Intelligent Technologies Supporting the Management of a Smart City. Qualitative Approach

Intelligent technologies such as Business Intelligence systems, big data, artificial intelligence including machine learning and cognitive technologies play crucial role in the process of a smart city management. The aim of the paper is to indicate the role of intelligent solutions in the management of a contemporary city, particularly focusing on the support of decision making process. The research methodology is based on a qualitative approach where six case studies were conducted in the selected big cities in Poland in 2021 year. The respondents belonged to the group of mainly managers of IT departments in the cities. The case study analyses showed that implemented intelligent solutions in the process of a smart city management positively and significantly affect efficacy, efficiency, quality, and acceleration of the decision-making process and also support the creation of a particular city development strategy. The paper puts also an emphasis on the review of AI applications within the concept of smart city in a big worldwide metropolies

Isolation and Characterization of Pseudomonas spp. Strains That Efficiently Decompose Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

Due to their particular properties, detergents are widely used in household cleaning products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and in agriculture as adjuvants tailoring the features of pesticides or other crop protection agents. The continuously growing use of these various products means that water soluble detergents have become one of the most problematic groups of pollutants for the aquatic and terrestrial environments. Thus it is important to identify bacteria having the ability to survive in the presence of large quantities of detergent and efficiently decompose it to non-surface active compounds. In this study, we used peaty soil sampled from a surface flow constructed wetland in a wastewater treatment plant to isolate bacteria that degrade sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). We identified and initially characterized 36 Pseudomonas spp. strains that varied significantly in their ability to use SDS as their sole carbon source. Five isolates having the closest taxonomic relationship to the Pseudomonas jessenii subgroup appeared to be the most efficient SDS degraders, decomposing from 80 to 100% of the SDS present in an initial concentration 1 g/L in less than 24 h. These isolates exhibited significant differences in degree of SDS degradation, their resistance to high detergent concentration (ranging from 2.5 g/L up to 10 g/L or higher), and in chemotaxis toward SDS on a plate test. Mass spectrometry revealed several SDS degradation products, 1-dodecanol being dominant; however, traces of dodecanal, 2-dodecanol, and 3-dodecanol were also observed, but no dodecanoic acid. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis zymography revealed that all of the selected isolates possessed alkylsulfatase-like activity. Three isolates, AP3_10, AP3_20, and AP3_22, showed a single band on native PAGE zymography, that could be the result of alkylsulfatase activity, whereas for isolates AP3_16 and AP3_19 two bands were observed. Moreover, the AP3_22 strain exhibited a band in presence of both glucose and SDS, whereas in other isolates, the band was visible solely in presence of detergent in the culture medium. This suggests that these microorganisms isolated from peaty soil exhibit exceptional capabilities to survive in, and break down SDS, and they should be considered as a valuable source of biotechnological tools for future bioremediation and industrial applications

Draft Genome Sequence of the Type Strain Pseudomonas jessenii DSM 17150

We present the draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas jessenii type strain DSM 17150. The assembly consists of 13 contigs, contains 6,537,206 bp, and has a GC content of 59.7%

Draft Genome Sequence of the Type Strain Pseudomonas umsongensis DSM 16611

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas umsongensis type strain DSM 16611. The assembly consists of 14 contigs containing 6,701,403 bp with a GC content of 59.73%

Gestational diabetes mellitus - an analysis of risk factors

Wstęp: Cukrzyca ciążowa (GDM, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus) zwiększa ryzyko powikłań ciąży, porodu i powikłań u noworodka. Celem pracy była ocena czynników ryzyka zachorowania na cukrzycę ciążową i ich wartości predykcyjnych. Materiał i metody: Do grupy badanej włączono 510 ciężarnych kobiet z rozpoznaną według kryteriów Światowej Organizacji Zdrowia (WHO, World Health Organization) cukrzycą ciążową (grupa GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus). Grupę kontrolną stanowiło 1160 kobiet z prawidłową gospodarką węglowodanową w ciąży (grupa NGT, normal glucose tolerance). Dla rozpoznanych czynników ryzyka cukrzycy ciążowej wykonano analizę wieloczynnikową oraz wyliczono iloraz szans. Wyniki: Pacjentki z GDM były starsze (30,1 vs. 27,2 lat; p < 0,0001), miały wyższy BMI przed ciążą (25,0 vs. 21,6 kg/m2; p < 0,0001), częściej miały krewnych z cukrzycą (40.0 vs. 25,7%; p < 0,01), częściej były wieloródkami (33,6 vs. 16,0%; p < 0,001) i częściej przebyły niepowodzenia położnicze (21,4 vs. 13,7%; p < 0,01) niż kobiety z NGT. Na podstawie analizy wieloczynnikowej wyłoniono następujące czynniki ryzyka GDM: BMI > 25 kg/m2 (OR 4,14); urodzenie dziecka z makrosomią (OR 2,72), 3 lub następne ciąże (OR 1,8), pozytywny wywiad rodzinny w kierunku cukrzycy (OR 1,76) oraz wiek > 25 lat (OR 1,34). U 12% ciężarnych z GDM nie stwierdzono żadnego czynnika ryzyka, a przynajmniej jeden czynniki ryzyka stwierdzono u 74,1% ciężarnych bez zaburzeń tolerancji glukozy w ciąży. Nie udało się znaleźć takiego zestawu czynników ryzyka, który pozwoliłby wyłonić pacjentki z wysokim ryzykiem cukrzycy ciążowej z ogółu ciężarnych. Wnioski: Wiek, nadwaga i otyłość, rodzinne obciążenie cukrzycą, rodność, makrosomia i niepowodzenia w wywiadzie położniczym są czynnikami ryzyka cukrzycy ciążowej. Ze względu na brak możliwości wyłonienia na podstawie obecności czynników ryzyka kobiet szczególnie zagrożonych cukrzycą ciążową, laboratoryjne badania przesiewowe powinny być wykonywane u wszystkich ciężarnych. (Endokrynol Pol 2008; 59 (5): 393-397)Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with an increased frequency of gestational, perinatal and neonatal complications. The aim of the study was to evaluate risk factors for GDM and their predictive value. Material and methods: The group studied consisted of 510 pregnant women with GDM diagnosed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (GDM). The controls were 1160 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Multifactorial analysis was performed and odds ratios (OR) were calculated for each risk factor identified. Results: The GDM patients were significantly older than the NGT subjects (30.1 vs. 27.2 years; p < 0.0001), had a greater tendency towards obesity before pregnancy (BMI 25.0 vs. 21.6 kg/m2; p < 0.0001), more often had relatives with diabetes (40.0 vs. 25.7%; p < 0.01), had greater parity (third or subsequent pregnancy: 33.6 vs. 16.0%; p < 0.001) and more often experienced adverse perinatal outcomes (21.4 vs. 13.7%; p 25 kg/m2 (OR 4.14), a history of macrosomia (OR 2.72), being pregnant for the third time or more (OR 1.8), a family history of diabetes (OR 1.76) and age at gestation > 25 years (OR 1.34). No risk factors were present in 12% of GDM subjects, and at least one risk factor was found in 74.1% of subjects with NGT. No risk factor cluster was found which could be used easily in everyday practice to identify reliably subjects at increased risk of GDM. Conclusions: Age, overweight and obesity, diabetes in the family, parity, macrosomia and a history of perinatal complications were identified as risk factors for GDM. As no reliable method of identifying subjects at increased GDM risk was found, we suggest that all pregnant women should undergo laboratory screening for GDM. (Pol J Endocrinol 2008; 59 (5): 393-397

Draft Genome Sequence of the Type Strain Sphingopyxis bauzanensis DSM 22271

We present here the draft genome sequence of Sphingopyxis bauzanensis DSM 22271. The assembly contains 4,258,005 bp in 28 scaffolds and has a GC content of 63.3%. A series of specific genes involved in the catabolism or transport of aromatic compounds was identified

Pseudomonas silesiensis sp. nov. strain A3 T isolated from a biological pesticide sewage treatment plant and analysis of the complete genome sequence

Microorganisms classified in to the Pseudomonas genus are a ubiquitous bacteria inhabiting variety of environmental niches and have been isolated from soil, sediment, water and different parts of higher organisms (plants and animals). Members of this genus are known for their metabolic versatility and are able to utilize different chemical compounds as a source of carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus, which makes them an interesting microorganism for bioremediation or bio-transformation. Moreover, Pseudomonas sp. has been described as a microorganism that can easily adapt to new environmental conditions due to its resistance to the presence of high concentrations of heavy metals or chemical pollution. Here we present the isolation and analysis of Pseudomonas silesiensis sp. nov. strain A3T isolated from peaty soil used in a biological wastewater treatment plant exploited by a pesticide packaging company. Phylogenetic MLSA analysis of 4 housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, gyrB, rpoD and rpoB), complete genome sequence comparison (ANIb, Tetranucleotide identity, digital DDH), FAME analysis, and other biochemical tests indicate the A3T strain (type strain PCM 2856T=DSM 103370T) differs significantly from the closest relative species and therefore represents a new species within the Pseudomonas genus. Moreover, bioinformatic analysis of the complete sequenced genome showed that it consists of 6,823,539bp with a 59.58mol% G+C content and does not contain any additional plasmids. Genome annotation predicted the presence of 6066 genes, of which 5875 are coding proteins and 96 are RNA genes

Draft Genome Sequence of the Type Strain Sphingopyxis witflariensis DSM 14551

Here, we present the draft genome sequence of Sphingopyxis witflariensis strain DSM 14551. The assembly consists of 38 contigs and contains 4,306,761 bp, with a GC content of 63.3%