Audiodeskrypcja dzieł sztuki. Metody, problemy, przykłady

Autorki książki przedstawiły problem wyrównania szans osób niewidomych i niedowidzących w dostępie do dóbr kultury. Zaprezentowały metodę tworzenia audiodeskrypcji dzieł w kontekście upowszechniania sztuki wśród osób z dysfunkcjami wzroku. Ponieważ tworzenie audiodeskrypcji wymaga znacznego zasobu zróżnicowanej wiedzy, zaproponowały wprowadzenie specjalistycznych zajęć z audiodeskrypcji prowadzonych metodą projektową. [...] Zebrany w ten sposób materiał stał się ważnym uzupełnieniem książki, a zarazem pozwolił na cały szereg istotnych sformułowań związanych z teorią i praktyką tworzenia audiodeskrypcji. Ta pionierska praca jest istotną pozycją dla studentów, muzealników i wszystkich zainteresowanych ułatwianiem osobom z niepełnosprawnością wzroku, niewidomym i niedowidzącym dostępu do sztuk plastycznych, a tym samym integracji społecznej w obszarze kultury. Z recenzji prof. Ryszarda HungeraUdostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00

Terpenoid Biosynthesis Dominates among Secondary Metabolite Clusters in Mucoromycotina Genomes

Early-diverging fungi harbour unprecedented diversity in terms of living forms, biological traits and genome architecture. Before the sequencing era, non-Dikarya fungi were considered unable to produce secondary metabolites (SM); however, this perspective is changing. The main classes of secondary metabolites in fungi include polyketides, nonribosomal peptides, terpenoids and siderophores that serve different biological roles, including iron chelation and plant growth promotion. The same classes of SM are reported for representatives of early-diverging fungal lineages. Encouraged by the advancement in the field, we carried out a systematic survey of SM in Mucoromycotina and corroborated the presence of various SM clusters (SMCs) within the phylum. Among the core findings, considerable representation of terpene and nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-like candidate SMCs was found. Terpene clusters with diverse domain composition and potentially highly variable products dominated the landscape of candidate SMCs. A uniform low-copy distribution of siderophore clusters was observed among most assemblies. Mortierellomycotina are highlighted as the most potent SMC producers among the Mucoromycota and as a source of novel peptide products. SMC identification is dependent on gene model quality and can be successfully performed on a batch scale with genomes of different quality and completeness

Utilization of 4-n-nonylphenol by Metarhizium sp. isolates*

Nonylphenol (4-NP) is a xenobiotic classified as an endocrine disrupting compound with an ability to interfere with hormonal systems of numerous organisms including humans. It is widely distributed not only in aquatic but also in terrestrial systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of cosmopolitan fungus Metarhizium (commonly persistent in soil as a facultative insect pathogen, controlling populations of arthropods in natural environment) to degrade 4-n-nonylphenol. All isolates examined in this work were identified to a species rank based on five, independent genetic markers. Among eight Metarhizium strains; six of them have been identified as M. robertsii, and two others as M. brunneum and M. lepidiotae. All investigated Metarhzium isolates were found to eliminate 4-n-NP with significant efficiency (initial xenobiotic concentration 50 mg L -1 ). The degradation process was very effective and at 24h of incubation 50-90% of 4-n-NP was eliminated by certain strains, while extended incubation resulted in further utilization of this compound. At the end of the experiments 64-99% of 4-n-NP was removed from the culture medium. Additionally, in all tested cultures three major metabolites were detected: 4-hydroxybenzoic acid; 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid and 4-hydroxyphenylpentanoic acid. The obtained results indicate that Metarhizium sp. possesses an ability to degrade NP and can serve as a potential candidate for further biodegradation studies

Cold adapted and closely related mucoraceae species colonise dry-aged beef (DAB)

The dry ageing is a historically relevant method of meat preservation, now used as a way to produce the dry-aged beef (DAB) known for its pronounced flavour. Partially responsible for the taste of the DAB may be various microorganisms that grow on the surface of the meat. Historically, the fungal species colonising the DAB were described as members of the genera Thamnidium and Mucor. In this study we used both culture based approach as well as ITS2 rDNA metabarcoding analysis to investigate the fungal community of the DAB, with special emphasis on the mucoralean taxa. Isolated fungi were members of 6 different species from the family Mucoraceae, belonging to the genera Mucor and Helicostylum. Metabarcoding data provided supplementary information regarding the presence of other fungi including those from the Thamnidium genus. In both approaches used in this study isolates closely related to the Mucor flavus strain CBS 992.68 dominated. © 2023 The Author

Carbon assimilation profiles of mucoralean fungi show their metabolic versatility

Most mucoralean fungi are common soil saprotrophs and were probably among the first land colonisers. Although Mucoromycotina representatives grow well on simple sugar media and are thought to be unable to assimilate more complex organic compounds, they are often isolated from plant substrates. The main goal of the study was to explore the effects of isolation origin and phylogenetic placement on the carbon assimilation capacities of a large group of saprotrophic Mucoromycotina representatives (i.e. Umbelopsidales and Mucorales). Fifty two strains representing different Mucoromycotina families and isolated from different substrates were tested for their capacity to grow on 99 different carbon sources using the Biolog phenotypic microarray system and agar plates containing selected biopolymers (i.e. cellulose, xylan, pectin, and starch) as a sole carbon source. Although our results did not reveal a correlation between phylogenetic distance and carbon assimilation capacities, we observed 20 significant differences in growth capacity on specific carbon sources between representatives of different families. Our results also suggest that isolation origin cannot be considered as a main predictor of the carbon assimilation capacities of a particular strain. We conclude that saprotrophic Mucoromycotina representatives are, contrary to common belief, metabolically versatile and able to use a wide variety of carbon sources

Przezierność karku powyżej 3,5mm u płodów z prawidłowym kariotypem - analiza wyników ciąż

Objectives: The objective was to study the outcomes of fetuses with increased nuchal translucency ≥3.5 mm and normal karyotype. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective study on pregnancy outcomes and children development in 87 women with increased fetal nuchal translucency and normal karyotype who underwent chorionic villus sampling at our department. Mean observation period was 12 months after birth. Adverse pregnancy outcome was defined as miscarriage and intrauterine fetal demise, termination of pregnancy, structural defect, neonatal death, genetic syndrome and other major abnormalities. Results: The total incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome was 39.1% (n=34). The likelihood of an adverse pregnancy outcome, a major structural defect or major heart defect increased significantly with nuchal translucency (OR 3.77). 68 children (78.2%) were born alive. Nuchal translucency was significantly higher in newborns with adverse pregnancy outcome than in healthy children [4.1 mm vs. 5.7 mm; pCel pracy: Celem pracy była analiza rozwoju pre- i postnatalnego płodów ze zwiększoną przeziernością karku powyżej 3,5 mm i prawidłowym kariotypem. Materiał i metoda: Przeprowadzono retrospektywną analizę przebiegu ciąży i rozwoju dzieci u 87 pacjentek, u których wykonano biopsję trofoblastu w Pracowni USG I Kliniki Ginekologii i Położnictwa CMKP w SPSK im. prof.Orłowskiego z powodu przezierności karku płodu powyżej 3,5 mm (powyżej 99 percentyla) i otrzymano prawidłowy wynik kariotypu. Średni czas obserwacji po porodzie wynosił 12 miesięcy. Za niepomyślne zakończenie ciąży uznano poronienie i wewnątrzmaciczne obumarcie płodu, terminację ciąży, zgon dziecka po urodzeniu, występowanie ciężkiej wady anatomicznej, podejrzenie zespołu genetycznego i występowanie innych istotnych nieprawidłowości. Wyniki: W 34 (39,1%) przypadkach ciąża zakończyła się niepomyślnie. Ryzyko niepomyślnego wyniku ciąży, a w szczególności występowania ciężkiej wady anatomicznej oraz wady serca wzrastało wraz z wartością NT [OR 3,77]. W 68 przypadkach (78,2%) ciąża zakończyła się urodzeniem żywego noworodka. Wartość NT była istotnie statystycznie wyższa u żywo urodzonych dzieci, u których stwierdzono nieprawidłowości lub zgon po urodzeniu, niż u zdrowych noworodków [4,1 mm vs 5,7 mm;

Marginal lands and fungi – linking the type of soil contamination with fungal community composition

Fungi can be found in almost all ecosystems. Some of them can even survive in harsh, anthropogenically transformed environments, such as post-industrial soils. In order to verify how the soil fungal diversity may be changed by pollution, two soil samples from each of the 28 post-industrial sites were collected. Each soil sample was characterized in terms of concentration of heavy metals and petroleum derivatives. To identify soil fungal communities, fungal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) amplicon was sequenced for each sample using Illumina MiSeq platform. There were significant differences in the community structure and taxonomic diversity among the analysed samples. The highest taxon richness and evenness were observed in the non-polluted sites, and lower numbers of taxa were identified in multi-polluted soils. The presence of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, gasoline and mineral oil was determined as the factors driving the differences in the mycobiome. Furthermore, in the culture-based selection experiment, two main groups of fungi growing on polluted media were identified - generalists able to live in the presence of pollution, and specialists adapted to the usage of BTEX as a sole source of energy. Our selection experiment proved that it is long-term soil contamination that shapes the community, rather than temporary addition of pollutant

Nieinwazyjna diagnostyka prenatalna najczęstszych aneuploidii na podstawie płodowego DNA we krwi matki – doniesienie wstępne

Objectives: The aim of the study was to present initial results of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of common aneuploidies of chromosomes 21, 18 and 13 based on cell-free fetal DNA in maternal serum in high-risk patients, and to compare the results with routine karyotyping. Material and methods: Before the invasive procedure, 10 ml of peripheral blood from 10 patients was collected to isolate cell-free fetal DNA and to perform a non-invasive fetal trisomy test (NIFTY provided by Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI, Shenzen, China). Results: Three out of 10 samples showed an abnormal karyotype in traditional karyotyping. There were 9 conclusive NIFTY results. NIFTY detected 1 out of 2 trisomies 18. The quantity of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma in the second probe with trisomy 18 was unsatisfactory for a conclusive NIFTY result. In 1 case traditional karyotyping revealed mosaicism impossible to detect with NIFTY.Cel pracy: Wstępne przedstawienie wyników wykorzystania płodowego DNA z krwi matki w nieinwazyjnej diagnostyce prenatalnej aneuploidii chromosomów 21, 18 i 13 u pacjentek wysokiego ryzyka aberracji chromosomowych u płodu oraz ich porównanie z wynikami klasycznego badania cytogenetycznego. Materiał i metoda: Od dziesięciu ciężarnych pacjentek przed wykonaniem badania inwazyjnego pobrano 10 ml krwi obwodowej celem izolacji pozakomórkowego DNA płodu (cffDNA – cell free fetal DNA) i przeprowadzenia testu NIFTY (Non-Invasive Fetal Trisomy Test; Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI, Shenzen, China). Wyniki: W trzech z dziesięciu próbek w badaniu cytogenetycznym stwierdzono nieprawidłowy kariotyp płodu. Na podstawie płodowego DNA z dziewięciu próbek osocza za pomocą testu NIFTY udało się określić ryzyko aneuploidii u płodu. Wysokie ryzyko aneuploidii prawidłowo oceniono w jednym z dwóch przypadków trisomii chromosomu 18. W drugiej probce podejrzewano wysokie ryzyko trisomii chromosomu 18, ale ilość cffDNA była zbyt mała, aby wynik spełniał standardy producenta. Wykryty w badaniu cytogenetycznym kariotyp mozaikowy z założenia nie mógł zostać wykryty metodą nieinwazyjną. Wnioski: Płodowe DNA z krwi matki może służyć do wykrywania najczęstszych aneuploidii u płodu. Test mógłby posłużyć jako badanie przesiewowe II rzutu, prowadząc do zmniejszenia liczby pacjentek poddawanych badaniu inwazyjnemu

Preliminary studies of fungi in the Biebrza National Park (NE Poland). Part III. Micromycetes – new data

Ecological information concerning 292 fungal taxa is reported as a result of two surverys in the Biebrza National Park. Most data presented come from the 5-day all-fungi inventory of the Polish Mycological Society in 2013, and 47 species were recorded during studies in the Biele Suchowolskie fen in 2008/2009. In total, 27 species of zygomycetes, 232 ascomycetes (including anamorphs) and 27 basidiomycetes (mainly Pucciniales). Additionaly some representatives of fungi-like organisms from Stramenopiles (4 species) and Dictyostelia (2) were identified. Fungal groups included were the same as in the previous survey in 2012: 190 taxa associated with plants, 15 with animals, 8 with fungi and 71 isolated from soil, plant debris and animal excrements. The most numerous were anamorphic ascomycetes (159 species). Nineteen species have not been previously known from Poland and 31 species are rare (1–3 localities). For the Biebrza National Park 197 species (67.5%) are new