liver and spleen established an association between aHEV and the observed lesions in the affected birds, consolidating the knowledge on the pathogenesis of aHEV, which is still largely unknown. Thus, the present investigation extends the natural host range and genotypes of aHEV and strengthens knowledge on the pathogenesis of HSS.

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a primary pathogen in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The objective of this study was to define the epidemiology of pneumococcal pneumonia in Louisville, Kentucky, and to estimate the burden of pneumococcal pneumonia in the United States (US). This study was nested in a prospective population-based cohort study of all adult residents in Louisville, Kentucky, who were hospitalized with CAP from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2016. In hospitalized patients with CAP, urinary antigen detection of 24 S. pneumoniae serotypes (UAD-24) was performed. The annual population-based pneumococcal pneumonia incidence was calculated. The distribution of S. pneumoniae serotypes was characterized. Ecological associations between pneumococcal pneumonia and income level, race, and age were defined. Mortality was evaluated during hospitalization and at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year after hospitalization. Among the 5402 CAP patients with a UAD-24 test performed, 708 (13%) patients had pneumococcal pneumonia. The annual cumulative incidence was 93 pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalizations per 100,000 adults (95% CI = 91–95), corresponding to an estimated 226,696 annual pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalizations in the US. The most frequent serotypes were 19A (12%), 3 (11%), and 22F (11%). Clusters of cases were found in areas with low incomes and a higher proportion of Black or African American population. Pneumococcal pneumonia mortality was 3.7% during hospitalization, 8.2% at 30 days, 17.6% at 6 months, and 25.4% at 1 year after hospitalization. The burden of pneumococcal pneumonia in the US remains significant, with an estimate of more than 225,000 adults hospitalized annually, and approximately 1 out of 4 hospitalized adult patients dies within 1 year after hospitalization.

Abstract Background Tandem mass tag spectrometry (TMT labeling-LC-MS/MS) was utilized to examine the global proteomes of Atlantic halibut eggs at the 1-cell-stage post fertilization. Comparisons were made between eggs judged to be of good quality (GQ) versus poor quality (BQ) as evidenced by their subsequent rates of survival for 12 days. Altered abundance of selected proteins in BQ eggs was confirmed by parallel reaction monitoring spectrometry (PRM-LC-MS/MS). Correspondence of protein levels to expression of related gene transcripts was examined via qPCR. Potential mitochondrial differences between GQ and BQ eggs were assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and measurements of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels. Results A total of 115 proteins were found to be differentially abundant between GQ and BQ eggs. Frequency distributions of these proteins indicated higher protein folding activity in GQ eggs compared to higher transcription and protein degradation activities in BQ eggs. BQ eggs were also significantly enriched with proteins related to mitochondrial structure and biogenesis. Quantitative differences in abundance of several proteins with parallel differences in their transcript levels were confirmed in egg samples obtained over three consecutive reproductive seasons. The observed disparities in global proteome profiles suggest impairment of protein and energy homeostasis related to unfolded protein response and mitochondrial stress in BQ eggs. TEM revealed BQ eggs to contain significantly higher numbers of mitochondria, but differences in corresponding genomic mtDNA (mt-nd5 and mt-atp6) levels were not significant. Mitochondria from BQ eggs were significantly smaller with a more irregular shape and a higher number of cristae than those from GQ eggs. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that BQ Atlantic halibut eggs are impaired at both transcription and translation levels leading to endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial disorders. Observation of these irregularities over three consecutive reproductive seasons in BQ eggs from females of diverse background, age and reproductive experience indicates that they are a hallmark of poor egg quality. Additional research is needed to discover when in oogenesis and under what circumstances these defects may arise. The prevalence of this suite of markers in BQ eggs of diverse vertebrate species also begs investigation.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the stool specimen collection and Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) testing frequency from inpatients and long-term care facility (LTCF) residents with new-onset diarrhea. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all wards of 9 adult hospitals (3532 beds) and 14 LTCFs (1205 beds) in Louisville, Kentucky to identify new-onset diarrhea (≥3 loose stools in the past 24 h and not present in the preceding 24 h) among Louisville adults via electronic medical record review, nurse interviews, and patient interviews during a 1–2 week observation period in 2018–2019. Results: Among Louisville-resident inpatients, 167 patients with 9731 inpatient-days had new-onset diarrhea (1.7/100 inpatient-days). Stool specimens were collected from 32% (53/167); 12 (23%) specimens were laboratory-confirmed for C. difficile infection (CDI) (12.3 cases/10,000 inpatient-days). Among LTCF residents, 63 with 10,402 LTCF resident-days had new-onset diarrhea (0.6/100 LTCF resident-days). Stool specimens were collected from 32% (20/63); 9 (45%) specimens were laboratory-confirmed for CDI (8.6 cases/10,000 LTCF resident-days). Conclusions: New-onset diarrhea was common among inpatients and LTCF residents. Only one-third of patients with new-onset diarrhea had a stool specimen collected and tested for C. difficile—indicative of a potential CDI underdiagnosis—although, further studies are needed to confirm the extent of CDI underdiagnosis.

Abstract Background Neuraxial blocks is the recommended mode of analgesia and anesthesia in parturients with Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19). There is limited data on the hemodynamic responses to neuraxial blocks in COVID-19 patients. We aim to compare the hemodynamic responses to neuraxial blocks in COVID-19 positive and propensity-matched COVID-19 negative parturients. Methods We conducted retrospective, cross-sectional case–control study of hemodynamic changes associated with neuraxial blocks in COVID-19 positive parturients in a Tertiary care academic medical center. Fifty-one COVID-19 positive women confirmed by nasopharyngeal reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), were compared with propensity-matched COVID negative controls (n = 51). Hemodynamic changes after neuraxial block were recorded by electronic medical recording system and analyzed using paired and unpaired T- test and Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney Rank Sum tests. The primary outcome was ≥ 20% change in MAP and HR after neuraxial block placement. Results In the epidural group, 7% COVID-19 positive parturients had > 20% decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) from baseline compared to 15% COVID-19 negative parturients (P = 0.66). In the spinal group, 83% of COVID-19 positive parturients had a decrease in MAP more than 20% from baseline compared to 71% in control (P = 0.49). MAP drop of more than 40% occurred in 29% COVID positive parturients in the spinal group versus 17% in COVID-19 negative parturients (P = 0.5465). In COVID-19 positive spinal group, 54% required vasopressors whereas 38% in COVID-19 negative spinal group required vasopressors (P = 0.387). We found a significant correlation between body mass index (BMI) > 30 and hypotension in COVID ( +) parturient with odds ratio (8.63; 95% CI-1.93 – 37.21) (P = 0.007). Conclusion Incidence and severity of hypotension after neuraxial blocks were similar between COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative parturients. BMI > 30 was a significant risk factor for hypotension as described in preexisting literature, this correlation was seen in COVID-19 positive parturients. The likely reason for parturients with BMI > 30 in COVID negative patients not showing similar correlation, is that the sample size was small.

Abstract We aimed to show the complexity of NEC in the full‐term newborns. Additionally, we wanted to underline the importance of breastfeeding from the first day of life and show how deteriorating effect the antibiotics can have on gastrointestinal tract.

RNA polymerase III (RNAP III) holoenzyme activity and the processing of its products have been linked to several metabolic dysfunctions in lower and higher eukaryotes. Alterations in the activity of RNAP III-driven synthesis of non-coding RNA cause extensive changes in glucose metabolism. Increased RNAP III activity in the S. cerevisiae maf1Δ strain is lethal when grown on a non-fermentable carbon source. This lethal phenotype is suppressed by reducing tRNA synthesis. Neither the cause of the lack of growth nor the underlying molecular mechanism have been deciphered, and this area has been awaiting scientific explanation for a decade. Our previous proteomics data suggested mitochondrial dysfunction in the strain. Using model mutant strains maf1Δ (with increased tRNA abundance) and rpc128-1007 (with reduced tRNA abundance), we collected data showing major changes in the TCA cycle metabolism of the mutants that explain the phenotypic observations. Based on 13C flux data and analysis of TCA enzyme activities, the present study identifies the flux constraints in the mitochondrial metabolic network. The lack of growth is associated with a decrease in TCA cycle activity and downregulation of the flux towards glutamate, aspartate and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), the metabolic intermediate feeding the gluconeogenic pathway. rpc128-1007, the strain that is unable to increase tRNA synthesis due to a mutation in the C128 subunit, has increased TCA cycle activity under non-fermentable conditions. To summarize, cells with non-optimal activity of RNAP III undergo substantial adaptation to a new metabolic state, which makes them vulnerable under specific growth conditions. Our results strongly suggest that balanced, non-coding RNA synthesis that is coupled to glucose signaling is a fundamental requirement to sustain a cell’s intracellular homeostasis and flexibility under changing growth conditions. The presented results provide insight into the possible role of RNAP III in the mitochondrial metabolism of other cell types.

In this study, we investigated the occurrence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) in extended-spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL) and/or AmpC-type β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales isolates from free-living birds in Poland. The prevalence of the qnrB19 gene was 63%, and the distribution of isolates in terms of bacterial species was as follows: 67% (22/33) corresponded to Escherichia coli, 83% (5/6) to Rahnella aquatilis, 44% (4/9) to Enterobacter cloacae and 33% (1/3) to Klebsiella pneumoniae. The qnrB19 gene was also found in a single isolate of Citrobacter freundii. The molecular characteristics of qnrB19-positive isolates pointed to extended-spectrum beta lactamase CTX-M as the most prevalent one (89%) followed by TEM (47%), AmpC (37%) and SHV (16%). This study demonstrates the widespread occurrence of PMQR-positive and ESBL/AmpC-producing Enterobacterales isolates in fecal samples from wild birds. In this work, plasmid pAM1 isolated from Escherichia coli strain SN25556 was completely sequenced. This plasmid is 3191 nucleotides long and carries the qnrB19 gene, which mediates decreased susceptibility to quinolones. It shares extensive homology with other previously described small qnrB19-harboring plasmids. The nucleotide sequence of pAM1 showed a variable region flanked by an oriT locus and a Xer recombination site. The presence of a putative recombination site was detected, suggesting that interplasmid recombination events might have played a role in the development of pAM1. Our results highlight the broad geographical spread of ColE-type Qnr resistance plasmids in clinical and environmental isolates of Enterobacterales. As expected from the results of phenotypic susceptibility testing, no resistance genes other than qnrB19 were identified.