Immersive technologies as a solution for general data protection regulation in Europe and impact on the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: General data protection regulation (GDPR) provides rules according to which datashould be managed and processed in a secure and appropriate way for patient requirements and security.Currently, everyone in Europe is covered by GDPR. Thus, the medical practice also requires accessto patient data in a safe and secure way.Methods: Holographic technology allows users to see everything visible on a computer screen in a newand less restricted way, i.e. without the limitations of traditional computers and screens.Results: In this study, a three-dimensional holographic doctors’ assistant is designed and implementedin a way that meets the GDPR requirements. The HoloView application, which is tailored to run onMicrosoft HoloLens, is proposed toallow display and access to personal data and so-called sensitiveinformation of all individual patients without the risk that it will be presented to unauthorized persons.Conclusions: To enhance the user experience and remain consistent with GSPR, a holographic deskis proposed that allows displaying patient data and sensitive information only in front of the doctor’seyes using mixed reality glasses. Last but not least, it boasts of a reduction in infection risk for the staffduring the COVID-19 pandemic, affording medical care to be carried out by as few doctors as possible

Unsymmetrically-Substituted 5,12-dihydrodibenzo[b,f][1,4]diazocine-6,11-dione Scaffold—A Useful Tool for Bioactive Molecules Design

Unsymmetrically N-substituted and N,N’-disubstituted 5,12-dihydrodibenzo [b,f][1,4]diazocine-6,11-diones were synthesized in the new protocol. The desired modifications of the dibenzodiazocine scaffold were introduced at the stages of proper selection of building blocks as well as post-cyclization modifications with alkylation or acylation agents, expanding the structural diversity and possible applications of synthesized molecules. The extension of developed method resulted in the synthesis of novel: tricyclic 5,10-dihydrobenzo[b]thieno[3,4-f][1,4]diazocine-4,11-dione scaffold and fused pentacyclic framework possessing two benzodiazocine rings within its structure. Additionally, the unprecedented rearrangement of 5,12-dihydrodibenzo[b,f][1,4]diazocine-6,11-diones to 2-(2-aminophenyl)isoindoline-1,3-diones was observed under the basic conditions in the presence of sodium hydride for secondary dilactams. The structures of nine synthesized products have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Detailed crystallographic analysis of the investigated tri- and pentacyclic systems has shed more light on their structural features. One cell line derived from non-cancerous cells (EUFA30—human fibroblasts) and three tumor cells (U87—human primary glioblastoma, HeLa—cervix adenocarcinoma, BICR18—laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma) were used to determine the cytotoxic effect of the newly synthesized compounds. Although these compounds showed a relatively weak cytotoxic effect, the framework obtained for 5,12-dihydrodibenzo[b,f][1,4]diazocine-6,11-dione could serve as a convenient privilege structure for the design and development of novel bioactive molecules suitable for drug design, development and optimization programs

Value preferences in individuals with low and high self-esteem

Podstawowym celem artykułu jest charakterystyka porównawcza wartościowania u osób o niskiej i wysokiej samoocenie. Dodatkowo opisano różnice w wartościowaniu występujące między kobietami a mężczyznami. Przebadano 268 osób w wieku od 19 do 24 lat (M= 21,71, SD= 1,54) przy użyciu następujących metod: Kwestionariusz SES Rosenberga i Skala Wartości SW Rokeacha. W obliczeniach przyjęto poziom istotności p<0,05. Wyniki wskazują na to, że wartości konformistyczne (czysty, opanowany, uprzejmy, posłuszny) oraz wartości takie jak przyjemność, dostatnie życie są wyżej cenione przez osoby z niską samooceną niż przez osoby z samooceną wysoką. Osoby o wysokiej samoocenie natomiast wyżej cenią odwagę. Osoby o niskiej i wysokiej samoocenie nie różnią się w przypisywaniu ważności uznaniu społecznemu, poczuciu dokonania i poczuciu własnej godności. Wykazano, że mężczyźni wyżej cenią wartości hedonistyczne i intelektualne, natomiast kobiety – wartości relacyjne. Nie różnią się jednak tym, jaką rangę przypisują wartościom estetycznym i podmiotowym.The basic purpose of this article is to compare how people with low and high self-esteem rated particular values. Additionally, the authors look at gender differences concerning the attitudes toward certain values. The study involved 268 individuals aged 19-24 (M= 21.71, SD= 1.54). The participants were surveyed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES) and the Rokeach Value Survey (RVS). The results were considered significant at p<0.05. The findings demonstrated that people with lower self-esteem had higher opinion of values like Conformity, Pleasure, and Comfortable Life as well as some Instru-mental Values (Self-Control and Politeness), when compared against the individuals with higher self-esteem. On the other hand, they were found to value Courage. There were no differences concerning the way individuals with high and low self-esteem rated Social Recognition, A Sense of Accomplishment and Self-Respect. Also, the authors noticed that men were more likely to appreciate Hedonistic and Intellectual values, while women attached great-er significance to Relational values. There were no gender differences concerning the rating of Aesthetic and Subjective values

ANALYSIS OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS IN PATIENTS WITH SCHZIOPHRENIA, IN COMPARISON WITH A HEALTHY CONTROL - CASE STUDY

Introduction: Deficits in area of communication, crucial for maintaining proper social bonds, may have a prominent adverse impact on quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. Social exclusion, lack of employment and deterioration of family life, may be consequences of aggravated social competencies, caused by inability to properly exhibit and interpret facial expressions. Although this phenomenon is known since first clinical descriptions of schizophrenia, lack of proper methodology limited our knowledge in this area. Aim of our study was to compare facial expressivity of the patient with schizophrenia, and the healthy individual. Methods: 47-years old patient suffering from schizophrenia, and 36-years old healthy individual were invited to participate in our study. They underwent the examination in Human Facial Modelling Lab in Polish-Japanese Institute of Information Technology in Bytom (Silesia, Katowice). Both participants were presented with two video materials, first one contained different facial expressions, which they had to imitate. Second one a part of comedy show, during which spontaneous reactions were recorded. Acquisition of facial expressions was conducted with marker-based technology of modelling. Obtained data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results and conclusions: An overall facial expression intensity, expressed as an average value of distances traveled by markers during shifts from neutral position was higher in case of a healthy participant during both part of the study. The difference was especially visible in case of an upper half of the face. Utilization of marker-based methods in analysis of human facial expressions seem to be reliable and remarkably accurate

ANALYSIS OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS IN PATIENTS WITH SCHZIOPHRENIA, IN COMPARISON WITH A HEALTHY CONTROL - CASE STUDY

Introduction: Deficits in area of communication, crucial for maintaining proper social bonds, may have a prominent adverse impact on quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. Social exclusion, lack of employment and deterioration of family life, may be consequences of aggravated social competencies, caused by inability to properly exhibit and interpret facial expressions. Although this phenomenon is known since first clinical descriptions of schizophrenia, lack of proper methodology limited our knowledge in this area. Aim of our study was to compare facial expressivity of the patient with schizophrenia, and the healthy individual. Methods: 47-years old patient suffering from schizophrenia, and 36-years old healthy individual were invited to participate in our study. They underwent the examination in Human Facial Modelling Lab in Polish-Japanese Institute of Information Technology in Bytom (Silesia, Katowice). Both participants were presented with two video materials, first one contained different facial expressions, which they had to imitate. Second one a part of comedy show, during which spontaneous reactions were recorded. Acquisition of facial expressions was conducted with marker-based technology of modelling. Obtained data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results and conclusions: An overall facial expression intensity, expressed as an average value of distances traveled by markers during shifts from neutral position was higher in case of a healthy participant during both part of the study. The difference was especially visible in case of an upper half of the face. Utilization of marker-based methods in analysis of human facial expressions seem to be reliable and remarkably accurate

Comparison of the Physicochemical Properties of Carboxylic and Phosphonic Acid Self-Assembled Monolayers Created on a Ti-6Al-4V Substrate

This study compared the tribological properties in nano- and millinewton load ranges of Ti-6Al-4V surfaces that were modified using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of carboxylic and phosphonic acids. The effectiveness of the creation of SAMs with the use of the liquid phase deposition (LPD) technique was monitored by the contact angle measurement, the surface free energy (SFE) calculation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements. The obtained results indicated that more stable and well-ordered layers, which were characterized by the lowest values of the coefficient of friction, adhesion, and wear rate, were obtained using phosphonic acid as a surface modifier. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the Ti-6Al-4V alloy modified by phosphonic acid would be the most advantageous for practical applications, especially in micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS)

Improved HDAC Inhibition, Stronger Cytotoxic Effect and Higher Selectivity against Leukemias and Lymphomas of Novel, Tricyclic Vorinostat Analogues

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are a class of drugs used in the cancer treatment. Here, we developed a library of 19 analogues of Vorinostat, an HDAC inhibitor used in lymphomas treatment. In Vorinostat, we replaced the hydrophobic phenyl group with various tricyclic ‘caps’ possessing a central, eight-membered, heterocyclic ring, and investigated the HDAC activity and cytotoxic effect on the cancer and normal cell lines. We found that 3 out of the 19 compounds, based on dibenzo[b,f]azocin-6(5H)-one, 11,12-dihydrodibenzo[b,f]azocin- 6(5H)-one, and benzo[b]naphtho[2,3-f][1,5]diazocine-6,14(5H,13H)-dione scaffolds, showed better HDACs inhibition than the referenced Vorinostat. In leukemic cell line MV4-11 and in the lymphoma cell line Daudi, three compounds showed lower IC50 values than Vorinostat. These compounds had higher activity and selectivity against MV4-11 and Daudi cell lines than reference Vorinostat. We also observed a strong correlation between HDACs inhibition and the cytotoxic effect. Cell lines derived from solid tumours: A549 (lung carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) as well as reference BALB/3T3 (normal murine fibroblasts) were less susceptible to compounds tested. Developed derivatives show improved properties than Vorinostat, thus they could be considered as possible agents for leukemia and lymphoma treatment