Search Results (1,510)

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and in vitro antidiabetic properties of extracts obtained from ripe, unripe, and fermented (unripe) cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruits. Polyphenols were identified using UPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS/MS and quantified by HPLC-PDA. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays, while enzyme inhibitory activity was determined for α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Additionally, the effects of C. mas extracts on insulin sensitivity in adipocytes were investigated. The study’s results showed that each of the extracts tested contained varying proportions of substances with proven health-promoting properties. The extract from ripe fruits was characterized by the highest loganic acid content, whereas the extract from fermented unripe fruits contained a high amount of gallic acid, released through the hydrolysis of tannins during fermentation. The extract from unripe fruits exhibited the highest tannin content and the strongest antioxidant activity. All extracts inhibited α-glucosidase and α-amylase to a similar extent and improved insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without affecting INSR or SLC2A4 expression. In conclusion, extracts from unripe and fermented C. mas fruits may represent promising agents for alleviating insulin resistance and preventing type 2 diabetes. Full article

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is widely used in modern dentistry, particularly in prosthodontics, orthodontics, and maxillofacial surgery. To improve the properties of PMMA, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are incorporated to enhance the antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal effects of this material. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of AgNPs as an additive to PMMA. Medical databases covered by the ACM, BASE, PubMed, and Scopus engines were searched. Of the 670 identified records, 23 studies were included that assessed the antibacterial and antifungal properties gained by incorporating AgNPs into PMMA. All of the studies included also contained a control group—PMMA without additives. Studies that evaluated nanoparticles other than AgNPs or materials other than PMMA were excluded. The data collected from the articles included the size and concentration of the nanoparticles, the method of sample preparation, sample size, information on the effect of nanoparticles on antimicrobial properties, and the contact time between the sample and the test tube containing fungi or bacteria. The data were presented in tables and graphs. The analysis indicated that increasing the weight percent concentration of AgNPs or extending the incubation time increases the antifungal efficacy. The result of Tau Kendall correlation showed that the pairs of data, concentration/incubation time and outcomes, are inversely proportional for fungi (p < 0.01). The results of the study are not entirely conclusive. Some limitations suggest the need for more standardized studies, which ideally should be conducted on human research groups and followed by a study of these properties and their effects on the human body. This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The protocol was submitted to the Open Science Framework Registries (1 December 2024). Full article

This paper presents an innovative solution based on the Indirect Regenerative Evaporative Cooling (IREC) concept for high-power density electronics. The technology relies on forced convective cooling by air that is additionally cooled via evaporation. The system comprises dry and wet channels for the cooled and wet air, respectively; water is delivered through porous membranes in the wet channels. The novelty relative to HVAC-type exchangers (based on IREC technology) is a full flow return configuration, in which the entire stream from the dry channels is redirected into the wet channels. The performance benefits become pronounced at high ambient temperatures, where traditional forced convection may be insufficient; inlet air absolute humidity is a key factor governing efficiency. The authors present a developed prototype, a simplified thermal analysis, measurement results, and a discussion of IREC applicability to electronics cooling. The results indicate feasibility and highlight the potential of the proposed design for the energy-efficient thermal management of sensitive electronic equipment. Full article

Background: Seated shot put is a core Paralympic event in which lower-limb-impaired athletes generate throwing power primarily through the trunk and upper limbs. The configuration of the throwing frame may influence performance stability and biomechanics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two seated orientations on throwing performance, kinematics, and within-subject reliability in a Paralympic F55 athlete using markerless motion capture. Methods: A para-athlete F55-class (age: 37 years; body mass: 93 kg; height: 180 cm; training experience: 20 years) performed 20 throws (10 per seat position: perpendicular and 54.5° rotated). Kinematic data were recorded with an eight-camera, 250 Hz markerless motion capture system. Variables included throw distance, trial time, release angle, wrist acceleration and velocity, and torso angular velocities. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), coefficient of variation (CV%), Bland–Altman analysis, and ROC curve discrimination. Results: Throw distance did not differ significantly between positions (p = 0.1086), but trial duration was significantly shorter in the rotated position (p = 0.0114). Most kinematic variables showed poor-to-moderate reliability (ICC = −0.51 to 0.40). Bland–Altman and ROC analyses indicated stable performance measures but higher variability in torso motion, with torso rotation (AUC = 0.72) showing the strongest discriminative ability. Conclusions: Seated orientation minimally affected performance but influenced trunk kinematics and reliability, emphasizing the need for individualized biomechanical assessment in Paralympic shot put training. Full article

Background/Objectives: The anterior cerebral artery (ACA), as one of the terminal branches of the internal carotid artery, supplies the medial and superior portions of the frontal lobes as well as the anterior portions of the parietal lobes. The present meta-analysis aims to consolidate current knowledge regarding the anatomy and variations in the ACA, providing a comprehensive resource for physicians. Methods: To conduct this meta-analysis, we systematically searched prominent online medical databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, to identify all studies that investigated the anatomy of the ACA. Results: The results of the present study were based on a total of 73 articles. In the aforementioned studies, a total of 24,015 patients were evaluated. The pooled mean total length of the A1 segment of the ACA, based on all evaluated cases, was 14.47 mm (SE = 0.28). The pooled mean total diameter of the A1 segment measured 2.00 mm on average (SE = 0.07). The overall pooled prevalence of the median ACA was 2.65% (95% CI: 1.57–3.99%). Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis provide valuable insights into the anatomy and variations in the ACA. The current data may support clinicians and neurosurgeons in the management of cerebrovascular diseases and associated procedures, potentially enhancing procedural safety and therapeutic outcomes. Full article

This article describes the conducted examinations of five different prototype shock absorbers. The differences resulted from deliberate modifications to their components. The tests were divided into five series of measurements, each involving testing five identical shock absorber designs. The authors assessed the repeatability and process capability of the production process for each shock absorber design. The study also aimed to identify factors that could lead to undesirable variations in the shock absorber’s dynamic parameters, such as damping force, the shape of the force–displacement characteristic, differences in the system’s response during compression and rebound, and the variability of the response depending on the piston’s speed. The results were then analyzed by using various research methods, among which the most important is the SPC (Statistical Process Control) method. Furthermore, statistical results, such as C_p, C_pk, stability graphs, and process repeatability, are presented. Full article

The article presents the results of a study on heat transfer within the engine block of the Eco Arrow 3 prototype vehicle, developed for participation in Shell Eco-marathon competitions. The main objective of these events is to minimize fuel consumption during track races, which leads to a specific driving strategy characterized by frequent engine shut-downs and restarts. Such a driving style introduces challenges not typically encountered in conventional vehicles, including the need to maintain the engine within an optimal temperature range. In this work, several geometric variants of cylinder finning were investigated with respect to their influence on cooling, heating, and heat accumulation. Four configurations of finning were analysed: the original fins with a height of h = 15 mm, a cylinder with fins completely removed (h = 0 mm), and two intermediate variants with fin heights of 5 mm and 10 mm. The original and finless cylinders were studied both experimentally and numerically, while the intermediate variants were analysed solely using numerical methods. A comparison between experimental and numerical results showed satisfactory agreement in terms of maximum temperatures, with differences of approximately 10–15 °C. Considering the specific operating conditions of such an engine, characterized by irregular on–off cycles, the numerical analysis indicated that fins with a height of h = 10 mm provide the most favourable balance, ensuring that the engine remains within the optimal temperature range required to achieve minimal fuel consumption. Full article

Urbanization has led to significant alterations in river morphology and ecological function, highlighting the need for effective tools to assess and manage these changes. Traditional hydromorphological evaluation methods often fail to capture complex relationships between physical habitat features and anthropogenic pressures. The aim of this study was to apply the River Habitat Survey (RHS) method and Interactive Activation and Competition (IAC) artificial neural networks to assess and describe the hydromorphological condition of the Jasień and Olechówka rivers, located in an urbanized area. The RHS method enables the evaluation of the physical characteristics of rivers and the impact of anthropogenic activities on their environment, in accordance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Field surveys documented features such as bank structure, vegetation, channel substrate, and artificial modifications. In the subsequent phase of the study, an IAC-type neural network was employed to analyze and interpret the RHS data. This network architecture allows for the identification of hidden relationships between variables, the completion of missing data, as well as contextual analysis and generalization based on similar cases. Integrating RHS data with IAC analysis enabled the development of a model supporting the assessment of anthropogenic impacts on the hydromorphological condition of rivers. The results indicate that both rivers exhibit a high degree of modification, particularly within urban sections, which adversely affects their retention capacity and ecological function. This combined methodological approach provides an innovative and flexible tool for supporting urban river restoration and flood risk management, addressing some of the limitations of existing assessment techniques. Full article

Mental effort, a critical factor influencing task performance, is often difficult to measure accurately and efficiently. Pupil diameter has emerged as a reliable, real-time indicator of mental effort. This study introduces RIPA2, an enhanced pupillometric index for real-time mental effort assessment. Building on the original RIPA method, RIPA2 incorporates refined Savitzky–Golay filter parameters to better isolate pupil diameter fluctuations within biologically relevant frequency bands linked to cognitive load. We validated RIPA2 across two distinct tasks: a structured N-back memory task and a naturalistic information search task involving fact-checking and decision-making scenarios. Our findings show that RIPA2 reliably tracks variations in mental effort, demonstrating improved sensitivity and consistency over the original RIPA and strong alignment with the established offline measures of pupil-based cognitive load indices, such as LHIPA. Notably, RIPA2 captured increased mental effort at higher N-back levels and successfully distinguished greater effort during decision-making tasks compared to fact-checking tasks, highlighting its applicability to real-world cognitive demands. These findings suggest that RIPA2 provides a robust, continuous, and low-latency method for assessing mental effort. It holds strong potential for broader use in educational settings, medical environments, workplaces, and adaptive user interfaces, facilitating objective monitoring of mental effort beyond laboratory conditions. Full article

Current manufacturing trends in 3D integration are resulting in a notorious increase in power density, and the use of conventional cooling methods may not be sufficient for cooling future 3D ICs with several chip dies. Moreover, with very thin chip dies, implementing alternative cooling methods based on etching microchannels in every chip die may not be technologically feasible. In this study, we suggest implementing microchannels only in the top, unthinned layer of silicon. In this case, the crucial parameter influencing cooling efficiency is the thermal conductance between vertically stacked chip dies. Therefore, an extensive numerical study is conducted, which quantifies the thermal performance of such single-layer microchannel heat exchangers as a function of inter-die thermal conductance, in addition to other chip parameters. Several important conclusions are presented based on these analyses. In particular, for various 3D stacks, this study allows the determination of the concrete threshold values of inter-die thermal conductance relative to which thermal performance degradation starts to become significant. Full article

This article presents the results of a comprehensive material analysis of medieval decorative bands from two different excavations in present-day Poland, specifically from early medieval cemeteries in Gródek upon the Bug River and Pień. The bands are complex materials composed of various fibres and precious metals, dyed with natural dyes using recipes that are often unknown today. They represent rare archaeological finds, challenging to analyse not only due to the complexity of their structure and materials but also because of significant deterioration caused by exposure to environmental conditions and harmful substances present in the burial soil. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) facilitated the identification of raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and ornamentation. SEM coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was employed to analyse the metal threads, determine their elemental composition, and assess their preservation state. Natural dye identification was performed on selected objects using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with spectrophotometric detectors and tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (HPLC-UV-Vis-ESI-MS/MS). The analysis of these results enabled drawing conclusions regarding the origin of the bands and their manufacturing methods. The dating of the bands, based on ornamentation and manufacturing techniques, was confirmed by radiocarbon dating, indicating they date back to the 10th–12th centuries. They were produced using two weaving techniques, a narrow haberdashery loom and a tablet loom, primarily from silk and metal threads—silver and silver-gilt. Some materials consisted of red-dyed silk (using kermes or madder), including a metal thread core. The analysis also provided valuable insights into textile degradation, particularly the corrosion mechanisms affecting the metal threads. Full article

Heated clothing is an alternative to passive thermally insulating clothing used so far, made of thick, multi-layered fabric compounds. In this work, a personalized two-layer heated clothing ensemble for mountain rescuers was developed. It consisted of an electrically heated inner suit and an outer suit made of waterproof laminate. Total thermal insulation and local thermal insulations were determined using a thermal manikin. The heating system’s performance was assessed by comparing these results with those obtained with the heating turned off in the same ensemble, as well as with a down jacket added. It was confirmed that a thick thermally insulating layer (down jacket) can be eliminated through the application of electric heating. Heating improved the resultant effective thermal insulation of the clothing ensemble by 52% at a total power of 28.4 W. This exceeded the value obtained with the additional down jacket and no heating by 4%. Full article

Agricultural pollution, such as contamination from manure storage or leaking livestock buildings, often spreads through the catchment, affecting groundwater and surface water. An effective solution is the construction of permeable organic barriers. This study evaluates the efficiency of an innovative bioactive barrier in removing nitrogen compounds (NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Two types of barriers were tested: a horizontal deposit under a manure storage point and a vertical deposit in the leachate flow path. The bioactivity of the barrier was confirmed by the presence of bacterial genes involved in nitrogen transformation and PCB degradation. Results showed a 70% reduction in NO₃⁻ (368.4 mg·L⁻¹) and 43% reduction in NH₄⁺ (42.4 mg·L⁻¹). Genetic analysis identified bacteria capable of complete denitrification, resembling Pseudomonas stutzeri. The analysis also indicated that higher summer temperatures and pH levels fostered microbial communities capable of nitrogen transformation. Cluster analysis revealed that the vertical deposit zone was crucial for nitrogen removal. Additionally, the vertical barrier achieved a 53% reduction in PCBs, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa-like bacteria identified as PCB degraders. Full article

Background/Objectives: Risk-stratification tools, including the PHASES, UIATS, and ELAPSS, are commonly used to guide management of incidentally detected unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs), but their predictive accuracy in real-world settings remains unclear. This study evaluated how these scores would have advised treatment in patients who subsequently presented with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed adults treated for aSAH at Copernicus Memorial Hospital (Łódź, Poland) between January 2022 and June 2024. For each ruptured aneurysm, we calculated PHASES (5-year rupture risk), UIATS recommendation, and ELAPSS (5-year growth risk) as if the lesion had been detected incidentally. Identical assessments were performed for UIAs that remained unruptured. Discrimination for rupture was evaluated using receiver-operating characteristic analysis (AUC). Results: Of 180 aneurysms (mean age 66.9 ± 11.3 years), 103 (57%) were ruptured. Patients with ruptured aneurysms were significantly older (69.9 vs. 64.0 years; p = 0.003), while sex, hypertension, smoking, and aneurysm morphology did not differ significantly. UIATS more frequently favored conservative management in ruptured aneurysms (56.3% vs. 39.0%; p = 0.046). PHASES (1.6% vs. 1.6%) and ELAPSS (3-year: 14.5% vs. 12.6%; 5-year: 22.6% vs. 20.0%) showed no significant differences between groups. Age was the only independent predictor of rupture (OR = 1.05/year; p < 0.001). The model’s cross-validated AUC was 0.731. Conclusions: Most ruptured aneurysms would not have been recommended for treatment based on UIATS. PHASES, ELAPSS, and UIATS did not reliably discriminate between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, emphasizing the need for more precise and individualized risk assessment tools. Full article

(1) Background: The Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus is an invasive species in Europe, including Poland. Given its laboratory-confirmed competence for West Nile virus (WNV) transmission and its detection as a WNV vector in field-collected mosquitoes, this study investigated whether Polish Aedes japonicus harbor WNV and aimed to update knowledge on its distribution in Poland. (2) Methods: In September 2024, 137 adult Aedes japonicus were collected from three suburban sites in Poland (Kielce, Mikołów, Kraków). Specimens were screened for WNV using RT-PCR and rRT-PCR. Additionally, unpublished records of Aedes japonicus were compiled to update the species’ distribution. (3) Results: No WNV genetic material was detected in field-collected mosquitoes in Poland. By 2025, Aedes japonicus had been recorded in half of Polish voivodeships, with most observations in Małopolskie, Śląskie, and Łódzkie. The largest adult populations occurred in Kielce. Ecological traits in Poland matched European and US data, including larval development in artificial containers, preference for suburban and forested habitats, and peak adult activity in late summer. (4) Conclusions: Although WNV was not detected, the rapid spread of Aedes japonicus in Poland underlines the need for continued monitoring of its distribution, population dynamics, and potential role in WNV transmission. Full article