University of Zielona Góra

An active lifestyle is an important factor in the rehabilitation of individuals after limb amputation, as many patients require lifelong rehabilitation after hospital treatment. Among people with an amputation, a higher level of physical activity was associated with a better perception of quality of life. The aim of this study is to present the case of a patient with a quadruple amputation and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), to describe the type of physical activity she undertook, and to determine the changes in endurance and physical fitness levels resulting from regular exercise. Following a prolonged period of rehabilitation, a 43-year-old woman began regular training sessions that included elements of gymnastics. The training focused on weight reduction as well as improving aerobic capacity and overall physical fitness and functionality. To monitor the patient’s progress, measurements of aerobic capacity and physical fitness were conducted (6-Minute Walk Test, Illinois Agility Test, and abdominal muscle strength testing). The patient’s chosen form of physical activity produced positive results in improving her physical fitness and endurance. Such an approach to physical activity appears justified not only for this patient but also for other people with disabilities. A training regimen adapted to individual needs, physical capabilities, and medical recommendations may help enhance physical fitness and aerobic capacity, ultimately improving quality of life.

Galls, regardless of the host plant organ, are strong sinks of nutrients. This physiological phenomenon provides gall tissues with essential building components and nutrients necessary for the proper development of both the gall and the gall-inducing organism. In the galls induced by many species of insects, mites, or nematodes, the main storage substances are carbohydrates, especially starch, which demands enzymatic activity related to carbohydrate metabolism, such as the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase whose reduced activity in galls compared with leaf cells may be manifested by increased starch content. In plants, as well as in galls, starch is usually the form of stored energy, and as a non-transport carbohydrate, starch must be synthesized within gall tissues. However, there is currently limited knowledge about the activity of enzymes responsible for starch synthesis in galls. The distribution of amyloplasts in gall tissues usually increases centripetally, with the last layer of cells adjacent to the gall chamber usually free of them. In many cases, as the insect develops, the chamber expands, and the developing gall-inducing organism benefits from successive layers of starch-rich tissue layers. It is not fully understood whether starch is initially hydrolyzed to simple sugars, which are then absorbed by the larvae, or if chewing insects may metabolize starch in their digestive tract. Nevertheless, insect amylolytic enzymes have not been detected in gall-inducing insects, yet. Also, the difference in carbohydrate metabolism in gall-inducing insects and their inquilines, which directly benefit from the starch-rich layers of galls, is another issue demanding attention.

Purpose The Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block is a regional anaesthesia technique used in hip surgery. However, its effectiveness and analgesic efficiency, especially when compared to other regional anaesthesia techniques, have yet to be fully established. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the functional recovery and pain management following PENG block in Hip surgeries. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a meta-analysis of prospective randomised clinical trials that compared the effects of PENG block versus the control group or different regional anaesthesia techniques in hip surgeries. The study was registered on the International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) and is available online (www.crd.york.uk/prospero, CRD42024529125). Results Nineteen studies encompassing 1682 participants were included for the synthesis after critical evaluation. Ultrasound-guided PENG block improved functional recovery when compared to no block anaesthesia (RR 0.48, 95% Cl 0.24, 0.96, p = 0.04) and different regional anaesthesia techniques (RR 0.45, 95% Cl 0.26, 0.77, p = 0.004). The PENG block showed a reduction of postoperative opioid consumption 24 h after surgery when compared to no block anaesthesia (SMD − 0.92, 95% Cl − 1.65, − 0.19; p = 0.01) and when compared to Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (FICB) (SMD − 0.96, 95% Cl − 1.52, − 0.39, p = 0.0009). Conclusion The PENG block improved functional recovery Compared to no-block analgesia and different regional anaesthesia techniques. Also, the PENG block improved analgesic efficacy in hip surgeries compared to no-block anaesthesia and to FICB. However, due to the high heterogeneity of included studies, more high-quality, methodological, and strictly defined RCTs are urgently needed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of PENG block for Hip surgeries.

The article refers to the problem of stigmatisation, generally understood as discrediting dignity and refusing to respect individuals and groups due to their attributes, such as appearance, race, nationality, gender, age, social status, sexual orientation or religion. The article aims to determine the extent to which the use of mobile methods in social education can contribute to preventing, reducing, and overcoming the phenomenon of stigmatisation. The article has both a theoretical, methodological and empirical dimension. On the theoretical level, it proposes a transformative approach as adequate in terms of searching for anti‐stigma potentials. Methodologically, it contains a description of mobile methods, a relatively new set of ways of conducting social research, and, at the same time, a potential way of preventing and overcoming stigma within educational practices. On the empirical level, it presents a case study to illustrate the described methods and their anti‐stigma potentials.

Objective To determine whether [18F]FDG PET/CT and hematological parameters provide supportive data to determine HPV status in HNSCC patients. Methods Retrospective analysis of clinical and diagnostic data from 106 patients with HNSCC: 26.4% HPV-positive and 73.6% HPV-negative was performed. The following semiquantitative PET/CT parameters for the primary tumor and hottest lymph node and liver were evaluated: SUVmax, SUVmean, TotalSUV, MTV, TLG, maximum, mean and TLG tumor-to-liver ratio (TLRmax, TLRmean,TLRTLG) and heterogeneity index (HI). Following hematological variables were assessed: white blood cell (WBC); lymphocyte (LYMPH); neutrophil (NEU),monocyte (MON); platelet (PLT); neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NRL); lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR); platelet-to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR). Conventional statistical analyses were performed in parallel with an artificial neural network analysis (Neural Analyzer, v. 2.9.5). Results Significant between-group differences were observed for two of the semiquantitative PET/CT parameters, with higher values in the HPV-negative group: primary tumor MTV (22.2 vs 9.65; p=0.023), and TLRmax (3.50 vs 2.46; p=0.05). The HPV-negative group also had a significantly higher NEU count (4.84 vs. 6.04; p=0.04), NEU% (58.2 vs. 66.2; p=0.007), and NRL% (2.69 vs. 3.94; p=0.038). Based on ROC analysis (sensitivity 50%, specificity 80%, AUC 0.5), the following variables were independent predictors of HPV-negativity: primary tumor with SUVmax >10; TotalSUV >2800; MTV >23.5; TLG >180; TLRmax >3.7; TLRTLG >5.7; and oropharyngeal localization. Conclusion Several semiquantitative parameters derived from [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging of the primary tumor (SUVmax, TotalSUV, MTV, TLG, TLRmax and TLRTLG) were independent predictors of HPV-negativity.

The article investigates the public value of supreme audit institutions by examining their role in assessing the effectiveness of financial ombudspersons in providing alternative consumer dispute resolution in financial markets. The article concludes that the impact of SAIs on the auditees’ accountability, often mentioned in the literature, is less significant than found in other research. The study calls for SAIs to reconsider their position in the public value chain.

This work concerns the experimental verification of changes in the energy efficiency of photovoltaic installations through the use of bifacial modules. For this purpose, an experimental stand was designed and built for the comparative analysis of the efficiency of two types of photovoltaic panels: bifacial (bPV) and monofacial (mPV). The tests consisted of placing the panels at different heights above the ground surface and at different angles. During the tests, three substrates with different albedo were taken into account: green grass, gray concrete (fabric), and white snow (polystyrene). The tests for both types of panels were carried out simultaneously (in parallel), which guaranteed the same environmental conditions (temperature and solar radiation intensity). Based on the results of the voltage and current measurements for different angles of PV module inclination and, for bPV panels, different heights above the ground surface and different types of substrate, a series of current–voltage characteristics and power characteristics were plotted. The “additional” energy efficiency of bifacial panels compared to monofacial panels was also determined. It was shown that under favorable conditions, using bifacial panels instead of monofacial panels can increase the production of electricity by more than 56% from structures of the same dimensions. The research results can be of great value when designing photovoltaic installations.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) A(H5N1) has caused the most extensive and severe epizootic event affecting both poultry and wild birds globally. This study investigated the impact of HPAIV on the breeding population of the Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, the most abundant gull species in Poland. During the 2023 outbreak, this species was reported as the most frequently infected in the country. A higher-than-natural adult mortality rate (greater than 1.5% of the breeding individuals) was observed in 114 surveyed colonies across all regions of Poland. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of HPAIV in all 17 colonies sampled, with average adult mortality estimated at 26.1%, and ranging from 1.7% to 77.8%. The estimated mortality rate across all surveyed colonies was 22.2%. Extrapolations across the entire Polish breeding population (at least 115,000 pairs according to the national census) indicated that approximately 51,000 adult Black-headed Gulls might have perished due to HPAIV in 2023. The number of adults found dead was positively correlated with colony size (r = 0.733, P < 0.001). The deaths were associated with a single HPAIV genotype (BB) across all confirmed cases. Understanding the spread and severity of HPAIV in colonially breeding waterbirds, such as gulls, is essential for assessing the full extent of the threats this virus poses to wild bird populations.

Energy transformation is essential for reducing electricity production costs and building a competitive advantage for each country. Its success relies on balancing environmental goals with the need to maintain secure energy supplies, keep prices at an acceptable level for consumers, and ensure the economy’s competitiveness. Although the literature presents various investment constraints for onshore wind farms, little is known about the regulations that were supposed to protect the natural environment, and in practice, they turned out to be legal constraints on the development of onshore wind farms. This research aims to eliminate this research gap, and identify the legal limitations hindering the development of onshore wind farms, using Poland as a case study. It was examined whether legal provisions aimed at ensuring sustainable development could negatively impact the growth of onshore wind farms. The systematic literature study was supplemented by reviewing documents (available in the Polish Parliament and the Government Legislation Centre) relating to the location policy for onshore wind farms. The findings reveal that unfavourable legal solutions introduced in Poland over nearly a decade have severely obstructed the growth of onshore wind energy. This has led to harmful and measurable effects on society and the economy. Therefore, it is suggested that the creation of energy market regulations should be subject to greater stakeholder oversight. This study fits into the research field on legal barriers, classified as any negative phenomena and processes that do not contribute to achieving assumed goals.

This study investigates the changes in population size, distribution, and habitat preferences of the Eurasian magpie Pica pica in Zielona Góra over 23 years, emphasising the effects of urbanisation and habitat transformation. A comprehensive survey conducted in 2022 identified 953 magpie pairs, with an average density of 8.8 pairs/km² across the current administrative boundaries of Zielona Góra (without forests), and 27.7 pairs/km² in strictly urbanised zones. The highest densities were observed in the old town (36.5 pairs/km²) and residential blocks (34.5 pairs/km²), while peripheral areas, like allotment gardens and industrial zones, showed significantly lower densities. The nests were predominantly located in coniferous trees, especially spruces, marking a shift from the previously favoured poplars. The mean nest height was 11.8 m, varying by habitat type, with the highest nests found in the old town and parks. Environmental factors, such as proximity to trash bins, water sources, and tall trees, were significant predictors of nest density and placement. These findings underscore the magpie’s adaptability to urban environments, influenced by the availability of anthropogenic resources, habitat structure, and surrounding urban features.

In the forthcoming decades, the energy sector will confront significant transitions related to climate change, supply stability, and energy poverty. The initial two aspects have undergone thorough scientific analysis, whilst the third has received comparatively less analysis despite its significant impact on the lives of millions. Using a systematic literature review, laws and regulations and document analysis, and based on the assumption of an energy ladder, this study provides an overview of energy poverty and its implications. The research focuses on energy poverty in developed countries and answers whether the European Union’s implemented and planned actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions cause energy poverty. Based on the Polish case, the study shows that the EU’s scheduled actions aimed to stabilise climate change, although right in intention, require modification because they do not fully consider the significant economic and energy development diversity of the European Union Member States and may increase energy poverty affecting the European inhabitants. The findings show that due to the implementation of the EU Emission Trading System 2 in 2027, transport costs may increase by almost one-third, which will raise the prices of goods and services and affect energy poverty. This study develops the stream of research on energy poverty, modifies the concept of the energy ladder and shows threats resulting from the ETS2 implementation. The paper proposes the avenues of future research.

Purpose: Among patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), a high survival rate is observed for those who experience a pathological complete response (pCR). Various tumor factors are predictive of a pCR, but few host factors have been studied.We sought to inquire whether or not a patient's blood selenium level prior to treatment was predictive of a pCR. Methods: We studied 329 women diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We included patients with HER2-positive (n = 183) or triple-negative breast cancer (n = 146). Blood was collected before the initiation of treatment. Blood levels of selenium were quantified by mass spectroscopy. Each patient was assigned to one of three tertiles based on the distribution of blood selenium levels in the entire cohort. Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) were treated with a range of combination chemotherapies. Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer received anti-HER2 treatment based on trastuzumab alone or trastuzumab and pertuzamab. After treatment, each patient was classified as having pCR or no pCR. Results: In the entire cohort, the pCR rate was 59.0% for women in the highest tertileof blood selenium (≥107.19 μg/L) compared to 39.0% for women in the lowest tertile (≤94.29 μg/L) (p = 0.003). Conclusions: A high selenium level is predictive of pCR in women treated for HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer. If confirmed, this observation may lead to a study investigating if selenium supplementation improves pCR rates and survival in breast cancer women receiving NAC.

The article proposes a cryptographic system with absolute security features for use in authenticating access to resources in smart grid systems, taking into account prosumer solutions to ensure a high level of security of transactions on the energy market that meet the requirements established in the Directive of the European Parliament of 14 December 2022 no. 2555 NIS2, requiring “dynamic authentication” prior to the release of transaction data for key services, covers energy market operators as a key service and is particularly important for ensuring security. The article presents an innovative cryptographic system that, according to the authors’ knowledge, is the only one in the world that meets the NIS2 requirements in the field of “dynamic authentication” and the Quantum-Resistant requirements intended for distributed systems and smart grids. The proposed solution eliminates vulnerabilities related to digital identity theft and its reuse, i.e., practically eliminates the possibility of impersonation.

Background/Objectives: The quality and composition of dietary proteins are crucial during growth, particularly in children who follow vegetarian diets. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs: leucine, isoleucine, and valine) and lysine play essential roles in muscle growth, repair, and metabolism and are involved in the regulation of muscle-derived proteins known as myokines. This study aimed to compare the dietary intake and circulating levels of BCAAs, lysine, and myokines—follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL-1), myostatin, and myonectin—between vegetarian and omnivorous prepubertal children and to explore the impact of diet on muscle metabolism. Methods: Sixty-four healthy Caucasian children aged 4–9 years (forty-two vegetarians and twenty-two omnivores) were assessed for dietary intake using the Dieta 5® (extended version Dieta 5.0) software. Circulating BCAAs and lysine were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography, while myokine concentrations were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Vegetarian children showed significantly lower intakes of total protein, animal protein, BCAAs, and lysine than omnivores. Correspondingly, the circulating levels of isoleucine, valine, lysine, and albumin were significantly reduced in vegetarians. Among myokines, serum myostatin and myonectin levels were comparable between the groups, but vegetarians had significantly lower median FSTL-1 levels 7.7 (6.5–9.4) ng/mL than omnivores 9.7 (7.5–13.9) ng/mL (p = 0.012). In the entire group of children, positive correlations were observed between dietary total and animal protein intake and circulating valine and lysine levels. Dietary animal protein intake was also positively associated with the serum levels of all myokines, whereas plant protein intake was negatively correlated with myonectin concentration. Conclusions: In conclusion, vegetarian diets in prepubertal children are associated with reduced dietary protein quality and lower circulating BCAAs, lysine, and FSTL-1 levels, which may impact muscle metabolism. Optimizing vegetarian diets using high-quality plant proteins with proper essential amino acids could mitigate their deficiencies and support muscle development during critical growth periods.

Background Myxomatous mitral valve disease is the most common cardiac disease among dogs. The mitral valve consists of valve leaflets, chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. Much attention has been given to lesions of the valve leaflets, but there is still a lack of information in the literature about the chordae. During myxomatous mitral valve disease, an episode of chordae rupture can occur. Predisposing factors for such an episode are known in human cardiology. Materials and methods The 54 mitral valves were prepared from the hearts of older dogs, from which the chordae tendineae were then isolated. The chordae tendineae were subjected to two tests: biomechanical and histopathological. The first consisted of a uniaxial tensile test to determine the mechanical strength values of chordae tendineae. The histopathological examination was based on a 4-point scale (0–3 scale), which assessed the extent of degenerative changes within chordae tendineae. The biomechanical and histopathological findings were correlated in the statistical analysis. Results Degenerated chordae tendineae tended to rupture more rapidly during the static stretching test as compared to healthy chordae. The more advanced the degenerative changes in the chordae tendineae, the more the biomechanical function was affected. Conclusions Degeneration affects the biomechanical properties of the mitral valve chordae tendineae in dogs, as confirmed by chordae tendineae stress studies.

Background/Objectives: Resistance exercise under hypoxic conditions induces various metabolic and hormonal responses, yet the relationship between hypoxia severity and anabolic hormone responses remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the effects of a single bout of resistance exercise on metabolic and hormonal responses in normoxia and three levels of hypoxia in both men and women. Methods: The study involved 16 physically active individuals with at least two years of experience in recreational resistance training. The participants completed resistance exercise sessions in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia at simulated altitudes of 3000 m (H3000), 4000 m (H4000), and 5000 m (H5000). Blood levels of total testosterone (T), cortisol (C), growth hormone (GH), and metabolic variables were measured before and after exercise. Results: In women, severe hypoxia (H4000 and H5000) was found to significantly enhance post-exercise increases in T and GH compared to H3000 (p < 0.05), without affecting C levels. In men, hypoxia (regardless of intensity) did not significantly augment post-exercise changes in T and GH compared to normoxia. In H4000 conditions, an increase in C levels was observed (p < 0.05), leading to an unfavorable reduction in the T/C ratio. Additionally, a reduction in the total number of repetitions performed during the training session and a weakened metabolic response (lactate and creatine kinase) were observed in men at H5000. Conclusions: In women, severe hypoxia (H5000) was found to induce a pronounced hormonal response, particularly in GH levels. The use of severe hypoxia during resistance exercise appears unfavorable in men due to a reduced metabolic response, and diminished exercise capacity, coupled with a failure to induce more favorable changes in the secretion of anabolic hormones than in normoxic conditions.

We discuss the trapping of heteronuclear diatomic molecules prepared in their electronic and vibrational ground states. We tune and shape the trapping potential for bosonic polar molecules in superpositions of rotational states by dressing rotational excitations with a static sextupole electric field. The translational motion of a molecule is treated classically. We examine the Hamiltonian which governs the center of mass dynamics. The effective potential has a global minimum that provides the trapping ability of this trap. The first term of its Taylor series expansion, corresponding to the quadratic Stark shifts, results in the integrable potential. In terms of cylindrical coordinates the center of mass Hamiltonian splits into axial and radial parts. Corresponding trajectories are parameterized by elliptic functions. At low electric fields, the non-approximated Hamiltonian is treated as a small perturbation of the mentioned integrable system described by Kolmogorov–Arnold–Moser theory. The applicability of this approximation is discussed and illustrated using the Poincaré cross-section method. We present results of numerical simulations illustrating the trapping and confinement of a polar molecule in the trap.

Background The misalignment of sleep and eating patterns with biological cycles is a significant issue that could have detrimental effects on health and is prevalent among cancer patients. Sleep duration, chronotype, and nutrition may be linked to the presence of urothelial tract cancer. Bladder cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the urinary system. The study estimated bladder cancer patients’ nutrition behavior, sleep preferences, and chronotype. Methods 101 patients were enrolled. Based on histopathological examination, they were divided into the cancer group (n = 69) and the non-cancer group (n = 32). Lifestyle was assessed through three questionnaires about sleep, chronotype patterns, and chrononutrition behaviors: social jet lag, eating jet lag, eating window, evening and morning latency. The analysis was also completed by assessing salivary alpha-amylase and immunoglobulin A (IgA). Results In cancer and non-cancer patients, we did not find differences between the chronotypes (p = 0.0634) or other measured factors. Most of the studied population did not present social or eating jet lag and morning or evening latency. In addition, the total sleep duration in these groups was similar 8.5 (5.0–13.0) vs 9.0 (5.0–11.5) hours per day (p > 0.99). The eating window did not differ between the groups (p = 0.061). Furthermore, the assessment of salivary alpha-amylase 193.9 U/ml (10.2–1173.0) and IgA 129.0 μg/ml (5.1–801.1) (p = 0.43; p = 0.18, respectively) showed no differences. Conclusions In this preliminary study, we did not observe a domination of particular types of chronotypes in the cancer and non-cancer groups. Moreover, there were no significant changes in lifestyle and chrononutrition behavior, except weak difference between groups in eating window. However, it provides a robust foundation for further research and clinical applications.

The neurophysiology of ACL injury extends beyond the mechanical rupture of the ligament to encompass profound alterations in the central and peripheral nervous systems, impacting sensorimotor integration and neuromuscular control. The ACL, densely populated with mechanoreceptors, plays a critical role in joint proprioception, dynamically regulating knee stability through complex neural circuits that connect to the spinal cord and brain. When disrupted by injury, these neural pathways contribute to delayed muscular activation, altered motor planning, and compromised joint stability. Such neuromechanical deficits increase the likelihood of reinjury and highlight the need for comprehensive neuroplastic rehabilitation. Neuroplastic therapy, employing tools like external focus strategies, stroboscopic glasses, smartboards, and virtual reality, aims to restore and enhance neural connectivity, sensory integration, and motor coordination. These advanced tools target distinct phases of motor learning, promoting automaticity and resilience in movement patterns. By integrating visual-cognitive, proprioceptive, and reflexive controls, this therapeutic approach not only accelerates recovery but also optimizes performance and reduces the risk of re-injury, representing a paradigm shift in ACL rehabilitation.