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The use of hand-held mobile phones by drivers and pedestrians is common and is becoming more common every year. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our everyday life, accompanying us in almost every respect. Modern smartphones perform functions that go far beyond their original purpose as devices for making telephone calls. We use them for GPS navigation and electronic banking. Moreover, using mobile applications, we can make purchases and sales of products quickly and safely. The number of people owning mobile phones is growing all over the world, and access to the Internet, which is an integral part of the functioning of modern smartphones, is becoming more and more common. Basic functions of mobile phones, such as making and receiving calls or sending short SMS messages, have long ceased to be sufficient. Thanks to them, we can conduct videoconferences, use advanced applications for time management or health monitoring, and even perform complex professional tasks in mobile mode. Thus, the growing popularity and versatility of mobile phones make them an indispensable tool in our everyday lives, not only as a means of communication, but also as an irreplaceable source of information, a work tool and a facilitation in everyday activities. The aim of the article is to find out respondents' predispositions to use telephones made of corrugated cardboard during activities such as walking on the street, side of the road, sidewalk, while crossing a pedestrian crossing and while driving. The lack of statistics on road accidents caused by the use of a telephone makes it difficult to determine how big a problem it is to use a telephone in situations where we should maintain limited trust in other road users. The research shows that respondents use a mobile phone while crossing a pedestrian crossing or driving a vehicle. In addition, as many as 19% of respondents admit that they have crossed a pedestrian crossing at least once. The conducted surveys and observational studies constitute an introduction to the development of a system for detecting pedestrians and drivers using mobile phones.

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are transcription factors that reprogram the transcriptome for cells to survive hypoxic insults and oxidative stress. They are important during embryonic development and reprogram the cells to utilize glycolysis when the oxygen levels are extremely low. This metabolic change facilitates normal cell survival as well as cancer cell survival. The key feature in survival is the transition between acute hypoxia and chronic hypoxia, and this is regulated by the transition between HIF-1 expression and HIF-2/HIF-3 expression. This transition is observed in many human cancers and endothelial cells and referred to as the HIF Switch. Here we discuss the mechanisms involved in the HIF Switch in human endothelial and cancer cells which include mRNA and protein levels of the alpha chains of the HIFs. A major continuing effort in this field is directed towards determining the differences between normal and tumor cell utilization of this important pathway, and how this could lead to potential therapeutic approaches.

Paediatric supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a common arrhythmia of great clinical significance. If not treated promptly, it can cause heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Depending on the patient’s condition, SVT treatment involves vagal manoeuvres, pharmacological, or direct current cardioversion. The goal of acute SVT management is to immediately convert SVT to a normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and prevent its recurrence. Adenosine is recommended as the first-line treatment for stable SVT by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, when vagal manoeuvres have proven ineffective. The ERC and AHA guidelines recommend the intravenous route of administration. The intraosseous (IO) administration technique is also possible, but still relatively unknown. The aim of this paper is to describe a 3.5-year-old child with SVT that was converted to NSR following IO administration of adenosine. Successful conversion was achieved after the second attempt with the adenosine dose. In the described case, there was no recurrence of SVT.

The study investigates the efficacy of an enzymatic preparation primarily with α-galactosidase activity for improving the quality of white sugar from poor-quality sugar beets. Focused on overcoming raffinose accumulation challenges in sugar beets, especially those harvested prematurely or stored for extended periods, an innovative exploration of enzymatic application in an industrial setting for the first time was conducted. By integrating theoretical calculations and experimental data, the findings reveal that α-galactosidase preparation notably diminishes raffinose content in beet juice, thus enhancing the sucrose yield and overall sugar quality. A reliable method to process lower-quality beets, promising enhanced efficiency in sugar production, was presented. The study also highlights the economic benefits of incorporating enzyme preparation into the production process, demonstrating a notable return on investment and underscoring the potential of enzymatic treatments to address industry challenges.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, taking place since 24.02.2022, reflects the grow-ing antagonism between civilisations, becoming a test for Europe’s alliance with the United States (the Atlantic civilisation) and a test of the strength of the ties between Russia, China, and India (the Pacific civilisation). The “special military operation” carried out by the Russians inside Ukraine is fraught with manipulation. It is also an abuse of the R2P doctrine. The attempt to annihilate the Ukrainian people by destroying Ukrainian critical infrastructure linked to European infrastructure makes it clear that the involvement of NATO countries is inevitable. These events have become the background for the emergence of a new subjective right – the right to secure critical infrastructure allowing for continued operations of both states and societies. After the end of military operations, it will be necessary to determine the war reparations and to shape a new consciousness of the Ukrainian people. These considerations lead also to the question of when and how Russia’s aggression on Ukrainian territory will end. The authors of the article are unable to answer the first of these questions, for obvious reasons. The second question, however, may be answered based on a vision of the future new world order.

Trwająca od 24.02.2022 agresja Rosji na Ukrainę stanowi odzwierciedlenie nara- stających antagonizmów pomiędzy cywilizacjami, będąc w efekcie testem dla sojuszu Europy z Ameryką (w łonie cywilizacji Atlantyku) oraz sprawdzianem wiarygodności więzi łączących Rosję, Chiny i Indie (w łonie cywilizacji Pacyfiku). „Akcja specjalna” prowadzona przez Rosjan na terenie Ukrainy podszyta jest mani- pulacją i stanowi nadużycie doktryny R2P. Próba unicestwienia narodu ukraińskie- go poprzez niszczenie ukraińskiej infrastruktury krytycznej, powiązanej z infra- strukturą europejską uzmysławia, że dla trwającego konfliktu nieuniknione jest zaangażowanie krajów NATO. Na tle tych wydarzeń rodzi się nowe prawo pod- miotowe – prawo do bezpiecznej infrastruktury krytycznej, pozwalające na ciągłość działania zarówno państw, jak i społeczeństw. Po zakończeniu działań wojennych potrzebne będzie ustalenie odszkodowań wojennych oraz ukształtowanie nowej świadomości narodu ukraińskiego. Na tle tych rozważań pojawia się również pytanie, kiedy i jak zakończy się agresja Rosji na terytorium Ukrainy. Na pierwsze z pytań autorzy z oczywistych względów nie dają odpowiedzi, na drugie z kolei starają się odpowiedzieć w oparciu o wizję przyszłego nowego porządku świata

The aim of this review is to discuss the numerous health-promoting properties of Cichorium intybus L. and bring together a range of publications to broaden knowledge and encourage further research and consideration of the plant use as treatment for a range of conditions. A comprehensive search of articles in Polish and English from 1986–2022 years was carried out in PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect using the keywords chicory, Cichorium intybus L., sesquiterpene lactones and their synonyms. Articles were checked for titles, abstracts, and full-text reviews. The first part of the review article discusses chicory, the countries in which it is found, its life cycle or modern cultivation methods, as well as its many uses, which will be discussed in more detail later in the article. The increased interest in plants as medicines or supplements is also briefly mentioned, as well as some limits that are associated with the medical use of plants. In the Results and Discussion section, there is a discussion of the numerous health-promoting properties of Cichorium intybus L. as a whole plant, with its collection of all the components, and we then examine the structure and the individual constituents of Cichorium intybus L. Among these, this article discusses those that can be utilized for causal applications in medicine, including sesquiterpene lactones and polyphenols, mainly known for their anti-cancer properties, although, in this article, their other health-promoting properties are also discussed. The article also examines inulin, a major component of Cichorium intybus L. The Discussion and the Conclusions sections propose directions for more detailed research and the range of factors that may affect specific results, which may have safety implications when used as supplements or medications.

The article presents the results of research on the relationship between the technical condition of motorcycle shock absorbers determined on the diagnostic line and their damping characteristics. The basic division of shock absorber tests was characterized, which includes tests of shock absorbers installed in the motorcycle and disassembled, carried out on a test stand made of MTS components. The results of two sets of shock absorbers tested using the EUSAMA and THETA methods, as well as tested on a stand for testing shock absorbers removed from a motorcycle, are discussed. Based on the obtained results, the best method of diagnosing shock absorbers was indicated.

Problematyka angelologiczna w wiekopomnym dziele św. Augustyna De civitate Dei zajmuje miejsce centralne. Myśliciel z Tagasty kreśli w nim chrześcijański portret aniołów bliskich ludziom, których często nazywa: aniołami świętymi (sancti angeli), naszymi aniołami (nostri angeli) albo aniołami dobrymi (angeli boni). Choć biskup Hippony nie pomija kwestii stworzenia i natury aniołów, to jednak ich funkcji i posłudze na rzecz ludzi daje zdecydowany priorytet, co potwierdza choćby użycie łacińskiego terminu angelus, który znaczy dla niego tyle, co nuntius, a więc zwiastun, posłaniec. Służba aniołów na rzecz ludzi, ich ministerium, ma coś w sobie z pracy rolnika troszczącego się o płody ziemi czy z poświęcenia matki zatroskanej o otrzymane życie. Nawet jeśli aniołowie służą i Bogu i ludziom, to jednak dla tych ostatnich nie są pośrednikami, gdyż jedynym pośrednikiem między Bogiem i ludźmi jest Człowiek-Jezus Chrystus. Duchy niebieskie nie udzielają ludziom swojej nieśmiertelności i szczęśliwości i nie przez uczestnictwo z nimi te nadprzyrodzone dary stają się także udziałem człowieka. Ludzie powinni naśladować dobrą wolę świętych aniołów i w ich prawdziwej i wolnej od słabości uczuć miłości wzrastać. Aniołowie prowadzą ludzi do pełnej chwały prawdziwego Boga i sprzeciwiają się, aby jakiekolwiek ofiary były i im składane. O obecności aniołów starochrześcijański myśliciel przypomina także w dniu ostatecznym, kiedy to ich zadaniem będzie zebranie sprawiedliwych. W ostatecznym wymiarze życia wiecznego zapowiedziana przez Chrystusa równość (aequalitas) ludzi z aniołami będzie pełnią życia w Bogu.

The role of sequential chemoradiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who are not eligible for concurrent therapy has not been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of Karnofsky performance status (KPS) monitoring and to define the factors determining clinical deterioration during sequential chemoradiotherapy in patients treated from July 2009 to October 2014. The study included 196 patients. The clinical stage was defined as III A in 94 patients (48%) and III B in 102 patients (52%). Reduced KPS was found in 129 patients (65.8%). Baseline KPS had no significant prognostic significance. Deterioration of KPS during chemoradiotherapy was observed in 53 patients (27%) and had a negative predictive value for both worse-progression free survival (HR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.03–1.99; p = 0.03) and overall survival (HR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.02–1, 99; p = 0.04). The deterioration of KPS correlated with the disease control rate 6 weeks after the end of chemoradiotherapy (p = 0.0085). The risk of KPS worsening increased with each subsequent day between the end of chemotherapy and the start of radiotherapy (OR = 1.03; 95%CI: 1.01–1.05; p = 0.001), but decreased with each year of older age of patients (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.9–0.98, p = 0.009). The time between the end of chemotherapy and the start of radiotherapy determined the prognosis of NSCLC after chemoradiotherapy. It should be adjusted to the age of patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-pandemic measures taken have significantly affected the activities of the society and the associated need for mobility, as well as the transport behaviour of inhabitants. The goal of this research is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the change in the demand of residents for suburban bus transport (SBT) services in the regions of Slovakia. Due to the impact of the pandemic of COVID-19, there was a decrease in the number of passengers transported by SBT as well as a decrease in the supply of bus services offered in all the regions under study. The decrease in the number of passengers in the pandemic year was caused not only by COVID-19 and the anti-pandemic measures, but also by the reduction in the supply of SBT. The research confirmed the relation between the reduction in the offer of SBT and the decrease in passenger demand.

Transport is one of the most important economic sectors in the world. It is a fundamental and important element of a country’s GDP. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is considered one of the most important indicators of economic performance of a country. GDP can be compiled for both a country and a region. Changes in technology and economic structure of the production system of an area are the central issues of long-term economic growth according to the increase in the gross value added of a region. In this paper, the authors focus on finding out how the development of road freight transport performance affects the economy of a region. At the same time, they try to answer the question to what extent transport regulation can influence the economic development of an area. The research is mainly focused on EU policies aimed at regulating road freight transport.

Macrophage activation syndrome is an uncommon yet dangerous and potentially fatal complication of many rheumatic diseases, inducing multiple organ failure, including, although rarely, acute heart failure. In the following paper, we present a case of a 37-year-old woman who, in a short period of time after a gynecological procedure due to fetal death, developed full-blown lupus erythematosus leading to early stages of macrophage activation syndrome with acute heart failure as its main clinical manifestation. We also include herein a brief literature review of the current understanding of diverse macrophage populations and their functions in various organs (focusing especially on the heart muscle), as well as a summary of different attempts at composing concise criteria for diagnosing macrophage activation syndrome.

Influence of agroclimatic conditions on active substances content in hemp cultivated in the South-East Baltic region Abstract: Due to legal regulations prohibiting cultivation of cannabis (Cannabis indica Lam.) in many countries, industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) remains the main source of active substances with potential application in the pharmaceutical industry. To assess the possibility of using the varieties of industrial hemp for this goal, and their adaptation to the habitat conditions and the agricultural technology appropriate for them, we investigated three monoecious varieties of hemp (‘Futura 75,’ ‘KC Dora’ and ‘Tygra’) at different sowing densities (60 germinating seeds·1 m2 or 180 germinating seeds·1 m2) and nitrogen fertilization levels (0, 30, 60, 90 kg·ha−1). In none of the tested hemp varieties registered as fibrous did the concentration of Δ9-THC exceed 0.2%, satisfying the requirements of European legislation for industrial hemp varieties. The tested varieties did not differ significantly in the cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9 -THC) content in the dry matter of inflorescences. Agronomic factors such as sowing density or nitrogen fertilization did not modify the content of CBD and Δ9-THC. This result is very helpful for farmers, because it allows them to select hemp varieties of dual-purpose production (stems and inflorescences or stems and seeds) adapted to the South-East Baltic environment.

Abstract The hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) are transcription factors that activate the adaptive hypoxic response when oxygen levels are low. The HIF transcriptional program increases oxygen delivery by inducing angiogenesis and by promoting metabolic reprograming that favors glycolysis. The two major HIFs, HIF-1 and HIF-2, mediate this response during prolonged hypoxia in an overlapping and sequential fashion that is referred to as the HIF switch. Both HIF proteins consist of an unstable alpha chain and a stable beta chain. The instability of the alpha chains is mediated by prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) activity during normoxic conditions, which leads to ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of the alpha chains. During normoxic conditions, very little HIF-1 or HIF-2 alpha–beta dimers are present because of PHD activity. During hypoxia, however, PHD activity is suppressed, and HIF dimers are stable. Here we demonstrate that HIF-1 expression is maximal after 4 h of hypoxia in primary endothelial cells and then is dramatically reduced by 8 h. In contrast, HIF-2 is maximal at 8 h and remains elevated up to 24 h. There are differences in the HIF-1 and HIF-2 transcriptional profiles, and therefore understanding how the transition between them occurs is important and not clearly understood. Here we demonstrate that the HIF-1 to HIF-2 transition during prolonged hypoxia is mediated by two mechanisms: (1) the HIF-1 driven increase in the glycolytic pathways that reactivates PHD activity and (2) the much less stable mRNA levels of HIF-1α (HIF1A) compared to HIF-2α (EPAS1) mRNA. We also demonstrate that the alpha mRNA levels directly correlate to the relative alpha protein levels, and therefore to the more stable HIF-2 expression during prolonged hypoxia.