Matrix Metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, Their Inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and sVEGFR-2 as Predictive Markers of Ischemic Retinopathy in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis—Case Series Report

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder associated with multiple organ involvement. The aim of the study was to present two SSc patients who were diagnosed with ischemic retinopathy in both eyes. As a background to our case study, we decided to investigate the imbalance of angiogenesis factors in 25 SSc patients in relation to 25 healthy controls. Assays of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 (MMP-2, MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and -2 (TIMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and soluble VEGF receptor-2 (sVEGFR-2) in blood serum and tears were performed. A significantly increased levels of MMP-9 in serum and tears, (p = 0.0375 and p < 0.001, respectively) as well as VEGF/sVEGFR-2 ratio in tears (p < 0.001) were found in the whole SSc patients group compared with controls, while reduced levels of these parameters in patients with ischemic sclerodermic retinopathy were noted. We also observed decreased level MMP-2 in tears and increased levels of TIMP-2 in blood serum and tears of SSc patients with retinal ischemic changes. MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP-2, and VEGF/sVEGFR-2 may play a crucial role in ischemic retinal degeneration or retinal reorganization in SSc.     

Photoredox processes in the Cr(VI)–Cr(III)–oxalate system and their environmental relevance

Irradiation of the [Cr(C₂O₄)₃]³⁻ complex or the chromate(VI)–oxalate mixture, or the ternary system composed of Cr(III), Cr(VI) and oxalate, leads to chromium photoreductions in consequence of the ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT) excitations induced by artificial solar radiation. In the case of the Cr(III) complex, the photoreduction involves the innersphere electron transfer leading to the formation of the Cr(II) species and the C₂O₄⁻ radicals. On reacting with molecular oxygen, Cr(II) is oxidised to Cr(III) catalysing thereby the oxalate substitution reaction. Moreover, under specific conditions, Cr(II) can be also oxidised to Cr(VI). Chromate(VI) is not photoreducible, but in the presence of oxalate, or other sacrificial electron donor, the outersphere photoinduced electron transfer (PET) produces Cr(V) species and the C₂O₄⁻ radicals. This initiates a series of thermal reactions leading to the formation of Cr(III) and oxidized oxalate (CO₂). In the system composed of [Cr(C₂O₄)₃]³⁻ and chromate(VI), the acidic medium and anoxic conditions favour the Cr(VI) photoreduction, whereas alkaline oxygenated solutions assist the Cr(VI) photoproduction. When an approximately neutral solution equilibrated with the ambient air is irradiated intermittently, Cr(VI) is consumed and/or produced, accordingly to the time sequence of exposure and dark periods. The oscillations of Cr(VI) concentrations are accompanied by continuous oxidation of oxalate, playing the role of the sacrificial electron donor. The effects of solution pH, molecular oxygen, concentrations of reagents and cations on the reaction rates were investigated. The results of this paper revealed that the Cr(III)/Cr(VI) system under environmental conditions behaves as the photocatalytic one catalysing the oxidation of oxalate or other organic matter by molecular oxygen, contributing thereby to the abatement of pollution.     

Effects of Front-End Planning under Fast-Tracked Project Delivery Systems for Industrial Projects

Front-end planning (FEP) may be a key element in project success because it helps project participants more efficiently mitigate risk and define project objectives in the preplanning phase. However, very little is known about the effect of FEP for industrial project performance under different project delivery systems. To this end, this study investigated the impact of FEP on project performance by focusing on two widely used fast-track delivery methods: design-build (DB) and construction manager at risk (CMR), compared to the benchmarking conventional design-bid-build (DBB). The Spearman’s correlation analysis and Kruskal-Wallis test were performed on a real-world dataset, obtained from the Construction Industry Institute (CII), which comprised 438 industrial projects built between 1990 and 2010 in the US. The correlation analysis results revealed that better FEP resource allocation could help more design packages be completed efficiently and accurately to accelerate the fast-track process. The pair-wise comparison analysis results confirmed that there is no significant evidence to examine particular difference of schedule performance between CMR and DB. On the other hand, the results highlighted that project cost performance under DB were better than CMR. The results and findings of this study will help decision-makers choose appropriate project delivery methods for given project priorities.     

Effect of preliminary and culinary processing on amino acid content and protein quality in frozen French beans

The aim of the study was to evaluate the content of amino acids and protein quality of French bean pods. The investigated material consisted of the raw vegetable, fresh pods cooked to consumption consistency, and two kinds of frozen products stored for 12 months at ?20 °C and then prepared for consumption: frozen beans obtained using the traditional method (blanching before freezing) and frozen products of the ready‐to‐eat type (cooking before freezing). A comparison of the amino acid content in the product prepared for consumption showed that the lowest quantities were found in French beans obtained using the traditional method; products obtained using the modified technology and beans cooked directly after harvest had similar levels of most amino acids. The content of amino acids in 16 g N was less varied than in 100 g of the product. The protein in all the three products prepared for consumption as well as that in fresh bean pods hardly differs, as confirmed by the values in the essential amino acid index (EAA). The first limiting amino acid was methionine with cystine and the second was lysine.     

Study on the migration phenomena of selected metals in canned fruits during long storage

Experimental studies were conducted on the migration of Fe, Sn, Ca, and Mg in canned fruits: black currant, cherry and strawberry. Three-piece-cans had been protected with different coatings and technics. Cans of 31 capacity with fruits were stored in ambient temperature (ca 20 °C) during 60 weeks. There was stated increasing dependence of storage time on concentration of Fe and Sn in cans. Contents of Ca and Mg in this time systematically decreased in cans due to adsorption process of these metals on internal coatings. Migration rate of Fe and Sn, as well as migration trends of Ca and Mg (adsorption process) are shown on figures. There are great differences among migration of Fe, Sn and migration trends of Ca and Mg. Both these phenomena are disadvantageous for quality of canned fruits.     

Lanthanide(III) 1,4-Phenylenediacetate Complexes: The Relation Between the Structure and Thermal Properties

The series of isostructural lanthanide coordination polymers with the empirical formula [Ln₂(PDA)₃(H₂O)]·2H₂O, where PDA = 1,4-phenylenediacetate anion = [C₈H₈(COO)₂]^2?; Ln = La-Lu(III), and Y(III) were produced in the reaction of LnCl₃·nH₂O with ammonium salt of 1,4-phenylenediacetic acid in water solution. The compounds were characterised structurally using powder X-ray diffraction, elemental and thermogravimetric analyses as well as FT-IR spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analyses show that in the range 60–170 °C the dehydration process occurs. The thermal stability of dehydrated compounds, Ln₂(PDA)₃ increased from about 200–350 °C in the whole series of complexes. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis for the Gd(III) complex revealed that the compound crystallizes in the monoclinic P2₁/c space group with a = 21.863(2) Å, b = 10.035(1) Å, c = 13.854(1) Å, β = 91.53(1)° and V = 3,038.5(4) ų. The complex contains one-dimensional gadolinium-carboxylato chains, which are connected with the –CH₂–C₆H₄–CH₂– spacers of PDA ligand to the three-dimensional metal–organic framework.     

Antifungal Activity and Biosynthetic Potential of New Streptomyces sp. MW-W600-10 Strain Isolated from Coal Mine Water

Crop infections by fungi lead to severe losses in food production and pose risks for human health. The increasing resistance of pathogens to fungicides has led to the higher usage of these chemicals, which burdens the environment and highlights the need to find novel natural biocontrol agents. Members of the genus Streptomyces are known to produce a plethora of bioactive compounds. Recently, researchers have turned to extreme and previously unexplored niches in the search for new strains with antimicrobial activities. One such niche are underground coal mine environments. We isolated the new Streptomyces sp. MW-W600-10 strain from coal mine water samples collected at 665 m below ground level. We examined the antifungal activity of the strain against plant pathogens Fusarium culmorum DSM62188 and Nigrospora oryzae roseF7. Furthermore, we analyzed the strain’s biosynthetic potential with the antiSMASH tool. The strain showed inhibitory activity against both fungi strains. Genome mining revealed that it has 39 BGCs, among which 13 did not show similarity to those in databases. Additionally, we examined the activity of the Streptomyces sp. S-2 strain isolated from black soot against F. culmorum DSM62188. These results show that coal-related strains could be a source of novel bioactive compounds. Future studies will elucidate their full biotechnological potential.     

A novel model-based approach to optimization and control design of batch processes

Traditionally, many industrial batch processes have been operated according to rigid recipies, in spite of the fact that production would yield more profit or a better product if they were efficiently adapted to changes in quality and cost of the used and/or produced products, process and scheduling conditions, and so on. In this paper a approach, called the flexible recipe approach, is given, which transforms the common rather static recipes into recipes that can be easily improved and used for systematic and efficient production adaptation at the start of a batch and during the processing. To be able to use this approach in an industrial environment a practical implementation is made in the software package FRIS. A fermentation process chosen as an example shows the methods and gives an indication of the expected profit.