MYRA: A Java Ant Colony Optimization Framework for Classification Algorithms

This paper introduces MYRA, an open-source Java framework that provides the implementation of several ant colony optimization classification algorithms. The algorithms are ready to be used from the command-line or can be easily called from custom Java code. The framework is implemented using a modular architecture, therefore algorithms can be easily extended to incorporate different procedures and/or use different parameter values. The paper gives particular attention to the common architecture from which the algorithms are built on, highlighting the shared classes among the different implemented algorithms. The source code and documentation of MYRA are available for download at https://github.com/febo/myra

Lodz City Tour: The Changing Nature of the Urban Restructuring of a Post-Socialist Industrial City

This paper describes the restructuring of Poland’s third-largest city, Lodz (Łódź). Once a thriving metropolitan hub of textile and clothing manufacturing, Lodz was confronted with the closure of its numerous factories in the early 1990s with Poland’s transition from a planned to a global market economy. The city suffered an abrupt and dramatic decline followed by a redefinition of its economic, spatial and social structures. The paper focuses on the major economic and spatial phenomena taking place in the city in the three decades after the economic collapse. Using an evolutionary approach, it identifies and discusses the gradual shift of Lodz’s restructuring. We claim that the restructuring initially involved mostly organic and spontaneous initiatives of dynamic local and non-local actors, with minor and circumstantial involvement from the local authorities. However, over time, the restructuring of Lodz has become influenced and driven by nationally and EU-set objectives and targeted urban policies, with urban and infrastructural projects as driving vehicles.Jakub Zasina’s portion of this work was supported by the National Science Centre in Poland (grant agreement no. 2016/23/N/HS4/03390)

Natural and synthetic 5,8-quinolinedione derivatives exhibited biological activity

The compounds produced by a living organisms are most commonly used as medicinal agents and starting materials to the preparation of new semi-synthetic derivatives. It is estimated that over 23% of currently used medicinal products are natural substances. Natural compounds and their semisynthetic derivatives are most often used in the treatment of cancer and the treatment of infectious diseases. One of the groups of compounds obtained from Gram-positive bacterium are 5,8-quinolinedione antibiotics, like: streptonigrin, lavendamycin and streptonigron. The all compounds exhibit high anticancer, antimicrobial and antiviral activity. Unfortunately due to high toxicity this alkaloids did not find place in the therapy. The mechanism of action depends on interaction of compounds with the nicotinamide quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). The 5,8-quinolinedione can be reduced by the NAD(P)H as a cofactor to form the semiquinone or hydroquinone intermediates. These compounds can react with oxygen yielding a regenerated 5,8-quinolinedione fragment and creating the hydroxyl radicals, which are ultimately responsible for the DNA strands cleavage. The structure–activity relationship study has shown that the most important part of the molecule is the 5,8-quinolinedione moiety. Furthermore, it was found, that the introduction of amine, hydroxyl or thiol substituents at position 6 or 7 of the 5,8-quinolinedione moiety results in an enhanced biological activity. A lot of synthetic derivatives of 5,8-quinolinediones which containing amine, alkoxyl and thiol groups at the C-6 or/and C-7 positions have been obtained during the last few years. Commonly this compounds are obtained in the reaction of 6,7-dichloro-5,8-quinolinedione with nucleophilic factor. Depending on the reaction conditions, mono- or di-substituted derivatives are obtained. Most of synthesized compounds exhibit high biological activity, like: anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory

The pig as a model for premature infants - The importance of immunoglobulin supplementation for growth and development

Preterm human neonates, contrary to preterm piglets, obtain immunoglobulins from their mothers via the placenta during intrauterine development. However, one should note that the majority of trans-placental transfer of immunoglobulins in humans takes place during the last trimester of pregnancy. It is also known that the feeding of limited amounts of colostrum or systemic infusion of small amounts of serum improves the survival of preterm and full-term piglets. Full-term piglets deprived of their mother's immunoglobulins exhibit strong apathy and develop watery diarrhoea, often resulting in death. The aim of the current study was to determine if provision of immunoglobulins using different approaches would be beneficial for survival outcomes. To reach the immunological sufficient level we infused immunoglobulins intravenously in amount mimicking the blood level in piglets fed with sow colostrum. Intravenous infusion of immunoglobulins in both preterm and full-term newborn piglets fully ensured their survival, growth and blood immunoglobulin G and protein levels similar to those observed in piglets fed colostrum. Piglets completely deprived of immunoglobulins exhibited significantly lower blood levels of immunoglobulins and protein compared to colostrum-fed animals. Piglets infused with only serum exhibited significantly lower blood immunoglobulin G level compared to those infused with immunoglobulins. In conclusion, based on the data obtained, we suggest that passive immune support provided by colostrum intake or early systemic infusion of Ig's in sufficient amounts is key to ensuring the general well-being of preterm and full-term new born piglets, used as an animal model for the human infant