Does muscle fatigue change motor synergies at different levels of neuromotor control?

We investigated the effects of static and dynamic fatigue on motor synergies, focusing on their hierarchical control. Specifically, we examined whether changes in fatigue influence the central nervous system's ability to preserve movement stability. In addition to exploring the direct impact of fatigue on motor synergies, we also analyzed its effects at two distinct levels of hierarchical control, aiming to elucidate the mechanisms by which fatigue alters motor coordination and stability.

False Mating of Blackbirds () and Fieldfares ().

During an intensive study of the urban population of the blackbird in Szczecin (1997-2023), four cases of surrogate copulation were observed in the blackbird and three in the fieldfare . In three cases, birds (blackbirds twice and fieldfare once) try to copulate with fledglings of their own species, and in all other cases, the birds try to copulate with moss and sticks. In three cases copulation, attempts were done by adult birds (two blackbirds and one fieldfare), and in four cases, it was a fledgling.

The Role of Artificial Lakes Located in Forests in the Context of Small Retention, Biodiversity and Climatic Changes-Evidence From Southern Poland.

Drought has an effect on hydrologic conditions and water quality under climate change. Small water retention in forests is one of the priority investment programs implemented in recent years, supported by the European Union. This study aimed to assess the ecological conditions of forest lakes using macrophytes and benthos organisms diversity as an ecological indicator of ecosystem conditions under climatic changes.

Multi-target gene therapy AUP1602-C to improve healing and quality of life for diabetic foot ulcer patients: a phase I, open-label, dose-finding study.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a common and highly morbid complication of diabetes with high unmet medical needs. AUP1602-C, a topical four-in-one gene therapy medicinal product (GTMP), consisting of a strain that produces fibroblast growth factor-2, interleukin-4, and colony-stimulating factor-1, is a promising novel treatment for DFU.

Objectives: The aim of this first-in-human study was to investigate whether AUP1602-C is safe and effective in improving wound healing and quality of life (QoL) in patients with non-healing DFU (nhDFU), and to determine the recommended phase II dose.

Synthesis and Chiroptical Activity of π-Expanded Electron-rich Heterohelicenes Based on the 1,4-Dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole core.

Herein, we report the synthesis and chiroptical characteristics of the first (double) helicenes possesing the 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole (DHPP) moiety as their central core. We have developed a three-step synthesis with 6π-electrocyclization accompanied with HBr elimination as its key step. We found that, whereas for smaller periphereal arms double 6π-electrocyclization occurs smoothly forming a double helicene, in the case of longer policyclic aromatic hydrocarbons the reaction becomes less efficient and mono-helicenes are the only products.

An Overview of Flame-Retardant Materials for Triboelectric Nanogenerators and Future Applications.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have gained significant attention for ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. As the applications of TENG devices expand, their safety and reliability becomes priority, particularly where there is risk of fire or spontaneous combustion. Flame-retardant materials can be employed to address these safety concerns without compromising the performance and efficiency of TENGs.

Role of the Carhart Effect and Outcomes from Surgery: A Retrospective Study of 532 Patients with Conductive Hearing Loss Due to Otosclerosis, Otitis Media with Effusion, and Chronic Otitis Media.

BACKGROUND The Carhart effect consists of a reduction in bone conduction thresholds associated with conductive hearing loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the Carhart effect in predicting outcomes from surgery in 3 age groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included 532 patients with conductive hearing loss due to otosclerosis, otitis media with effusion, and chronic otitis media who underwent surgery between 2010 and 2020.

Swelling Degree of Polyelectrolyte Layers Determined by an Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance.

Various polycations and polyanions were sequentially adsorbed onto the gold electrode of a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring. The study focused on determining the adsorption kinetics, viscoelastic properties, and electroresponsivity of polyelectrolyte layers. For the first time, it was demonstrated that the structure (compact or expanded) of the layers can be determined by electroresponsivity.

First autochthonous case of Opisthorchis felineus in Austria.

Background: Opisthorchis felineus is a feline pathogen with zoonotic potential that can be a causative agent of human opisthorchiasis and cholangiocarcinoma. In Europe, O. felineus is particularly endemic in Eastern European countries, while this parasite has also been sporadically detected in Germany, Italy and northern Poland.

The impact of digital transformational leadership on digital intensity among primary healthcare entities: a moderated mediation model.

Background: Uncertain times require healthcare entities to demonstrate strong leadership, develop digitalisation, and respond to change in a creative and flexible manner. Based on emerging new institutional theory, we developed and tested a model of how digital transformational leadership (DTL) affects digital intensity (DI) among healthcare entities through the mediating role of organisational agility (OA). In this article, we also examine the moderating role of the country in the studied relationship.

Immunosuppressive therapy and nutritional diseases of patients after kidney transplantation: a systematic review.

Background: Kidney transplantation (kTx) is by far the most effective method of treating end-stage renal disease, with immunosuppressive therapy being obligatory for all, except identical twins. Despite kTx being the most effective treatment for end-stage renal disease, the patients face significant morbidity. They are often burdened with diabetes, anaemia, lipid disorders, all of which pose heightened risks for cardiovascular disease.

Computational analysis of congenital heart disease associated SNPs: unveiling their impact on the gene regulatory system.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a prevalent condition characterized by defective heart development, causing premature death and stillbirths among infants. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have provided insights into the role of genetic variants in CHD pathogenesis through the identification of a comprehensive set of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Notably, 90-95% of these variants reside in the noncoding genome, complicating the understanding of their underlying mechanisms.

The boost of force in unfused tetanic contractions at variable interpulse intervals in fast motor units of the rat medial gastrocnemius.

Previously, boost and sag effects seen in unfused tetanic contractions have been studied exclusively at constant stimulation frequency. However, intervals between successive discharges of motoneurons vary during voluntary movements. We therefore aimed to test whether the extra-efficient force production at the onset of contraction (boost) occurs during stimulation with variable intervals, and to what extent it depends on the level of interpulse interval (IPI) variability and history of stimulation.

Assessment of biobank awareness among medical students in Iran.

Background: Despite the rise of research biobanks in the Middle East, they continue to struggle with the limited number of donors. Although qualified healthcare professionals may address it, the awareness of biobanks among future physicians is low. This paper assesses the attitudes towards research biobanks among Iranian medical students.

Research on the effect of eco-friendly additives on selected parameters and microbial decomposition of marine diesel oil (MDO).

This paper presents the effect of environmentally friendly additives on selected parameters and microbial degradation of Marine Diesel Oil (MDO). Microbiological contamination is a serious problem in MDO and other petroleum products. For this reason, it was decided to investigate the effects of environmentally friendly additives such as silver solution and colloidal nanosilver, as well as effective liquid microorganisms and ceramic tubes with different percentages of them in diesel oil (MDO) on its selected parameters and inhibition of bacterial and fungal growth.

Development and validation of PCR marker array for molecular selection towards spring, vernalization-independent and winter, vernalization-responsive ecotypes of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.).

White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is an ancient grain legume that is still undergoing improvement of domestication traits, including vernalization-responsiveness, providing frost tolerance and preventing winter flowering in autumn-sowing agriculture, and vernalization-independence, conferring drought escape by rapid flowering in spring-sowing. A recent genome-wide association study highlighted several loci significantly associated with the most contrasting phenotypes, including deletions in the promoter of the FLOWERING LOCUS T homolog, LalbFTc1, and some DArT-seq/silicoDArT loci.

The influence of different drying techniques on polyphenols profile (LC-MS-PDA-Q/TOF) of peach fruit and their pro-health properties by in vitro.

Drying plant raw materials using modern techniques or combined methods is currently one of the main trends in food technology, which combines process optimization in line with the principles of sustainable development while maintaining high product quality. Therefore, this study aims to be innovative, assessing the possibility of using sublimation techniques, convective drying (CD) at different temperatures (50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C), vaccum microwave drying (VMD) at different power levels (120 W, 240 W, 360 W, and 360/120 W), and combining these two techniques- CD-VMD (50 °C/120 W, 60 °C/120 W, 70 °C/120 W) in the production of peach snacks. The qualitative analysis of the tested dried peaches showed that the content of polyphenols was dominated by polymers of procyanidins (82.

Thrush nightingales adjust the peak frequency and structure of their songs in response to different types of experimental noise.

Animals employ various strategies to minimize the overlap of their vocalizations with other sounds, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of their communication. However, little attention has been given to experimentally examining how the structure of the acoustic signal changes in response to various kinds of disturbances in the soundscape. In this study, I experimentally investigated whether male thrush nightingales (Luscinia luscinia) adjust their singing rate, song frequency, and song type in response to different types of artificial sounds.

New insights into structural, optical, electrical and thermoelectric behavior of NaBiTiO single crystals.

The single crystals of lead-free NaBiTiO were grown using the Czochralski method. The energy gaps determined from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and optical measurements were approximately 2.92 eV.

Creating codes of ethics for public health professionals and institutions.

Background: The World Health Organization and the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region called for the professionalization of the public health workforce, including the creation of codes of ethics. In this article, the Public Health Ethics and Law Network provides guidance on creating such codes, based on values and principles commonly identified for public health.

Methods: Our interest was in codes addressing public health broadly rather than disciplines within public health.

One-step fabrication of ultrathin porous Janus membrane within seconds for waterproof and breathable electronic skin.

It remains a challenge for a simple and scalable method to fabricate ultrathin porous Janus membranes for stretchable on-skin electronics. Here, we propose a one-step droplet spreading phase separation strategy to prepare an ultrathin and easily collected Janus thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) membrane within seconds. The metal-ion solvation structure mitigated migration kinetics to delay TPU solution demixing, promoting the further penetration of the coagulating solvent.

A novel, dominant disease mechanism of distal renal tubular acidosis with specific variants in ATP6V1B1.

Background And Hypothesis: ATP6V1B1 encodes a subunit of the vacuolar H+-ATPase and pathogenic variants are associated with autosomal recessive distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) with deafness. Heterozygous variants predicted to affect a specific amino acid, Arg394, have been recurrently reported in dRTA but their significance has been unclear. We hypothesised that these variants are associated with a dominant disease mechanism.

Standardized measurement of the piriformis muscle and the proximal portion of the sacral nerve roots using transvaginal ultrasound.

Objective: To identify the sonomorphological appearance and to measure the thickness of the piriformis muscle (PM) and the proximal portion of the sacral nerve roots S1-S3 in healthy premenopausal women.

Materials And Methods: This prospective multicentric observational study included a consecutive series of women undergoing transvaginal sonography (TVS) at two tertiary gynecological referral centers. Standardized assessment of the pelvic organs was performed followed by an attempt to visualize the right and left PM and sacral nerve roots S1-S3 at their origin in proximity to the sacral neuroforamen.

CryoEM structure and small-angle X-ray scattering analyses of porcine retinol-binding protein 3.

The vertebrate visual cycle hinges on enzymatically converting all--retinol (at-ROL) into 11--retinal (11c-RAL), the chromophore that binds to opsins in photoreceptors, forming light-responsive pigments. When struck by a photon, these pigments activate the phototransduction pathway and initiate the process of vision. The enzymatic isomerization of at-ROL, crucial for restoring the visual pigments and preparing them to receive new light stimuli, relies on various enzymes found in both the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium cells.

Effect of high-pressure carbon dioxide combined with modified atmosphere packaging on the quality of fresh-cut squash during storage.

The study evaluated the application of a novel high-pressure microbial inactivation method combining dense carbon dioxide with modified atmosphere packaging on organic fresh-cut squash (Cucurbita moschata). Approximately 4 g or 32 g of squash was packed in plastic pouches filled with CO to test two different gas-to-product ratios and treated with the high-pressure method at previously optimized process conditions (45 °C, 6.0 MPa and 40 min).