Heterogeneity of Rapid Sand Filters and Its Effect on Contaminant Transport and Nitrification Performance

Laboratory and full-scale experiments were conducted to investigate the development and effect of heterogeneity caused by filter media nonuniformity, biofilm, particles, precipitates, and gas bubbles in rapid sand filters used for drinking-water treatment. Salt tracer experiments were conducted in laboratory columns and in a waterworks, where a new tracer method for rapid sand filters was developed. Pore-water velocities and dispersivities were estimated by fitting an analytical solution to the measured breakthrough curves. Results of the column experiments showed an increase in average longitudinal dispersivity of more than 33% in the 116?h after the start of filtration with a constant pore-water velocity and a zero-order nitrification rate of 9??mg?N/L/h. The full-scale experiments showed that the rapid sand filter was heterogeneous with pore-water velocities ranging from 2.2 to 3.3??m/h for the same inlet flow. A first-order nitrification reaction with spatially variable pore-water velocity could be interpreted as a zero-order reaction with a constant pore-water velocity. A model demonstrated that filter heterogeneity could result in higher filter outlet ammonium concentrations.     

Effect of different technological and culinary treatments on iron retention,nutritional density and recommended dietary intake in fourteen vegetable species

The present work determined iron content in fourteen species of vegetable prepared for consumption. The experimental material consisted of raw and boiled raw vegetables and two types of frozen product: one traditionally produced (blanching before freezing); the other obtained using the modified method (boiling before freezing), having the characteristics of a ready‐to‐eat convenience product. Nutrient density (ND) and recommended dietary intake (RDI) were established on the basis of iron content. The highest iron content was found in pea seeds (2.03 mg per 100 g fresh weight) and the lowest in root vegetables (0.38–0.60 mg). Iron retention was similar in all pea, broad bean, New Zealand spinach, kale, white cauliflower, celery and red beet products. In the remaining products, the significantly lowest retention was found in the traditionally frozen product (Sample C) and the highest in the ‘convenience’ frozen product (Sample D). The above‐mentioned order also applied to ND and RDI values. Only in the ND of parsnip calculated for women did any value fall below 100%.     

Nutritional properties of mussels <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mytilus galloprovincialis</Emphasis>

The aim of this study was to determine the quality indices and assess the influence of diets supplemented with mussels from contaminated (MCont) and non-contaminated areas (MNCont) on some indices of protein and lipid metabolism in rats fed with cholesterol. A wide range of in vitro tests demonstrated that mussels from contaminated area have a higher content of proteins, lipids and higher antioxidant capability. In the in vivo experiment, 28 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 diet groups each of 7 and named Control, Cholesterol (Chol), Chol/MCont and Chol/MNCont. During 30 days of the experiment rats of all four groups were fed basal diet (BD), supplemented with 1% of Chol, 1% of Chol and 5.6% of mussel’s dry matter (DM) from contaminated and 1% Chol and 5.6% of mussel DM from non-contaminated areas for Chol/MCont and Chol/MNCont groups, respectively. At the end of the experiment, a high digestibility coefficient of DM and crude protein in the Chol/MCont and Chol/MNCont groups of rats was found: 93.56 and 93.87% and 91.64 and 91.36%, respectively, and the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). However, the protein efficiency ratio was significantly higher in the Chol/MCont and Chol/MNCont than in the Control and Chol diet groups. Also the level of nitrogen retention as shown by feces and urine examination was higher in the Chol/MCont and Chol/MNCont groups. Diet, supplemented with mussel dry matter from both contaminated and non-contaminated areas significantly hindered the rise in plasma lipids and also hindered the decrease in plasma antioxidant activity. Minor changes were fixed in the protein profile of rat’s plasma after both mussels’ diet. In conclusion, supplementation of diets, containing cholesterol with mussels’ DM from both contaminated and non-contaminated areas improves animals’ protein metabolism and positively affects plasma lipid profile and plasma antioxidant activity. Antioxidant tests can be used as an additional index for the quality of mussels.     

The amino acid composition of kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala), fresh and after culinary and technological processing

The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the level of amino acids and the quality of protein in fresh and cooked leaves of kale and in two types of frozen product prepared for consumption after 12-months storage at −20 °C. Kale blanched before freezing (the traditional method) was cooked after refrigerated storage, while that cooked before freezing (the modified method) was defrosted and heated in a microwave oven. Both fresh and processed leaves of kale were a good source of amino acids. In all the samples, glutamic acid, proline and aspartic acid were the dominant, while lysine and leucine were the limiting amino acids. Cooked leaves contained 78% of the total amino acid content found in fresh leaves, while the traditional and modified frozen products contained 76% and 78%, respectively. The proportion of essential amino acids in total amino acids was 44% and 43%, respectively for fresh and cooked leaves and 46% for the frozen products. The lowest EAA index was found for the traditional frozen product (99); it was higher for the remaining samples, which were broadly similar to each other (105–106).     

Earthworm lipids: Occurrence of phytanic,pristanic and 4,8,12-trimethyltridecanoic acids

Lipids - Phytanic, pristanic, and 4,8,12-trimethyltridecanoic acids were found to comprise from 2.7% (winter) to 13.3% (spring) of the fatty acids of the neutral lipids of earthworms collected in...     

Problem of homogeneity of natural aggregates

Natural aggregates are characterized by considerable variability in their technical properties/sand, silt and clay fractions. The statistical estimation of the homogeneity of domestic natural aggregates was carried out at the Institute of Technology and Organization of Building Production in Warsaw Technical University. Total number of results amounted two thousand. A calculation has been made by EMC “Odra 204” for a program in algoritmic language Algol. Equations derived permit the forecast with 95% probability of the compressive strength of Portland—cement concrete on the basis of the variability of features of the aggregates.     

The Systems of Naringenin with Solubilizers Expand Its Capability to Prevent Neurodegenerative Diseases

Background: Naringenin (NAR) is a flavonoid with excellent antioxidant and neuroprotective potential that is limited by its low solubility. Thus, solid dispersions with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and microenvironmental pH modifiers were prepared. Methods: The systems formation analysis was performed by X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Water solubility and dissolution rates were studied with a pH of 1.2 and 6.8. In vitro permeability through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was assessed with the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) assay. The antioxidant activity was studied with the 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assays, while in vitro enzymes studies involved the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and tyrosinase. For the most promising system, in silico studies were conducted. Results: NAR solubility was increased 458-fold by the solid dispersion NAR:HP-β-CD:NaHCO₃ in a mass ratio of 1:3:1. The dissolution rate was elevated from 8.216% to 88.712% in a pH of 1.2 and from 11.644% to 88.843% in a pH of 6.8 (within 3 h). NAR GIT permeability, described as the apparent permeability coefficient, was increased from 2.789 × 10⁻⁶ cm s⁻¹ to 2.909 × 10⁻⁵ cm s⁻¹ in an acidic pH and from 1.197 × 10⁻⁶ cm s⁻¹ to 2.145 × 10⁻⁵ cm s⁻¹ in a basic pH. NAR BBB permeability was established as 4.275 × 10⁻⁶ cm s⁻¹. The antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibition were also increased. Computational studies confirmed NAR:HP-β-CD inclusion complex formation. Conclusions: A significant improvement in NAR solubility was associated with an increase in its biological activity.     

Adenosine and 2′‐Deoxyadenosine Modified with Boron Cluster Pharmacophores as New Classes of Human Blood Platelet Function Modulators

Novel types of adenosine and 2′‐deoxyadenosine derivatives containing boron clusters at positions C2′, N6, or C8 were synthesized. The effect of these modified compounds on platelet function was studied. Modification of adenosine at the C2′ position with a para‐carborane cluster (C₂B₁₀H₁₁) results in efficient inhibition of platelet function, including aggregation, protein secretion, and P‐selectin expression induced by thrombin or ADP. These preliminary findings and the new chemistry proposed form the basis for the development of a new class of adenosine analogues that modulate human blood platelet activities.     

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.