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Objective: The endothelial glycocalyx layer (EGL) is the interface between the blood and the endothelium that regulates permeability. This study compared the effects of liberal and restrictive fluid therapies on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release and EGL products in radical cystectomy surgery. We hypothesized that a liberal regimen would damage the glycocalyx layer, resulting in a higher serum EGL product concentration than restrictive therapy. Materials and Methods: Patients were randomized into two groups for restrictive (group R) or liberal (group L) regimens. Group R received 2 mL/kg/h Ringer’s lactate and 2 mcg/kg/h norepinephrine infusion, whereas group L received only Ringer’s lactate infusion at 10 mL/kg/h rate during the surgery. Preoperative and postoperative blood samples were obtained to evaluate ANP levels and glycocalyx degradation products. The stroke volume index, cardiac index, stroke volume variation, and systemic vascular resistance index parameters were recorded at 30-min intervals throughout the surgery. The length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit and postoperative complications were recorded. Results: The study was completed with 39 patients. Postoperative ANP levels were higher in group L in both between- and within group examination (p0.05). Postoperative complications and length of stay data were similar (p>0.05). Conclusion: ANP, hyaluronan, and syndecan-1 concentrations can be used as an indirect measurement method to show EGL damage and hypervolemia in major urologic surgeries. Advanced hemodynamic monitoring was ineffective for confirming hypervolemia.

Teza, której bronimy w artykule, jest dwojaka. Po pierwsze, twierdzimy, że Nowa Huta przeszła przez dwie nowoczesności — socjalistyczną i postsocjalistyczną. Krakowska dzielnica jest punktem węzłowym, w którym te dwie nowoczesności — a być może i więcej — splatają i ścierają się ze sobą. Po drugie, argumentujemy, że Nowa Huta stanowi materialny znak ciągłości i zerwań polskiej historii. Stoi ona w centrum polskich sporów tożsamościowych, w których strony zawsze muszą się jakoś ustosunkować do socjalistycznej przeszłości. Dla jednych — symbol zbrodniczego systemu narzuconego przez radzieckiego okupanta, inżynierii, której poddano polskie społeczeństwo i synonim szpetoty. Choć również miejsce walki o krzyż i oporu, który klasa robotnicza stawiła rzekomo reprezentującej ją partii. Dla drugich — element dziedzictwa kulturowego, które trzeba chronić; realizacja progresywnych ideałów sprawiedliwości społecznej, a współcześnie najbardziej zielona dzielnica Krakowa. Teoretycznymi podstawami naszej argumentacji są teoria wielu nowoczesności Shmuela Eisenstadta oraz teoria dwóch nowoczesności Susanne Brandtstädter. Rozpoczynamy od omówienia nowoczesności okresu socjalistycznego w Nowej Hucie opierając się na treściach ówczesnej sztuki propagandowej oraz krytycznej, tworzących narrację o dzielnicy. Następnie przechodzimy do okresu postsocjalistycznego, analizując zmiany, którym w wyniku transformacji ustrojowej podlegała Nowa Huta i dyskurs o niej. Na zakończenie porównujemy nowoczesność postsocjalistyczną do socjalistycznej.

Abstract Data-driven approaches to materials exploration and discovery are building momentum due to emerging advances in machine learning. However, parsimonious representations of crystals for navigating the vast materials search space remain limited. To address this limitation, we introduce a materials discovery framework that utilizes natural language embeddings from language models as representations of compositional and structural features. The contextual knowledge encoded in these language representations conveys information about material properties and structures, enabling both similarity analysis to recall relevant candidates based on a query material and multi-task learning to share information across related properties. Applying this framework to thermoelectrics, we demonstrate diversified recommendations of prototype crystal structures and identify under-studied material spaces. Validation through first-principles calculations and experiments confirms the potential of the recommended materials as high-performance thermoelectrics. Language-based frameworks offer versatile and adaptable embedding structures for effective materials exploration and discovery, applicable across diverse material systems.

Abstract Background Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) causes significant disturbance in an individual’s well-being and activity. Whereby, interfering with the dynamic progress in life. Also, anxiety is a product of stress and a major predictor of academic performance. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), measure levels of anxiety and perceived stress, evaluate the academic profile, identify lifestyle characteristics, and explore the relationship between these factors. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 340 Sudanese medical students filled out online questionnaires, composed of the sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, academic profile, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 scale (GAD-2), and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 20.0 for data analysis. Results Of 340 medical students, 3.8% of them were diagnosed with GAD, while 29.1% scored ≥ 3 in GAD-2, indicating a possible diagnosis. The study found that 9.7% of the participants used addictive substances, with 42% of them having high GAD-2 scores. Moreover, high anxiety levels were associated with high-stress scores (p-value = 0.000). Also, high GAD-2 scores were significantly associated with students who spent less than 10,000 SDG (18 USD) weekly, spent more time on entertainment using smart devices (p-value = 0.004), and had an unhealthy diet (p-value = 0.004). Low anxiety levels were associated with better sleep quality (p-value = 0.00), satisfaction with religious practices (p-value = 0.00), and increased leisure/hobby time (p-value = 0.018). High-stress levels were observed in females (p-value = 0.035), those with lower academic performance satisfaction levels, and increased hours of smart device usage for entertainment (p-value = 0.001). Reduced stress levels were associated with being ≥ 23 years old, increased leisure/hobby time (p-value = 0.002), satisfaction with religious practices [F(3, 166.6) = 10.8, p-value = 0.00)], and having a healthy diet (p-value = 0.006). Conclusion The low prevalence of GAD corresponded with previous literature, but 29.1% of medical students had a high probability of having GAD. The study emphasizes on providing accessible mental health services for medical students and interventions addressing modifiable risk factors.

Many cities in Iraq are facing environmental issues, such as air, and noise pollution, due to huge increases in population, vehicles density, heavy traffic congestion, as well as petroleum extraction. Therefore, the quality of the air has deteriorated and has threatened citizens’ health. In this research, the concentration of gaseous pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone (O3), methane (CH4), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) were measured at five locations near heavy traffic jams in Zakho City, (north of Iraq) during autumn and winter 2021-2022. In addition, the relationship between these pollutants and the meteorological parameter was investigated such as temperature (T, °C), relative humidity (RH, %), atmospheric pressure (AP, mbar), wind speed (WS, m/s), and wind direction (WD). Methane (CH4), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gases were not detected at all locations. In autumn, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and ozone (O3) concentrations ranged from 0.0468-8.852 ppm, 0.0497-0.071%, and 0.0012-0.145 ppm, respectively, and 0.056-8.667 ppm, 0.0417-0.06 Vol%, and 0.0006-0.0571ppm respectively during winter. The results show that concentrations of recorded gases and meteorological parameters were weakly correlated.

Electron spin is a fundamental property of molecules, and changes in spin state affect both molecular structure and dynamics. Here, the authors resolve, by ultrafast electron diffraction, the nuclear reorganization stabilizing spin transitions in a [FeII(bpy)3](PF6)2 crystal.

Migration is an integral part of human history. International migrations are one of the most important social phenomena in the modern world and in Poland. Their trends and reasons, shaping up in time, are the fundation for conducting research into this process. The scale of the departures also makes the problem increasingly significant for social researchers. The article presents the essence of contemporary migrations of Poles from the countryside and most of all, it shows readiness of young people to move abroad. It shows the scope of migration and the main features of contemporary Polish migration. It was developed based on the result of research, which was conducted among high school students who had been demonstrating readiness to migrate.

Thermoelectrics are an important class of materials with great potential in alternative energy applications. In this study, two-dimensional (2D) nanoplates of the layered chalcogenides, Sb2Te3 and Bi2Te3, are synthesized and composites of the two are investigated for their thermoelectric properties. The two materials, Sb2Te3 and Bi2Te3, were synthesized as hexagonal, 2D nanoplates via a colloidal polyol route. The as-synthesized Sb2Te3 and Bi2Te3 vary drastically from one another in their lateral and vertical dimensions as revealed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The single crystalline nanoplate nature is deduced by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. Nanoplates have well-defined hexagonal facets as seen in the scanning and transmission electron microscopy images. The nanoplates were consolidated as an anisotropic nanostructured pellet via spark plasma sintering. Preferred orientation observed in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern and scanning electron microscopy images of the fractured pellets confirm the anisotropic structure of the nanoplates. Thermoelectric properties in the parallel and perpendicular directions were measured, revealing strong anisotropy with a significant reduction to thermal conductivity in the perpendicular direction due to increased phonon scattering at nanoplate interfaces. All compositions, except that of the 25% Bi2Te3 nanoplate composite, behave as degenerate semiconductors with increasing electrical resistivity as the temperature increases. The Seebeck coefficient is also increased dramatically in the nanocomposites, the highest reaching 210 μV/K for 15% Bi2Te3. The increase in Seebeck is attributed to energy carrier filtering at the nanoplate interfaces. Overall, these enhanced thermoelectric properties lead to a drastic increase in the thermoelectric performance in the perpendicular direction, with zT ∼ 1.26, for the 15% Bi2Te3 nanoplate composite at 450 K.

An electride is a compound that contains a localized electron in an empty crystallographic site. This class of materials has a wide range of applications, including superconductivity, batteries, photonics, and catalysis. Both polymorphs of Yb5Sb3 (the orthorhombic Ca5Sb3F structure type (β phase) and hexagonal Mn5Si3 structure type (α phase)) are known to be electrides with electrons localized in 0D tetrahedral cavities and 1D octahedral chains, respectively. In the case of the orthorhombic β phase, an interstitial H can occupy the 0D tetrahedral cavity, accepting the anionic electron that would otherwise occupy the site, providing the formula of Yb5Sb3Hx. DFT computations show that the hexagonal structure is energetically favored without hydrogen and that the orthorhombic structure is more stable with hydrogen. Polycrystalline samples of orthorhombic β phase Yb5Sb3Hx (x = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0) were synthesized, and both PXRD lattice parameters and 1H MAS NMR were used to characterize H composition. Magnetic and electronic transport properties were measured to characterize the transition from the electride (semimetal) to the semiconductor. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate a magnetic moment that can be interpreted as resulting from either the localized antiferromagnetically coupled electride or the presence of a small amount of Yb3+. At lower H content (x = 0.25, 0.50), a low charge carrier mobility consistent with localized electride states is observed. In contrast, at higher H content (x = 0.75, 1.0), a high charge carrier mobility is consistent with free electrons in a semiconductor. All compositions show low thermal conductivity, suggesting a potentially promising thermoelectric material if charge carrier concentration can be fine-tuned. This work provides an understanding of the structure and electronic properties of the electride and semiconductor, Yb5Sb3Hx, and opens the door to the interstitial design of electrides to tune thermoelectric properties.

In this study, we analyzed a large number of vertical sounding ionograms, obtained by the mid-latitude Cyclone ionosonde (55.85° N; 48.8° E) of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, which operates in a rapid-run mode of ionograms (1 ionogram per minute). Ionograms with a sporadic E layer type c, which have an unusual double cusp on the trace from the sporadic layer, were found among them. We attempted to simulate this unusual double cusp trace shape. Model calculations were performed to clarify the reasons for the appearance of the double cusp and to determine the shape of the lower part of the E and Es layers. The simulation was performed by fitting the profile of the electron densities of the E and Es layers, calculating the virtual reflection heights based on the refractive index using the Appleton-Hartree formula, and comparing them with the virtual heights of the layers on the ionogram. An estimate of the half-thickness of the lower part of the Es-layer was obtained. The possible reasons for the appearance of a trace with a double cusp of the Es layer are discussed. We assumed that the possible reasons for this phenomenon were the stratification of the E layer, and the interaction between the E and F layers in the form of descending or intermediate layers and atmospheric wave propagation. As an illustration of these phenomena, examples of an intermediate (descending) sporadic E layer and stratification of the E region and the Es layer are given according to observations of the lower ionosphere. These examples were obtained through the resonant scattering of probe radio waves by artificial periodic irregularities (API technique) of the ionospheric plasma, performed on the SURA mid-latitude heating facility (56.1° N; 46.1° E). The scattering of probe radio waves on the APIs generated by the heating facility made it possible to study various phenomena in the Earth’s ionosphere.

Industrial or Occupational noise play a vital role in the life of workers. This source of pollution disrupts and annoys the daily activities of workers. Occupational Noise pollution is increasingly being recognized as a physical factor in the environment that is injurious to many aspects of health. This study focuses on the industrial noise and its effects on workers. The aim of the study is to find out the possible relation between the occupational noise exposure and arterial blood pressure, pulse rate, and hearing thresholds for workers at several industrial areas in Zakho City, Kurdistan region of Iraq. The study group included 113 workers employed in twenty-one different factories (chosen randomly). All the individuals under study were men. Their ages were between 15 to 60 years. The noise level was between (76.5-98) decibels (dB(A)). In order to observe the harmful effects of the noise, a questionnaire was made for all the workers. The systolic blood pressure mean for the samples is increased by 6.07 mmHg, while the diastolic blood pressure mean is increased by 2.63 mmHg; the pulse rate mean is increased by 5.56 beats/minute. The hearing threshold levels also show a decrease in their values.

Ostatnia praca Waltera Garrisona Runcimana The Theory of Cultural and Social Selection stanowi nową próbę zbudowania socjologicznej teorii ewolucji na podstawie neodarwinizmu oraz znacznie wychodzi poza dotychczasowe propozycje: torii podwójnego dziedziczenia oraz memetyki. Jednakże selekcjonizm ¬– paradygmat, który w niej rozwija, ze względu na zastosowanie uproszczonej biologii ewolucyjnej wymaga zredukowania społeczeństwa do prostej populacji jednostek dziedzicznego doboru i podobnej redukcji kultury. Runciman nie połączył przekonująco neodarwinowskiego populacyjnego podejścia ze swoim własnym systemem socjologicznym. Jednym z głównych powodów jego niepowodzenia jest, moim zdaniem, radykalne zerwanie z klasyczną tradycją socjologii.

In crustaceans, as in other animals, perception of environmental cues is of key importance for a wide range of interactions with the environment and congeners. Chemoreception involves mainly the antennae and antennules, which carry sensilla that detect water-borne chemicals. The functional importance of these as exchange surfaces in the shrimp’s sensory perception requires them to remain free of any microorganism and deposit that could impair the fixation of odorant molecules on sensory neurons. We report here the occurrence of an unexpected dense bacterial colonization on surface of the antennae and antennules of four hydrothermal vent shrimp species. Microscopic observation, qPCR and 16S rRNA barcoding reveal the abundance, diversity and taxonomic composition of these bacterial communities, that are compared with those found on a related coastal shrimp. Bacterial abundances vary among species. Bacteria are almost absent in coastal shrimp, meanwhile they fully cover the antennal flagella in some hydrothermal vent species. Epsilon- and Gammaproteobacteria dominate the hydrothermal shrimp-associated communities, whereas Alphaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes are dominant in the coastal ones. Bacteria associated with vent shrimp species are most similar to known chemoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizers. Potential roles of these bacteria on the hydrothermal shrimp antennae and antennules and on sensory functions are discussed.

Noise pollution is increasingly being recognized as a physical factor in the environment that is injurious to many aspects of health. Environmental noise induces alterations of various physiological responses in individuals exposed to it. The aim of the present study is to assess the effects of industrial noise on some aspects related to the cardiovascular system of workers exposed to industrial noise in the woodworking industry in Duhok city, Iraq. The sound levels of electrical saws can be as high as about 100 dB. The study group included 29 workers employed in the woodworking industry (Carpentry) exposed to industrial noise levels exceeding 95 dB. In order to observe the harmful effects of the noise caused by the Occupational Noise from the Carpentry machines, a questionnaire was made for all the workers (29 persons) included in this study. The results of this study showed significant changes in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure and pulse rate in the workers in the woodworking industry. Thus this study lead to conclude that industrial noise could be possible contributing factor in the development of arterial hypertension.

The hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus puteoserpentis hosts gill-associated sulfur- and methane-oxidizing bacteria which sustain host nutrition and allow it to reach high densities at various sites along the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Previous studies have demonstrated that in similar dual symbioses, relative abundances of each bacterial type could change following variations in symbiont substrate availabilities. In this study, pressurized recovery and incubations in pressure vessels were used to test whether B. puteoserpentis symbionts displayed similar behavior in the presence of symbiont substrates. The relative abundances of both types of symbionts were analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization and group-specific gene copy numbers were assessed using qPCR. Specimens sampled using isobaric and non-isobaric recovery contained similar relative proportions (in surface coverage) of sulfur- and methane-oxidizing bacteria indicating that recovery type did not have impact on measured relative areas. Similarly, pressurized incubations with different substrates did lead to significant differences in the relative surface coverage of the two types of bacteria, although slight variations were measured with qPCR, suggesting changes in relative abundances of gene copy numbers but not in relative areas covered. Total gill surface areas and total bacterial numbers in specimens were estimated for the first time. Symbiont bearing-mussels display exchange surfaces about 20-fold higher than those found in similar-sized coastal mussels, and mean bacterial numbers of 2.5*1012 per specimen were estimated. This emphasizes that symbiotic mussels are a major reservoir of bacteria in vent ecosystems.

Reducing conditions with elevated sulphide and methane concentrations in ecosystems such as hydrothermal vents, cold seeps or organic falls, are suitable for chemosynthetic primary production. Understanding processes driving bacterial diversity, colonization and dispersal is of prime importance for deep-sea microbial ecology. This study provides a detailed characterization of bacterial assemblages colonizing plant-derived substrates using a standardised approach over a geographic area spanning the North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean. Wood and alfalfa substrates in colonization devices were deployed for different periods at 8 deep-sea chemosynthesis-based sites in 4 distinct geographic areas. Pyrosequencing of a fragment of the 16S rRNA-encoding gene was used to describe bacterial communities. Colonization occurred within the first 14 days. The diversity was higher in samples deployed for more than 289 days. After 289 days, no relation was observed between community richness and deployment duration, suggesting that diversity may have reached saturation sometime in between. Communities in long-term deployments were different, and their composition was mainly influenced by the geographical location where devices were deployed. Numerous sequences related to horizontally-transmitted chemosynthetic symbionts of metazoans were identified. Their potential status as free-living forms of these symbionts was evaluated based on sequence similarity and monophyly with demonstrated symbionts. Results suggest that some free-living forms of metazoan symbionts or their close relatives, such as the epsilonproteobacterium associated with the shrimp Rimicaris exoculata, are efficient colonizers of plant substrates at vents and seeps.

The Mediterranean Sea and adjoining East Atlantic Ocean host a diverse array of small-sized mussels that predominantly live on sunken, decomposing organic remains. At least two of these, Idas modiolaeformis and Idas simpsoni, are known to engage in gill-associated symbioses; however, the composition, diversity and variability of these symbioses with changing habitat and location is poorly defined. The current study presents bacterial symbiont assemblage data, derived from 454 pyrosequencing carried out on replicate specimens of these two host species, collected across seven sample sites found in three oceanographic regions in the Mediterranean and East Atlantic. The presence of several bacterial OTUs in both the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic suggests that similar symbiont candidates occur on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar. The results reveal markedly different symbiotic modes in the two species. Idas modiolaeformis displays high symbiont diversity and flexibility, with strong variation in symbiont composition from the East Mediterranean to the East Atlantic. Idas simpsoni displays low symbiont diversity but high symbiont fidelity, with a single dominant OTU occurring in all specimens analysed. These differences are argued to be a function of the host species, where subtle differences in host evolution, life-history and behaviour could partially explain the observed patterns. The variability in symbiont compositions, particularly in Idas modiolaeformis, is thought to be a function of the nature, context and location of the habitat from which symbiont candidates are sourced.