Nicolaus Copernicus University

In the first weeks after fertilization, embryo mortality in cattle is significantly higher. It is well known that the age of the dam is one of the crucial factors affecting the quality of embryos and oocytes in many mammalian species. In older cattle, there are several evidences that embryo quality decreases, due to a decrease in ovarian reserve, a decrease in mtDNA and ATP, a decrease in progesterone levels, and due to susceptibility to genetic mutations. Herein, we intend to provide an updated summary of recent research on the effects of maternal age on embryos and oocytes of domestic cattle which are a widely used model species for human oocytes and early embryonic development.

Persistent housing shortages and escalating housing investment costs in numerous countries drive the search for technologies that enable faster, cost-effective housing development. Prefabrication technology has emerged as a promising solution, which enables buildings to be constructed in significantly shorter timeframes compared to traditional methods. This approach utilizes prefabricated structural elements manufactured in controlled factory settings, leading to a substantial reduction in the carbon footprint associated with the construction process. This study focuses on two primary objectives: 1) Identifying the key factors for integrating prefabricated construction technology into the multifamily housing market, especially within the framework of sustainable development policies and the growing housing gap, and 2) Examining buyer preferences to assess their openness toward prefabricated construction in the multifamily residential market. Identification of the determinants of the implementation of prefabricated technology was carried out based on comprehensive literature review and critique of source documents. Additionally, buyer preference surveys were conducted among residents in post-communist Central and Eastern European countries (Poland, Bulgaria, and Ukraine).

MiRNAs are key regulators of gene expression, controlling plant development and response to environmental stresses. In this work, we studied the global dynamics of the accumulation of conserved and identified novel barley miRNAs at an early stage of plant development during heat stress (1 h, 3 h and 6 h of heat stress). The majority of miRNAs respond to heat stress after 3 h and 6 h of heat stress duration (124 and 155, respectively). The comparison of heat‐induced changes in mature miRNA accumulation to their cognate precursor levels allowed us to indicate a smaller group of miRNAs that are controlled at the transcriptional level and a larger group that is controlled post‐transcriptionally in response to heat stress. For miRNAs with significant accumulation changes during heat treatment, target mRNAs were identified. Moreover, novel targets have been experimentally assigned for selected miRNAs. mRNA of the effector protein of miRNA activity, AGO1B, was found to be downregulated by increased miR168 during heat stress. Importantly, the miRNA/mRNA target module miR399c/PHO2, responsible for phosphorus uptake, exhibits dynamic changes under heat stress conditions, suggesting adaptation of plant development to stress conditions. This study provides new data for developing miRNA and their mRNA target‐based strategies in barley breeding in response to heat stress.

Background We prospectively examined the prevalence, co‐existence, and change of geriatric giant syndromes in older people over 2 years. Methods Two hundred and five older subjects were examined before and after 2 years. Ten geriatric giants were assessed at both time points: cognitive impairment, depression, orthostatic hypotension, polypharmacy, sarcopenia, dynapenia, falls, chronic pain, faecal and urinary incontinence. Results Chronic pain, cognitive impairment, and urinary incontinence were three of the most commonly occurring geriatric giants at baseline (57%, 46%, and 40%). The presence of faecal incontinence, urinary incontinence, falls, depression, cognitive impairment, orthostatic hypotension, and polypharmacy was most strongly related to the number of geriatric giants in total at baseline ( P < 0.05). A higher intake of dietary antioxidants by one point was related to fewer geriatric giants after 2 years (by 0.04, after adjusting for confounding factors ( P = 0.03)). Conclusions Geriatric giant syndromes tend to co‐exist and change with high variability over 2 years. Higher intake of antioxidants with diet could be related to fewer geriatric giants over time.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV) are rare in adolescent and young adult (AYA). These conditions, similar to those in older patients, are linked with thrombotic complications and the potential progression to secondary myelofibrosis (sMF). This retrospective study of ET and PV patients diagnosed before age 25 evaluated complication rates and impact of cytoreductive drugs on outcomes. Among 348 patients (278 ET, 70 PV) with a median age of 20 years, the of thrombotic events was 1.9 per 100 patient-years. Risk factors for thrombosis included elevated white blood cell count (>11 × 10⁹/L) (HR: 2.7, p = 0.012) and absence of splenomegaly at diagnosis (HR: 5.7, p = 0.026), while cytoreductive drugs did not reduce this risk. The incidence of sMF was 0.7 per 100 patient-years. CALR mutation (HR: 6.0, p < 0.001) and a history of thrombosis (HR: 3.8, p = 0.015) were associated with sMF risk. Interferon as a first-line treatment significantly improved myelofibrosis-free survival compared to other treatments or the absence of cytoreduction (p = 0.046). Although cytoreduction did not affect thrombotic event, early interferon use reduced sMF risk. These findings support interferon use to mitigate sMF risk in AYA ET and PV patients.

This article investigates whether the method discovered recently by Avi Wigderson and Yuval Wigderson can be used to prove the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle in higher-dimensional spaces $\mathbb {R}^d$, and to accurately determine how the constant depends on the dimension d. Our first result is an affirmative answer to this question. Building upon this, we also obtain new uncertainty principles from Wigdersons’ method, showing that the method’s effectiveness not only in deriving the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle in $\mathbb {R}^d$ but also in deriving several of its extensions. Finally, we give some comments on the generalization of our theorems to other operators.

Transformative experiences are increasingly the focus of festival and event designers. In business event contexts, attendees often redefine their mindset, attitudes, and practices following a transformative event experience. Current research primarily examines the factors that trigger transformation and highlights the principles of intentional design for change. However, there is much less focus on the marketing of transformative events. Using a two-step method that involves free-hand image drawing and sentence completion conducted both pre- and post-event, this study explores how transformation is represented in the symbols and words associated with brand archetypes in transformative events. The analysis reveals dominant associations with three of the eight brand archetypes: Sage, Explorer, and Magician. Implications for research and event marketing practice are provided. Using archetype association narratives and transformative imagery represents a novel approach to marketing the unique nature of transformative events.

High‐latitude coasts are among many polar ecosystems vulnerable to global climate change. This paper presents research results on coastline changes in Kaffiøyra, Svalbard (High Arctic). Archival aerial photographs and satellite imagery (1966, 1990, 2017) were used, and field surveys (by UAVs) were carried out in 2021–22 to create high‐resolution digital terrain models (pix ~ 5 cm). The Area Of Interest (AOI) covered ~1.5 km ² and was divided into four main zones of different characteristics (mouth of the river, beach, bay and sand spit). Remote sensing methods were used to determine the directions of changes in the Kaffiøyra coastline and to indicate the main factors affecting the deposition or erosion of sediments. With the support of a UAV kit with a GNSS receiver, using photogrammetric software, models, with precise and low error rates, were obtained depicting the state of the Arctic environment. The average rate of coastline retreat in the adopted AOI ranged from −0.24 ± 0.16 to 0.70 ± 0.16 m yr ⁻¹ (1966–2021), but in the selected period: −0.32 ± 0.57 to 0.19 ± 0.57 (1966–1990), −0.38 ± 0.40 to 1.10 ± 0.40 (1990–2017); −0.27 ± 0.47 to 1.33 ± 0.47 (2017–2021). The study described the direct factors (coastal currents, tides, hydrographic network) and indirect factors (meteorological conditions and recession of Kaffiøyra glaciers) but focused on the morphometric transformation of the shoreline. In this study, the authors sought to explain the causes of the changes that are occurring in the polar environment. They performed the analysis under the very specific meteorological and topographical conditions of the Kaffiøyra lowland, discovering and closing the spatial gaps of coastal research in the Arctic. The results were compared with different locations on Spitsbergen, where the reasons for these changes were quite different.

Background: Cardiac arrest in children is associated with high morbidity and mortality, primarily due to neurological injury. Biomarkers linked to brain injury, released into circulation from compromised elements of the neurovascular unit, act as significant prognostic indicators in patients suffering from hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) subsequent to the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after pediatric cardiac arrest. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the prognostic utility of brain injury biomarkers in predicting neurological outcomes and survival in patients following cardiac arrest in the pediatric population. Methods: Bibliographic databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase) were searched from their inception to November 2024. A random-effect model was used for all analyses. Results: Our meta-analysis demonstrates significant associations between various biomarkers and survival or neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels were consistently elevated in non-survivors and patients with unfavorable neurological outcomes, with pronounced differences observed on Days 2 and 3 (e.g., Day 3 mean difference: -88.48, 95%CI: -146.77 to -30.19, P = 0.003). Emerging biomarkers, including UCH-L1 and GFAP, showed striking differences, such as elevated UCH-L1 levels on Day 1 (mean difference: -415.41, 95%CI: -474.41 to -356.61, P < 0.001) and GFAP levels exceeding 4000 ng/mL in non-survivors on Day 2 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings underscore the significant prognostic value of biomarkers in predicting survival and neurological outcomes following cardiac arrest. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) consistently demonstrated its reliability across multiple time points, while emerging biomarkers like UCH-L1 and GFAP showed promising potential for early outcome stratification.

Introduction LGBT + individuals in Poland frequently encounter significant barriers to receiving appropriate and respectful healthcare. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical competence of Polish healthcare professionals in providing care to LGBT + patients and to identify sociodemographic factors influencing these competencies. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 123 healthcare professionals from various healthcare settings in Poland. Participants completed a self-administered survey, including the LGBT + Development of Clinical Skills Scale (LGBT-DOCSS) to assess clinical preparedness, attitudes, and knowledge. We also collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, professional experience, and political views. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify predictors of LGBT-DOCSS scores. Results Experience working with LGBT + patients (β = 0.492, p < 0.05) and self-assessed knowledge (β = 0.385, p < 0.05) were significant predictors of higher LGBT-DOCSS scores. Healthcare professionals with greater experience and those who rated their knowledge as high or very high demonstrated better clinical preparedness. On the other hand, being in a relationship was associated with lower clinical preparedness (β = − 0.539, p < 0.05). Additionally, left-leaning political views were linked to more positive attitudes toward LGBT + patients (β = 0.542, p < 0.05). Conclusions These findings emphasize the importance of experience with LGBT + patients and self-assessed knowledge as key factors influencing clinical competence. Furthermore, political views significantly shape healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward LGBT + patients, suggesting the need for targeted educational interventions. Policy Implications To address gaps in clinical competence, healthcare policies in Poland should prioritize integrating LGBT + cultural competence training into medical education and ongoing professional development. Implementing mandatory workshops on bias reduction and fostering inclusive healthcare environments are necessary steps to improve the quality of care for LGBT + individuals. Public health campaigns promoting inclusive practices can help reduce barriers and improve access to care for marginalized populations.

Carrion-breeding flies are diverse with over 70 species in the Australasian/Oceanian region, predominantly from the families Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae. These flies play crucial roles in ecosystems as primary decomposers, pollinators and food sources for a variety of predators and parasites. Given their unique ecologies and exceptional diversity, they have also proven to be particularly useful for human purposes in agriculture, in medicinal maggot therapy and in forensic entomology. Despite this, to date, there have been no comprehensive diagnostic tools developed for carrion-breeding flies in the Australasian region, which has hindered their use by non-experts in these applied fields. Here, we provide an updated key for the identification of the adults of over 70 species of Australian and New Zealand flies known or suspected to breed in carrion. We also provide a review of the current state of knowledge regarding the biology and taxonomy of carrion-breeding flies in the Australasian region—summarising over a century of information regarding their distributions, available molecular data, biology, developmental data and the morphology of immature stages. Together, these resources will greatly improve the application of these species in forensics, agriculture, medicine and empirical research.

The Church of St James in Toruń is one of Poland's most valuable Gothic monuments. According to the inscription preserved in the presbytery, the commonly accepted date when construction began is AD 1309. However, another hypothesis can also be found in the literature stating that the first brick temple in the location of the present church was built at a much earlier time. In this study, we apply luminescence dating to more than 30 bricks to support that supposition. Our age results suggest that a brick temple was erected on a plan corresponding to the present one in the 13th century.

This paper presents the findings of a multi-national study that led to the development of a new analytical framework in masculinity research—the Global Concept of ‘Unmanliness’ (GCU). Drawing on three key theories—hegemonic masculinity, precarious manhood and masculinity threat, and emasculation—we conducted an innovative study across 15 countries (selected from an initial pool of 62) to examine cultural perceptions of ‘unmanliness.’ Participants provided open-ended responses to identify traits and behaviors considered unmanly within their cultural contexts. By analyzing common themes expressed by young men, we propose the Global Concept of ‘Unmanliness’ as a framework for understanding how societies define and enforce masculinity norms. Furthermore, comparing these findings with the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) revealed a key distinction in how ‘unmanliness’ is characterized across different levels of gender emancipation. In countries with high GGGI rankings (e.g., Norway, Ireland, Germany), ‘unmanliness’ is more often associated with physical traits and behaviors linked to femininity (e.g., clothing, makeup). Conversely, in countries with low GGGI rankings (e.g., Pakistan, Morocco, Nigeria), it is more commonly defined by acts such as violence against women. Our study highlights how cultural and structural gender dynamics shape the boundaries of masculinity and offers a new lens for cross-cultural research on gender norms.

In computational physics, chemistry, and biology, the implementation of new techniques in shared and open-source software lowers barriers to entry and promotes rapid scientific progress. However, effectively training new software users presents several challenges. Common methods like direct knowledge transfer and in-person workshops are limited in reach and comprehensiveness. Furthermore, while the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the benefits of online training, traditional online tutorials can quickly become outdated and may not cover all the software’s functionalities. To address these issues, here we introduce “PLUMED Tutorials,” a collaborative model for developing, sharing, and updating online tutorials. This initiative utilizes repository management and continuous integration to ensure compatibility with software updates. Moreover, the tutorials are interconnected to form a structured learning path and are enriched with automatic annotations to provide broader context. This paper illustrates the development, features, and advantages of PLUMED Tutorials, aiming to foster an open community for creating and sharing educational resources.

We have recently presented the eChem project as an interactive platform for quantum and computational chemistry education [J. Chem. Educ. 100, 1664--1671]. However, education is only one side of the eChem project. Another aspect is that it highly accelerates method development by means of code prototyping in notebooks. Complex equations can be understood and algorithms examined before the actual software programming step is carried out. Here, we illustrate the benefits of notebooks for code prototyping using the example of vibrational spectroscopy -- a type of spectroscopy which involves complex equations with a large number of terms.

In recent years, there has been a dynamic development in therapies utilizing extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes. Therefore, we have conducted an analysis of the scientific literature to verify the current state of knowledge about these therapies. A total of 12 clinical studies were analyzed, covering the use of EVs in treating skin aging, acne scars, alopecia, and wound healing. The results indicate that EVs and exosomes hold potential in regenerative skin therapies, offering innovative and non-invasive therapeutic approaches. At the same time, significant challenges related to the standardization of their production and the lack of large-scale randomized studies were identified. Thus, we also evaluated the investigated clinical trials in regard to the MISEV (Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles) criteria. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the contemporary applications of EVs in skin therapy and regenerative medicine, highlighting directions for further research.

One of the central dogmas of the Catholic Church is the belief in the Eucharistic presence of Jesus Christ, which requires no scientific confirmation because it concerns a supernatural reality. Since the early Middle Ages, however, instances have been recorded improperly referred to as Eucharistic miracles, which believers consider eyewitness testimony to a real transubstantiation. Changes in the structure, number, or an unexpected bloody red colour of the Host were often regarded as supernatural phenomena, but the Church officials themselves, aware of the possibility of a biological basis for these changes, showed far-reaching restraint. The author’s team on the basis of analyses of 25 actual cases undertook to prepare research procedures that make it possible to separate phenomena that are difficult to interpret scientifically, from those associated with contamination. None of these cases revealed the actual proof of existence of human blood, human material other than single epidermal cells, and erythrocytes (probably very low-level contamination). In one case, insignificant amount of human male genetic material was observed, probably as a result of DNA transferred from a person to a host via contact with the host itself. In several specimens, a variety of microbial and fungal material was identified (Brevundimonas intermedia, Serratia marcescens, Epicoccum spp,. Fusarium spp.), including species producing reddish-pink or orange-reddish pigments (Epicoccum spp., Fusarium spp.). Based on the experience gained in this study, a complete procedure suitable for reliable examination of similar cases in the future is suggested. Key points • The unusual appearance of the tested hosts can be explained by biological contamination. • Blood-like marks result from the presence of pigment-producing species. • A complete multidisciplinary procedure for investigating ‘miracle cases’ is proposed.