This paper is related to light pollution and the energy efficiency of outdoor amenity lighting. It concerns the standard design assessment parameters of light pollution, the Upward Light Ratio (ULR) ...and Upward Flux Ratio (UFR), and the classic energy efficiency parameter—Normalized Power Density (NPD). The motivation for this research was the observation of certain inaccuracies related to the applicability and interpretation of these parameters in practice and the lack of connection between parameters of light pollution and energy efficiency. The multi-variant computer simulations of the exemplary large-area parking lot lighting system were conducted. Over four hundred cases were carefully analyzed. Individual cases differ in the shape of the task area, luminaire arrangements, mounting height, luminous intensity distribution, aiming, and maintenance factor. The results confirmed that the criteria values of ULR and UFR are often overestimated for modern luminaires, which emit luminous flux emitted only downwards. In this case, the ULR and UFR values do not exceed the criteria values for even zones with lower ambient brightness. Thus, lighting solutions with much lower energy efficiency easily meet the requirements of these parameters. This situation is not rational. So, it is crucial to make the criteria of ULR and UFR much more stringent in all environmental zones. Moreover, the research confirms a strong positive linear correlation between UFR and NPD (0.92, p < 0.001), which means that light pollution can be reduced by ensuring an appropriate level of energy efficiency. It is a great help in designing sustainable outdoor amenity lighting.
High-performance Li-ion batteries require materials with well-designed and controlled structures on nanometre and micrometre scales. Electrochemical properties can be enhanced by reducing crystallite ...size and by manipulating structure and morphology. Here we show a method for preparing hierarchically structured Li
Ti
O
yielding nano- and microstructure well-suited for use in lithium-ion batteries. Scalable glycothermal synthesis yields well-crystallized primary 4-8 nm nanoparticles, assembled into porous secondary particles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals presence of Ti
only; combined with chemical analysis showing lithium deficiency, this suggests oxygen non-stoichiometry. Electron microscopy confirms hierarchical morphology of the obtained material. Extended cycling tests in half cells demonstrates capacity of 170 mAh g
and no sign of capacity fading after 1,000 cycles at 50C rate (charging completed in 72 s). The particular combination of nanostructure, microstructure and non-stoichiometry for the prepared lithium titanate is believed to underlie the observed electrochemical performance of material.
Theoretical background: This article is based, regarding the theoretical foundations, on selected issues of behavioral economy and economic psychology, which question the classical assumptions of the ...homo oeconomicus concept and the standard approach to studying the consumers’ attitudes and behaviors. Purpose of the article: The system of individual and socially shared consumer values undergoes evolutionary changes in the modern, turbulent socio-economic reality. The thesis has been put forward that in the post-pandemic realities, because of the re-evaluation of given values, psychological factors play an increasingly important role in shaping pro-social consumer attitudes, and the consumer’s personality largely determines favorable attitudes towards socially responsible marketing initiatives. The article is conceptual in nature. It provides a theoretical background for the authors’ planned empirical research. The main objective of this paper is to define the new research areas for socially responsible marketing, in which personality psychology could play a significant role in identifying consumers’ pro-social attitudes. Research methods: Given the need for an interdisciplinary approach to studying consumers’ pro-social attitudes, a review was conducted of the literature on the subject concerning the behavioral economy and economic psychology, with a special emphasis on the issue of personality. Main findings: The literature studies and observation of the socio-economic reality aimed at identifying new direction of empirical research in socially responsible marketing. Four main research areas were proposed to which the appropriate marketing types were assigned: post-COVID reality (social marketing and cause-related marketing); healthcare (social marketing); the reality of war (social marketing and cause-related marketing; ecology – green marketing). The empirical studies based on personality psychology in the areas indicated above could refer to the concept of goal-oriented behavior psychology and the Five Factor Model.
The evaluation of protein function in the context of the whole cell is crucial for understanding of living systems. In this context, the identification and modulation of protein–protein interactions ...in and outside cells is of ample importance. Several methods have been developed in the past years to detect and/or actively induce protein–protein interactions in living cells. As a result, tools are now available to manipulate intracellular events by reversible or irreversible cross‐linking of proteins in a specific manner. These techniques open many new doors and enable the dissection of complicated protein networks. Herein we describe which cross‐linkers and inducers of dimerization are out there and how to make use of this great toolbox.
In pairs: The key to understand living systems is enciphered in protein–protein interaction networks. For unraveling its complexity, a potent toolbox of small molecules (cross‐linkers and chemical inducers of dimerization) is available to sense and induce the dynamic interaction processes in living cells.
Accelerometers have become a standard method of monitoring physical activity in everyday life by measuring acceleration in one, two, or three axes. These devices provide reliable and objective ...measurements of the duration and intensity of physical activity. We aimed to investigate whether patients undertake physical activity during non-supervised days during stationary rehabilitation and whether patients adhere to the rigor of 24 h monitoring. The second objective was to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of such kinds of sensors. The research enrolled 13 randomly selected patients, qualified for in-patient, 3 week, high-intensity, 5 times a week pulmonary rehabilitation. The SenseWear armband was used for the assessment of physical activity. Participants wore the device 24 h a day for the next 4 days (Friday-Monday). The analysis of the number of steps per day, the time spent lying as well as undertaking moderate or vigorous physical activity (>3 metabolic equivalents of task (METs)), and the energy expenditure expressed in kcal showed no statistically significant difference between the training days and the days off. It seems beneficial to use available physical activity sensors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); measurable parameters provide feedback that may increase the patient's motivation to be active to achieve health benefits.
The goal of this study was to assess the efficiency of treating industrial urea-formaldehyde wastewater by activated sludge in a static magnetic field (MF) of 7 mT and the efficiency of treating the ...wastewater in a bioreactor not exposed to an MF. Exposure to the MF increased formaldehyde (FA) removal from industrial wastewater with an FA concentration of 1600 mg/l by 20%. The MF had also a positive effect on the efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, and bacteria and activated sludge biomass growth, especially when the COD loading increased rapidly. Industrial wastewater may contain up to 13000 mg FA/l. Therefore, its treatment can require the application of more than one method to ensure that the final FA concentration will be within the permissible limit. The application of an MF to enhance the biological processes may be favourable solution to this problem.
Indoleamine‐2,3‐dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a heme‐containing enzyme that catalyzes the rate‐limiting step in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism. As it is an inflammation‐induced ...immunoregulatory enzyme, pharmacological inhibition of IDO1 activity is currently being pursued as a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of cancer and other disease states. As such, a detailed understanding of the mechanism of action of IDO1 inhibitors with various mechanisms of inhibition is of great interest. Comparison of an apo‐form‐binding IDO1 inhibitor (GSK5628) to the heme‐coordinating compound, epacadostat (Incyte), allows us to explore the details of the apo‐binding inhibition of IDO1. Herein, we demonstrate that GSK5628 inhibits IDO1 by competing with heme for binding to a heme‐free conformation of the enzyme (apo‐IDO1), whereas epacadostat coordinates its binding with the iron atom of the IDO1 heme cofactor. Comparison of these two compounds in cellular systems reveals a long‐lasting inhibitory effect of GSK5628, previously undescribed for other known IDO1 inhibitors. Detailed characterization of this apo‐binding mechanism for IDO1 inhibition might help design superior inhibitors or could confer a unique competitive advantage over other IDO1 inhibitors vis‐à‐vis specificity and pharmacokinetic parameters.
Inhibiting IDO1: IDO1 is a heme‐containing tryptophan metabolizing enzyme, and identified as antitumor target. Many groups have achieved effective IDO1 inhibition. This study defines two distinct molecular mechanisms of inhibiting apo and holo forms of IDO1. The approach can serve as an example for enzyme form selective drug screening and design.
The success of new therapies hinges on our ability to understand their molecular and cellular mechanisms of action. We modified BET bromodomain inhibitors, an epigenetic-based therapy, to create ...functionally conserved compounds that are amenable to click chemistry and can be used as molecular probes in vitro and in vivo. We used click proteomics and click sequencing to explore the gene regulatory function of BRD4 (bromodomain containing protein 4) and the transcriptional changes induced by BET inhibitors. In our studies of mouse models of acute leukemia, we used high-resolution microscopy and flow cytometry to highlight the heterogeneity of drug activity within tumor cells located in different tissue compartments. We also demonstrate the differential distribution and effects of BET inhibitors in normal and malignant cells in vivo. This study provides a potential framework for the preclinical assessment of a wide range of drugs.
Needle-related procedures are often a source of pain, anxiety and fear in young patients. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) on reducing pain, fear ...and anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing needle-related procedures. Pain, anxiety, fear, changes in blood pressure and heart rate as well as satisfaction were evaluated as outcomes during needle-related procedures in VR compared with standard care conditions. A meta-analysis was performed, taking into account online databases. Two authors independently conducted literature searches in December 2020. The last search was conducted in March 2021 from a total of 106 records, 7 met our inclusion criteria. One study was excluded from the meta-analysis due to insufficient data. VR was applied as a distractor during venous access. Statistically significant benefits of using VR were shown in children’s pain scores, where VR significantly decreased symptoms (n = 3204 patients, MD = −2.85; 95% CI −3.57, −2.14, for the Wong–Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale and n = 2240 patients, MD = −0.19; 95% CI −0.58, 0.20, for the Faces Pain Scale—Revised). The analysis of fear, anxiety and satisfaction scores revealed no significant differences between the conditions, as the studies were too heterogeneous to be pooled. Distraction using virtual reality may be an effective intervention for reducing pain in children undergoing needle-related medical procedures. However, further research in the implementation of VR as a distractor for children and adolescents is required, due to the limited research into this field.
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