Technology of welding and properties of welded joints of new bainitic and martensitic steels with creep-resistant steels

This paper shows the results of welding tests used so far on high-temperature creep resistant steels and new bainitic and martensitic steels. The positive results of this research allowed the elaboration of a welding procedure specification that was ultimately approved by TÜV. This then allowed the SEFAKO Company to attempt welding of the latest generation boiler steels for use under heavy conditions.     

Diminazene Aceturate Stabilizes Atherosclerotic Plaque and Attenuates Hepatic Steatosis in apoE-Knockout Mice by Influencing Macrophages Polarization and Taurine Biosynthesis

Atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Western countries. The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) with its two main opposing effectors, i.e., angiotensin II (Ang II) and Ang-(1–7), is widely recognized as a major regulator of cardiovascular function and body metabolic processes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) by breaking-down Ang II forms Ang-(1–7) and thus favors Ang-(1–7) actions. Therefore, the aim of our study was to comprehensively evaluate the influence of prolonged treatment with ACE2 activator, diminazene aceturate (DIZE) on the development of atherosclerotic lesions and hepatic steatosis in apoE^−/− mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). We have shown that DIZE stabilized atherosclerotic lesions and attenuated hepatic steatosis in apoE^−/− mice fed an HFD. Such effects were associated with decreased total macrophages content and increased α-smooth muscle actin levels in atherosclerotic plaques. Moreover, DIZE changed polarization of macrophages towards increased amount of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages in the atherosclerotic lesions. Interestingly, the anti-steatotic action of DIZE in the liver was related to the elevated levels of HDL in the plasma, decreased levels of triglycerides, and increased biosynthesis and concentration of taurine in the liver of apoE^−/− mice. However, exact molecular mechanisms of both anti-atherosclerotic and anti-steatotic actions of DIZE require further investigations.     

Polyphenol content and antioxidative activity in apple purées with rhubarb juice supplement

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of rhubarb juice addition and peeling in apple purée production and storage on its phenolic composition, antioxidant activity and colour. The apple material used in this study was of two varieties: Sampion and Idared. The apple purées prepared in three variants (control purées, peeling purées and purées with 5% of rhubarb juice) were stored for 3 and 6 months at 30 °C. Apple purées were investigated for their antioxidant activity, change of colour and contents of phenolic compounds plus the polymer procyanidins and degree of polymerization (DP). The preparation of purées from apples without peeling and the addition of rhubarb juice during purée preparation had significant influence on polyphenol content. The purée prepared from peeled apples of Idared variety had phenolic content 2.2 times lower than the control sample (non‐peeled apples). The highest level of total polyphenols was found in Idared + rhubarb sample (129.82 mg 100 g^?1 purée). The content of this compound in Idared control sample was more than 2.8 times lower than in Idared purées with rhubarb. The use of non‐peeled Idared apples and 5% of rhubarb juice in purée preparation significantly increased polymeric procyanidins from 11.68 to 75.20 mg 100 g^?1 and other phenolics from 9.23 to 54.62 mg/100 g. This effect for Sampion apples was smaller. The procyanidins during purées storage were more stable in samples with rhubarb juice addition. The purée samples with the addition of rhubarb juice had higher antioxidant activity measured using ABTS (2,2′azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid)) than purée samples without the addition (two times higher for Idared variety) of rhubarb juice. After 3 and 6 months of storage at temperature 30 °C, the antioxidant capacity decreased in all purées. Rhubarb juice had only high and positive effect on L* value in the case of Idared variety. The results showed that all Sampion apple purées had higher L* values than Idared.     

A Novel Nanoprobe for Multimodal Imaging Is Effectively Incorporated into Human Melanoma Metastatic Cell Lines

To facilitate efficient drug delivery to tumor tissue, several nanomaterials have been designed, with combined diagnostic and therapeutic properties. In this work, we carried out fundamental in vitro and in vivo experiments to assess the labeling efficacy of our novel theranostic nanoprobe, consisting of glycogen conjugated with a red fluorescent probe and gadolinium. Microscopy and resazurin viability assays were used to study cell labeling and cell viability in human metastatic melanoma cell lines. Fluorescence lifetime correlation spectroscopy (FLCS) was done to investigate nanoprobe stability. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to study T₁ relaxivity in vitro, and contrast enhancement in a subcutaneous in vivo tumor model. Efficient cell labeling was demonstrated, while cell viability, cell migration, and cell growth was not affected. FLCS showed that the nanoprobe did not degrade in blood plasma. MRI demonstrated that down to 750 cells/μL of labeled cells in agar phantoms could be detected. In vivo MRI showed that contrast enhancement in tumors was comparable between Omniscan contrast agent and the nanoprobe. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that a non-toxic glycogen-based nanoprobe may effectively visualize tumor cells and tissue, and, in future experiments, we will investigate its therapeutic potential by conjugating therapeutic compounds to the nanoprobe.     

Fabrication of CdSe‐Nanofibers with Potential for Biomedical Applications

The design and synthesis of nanostructured functional hybrid biomaterials are essential for the next generation of advanced diagnostics and the treatment of disease. A simple route to fabricate semiconductor nanofibers by self‐assembled, elastin‐like polymer (ELP)‐templated semiconductor nanoparticles is reported. Core–shell nanostructures of CdSe nanoparticles with a shell of ELPs are used as building blocks to fabricate functional one‐dimensional (1D) nanostructures. The CdSe particles are generated in situ within the ELP matrix at room temperature. The ELP controls the size and the size‐distribution of the CdSe nanoparticles in an aqueous medium and simultaneously directs the self‐assembly of core–shell building blocks into fibril architectures. It was found that the self‐assembly of core–shell building blocks into nanofibers is strongly dependent on the pH value of the medium. Results of cytotoxicity and antiproliferation of the CdSe‐ELP nanofibers demonstrate that the CdSe‐ELP does not exhibit any toxicity towards B14 cells. Moreover, these are found to be markedly capable of crossing the cell membrane of B14. In contrast, unmodified CdSe nanoparticles with ELPs cause a strong toxic response and reduction in the cell proliferation. This concept is valid for the fabrication of a variety of metallic and semiconductor 1D‐architectures. Therefore, it is believed that these could be used not only for biomedical purposes but for application in a wide range of advanced miniaturized devices.     

Coralyne Radiosensitizes A549 Cells by Upregulation of CDKN1A Expression to Attenuate Radiation Induced G2/M Block of the Cell Cycle

Coralyne is a synthetic analog of berberine related to protoberberine-isoquinoline alkaloids. Isoquinoline derivatives and analogs are renowned as potent radiosensitizers with potential medical application. In the present study, we investigated the effect of coralyne on the cell death, cytoskeletal changes and cell cycle progression of irradiated A549 cells. A clonogenic assay revealed that coralyne pretreatment decreased the viability of A549 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, exposure to coralyne and ionizing radiation (IR) markedly altered the filamentous actin cytoskeletal architecture and integrin-β binding sites of A549 cells. Treatment with 1–25 µM coralyne in combination with 2 Gy of IR significantly reduced the percentage of cells in G2/M phase compared with 2 Gy IR alone. These results indicate that coralyne is a potent radiosensitizing agent that may find an application in medicine.     

Mercury in fruiting bodies of dark honey fungus (Armillaria solidipes) and beneath substratum soils collected from spatially distant areas

BACKGROUND: This paper reports data on bioconcentration potential and baseline mercury concentrations of fruiting bodies of dark honey fungus (Armillaria solidipes) Peck and soil substrate layer (0–10 cm) from 12 spatially distant sites across Poland. Mercury content of caps, stipes and soil samples were determined using validated analytical procedure including cold‐vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy after thermal decomposition of the sample matrix and further amalgamation and desorption of mercury from gold wool. RESULTS: Mean mercury concentrations ranged from 20 ± 8 to 300 ± 70 ng g^?1 dry weight (dw) in caps, from 20 ± 6 to 160 ± 40 ng g^?1 dw in stipes, and in underlying soil were from 20 ± 2 to 100 ± 130 ng g^?1 dw. The results showed that stipes mercury concentrations were 1.1‐ to 1.7‐fold lower than those of caps. All caps and the majority of stipes were characterized by bioconcentration factor values > 1, indicating that dark honey fungus can be characterized as a moderate mercury accumulator. CONCLUSION: Occasional or relatively frequent eating of meals including caps of dark honey fungus is considered safe in view of the low total mercury content, and the mercury intake rates are below the current reference dose and provisionally tolerable weekly intake limits for this hazardous metal. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Manufacturing and physico-mechanical characterization of carbon nanohorns/polyacrylonitrile nanocomposites

The use of carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) as a modifying filler in a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) matrix is studied with the goal of elaborating nanocomposites. The study deals with assessment of the dispersity of SWCNHs in a PAN polymer suspension. The SWCNHs were introduced into the PAN-based suspension using different methods, including mechanical stirring, ultrasonification and the combination of ultrasonification with addition of a surfactant. Agglomeration and dispersion processes of SWCNH in the polymer suspensions were studied using DLS technique and turbidimetry. The resulting properties of nanocomposite foils after solidification in water ambient were verified in various tests. The mechanical tensile properties (tensile strength, modulus and strain to fracture) of the nanocomposites before and after the dispersion process were compared. The nanocomposites obtained under optimally prepared suspension perform the highest strain to fracture in tensile test. Electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity of nanocomposites samples after appropriate dispersion of SWCNHs in the PAN suspension were also determined. The presence of SWCNH in the PAN suspension affects the structure of nanocomposites after solidification through changing structural ordering of the polymer. The study revealed that the polymeric suspensions prepared in optimum processing conditions contain the carbon aggregates the size of which correspond almost to the mean size of a dahlia flower-like structured particle, i.e., 50–250 nm and it was not possible to separate such particles into a single form of carbon nanohorn by the techniques used.     

Revealing oscillators calculation of the dimension of attractors

The monitoring of various natural phenomena yields data sets sustaining the dynamics of usually very complex systems. The question then is: how to reveal the characteristics and the nature of a system? In approaching this question, the calculation of the dimension of its attractor may give an indication of its complexity. The present review is an account of the analyses of the calculation of attractor dimension. Various quasi-periodic systems with different degrees of freedom are simulated and, by adding noise and nonstationarity, experimental conditions are mimicked. By increasing the complexity of the system an overestimation of attractor dimension is profound, even on noise-free signals. The presented analysis points out that for experimental data sets, resulting from systems already having more than one degree of freedom, the calculated value of attractor dimension cannot be used to determine whether the system dynamics is chaotic. It may be firmly determined whether it is deterministic or not, since in the case of a deterministic system its surrogate has a higher dimension than the original signal.