Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy (kwestionariusz “Badź Aktywna w Ciąży”) to support physical activity among pregnant women in Poland

Introduction: Physical activity during pregnancy is established to derive clinically meaningful improvements in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum health outcomes. Evidence-based pre-screening tools have been developed to support the implementation of physical activity programmes, and enhance communication between health care providers, exercise professionals and pregnant women. The Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy (GAQ-P) and the Health Care Provider Consultation Form for Prenatal Physical Activity (HCPCF) empower pregnant women to identify whether they require additional counselling from their obstetric health care provider in terms of physical activity. However, these tools are not available in Polish. This work details the process taken to translate the GAQ-P and HCPCF into Polish. Material and Methods: We followed the translation process outlined by the Translation and Cultural Adaptation International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guidelines between August 2022 and August 2023. We formed an expert group that included representatives of the Polish Society of Sports Medicine, The Polish Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians, practitioners, and scientists in physical activity during pregnancy. We implemented 9 of the 10 steps recommended by ISOPR in the translation process. At the Cognitive Debriefing stage, we collected opinions on the Polish version of GAQ-P and HCPCF from 70 stakeholders on the clarity and cultural appropriateness of the translation. Results and Conclusions: Target users have positively evaluated the Polish version of GAQ-P and HCPCF. Thanks to the ISPOR methodology, we obtained a trustworthy, evidence-based screening tools, which can reduce the barriers for most women to be physically active during pregnancy

Mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke – Five years of experience in Poland

Objectives Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is not reimbursed by the Polish public health system. We present a description of 5 years of experience with MT in acute stroke in Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSCs) in Poland. Methods and results We retrospectively analyzed the results of a structured questionnaire from 23 out of 25 identified CSCs and 22 data sets that include 61 clinical, radiological and outcome measures. Results Most of the CSCs (74%) were founded at University Hospitals and most (65.2%) work round the clock. In 78.3% of them, the working teams are composed of neurologists and neuro-radiologists. All CSCs perform CT and angio-CT before MT. In total 586 patients were subjected to MT and data from 531 of them were analyzed. Mean time laps from stroke onset to groin puncture was 250±99min. 90.3% of the studied patients had MT within 6h from stroke onset; 59.3% of them were treated with IV rt-PA prior to MT; 15.1% had IA rt-PA during MT and 4.7% – emergent stenting of a large vessel. M1 of MCA was occluded in 47.8% of cases. The Solitaire device was used in 53% of cases. Successful recanalization (TICI2b–TICI3) was achieved in 64.6% of cases and 53.4% of patients did not experience hemorrhagic transformation. Clinical improvement on discharge was noticed in 53.7% of cases, futile recanalization – in 30.7%, mRS of 0–2 – in 31.4% and mRS of 6 in 22% of cases. Conclusion Our results can help harmonize standards for MT in Poland according to international guidelines

Adjunctive rifampicin for Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (ARREST): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia is a common cause of severe community-acquired and hospital-acquired infection worldwide. We tested the hypothesis that adjunctive rifampicin would reduce bacteriologically confirmed treatment failure or disease recurrence, or death, by enhancing early S aureus killing, sterilising infected foci and blood faster, and reducing risks of dissemination and metastatic infection. METHODS: In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, adults (≥18 years) with S aureus bacteraemia who had received ≤96 h of active antibiotic therapy were recruited from 29 UK hospitals. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) via a computer-generated sequential randomisation list to receive 2 weeks of adjunctive rifampicin (600 mg or 900 mg per day according to weight, oral or intravenous) versus identical placebo, together with standard antibiotic therapy. Randomisation was stratified by centre. Patients, investigators, and those caring for the patients were masked to group allocation. The primary outcome was time to bacteriologically confirmed treatment failure or disease recurrence, or death (all-cause), from randomisation to 12 weeks, adjudicated by an independent review committee masked to the treatment. Analysis was intention to treat. This trial was registered, number ISRCTN37666216, and is closed to new participants. FINDINGS: Between Dec 10, 2012, and Oct 25, 2016, 758 eligible participants were randomly assigned: 370 to rifampicin and 388 to placebo. 485 (64%) participants had community-acquired S aureus infections, and 132 (17%) had nosocomial S aureus infections. 47 (6%) had meticillin-resistant infections. 301 (40%) participants had an initial deep infection focus. Standard antibiotics were given for 29 (IQR 18-45) days; 619 (82%) participants received flucloxacillin. By week 12, 62 (17%) of participants who received rifampicin versus 71 (18%) who received placebo experienced treatment failure or disease recurrence, or died (absolute risk difference -1·4%, 95% CI -7·0 to 4·3; hazard ratio 0·96, 0·68-1·35, p=0·81). From randomisation to 12 weeks, no evidence of differences in serious (p=0·17) or grade 3-4 (p=0·36) adverse events were observed; however, 63 (17%) participants in the rifampicin group versus 39 (10%) in the placebo group had antibiotic or trial drug-modifying adverse events (p=0·004), and 24 (6%) versus six (2%) had drug interactions (p=0·0005). INTERPRETATION: Adjunctive rifampicin provided no overall benefit over standard antibiotic therapy in adults with S aureus bacteraemia. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment

Zygmunt SADOWSKI COMPARISON OF KINETICS OF BLACK SHALE BIOLEACHING PROCESS USING STATIONARY AND AGITATED SYSTEMS

In the study, the kinetics of black shale ore bioleaching process, carried out in small column and tank reactor, was investigated. During all experiments the concentration of Cu 2+ ions in the leaching solution was determined as a function of leaching time. Based on the results obtained, kinetics of bioleaching processes in the agitated tank reactor and column reactor were compared. The rate of bioleaching in column was similar to that in agitated tank. For the experiments in column, two different types of packing materials (plastic bullets and sawdust) were tested in order to improve the bed porosity. The results showed that sawdust was the best packing material used in this study

Infestation intensity of big brown bat Myotis myotis (Mammalia:Chiroptera) with parasitic mites from family Spinturnicidae (Acari: Gamasida) in relation to the host’s condition and habitat

Wydział Biologii: Instytut Biologii Środowiska: Zakład Morfologii ZwierzątW niniejszej pracy analizowano zależności w układzie pasożyt-żywiciel na przykładzie nocka dużego i roztoczy z rodziny Spinturnicidae. Porównano intensywność infestacji w zależności od typu zajmowanego schronienia, wieku, płci, kondycji i wielkości zgrupowania żywiciela. Badania przeprowadzono w 12 koloniach rozrodczych M. myotis znajdujących się na terenie południowej i zachodniej Polski w latach 2002-2008. Łącznie zebrano 8 975 roztoczy S. myoti z 565 odłowionych nietoperzy. Nietoperze z kolonii występujących w schronieniach podziemnych charakteryzował wyższy poziom infestacji w porównaniu z nietoperzami z kolonii ze schronień nadziemnych niezależnie od płci i wieku żywiciela. Roztocze S. myoti występowały na żywicielu przez cały czas trwania kolonii rozrodczych, z jednym szczytem liczebności przypadającym na czas narodzin młodych nietoperzy (czerwiec/lipiec). Roztocze najliczniej występowały na dorosłych karmiących samicach nietoperzy. Najczęściej notowanym stadium rozwojowym roztoczy były protonimfy i dorosłe roztocze; najmniej licznie reprezentowane były deutonimfy. Nie znaleziono zależności pomiędzy wartościami wskaźnika infestacji i kondycji żywiciela. Detekcja bakteryjnych czynników chorobotwórczych pozwoliła na pierwsze stwierdzenie na świecie obecności: Anaplasma phagocytophilum we krwi M. myotis oraz Bartonella spp. i Rickettsia spp. w tkankach S. myoti.The survey was focused on the host-parasite relationship between bats and their ectoparasites known as spinturnicid mites. Variation in intensity of parasitic mites in relation to the habitat, gender, age and body condition of bats was examined. The study was carried out in 12 maternity aggregations in western and southern Poland during summer seasons 2002-2008. There were 8 975 mite specimens collected from 565 captured bats. Collected data suggests that bats from cave breeding colonies have more parasites than bats from attic colonies, irrespective to sex and age of the host. Spinturnicid mites are more abundant on lactating female bats. Spinturnicid mites were present throughout the entire host pregnancy and nursery season with one visible peak in the abundance correlated with the bats births (June/July). The most abundant were protonimphs and adult mites, whereas deutonimphs were the least frequent. There were no correlation found between host condition parameters and parasite load. Bats and spinturnicid mites have been proved to harbor bacterial diseases agents. For the first time Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in sampled bat blood the same as Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. agents were detected in sampled mites

Education, employment and social development as key measures of digitalisation role in labour force development in EU

W artykule zbadano różnice między krajami UE pod względem zaawansowania procesu cyfryzacji w obszarach edukacji studentów, pracy i aktywności społecznej w sieci. Wykorzystano autorski wskaźnik cyfryzacji jako narzędzie do zbadania dostosowania zasobu pracy do postępu technologicznego i rozwoju kapitału ludzkiego. Skoncentrowano się na trzech głównych filarach mających wpływ na digitalizację. Są to: liczba studentów w dziedzinie technologii informacyjno-komunikacyjnych, poziom wykorzystania zaawansowanych technologii na stanowiskach pracy oraz grupy społeczne online skupione na digitalizacji i doskonaleniu umiejętności cyfrowych. Wyniki świadczą o tym, że kraje UE są zdywersyfikowane pod względem rozwoju siły roboczej w ramach cyfryzacji. Wartości indeksów okazały się wystarczające, aby wskazać dwie grupy krajów. Finlandia, Malta i Irlandia są państwami czołowymi, w wyniku czego wskaźnik Zjednoczonego Królestwa jest daleki od wartości dla rozwiniętych krajów UE, co potwierdza również wskaźnik DESI i globalny wskaźnik innowacji. Indeks dla słabiej rozwiniętych krajów jest niski, jednak dynamika liczby studentów CS&IT świadczy o postępie w zakresie cyfryzacji i o jej wpływie na rozwój zasobu pracy. W badaniu wykorzystano dane z lat 2012–2018. W przeciwieństwie do miar DESI i GII podkreślono aspekt rozwoju indywidualnego i społecznego oraz wykorzystania technologii cyfrowych środowiska pracy w całej grupie krajów UE, by naświetlić społeczne i gospodarcze aspekty determinujące rozwój cyfryzacji.In the paper, we investigate the differences between EU countries in the adoption of digitalisation in the context of the labour force. We used the authors’ index of digitalisation as a proxy to control for labour force adjustment to technological progress and human capital development. Our focus is on three main pillars affecting digitalisation: the number of students in the field of information and communication technologies, the degree of use of advanced technology at workstations, and online community groups focused on digitisation and improvement of digital skills. The results suggest EU countries are diversified in terms of the labour force’s development under digitalisation. The ranking in the index turned out to be significant in showing two different groups of countries. Finland, Malta and Ireland are top-ranking countries, while the United Kingdom’s index result is distant from other developed EU nations, what is confirmed by its Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) and Global Innovation Index (GII) rank. The scores for less developed countries are low, however, the dynamics in the number of CS&IT students indicate advances in digitisation and its positive influence on labour development. The study uses data for the period of 2012–2018. In contrast to the DESI and GII measures, we used human and social development and digital use at work as pillars in the entire group of EU countries to highlight social and economic fields determining digitalisation’s development

Parameters and methods for evaluation of lignite processing method into biogas

In the article parameters of lignite organic matter conversion into biogas are collated and verified in terms of the process evaluation and control. Possibilities and limitations of usage of the parameters for this type of the process are also indicated. The following parameters were selected: a gas amount and its quality, isotope analysis of the gas produced, measurement of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in biomass-free liquid media, presence of the VFA (volatile fatty acids) and other possible intermediates of the process in liquid medium, pH, as well as (not discussed in this article) microbiological analyses. On the basis of experiments of Polish lignite biogasification, examples of application of these parameters in laboratory scale for identification of the biodegradation lignite reactions occurrence are presented and discussed. We found that apart from analyses of the biogas produced, the following parameters are also possible to be implemented: DOC, specific surface area of solids measured before and after the process, and the parameters that are normally used for evaluation of rocks’ maturity and origin, i.e. S1, S2 and HI determined from Rock-Eval analysis, as well as GC-MS analysis of EOM (Extractable Organic Matter) separated from lignite. For the analyses of the EOM’s, relatively high amount of solid is required for measurements, limiting its implementation for continuous operations in practice. It was indicated that measurement of elementary coals’ composition, total organic carbon (TOC) in solids or of pH of the liquid are not applicable parameters for verification of the progress of the lignite biogasification process

Fluorocarbosilane-Based Protective Coatings for Concrete

The effectiveness of protective coatings based on 3-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyloxy)propyltriethoxysilane (OFTES) in protecting concrete surfaces against water was tested. For the synthesis of OFTES, 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentanol, which is a by-product in the synthesis of poly(tetrafluoroethylene), was used. The proposed silane is a cheaper alternative to the fluorinated organosilicon compounds currently used. The coatings were deposited by the sol-gel method. As a result of the creation of chemical bonds between the concrete surface and the silane, a coating was created that permanently increases the hydrophobicity of the concrete. Fluorine chains attached to silicon atoms are an effective barrier that prevents access to water and limits its impact on the concrete surface. As a result of the proposed silanization, the concrete surface obtained a hydrophobic character at contact angles of up to 126°, and the water absorption of the concrete decreased by up to 96%

An update on possibilities of metals recovery from Polish copper ores by biotechnology. Project Ecometals

The possibilities of metals recovery from copper ores with the biotechnological methods are widely known. The methods consist in bioleaching of copper ores, copper concentrates and byproducts of their production, as well as metals recovery from leaching solutions. Biohydrometallurgical methods were tested for years to be applied at KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., in order to improve efficiency of copper production. Several different research units worked on the topic, and the most significant and wide range initiatives in this area are mentioned in this article. One of the initiatives is an ongoing German and French Ecometals project. KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and KGHM Cuprum Ltd. Research and Development Centre are this project Partners. In the frame of the project different metals bearing materials (ores, concentrates and tailings) are tested. Among them three lithological types of the copper ore from Rudna mine and the copper concentrate from Lubin concentrator are used for studies. The article gives a general overview of these activities, with the main focus on results of bioleaching studies of selected materials, conducted by KGHM Cuprum. In these studies sandstone and shale, as well as so called “shale concentrate” (containing 39% of the shale) were used for experiments, and possibilities of their bioleaching were evaluated

An update on possibilities of metals recovery from Polish copper ores by biotechnology. Project Ecometals

The possibilities of metals recovery from copper ores with the biotechnological methods are widely known. The methods consist in bioleaching of copper ores, copper concentrates and byproducts of their production, as well as metals recovery from leaching solutions. Biohydrometallurgical methods were tested for years to be applied at KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., in order to improve efficiency of copper production. Several different research units worked on the topic, and the most significant and wide range initiatives in this area are mentioned in this article. One of the initiatives is an ongoing German and French Ecometals project. KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and KGHM Cuprum Ltd. Research and Development Centre are this project Partners. In the frame of the project different metals bearing materials (ores, concentrates and tailings) are tested. Among them three lithological types of the copper ore from Rudna mine and the copper concentrate from Lubin concentrator are used for studies. The article gives a general overview of these activities, with the main focus on results of bioleaching studies of selected materials, conducted by KGHM Cuprum. In these studies sandstone and shale, as well as so called “shale concentrate” (containing 39% of the shale) were used for experiments, and possibilities of their bioleaching were evaluated