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Building Confidence and Trust in Ireland's National Maternity Services Workforce –What matters most and how?
PublicationNational surveys on care experiences are increasingly adopted as regulatory mechanisms for improving care quality and increasing public trust in healthcare services. Based on data collected as part of Ireland's 2020 National Maternity Experience Survey, this study investigates care-related factors that contribute most to confidence and trust in the professional workforce (or carers) within Irish maternity services. The survey covered...
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Encouraging Pro-environmental Behaviour Through an Educational Mobile Application: Preliminary Insights from Early Adopters
PublicationThis article aims to explore the extent to which the educational mobile application PULA supports and promotes pro-environmental behaviours, identify the most utilised functionalities by early adopters, and explore the least engaged functionalities. The study employs a quantitative approach based on data collected from the application. The analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of users' experiences and behaviours within...
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Telomerase inhibition - unfulfilled hopes in the perfect molecular target
PublicationTelomerase plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation, homeostasis, and neoplastic transformation, making it a promising molecular target for cancer chemotherapy. Of note, although hTERT has been explored thoroughly as a target, none of the promising molecules has been approved as a drug until now. The subject of research conducted as part of my doctoral dissertation is explaining the cellular and molecular mechanism of action...
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A Review on Metal–Organic Framework as a Promising Catalyst for Biodiesel Production ENERGY & FUELS
PublicationThe rapid depletion of fossil-derived fuels along with rising environmental pollution have motivated academics and manufacturers to pursue more environmentally friendly and sustainable energy options in today’s globe. Biodiesel has developed as an ecologically favorable alternative. However, the mass manufacturing of biodiesel on an industrial scale confronts substantial cost and pricing challenges. To address this issue, high-efficiency...
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CHEMOTHERAPY-MEDIATED COMPLICATIONS OF WOUND HEALING. AN UNDERSTUDIED SIDE EFFECT
PublicationSignificance: Chemotherapy is a primary method to treat cancer, but while cytotoxic drugs are designed to target rapidly dividing cancer cells, they can also affect other cell types, including dermal cells and macrophages involved in wound healing, which often leads to the development of chronic wounds. The situation becomes even more severe when chemotherapy is combined with surgical tumor excision. Recent advances: Despite its...
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Lanthanide ions (Eu3+, Er3+, Pr3+) as luminescence and charge carrier centers in Sr2TiO4
PublicationA series of strontium orthotitanate (Sr2TiO4) samples doped with 2% of a mole of europium, praseodymium, and erbium were obtained using the solid-state synthesis method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique confirms the phase purity of all samples and the lack of the influence of dopants at a given concentration on the structure of materials. The optical properties indicate, in the case of Sr2TiO4:Eu3+, two independent emission...
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Correlation between the number of Pro-Ala repeats in the EmrA homologue of Acinetobacter baumannii and resistance to netilmicin, tobramycin, imipenem and ceftazidime
PublicationAcinetobacter baumannii coccobacilli are dangerous to patients in intensive care units because of their multidrug resistance to antibiotics, developed mainly in the past decade. This study aimed to examine whether there is a significant correlation between the number of Pro-Ala repeats in the CAP01997 protein, the EmrA homologue of A. baumannii, and resistance to antibiotics. A total of 79 multidrug-resistant A. baumannii strains...
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Molecular basis of the osmolyte effect on protein stability: a lesson from the mechanical unfolding of lysozyme
PublicationOsmolytes are a class of small organic molecules that shift the protein folding equilibrium. For this reason, they are accumulated by organisms under environmental stress, and find applications in biotechnology where proteins need to be stabilized or dissolved. However, despite years of research, debate continues over the exact mechanisms underpinning the stabilizing and denaturing effect of osmolytes. Here, we simulated the mechanical...
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Role of Silicon in Counteracting Cadmium Stress in Pea Plants (Pisum sativum L.): Insights Into Cadmium Binding Mechanisms and Pectin Methylesterase Activity
PublicationPurpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of silicon (Si) in counteracting a cadmium (Cd) stress to pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) and to identify the mechanism by which Cd is bound within pea roots. Methods: These goals were achieved through (i) a histochemical study of Cd localization in pea roots, (ii) spectrophotometric determination of pectin content and the activity...
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BEXUS 30 Stardust – Preliminary Results of Investigation of Microbes in the Stratosphere
PublicationThe stratospheric microbiome has been investigated several times using the methods of classical microbiology. In this experiment, we have combined them with some novel approaches.. Diversification of methods has helped better describe the collected microorganisms. The results of the experiment may help better understand the mechanisms of survivability of microorganisms in stratospheric conditions.
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Review on mechanisms and efficiency of removal of microbiological contaminants in constructed wetlands
PublicationConstructed wetlands (CW) have been considered as a waste and a stormwater treatment systems for small communities or for areas with unsteady sewage flow conditions. Several investigations were undertaken for estimation suspended solids, organic matter and nutrients efficiency removal but only few focused on retention of microorganisms in constructed wetlands. In this review mechanisms of elimination of viruses, indicator bacteria...
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Evolutionary Sets of Safe Ship Trajectories: development of the method
PublicationThe Evolutionary Sets of Safe Ship Trajectories is a method solving ship encounter situations. The method combines evolutionary approach to planning ship trajectory with some of the assumption of game theory. For given positions and motion parameters the method finds a near optimal set of safe trajectories of all ships involved in an encounter. The version presented here is an updated one and its authors have tested extensively...
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Bioaccumulation of Metals in Tissues of Marine Animals, Part I: the Role and Impact of Heavy Metals on Organisms
PublicationHeavy metals contribute to the anthropogenic contamination of marine ecosystems. Some of them are essential to the life processes of organisms; others are toxic, even at low concentrations. They penetrate organisms via food, respiratory pathways or the skin. The extent to which metals penetrate organisms is measured by the bioconcentration and bioaccumulation factors and also by their transport between organisms at different trophic...
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Intelligent microbearing project with memory of stress-strain history
PublicationTaking into account the increasing need of intelligent micro-bearing with memory, this paper presents the optimization, simulation and practical application of operating parameters(load carrying capacity, friction forces, friction coefficient, wear), simulation for hydrodynamic HDD micro-bearing with curvilinear nano-grooved journal profile. One of the reason of such journal profile is that this journal profile contributes to the...
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A new index for statistical analyses and prediction of travelling ionospheric disturbances
PublicationTravelling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs) are signatures of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) observed in changes in the electron density. The analysis of TIDs is relevant for studying coupling processes in the thermosphere–ionosphere system. A new TID index is introduced, which is based on an easy extension of the commonly used approach for TID detection. This TID activity index, which can be applied for individual Global Navigation...
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CaZnO-based nanoghosts for the detection of ssDNA, pCRISPR and recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen and targeted delivery of doxorubicin
PublicationOverexpression of proteins/antigens and other gene-related sequences in the bodies could lead to significant mutations and refractory diseases. Detection and identification of assorted trace concentrations of such proteins/antigens and/or gene-related sequences remain challenging, affecting different pathogens and making viruses stronger. Correspondingly, coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) mutations/alterations and spread could lead to overexpression...
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Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from glycerol-water mixture under visible light over zinc indium sulfide (ZnIn2S4) nanosheets grown on bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) microplates
PublicationZnIn2S4 (ZIS) is one of the widely studied photocatalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution applications due to its prominent visible light response and strong reduction ability. However, its photocatalytic glycerol reforming performance for hydrogen evolution has never been reported. Herein, the visible light driven BiOCl@ZnIn2S4 (BiOCl@ZIS) composite was synthesized by growth of ZIS nanosheets on a template-like hydrothermally...
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Static in vitro digestion model adapted to the general older adult population: an INFOGEST international consensus
PublicationUnderstanding the mechanisms of food digestion is of paramount importance to determine the effect foods have on human health. Significant knowledge on the fate of food during digestion has been generated in healthy adults due to the development of physiologically-relevant in vitro digestion models. However, it appears that the performance of the oro-gastrointestinal tract is affected by ageing and that a model simulating the digestive...
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Synergistic effects of hybrid advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) based on hydrodynamic cavitation phenomenon – A review
PublicationHigh-performance water treatment systems based on cavitational processes have received an increasing interest of scientific community in the past few decades. Numerous studies indicated the advantageous application of hydrodynamic cavitation as an alternative, reagent-free treatment method of various pollutants in water. Both approaches were proved as an effective method to achieve mineralization of many organic contaminants as...
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Electrically Conductive Carbon‐based (Bio)‐nanomaterials for Cardiac Tissue Engineering
PublicationA proper self-regenerating capability is lacking in human cardiac tissue which along with the alarming rate of deaths associated with cardiovascular disorders makes tissue engineering critical. Novel approaches are now being investigated in order to speedily overcome the challenges in this path. Tissue engineering has been revolutionized by the advent of nanomaterials, and later by the application of carbon-based nanomaterials...
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Polysaccharide-based Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications: A Critical Review
PublicationPolysaccharides (PSA) are taking specific position among biomaterials for advanced applications in medicine. Nevertheless, poor mechanical properties is known as the main drawback of PSA, which highlights need for PSA modification. Nanocomposites PSA (NPSA) are a class of biomaterials widely used as biomedical platforms, but despite their importance and worldwide use have not been reviewed. Herein we critically reviewed application...
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Bortezomib induces methylation changes in neuroblastoma cells that appear to play a significant role in resistance development to this compound
PublicationThe anticancer activity of bortezomib (BTZ) has been increasingly studied in a number of indications and promising results for the use of this treatment have been shown in neuroblastoma. As BTZ treatment is usually administered in cycles, the development of resistance and side effects in patients undergoing therapy with BTZ remains a major challenge for the clinical usage of this compound. Common resistance development also means...
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Modelling AOB-NOB competition in shortcut nitrification compared with conventional nitrification-denitrification process
PublicationIn particular, mainstream deammonification and/or shortened nitrificationdenitrification via nitrite (so-called “nitrite shunt”) is a promising new treatment concept that has the potential to revolutionise how nitrogen removal is achieved at WWTPs. Understanding the role of the AOB/NOB competition in the nitrogen cycle in wastewater treatment systems will change operational strategies of the novel nitrogen removal processes. The...
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Validation of Hydraulic Mechanism during Blowout Trauma of Human Orbit Depending on the Method of Load Application
PublicationThe more we know about mechanisms of the human orbital blowout type of trauma, the better we will be able to prevent them in the future. As long as the buckling mechanism’s veracity is not in doubt, the hydraulic mechanism is not based on equally strong premises. To investigate the correctness of the hydraulic mechanism’s theory, two different methods of implementation of the hydraulic load to the finite element method (FEM) model...
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Managerial Energy in Sustainable Enterprises: Organizational Wisdom Approach
PublicationThe circular economy (CE) as an idea involves applying the concept of sustainable development that has been gaining worldwide support. This shift in perception of energy and resource-use from its linear to circular forms creates a specific business environment, which constitutes the subject of this research. This article aims to analyze the impact of a manager’s energy on organizational wisdom, focusing on its circular business...
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Proximity and the Cluster Organization
PublicationIncluding the category of proximity in theoretical considerations and empirical analyzes in cluster organizations is an attempt to integrate existing approaches to understand and explain the specificity of inter-organizational cooperation developed in geographical proximity. The importance of geographical proximity to create a competitive advantage is emphasized in all theories on the establishment and development of industrial...
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Ionic Liquid Assisted Dissolution of Dissolved Organic Matter and PAHs from Soil Below the Critical Micelle Concentration
PublicationIncreased use and production of ionic liquids (ILs) may result in emissions into the environment. Particularly vulnerable are industrial areas and landfills where ILs are utilized and ultimately disposed of. This study investigates how IL contamination can affect soil properties and the sorption of pre-existing contaminants. The commonly used IL 1-methyl-3-octyl imidazolium chloride ([OMIM][Cl]) was added at various quantities...
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Charge Transfer, Complexes Formation and Furan Fragmentation Induced by Collisions with Low-Energy Helium Cations
PublicationThe present work focuses on unraveling the collisional processes leading to the fragmentation of the gas-phase furan molecules under the He+ and He2+ cations impact in the energy range 5–2000 eV. The presence of different mechanisms was identified by the analysis of the optical fragmentation spectra measured using the collision-induced emission spectroscopy (CIES) in conjunction with the ab initio calculations. The measurements of...
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The dispersive micro-solid phase extraction method for MS-based lipidomics of human breast milk*
PublicationA simple and rapid microextraction method ensuring high lipidome coverage was developed for liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based lipidomics of human breast milk. The dispersive microsolid phase extraction (D-µ-SPE) technique, coupled with the design of experiment (DoE) method, enabled the study of the influence of several conditions (desorption solvent, stationary phase ratio, and sorption and desorption time)...
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Establishing the allosteric mechanism in CRISPR‐Cas9
PublicationAllostery is a fundamental property of proteins, which regulates biochemical information transfer between spatially distant sites. Here, we report on the critical role of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in discovering the mechanism of allosteric communication within CRISPR‐Cas9, a leading genome editing machinery with enormous promises for medicine and biotechnology. MD revealed how allostery intervenes during at least three...
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Transcriptional activity of epigenetic remodeling genes declines in keratinocytes after in vitro expansion
PublicationPURPOSE: In vitro expansion is an invaluable method to obtain keratinocytes in amounts necessary for effective transplantation therapies. In vitro cell culturing provokes questions concerning potential epigenetic alterations occurring in expanded cells in the context of usefulness for transplantation and safety. The purpose of this study was to investigate as to whether keratinocyte expansion is associated with changes in the activity...
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Computational analysis of power-law fluids for convective heat transfer in permeable enclosures using Darcy effects
PublicationNatural convection is a complex environmental phenomenon that typically occurs in engineering settings in porous structures. Shear thinning or shear thickening fuids are characteristics of power-law fuids, which are non-Newtonian in nature and fnd wide-ranging uses in various industrial processes. Non-Newtonian fuid fow in porous media is a difcult problem with important consequences for energy systems and heat transfer. In this...
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Experimental study and numerical simulation on porosity dependent direct reducibility of high-grade iron oxide pellets in hydrogen
PublicationThe transition to more environmentally friendly steel production methods has intensified research into hydrogen-based direct reduction (HyDR) of iron oxide pellets. The aim of this study is to systematically investigate the kinetics of the reduction process, the evolution of porosity and the resulting microstructural changes on the reduction behavior of high-quality pellets during HyDR of iron ore at different temperatures. A modified...
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Micro- and nano-Illite to improve strength of untreated-soil as a nano soil-improvement (NSI) technique
PublicationSoil stabilization is a technique of improving the geotechnical properties of soils for various engineering applications. However, conventional stabilizers such as cement and lime have some limitations, such as high cost, environmental impact, and durability issues. Therefore, there is a need for alternative and innovative stabilizers that can overcome these challenges. This study introduces nano-Illite, a type of clay mineral,...
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Development and experimental validation of a novel double-stage yield steel slit damper-buckling restrained brace
PublicationThis research is focused on the development and experimental validation of a novel double-stage yield steel slit damper-buckling restrained brace (SSD-DYB) system designed for seismic resistance of steel structures. The SSD-DYB integrates the energy dissipation capability of a steel slit damper (SSD) in its initial segment, enhancing performance in the case of lower seismic intensities levels while employing a larger segment for...
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Synthesis of phosphono and phosphate derivatives of hydroxyimino-D-alditols as new potential antifungal agents
PublicationIn search for new effective we antyfungals we focus on two enzymes involved in biosynthesis of the fungal cell wall. The first enzyme is glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlmS), which catalyzes transformation of D-fructose-6-phosphate (Fru-6P) to D-glucosamine-6-phodphate (GlcN-6P) in the chitin biosynthesis pathway. The second enzyme is phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) repored to play a crucial role in biosynthesis of many mannosylated structures,...
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Metabolic transformation of antitumor acridinone C-1305 but not C-1311 via selective cellular expression of UGT1A10 increases cytotoxic response: implications for clinical use.
PublicationThe acridinone derivates C-1305 and C-1311 are promising antitumor agents with high activity against several experimental cellular and tumor models and which are under evaluation in pre-clinical and early phase clinical trials. Recent evidence from our laboratories has indicated that both compounds were conjugated by several UGT isoforms with the most active being extrahepatic UGT1A10. The present studies were designed to test...
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Direct determination of paraquat herbicide by square-wave voltammetry by two-step transfer mechanism at heterogeneous boron-doped carbon nanowall electrodes
PublicationBoron-doped carbon nanowalls (B:CNW) versus boron-doped diamond (BDD) materials were investigated for the effective electrochemical detection of highly toxic herbicide paraquat (PQ). Depending on the surface morphology and functional groups of BDD and B:CNWs, the electrochemical absorption and detection of the target analyte PQ revealed different detection mechanisms. The surface absorption mechanism was mainly observed for BDD,...
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Interpretable deep learning approach for classification of breast cancer - a comparative analysis of multiple instance learning models
PublicationBreast cancer is the most frequent female cancer. Its early diagnosis increases the chances of a complete cure for the patient. Suitably designed deep learning algorithms can be an excellent tool for quick screening analysis and support radiologists and oncologists in diagnosing breast cancer.The design of a deep learning-based system for automated breast cancer diagnosis is not easy due to the lack of annotated data, especially...
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The Metal-Free Regioselective Deuteration of 2-Methylquinolin-8-ol and 2,5-Dimethylquinolin-8-ol, Spectroscopic and Computational Studies
PublicationAbstract: Aim and Background: Introducing deuterium to a molecule is of interest to a wide variety of research, including investigation of reaction mechanisms or kinetics, analysis of drug metabolism, structural elucidation of molecules, and syntheses of isotopically labeled materials used for NMR spectroscopy and medicinal research. Objective: The transition-metal-free regioselective deuteration of 2-methylquinolin-8-ol...
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Challenges of overcoming ageism towards elderly people in healthcare context
PublicationRESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the paper is to analyse the impact ageism may have on providing healthcare to elderly people. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The article investigates the consequences of ageism in medical settings, where the elderly are particularly vulnerable to discrimination, distinguishing ageism from appropriate practice variation as well as giving suggestions to improve the situation. The paper analyses...
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On Improved-Reliability Design Optimization of High-Frequency Structures Using Local Search Algorithms
PublicationThe role of numerical optimization has been continuously growing in the design of high-frequency structures, including microwave and antenna components. At the same time, accurate evaluation of electrical characteristics necessitates full-wave electromagnetic (EM) analysis, which is CPU intensive, especially for complex systems. As rigorous optimization routines involve repetitive EM simulations, the associated cost may be significant....
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Novel insights into conjugation of antitumor-active unsymmetrical bisacridine C-2028 with glutathione: characteristics of non-enzymatic and glutathione S-transferase-mediated reactions
PublicationUnsymmetrical bisacridines (UAs) are a novel potent class of antitumor-active therapeutics. A significant route of phase II drug metabolism is conjugation with glutathione (GSH), which can be non-enzymatic and/or catalyzed by GSH-dependent enzymes. The aim of this work was to investigate the GSH-mediated metabolic pathway of a representative UA, C 2028. GSH supplemented incubations of C-2028 with rat, but not with human, liver...
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Type III Responses to Transient Inputs in Hybrid Nonlinear Neuron Models
PublicationExperimental characterization of neuronal dynamics involves recording both of spontaneous activity patterns and of responses to transient and sustained inputs. While much theoretical attention has been devoted to the spontaneous activity of neurons, less is known about the dynamic mechanisms shaping their responses to transient inputs, although these bear significant physiological relevance. Here, we study responses to transient...
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Sustainable nitrogen removal in anammox-mediated systems: Microbial metabolic pathways, operational conditions and mathematical modelling
PublicationAnammox-mediated systems have attracted considerable attention as alternative cost-effective technologies for sustainable nitrogen (N) removal from wastewater. This review comprehensively highlights the importance of understanding microbial metabolism in anammox-mediated systems under crucial operation parameters, indicating the potentially wide applications for the sustainable treatment of N-containing wastewater. The partial...
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Combined partial denitrification/anammox process for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment
PublicationRecently, the combined partial denitrification and anammox (PD/anammox) has received special attention as a viable alternative for N removal using organic matter present in municipal wastewater. In comparison with conventional nitrification-denitrification, PD/anammox provides enormous opportunities to achieve sustainable wastewater treatment due to the lack of dissolved oxygen (DO) demand, a smaller amount of organic carbon (C)...
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Inception and Propagation of Electrical Trees in the Presence of Space Charge in HVAC Extruded Cables
PublicationThis paper presents the space charge impact on the inception and propagation of electrical trees in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation via simulations and experimentation. A 3D finite element analysis (FEA)-based modeling is proposed to simulate electrical trees via a needle embedded on the XLPE insulation. The proposed FEA model demonstrates the influence of the space charge magnitude and polarity on the initiation of...
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Multiple transcriptional factors regulate transcription of the rpoE gene in Escherichia coli under different growth conditions and when the lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis is defective.
PublicationThe RpoE sigma factor is essential for the viability of Escherichia coli. RpoE regulates extracytoplasmic functions including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation and some of its non-stoichiometric modifications. Transcription of the rpoE gene is positively autoregulated by EσE and by unknown mechanisms that control the expression of its distally located promoter(s). Mapping of 5′ ends of rpoE mRNA identified five new transcriptional...
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Reinforced Secure Gossiping Against DoS Attacks in Post-Disaster Scenarios
PublicationDuring and after a disaster, the perceived quality of communication networks often becomes remarkably degraded with an increased ratio of packet losses due to physical damages of the networking equipment, disturbance to the radio frequency signals, continuous reconfiguration of the routing tables, or sudden spikes of the network traffic, e.g., caused by the increased user activity in a post-disaster period. Several techniques have...
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Electrochemical simulation of metabolism for antitumor-active imidazoacridinone C-1311 and in silico prediction of drug metabolic reactions
PublicationThe metabolism of antitumor-active 5-diethylaminoethylamino-8-hydroxyimidazoacridinone (C-1311) has been investigated widely over the last decade but some aspects of molecular mechanisms of its metabolic transformation are still not explained. In the current work, we have reported a direct and rapid analytical tool for better prediction of C-1311 metabolism which is based on electrochemistry (EC) coupled on-line with electrospray...