Captives and Refugees. The Forced Migration of the Inhabitants of the Byzantine Eastern Frontier during the 5th–7th Centuries in Light of Byzantine-Slavic Hagiographical Texts

This article is devoted to the image of a social situation in the eastern parts of the Byzantine Empire during the 5th–7th century, which is to be found in the East Christian hagiographical texts. They cannot be treated as a completely reliable source of information, due to exaggerations and simplifications typical for the genre. On the other hand, they testify a long-lasting and vital literary tradition – they were circulating in the Byzantine Commonwealth during the Middle Ages, were translated to several languages (inter alia to the Church Slavic). They formed the basis for stereotypes – specific for the Medieval European imagination – that the eastern frontier of the Empire was rather dangerous territory, its neighbors (Persians, Arabs) were unpredictable pagans and the Christian inhabitants of the region ought to be called their innocent victims.

Immunological aspects of the tumor microenvironment and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric carcinogenesis

Infection with Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative, microaerophilic pathogen often results in gastric cancer in a subset of affected individuals. This explains why H. pylori is the only bacterium classified as a class I carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Several studies have pinpointed mechanisms by which H. pylori alters signaling pathways in the host cell to cause diseases. In this article, the authors have reviewed 234 studies conducted over a span of 18 years (2002–2020). The studies investigated the various mechanisms associated with gastric cancer induction. For the past 1.5 years, researchers have discovered new mechanisms contributing to gastric cancer linked to H. pylori etiology. Alongside alteration of the host signaling pathways using oncogenic CagA pathways, H. pylori induce DNA damage in the host and alter the methylation of DNA as a means of perturbing downstream signaling. Also, with H. pylori, several pathways in the host cell are activated, resulting in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), together with the induction of cell proliferation and survival. Studies have shown that H. pylori enhances gastric carcinogenesis via a multifactorial approach. What is intriguing is that most of the targeted mechanisms and pathways appear common with various forms of cancer

Formation and structure of ionomer complexes from grafted polyelectrolytes

We discuss the structure and formation of Ionomer Complexes formed upon mixing a grafted block copolymer (poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(acrylate methoxy poly(ethylene oxide)), PAA21-b-PAPEO14) with a linear polyelectrolyte (poly(N-methyl 2-vinyl pyridinium iodide), P2MVPI), called grafted block ionomer complexes (GBICs), and a chemically identical grafted copolymer (poly(acrylic acid)-co-poly(acrylate methoxy poly(ethylene oxide)), PAA28-co-PAPEO22) with a linear polyelectrolyte, called grafted ionomer complexes (GICs). Light scattering measurements show that GBICs are much bigger (~70–100 nm) and GICs are much smaller or comparable in size (6–22 nm) to regular complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms). The mechanism of GICs formation is different from the formation of regular C3Ms and GBICs, and their size depends on the length of the homopolyelectrolyte. The sizes of GBICs and GICs slightly decrease with temperature increasing from 20 to 65 °C. This effect is stronger for GBICs than for GICs, is reversible for GICs and GBIC-PAPEO14/P2MVPI228, and shows some hysteresis for GBIC-PAPEO14/P2MVPI43. Self-consistent field (SCF) calculations for assembly of a grafted block copolymer (having clearly separated charged and grafted blocks) with an oppositely charged linear polyelectrolyte of length comparable to the charged copolymer block predict formation of relatively small spherical micelles (~6 nm), with a composition close to complete charge neutralization. The formation of micellar assemblies is suppressed if charged and grafted monomers are evenly distributed along the backbone, i.e., in case of a grafted copolymer. The very large difference between the sizes found experimentally for GBICs and the sizes predicted from SCF calculations supports the view that there is some secondary association mechanism. A possible mechanism is discussed

Venture Capital and Business Angels and the Creation of Innovative Firms in Poland

The article also points out that conditions fostering further development of the described types of entrepreneurship and innovation financing and a dynamic environment generating innovative capacity should be created.W artykule zasygnalizowano również potrzebę kreowania uwarunkowań sprzyjających rozwojowi opisanych form finansowania przedsiębiorczości, innowacyjności i dynamicznego otoczenia generującego zdolności innowacyjne

Communication management in the aspect of the food industry

The aim of this study. Sectors of the food economy create systems which existence is dependent upon effective communication. Because they operate in a turbulent market environment, they need information about customers, competitors or allies in order to create a trust atmosphere that will lead to the increased interest in their products or service. The results of the analysis. It should be emphasized that globalization implies social acceptance, which takes place on the market and is reflected in the fact that there are buyers for products or services. In terms of the food economy it is a continuous process involving collection and transmission of information which will be used in an appropriate manner, in order to create competitive products or services. Entities operating in the food economy can therefore function only on the basis of effective communication management, which may affect their innovation and competitiveness. Internationalization and globalization of the food economy postulate new communication needs, thereby emphasizing the role of communication in dealing with the environment in which the primary source of profit become the information and methods of their identifying and sharing. The studies refer to the application aim in the aspect of communication in the food economy sector. The discussion is theoretical and is based on literature on the food economy sector in the context of effective communication management. Evaluation of the pace and scope of the development of communication management is one of the significant research areas in the food economy sector. Such evaluation should be a starting point for formulating further strategies and programs for the economy development. The authors undertook a study which, through concentration on communication management, fills a significant gap in literature dedicated to identification of a communication system in the aspect of a supply chain and as an element of strategies of food industry enterprises. Conclusions and directions of further researches. Effective communication requires appropriate management aimed at achievement of success by an enterprise in the form of strong and stable market position. Communication management should be understood as a system that is oriented towards durable relationships with market participants, basing on partnership that underlies building of these relationships and achievement of long-term benefits. Thus, we should stress the importance of integration of decisions and instruments in the process of managing the activities undertaken as part of communication. Comprehensive communication, which consists in integrating the participants of the communication process around clear and coherent message when offering benefits to consumers, requires an effective management and creation of mechanisms of strategic links. The effective management of communication has a significant impact on all kinds of activities in the sector of food industry, especially market operations. Communication in this area refers to interaction between the participants of the supply chain and execution of market transactions. The impact of effective communication management is especially visible in the processes of planning and implementation of such elements of the supply chain as supply, stock control and logistics

Probe spectroscopy in an operating magneto-optical trap: the role of Raman transitions between discrete and continuum atomic states

We report on cw measurements of probe beam absorption and four-wave-mixing spectra in a $^{85}$Rb magneto-optical trap taken while the trap is in operation. The trapping beams are used as pump light. We concentrate on the central feature of the spectra at small pump-probe detuning and attribute its narrow resonant structures to the superposition of Raman transitions between light-shifted sublevels of the ground atomic state and to atomic recoil processes. These two contributions have different dependencies on trap parameters and we show that the former is inhomogeneously broadened. The strong dependence of the spectra on the probe-beam polarization indicates the existence of large optical anisotropy of the cold-atom sample, which is attributed to the recoil effects. We point out that the recoil-induced resonances can be isolated from other contributions, making pump-probe spectroscopy a highly sensitive diagnostic tool for atoms in a working MOT.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Prevalence of ocular demodicosis and ocular surface conditions in patients selected for cataract surgery

The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of ocular demodicosis and ocular surface conditions in patients selected for cataract surgery. Eyelashes from 73 patients selected for cataract surgery were evaluated at × 40 and × 100 magnification using light microscopy. The anterior segment was assessed with the slit lamp. Additionally, Schirmer I and break up time (BUT) tests were carried out before surgery and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. A specially designed questionnaire containing e.g. information about chronic skin and eye diseases, previous ophthalmic surgeries, and patient's hygiene habits was used to assess the demographic variables. A majority of patients were at the age of 70–79 years, and there were more females (83%) in the study group. Demodex folliculorum was found in 48% of the patients. There was a correlation between the number of parasites and the presence of blepharitis, discharge at eyelid margins, and conjunctival hyperemia. Schirmer I and BUT test results were lower in patients with Demodex infestation before and after cataract surgery. The higher number of mites was correlated with lower Schirmer I test results postoperatively. The presence of Demodex mites influences the conjunctiva and lid margins leading to inflammation. The higher number of Demodex mites disturbs the tear film over time after cataract surgery

Vitrectomy Combined with Cataract Surgery for Retinal Detachment Using a Three-Dimensional Viewing System

Purpose: To evaluate the results of a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with cataract surgery for primary rhematogenous retinal detachment (RD) using a three-dimensional (3D) viewing system and a conventional microscope (CM). Methods: Medical reports of 82 patients were retrospec-tively reviewed: 26 patients were operated on with 3D and 56 patients were operated on with CM. The main outcome measures were visual acuity, duration of the surgery, and the rate of postoperative complications. Results: No statistically significant differences in pre-and postoperative visual acuity were found between both groups. There was significant improvement in the visual acuity in both groups. The best postoperative visual acuity was achieved with SF6 gas tamponade, followed by C3F8 gas and silicone oil in both groups. The duration of the surgery (60 min vs. 55 min) and the rate of postoperative complications (15% vs. 14%) were similar in both groups. Conclusions: The similar postoperative visual acuity and rate of complications detected using 3D and CM indicate that the 3D viewing system may be advantageous in the treatment of rhematogenous RD with PPV combined with cataract surgery, i.e., a complex procedure involving both anterior and posterior segment manipulations

The Elderly-Nutrient Rich Food Score Is Associated With Biochemical Markers of Nutritional Status in European Older Adults

Background: In order to prevent age-related degenerative diseases in the aging population, their diets should be nutrient dense. For this purpose, the Elderly-Nutrient rich food (E-NRF7.3) score has been developed to assess nutrient density of diets by capturing dietary reference values for older adults. To demonstrate its practical importance such score should be validated against markers of nutritional status and health. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the association between the E-NRF7.3 score and markers of nutritional status and inflammation. Design: This study was carried out in a sample of the NU-AGE study including 242 Dutch and 210 Polish men and women, aged 65\u201379 years. Dietary intake was assessed by means of 7-day food records and structured questionnaires collected data on supplement use, lifestyle, and socio-economic information. Baseline measurements included anthropometrics, physical and cognitive function tests, and a fasting venipuncture. E-NRF7.3 scores were calculated to estimate nutrient density of foods and the diet. Associations between the E-NRF7.3 scores and micronutrient status of vitamin D, folate, vitamin B12, homocysteine, and c-reactive protein (CRP) were examined using linear regression analysis while adjusting for confounders. Results: Each one unit increase in E-NRF7.3 score was associated with a 2.2% increase in serum folate in Dutch and 1.6% increase in Polish participants in the fully adjusted models (both p < 0.01). Each one unit increase in E-NRF7.3 was significantly associated with a 1.5% decrease in homocysteine levels in Dutch participants (p < 0.01), whereas, a 0.9% increase in vitamin B12 levels was observed in Polish participants only (p < 0.01). Higher E-NRF7.3 scores were not associated with vitamin D or CRP levels. Adjustment for potential confounders did not substantially alter these results. Discussion: The E-NRF7.3 was developed to reflect dietary intake of relevant nutrients for older adults. Its association with markers of nutritional status could be confirmed for folate (both populations), vitamin B12 (Poland only), and homocysteine (the Netherlands only). There was no association with vitamin D and CRP. To further demonstrate its validity and practical implication, future studies should include a wider range of nutritional status makers, health outcomes, and inflammation markers