Rhus coriaria L. (Sumac) Demonstrates Oncostatic Activity in the Therapeutic and Preventive Model of Breast Carcinoma

Comprehensive scientific data provide evidence that isolated phytochemicals or whole plant foods may beneficially modify carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncostatic activities of Rhus coriaria L. (sumac) using animal models (rat and mouse), and cell lines of breast carcinoma. R. coriaria (as a powder) was administered through the diet at two concentrations (low dose: 0.1% (w/w) and high dose: 1 % (w/w)) for the duration of the experiment in a syngeneic 4T1 mouse and chemically-induced rat mammary carcinoma models. After autopsy, histopathological and molecular analyses of tumor samples in rodents were performed. Moreover, in vitro analyses using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were conducted. The dominant metabolites present in tested R. coriaria methanolic extract were glycosides of gallic acid (possible gallotannins). In the mouse model, R. coriaria at a higher dose (1%) significantly decreased tumor volume by 27% when compared to controls. In addition, treated tumors showed significant dose-dependent decrease in mitotic activity index by 36.5% and 51% in comparison with the control group. In the chemoprevention study using rats, R. coriaria at a higher dose significantly reduced the tumor incidence by 20% and in lower dose non-significantly reduced tumor frequency by 29% when compared to controls. Evaluations of the mechanism of oncostatic action using valid clinical markers demonstrated several positive alterations in rat tumor cells after the treatment with R. coriaria. In this regard, histopathological analysis of treated tumor specimens showed robust dose-dependent decrease in the ratio of high-/low-grade carcinomas by 66% and 73% compared to controls. In treated rat carcinomas, we found significant caspase-3, Bax, and Bax/Bcl-2 expression increases; on the other side, a significant down-regulation of Bcl-2, Ki67, CD24, ALDH1, and EpCam expressions and MDA levels. When compared to control specimens, evaluation of epigenetic alterations in rat tumor cells in vivo showed significant dose-dependent decrease in lysine methylation status of H3K4m3 and H3K9m3 and dose-dependent increase in lysine acetylation in H4K16ac levels (H4K20m3 was not changed) in treated groups. However, only in lower dose of sumac were significant decreases in the expression of oncogenic miR210 and increase of tumor-suppressive miR145 (miR21, miR22, and miR155 were not changed) observed. Finally, only in lower sumac dose, significant decreases in methylation status of three out of five gene promoters–ATM, PTEN, and TIMP3 (PITX2 and RASSF1 promoters were not changed). In vitro evaluations using methanolic extract of R. coriaria showed significant anticancer efficacy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (using Resazurin, cell cycle, annexin V/PI, caspase-3/7, Bcl-2, PARP, and mitochondrial membrane potential analyses). In conclusion, sumac demonstrated significant oncostatic activities in rodent models of breast carcinoma that were validated by mechanistic studies in vivo and in vitro.     

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.     

Nuclear numerical range and quantum error correction codes for non-unitary noise models

Quantum Information Processing - We present an efficient protocol to rapidly generate a three-dimensional entangled state for two atoms trapped in a cavity with quantum Zeno dynamics and...     

Control System for Free-Floating Space Manipulator Based on Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC)

Manipulator mounted on an unmanned satellite could be used for performing orbital capture maneuver in order to repair satellites or remove space debris from orbit. Use of manipulators for such purposes presents unique challenges, as high level of autonomy is required and the motion of the manipulator influences the position and orientation of the manipulator-equipped satellite. This paper presents a new control system that consists of two modules: trajectory planning module (based on trajectory optimization algorithm) and Model Predictive Controller. Both modules take into account the free-floating nature of the satellite-manipulator system. Proposed control system was tested in numerical simulations performed for a simplified planar case. In the first set of simulations Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) was used to ensure realization of a square reference end-effector trajectory, while in the second set control system was used for optimizing and then ensuring realization of the trajectory that leads to grasping of the rotating target satellite. Simulations were performed with disturbances and with the assumed non-perfect knowledge of parameters of the satellite-manipulator system. Results obtained with NMPC are better than results obtained with the controller based on the Dynamic Jacobian inverse and with the Modified Simple Adaptive Control (MSAC).     

The Numerical Comparison of Heat Transfer in a Coated and Fixed Bed of an Adsorption Chiller

Ecological adsorption technology is becoming a focus of attention by industry due to the utilization of low grade thermal energy sources for cooling production. It can be a promising part of sustainable development concept of the global economy. Therefore, research aiming at improving their performance i.e. Coefficient of Performance (COP) by optimizing the construction of sorption beds with a built in heat exchanger system is crucial. The heat transfer characteristics between the bed of porous media (sorbent) and surface of the heat exchanger system determine the heating power of an adsorption chiller. The HP increase can be obtained by heat transfer intensification due to the increase in the thermal conductivity of the sorbent layer in the vicinity of the heat exchanger’s surface. The novel modification of the sorbent layer structure is proposed in the paper in order to improve the heat transfer processes in the heat exchanger boundary layer. The analysis of desorption process conditions in the parametric model of a coated and fixed adsorption bed design is presented in the paper. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with conjugate heat transfer analysis is used to determine the crucial input parameters (temperature distribution in the sorbent bed) for further analytical calculations. The commercial code Ansys Fluent was used to perform numerical simulations. The developed computational model consisted of three subdomains representing heating water, heat exchanger material (copper) and sorbent (silica gel). The comparison of a novel coated design and a conventional fixed bed is discussed in the paper. The numerical analysis is based on experimental thermal conductivity measurements of the sorbent layer in different configurations, which were performed using Laser Flash Method.     

Effect of hydrogen on room-temperature plasticity of B2 iron aluminides

Different sensitivities to hydrogen embrittlement for the disordered and ordered B2 FeAl alloys have been investigated. The plasticity of annealed alloys (before hydrogenating) has been found to decrease with increasing the long-range order parameter. An intrinsic weakness of FeAl phase grain boundaries revealed at a high degree of ordering. The results of bending tests on specimens annealed and cathodically charged with hydrogen have shown that the influence of hydrogen on the plasticity diminishes with the increase in the degree of FeAl phase ordering.     

A novel functional silica/lignin hybrid material as a potential bio‐based polypropylene filler

A functional silica/lignin hybrid filler was obtained using a process of mechanical grinding of precursors (Syloid^®244 silica and kraft lignin). The product underwent comprehensive physicochemical and dispersive–morphological analysis. The silica/lignin hybrid has good homogeneity and a surface area of 164 m²/g. The effectiveness of combination was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The high electrokinetic stability (over almost the whole of the analyzed pH range) and above all the thermal stability of the resulting material (mass loss equal to 12%) indicate its potential use as a polypropylene (PP) filler. Experiments showed that the incorporation of a small amount of silica/lignin hybrid filler into PP may substantially influence its elongation at break and notched impact strength. Especially at low concentrations of silica/lignin filler (below 5 wt%) an exceptional set of mechanical properties was obtained. The addition of larger amounts of the filler was found not to bring any further improvement. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:913–922, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Reduction of fractures in dried clay-like materials due to specific surfactants

The possibility of fracture reduction as a result of application of specific surfactants during intensive drying of clay-like materials was examined in this paper. The dodecyl sulfate sodium salt (SDS) and the fluoric (FC 4430) surfactants were used for the tests. Different amounts of these surfactants were mixed with distilled water and used for wetting a dry clay material before forming clay samples. The clay samples in the form of cylinders 44 mm in diameter and 50 mm high were extruded and after leveling the moisture distribution subjected to convectively drying in hot air at 120 °C. The acoustic emission (AE) method was used to monitor on line the development of crack formation in dried samples. It was stated that application of surfactants in a prescribed amount may significantly reduce the drying induced fractures in clay during its intensive drying and thus to obtain good quality products by high drying rates.     

Information technology investment announcements and market value in transition economies: Evidence from Warsaw Stock Exchange

This study examines stock market reactions to announcements of information technology investments in Poland, an emerging market and transition economy. Based on 66 announcements by companies traded at the Warsaw Stock Exchange in the period 2002–2009, our study confirms some previously published results from studies conducted primarily in highly developed markets, but also shows that specific characteristics of announcements play a more important role than has been commonly assumed. Our results indicate that investors in Poland react more positively if systems are acquired from global rather than local vendors. Announcements about completed projects are more positively received than announcements about planned or in-progress projects. Furthermore, announcements in Polish, targeted at existing shareholders, are more likely to be received positively than similar announcements released in English, targeting global investors.