Profile Of Candidates Research Articles

Mental Health Screening of Healthcare Professionals Who Are Candidates for Psychological Assistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are among those most affected by the COVID-19 health emergency, with many presenting symptoms of anxiety and depression. Research shows that one of the factors involved in mitigating the impact of stressful situations is the use of cognitive emotional regulation mechanisms. The aims of this study were (a) to describe the functional and dysfunctional cognitive emotional regulation mechanisms (FRMs and DRMs) by gender, (b) to screen the main group of healthcare professionals who are candidates to receive psychological assistance based on FRMs and DRMs, and (c) to determine the HCP profile of candidates for psychological assistance. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Data were obtained from an adhoc questionnaire—the Cognitive Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-18), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The representative sample comprised 1452 HCPs. The results revealed significant differences between men and women in the use of DRMs. Women showed a higher use of catastrophizing (≤0.001) and rumination (0.008). The screening procedure detected that 7.5% (109 cases) of the HCPs were candidates to receive psychological support. According to the results of this study, age group (30–39 years old), professional activity (being a nurse or nursing assistant), and having psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression are variables that independently increase the probability of requiring psychological assistance. The gender variable was not found to be an independent factor when it comes to receiving psychological support. In conclusion, it is necessary to consider the influence of cognitive emotional regulation strategies employed by HCPs in the screening of candidates for psychological assistance and design effective interventions to reverse the emotional distress caused by COVID-19.

Multidirectional facets of obesity management in the metabolic syndrome population after liver transplantation.

The obesity pandemic has resulted in an increasing demand for liver transplantation and has significantly altered the profile of liver transplant candidates in addition to affecting posttransplantation outcomes. In this review, we discuss a broad range of clinical approaches that warrant attention to provide comprehensive and patient‐centred medical care to liver transplant recipients, and to be prepared to confront the rapidly changing clinical challenges and ensuing dilemmas. Adipose tissue is a complex and metabolically active organ. Visceral fat deposition is a key predictor of overall obesity‐related morbidity and mortality. Limited pharmacological options are available for the treatment of obesity in the liver transplant population. Bariatric surgery may be an alternative in eligible patients. The rapidly increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global concern; NAFLD affects both pre‐ and posttransplantation outcomes. Numerous studies have investigated pharmacological and nonpharmacological management of NAFLD and some of these have shown promising results. Liver transplant recipients are constantly exposed to numerous factors that result in intestinal microbiota alterations, which were linked to the development of obesity, diabetes type 2, metabolic syndrome (MS), NAFLD, and hepatocellular cancer. Microbiota modifications with probiotics and prebiotics bring gratifying results in the management of metabolic complications. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is successfully performed in many medical indications. However, the safety and efficacy profiles of FMT in immunocompromised patients remain unclear. Obesity together with immunosuppressive treatment, may affect the pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic properties of coadministered medications. Individualized immunosuppressive regimens are recommended following liver transplantation to address possible metabolic concerns. Effective and comprehensive management of metabolic complications is shown to yield multiple beneficial results in the liver transplant population and may bring gratifying results in improving long‐term survival rates.

Water-soluble trithiolato-bridged dinuclear ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) arene complexes with bisphosphonate functionalized ligands as anticancer organometallics

Trithiolato-bridged dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru2(p-cym)2(SR)3]Cl (p-cym = p-cymene, R = benzyl derivatives) are regarded as the most cytotoxically potent metal(II) arene antineoplastics, but are oftentimes limited by their poor solubility in aqueous media. Thus, we designed bisphosphonate-functionalized ligands for use in a modular two-step complexation process to synthesize six trithiolato-bridged dinuclear ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) arene complexes bearing one to three bisphosphonate-benzylmercaptane derived ligands. In addition to improved aqueous solubility the high affinity of bisphosphonates towards apatite structures found in bone and bone metastases may grant selective targeting properties to functionalized organometallics. The complex stabilities and hydroxyapatite binding behavior were determined by UV/Vis spectroscopy. The bisphosphonate functionalization decreases antiproliferative activity in vitro, which was correlated to lower cellular accumulation, due to the different lipophilic profiles of the drug candidates.

Insight into ‘gynecological oncology’ training in the developing world: perspectives of in-training candidates in India

<h3>Objectives:</h3> In the last decade, gynecological oncology has seen an enormous growth and practice changing reforms after its inception almost four decades ago. Various societies across the globe have developed structured training program for trainees in gynecological oncology. India had started its structured training program of 3 years since 2011 although fellowships did exist prior. There are more than 15 centres in India, averagely training 1 to 2 candidates per year which includes both government and private sector. Training varies from region to region across the country depending on factors such as availability of advanced training facilities, mentorship, duration of course and cancer burden. We aim to study trainee profile, satisfaction levels and future expectations of in-training candidates across India. To our knowledge, this is the only study from South-Asian subcontinent in this context. <h3>Methods:</h3> We developed, validated and administered a cross-sectional web-based (Google forms) survey questionnaire to all the trainees in gynecological oncology across India listed in our directory. Questionnaire was sent to them in the first week of August, 2020. Data collected was analysed using Google sheets. Results were expressed as percentages of total responses received excluding unattended responses. Inferences were drawn from the content-specific responses. <h3>Results:</h3> Thirty-nine in-training candidates across the country responded, of which majority (71.8%) were females. Most of the trainees (84%) were from university/teaching hospital run dedicated cancer care centres which see a high burden of cases. Almost two-thirds (64.1%) were extremely satisfied with their training while 28% were just satisfied. Most of the trainees were satisfied with the surgical exposure (64%) and academic activities (61%) at their centres. Of all recent innovations in gynecological oncology, respondents had a special interest in cytoreductive surgeries (CRS) - 41% and robotics - 28% while 59% and 85% suggested for a dedicated fellowship respectively in same post completion of training. Unanimously (97%) suggested that trainees should be adequately exposed to gynecological oncology in their post-graduate training of obstetrics and gynecology while 92% suggested harmonisation of training curriculum across the country. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Although majority of trainees expressed satisfaction, there is a greater need for uniformifization of training curriculum in gynecological oncology. Our study reflects on the training satisfaction levels in the developing world and esp., Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC) group along with future aspirations of trainees. An interesting finding of inclination of in-training candidates towards cytoreductive surgeries and robotics emerged, inferring building in future - high quality training standards in these complex surgeries with needed resources and infrastructure.

Evaluation of the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines: a rapid review

BackgroundThe rapid process of research and development and lack of follow-up time post-vaccination aroused great public concern about the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccine candidates. To provide comprehensive overview of the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines by using meta-analysis technique.MethodsEnglish-language articles and results posted on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PMC, official regulatory websites, and post-authorization safety surveillance data were searched through June 12, 2021. Publications disclosing safety data of COVID-19 candidate vaccines in humans were included. A meta-analysis of proportions was performed to estimate the pooled incidence and the pooled rate ratio (RR) of safety outcomes of COVID-19 vaccines using different platforms.ResultsA total of 87 publications with safety data from clinical trials and post-authorization studies of 19 COVID-19 vaccines on 6 different platforms were included. The pooled rates of local and systemic reactions were significantly lower among inactivated vaccines (23.7%, 21.0%), protein subunit vaccines (33.0%, 22.3%), and DNA vaccines (39.5%, 29.3%), compared to RNA vaccines (89.4%, 83.3%), non-replicating vector vaccines (55.9%, 66.3%), and virus-like particle vaccines (100.0%, 78.9%). Solicited injection-site pain was the most common local reactions, and fatigue and headache were the most common systemic reactions. The frequency of vaccine-related serious adverse events was low (< 0.1%) and balanced between treatment groups. Vaccine platforms and age groups of vaccine recipients accounted for much of the heterogeneity in safety profiles between COVID-19 vaccines. Reporting rates of adverse events from post-authorization observational studies were similar to results from clinical trials. Crude reporting rates of adverse events from post-authorization safety monitoring (passive surveillance) were lower than in clinical trials and varied between countries.ConclusionsAvailable evidence indicates that eligible COVID-19 vaccines have an acceptable short-term safety profile. Additional studies and long-term population-level surveillance are strongly encouraged to further define the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines.

Job requirements in the hospitality industry: Technical or general skills? The dilemma for academic education

This paper identifies the professional profiles of graduates for job positions in the accommodation sector, in particular, whether specific skills of the position or skills related to the tourism sector are preferred. A conjoint design is applied, which presents the more realistic context of asking respondents to evaluate potential “product” profiles. Managers of accommodation facilities expressed their preferences on four hypothetical profiles of candidates for five job positions: receptionist, administrative clerk, human resources professional, web marketing specialist, revenue manager. Six attributes (academic degree and level, among others) are used to describe the candidate profiles. The data were analysed through a multinomial logit model and an ordinary least squares regression model that highlighted the preferred characteristics of the candidates for the considered job positions. The main findings show that recruitment in accommodation facilities looks at specialized skills and academic programmes appropriate for the specific job positions. Knowledge of the desired characteristics of graduates, which could affect a possible recruitment, is important for designing effective academic curricula.

Multi-trait selection index and cluster analyses in Angus cattle

AbstractIn breeding programmes, the genetic selection process is based on the prediction of animal breeding values, and its results may vary according to the employed selection method. The current study developed an economic selection index for animals of the Angus breed; performed cluster analyses using the breeding values in order to evaluate the genetic profile of the animals candidates to selection, and compared the obtained results between the economic selection index and the cluster analyses. The evaluated traits included weaning weight, 18-month weight, scrotal circumference, fat thickness and ribeye area. Economic values were obtained using bioeconomic modelling, simulating a complete cycle production system of beef cattle breeds in Brazil, and the selection objective were the weaning rate and slaughter weight. The chosen selection index was composed of all of the traits used as selection criteria for the simulated production system. During the cluster analyses, the population was divided into two to four groups, in which the groupings containing potential animals were assessed. The animals of the grouping which was used for comparison with the selection index were identified, and most of the bulls that were included in the index were among the best in the analysed group. These results suggest that the cluster analyses can be used as a tool for the selection of animals to be used as parents for future generations.

Abstract 1628: Engineered toxin bodies targeting PD-L1 to alter tumor immunophenotypes and deliver broad antigenic diversity and patient coverage

Abstract Targeting PD-L1 has shown clinical efficacy in multiple solid tumor indications. Currently approved PD-L1 targeted approaches rely on monoclonal antibodies which sterically inhibit PD-L1 and prevent PD-1 mediated checkpoint activity. While these molecules have shown great activity in the clinic, the need for pre-existing tumor specific immunity and immune infiltration precludes responses in some patients and leads to resistance in others. Therefore, there remains a need for new modalities and treatment paradigms in these indications. Molecular Templates has developed MT-6402, an engineered toxin body (ETB) targeting PD-L1, as a single agent immunotoxin designed to overcome the challenges of current PD-L1 targeting approaches by 1) directly depleting PD-L1 positive tumor cells or immunosuppressive immune cells displaying PD-L1 in the tumor microenvironment and 2) delivery of an HLA: A*02 restricted viral peptide to alter the tumor immunophenotype for recruitment of CMV-restricted CTLs to target the tumor for depletion (antigen seeding). MT-6402 is slated for clinical development in 2021. Here we describe the preclinical characterization of several ETB candidates derived from MT-6402 delivering antigenic peptides restricted to the most prevalent MHC haplotypes in the U.S. population to broaden the patient population suitable for antigen seeding. ETBs were engineered with the ability to deliver viral peptides across a range of HLA restriction, including HLA: A*01, HLA: A*03, and HLA: A*24. ETBs were screened and benchmarked against MT-6402 and candidates were identified that retain comparable specificity, selectivity, and potency. Alteration of peptide antigen did not change the specificity or selectivity of ETBs which retained similar PD-L1 binding profiles to MT-6402. Binding profiles correlated to targeted potency and ETBs with varied HLA restricted peptides were found to target tumor and immune cells for depletion with similar potency to MT-6402. ETBs delivered an antigen seeding response in a PD-L1 dependent manner and only in conditions in which tumor cell and CTLs shared a matched HLA to the delivered antigenic peptide specificity. Preclinical assessment of the in vivo efficacy and safety profile of candidates is ongoing and further development is slated for 2021. Citation Format: Joseph D. Dekker, Swati Khanna, Elizabeth Saputra, Wenzhao Dong, Lindsey Aschenbach, Lilia A. Rabia, Garrett L. Cornelison, Michaela Sousares, Jay Zhao, Garrett L. Robinson, Betty Chang, Hilario J. Ramos. Engineered toxin bodies targeting PD-L1 to alter tumor immunophenotypes and deliver broad antigenic diversity and patient coverage [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1628.

Current demographic and auditory profiles of adult cochlear implant candidates and factors affecting uptake

Objectives Despite growth of CI and widening of implantation criteria, penetration rates remain low and the clinical profile of adult CI candidates has not substantially changed. This study evaluated the demographic and auditory profiles of current adult CI candidates and identified factors affecting CI uptake. Design Preoperative data from patients who underwent CI candidacy evaluation between 2016–2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Data included demographics, medical reports, audiological results, and reasons for not pursuing implantation. Comparisons between candidates who pursued implantation and those who did not were performed. Study Sample Ninety-five candidates (54 females), average age 52 years. Results Most candidates exhibited post-lingual bilateral hearing loss with mean unaided PTA4 of 105dBHL and monosyllabic word score of 26%. Forty-nine candidates were implanted, and the main reason for not pursuing CI was candidates’ reluctance. Candidates that pursued CI were mostly younger females with poorer unaided PTA4. Age was the only significant predictor of CI uptake. Conclusions While current candidates demonstrated greater demographic diversity and better speech perception compared to previous findings, unaided thresholds are still within the profound range. Our findings indicate that eligible candidates face barriers to the utilisation of CI, some of which are modifiable by means of updated candidacy protocols.

Utility of Göttingen minipigs for the prediction of human pharmacokinetic profiles after intravenous drug administration

Göttingen minipigs are increasingly used to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of drug candidates. However, their accuracy in predicting human PK parameters is unclear. In this study, we investigated the utility of Göttingen minipigs for predicting human PK profiles. We evaluated the PK parameters of 30 compounds with diverse metabolic pathways after intravenous administration in minipigs. Human total clearance (CLtotal) was corrected using the blood to plasma ratio, and the volume of distribution at steady state (Vd(ss)) was corrected with plasma unbound fraction (fup). CLtotal and Vd(ss) were predicted using single-species allometric scaling using data from minipigs and other reported animal models (monkeys, human liver chimeric mice, and rats). The predicted values were compared with actual values reported in humans. Göttingen minipig were superior to rats because of their better predictability of Vd(ss) and CLtotal, as represented by lower absolute average fold error values. However, their predictability for Vd(ss) was inferior to monkey and human liver chimeric mice. Prediction of CLtotal from blood-based minipig data showed excellent correlation with human data, and comparable predictability with monkey and human liver chimeric mice. Thus, Göttingen minipigs can be used as an optional model for preclinical pharmaceutical research for predicting human CLtotal.

The Wrath of Candidates. Drivers of Fear and Enthusiasm Appeals in Election Campaigns across the Globe

Little is known about why candidates decide to make use of emotional messages when campaigning for a political office, and under which conditions this is more likely to happen. We focus on the use of fear and enthusiasm appeals and assume that these are a function of profile of candidates and the nature of the context in which the election takes place. We use a new large-scale comparative dataset which includes information about campaigning strategies for 636 candidates having competed in 133 presidential and parliamentary elections in 101 countries between June 2016 and March 2020, based on judgments of 2000+ domestic and international experts. Our results show that candidates benefitting from a comparative advantage (incumbents and frontrunners) tend to rely on enthusiasm appeals, more extreme candidates prefer fear to enthusiasm, and more competitive races tend to foster the use of fear appeals. These findings have important implications for electoral competition, communication theory, and political marketing. All data and materials are openly available for replication. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15377857.2021.1930327 .

Mechanisms of flecainide induced negative inotropy: An in silico study

It is imperative to develop better approaches to predict how antiarrhythmic drugs with multiple interactions and targets may alter the overall electrical and/or mechanical function of the heart. Safety Pharmacology studies have provided new insights into the multi-target effects of many different classes of drugs and have been aided by the addition of robust new in vitro and in silico technology. The primary focus of Safety Pharmacology studies has been to determine the risk profile of drugs and drug candidates by assessing their effects on repolarization of the cardiac action potential. However, for decades experimental and clinical studies have described substantial and potentially detrimental effects of Na+ channel blockers in addition to their well-known conduction slowing effects. One such side effect, associated with administration of some Na+ channel blocking drugs is negative inotropy. This reduces the pumping function of the heart, thereby resulting in hypotension. Flecainide is a well-known example of a Na+ channel blocking drug, that exhibits strong rate-dependent block of INa and may cause negative cardiac inotropy. While the phenomenon of Na+ channel suppression and resulting negative inotropy is well described, the mechanism(s) underlying this effect are not. Here, we set out to use a modeling and simulation approach to reveal plausible mechanisms that could explain the negative inotropic effect of flecainide. We utilized the Grandi-Bers model [1] of the cardiac ventricular myocyte because of its robust descriptions of ion homeostasis in order to characterize and resolve the relative effects of QRS widening, flecainide off-target effects and changes in intracellular Ca2+ and Na+ homeostasis. The results of our investigations and predictions reconcile multiple data sets and illustrate how multiple mechanisms may play a contributing role in the flecainide induced negative cardiac inotropic effect.

Development of a one-step RT-ddPCR method to determine the expression and potency of AAV vectors

Robust assays to quantify adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector expression and potency are essential for gene therapy development. These assays inform the efficacy, safety, and pharmacodynamic profiles of AAV development candidates. Additionally, for gene downregulation strategies such as RNAi, knockdown of endogenous genes reflects the mechanism of action of such development candidates. Therefore, a method to quantify target mRNA repression is necessary for measuring vector potency both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we report the development of a one-step reverse-transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) method to analyze expression of AAV vectors and the potency of AAV-RNAi vectors. This one-step RT-ddPCR method simplifies the workflow, allows for duplexing reactions, and enables absolute quantification of transcripts without standard materials. With a gene augmentation vector, we demonstrate the application of RT-ddPCR in quantifying vector expression in vitro and in non-human primate (NHP) samples. This novel method is demonstrated to be precise and linear within the range of 0.05–25 ng of RNA input. Using an AAV-RNAi vector, we further demonstrate the utility of this RT-ddPCR method in quantifying potency. Orthogonal potency assays, including ELISA and functional readout, correlate well with RT-ddPCR results. Therefore, one-step RT-ddPCR can be implemented in the analytical and pharmacological characterization of AAV vectors.

The Impact of Candidates’ Profile and Campaign Decisions in Electoral Results: A Data Analytics Approach

In recent years, a wide range of techniques has been developed to predict electoral results and to measure the influence of different factors in these results. In this paper, we analyze the influence of the political profile of candidates (characterized by personal and political features) and their campaign effort (characterized by electoral expenditure and by territorial deployment strategies retrieved from social networks activity) on the electoral results. This analysis is carried out by using three of the most frequent data analyitcs algorithms in the literature. For our analysis, we consider the 2017 Parliamentary elections in Chile, which are the first elections after a major reform of the electoral system, that encompassed a transition from a binomial to a proportional system, a modification of the districts’ structure, an increase in the number of seats, and the requirement of gender parity in the lists of the different coalitions. The obtained results reveal that, regardless of the political coalition, the electoral experience of candidates, in particular in the same seat they are running for (even when the corresponding district is modified), is by large the most influential factor to explain the electoral results. However, the attained results show that the influence of other features, such as campaign expenditures, depends on the political coalition. Additionally, by means of a simulation procedure, we show how different levels of territorial deployment efforts might impact on the results of candidates. This procedure could be used by parties and coalitions when planning their campaign strategies.

Psychological profile of the bariatric surgery candidates in a spanish hospital in 2020: a descriptive study

IntroductionPrevious research has found that candidates for bariatric surgery usually present anxiety, depression, personality disorders and/or a tendency to binge eating. The situation related with the pandemic and the lockdowns during the 2020 are possible aggravating factors for these characteristics.ObjectivesTo study the more important psychological characteristics presented by candidates for bariatric surgery.Methods40 people between 29 and 65 years old (M=46.4, SD=9.1; 37.5% male, 62.5% female) were evaluated between July and December of 2020. The assessment consisted in an interview carried out by a clinical psychologist, and a pool of questionnaires to evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI; and the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale, GADS) the existence of a binge eating pattern (the Binge Eating Scale; BES) and personality traits (the Salamanca Screening Test).ResultsThe 25% of the sample had previous mental health antecedents. Eight people disclosed to feel stress in relation with the COVID-19, and 18 presented an emotional regulation strategy using food during the lockdown. 62.5% scored above the cut-off point on the BDI (mild=27.5%, moderate=20%, severe=15%) and a 40% and a 47.5% did it for the anxiety and the depression (respectively) GADS subscales. 20% presented a binge eating pattern according with the BES. Most common personality traits were histrionic (50%), emotionally unstable impulsive type (45%), and anxious (42.5%).ConclusionsThese findings support the previous scientific literature. Psychological intervention programs may be considered to guarantee the surgery’s success, especially when adverse contextual circumstances are presented.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Mapping the drivers of negative campaigning: Insights from a candidate survey

Which candidates are more likely to go negative, and under which conditions? We analyze self-reported survey data from candidates having run in the 2017 German federal election for the main parties. More specifically, we test a comprehensive set of factors supposed to drive the use of (a) negative campaigning in general, (b) policy attacks, and (c) character attacks. Our results show that for all three versions of negative campaigning the political profile of candidates is most important, followed by personality traits, perceived campaign dynamics, social profile, and available campaign resources. Within these categories, five factors are important across the board: members of the governing parties are less likely to attack, ‘extreme ideology’ of the candidate fuels the use of attack politics, candidates who believe that the media can persuade voters attack more often, disagreeable candidates tend to go negative, and male candidates are more likely to attack than females.

Cognitive and behavioral profiles of pediatric surgical candidates with frontal and temporal lobe epilepsy

BackgroundWe aimed to prospectively analyze memory and executive and social cognitive functioning in patients with drug-resistant frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with focal lesions and isolate the impact of intellectual ability on specific deficits. MethodsA neuropsychological evaluation was performed in 23 children with FLE, 22 children with TLE, and 36 healthy pediatric controls (HCs). Patients in the epilepsy groups had a range of lesions, including low-grade epilepsy-associated tumors (LEAT), focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II, and mesial temporal sclerosis (MS). ResultsThere were no significant differences between children with FLE and TLE regarding memory, executive, or social cognitive functioning. General Ability Index (GAI) was a predictor of memory, executive function, and social cognition scores and was influenced by age at onset, duration of epilepsy, and number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) prescribed at the time of assessment. Working Memory Index scores of patients with TLE, which measure verbal mnesic processing, were significantly lower than those of HCs and patients with TLE. The greatest differences in both clinical groups compared to HCs were recorded in cognitive executive functions, and patients with FLE had lower scores in this domain. Regarding behavioral executive functions, patients with TLE presented impaired emotional control and impulse inhibition and patients with FLE exhibited decreased flexibility. ConclusionConsistent with previous research, our findings provide further detailed evidence of small differences in cognitive performance among children with FLE and TLE. These differences emerge on analysis of the factors with which deficits are associated.

Zarządzanie komunikacją kandydatów na premiera w serwisie Facebook w wyborach parlamentarnych w Polsce w 2019 roku

Prime Minister Candidates’ Communication Management on Facebook During Parliamentary Elections Campaign 2019 in Poland The article presents the results of a research, which was carried out in the last month of the parliamentary election campaign in 2019. In this research, the processes of communication conducted by candidates for deputies, Mateusz Morawiecki and Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, representing two rival parties (PiS and KO), were analysed – both candidates were simultaneously appointed as potential presidents of the Council of Ministers. The research was carried out using the qualitative method, taking into account the content of the profiles of both candidates on Facebook. Research results are part of the stream of analyzes, devoted to the importance of social media during election campaigns, as well as in the processes of political communication conducted by politicians.

Antitumor activities of carboplatin–doxorubicin–ZnO complexes in different human cancer cell lines (breast, cervix uteri, colon, liver and oral) under UV exposition

This study aimed to examine the pharmacological profiles of multiple chemo drug candidates in systematic circulation to enhance their specific interactions with five human cancer cell lines. ZnO nanoparticles were successfully bound with chemo drugs via physical adsorption. The drug loading capacity was confirmed by FTIR, whereas the loading efficiency was determined via UV–vis spectrometry. The mean hydrodynamic size increased to 69–82 nm after chemo-drug immobilization via non-covalent interaction with ZnO. Among the nine formulated chemo drugs, the carboplatin (CP)–doxorubicin (DOX)–ZnO complex under UV light irradiation exhibited high sensitivity towards human breast adenocarcinoma cells without affecting human keratinocyte immortal cells with an IC50 of 0.137 µg/mL, whereas the loading capacity and efficiency of CP–DOX–ZnO were 77.81% and 99.05%, respectively. Fluorescence images confirmed that CP–DOX–ZnO using DOX served as a fluorescence enhancer specifically bound onto the cell membranes, which became almost saturated after 24 h incubation. Carboplatin–DOX–ZnO was possibly endocytosed by cancer cells and was selectively internalized into the target cells; thus, free chemo drug was released in the cytoplasm, which induced acute apoptosis. This resulted in complete inhabitation of growth signal of target cancer cells.

Ten Years of Recruitment for Archaeology in Toruń – Candidate Profiles and the Student Recruitment Process. A Multi-indicator Data Analysis

The article is a research report on candidates for archaeological studies, for which the source of data was the Internet Candidate Registration (IRK) system of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. The analysis was carried out on a sample of 695 people admitted to the first year of archeology at UMK, with the material covering the period from 2007 to 2017. It was decided to build the profile of candidates for students based on six criteria: the size of the hometown and its distance from Toruń, gender, age of the candidates, completed secondary school, results of secondary school-leaving exams and recruitment decisions of candidates (priority system). As researchers, we had no influence on the set of data we had at our disposal, the work was carried out using an already existing database, the primary purpose of which was not research or analyzes similar to ours. The text presents conclusions and generalizations based on proprietary tools for the analysis of the existing database. The conclusions, although they concern archeology itself and candidates for archeology, may be a starting point for further analyzes of other majors. Archaeologists can use these outcomes to evaluate the condition of their discipline.