The Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa [JDU; Polish: Uniwersytet Humanistyczno-Przyrodniczy im. Jana Długosza] is a public university located in Częstochowa, in the Silesian Voivodeship of Poland. Founded in 1971 as a teacher training college, it was transformed into a higher teacher education school in 1974 with two faculties, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and the Faculty of Pedagogy. Now the academy comprises two other faculties, the Faculty of Philosophy and History, and the Faculty of Art Education, some inter-faculty teaching centres for Foreign Language Area Studies, physical education and sports, and approximately 10,000 students and about 800 academic staff members.The academy takes its name from Jan Długosz (1415–1480), a Polish priest, chronicler, diplomat, soldier, and secretary to Bishop Zbigniew Oleśnicki of Kraków, and Patron of the academy, who was born in the village of Stara Brzeźnica located less than 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Częstochowa. The academy participates to the Erasmus Programme (EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students), a European Union (EU) student exchange programme established in 1987, a major part of the EU Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013, and is the operational framework for the European Commission's initiatives in higher education.
To clarify excellent emission properties of a KMgF3:Cr3+ phosphor, first-principles calculations based on a density functional theory (DFT) framework have been made in the present work. It is well-known that big problems arise in DFT calculations of phosphors when embedding ions substitute ions possessing different charge states in a host matrix. Therefore, in the present work several models for calculating the electronic structure, optical transition energies and interatomic bond lengths have been developed. In particular, we employ two models to gain the charge balance in the KMgF3:Cr3+ phosphor for keeping the charge of the Cr3+ ion as "+3". In the first model, one electron is removed from the system of total electrons, whereas in the second model, the charge of the Cr3+ ion is kept as "+3" due to formation of a fluorine vacancy. Using these models and different approaches for exchange correlation potential, we have calculated for the KMgF3:Cr3+ phosphor total and partial densities of states, peculiarities of "Cr3+-ligand" chemical bonding, and zero phonon line (ZPL) transition emission energies, (4A2 <-> 2E)ZPL and (4A2 <-> 4T2)ZPL. Results of the present DFT calculations indicate that inserting Cr3+ ions in the crystal lattice of KMgF3 causes the appearance of new electronic 3d states associated with Cr3+ ions: these new Cr3+ 3d states either completely locate in the energy band gap of the KMgF3:Cr3+ phosphor or partly superimpose its conduction band bottom. When going from the ground 4A2 to the exited 2E and 2E/2T1 states, the additional Cr3+ 3d t2g/Cr3+ 3d eg electronic state splitting takes place due to the Jahn-Teller effect.
Aim: To assess respondents’ opinions on the need to learn first aid principles and to analyze the level of knowledge, skills, and readiness to undertake rescue actions. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a diagnostic survey method with an original online questionnaire. Data analysis was descriptive in nature. The study included participants with diverse demographic profiles, predominantly individuals associated with the medical field. Results: Most respondents declared a high level of knowledge and skills in first aid; however, their sense of confidence in life-threatening situations was moderate. The most frequently indicated barrier was fear of making a mistake. Practical training was assessed as more effective than theoretical instruction. Respondents emphasized the need for regular knowledge renewal and the widespread availability of training, supporting its mandatory nature. Conclusions: Despite the high level of declared knowledge, there is a need to strengthen practical competencies and confidence in emergency situations. The results highlight the importance of regular practical training and broad public education. Further studies using larger samples and statistical analyses are necessary.
INTRODUCTION:Earlier studies focusing on global self-esteem in pregnant women have identified a number of risk factors for low global self-esteem and have compared global self-esteem during pregnancy and after childbirth. However, there is a lack of research on the specific self-esteem components except for body image. This study compared global self-esteem, specific self-esteem components, and identity integration in pregnant and non-pregnant women, and examined selected correlates of these variables. METHODS:The study included 394 women: 285 non-pregnant women aged 18-65 (M = 34.93; SD = 9.23), and 109 pregnant women aged 22-41 (M = 30.49; SD = 3.50). The assessments were performed using the Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory developed by O'Brien and Epstein, and enabling measurement of global self-esteem, eight specific self-esteem components, and identity integration. Independent-samples t tests and correlational analyses were used, with supplementary ANCOVAs adjusting for age, BMI, and motherhood history. RESULTS:Pregnant women scored higher than non-pregnant women on global self-esteem, identity integration, and several specific self-esteem components. After adjustment, pregnancy status remained significant for global self-esteem, competence, lovability, likeability, moral self-approval, and identity integration, but not for body appearance, body functioning, or self-control. In the pregnant group, higher pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with less favourable body-related self-evaluations, self-control, and defensiveness. Pre-pregnancy physical activity was associated with higher body appearance, self-control, likeability, and body functioning. DISCUSSION:The present study suggests there are significant differences in self-esteem and identity integration between pregnant and non-pregnant women and highlights the importance of multidimensional measurement of self-esteem in pregnant women.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric condition associated with persistent emotional dysregulation, cognitive impairment, and structural alterations in limbic and prefrontal brain regions. Growing evidence indicates that chronic inflammation and abnormal processing of pro-inflammatory cytokines are central components of PTSD pathophysiology. Activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammasome (NLRP3) and caspase-1 promotes the proteolytic maturation of pro-interleukin-1β (pro-IL-1β) and pro-interleukin-18 (pro-IL-18) into their active forms, amplifying neuroinflammatory signaling. Sustained microglial activation and disrupted neuron-microglia-astrocyte communication contribute to synaptic dysfunction and impaired neuroplasticity. In parallel, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) interacts with inflammatory pathways, leading to altered stress responses and persistent immune activation. Clinical studies have demonstrated associations between circulating inflammatory mediators, including IL-18 and IL-1β, and the severity of emotional inhibition, sleep disturbances, and maladaptive coping strategies in PTSD. Moreover, inflammatory activity has been linked to volumetric and microstructural changes in the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex observed in chronic PTSD. These findings support the concept that the processing of pro-inflammatory cytokines is a central mechanism in PTSD rather than a secondary consequence of stress exposure. Understanding the molecular pathways underlying cytokine maturation and neuroimmune signaling may contribute to improved biomarker-based diagnostics and the development of targeted therapeutic interventions.
