Permanent Changes Research Articles

Psychodiabetology: The Challenge of the Future?

The number of people suffering from diabetes, including type 1, is constantly increasing both in Poland and worldwide. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by uncertain prognosis and relapses, as well as permanent, irreversible, and progressive changes in health status. The ongoing disease results in dysfunction or disability, and the patient requires specialized supervision, care, and rehabilitation. However, the success of therapy does not depend solely on the perfection of treatment, but also on the patient's readiness to change their lifestyle and cooperate with the therapeutic team. The patient's constant alertness in making therapeutic decisions does not always lead to expected treatment results, and the risk of hypoglycemia associated with intensive insulin treatment depletes the patient's motivation for treatment, leading over time to the development of 'therapeutic burnout' and psychiatric disorders. This narrative review is an attempt to summarize the knowledge and possible future solutions in diabetes type 1 in Poland as well as highlight the importance of comprehensive care, including psychological care, which appears fundamental in a chronic disease such as type 1 diabetes. Therefore, the aim of the study was to present generational changes and psychosocial problems of patients with type 1 diabetes and to identify urgent challenges in diabetic care. Attention should be paid to the deteriorating mental condition of the young generations, who, in the course of diabetes, are exposed to additional psychological and psychiatric health problems. The next generation of patients will require more psychological care, which is why the challenge of the future is to create psychodiabetology centers.

Conceptualization of system management of e-commerce enterprises

The modern information stage of business development is characterized by digitalization of all processes, primarily commodity and money exchange. This reinforces the trend of dynamic growth in the number of electronic commerce (EC) enterprises, which is naturally accom­panied by an increase in the volume of turnover, intensifying market competition between manu­facturers, sup­pliers and sellers, expansion and improvement of product offers, implement­tation of artificial intelligence technologies in these processes. There is an objective need for a flexible and adaptive response of the corporate management of EC enterprises to permanent market changes in order to strengthen their own competitive advantages, as well as to develop a theoretical model of effective system manage­ment of an enterprise operating in such conditions. Such a model should be based on fundamentally new approaches to the system management of EC enterprises. Ukraine’s par­tici­pation in the formation of the global information society requires the development of the domestic EC segment, which involves the improvement of business processes in produc­tion and trade, the expansion of sales channels, the transformation of the labor market and the human capital mana­gement system. Such a necessity is intensified against the background of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Despite the economic crisis caused by the war, the improve­ment of management approaches by EC enterprises should increase the efficiency of their business processes and lead to an increase in the competitiveness of the domestic economy. The aim of the article is to develop the conceptual foundations of system management of e-commerce enterprises. Based on the methods of scientific analysis and synthesis, the essence of e-commerce, e-commerce enterprise is determined and the classic McKensey 7S mo­del is developed in the case of system manage­ment of an e-commerce enterprise. Internal and external determinants of system management of EC enterprises are highlighted. The develop­ment of the classic McKensey 7S model and the analysis of the system management determinants of EC enterprises made it possible to concept­tualize it and reveal the need for a scientific rethinking of management approa­ches at the level of domestic enterprises. This will contri­bute to the leveling of barriers to the effective introduction of new management approaches into management practice.

Effect of using scan body accessories and inter-implant distances on the accuracy of complete arch implant digital impressions: An in vitro study.

To introduce a novel design for scan body accessory parts that are reusable, easy to attach and detach without permanent change of the scan body, and can be used with different inter-implant distances to enhance the accuracy of complete arch implant scans. A maxillary polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) model with a soft tissue replica was fabricated with four implant analogs located at tooth positions 17, 13, 22, and 27 with 18, 25, and 30mm inter-implant distances. Four scan bodies (SBs) were attached to the implants. The model was scanned with a laboratory scanner to be used as a reference scan. A total of 40 scans were made with the same intraoral scanner and they were divided equally into two groups. Group A: Complete arch implant scans without scan body accessories (n = 20), and Group B: Complete arch implant scans with scan body accessories (n = 20). Intraoral scans were exported and superimposed on the reference scan using reverse engineering inspection software to be evaluated for 3D deviations, angular deviations, and linear deviations. Statistical analysis was performed with student t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures followed by post hoc adjusted Bonferroni test. The level of significance was set at P = 0.05. The scan body accessories decreased both the 3D and linear deviations, with a statistically significant difference at SB4 for the 3D deviation (P = 0.043) and the linear inter-implant discrepancies between SB1-SB2 and SB3-SB4 (P = 0.029 and < 0.001), respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference in angular deviation between the study groups. Implant positions had significant differences within each group. A significant improvement in the accuracy of the complete arch implant digital impression was achieved by using the scan body accessories, particularly in reducing the 3D and linear deviations at the most distant implant positions.

Do improvements in infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices endure the test of time?

BackgroundReducing malnutrition is a key priority for governments in low- and middle-income countries given its lasting effects on child development, health, income, and economic growth. Strategies to improve recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, especially during the first two years of life, are considered among the most effective.MethodsIn this paper, we evaluate the long-run impacts of an innovative education strategy based on interactive play and performing arts implemented in El Alto, Bolivia on caregivers’ IYCF knowledge and practices. Two thousand and fifteen households were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Two rounds of data were collected approximately 30 and 42 months after baseline. We estimate short-term (30 month) and longer-term (42 month) intent-to-treat effects using multivariate linear regression analysis, with and without controlling for covariates.ResultsThe program significantly increased caregiver IYCF knowledge by 0.13 SDs in the short run, and this effect grew over time. The program also improved adherence to recommended IYCF practices by 0.23 standard deviations (SDs) in the short term, but the effect on practices dissipated over time, and no longer-term impacts were detected. Caregivers with above median baseline knowledge, number of children, and age appear to have benefited most from the program.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that entertainment-education interventions are a promising model for improving and maintaining IYCF knowledge. However, their ability to sustain more permanent changes in IYCF practices is less certain. Further evidence is needed to identify other avenues for producing long-term, sustainable behavior change, especially among indigenous populations in Latin America, where literature on education and behavior-change interventions related to IYCF practices is limited.

Repeatedly experiencing the McGurk effect induces long-lasting changes in auditory speech perception

In the McGurk effect, presentation of incongruent auditory and visual speech evokes a fusion percept different than either component modality. We show that repeatedly experiencing the McGurk effect for 14 days induces a change in auditory-only speech perception: the auditory component of the McGurk stimulus begins to evoke the fusion percept, even when presented on its own without accompanying visual speech. This perceptual change, termed fusion-induced recalibration (FIR), was talker-specific and syllable-specific and persisted for a year or more in some participants without any additional McGurk exposure. Participants who did not experience the McGurk effect did not experience FIR, showing that recalibration was driven by multisensory prediction error. A causal inference model of speech perception incorporating multisensory cue conflict accurately predicted individual differences in FIR. Just as the McGurk effect demonstrates that visual speech can alter the perception of auditory speech, FIR shows that these alterations can persist for months or years. The ability to induce seemingly permanent changes in auditory speech perception will be useful for studying plasticity in brain networks for language and may provide new strategies for improving language learning.

Ocular manifestation of hand, foot, and mouth disease : Acase series.

Virus-related illnesses are acommon phenomenon, especially in the colder months of the year. They usually manifest with cough, cold, and other flu-associated symptoms. They affect people of all ages and genders. In recent years, also virus-associated ocular symptoms have been documented repeatedly. One of the viruses known to cause these is the CoxsackievirusA, which causes hand, foot, and mouth disease. Three cases of these virus-associated macular changes are described below. In all three cases, the symptoms occurred unilaterally and with little time delay to the virus-typical general changes. Complete functional remission occurred in all cases, whereby permanent changes in the pigment epithelium were observed.

Political crisis and social trust: the case of Australia

ABSTRACT Trust in Australian political institutions has declined markedly since 2007. Trust scholars and social capital theorists argue that institutional trust affects social trust, which implies that declining trust in political institutions should also reduce social trust. However, using data from the Australian Election Study, World Values Survey and HILDA panel study, I find no evidence of any aggregate-level decline in Australian social trust since 2007. While this could be a result of the ‘coup era’ in Australian politics from 2010 to 2018, a better explanation is that social trust remained high because permanent changes in trust occur primarily among younger people. A long-term decline through generational replacement therefore remains possible. This challenges both social capital theory and institutional theories of social trust, but would explain the experiences of other advanced democracies during episodes of political crisis, including New Zealand, Greece, Finland, Japan, Sweden, Spain and the United States.

Rehabilitating a 44-year-old Chronically Traumatized Parapalegic Woman: a Case Study

Spinal cord injury (SCI) resulting from trauma imposes major and permanent life changes on the predominantly young male population who receive these injuries. Paralysis of the muscle below the level of injury can lead to limited and altered mobility, self-care and ability to participate in valued social activities. In addition to the musculoskeletal system, many other body systems are also impaired. The psychosocial impact of the SCI can be just as great as the physical impact. Rehabilitation is an important element toward achieving a fulfilling and active life after an SCI. Physical therapist play a key role in rehabilitation process. A detailed neurological assessment of a patient was done and the severity of the injury was graded according to ASIA impairment scale. A systematic treatment plan was made and altered according to the patient’s recovery and needs.

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis in children with Pierre Robin sequence: long-term analysis of teeth and jaw growth

Treatment of children with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) having a hypoplastic mandible and upper airway distress after birth may consist of external distraction devices. Shape anomalies of the permanent molars and positional changes due to surgery have been documented. The aim of this study is to compare the long-term effects (>5 years) on the growth pattern of PRS-patients treated with an external mandibular distraction device with no-surgery cases and to investigate the dental development or damage. A retrospective cohort study was performed. PRS-patients with and without surgery were included. A digital cephalometric analysis was made to evaluate the growth pattern of the mandible between groups as well as with normal values. Nine of 19 patients underwent an external mandibular distraction. All children were extubated after 4-5 days with no signs of respiratory distress. Screw and device loosening presented in one patient. The articular and sellar angles were significantly larger and smaller, respectively, in the Surgery group. Mandibular distraction surgery might result in a ‘growth boost’ compared to the No-surgery group. No significant difference in dental development was found. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis is an effective way of relieving severe upper airway obstruction.

When the Bear Comes to Town: How the City Could Create Nature

The relationship between humans and nature is in permanent change. Where the city and nature used to be seen as enemies that needed to be kept away from each other, the current paradigm looks at a more symbiotic relationship. In this, man is seen as part of nature, and the city is seen as a determining factor in providing conditions for a rich urban ecology. In this study, urban conditions are seen as the starting point for urban design, enabling biodiversity to thrive. The aim of the research is to distill design strategies that enhance nature in an urban context. These strategies are derived from existing theories, the typical relationship between the city and nature, and the understanding of the natural landscape, and are applied in the heated, dry, and rocky conditions in the metropolitan region of Monterrey, Mexico. The main finding is that the city contains ecologies with their own characteristics, often distinct from rural or natural ecologies. These specific conditions can be amplified using adequate design strategies, which may lead to a greater biodiversity. For improving urban biodiversity, the perspective on the city shall be transformed from seeing it as an enemy of nature towards a symbiotic relationship between the two. At the same time, this perspective requires additional research into two main aspects: the way the city is able to create its own climatic conditions, and how landscape-based design can enhance the urban conditions in a way nature occupies these novel ecological niches.

MotGen: a closed-loop bacterial motility control framework using generative adversarial networks.

Many organisms' survival and behavior hinge on their responses to environmental signals. While research on bacteria-directed therapeutic agents has increased, systematic exploration of real-time modulation of bacterial motility remains limited. Current studies often focus on permanent motility changes through genetic alterations, restricting the ability to modulate bacterial motility dynamically on a large scale. To address this gap, we propose a novel real-time control framework for systematically modulating bacterial motility dynamics. We introduce MotGen, a deep learning approach leveraging Generative Adversarial Networks to analyze swimming performance statistics of motile bacteria based on live cell imaging data. By tracking objects and optimizing cell trajectory mapping under environmentally altered conditions, we trained MotGen on a comprehensive statistical dataset derived from real image data. Our experimental results demonstrate MotGen's ability to capture motility dynamics from real bacterial populations with low mean absolute error in both simulated and real datasets. MotGen allows us to approach optimal swimming conditions for desired motility statistics in real-time. MotGen's potential extends to practical biomedical applications, including immune response prediction, by providing imputation of bacterial motility patterns based on external environmental conditions. Our short-term, in-situ interventions for controlling motility behavior offer a promising foundation for the development of bacteria-based biomedical applications. MotGen is presented as a combination of Matlab image analysis code and a machine learning workflow in Python. Codes are available at https://github.com/bgmseo/MotGen, for cell tracking and implementation of trained models to generate bacterial motility statistics.

Digitalisation, digital transformation – In the practice of the National Tax and Customs Office

Our research has shown that digital solutions have increased the efficiency of official audits carried out by the National Tax and Customs Administration (hereinafter Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal, NAV), making it easier to compare tax authority and taxpayer data. A new way of thinking has been introduced at the NAV as a result of digitalisation solutions. The overall impact is positive, with synergies between NAV and taxpayers. Following the beginnings, we will look at the digital solutions of the present and map out the opportunities for development in the near future, using several research methods. What has NAV’s digitisation activity given us and what can it give us? Time, efficiency, smoother administration, more queries for taxpayers and their partners. A change of mindset, a changing audit methodology, permanent change. Transforming jobs, the possibility of using artificial intelligence. The focus of audits will remain on the examination of human activities, but the role of the human factor in audits will be reduced.

Innovation bureaucracy in the higher education management

In recent decades, the Russian education system has been constantly reformed. Its current state and problems cannot be understood without identifying the subject initiating and carrying out these permanent changes. Such a subject is an innovative bureaucracy - a specific type of bureaucracy that serves innovative processes and creates social and organizational routines from them. This bureaucracy managed to make a conveyor of innovations, which often moves in a circle - without beginning or end. The reforms have become pendulum and repeat at certain intervals. The article considers numerous consequences and excesses of the innovative bureaucracy’s dominance in the higher education management, which are determined by this bureaucracy success in replacing the real, socially significant goals of the higher education system with indicators that can be quickly achieved and reported as if for the public good. The harsh administrative pressure of the innovative bureaucracy leads to the constant updating and combination of standards (although not all their content can be standardized), to an increase in reporting (including in electronic, online form) and in teaching load. The lack and ambivalence of goals and the non-stop projects of changes hinder the formation of institutional matrix to meet the contemporary challenges and determine destabilizing processes in the education system. The authors argue that an institutional approach to the higher education management can change the situation, since it focuses not on administrative orders and formal goals but on establishing norms and rules for the education system self-development. Thus, the efficiency of the education system should be evaluated by the society and the state and not by representatives of the innovative bureaucracy, who strive to preserve the innovation conveyor. The principles of post-industrial management should be applied in the higher education system, replacing the bureaucratic approach to the implementation of innovations.

Acute Impacts of Ionizing Radiation Exposure on the Gastrointestinal Tract and Gut Microbiome in Mice.

Radiation therapy for abdominopelvic malignancies often results in damage to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and permanent changes in bowel function. An overlooked component of the pathophysiology of radiation-induced bowel injury is the role of the gut microbiome. The goal of this research was to identify the impacts of acute radiation exposure on the GIT and gut microbiome. C57BL/6 mice exposed to whole-body X-rays (0.1-3 Gy) were assessed for histological and microbiome changes 48 h post-radiation exposure. Within the ileum, a dose of 3 Gy significantly decreased crypt depth as well as the number of goblet cells, but increased overall goblet cell size. Overall, radiation altered the microbial distribution within each of the main phyla in a dose- and tissue-dependent manner. Within the Firmicutes phylum, high dose irradiation resulted in significant alterations in bacteria from the class Bacilli within the small bowels, and from the class Clostridia in the large bowels. The 3 Gy radiation also significantly increased the abundance of bacterial families from the Bacteroidetes phylum in the colon and feces. Overall, we identified various alterations in microbiome composition following acute radiation exposure, which could potentially lead to novel biomarkers for tracking patient toxicities or could be used as targets for mitigation strategies against radiation damage.

Glutathione Supplementation Prevents Neonatal Parenteral Nutrition-Induced Short- and Long-Term Epigenetic and Transcriptional Disruptions of Hepatic H2O2 Metabolism in Guinea Pigs.

The parenteral nutrition (PN) received by premature newborns is contaminated with peroxides that induce global DNA hypermethylation via oxidative stress. Exposure to peroxides could be an important factor in the induction of chronic diseases such as those observed in adults who were born preterm. As endogenous H2O2 is a major regulator of glucose-lipid metabolism, our hypothesis was that early exposure to PN induces permanent epigenetic changes in H2O2 metabolism. Three-day-old guinea pigs were fed orally (ON), PN or glutathione-enriched PN (PN+GSSG). GSSG promotes endogenous peroxide detoxification. After 4 days, half the animals were sacrificed, and the other half were fed ON until 16 weeks of age. The liver was harvested. DNA methylation and mRNA levels were determined for the SOD2, GPx1, GCLC, GSase, Nrf2 and Keap1 genes. PN induced GPx1 hypermethylation and decreased GPx1, GCLC and GSase mRNA. These findings were not observed in PN+GSSG. PN+GSSG induced Nrf2 hypomethylation and increased Nrf2 and SOD2 mRNA. These observations were independent of age. In conclusion, in neonatal guinea pigs, PN induces epigenetic changes, affecting the expression of H2O2 metabolism genes. These changes persist for at least 15 weeks after PN. This disruption may signify a permanent reduction in the capacity to detoxify peroxides.

Functions of the Prosecutor’s Office in the mechanism of ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens, the interests of society and the state

After Ukraine gained independence, political, economic, social, organizational, legal and other changes began to take place in the Ukrainian state, which affected all spheres of socially useful life. The activity of the prosecutor’s office, which inherited the basic principles of its activity from the prosecutor’s office of the former Soviet Union, could not avoid such changes. Adoption in 1990 of the Declaration on the State Sovereignty of Ukraine and introduction of the Law of October 24, 1990 No. 404-XII of amendments and additions to Chapter 19 «Prosecutorship» of the Constitution (Basic Law) of the Ukrainian SSR, the formation of a new independent prosecutor’s office of the Ukrainian state was initiated, in Art. 162 of which it was declared that higher supervision over the observance and correct application of laws by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, ministries, state committees, departments, other bodies of state and economic management and control, the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, local Councils of People’s Deputies, their executive and administrative bodies, military units, political parties, public organizations, mass movements, enterprises, institutions and organizations, regardless of the forms of ownership, subordination and affiliation, officials and citizens is carried out by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and prosecutors subordinate to him. At the same time, the activities of the prosecutor’s office and their officials did not always receive a favorable assessment of their activity from the citizens, which prompted the state leadership through the reorganization of the prosecutor’s office to make permanent changes that would bring the activity of the prosecutor’s office closer to the best international standards in consistently ensuring the rights and freedoms of man and citizen. interests of society and the state. Attention is drawn to the fact that after 2014, as well as the full-scale invasion of Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the functions of the prosecutor’s office underwent significant changes, which requires theoretical research, due to the fact that the reform of the activities of the prosecutor’s office continues even in today’s conditions.

Flame Heat Sources as a Sustainable Method of Protecting Fruit Orchards against Frost in Poland

One of the key factors affecting the yield of fruit orchards is their protection against spring frosts. This paper presents the methods currently used (like anti-frost nets, chemical agents, etc.) and proposes an alternative method of raising the temperature around fruit trees using flame heat sources with a suitable heating power. Flame heat sources in the form of metal containers filled with paraffin were utilised in this experiment. The effect of the flame heat sources on the relative increase in the temperature of a wooden surface (simulating trees located in Rzeszow, Poland) depending on the distance from the heat source was measured and estimated based on mathematical models. Based on the results of experimental work, an optimal placement of flame heat sources (1.58 m from each tree) was proposed for orchards of semi-dwarf fruit trees. The proposed modifications of the flame heat sources to incorporate infrared radiation converters resulted in a greater increase in the temperature of the wooden surface. The analysis of the available economic and environmental data showed that the proposed method may be a competitive alternative to the standard method of protection. If the flame heat sources are filled with combustible materials derived from renewable sources, such as those produced from fats, the overall CO2 emission balance for this solution will be significantly more favourable. The use of flame heat sources does not necessitate the introduction of permanent changes in the environment, as is required in cases when irrigation infrastructure is installed.

Lake bottom relief reconstruction and water volume estimation based on the subsidence rate of the post-mining area (Bytom, Southern Poland)

Mining activity leads to subsidence troughs and permanent changes in water relations, like the formation of anthropogenic reservoirs. In the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (S Poland), their number is so high that the area is called an anthropogenic lake district. Any form of water retention, in the face of climate change, is valuable. However, the problem is the high variability of these lakes, making it challenging to estimate water resources. An example of this type of anthropogenic lake is the Brandka Pond in Bytom. An original method was proposed, consisting of two stages: reconstruction of the lake bottom relief based on the initial state of the area relief in 1994, i.e. at the beginning of the reservoir formation, and the land subsidence rate calculated for this area. Archival cartographic materials and DEMs from LiDAR data were used and processed in the open-source geoinformation software. Orthophoto maps and satellite scenes were also collected to determine changes in the extent of the pond from 1993 to 2019. Bathymetric data obtained in 2019 during sonar measurements on the reservoir was used to verify the calculations. The pond began to form in the early 1990s, and by 2019, it had reached an area of 178,226 m2, a maximum depth of 5.8 m and a capacity of 421,173 m3. The reconstruction method is accurate and suitable for lakes over 2 m deep, and the calculated capacity differs from the bathymetric data by 0.2%.

Combined application of N-fixing PGPB and rice straw mulch compensates N immobilization by straw, improving crop growth

BackgroundRice straw, often treated as waste, provides many benefits to crops when used as a mulch. However, straw degradation promotes nitrogen immobilisation due to its high C:N ratio, causing N competition between soil microorganisms and the crop. Currently, sustainable practices to remedy nitrogen immobilisation are hardly being implemented. In microcosm conditions we assessed whether the inoculation with N-fixers could offset the transient nitrogen deficiency caused by straw mulch, thereby harnessing the benefits of straw while mitigating its negative impact on nitrogen depletion and exerting a synergistic effect on crop growth.ResultsInoculation with N-fixers increased the nitrogen content in the soil (the increase ranged from 14% up to 90% for NH4+ and from 20% to 60% for NO3−) and, in most cases, also the nitrogen content in the plant (ranging from 10% to 15% increase), compared to the non-inoculated control. Therefore, inoculation would compensate for the lack of nitrogen caused by nitrogen immobilisation, and this resulted in an increased biomass production by the crop compared with the uninoculated control (the increase ranged from 25% to 85%). In addition, inoculation with N-fixers did not lead to a permanent change in the bacterial community composition, whereas straw addition increased the biodiversity of the soil microbiome.ConclusionsThe results obtained in microcosm conditions are a first indication that complementing straw mulching with the inoculation of N-fixers could avoid the transient N immobilisation produced during straw degradation. Thus, the benefits of the combination would be a yield increase, while improving the biodiversity of the soil microbiome, stabilising soil temperatures and increasing water soil content.Graphical

Does the use of digital tools improve a firm’s performance?

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant economic impact. Different economic agents have been forced to make temporary or permanent changes to their usual patterns of economic activity. In some business sectors, confinement brought activity to a standstill; in others, it led to the spread of teleworking and, in parallel, highlighted, among other aspects, the importance of digital sales channels. In this context, digitalization can be seen as an opportunity (even a necessity) to maintain the level of business activity and to develop new business initiatives. Firms that used digital tools in their pre-pandemic processes were better prepared to face the health and economic crises and could emerge from them earlier than those companies that were less digitized. Drawing on data from The Future of Business Survey, this paper analyzes the adoption of digital tools in the wake of the pandemic and examines the relationship between pre- and post-pandemic indicators of business digitization and business performance, as measured by sales and employeees. It also considers the diversity of existing digital platforms and the possible uses of these tools.