Linear and non-linear effects of goldenrod invasions on native pollinator and plant populations

The increased introduction of non-native species to habitats is a characteristic of globalisation. The impact of invading species on communities may be either linearly or non-linearly related to the invaders’ abundance in a habitat. However, non-linear relationships with a threshold point at which the community can no longer tolerate the invasive species without loss of ecosystem functions remains poorly studied. We selected 31 wet meadow sites that encompassed the entire coverage spectrum of invasive goldenrods, and surveyed the abundance and diversity of pollinating insects (bees, butterflies and hover flies) and native plants. The species richness of native plants decreased linearly with goldenrod cover, whereas the abundance and species richness of bees and butterflies decreased non-linearly with increasing goldenrod cover. However, no statistically significant changes across goldenrod cover were noted for the abundance and species richness of hover flies. Because of the non-linear response, goldenrod had no visible impact on bees and butterflies until it reached cover in a habitat of about 50% and 30–40%, respectively. Moreover, changes driven by goldenrod in the plant and pollinator communities were related to species loss rather than species replacement. We demonstrated that the impact of goldenrod cover on a habitat is not instantaneous. Habit management aimed at preventing the invasion process and alleviating its impact should take into account that, for the non-linear relationships, the negative impact can appear rapidly after crossing the threshold point

Small molecule anion transporters display in vitro antimicrobial activity against clinically relevant bacterial strains

Highly active transmembrane anion transporters have demonstrated their activity against antibiotic-resistant and clinically relevant bacterial strains. This type of compound offers promise as a strategy to develop novel antibacterial agents

The immune complex p53 protein/anti-p53 autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of ovarian serous carcinoma

Objectives: The tests conducted were intended to analyze the concentration of p53 protein and anti-p53 autoantibodies in serum of women with ovarian tumours. Material and methods: The study included patients with diagnosed ovarian cancer: Cystadenoma serosum or Cystadenocarcinoma papillare serosum at IIIc stage (including 10 women who had G1, 14 women who had G2 and 30 women who had G3 staging). Concentrations of parameters were measured by ELISA. Results: The analysis of the obtained results showed statistical significance between the concentration of p53 protein depending on the degree of differentiation of G1 and G3 (p < 0.001) and anti-p53 autoantibodies depending on the degree of differentiation of G1 and G2 (p < 0.05) as well as G2 and G3 (p < 0.01). In addition, the determined p53/anti-p53 autoantibodies ratio was only significant between G1 and G2 (p < 0.05), as was the assessment of the percentage of the tested parameters in the immune complex. Conclusions: Immune system disorders involving the p53 protein and anti-p53 autoantibodies may be one of the immune mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of ovarian serous cancer

Participation of selected soluble cell adhesion molecules and syndecans in formation and development of endometriosis

Objectives: Concentrations of soluble ICAM-2, -3, -4 and syndecan-1 and -4 have not yet been marked in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis. The aim of the study was to determine whether these molecules can participate in formation and development of endometriosis.Material and methods: The study comprised of 80 women at the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle, aged 21 to 49 years (mean age 31. 3 ± 6. 7 years) undergoing laparoscopy, to determine the causes of primary infertility and to confirm or exclude endometriosis. The study group consisted of 60 women with endometriosis in the pelvis as confirmed by laparoscopy and histopathology. The reference group consisted of 20 women in whom no endometriosis. Concentrations of selected sICAM and syndecans in the peritoneal fluid were determined with the use of ELISA method. Results: Decreased concentrations of sICAM-2 and increased concentrations of sICAM-3, sICAM-4 and syndnecan-1 and -4 were observed in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis and compared with concentrations of this parameter in the reference group (p < 0.0001). Additionally, negative correlation was found between the concentrations of sICAM-3 and sICAM-2 among women with endometriosis. There was no statistically significant correlation between the concentration of sICAM-2 and sICAM-4, sICAM-3 and sICAM-4 and syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 in the examined women. Conclusions: Changes in concentrations of all the evaluated molecules were observed in the peritoneal fluid in women suffering from endometriosis. Since they have a role in regulation of the immune response, in angiogenesis and apoptosis of the endometrial cells

Survivin expression at the mRNA level in tumors and the protein concentration in the serum and peritoneal fluid in patients with serous ovarian tumors

Objectives: Ovarian cancer is one of the gynecological cancers that have the worst prognosis. The expression of the proteins from the IAP family (inhibitor of apoptosis protein), including survivin, is observed in many types of cancer. The aim of the study was to evaluate survivin at the mRNA level in tumors and the protein concentration in the serum and peritoneal fluid of patients with serous ovarian cancer in order to assess the relationship between the concentration of survivin and the histological subtypes of cancer. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 55 women, including patients with serous ovarian cancer (n = 30, nine low-grade serous carcinoma LGSC, 21 high-grade serous carcinoma HGSC), serous cysts (n = 10) and the control group (n = 15). The concentration of protein in the peritoneal fluid and serum was assessed using ELISA tests. The expression of survivin gene BIRC5 in the tumors was assessed using the RT-qPCR method. Results: The data that was obtained indicated that the concentration of survivin was higher in the serum of the women with serous ovarian cancer compared those that had benign tumors (p < 0.05) and the control group (p < 0.001). The survivin concentration was also higher in both the serum and peritoneal fluid in the HGSC group compared to the LGSC group (p < 0.001). The mRNA level was highest in the HGSC group, and there was a statistically significant difference compared to those in the benign tumor group and HGSC group ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: The observed changes prove that the expression level increases significantly in HGSC in both the protein and mRNA levels. Based on these findings, it can be assumed that assessing this parameter could be a useful additional indicator of the progression and differentiation of this type of cancer. However, this requires further research in a larger group of patients and possibly in other types of ovarian cancer

Standardised profiling for tinnitus research: The European School for Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research Screening Questionnaire (ESIT-SQ)

Background: The heterogeneity of tinnitus is substantial. Its numerous pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical manifestations have hampered fundamental and treatment research significantly. A decade ago, the Tinnitus Research Initiative introduced the Tinnitus Sample Case History Questionnaire, a case history instrument for standardised collection of information about the characteristics of the tinnitus patient. Since then, a number of studies have been published which characterise individuals and groups using data collected with this questionnaire. However, its use has been restricted to a clinical setting and to the evaluation of people with tinnitus only. In addition, it is limited in the ability to capture relevant comorbidities and evaluate their temporal relationship with tinnitus. Method: Here we present a new case history instrument which is comprehensive in scope and can be answered by people with and without tinnitus alike. This ‘European School for Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research Screening Questionnaire’ (ESIT-SQ) was developed with specific attention to questions about potential risk factors for tinnitus (including demographics, lifestyle, general medical and otological histories), and tinnitus characteristics (including perceptual characteristics, modulating factors, and associations with co-existing conditions). It was first developed in English, then translated into Dutch, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Swedish, thus having broad applicability and supporting international collaboration. Conclusions: With respect to better understanding tinnitus profiles, we anticipate the ESIT-SQ to be a starting point for comprehensive multi-variate analyses of tinnitus. Data collected with the ESIT-SQ can allow establishment of patterns that distinguish tinnitus from non-tinnitus, and definition of common sets of tinnitus characteristics which might be indicated by the presence of otological or comorbid systemic diseases for which tinnitus is a known symptom

Health information use by patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective We conducted an international survey of patients with SLE to assess their access, preference and trust in various health information sources pre-COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Patients with SLE were recruited from 18 observational cohorts, and patients self-reporting SLE were recruited through five advocacy organisations. Respondents completed an online survey from June 2020 to December 2021 regarding the sources of health information they accessed in the 12 months preceding (pre-11 March 2020) and during (post-11 March 2020) the pandemic. Multivariable logistic regressions assessed factors associated with accessing news and social media post-11 March 2020, and self-reporting negative impacts from health information accessed through these sources. Results Surveys were completed by 2111 respondents; 92.8% were female, 76.6% had postsecondary education, mean (SD) age was 48.8 (14.0) years. Lupus specialists and family physicians were the most preferred sources pre-11 March 2020 and post-11 March 2020, yet were accessed less frequently (specialists: 78.5% pre vs 70.2% post, difference -8.3%, 95% CI -10.2% to -6.5%; family physicians: 57.1% pre vs 50.0% post, difference -7.1%, 95% CI -9.2% to -5.0%), while news (53.2% pre vs 62.1% post, difference 8.9%, 95% CI 6.7% to 11.0%) and social media (38.2% pre vs 40.6% post, difference 2.4%, 95% CI 0.7% to 4.2%) were accessed more frequently post-11 March 2020 vs pre-11 March 2020. 17.2% of respondents reported negative impacts from information accessed through news/social media. Those outside Canada, older respondents or with postsecondary education were more likely to access news media. Those in Asia, Latin America or younger respondents were more likely to access social media. Those in Asia, older respondents, males or with postsecondary education in Canada, Asia or the USA were less likely to be negatively impacted. Conclusions Physicians, the most preferred and trusted sources, were accessed less frequently, while news and social media, less trusted sources, were accessed more frequently post-11 March 2020 vs pre-11 March 2020. Increasing accessibility to physicians, in person and virtually, may help reduce the consequences of accessing misinformation/disinformation

The 42nd Symposium Chromatographic Methods of Investigating Organic Compounds : Book of abstracts

The 42nd Symposium Chromatographic Methods of Investigating Organic Compounds : Book of abstracts. June 4-7, 2019, Szczyrk, Polan

Ocena wpływu zawartości elastomeru styren-butadien-styren na właściwości funkcjonalne lepiszczy asfaltowych

This paper discusses the issue of improving the functional properties of road asphalt pavements by modifying bituminous binder with SBS copolymer. The main purpose of the paper is to assess the resistance to permanent deformations and the temperature susceptibility of polymer-modified road asphalt binders, which are most commonly used in the upper layers of road and airport pavements. The bitumens subject to the study originate from various crude oil deposits (Russian and Venezuelan). They were modified in laboratory conditions with a concentrated additive with the known content of the SBS copolymer of 9%. The result was a asphalt binder containing the known percentage of the SBS copolymer of 1.5%, 3.0%, 4.5% and 6%. The rheological properties of the tested bitumens were determined by use of a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and with the application of the sinusoidal variable load, in the broad test temperature spectrum (from 40°C to 100°C). The analysis of the values of the dynamic shear modulus |G*| of all the studied bitumens shows that the increase in the content of SBS copolymer in the tested binder increases the value of |G*|, which may result in higher resistance to permanent deformations of road pavements caused by repeated traffic loads, especially in the case of pavements operated at high temperatures. The asphalt mixtures resistance to rutting is one of the basic parameters related to road pavement service-life, affecting both the safety and driving comfort of users.Tematyka pracy związana jest z zagadnieniem polepszenia właściwości funkcjonalnych drogowych nawierzchni asfaltowych poprzez modyfikację lepiszcza asfaltowego kopolimerem SBS. Głównym celem pracy jest ocena odporności na odkształcenia trwałe oraz wrażliwości na zmiany temperatury asfaltów drogowych modyfikowanych polimerami, które są najczęściej używane w wierzchnich warstwach konstrukcji nawierzchni drogowych i lotniskowych. Przedmiotem badań były asfalty pochodzące z różnych złóż ropy naftowej (rosyjskiej i wenezuelskiej). Asfalty te poddano modyfikacji w warunkach laboratoryjnych z dodatkiem koncentratu o znanej zawartości kopolimeru SBS równej 9%. Otrzymano w ten sposób lepiszcza asfaltowe o znanej zawartości kopolimeru SBS równej 1,5%; 3,0%; 4,5% oraz 6%. Właściwości reologiczne badanych asfaltów oznaczono z użyciem reometru dynamicznego ścinania DSR stosując w testach obciążenie sinusoidalnie zmienne, w szerokim zakresie temperatury pomiarowej (od 40°C do 100°C). Analizując wartości dynamicznego modułu ścinania |G*| wszystkich badanych asfaltów można stwierdzić, iż wzrost zawartości kopolimeru SBS w badanym lepiszczu zwiększa wartość |G*|, co może skutkować większą odpornością na odkształcenia trwałe nawierzchni drogowej spowodowane wielokrotnie powtarzającymi się obciążeniami ruchem pojazdów, w szczególności w przypadku nawierzchni eksploatowanej w wysokiej temperaturze Odporność mieszanek mineralno-asfaltowych (MMA) na powstawanie kolein jest jednym z podstawowych parametrów związanych z eksploatacją nawierzchni drogowych, wpływając zarówno na bezpieczeństwo, jak i komfort jazdy użytkowników

Assessment of temperature susceptibility for rubber granulate modified road asphalt binders considering impact of aging

The article presents the results of research on temperature sensitivity of ground rubber modified asphalt binders. The tests were performed for 50/70 penetration grade road bitumen and two kinds of granulated rubber: activated and inactivated. Such parameters of asphalt binders as: penetration, softening point, dynamic shear modulus and phase angle have been determined and on this basis the temperature susceptibility of the reference bitumen and asphalt binders modified by activated and inactivated rubber have been determined. All the tests were carried out for three observation levels: without aging and after aging simulations carried out by RTFOT and PAV methods. The tests revealed that addition of granulated rubber has a positive influence on asphalt binder properties, even after the aging process, causing an increase in the softening point and a decrease in penetration and the phase angle of asphalt binder. Asphalt binders obtained in result of modification by addition of rubber show smaller temperature susceptibility than the reference bitumen (without addition of rubber). Also, a positive impact of aging on the temperature susceptibility was observed for the investigated binders