Dataset of night-time emissions of the Earth in the near UV range (290-430 nm), with 6.3 km resolution in the latitude range -51.6

The data presented in this article are related to the research paper entitled "Observation of night-time emissions of the Earth in the near UV range from the International Space Station with the Mini-EUSO detector" (Remote Sensing of Environment, Volume 284, January 2023, 113336, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2022.113336). The data have been acquired with the Mini-EUSO detector, an UV telescope operating in the range 290-430 nm and located inside the International Space Station. The detector was launched in August 2019, and it has started operations from the nadir-facing UV-transparent window in the Russian Zvezda module in October 2019. The data presented here refer to 32 sessions acquired between 2019-11-19 and 2021-05-06. The instrument consists of a Fresnel-lens optical system and a focal surface composed of 36 multi-anode photomultiplier tubes, each with 64 channels, for a total of 2304 channels with single photon counting sensitivity. The telescope, with a square field-of-view of 44°, has a spatial resolution on the Earth surface of 6.3 km and saves triggered transient phenomena with a temporal resolution of 2.5 µs and 320 µs. The telescope also operates in continuous acquisition at a 40.96 ms scale. In this article, large-area night-time UV maps obtained processing the 40.96 ms data, taking averages over regions of some specific geographical areas (e.g., Europe, North America) and over the entire globe, are presented. Data are binned into 0.1° × 0.1° or 0.05° × 0.05° cells (depending on the scale of the map) over the Earth's surface. Raw data are made available in the form of tables (latitude, longitude, counts) and .kmz files (containing the .png images). These are - to the best of our knowledge - the highest sensitivity data in this wavelength range and can be of use to various disciplines.

Note: Flow mediated skin fluorescence--A novel technique for evaluation of cutaneous microcirculation.

This note describes a newly developed technique for evaluation of cutaneous microcirculation. The technique called Flow Mediated Skin Fluorescence (FMSF) is based on monitoring of NADH fluorescence intensity emitted from the skin tissue cells of a forearm. The changes in fluorescence intensity as a function of time in response to blocking and releasing of blood flow in a forearm are used as a measure of oxygen transport with blood to the tissue, which directly correlates with the skin microcirculation status. Preliminary results collected for healthy volunteers and patients experiencing serious cardiovascular problems indicated a usefulness of FMSF technique for evaluation of health related perturbations in cutaneous microcirculation.

IL-17 family cytokines in neutrophils of patients with oral epithelial squamous cell carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: Epithelial squamous cell carcinoma is the predominant histological type among cancers of the head and neck. It is characterised by high growth dynamics and a low survival rate of patients. The usefulness of various markers and prognostic factors is assessed to improve treatment results in patients with epithelial squamous cell carcinoma.

The involvement of neutrophils (PMNs) in the neoplastic process and scarce evidence for the role of interleukin 17 (IL-17) family cytokines in these reactions encouraged us to undertake a study in this field. We assessed the expression and capability of neutrophils in patients with oral epithelial squamous cell carcinoma to release IL-17E and IL-17A in relation to their serum levels and expression of the specific receptors, i.e. IL-17R and IL-17BR. For the sake of comparison, the expressions of the proteins examined were assessed in autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The levels were determined in the patients prior to treatment, taking into consideration the stage of the disease according to TNM classification.

Western blot analysis revealed no differences in the expressions of IL-17E and IL-17A either in PMNs or PBMCs of the patients as compared to the healthy subjects. However, the expressions of IL-17BR and IL-17R were found to be higher in both groups of cells in cancer patients as compared to the control. The use of ELISA method revealed that the levels of IL-17E and IL-17A were higher in cell supernatants and blood serum of the patients than of the healthy subjects. No differences were noted in the protein expression in the cells or concentration in supernatants of the patients with different stages of the disease.

Our findings as well as observations reported by other authors seem to indicate some new aspects of the biological role of IL-17 family cytokines, not only as markers of the inflammatory process but also as indicators of leukocyte activity in IL-17A and IL-17E-dependent reactions in patients with oral epithelial squamous cell carcinoma.

Broadband observations of the naked-eye gamma-ray burst GRB 080319B.

Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) release copious amounts of energy across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, and so provide a window into the process of black hole formation from the collapse of massive stars. Previous early optical observations of even the most exceptional GRBs (990123 and 030329) lacked both the temporal resolution to probe the optical flash in detail and the accuracy needed to trace the transition from the prompt emission within the outflow to external shocks caused by interaction with the progenitor environment. Here we report observations of the extraordinarily bright prompt optical and gamma-ray emission of GRB 080319B that provide diagnostics within seconds of its formation, followed by broadband observations of the afterglow decay that continued for weeks. We show that the prompt emission stems from a single physical region, implying an extremely relativistic outflow that propagates within the narrow inner core of a two-component jet.

VEGF in the culture of PMN and the serum in oral cavity cancer patients.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis in vivo. In the present study we examined the ability of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) to secrete VEGF confronted with the serum levels in oral cavity cancer patients. To investigate whether VEGF may have a prognostic importance, its value in the serum and the culture supernatants was related to the clinical course of patients. The levels of VEGF in the culture supernatant of PMN from patients were significantly higher than those from control. Increased VEGF production by PMN according to clinical progression disease, observed in the present study, seems to suggest a stimulating role of tumour cells in VEGF production by PMN. Additionally, a decrease in the ability of PMN to VEGF release after surgery may be caused by a removal of the tumour mass and then the lack the effects of tumour cells on PMN function. Results obtained appear to suggest that PMN can contribute significantly to the initiation and amplification of tumour angiogenesis and metastasis in oral cavity cancer patients. Increased values of VEGF with progression of disease and decreased values after surgery treatment clearly suggest that VEGF can play a role as a tumour marker in oral cavity cancer patients.

TNF-alpha, IL-6 and their soluble receptor serum levels and secretion by neutrophils in cancer patients.

Simultaneous evaluation of cytokines and their soluble receptor production and the serum levels can be helpful in understanding the local and systemic immune response of a tumor-bearing host. In the present study we examined serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and their soluble receptors: sTNFRp55, sTNFRp75 and sIL-6R confronted with their production by the polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) from cancer patients. Examinations were carried out in patients with adenocarcinoma breast cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and related to the clinical course and to different phases of therapy. Secretion of IL-6, sTNFRp55 and sTNFRp75 by PMN appeared to be dependent on tumor type, clinical progression of disease as well as on therapy, suggesting a significant role of these cells at different phases of the immune response to cancer associated with these mediators. Changes in values of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and their soluble receptors in sera of both cancer groups, dependent on tumor type, clinical progression and cancer therapy, could have a diagnostic and prognostic role in cancer disease.

Effect of IL-15 on the secretion of IL-1beta, IL-1Ra and sIL-1RII by PMN from cancer patients.

In the present study, we demonstrate an effect of rhIL-15 on the simultaneous secretion of IL-1beta and its natural inhibitors IL-1Ra and sIL-1RII by human neutrophils isolated from normal and tumour-bearing hosts (oral cavity cancer and melanoma patients) compared with serum IL-15 levels. We found an rhIL-15 influence on IL-beta and IL-1Ra secreted by PMN from healthy controls. In contrast, the PMNs from cancer patients were not sensitive to rhIL-15 stimulation. However, we found a priming effect of rhIL-15 on IL-1beta production by LPS-stimulated cells in oral cavity cancer. We also found no effect on sIL-1RII release by PMN from cancer patients.

IL-1beta, IL-1Ra and sIL-1RII in the culture supernatants of PMN and PBMC and the serum levels in patients with inflammation and patients with cancer disease of the same location.

An inflammation or an other malignant process may create a microenvironment that modulates the production and activity of cytokines and their regulators. In the present study we compared the secretion of IL-1beta and its regulatory proteins: IL-IRa and sIL-1RII by PMN and PBMC derived from patients with inflammation and patients with cancer disease of the same location. We also examined the serum levels of these mediators in groups of patients. The results obtained revealed changes in the secretion of IL-1beta and IL-1Ra which are more characteristic of PMN and PBMC from cancer patients than of the cells from patients with inflammation. In contrast, the secretion of sIL-1RII is more characteristic of PMN and PBMC derived from patients with inflammation. Furthermore, PMN appear to play more significant role in the secretion of IL-1Ra into the circulation of cancer patients than PBMC. In contrast, PBMC affect to a large extent the secretion of IL-1beta and sIL-1RII into the circulation of patients with inflammation than PMN. Concluding, the secretion of IL-1beta and its regulatory proteins may depend on the type of immune cells and the type of the disease.

TNFRs and IL-6R transmembrane receptors expression and release of their soluble forms by neutrophils and mononuclear cells from cancer patients.

TNF-alpha and IL-6 are multipotential mediators involved in the control of many host's reactions to tumour. Their biological effects are mediated through the membrane-bound receptors (TNFRp55, TNFRp75 and IL-16R respectively) which can exist in soluble forms. In the present study we compared release of soluble sTNFRp55, sTNFRp75 and sIL-6R with expression of their membrane-bound on PMN and PBMC. Cells were isolated from patients with cancer diseases with a different location and histological classification. We have found that alterations of membrane-bound TNFRp75 expression and in the secretion of soluble TNFRp75 form, as opposed to other receptors examined, are characteristic features of neutrophils and mononuclear cells isolated from cancer patients. The similar changes observed in the expression of TNFRp75 by PMN and PBMC appear to confirm a significant role of PMN in the tumour response mediated by TNF-alpha. Furthermore, the altered membrane-bound TNFRp75 expression and sTNFRp75 secretion appear to depend on the tumour type.

[GM-CSF in the culture supernatants of neutrophils and serum levels in patients with inflammation and squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity]. / GM-CSF w hodowlach neutrofilów i w surowicy chorych ze stanem zapalnym i rakiem plaskonablonkowym jamy ustnej.

The aim of this study was to comparison GM-CSF concentrations in the culture supernatants of neutrophils (unstimulated and LPS-stimulated) and the serum of patients with inflammation and squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity. PMN from both patient groups exhibited decreased the ability to release of GM-CSF. PMN from patients with inflammation secreted a lower concentrations of GM-CSF than those from cancer patients. PMN from patients with inflammation were more reactivity after LPS-stimulation in comparison with cells from cancer group. GM-CSF serum levels in patients with inflammation and cancer were nonsignificantly higher in comparison with control. There was no correlation between GM-CSF in the culture supernatants of PMN and the serum levels in patient groups. The decreased GM-CSF production may lead to unfavourable effects for immune response of patients with inflammation as well as patients with cancer disease.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors in the culture supernatants of polymorphonuclear cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from cancer patients.

Recent clinical and experimental studies have focused on the measurement of cytokines and their regulators, produced by immunocompetent cells. Their estimation may be used as parameters for the immune potential of cancer patients. In the present study we studied the ability of unstimulated and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from oral cavity cancer and breast cancer patients to release tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFR). There were significant differences concerning the parameters examined for PMN and PBMC from cancer patients as compared with normal subjects. We found significantly higher concentrations of sTNF-R p75 than sTNF-R p55 in the cell-culture supernatants. The culture supernatants of cells from oral cavity cancer patients contained higher concentrations of TNF-alpha and lower concentrations of sTNF-R p55 and sTNF-R p75 in comparison with breast cancer cell supernatants. In contrast, cells from breast cancer patients secreted lower concentrations of TNF-alpha and higher concentrations of sTNF-R p55 and sTNF-R p75. Although PBMC secreted higher concentrations of mediators than PMN, the quantitative dominance of PMN in the peripheral blood suggests an essential role of these cells in the defense reactions controlled by TNF-alpha.

Soluble IL-6 receptor release by PMNs and PBMC in patients with oral cavity cancer.

It is known that the main source of cytokine and soluble cytokine receptors are mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood. Data including the release of soluble mediators by polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) are controversial. In these examinations using an in vitro model, we studied the ability of spontaneous and LPS-stimulated PMNs to the release of soluble IL-6 receptor (IL-6sR) in oral cavity cancer patients. Obtained results were compared to the release of IL-6sR by a peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the serum levels. The concentrations of IL-6sR in the culture supernatants of cells and in the serum were tested by ELISA. The culture supernatants of spontaneous and LPS-stimulated PMNs derived from oral cavity cancer patients contained an insignificant lower concentrations of IL-6sR than those from healthy subjects. The concentrations of IL-6sR released by PBMC were higher than those released by PMNs in both control and patient groups. There was correlation between the amounts of IL-6sR in the culture supernatants of spontaneous PMNs and PBMC. The altered ability of PMNs and PBMC to the release of IL-6sR may influence the immune response of host to tumor mediated by IL-6.

[Solitary plasmacytoma of the maxillary sinus]. / Plasmocytoma solitare zatoki szczekowej.

The work is based on the related literature and describes clinical features of plasmocytoma solitary of soft tissues and maxillofacial bones. A case of extramedullary maxillary sinus plasmocytoma a 39-year-old man is described. Attention has been called to diagnostic difficulties in this type of tumour.

A demonstration of the visual importance and flexibility of spatial-frequency amplitude and phase.

To establish how little information the human visual system requires for recognition, common objects were digitally manipulated in the Fourier domain. The results demonstrate that it is not only possible, but also quite efficient, for a (biological) visual system to exist with very few phase relationships among the component spatial frequencies of the (retinal) image. A visual example is then presented which illustrates how certain phase relationships can hinder, or completely eliminate, the recognition of visual scenes.

The integrated concentration of plasma renin activity and aldosterone in essential hypertension.

Measurement of the integrated concentration is most suited for the study of blood components that fluctuate rapidly. The integrated concentration of plasma aldosterone (IC-ALDO) and plasma renin activity (IC-PRA) were measured in 24 patients with essential hypertension and in 10 normal adult subjects, using a non-thrombogenic 24-hour constant blood withdrawal system. The integrated concentration of plasma aldosterone in the control subjects was 7.7 +/- 1.8 ng/100 ml (mean +/- 1 SD). Eight hypertensive patients had IC-ALDOs that were more than 3 standard deviations above the mean. Although the mean IC-PRA of the hypertensive patients was lower than the mean of controls (0.6 +/- 0.6 and 0.9 +/- 0.6, respectively), the difference was not significant. However, high integrated concentration of plasma aldosterone was mostly associated with low integrated concentration of plasma renin activity. Consequently, the ratio of IC-ALDO to IC-PRA in the hypertensive patients was significantly higher (p less than 0.001). In six hypertensive patients the ratio was more than 4 standard deviations above the mean for the normal control subjects (12.2 +/- 7.6). Individuals with inappropriately high integrated concentrations of plasma aldosterone can therefore be identified by the simultaneous determination of IC-ALDO and IC-PRA.