GWAS links variants in neuronal development and actin remodeling related loci with pseudoexfoliation syndrome without glaucoma

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEXS) is an age-related elastosis, strongly associated with the development of secondary glaucoma. It is clearly suggested that PEXS has a genetic component, but this has not been extensively studied. Here, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a DNA-pooling approach was conducted to explore the potential association of genetic variants with PEXS in a Polish population, including 103 PEXS patients without glaucoma and 106 perfectly (age- and gender-) matched controls. Individual sample TaqMan genotyping was used to validate GWAS-selected single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was applied to develop a prediction model for PEXS. In total, 15 SNPs representing independent PEXS susceptibility loci were selected for further validation in individual samples. For 14 of these variants, significant differences in the allele and genotype frequencies between cases and controls were identified, of which 12 remained significant after Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment. The minor allele of five SNPs was associated with an increased risk of PEXS development, while for nine SNPs, it showed a protective effect. Beyond the known LOXL1 variant rs2165241, nine other SNPs were located within gene regions, including in OR11L1, CD80, TNIK, CADM2, SORBS2, RNF180, FGF14, FMN1, and RBFOX1 genes. None of these associations with PEXS has previously been reported. Selected SNPs were found to explain nearly 69% of the total risk of PEXS development. The overall risk prediction accuracy for PEXS, expressed by the area under the ROC curve (AUC) value, increased by 0.218, from 0.672 for LOXL1 rs2165241 alone to 0.89 when seven additional SNPs were included in the proposed 8-SNP prediction model. In conclusion, several new susceptibility loci for PEXS without glaucoma suggested that neuronal development and actin remodeling are potentially involved in either PEXS onset or inhibition or delay of its conversion to glaucoma

Correlation between the band-gap energy and the electrical conductivity in MPr2W2O10 tungstates (Where M = Cd, Co, Mn)

The values of the direct allowed energy gap determined from the UV-vis-NIR measurements and Kubelka– Munk transformation decrease from 3.38 via 2.70 to 2.42 eV for MPr2W2O10 in the sequence M = Cd, Co, Mn, while the values of the activation energy increase from 0.11 via 0.44 to 0.47 eV in the same sequence. In other words, the higher the activation energy, the smaller the energy gap. Because the energy gap is typical for insulators, so electron transport phenomena are considered under the Poole–Frenkel effect and small-polaron mechanism

Physical activity levels as a quantifier in police officers and cadets

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the physical activity levels of active duty police officers and police academy cadets in different life domains and intensities. These parameters were treated as potential quantifiers that could be used when assessing individuals preparing for work as future police officers. Material and Methods: The study recruited 153 active police officers and 176 cadets attending a police academy and administered a diagnostic survey, the long-form version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, while in the statistical analysis the Student's t-test for independent groups was applied. Results: It was determined that police officers present high physical activity levels within the work domain, which are developed from initial training at a police academy and then throughout their police career. Conclusions: Such data are important in the light of the role police officers play in public safety as well as the prominence of physical activity within a particular profession and how it can be targeted and tailored to their needs

Exome sequencing to explore the possibility of predicting genetic susceptibility to the joint occurrence of polycystic ovary syndrome and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

A large body of evidence indicates that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher risk of developing Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) than healthy individuals. Given the strong genetic impact on both diseases, common predisposing genetic factors are possibly involved but are not fully understood. Here, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) for 250 women with sporadic PCOS, HT, combined PCOS and HT (PCOS+HT), and healthy controls to explore the genetic background of the joint occurrence of PCOS and HT. Based on relevant comparative analyses, multivariate logistic regression prediction modeling, and the most informative feature selection using the Monte Carlo feature selection and interdependency discovery algorithm, 77 variants were selected for further validation by TaqMan genotyping in a group of 533 patients. In the allele frequency test, variants in RAB6A, GBP3, and FNDC7 genes were found to significantly (padjusted < 0.05) differentiated the PCOS+HT and PCOS groups, variant in HIF3A differentiated the PCOS+HT and HT groups, whereas variants in CDK20 and CCDC71 differentiated the PCOS+HT and both single disorder groups. TaqMan genotyping data were used to create final prediction models, which differentiated between PCOS+HT and PCOS or HT with a prediction accuracy of AUC = 0.78. Using a 70% cutoff of the prediction score improved the model parameters, increasing the AUC value to 0.87. In summary, we demonstrated the polygenic burden of both PCOS and HT, and many common and intersecting signaling pathways and biological processes whose disorders mutually predispose patients to the development of both diseases

Epidemiology of physical activity in adult Polish population in the second decade of the 21st century. Results of the NATPOL 2011 study

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess physical activity (PA) level in a representative sample of Polish adults.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed among 2413 randomly selected individuals (51.5% women) aged 18-79 years, who participated in the Nationwide Study of Occurrence of Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases NATPOL 2011 (March-July 2011). The study procedures consisted of a questionnaire as well as of anthropometric, blood pressure and biochemical measurements. Leisure-time, occupational and commuting PA were assessed by the use of a questionnaire interview. Results: About 48.2% of adults do exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of a week. About 11% of the respondents declare a sedentary lifestyle. About 26.5% of working population report hard physical work, while sedentary work is reported by 47.6% of the employed participants. Active commuting is declared by 27.3% of working/studying population. About 47.2%, 36.6%, and 15.3% spend 30 min per day, respectively, on this kind of PA. Conclusions: PA level of more than half of Polish adults is still not satisfactory. Promotion of an active lifestyle should concern mainly leisure-time and commuting PA with paying special attention to substantial differences in various socio-demographic groups

Oat–buckwheat breads – technological quality, staling and sensory properties

peer reviewedThe technological and sensory properties and the staling of breads made from oat flour (OF) and buckwheat flour (BF) were analysed. Significant differences in protein and ash content were found in the experimental breads due to significant differences in the composition of the BF and OF used. As the proportion of BF in the recipe increased, a deterioration in the technological properties of the dough and bread as well as an increase in the crumb hardness were observed. The presence of OF in the recipe increased the bread volume, significantly enhanced the lightness of the crust and crumb and improved the overall sensory quality. The OF used in the recipe decreased the starch retrogradation enthalpy value, which is strongly related to a delay in bread staling. The proposed bakery products can be attractive to consumers who are looking for new food products

Ocena wpływu naprężeń zginających na proces zużycia czopa ze stali 1H18N9 w smarowanym wodą łożysku ślizgowym z gumową panwią

The issue of excessive wear of shaft journals co-working with a rubber bearing has been unexplained so far. Premature and sometimes very intensive wear of ship sliding bearings in water conditions is the reason for carry out very expensive and more frequent than expected repairs. The authors (E. Piątkowska, W. Litwin) made an attempt to find a case that influences the value of this wear described in the paper “Attempt at Evaluating the Influence of Bending Stress on Shaft Wear Process in Water Lubricated Sliding Bearing with Rubber Bush” (TRIBOLOGY 1/2017). These studies, however, did not explain the dependency of the wear process but showed how to progress further to find the answer to the question about the effect of bending stress on shaft wear. The research is continued on a modified test stand, and their results are presented in this paper. The profilographometer was used to evaluate the wear of the journal shaft. To compare wear intensity, roughness profiles have been 'removed' from the journals both before and after co-operation. They were compared in terms of bending stresses and bending moments.Problematyka nadmiernego zużycia czopa wału współpracującego z gumową panwią łożyska ślizgowego jest jak dotąd niewyjaśniona. Przedwczesne, czasem bardzo intensywne zużycie okrętowych łożysk ślizgowych pracujących w środowisku wodnym staje się powodem przeprowadzania bardzo kosztownych i częstszych niż zakładano remontów. Autorzy (E. Piątkowska, W. Litwin) podjęli próbę znalezienia przyczyny wpływającej na wielkość tego zużycia opisaną w referacie: „Próba oceny wpływu naprężeń zginających na proces zużycia czopa w smarowanym wodą łożysku ślizgowym z gumową panwią” (TRIBOLOGIA, wydanie 1/2017 „Attempt at Evaluating the Influence of Bending Stress on Shaft Wear Process in Water Lubricated Sliding Bearing with Rubber Bush”). Badania te jednak nie wyjawiły zależności opisującej proces zużycia, ale wskazały, w jaki sposób należy kontynuować dalsze prace, aby znaleźć odpowiedź na postawione pytanie dotyczące wpływu naprężeń zginających na stopień zużycia czopa wału. Prace badawcze są kontynuowane na zmodyfikowanym stanowisku pomiarowym, a ich wyniki przedstawione zostały w niniejszym referacie. Do oceny stanu zużycia czopów wałów, które współpracowały z gumową panwią wykorzystano profilografometr. Dla porównania stopnia zużycia profile chropowatości zostały ‘zdjęte’ z czopów zarówno przed, jak i po współpracy. Porównywane były one pod względem naprężeń zginających, jak i momentów gnących

Waste management in aquaculture

Nieustanny rozwój światowej produkcji przemysłowej akwakultury kieruje uwagę w stronę udoskonalania technologii hodowlanych, optymalizacji produkcji i minimalizacji odpadów z niej powstających. Rosnące zapotrzebowanie na żywność, generowanie ogromnej ilości odpadów produkcyjnych i ograniczone zasoby wodne motywują do dalszej pracy w dążeniu do osiągnięcia zrównoważonej gospodarki odpadami w tej dziedzinie. Celem artykułu jest analiza i ocena stosowanych w akwakulturze procesów i technologii w zakresie gospodarki odpadami, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem hodowli krewetek, służący za przykład produkcji tej gałęzi przemysłu.Continuous development of world industrial production of aquaculture directs attention toward improving the breeding technology, production optimization and minimization of waste arising during production processes. The growing demand for food, generating huge amounts of wastes and limited water resources, motivate to further work in achieving sustainable waste management in this area. This article aims to analyze and evaluate the processes and technologies used in aquaculture in waste management range, with particular emphasis on shrimp farming, serving as an example of this production branch