Relationship between cerebellar impairments and lexicon retrieval in schizophrenia - preliminary study

Aim of the study. Investigation of relationship between cerebellar motor dysfunctions and language impairments connected with cerebellum during phonological and semantic fluency tasks and verb generation task in schizophrenic patients and healthy control group. Subject or material and methods. 14 schizophrenic patients on olanzapine, clozapine or quetiapine treatment and 13 healthy volunteers were examined. Motor signs were assessed by using the International Co-operative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). Phonological and semantic fluency tasks were performed. All of the words were recorded and counted. Results. Patients with schizophrenia revealed significantly higher ICARS mean score (12.21) than control group (3.92), and lower number of proper generated words in semantic fluency and verb generation tasks. Strong negative correlation (rs(13) = -0.71, p<0.01) was found between ICARS total score and number of proper answers in verb generation task. Discussion. Higher number of total ICARS score in schizophrenia patients in comparison to control group may suggest cerebellar impairments. There is disproportion between semantic and phonological fluency. Significant correlation between verb generation and cerebellar signs supports a hypothesis of cerebellum dysfunction during this task in schizophrenia patients. Conclusions. Schizophrenic patients reveal impairments which may be connected with the cerebellum

Convergence insufficiency with unilateral exophoria at near in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder : a preliminary study

Objectives. The study describes an abnormal convergence symptom, i.e. unilateral exophoria at near, in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of this paper is to present the symptom and discuss its possible explanations. Methods. 29 patients with SZ, 15 patients with BD and 20 healthy controls (HC) took part in the study. The neurological assessment was done with International Co-operative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES). Results. The abnormal vergence pattern was observed in 12 patients with SZ, 1 patient with BD and 0 HC. Symptom appeared statistically more often in SZ patients than in BD patients and HC. SZ patients with vergence symptom performed significantly worst in oculomotor and dysarthia subscores of ICARS. Conclusions. The symptom can be linked to disruptions in cortico-ponto-cerebellar network and midbrain. It was the only neurological symptom that differed SZ and BD groups, thus it might be used in differential diagnosis. Further research is needed to obtain a full clinicaldescription of the symptom

Cryo-EM structure of the fully assembled elongator complex

Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules are essential to decode messenger RNA codons during protein synthesis. All known tRNAs are heavily modified at multiple positions through post-transcriptional addition of chemical groups. Modifications in the tRNA anticodons are directly influencing ribosome decoding and dynamics during translation elongation and are crucial for maintaining proteome integrity. In eukaryotes, wobble uridines are modified by Elongator, a large and highly conserved macromolecular complex. Elongator consists of two subcomplexes, namely Elp123 containing the enzymatically active Elp3 subunit and the associated Elp456 hetero-hexamer. The structure of the fully assembled complex and the function of the Elp456 subcomplex have remained elusive. Here, we show the cryo-electron microscopy structure of yeast Elongator at an overall resolution of 4.3 Å. We validate the obtained structure by complementary mutational analyses in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we determined various structures of the murine Elongator complex, including the fully assembled mouse Elongator complex at 5.9 Å resolution. Our results confirm the structural conservation of Elongator and its intermediates among eukaryotes. Furthermore, we complement our analyses with the biochemical characterization of the assembled human Elongator. Our results provide the molecular basis for the assembly of Elongator and its tRNA modification activity in eukaryotes

4C Mortality Score correlates with in-hospital functional outcome after COVID-19-associated ischaemic stroke

Aim of the study. The 4C Mortality Score was created to predict mortality in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and has to date been evaluated only in respiratory system disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate its application in patients with COVID-19-associated acute ischaemic stroke (AIS).Clinical rationale for study. COVID-19 is a risk factor for AIS. COVID-19-associated AIS results in higher mortality and worse functional outcome. Predictors of functional outcome in COVID-19-associated AIS are required.Materials and methods. This was a retrospective observational study of patients with AIS hospitalised in seven neurological wards in Małopolska Voivodship (Poland) between August and December 2020. We gathered data concerning the patients’ age, sex, presence of cardiovascular risk factors, type of treatment received, and the presence of stroke-associated infections (including pneumonia, urinary tract infection and infection of unknown source). We calculated 4C Mortality Score at stroke onset, and investigated whether there was a correlation with neurological deficit measured using the National Health Institute Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and functional outcome assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge.Results. The study included 52 patients with COVID-19-associated AIS. The 4C Mortality Score at stroke onset correlated with mRS (rs = 0.565, p &lt; 0.01) at discharge. There was also a statistically significant difference in the mean 4C Mortality Score between patients who died and patients who survived the stroke (13.08 ± 2.71 vs. 9.85 ± 3.47, p = 0.04).Conclusions and clinical implications. 4C Mortality Score predicts functional outcome at discharge in COVID-19-associated AIS patients

Polityczny crowdfunding — innowacyjna forma wspierania kampanii politycznych i inicjatyw społecznych

The purpose of this article is to present theoretical assumptions and practical implementation of crowdfunding in the socio-political sphere in Europe. The article presents a functional perspective (Who? How? Why? When is a political crowdfunding campaign initiated?). Thefirst part of the article presents key terms, literature review and builds an analytical framework. Then, European political crowdfunding projects are analyzed in the context of recent political events in Europe. The article uses content analysis as the research method, the implementation of which has enabled the analysis of existing literature on the subject.Celem niniejszego artykułu jest prezentacja założeń teoretycznych oraz praktycznej implementacji crowdfundingu w sferze społeczno-politycznej w Europie. W artykule ukazano perspektywę funkcjonalną (kto, jak, dlaczego, kiedy inicjuje polityczną kampanię crowdfundingową).Pierwsza część przedstawia kluczowe terminy, przegląd literatury oraz buduje ramy analityczne. Następnie analizie poddano europejskie polityczne projekty crowdfundingowe w kontekście ostatnich wydarzeń politycznych w Europie. W artykule jako metodę badawczą zastosowano analizę treści, której implementacja umożliwiła analizę istniejącej literatury przedmiotu

Teoretyczne założenia crowdfundingu oraz jego regulacje prawne w Unii Europejskiej i w Polsce

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest prezentacja założeń teoretycznych oraz praktycznej implementacji koncepcji alternatywnych źr&oacute;deł finansowania społecznościowego w Polsce i Unii Europejskiej ze szczeg&oacute;lnym uwzględnieniem aspekt&oacute;w formalno-prawnych crowdfundingu. Artykuł składa się z trzech części: w pierwszej opisano założenia definicyjne i koncepcyjne crowdfundingu, w drugiej przedstawiono propozycję zmiany ram regulacyjnych finansowania społecznościowego, przygotowanych przez instytucje Unii Europejskiej, natomiast trzecia zawiera uregulowania prawne finansowania społecznościowego w Polsce. W artykule jako metodę badawczą zastosowano desk research, kt&oacute;rej implementacja umożliwiła analizę istniejącej literatury przedmiotu.&nbsp;Theoretical assumptions of crowdfunding and its legal regulations in the European Union and in PolandThe aim of this article is to present the theoretical assumptions and practical implementation of the concept of alternative sources of funding in Poland and in the European Union, with emphasis on the formal and legal aspects of crowdfunding. The article consists of three parts. The first part describes the definition and conceptual assumptions of crowdfunding. The second part presents a proposal to change the crowdfunding regulatory framework at the European Union level. The third part includes legal regulations for crowdfunding in Poland. In the article, desk research was used as a research method, the implementation of which enabled the analysis of the existing literature on the subject.&nbsp;Celem niniejszego artykułu jest prezentacja założeń teoretycznych oraz praktycznej implementacji koncepcji alternatywnych źr&oacute;deł finansowania społecznościowego w Polsce i Unii Europejskiej ze szczeg&oacute;lnym uwzględnieniem aspekt&oacute;w formalno-prawnych crowdfundingu. Artykuł składa się z trzech części: w pierwszej opisano założenia definicyjne i koncepcyjne crowdfundingu, w drugiej przedstawiono propozycję zmiany ram regulacyjnych finansowania społecznościowego, przygotowanych przez instytucje Unii Europejskiej, natomiast trzecia zawiera uregulowania prawne finansowania społecznościowego w Polsce. W artykule jako metodę badawczą zastosowano desk research, kt&oacute;rej implementacja umożliwiła analizę istniejącej literatury przedmiotu.&nbsp;Theoretical assumptions of crowdfunding and its legal regulations in the European Union and in PolandThe aim of this article is to present the theoretical assumptions and practical implementation of the concept of alternative sources of funding in Poland and in the European Union, with emphasis on the formal and legal aspects of crowdfunding. The article consists of three parts. The first part describes the definition and conceptual assumptions of crowdfunding. The second part presents a proposal to change the crowdfunding regulatory framework at the European Union level. The third part includes legal regulations for crowdfunding in Poland. In the article, desk research was used as a research method, the implementation of which enabled the analysis of the existing literature on the subject

„Equity crowdfunding” w perspektywie sektora MŚP

The aim of this article is to present the theoretical assumptions and practical implementation of equity crowdfunding in the perspective of the European SME sector. The article shows how communication during a&nbsp;crowdfunding campaign is carried out between entities participating in it and presents the key mechanisms that are part of the process of raising capital using equity crowdfunding. The analysis also covers how equity crowdfunding can be a&nbsp;response to the challenges facing the European SME sector in terms of raising capital and the innovation deficit in face of the economic downturn. In the article, the content analysis was used as a&nbsp;research method, the implementation of which enabled the analysis of the existing literature on the subject.Celem niniejszego artykułu jest prezentacja założeń teoretycznych oraz praktycznej implementacji equity crowdfundingu w&nbsp;perspektywie europejskiego sektora MŚP. W&nbsp;artykule ukazano, w&nbsp;jaki sposób przebiega komunikacja podczas kampanii crowdfundingowej pomiędzy podmiotami biorącymi w&nbsp;niej udział oraz przedstawiono kluczowe mechanizmy wchodzące w&nbsp;skład procesu związanego z&nbsp;pozyskiwaniem kapitału przy pomocy equity crowdfundingu. Analizie poddano również to, w&nbsp;jaki sposób equity crowdfunding może być odpowiedzią na wyzwania stojące przed europejskim sektorem MŚP w&nbsp;zakresie pozyskiwania kapitału oraz deficytu innowacyjności w&nbsp;obliczu słabnącej koniunktury gospodarczej. W&nbsp;artykule jako metodę badawczą zastosowano analizę treści, której implementacja umożliwiła analizę istniejącej literatury przedmiotu

Characteristics of avalanche accidents and a overview of avalanche equipment

Avalanches are one of the most spectacular phenomena which may occur in the mountains. Unfortunately they are often caused by humans and pose for him a big danger. In the Polish Tatras alone they represent 18% of all causes of death among 1996-2013. One fourth of the people caught by an avalanche dies, and their chances of survival depends on the depth of burial, burial time, the presence of an air pocket and the degree of injuries. The most common cause of death is asphyxiation, the next is injuries and hypothermia is the rarest cause of death. The fate of the buried people depends on their equipment such as avalanche transceiver, ABS backpack and AvaLung, and also from the equipment of the people who are seeking (avalanche probes, avalanche transceiver and shovels), which has been proven in practice and research.Lawiny śnieżne są jednym z najbardziej spektakularnych zjawisk, do których może dojść w terenie górskim. Niestety są one często spowodowane przez człowieka i stanowią dla niego samego bardzo wielkie zagrożenie. W samych Tatrach polskich stanowiły one 18% przyczyn wszystkich wypadków śmiertelnych na przełomie lat 1996-2013. Losy osoby zasypanej zależą zarówno od jej wyposażenia, takiego jak: detektor lawinowy, plecak ABS czy AvaLung, jak i od wyposażenia osób poszukujących (sondy lawinowe, detektor i łopaty), co zostało udowodnione w praktyce i badaniach. Co czwarta osoba porwana przez lawinę ginie, a jej losy zależą od głębokości zasypania, czasu przebywania pod śniegiem, obecności przestrzeni powietrznej oraz stopnia doznanych obrażeń mechanicznych. Najczęstszą przyczyną śmierci jest uduszenie się pod zwałami śniegu, kolejną są urazy odniesione w trakcie porwania przez lawinę, a dopiero w następnej kolejności – hipotermia

Molecular and Supramolecular Changes in Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) and Polybutylene Succinate Adipate (PBSA) Copolymer during Degradation in Various Environmental Conditions

In this paper, the influence of the various degradation conditions, on the molecular and supramolecular structure of polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA) copolymer during degradation is described. The experiment was carried out by the use of injection molded samples and normalized conditions of biodegradation in soil, composting and artificial weathering. Materials were studied by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled with multiangle laser light scattering (MALLS) detection and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Additionally, the physical and mechanical properties of the samples were determined. The performed experiments clearly show difference impacts of the selected degradation conditions on the macroscopic, supramolecular and molecular parameters of the studied aliphatic polyesters. The structural changes in PBS and PBSA explain the observed changes in the physical and mechanical properties of the obtained injection molded samples