Integrated instrumental analysis of soft brown coals

A method for the simultaneous determination of calorific value Q^r, ash yieldA^r and total water content W^r_t of soft brown coals is described. The method involves instrumental analysis of brown coal samples using neutron thermalization and gamma back-scattering techniques. Over 80 coal samples (1.1 kg) were analysed, having Q^rvalues up to 15.5 MJ kg^?1,A^r ranging from 3.6 to 76.1 wt% and W^r_t ranging from 11.4 to 61.7 wt%. A comparison of the results from the instrumental method with those of standard laboratory analyses is given, followed by a discussion of the accuracy of the method and of possible ways for improving it.     

New 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Derivatives of Pyridothiazine-1,1-Dioxide with Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Numerous studies have confirmed the coexistence of oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. Long-term inflammation and oxidative stress may significantly affect the initiation of the neoplastic transformation process. Here, we describe the synthesis of a new series of Mannich base-type hybrid compounds containing an arylpiperazine residue, 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring, and pyridothiazine-1,1-dioxide core. The synthesis was carried out with the hope that the hybridization of different pharmacophoric molecules would result in a synergistic effect on their anti-inflammatory activity, especially the ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase. The obtained compounds were investigated in terms of their potencies to inhibit cyclooxygenase COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes with the use of the colorimetric inhibitor screening assay. Their antioxidant and cytotoxic effect on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) was also studied. Strong COX-2 inhibitory activity was observed after the use of TG6 and, especially, TG4. The TG11 compound, as well as reference meloxicam, turned out to be a preferential COX-2 inhibitor. TG12 was, in turn, a non-selective COX inhibitor. A molecular docking study was performed to understand the binding interaction of compounds at the active site of cyclooxygenases.     

The Palladium(II) Complex of Aβ4−16 as Suitable Model for Structural Studies of Biorelevant Copper(II) Complexes of N-Truncated Beta-Amyloids

The Aβ4−42 peptide is a major beta-amyloid species in the human brain, forming toxic aggregates related to Alzheimer’s Disease. It also strongly chelates Cu(II) at the N-terminal Phe-Arg-His ATCUN motif, as demonstrated in Aβ4−16 and Aβ4−9 model peptides. The resulting complex resists ROS generation and exchange processes and may help protect synapses from copper-related oxidative damage. Structural characterization of Cu(II)Aβ4−x complexes by NMR would help elucidate their biological function, but is precluded by Cu(II) paramagneticism. Instead we used an isostructural diamagnetic Pd(II)-Aβ4−16 complex as a model. To avoid a kinetic trapping of Pd(II) in an inappropriate transient structure, we designed an appropriate pH-dependent synthetic procedure for ATCUN Pd(II)Aβ4−16, controlled by CD, fluorescence and ESI-MS. Its assignments and structure at pH 6.5 were obtained by TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, 1H-13C HSQC and 1H-15N HSQC NMR experiments, for natural abundance 13C and 15N isotopes, aided by corresponding experiments for Pd(II)-Phe-Arg-His. The square-planar Pd(II)-ATCUN coordination was confirmed, with the rest of the peptide mostly unstructured. The diffusion rates of Aβ4−16, Pd(II)-Aβ4−16 and their mixture determined using PGSE-NMR experiment suggested that the Pd(II) complex forms a supramolecular assembly with the apopeptide. These results confirm that Pd(II) substitution enables NMR studies of structural aspects of Cu(II)-Aβ complexes.     

Interleukins 6 and 15 Levels Are Higher in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue,but Obesity Is Associated with Their Increased Content in Visceral Fat Depots

Excess adiposity is associated with chronic inflammation, which takes part in the development of obesity-related complications. The aim of this study was to establish whether subcutaneous (SAT) or visceral (VAT) adipose tissue plays a major role in synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Concentrations of interleukins (IL): 1β, 6, 8 and 15 were measured at the protein level by an ELISA-based method and on the mRNA level by real-time PCR in VAT and SAT samples obtained from 49 obese (BMI > 40 kg/m²) and 16 normal-weight (BMI 20–24.9 kg/m²) controls. IL-6 and IL-15 protein concentrations were higher in SAT than in VAT for both obese (p = 0.003 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and control individuals (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively), while for IL-1β this was observed only in obese subjects (p = 0.047). What characterized obese individuals was the higher expression of IL-6 and IL-15 at the protein level in VAT compared to normal-weight controls (p = 0.047 and p = 0.016, respectively). Additionally, obese individuals with metabolic syndrome had higher IL-1β levels in VAT than did obese individuals without this syndrome (p = 0.003). In conclusion, concentrations of some pro-inflammatory cytokines were higher in SAT than in VAT, but it was the increased pro-inflammatory activity of VAT that was associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.     

Influence of Unmodified and β-Glycerophosphate Cross-Linked Chitosan on Anti-Candida Activity of Clotrimazole in Semi-Solid Delivery Systems

The combination of an antifungal agent and drug carrier with adjunctive antimicrobial properties represents novel strategy of complex therapy in pharmaceutical technology. The goal of this study was to investigate the unmodified and ion cross-linked chitosan’s influence on anti-Candida activity of clotrimazole used as a model drug in hydrogels. It was particularly crucial to explore whether the chitosans’ structure modification by β-glycerophosphate altered its antifungal properties. Antifungal studies (performed by plate diffusion method according to CLSI reference protocol) revealed that hydrogels obtained with chitosan/β-glycerophosphate displayed lower anti-Candida effect, probably as a result of weakened polycationic properties of chitosan in the presence of ion cross-linker. Designed chitosan hydrogels with clotrimazole were found to be more efficient against tested Candida strains and showed more favorable drug release profile compared to commercially available product. These observations indicate that novel chitosan formulations may be considered as promising semi-solid delivery system of clotrimazole.     

Impact of Ozonation Process on the Microbiological Contamination and Antioxidant Capacity of Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinum corymbosum L.) Fruit during Cold Storage

In the studies conducted, the impact of the innovative ozonation procedure on the microbial state and antioxidant potential of highbush blueberry (Vaccinum corymbosum L.) stored under cold storage conditions was assessed. Microbiological analysis was carried out to determine the total number of mesophilic aerobic bacteria and the total number of fungi during the storage experiment. In addition, changes in the flavonoid, anthocyanins, and vitamin C content and the total antioxidant capacity were monitored during the storage. The degree of fruit infection with gray mold and anthracnose was determined. It was found that daily ozonation of fruits with a dose of 15 ppm for 30 min, every 12 h, for 28 days effectively reduced the development of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and fungi. On the last day of storage, symptoms of the infection by gray mold were observed in 27.5% of the control fruit, while the absence of symptoms was observed in case of the ozonated fruit. On the other hand, ozone was ineffective in case of inhibiting the infection by anthracnose. Nevertheless, the ozonation process allowed maintaining a high antioxidant potential of the fruit and substantially reduced losses of flavonoids, anthocyanins, and vitamin C. The utilized procedure has proved to be effective, providing the possibility of extensive use of ozone as a factor allowing sustaining a high commercial and consumption value of the fruit over extended time.     

砂土地震液化的模糊综合评判法

根据砂土液化问题具有的模糊性和不确定性,建立了一种判别砂土液化发生可能性的模糊综合评判模型。在提出的砂土液化模糊综合评判模型中,通过综合地震烈度、标贯击数、地下水位和平均粒径等影响砂土地震液化的因素,采用梯形隶属函数并分别给出各因素隶属函数的表达式。通过工程实例计算验证了该模型的可行性,计算过程简单明了,有一定的实用价值。     

CHANGES OF RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF APPLE TISSUE UNDERGOING CONVECTIVE DRYING

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to investigate rheological properties of apple cubes undergoing convective drying. Compression-relaxation test was used to follow changes of properties under investigation.

Raw apple appeared to be very heterogeneous material from the rheological point of view. The relationship between stress and strain was concave downwards and the concavity increased until water content of 2·5 g/g d.m. was reached. Then the relationship begun to straighten and for dry material developed stress was linearly dependent on strain. The resistance of deformation decreased with decreasing water content. Analysis of relaxation showed that the rate of relaxation increased with decreasing water content and the unrelaxed stress was smaller the lower was the water content.

Apple cubes undergoing drying are pictured as material composed of three compartments with different rheological properties. The outer layer is dry, inelastic and difficult to deform. Underneath is moist material with no turgor and relatively easy to compress, and the core with properties of raw apples. During drying the second layer grows in expense of the core and porous structure with many voids filled with air is formed. Share of each compartment in the volume of apple cube undergoing drying affects average rheological properties of the material.