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Biophysical characterization and evaluation of biological properties of polyphenolic dendrimers modified with caffeic acid
No full textDendrimers are branched polymer structures that have been extensively studied as carriers for drugs and nucleic acids. Currently, scientists are trying to develop new dendrimer-based therapeutics that possess required characteristics for biomedical applications, such as improved bioavailability, low toxicity, and high transfection efficiency. The unique properties of carbosilane dendrimers as drug carriers have already been demonstrated, and their effectiveness has been further enhanced by conjugation with polyphenols — secondary plant metabolites with a broad range of biological activities, including antioxidant activity beneficial to human health. The research presented in this doctoral thesis focuses on characterization of two types of carbosilane dendritic systems. The first group contains one or two caffeic acid residues and ammonium groups on the surface, making them water-soluble. The second group additionally contains one or two PEG chains, which increases the system's biocompatibility. Both types of polyphenolic dendrimers showed low cytotoxicity and protected erythrocytes from oxidative hemolysis. Furthermore, the dendrimers reduced AAPH-induced ROS production in human fibroblasts. The results indicated that the dendrimer with two caffeic acid units and PEG exhibited best antioxidant properties.
The application of dendrimers as carriers for drugs and nucleic acids requires an understanding of their interactions with various biological systems such as serum proteins and biological membranes. Therefore, the interactions of a new class of dendrimers functionalized with caffeic acid residues with human albumin and biological membranes were studied. The results showed that polyphenolic dendrimers interact with human albumin, altered its secondary structure insignificantly. The presence of caffeic acid and PEG in the dendrimer structure influenced the thermodynamic properties of the lipid membrane.
In the final stage of the study, the potential of polyphenolic dendrimers to deliver pro-apoptotic siRNAs to A549 cancer cells was evaluated. The dendrimers formed stable complexes with siRNA and protected the nucleic acids from degradation by nucleases. All the studied dendrimer/siRNA complexes inhibited A549 cell migration and adhesion, while also increased the population of early apoptotic cells. Among the four tested compounds, the dendrimer containing two caffeic acid residues complexed with siRNA had the best transfection profile. In conclusion, it appears this dendrimer can be a promising candidate for delivering siRNA to cancer cells
Bibliometric Analysis of Research on ESG
No full textThe purpose of the article. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the academic literature on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) topics within the domains of economics, business, and finance. By examining 4,499 documents indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) database from 2006 to 2024, the study aims to identify key trends, research clusters, influential publications, and knowledge gaps in ESG-related research.Methodology. The methodology involves the use of the Bibliometrix package and its graphical interface Biblioshiny, which enabled advanced science mapping techniques, including co-citation, co-authorship, and keyword co-occurrence analyses. Data were filtered based on relevant WoS categories, and analytical metrics included publication growth rates, citation statistics, authorship patterns, and thematic clustering.Results of the research. The results reveal a rapidly growing interest in ESG, with an annual publication growth rate of 38.83% and an increasing focus on topics such as corporate performance, cost efficiency, disclosure practices, and governance structures. Four major thematic clusters were identified: ESG disclosure and firm performance, CSR and sustainability, corporate financial management, and emerging markets. The analysis highlights a growing integration of ESG into investment strategies and corporate governance, though the causal mechanisms linking ESG performance to financial outcomes remain insufficiently explained. The study concludes that ESG has evolved into a multidimensional and strategic framework, surpassing CSR in conceptual precision and regulatory relevance
Restoring the memory of the Evangelical parish in Nowy Dwór and its members in publications by Maria Kaucz (published in 2013–2022)
No full textThe article concerns the non-existent luteran parish in Nowy Dwór, which was liquidated after 1945 due to the Germanness of this community. Publications about this parish and its members were presented by Maria Kaucz, a descendant of Nowy Dwór Lutherans. These publications restore the memory of the pastors who served in Nowy Dwór and the German members of the parish community and their complicated fates, with particular emphasis on Lutherans families from the Nowy Modlin colony, which was part of the parish in Nowy Dwór. The presented publishing activity of Maria Kaucz enriches the collective memory of the contemporary Lutheran diaspora.Materiał dotyczy nieistniejącej parafii luterańskiej w Nowym Dworze, która została zlikwidowana po 1945 r. ze względu na niemieckość tej społeczności. Publikacje o tej parafii i jej członkach przedstawiła Maria Kaucz, potomkini nowodworskich luteran. Publikacje te przywracają pamięć o pastorach, którzy służyli w Nowym Dworze, oraz o niemieckich członkach wspólnoty parafialnej i ich skomplikowanych losach, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem rodzin luterańskich z kolonii Nowy Modlin, która wchodziła w skład nowodworskiej parafii. Prezentowana działalność wydawnicza Marii Kaucz wzbogaca pamięć zbiorową współczesnej diaspory luterańskiej
Sprawozdanie z międzynarodowej konferencji naukowej pt. „Współczesne wyzwania prawa podatkowego” (16–17 grudnia 2024 r.)
No full textEngraved through the centuries, decoded by an anthropologist – inscriptions on the walls of the Church of St. Nicholas BW in Mierzyn
No full textThe Church of St. Nicholas BW in Mierzyn is a religious building in which we find an important record of what we might call ‘inscribing the sacred,’ i.e., inscriptions found on its facades in the form of text and drawings, but also to the so-called ‘pit traces’(i.e., holes intentionally made in the bricks of churches). This text presents some interpretations related to this kind of cultural practice, pointing to potential motivations for their creation and possible meanings.Stowarzyszenie Naukowe Archeologów Polskich, Oddział w Łodz
Traits Selection in Created Personal Ads and Sociosexuality: A New Method to Assess Sexual Strategy in Humans
No full textSociosexuality (SO) refers to preferring sexual interactions with or without commitment. Those who prefer long-term relationships have restricted SO, and those who pursue short-term relationships have an unrestricted SO. Sociosexuality may be assessed by Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R). Here, we test a new method to assess SO. Respondents are asked to create a personal ad by selecting six out of 10 suggested preferred traits in a partner. Among these 10 traits, there were two traits in each of five evolutionary relevant categories i.e., attractiveness, commitment, resources, cognitive and social skills. We hypothesize that seeking attractiveness/sensuality in a potential partner is related to concentrating on mating investments (higher SOI-R) and to commitment to parental investment (lower SOI-R). Out of 416 subjects who participated in the study, 299 (188 women) were included in the analysis. We found that choosing two traits of attractiveness is related to a less restricted SO, while preference for two commitment traits category characterizes those with a more restrictive SO. No relationship between SOI-R and the preference for cognitive skills or resources was found. Women with more and men with less restricted SO sought partners with better social skills. The proposed new method could be used to assess reproductive strategy
The impact of peptidylarginine deiminase inhibition and PAD4 gene silencing on selected endothelial cell functions and epigenome parameters
No full textCytrulinacja to słabo poznana potranslacyjna modyfikacja białek, polegająca na konwersji peptydyloargininy do peptydylocytruliny, która może znacząco wpływać na ich funkcje. Proces ten jest katalizowany przez enzymy z rodziny PADs, a najnowsze doniesienia wskazują na jego możliwą rolę w regulacji epigenetycznej. Dotychczas badania koncentrowały się głównie na znaczeniu cytrulinacji w chorobach autoimmunologicznych, zwłaszcza reumatoidalnym zapaleniu stawów, jednak sugerowany jest także jej potencjalny udział w nowotworzeniu.W niniejszej pracy zbadano rolę PADs i cytrulinacji w regulacji funkcji ludzkich komórek śródbłonka, które odgrywają kluczową rolę w angiogenezie. Wykorzystano modele farmakologicznego (inhibitory BB-Cl-amidyna, Cl-amidyna, F-amidyna) oraz transkrypcyjnego (wyciszenie PAD4) zahamowania aktywności PADs. W obu modelach zaobserwowano spadek poziomu cytrulinacji histonu H3 oraz obniżenie aktywności szlaku PI3K/Akt. Inhibitory PADs dodatkowo zmniejszały zdolność komórek do migracji i tworzenia struktur pseudokapilarnych, obniżały wydzielanie VEGFA oraz zwiększały poziom PEDF. Ponadto, inhibitory PADs wpływały na odpowiedź redoks oraz ekspresję genów antyoksydacyjnych, takich jak Nrf2. Wykazano również powiązania między aktywnością PADs a ekspresją HDAC3, HDAC5 oraz metylotransferazami SET7/9, LSD1 i G9a, co sugeruje potencjalne interakcje między cytrulinacją a innymi modyfikacjami potranslacyjnymi. Uzyskane wyniki potwierdzają rolę PADs, szczególnie PAD4, w regulacji funkcji komórek śródbłonka, w tym angiogenezy i wskazują na zasadność dalszych badań nad cytrulinacją jako potencjalnym celem terapeutycznyCitrullination is a poorly understood post-translational protein modification, involving the conversion of peptidylarginine to peptidylcitrulline, which can significantly affect protein function. This process is catalyzed by enzymes from the PAD (peptidylarginine deiminase) family, and recent reports suggest its potential role in epigenetic regulation. To date, studies have primarily focused on the relevance of citrullination in autoimmune diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, although its possible involvement in tumorigenesis has also been proposed.
This study investigated the role of PADs and citrullination in the regulation of endothelial cell functions, which are crucial players in angiogenesis. Both pharmacological models (using the inhibitors BB-Cl-amidine, Cl-amidine, and F-amidine) and a transcriptional model (PAD4 silencing) were employed to inhibit PAD activity. In both models, a decrease in histone H3 citrullination and a reduction in PI3K/Akt pathway activity were observed. PAD inhibition further reduced endothelial cell migration and pseudocapillary structure formation, decreased VEGFA secretion, and increased PEDF levels. Moreover, PAD inhibitors influenced redox response and the expression of antioxidant genes such as Nrf2.
The study also revealed associations between PAD activity and the expression of HDAC3, HDAC5, as well as methyltransferases SET7/9, LSD1, and G9a, suggesting potential interactions between citrullination and other post-translational modifications. The findings confirm the important role of PADs, particularly PAD4, in regulating endothelial cell function, including angiogenesis, and support the rationale for further investigation of citrullination as a potential therapeutic target.1. Grant w ramach programu Ministerstwa Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego „Diamentowy Grant (VIII Edycja)” DI2018 01894; 2019–2024. Tytuł projektu: Analiza epigenetycznego profilu modyfikacji wybranych arginin histonów rdzeniowych i wynikające z nich konsekwencje dla innych modyfikacji potranslacyjnych oraz funkcjonowania śródbłonka naczyniowego. Kierownik: mgr Oskar Ciesielski; Opiekun naukowy: dr hab. Aneta Balcerczyk prof. U
Czy modele autoregresyjne z rozkładem opóźnień mogą poprawić prognozowanie zysku na akcję w Polsce?
No full textThis investigation delves into the significance of precise earnings forecasts for publicly traded companies in achieving investment success. It emphasises the importance of this aspect, particularly in markets with limited analyst coverage, such as emerging markets including Poland. The study assesses the accuracy of predictions generated using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework with the XGBoost type of modelling and various methods of combining forecasts compared to the seasonal random walk model. Positioned as an intermediate step between time series and multivariate forecasting, these models are applied to earnings per share (EPS) data of companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2019, i.e. the last financial crisis and the pandemic shock. The seasonal random walk model attained the lowest error rates based on the Mean Arctangent Absolute Percentage Error (MAAPE) metric, a conclusion substantiated by rigorous statistical tests and robustness checks employing different periods and error metrics. The enhanced performance of the simpler seasonal random walk model may be ascribed to the relatively uncomplicated nature of the Polish stock market.Niniejszy artykuł analizuje znaczenie dokładnych prognoz zysków spółek notowanych na giełdzie dla osiągnięcia sukcesu inwestycyjnego. Podkreśla wagę tego aspektu, szczególnie na rynkach o ograniczonym pokryciu przez analityków, takich jak rynki wschodzące, do których zaliczana jest Polska. W badaniu dokonano oceny trafności prognoz generowanych przy użyciu metody autoregresyjnej z rozkładem opóźnień przy różnych metodach łączenia prognoz w porównaniu z sezonowym modelem błądzenia losowego. Modele te, stanowiące etap pośredni pomiędzy szeregami czasowymi a prognozowaniem uwzględniającym wiele zmiennych objaśniających, mają zastosowanie do danych dotyczących zysku na akcję spółek notowanych na Giełdzie Papierów Wartościowych w Warszawie w latach 2008–2019, tj. między ostatnim kryzysem finansowym a szokiem spowodowanym pandemią. Model sezonowego błądzenia losowego osiągnął najniższe poziomy błędów na podstawie metryki średniego argus tangensa bezwzględnego błędu procentowego. Wniosek ten jest poparty rygorystycznymi testami statystycznymi i kontrolami odporności z wykorzystaniem różnych okresów oraz wskaźników błędu. Lepszą wydajność prostszego modelu sezonowego błądzenia losowego można przypisać stosunkowo nieskomplikowanemu charakterowi polskiego rynku
Impact of Costs on Legal Risk of CHF Foreign Currency Mortgage Loans in Shaping Financial Performance of Selected Banks
No full textThe purpose of the article. Costs associated with legal risks, including those arising from the need to carry out loan conversions, compensate borrowers, and court or settlement costs, are an element that affects the profitability of banks that have granted such loans. The purpose of this article is to indicate the impact of costs associated with the legal risk of foreign currency mortgage loans in CHF in the context of the financial performance of selected banks in Poland. Particular attention was paid to the impact of costs related to litigation, the settlement process and loan conversions on the financial performance of banks. The article uses an analysis of studies and data published by financial safety net institutions and an analysis of the financial results of banks operating in the Polish banking sector. Due to the provisions made, banks are more prepared for the challenge of the materialization of legal risks related to foreign currency housing loans. However, it should be emphasized that this risk will be one of the main factors affecting the situation of banks in the coming years. The article complements the existing body of research on legal risk provisions with the impact of the level of provisions on the financial performance of banks operating in the Polish banking sector.Methodology. The article uses an analysis of studies and data published by financial security network institutions, as well as an analysis of the financial results of banks operating in the Polish banking sector that have the largest share of foreign currency loans in their portfolios: PKO BP S.A., Millennium S.A., Santander S.A. and mBank S.A.Results of the research. The analysis of the role of costs related to the legal risk of foreign currency mortgages in CHF in shaping the financial performance of selected banks in the Polish banking sector, indicates that this risk has a significant impact on the financial performance of the studied institutions. Due to the provisions made, banks are more prepared for the challenge of materialization of legal risk related to foreign currency housing loans. However, it should be emphasized that this risk will be one of the main factors influencing the situation of banks in the coming years. Based on the analysis, it is shown that the level of provisions made by banks related to the legal risk of foreign currency housing loans is increasing
An environmental perspective on the ethnography of archaeological practice: the case of exhumations in Death Valley (Chojnice, Poland)
No full textForensic archaeology has become highly influential branch of archaeology in Poland in recent decades. We claim that the significant element of the applied research methodology in case of exhumations should be ethnographic observations and interviews with families of the murdered, witnesses, and local communities, as well as volunteers and members of the archaeological research team. Inspired by environmental anthropology, we propose to expand the term “ethnography of exhumations”
or “ethnography of archaeological practice” to amplify the relation between the process of excavations and exhumations and the embodied experience of archeological work in particular environment. The article seeks for nonhuman agencies (such as hydrological conditions and vegetation over mass graves) that shaped the “forensic landscape” of Death Valley in Chojnice, Poland, and defined subsequent
stages in archaeological process that led to reveal the cremated remains of several hundred Poles murdered by the Nazis near the town at the end of January 1945.The project is funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (UMO-2021/43/D/HS3/00033)