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Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common intrauterine viral infection with a significant impact on the foetus and newborn. Current diagnostic practice includes serological testing for specific antibodies, but there are no global screening protocols. Maternal CMV screening is often performed in conjunction with antenatal ultrasound. While most infections are asymptomatic, severe cases can lead to long-term disability or death. Antiviral therapies, mainly ganciclovir and valganciclovir, are reserved for symptomatic patients, especially those with central nervous system involvement. Although effective, these treatments are associated with significant side effects such as neutropenia and hepatotoxicity. Foscarnet and cidofovir are used as alternatives, but their efficacy and safety require further study in paediatric patient populations. The effectiveness of passive prophylaxis is still uncertain. The lack of universally accepted guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and the risk of serious side effects highlight the need for continued research. This review evaluates current therapeutic strategies, discusses their efficacy and associated risks, and highlights the need for innovative approaches to improve outcomes for affected neonates.

Abstract Edible insects offer opportunities for food production, as they are an interesting source of many nutrients. In this study, the effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) and convective drying on the chemical composition with emphasizing the fat properties as well as physical, techno-functional, and thermal properties of yellow mealworm powders was investigated. The chemical composition of the yellow mealworm powders differed by PEF. When PEF was applied at 20 and 40 kJ/kg, the moisture, ash, and protein content were significantly lower, while the fat extraction yield significantly increased compared to the control sample. Furthermore, the fat extracted from these samples was characterized by a higher proportion of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids as well as a higher thrombogenicity index, which is not beneficial from a nutritional point of view. After treatment with PEF at 5 kJ/kg, the powder was the lightest, redness and yellowness. Moreover, the highest hygroscopicity, water activity, and water and oil binding capacity for this powder were determined. The results revealed that yellow mealworm powders are a good source of macronutrients and exhibit beneficial techno-functional properties, nevertheless, the drawback is their high cohesiveness (1.27–1.44), which can be difficult to apply under industrial conditions.

Abstract Provision of non-invasive vascular imaging results to individuals has been shown to improve cardiovascular disease risk factor control: its impact on diet remains uncertain. In this two-arm, single-blind, parallel, 12-week randomized controlled trial, 240 participants, 57.5% females aged 60–80 y had abdominal aortic calcification and clinical assessments performed at a hospital clinic. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive (intervention n = 121) or not (control n = 119) their calcification results. Both groups received educational resources on cardiovascular disease risk control and were unblinded to the intervention. Outcome measures were performed at baseline and 12 weeks. The primary outcomes of the study were changes in fruit and vegetable intake measures over 12 weeks assessed using plasma carotenoid concentrations (biomarkers of FV intake) and a food frequency questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included 12-week changes in other aspects of the diet, physical activity, body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, lipid profile, glucose concentrations, estimated cardiovascular disease risk score, and medication use. Between-group differences were tested using linear mixed-effects regression. There were no between-group differences in the primary outcomes at 12 weeks: plasma carotenoids (mean difference +0.03 µg/mL [95%CI −0.06, 0.13]) and fruit and vegetable intakes (+18 g/d [−37, 72]). However, the provision of calcification results led to between-group differences in serum total (−0.22 mmol/L [−0.41, −0.04]) and non-HDL (−0.19 mmol/L [−0.35, −0.03]) cholesterol, and estimated cardiovascular disease risk score (−0.24% [−0.47, −0.02]). No between-group differences were seen for other secondary outcomes. In this work, providing vascular imaging results did not improve diet but did improve some cardiovascular disease risk factors (Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001087246).

Background and purpose: Pediatric radiotherapy patients and their parents are usually aware of their need for radiotherapy early on, but they meet with a radiation oncologist later in their treatment. Consequently, they search for information online, often encountering unreliable sources. Large language models (LLMs) have the potential to serve as an educational pretreatment tool, providing reliable answers to their questions. We aimed to evaluate the responses provided by generative pre-trained transformers (GPT), the most popular subgroup of LLMs, to questions about pediatric radiation oncology. Materials and methods: We collected pretreatment questions regarding radiotherapy from patients and parents. Responses were generated using GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and fine-tuned GPT-3.5, with fine-tuning based on pediatric radiotherapy guides from various institutions. Additionally, a radiation oncologist prepared answers to these questions. Finally, a multi-institutional group of nine pediatric radiotherapy experts conducted a blind review of responses, assessing reliability, concision, and comprehensibility. Results: The radiation oncologist and GPT-4 provided the highest-quality responses, though GPT-4′s answers were often excessively verbose. While fine-tuned GPT-3.5 generally outperformed basic GPT-3.5, it often provided overly simplistic answers. Inadequate responses were rare, occurring in 4% of GPT-generated responses across all models, primarily due to GPT-3.5 generating excessively long responses. Conclusions: LLMs can be valuable tools for educating patients and their families before treatment in pediatric radiation oncology. Among them, only GPT-4 provides information of a quality comparable to that of a radiation oncologist, although it still occasionally generates poor-quality responses. GPT-3.5 models should be used cautiously, as they are more likely to produce inadequate answers to patient questions.

IntroductionLagovirus europaeus/GI.1 and GI.2 cause severe Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, and immune processes are among the important pathomechanisms of the disease. Autophagy and apoptosis are two key mechanisms involved in the host antiviral response. Both of these processes have been characterized in infection with GI.1 strains, while data on infection with GI.2 strains still need to be studied. This is particularly important because infection with different strains is associated with a different host immune response profile.MethodsIn this work, we analyzed the expression of selected genes and proteins involved in autophagic flux in the liver, spleen, kidney and peripheral blood, but also apoptotic cell death in the liver and peripheral blood of rabbits infected with the GI.2 strain.ResultsAs a result, we showed that autophagy is strongly activated in the liver, spleen and kidney of infected rabbits, and confirmed the activation of apoptosis in the liver.DiscussionThis study highlights the role of apoptosis and autophagy in the immune response in rabbits infected with Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2.

The concept of scientific social responsibility is appealed to in the context of research institutes more often than the concept of corporate social responsibility. Although the objective of research institutes is largely to act on behalf of the economy, for social good, and to support social activities and innovations, little research has been done on their sense of social responsibility. The aim of this article is to identify elements of social responsibility in the mission and vision of Polish research institutes (including both formal mission and vision statements, as well as informal “declarations” to similar effect). First, a critical analysis of the literature on the subject (66) was carried out, which served as the basis for developing a critical analysis of social responsibility in research institutes. This was followed by a content analysis of 88 mission and vision statements of Polish research institutes. The results, presented using R and WordArt, indicate that the missions and vision statements of Polish research institutes rarely include elements of social responsibility, despite the fact that members of the institutes’ community make such declarations. This implies the need for further research: 1) from the perspective of the institutes’ employees, concerning the diagnosis of informal activities that can be qualified as socially responsible activity; 2) from the perspective of the directors of research institutes. The purpose of further research should be to prepare recommendations that can be used in the development and implementation of the institutes’ strategies.

“I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. […] Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me” (Ps 118[117]:5.13). On the Lexical Variation of Church Slavonic Psalter Redactions. The Case of Translations of the Greek ἀντιλαμβάνω, συναντιλαμβάνομαι, βοηθέω, λυτρόω, ἐρύω, ὑπερασπίζω: A Quantitative Approach This article, another one in a series of studies dealing with the lexical variation of Church Slavonic Psalter redactions, continues previous investigations of vocabulary used by man to address God as his protector, helper, saviour, etc. The paper analyses the use of (Old) Church Slavonic equivalents of such Greek verbs (connected with the nouns / substantive participles ἀντιλή(μ)πτωρ, ἀντίλη(μ)ψις, βοήθεια, βοηθός, λύτρωσις, λυτρωτής, ῥυόμενος, ῥυστής, ὑπερασπισμóς and ὑπερασπιστής) as ἀντιλαμβάνω, συναντιλαμβάνομαι, βοηθέω, λυτρόω, ἐρύω, ὑπερασπίζω. It also points out the Hebrew equivalents of the Greek and (O)CS words in focus. The study concentrates on the quantitative aspect of the use of the vocabulary under discussion, with qualitative issues (source, context, semantics, word-formation, etc.) remaining in the background. „W udręce wołałem do Pana, a On mnie wysłuchał i wyprowadził na szeroką przestrzeń […]. Pchnięto mnie, o mało nie upadłem, lecz Pan mnie podtrzymał…” (Ps 118[117]:5.13). O leksykalnej wariantywności psałterzowych redakcji cerkiewnosłowiańskich. Na przykładzie tłumaczeń gr. ἀντιλαμβάνω, συναντιλαμβάνομαι, βοηθέω, λυτρόω, ἐρύω, ὑπερασπίζω. Ujęcie ilościowe Niniejszy artykuł, kolejny w cyklu opracowań dotyczących leksykalnej wariantywności psałterzowych redakcji cs., jest przedłużeniem wcześniejszego opracowania traktującego o słownictwie, którym człowiek zwraca się do Boga jako swego protektora, pomocnika, wybawiciela etc. Analizie poddaje się użycia (s)cs. ekwiwalentów takich – związanych z gr. rzeczownikami / substantywizowanymi imiesłowami: ἀντιλή(μ)πτωρ, ἀντίλη(μ)ψις, βοήθεια, βοηθός, λύτρωσις, λυτρωτής, ῥυόμενος, ῥυστής, ὑπερασπισμóς i ὑπερασπιστής – czasowników jak: ἀντιλαμβάνω, συναντιλαμβάνομαι, βοηθέω, λυτρόω, ἐρύω, ὑπερασπίζω. Ponadto wskazuje się na hebrajskie odpowiedniki badanych słów greckich i (s)cs. Uwagę koncentruje się na aspekcie ilościowym użyć badanego słownictwa, kwestie jakościowe (źródło, kontekst, semantyka, słowotwórstwo etc.) przesuwając na plan dalszy.

The paper presents the impact of changes in spatial development on microclimate parameters and thermal comfort. The research area covers the site of the current shopping and service centre Manufaktura in Łódź, located in the former factory complex of Izrael Poznański. Analyses were carried out for the area before and after the revitalisation process. The transformations of the building structure, reductions in green areas, and modifications of the surface were highlighted. Three-dimensional terrain models were prepared, and simulations were conducted using the ENVI-met program. The influence of development transformations on thermal comfort and microclimate was assessed. Due to the negative impact of the changes, adaptive solutions were proposed. The data obtained showed a positive influence of the implemented blue-green strategies on thermal conditions and the microclimate.

Following the impact of positive psychology on education, the term well-being has recently received more attention. However, there is not much research devoted to practical aspects of developing well-being. The studies that exist focus on mindset of novice (Dweck, 2014b) or pre-service teachers (Irie, Ryan, & Mercer, 2018; Haukås & Mercer, 2021). Therefore, there is still much to be done as far as teacher training and well-being development (TT&WD) is concerned. Inspired by Maslow’s study (1943) on self-actualised people, the main aim was to present characteristic features of growth mindset teachers. A mixed method study (Cresswell & Cresswell, 2018, p. 304) was applied to analyse statements about pre-service teacher well-being. By focusing on teachers’ beliefs, the distinction was made between fixed and growth mindsets. In the first phase of the study, using Likert-scale, a set of 50 questions was created to capture nuances of positive and negative stance of pre-service teachers. The aim was not to verify the teachers’ “subjective well-being” (SWB) (Mazzucchelli & Purcell, 2015), but to focus on the “psychological well-being” (PWB) based on their beliefs and attitudes (Werbińska, 2011). In the second phase, a qualitative analysis of 15 narrative statements served as an indication of the pre-service teacher well-being. The narratives turned out to be the projections of either success or failure of the participants. Finally, a well-being intervention was used which aimed at influencing teachers’ mindsets by involving them in three tasks. The data also show subtle differences in respondents’ answers concerning the way certain students recognise and show their attitudes to life or the teaching profession, which correspond to fixed and growth mindset (Dweck, 2006). These findings highlight the importance of training pre-service teachers in well-being and offer some implications connected with developing a paradigm framework of teacher well-being.

Phytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC) is highly stable, and constitutes an important source of long-term C storage in agrosystems. This stored carbon is resistant to the processes of oxidation of carbon compounds. In our research phytolith content in barley (Estonia) and oat (Poland) grain and straw was assessed at field trials, with Si as a liquid immune stimulant OPTYSIL and compost fertilisation. We showed that cereals can produce relatively high amounts of phytoliths. PhytOC plays a key role in carbon sequestration, particularly for poor, sandy Polish and Estonian soils. The phytolith content was always higher in straw than in grain regardless of the type of cereals. The phytolith content in oat grains varied from 18.46 to 21.28 mg∙g−1 DM, and in straw 27.89–38.97 mg∙g−1 DM. The phytolith content in barley grain ranged from 17.24 to 19.86 mg∙g−1 DM, and in straw from 22.06 to 49.08 mg∙g−1 DM. Our results suggest that oat ecosystems can absorb from 14.94 to 41.73 kg e-CO2∙ha−1 and barley absorb from 0.32 to 1.60 kg e-CO2∙ha−1. The accumulation rate of PhytOC can be increased 3-fold in Polish conditions through foliar application of silicon, and 5-fold in Estonian conditions. In parallel, the compost fertilisation increased the phytolith content in cereals.

It is possible to reduce herbicide doses while maintaining their high efficacy, provided they are applied with appropriately selected adjuvants and zinc sulphate in a split-dose system. The effect of multicomponent adjuvants and zinc sulphate on the efficacy of bromoxynil + terbuthylazine + nicosulfuron, applied once at full (144 + 400 + 40 mL ha−1) and in a split-dose system (herbicides applied twice, each time after new weed germination) at reduced doses (54 + 150 + 14 mL ha−1, on herbicide efficacy and grain yield was evaluated. At full dose, bromoxynil, terbuthylazine, and nicosulfuron greatly controlled lambsquarters (92–100%). Barnyard grass was controlled by 94–100%, at reduced 67–93%, with adjuvants in a split-dose system, as efficacy increased to 94–100%, and with zinc it increased to 88–91%. The efficacy of herbicides containing zinc sulphate and surfactant was 80–96%, with that of other adjuvants 97–99%. Regardless of the dose and application system, herbicide application increased grain yield by 11.4–13.9 t ha−1 compared to 4.8–5.0 from untreated check. The grain yield from split-dose treatments was comparable to that from plots with the recommended dose. The enhanced herbicide efficacy with adjuvants applied twice, despite higher treatment expenses, led to the development of maize plants and enhanced yields. This may ultimately translate into improved production profitability.

This study investigated the capabilities of Yarrowia lipolytica strains to grow in media with different hydrophobic wastes from the meat industry. The yeast growth, cellular lipid accumulation, production of lipases, and degree of utilization of liquid and solid lipid wastes were studied in shaken cultures in media with organic and inorganic nitrogen sources. The effects of the type of waste, initial concentration of carbon source, Yarrowia strain, and inoculum size were investigated in two experimental sets using the Latin Square 5 × 5 design method. Post-frying rapeseed oil from chicken frying was selected as the carbon source to promote biomass growth. In contrast, the solid lipid fraction from meat broths promoted efficient lipid accumulation and yeast lipolytic activity. An initial concentration of the carbon source at 8% m/v stimulated efficient lipid biosynthesis and lipase production, while 2.5% v/v inoculum provided optimal conditions for the growth and utilization of hydrophobic substrates. No significant differences were observed in the particle dispersion of the liquid and solid wastes in the culture media (span = 2.51–3.23). The maximum emulsification index (62%) was observed in the culture of the Y. lipolytica KKP 323 strain in the medium with post-frying rapeseed oil from chicken frying, which was correlated with biosurfactant synthesis. It was concluded that the type of waste, its structure, and its composition affected various physiological yeast responses.

Ensuring adequate comfort and safety in vehicle motion is a subject of extensive research worldwide. Despite the implementation of new control algorithms, including those leveraging AI, the application of effective semi-active vibration dampers remains crucial for achieving optimal suspension performance. This article presents experimental studies conducted on a vehicle equipped with semi-active suspension featuring custom-designed hydraulic dampers controlled by piezoelectric valves. These innovative dampers are characterized by extremely short response times, enabling real-time adaptation to varying driving conditions. A simple control algorithm designed to operate based on real-time signals from suspension sensors is introduced and evaluated. The experimental setup, including the measurement system used during testing, is described in detail. The presented results highlight the significant potential of this approach for improving driver comfort under specific driving conditions, even without detecting road roughness ahead of the vehicle.