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Recurrent droughts in Poland necessitate an increase in public awareness regarding their causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies. Education plays a crucial role in this process. The aim of this study was to analyze the knowledge and opinions of primary school students and university students from Krakow regarding drought. To assess their understanding, a survey was conducted, including multiple-choice questions and Likert-scale-based questions. A comparative analysis was performed to identify differences between the two groups, focusing on the relationship between the level of education and drought awareness. This study highlighted the need to intensify climate education at both the school and university levels. Furthermore, it emphasized the necessity of broader discussions on the risks associated with extreme weather events (including droughts) and the importance of actively supporting youth engagement in climate-related initiatives.

Activated carbon used as one of the layers of a rain garden may be a promising solution for removing nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) from stormwater runoff. Progressive urbanization degrades the quality of stormwater that reaches water collectors. Rain gardens are a potential solution-nature-based systems that retain, infiltrate, and purify stormwater. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a model rain garden in the form of retention columns, depending on the composition of the filling material and the conditions of the simulation. The base column was filled with sand, gravel, and dolomite. The next two columns were enriched with diatomite, in a weight ratio to sand of 1:4 and 1:2, respectively. The experiment was based on four scenarios: (1) 30 min of heavy rain, (2) 2 h of rain after a drought, (3) during standard operation, and (4) with modification of the filtration material. This modification consisted of a uniform addition of granular activated carbon (GAC), which was intended to influence the column performance. The characteristics of the activated carbon were determined using XRD, SEM-EDS, and BET analysis. Pollutant concentrations were determined using a spectrophotometer and ion-selective electrodes. The analyses confirm the significant impact of the column filling materials on the efficiency of nutrient removal from stormwater, achieving even complete removal of phosphate ions, while nitrate ions were removed at a level of almost 40% and ammonium ions at >90%.

Due to its structure and properties, diatomite from a deposit in Jawornik Ruski (Subcarpathian Voivodeship) can be used as a sorbent in rain gardens. The purpose of the current research is to analyze how enriching the substrate used in a rain garden with diatomite can affect the removal of biogenic pollutants. This study was carried out under laboratory conditions using retention columns, two experimental columns with different contents of diatomite, and a control column without the addition of diatomite. Analyses of the materials used included studies of the characteristics of the rain garden layers (water permeability and granulometric analysis) and characterization of the diatomite (SEM images, oxide and phase composition, leachability, and BET). The effects of diatomite on pollutant removal were studied for NH4+, PO43−, NO3−. The results showed approximately 3-fold higher reductions in the concentration of NH4+ and PO43− in the columns with the addition of diatomite than in the control one (reduction in the concentration of NH4+ by 93 and 94% and of PO43− by 94 and 98% with the addition of 20 and 30% diatomite contents, respectively). The study results confirmed the possibility of removing contaminants using diatomite, thus reducing their entry into the aquatic environment.

As bacterial resistance to antibiotics increases, there is an urgent need to identify alternative antibacterial agents and improve antibacterial materials. One is the controlled transport of antibacterial agents that prevents infection with drug-resistant bacteria, especially in the treatment of difficult-to-heal wounds. This work presents the use of electrospun PLCL/PVP (poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone/polyvinylpyrrolidone) nanofibers modified with two agents with antibacterial properties but with different mechanisms of action, that is, dendritic silver nanoparticles (Dend-AgNPs) and endolysin. The nanomat prepared in this manner showed significant antibacterial activity against antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, inhibiting their growth and production of key pigments and virulence factors. Moreover, the use of nanofibers as carriers of the selected factors significantly reduced their cytotoxicity towards human fibroblasts. The results confirmed the possibility of using the presented product as an innovative dressing material, opening new perspectives for the treatment of wounds and combating bacterial infections with drug-resistant bacteria.

Benzophenone-3 (BP-3), commonly used as a UV filter in personal care products and as a stabilizer, is an alleged endocrine disruptor with potential neurodevelopmental impacts. Despite its abundance in the environment, the studies on its effect on brain development are scarce, especially in terms of multigenerational impact. In this work, for the first time, we examined neurotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of BP-3 on mouse brain regions (cerebral cortex and hippocampus) in both the first (F1) and second (F2) generations after maternal exposure to environmentally relevant BP-3 levels. We found disregulated markers of cell damage (LDH, H2O2, caspase-3 and -8) and observed increased expression of pro-apoptotic Fas/FAS or Fasl/FASL. BP-3 exposure disrupted the BAX/BCL2 pathway, showing stronger effects in the F1 than in the F2 generation, with a dominance of extrinsic pathway (FAS, FASL, caspase-8) over intrinsic one (BAX, BCL2), suggesting that BP-3-induced apoptosis primarily operates via the extrinsic pathway and could impair brain homeostasis across generations. This study underscores the potential of BP-3 to increase multigenerational risks associated with disrupted neurodevelopment and highlights the importance of understanding its long-term neurotoxic effects.

Amorfrutin B is a selective PPARγ modulator that we demonstrated to be a promising neuroprotective compound in cellular models of stroke and perinatal asphyxia. Although neuronal mechanisms of amorfrutin B-evoked neuroprotection have been identified, none of them reflects the actions of the compound on microglia, which play a pivotal role in brain response to hypoxia/ischemia. Here, we provide evidence for amorfrutin B-induced effects on human microglia subjected to hypoxia/ischemia; the compound counteracts inflammation, and influences mitochondrial status and proliferation potential in a PPARγ-dependent manner. Post-treatment with amorfrutin B decreased the IBA1 fluorescence intensity, reduced caspase-1 activity, and downregulated IL1B/ IL-1β and TNFA but not IL10/ IL-10 expression , which was upregulated. Amorfrutin B also stimulated PPARγ signaling, as evidenced by increased mRNA and/or protein levels of PPARγ and PGC1α. In addition, amorfrutin B reversed the hypoxia/ischemia-evoked effects on mitochondria-related parameters, such as mitochondrial membrane potential, BCL2 /BCL2 expression and metabolic activity, which were correlated with diminished proliferation potential of microglia. Interestingly, the inhibitory effect of amorfrutin B on the proliferation potential and mitochondrial function of microglia is opposite to the stimulatory effect of amorfrutin B on mouse neuronal survival, as evidenced by increased neuronal viability and reduced neurodegeneration. In summary, this study showed for the first time that amorfrutin B compromises hypoxia/ischemia-induced activation of human microglia in a PPARγ-dependent manner, which involves inhibiting inflammation, normalizing mitochondrial status, and controlling proliferation potential. These data extend the protective potential of amorfrutin B in the pharmacotherapy of hypoxic/ischemic brain injury, targeting not only neurons but also activated microglia. Graphical Abstract

Targeting the non-nuclear estrogen receptor (ER) signaling has been postulated as novel therapeutic strategy for central nervous system pathologies. Recently, we showed that newly designed PaPE-1 (Pathway Preferential Estrogen-1), which selectively activates ER non-nuclear signaling pathways, elicited neuroprotection in a cellular model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) when it was applied at the same time as amyloid-β (Aβ). Since delayed treatment reflects clinical settings better than cotreatment does, current basic study proposes a novel therapeutic approach for AD that relies on a posttreatment with PaPE-1. In this study, mouse neuronal cell cultures treated with preaggregated Aβ 1-42 (10 µM) showed the presence of extracellular Aβ 1-42 , confirming the adequacy of the AD model used. We are the first to demonstrate that a 24-h delayed posttreatment with PaPE-1 decreased the degree of Aβ-induced neurodegeneration, restored neurite outgrowth, and inhibited the expression of AD-related genes, i.e., Rbfox , Apoe , Bace2 , App , and Ngrn , except for Chat , which was stimulated. In addition, PaPE-1 elicited anti-apoptotic effects by inhibiting Aβ-induced caspase activities as well as attenuating apoptotic chromatin condensation, and in these ways, PaPE-1 prevented neuronal cell death. Posttreatment with PaPE-1 also downregulated the Aβ-affected mRNA expression of apoptosis-specific factors, such as Bax , Gsk3b , Fas , and Fasl , except for Bcl2 , which was upregulated by PaPE-1. In parallel, PaPE-1 decreased the protein levels of BAX, FAS, and FASL, which were elevated in response to Aβ. PaPE-1 elicited a decrease in the BAX/BCL2 ratio that corresponds to increased methylation of the Bax gene. However, the PaPE-1-evoked Bcl2 gene hypermethylation suggests other PaPE-1-dependent mechanisms to control Aβ-induced apoptosis.

The pandemic period due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) revolutionized all possible areas of global health. Significant consequences were also related to diverse extrapulmonary manifestations of this pathology. The liver was found to be a relatively common organ, beyond the respiratory tract, affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Multiple studies revealed the essential role of chronic liver disease (CLD) in the general outcome of coronavirus infection. Present concerns in this field are related to the direct hepatic consequences caused by COVID-19 and pre-existing liver disorders as risk factors for the severe course of the infection. Which mechanism has a key role in this phenomenon—previously existing hepatic disorder or acute liver failure due to SARS-CoV-2—is still not fully clarified. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) constitutes another not fully elucidated context of coronavirus infection. Should the toxic effects of ethanol or already developed liver cirrhosis and its consequences be perceived as a causative or triggering factor of hepatic impairment in COVID-19 patients? In the face of these discrepancies, we decided to summarize the role of the liver in the whole picture of coronavirus infection, paying special attention to ALD and focusing on the pathological pathways related to COVID-19, ethanol toxicity and liver cirrhosis.

In recent years, new climate targets in EU have led to a growing demand for construction materials with a lower carbon footprint. This implies a demand for research on materials with comparable properties and reduced CO2 emission to replace those currently in use. Geopolymers belong to the group of alkali-activated aluminosilicates, whose advantages include high compressive strength and high corrosion resistance. Examples of aluminosilicate materials used to produce geopolymers are fly ash, metakaolin or volcanic tuff. Recently, there have also been papers discussing the use of diatomite as a replacement for metakaolin in geopolymer materials. The purpose of this work is to investigate the use of diatomite as a fly ash replacement in the production of foamed geopolymers. For this purpose, fly ash based geopolymer samples with different amounts of diatomite (5%, 10%, 50%) were foamed using hydrogen peroxide as a foaming agent. Then, to observe the microstructure of the produced samples, they were subjected to scanning microscope observations. Compressive strength tests according to EN 12390-3 standard were carried out to check the strength properties after 30 days of curing. In addition, the thermal conductivity coefficients of the samples were investigated to better determine their potential industrial application. The expected result is a change in strength and thermal properties with increasing diatomite content.

Background/Objectives: The degree of vascularization of myomas plays an important role in both diagnosis and the selection of appropriate treatment. This is particularly relevant for minimally invasive therapies such as uterine artery embolization (UAE), high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in uterine myomas, as their effectiveness is highest in well-vascularized lesions. This study aimed to analyze the perfusion of uterine myomas using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and to develop a new quantitative classification of lesion vascularization, referencing the Funaki classification. Methods: The study included 56 female patients. Three parameters were determined for each lesion: the maximum signal enhancement (Ratio), time to peak, and mean signal intensity (Mean). A KMeans cluster analysis (k = 3) was performed, dividing the data into three groups corresponding to Funaki types I–III. Results: Significant differences were observed between the groups. Type III myomas were found only in older patients, which may be relevant when qualifying patients for vascularization-targeted therapies such as HIFU or radiofrequency ablation. Conclusions: The proposed classification may serve as a basis for automating the assessment of myomas and supporting clinical decision-making.