Influence of Complexation of Thiosemicarbazone Derivatives with Cu (II) Ions on Their Antitumor Activity against Melanoma Cells

A series of thiosemicarbazone derivatives was prepared and their anti-tumor activity in vitro was tested. The X-ray investigation performed for compounds T2, T3 and T5 confirmed the synthesis pathway and assumed molecular structures of analyzed thiosemicarbazones. The conformational preferences of the thiosemicarbazone system were characterized using theoretical calculations by AM1 method. Selected compounds were converted into complexes of Cu (II) ions. The effect of complexing on anti-tumor activity has been investigated. The copper(II) complexes, with Schiff bases T1, T10, T12, T13, and T16 have been synthesized and characterized by chemical and elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy and TGA method. Thermal properties of coordination compounds were studied using TG-DTG techniques under dry air atmosphere. G361, A375, and SK-MEL-28 human melanoma cells and BJ human normal fibroblast cells were treated with tested compounds and their cytotoxicity was evaluated with MTT test. The compounds with the most promising anti-tumour activity were then selected and their cytotoxicity was verified with cell cycle analysis and apoptosis/necrosis detection. Additionally, DNA damages in the form of a basic sites presence and the expression of oxidative stress and DNA damage response genes were evaluated. The obtained results indicate that complexation of thiosemicarbazone derivatives with Cu (II) ions improves their antitumor activity against melanoma cells. The observed cytotoxic effect is associated with DNA damage and G2/M phase of cell cycle arrest as well as disorders of the antioxidant enzymes expression.     

Smart Smoke Control as an Efficient Solution for Smoke Ventilation in Converted Cellars of Historic Buildings

Fire Technology - The paper is focused on the topic of smoke control in a confined, underground cellar area of a historical building, that is undergoing conversion to a restaurant. Similar venues...     

Flexible multibody modeling of reeving systems including transverse vibrations

This paper presents a discretization procedure for the flexible multibody modeling of reeving systems. Reeving systems are assumed to include a set of rigid bodies connected by wire ropes using a set of sheaves and reels. The method is capable to model the deformation of the varying-length wire-rope spans. Wire ropes are assumed to deform axially, transversally and in torsion. This paper shows the capability of the presented method to model transverse vibrations. The discretization procedure uses a combination of absolute position coordinates, relative-transverse deformation coordinates and longitudinal material coordinates. Each wire-rope span is modeled using a single two-noded element under an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian approach. The discretization method is validated using analytical and numerical reference solutions found in the literature that describe the dynamics of varying-length strings. In addition, the dynamics of a three-dimensional tower crane is simulated.     

Wiener system identification by input injection method

The article addresses the problem of nonlinear system identification with particular focusing on Wiener models. The proposed input injection methodology allows for identification of a working system—without stopping its usual operation, production processes, and so on. The only interferences are the slight random injections added to the input signal, which—by assumption—do not disturb the overall system's functionality. Such input injections allow to limit the curse of dimensionality issues, particularly troublesome in many approaches proposed in the literature for the Wiener system identification. Furthermore, all the requirements concerning the applicability of the method are rather mild. In particular, it is assumed that the static nonlinear characteristic is of nonparametric form and the existence of its two derivatives is needed for the consistency of the proposed estimate. The class of admissible output noises is also rather wide and does not exclude processes correlated with inputs signals.     

The Interactions of Nintedanib and Oral Anticoagulants—Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Nintedanib is a synthetic orally active tyrosine kinase inhibitor, whose main action is to inhibit the receptors of the platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor families. The drug also affects other kinases, including Src, Flt-3, LCK, LYN. Nintedanib is used in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic fibrosing interstitial lung diseases and lung cancer. The mechanism of action suggests that nintedanib should be considered one of the potential agents for inhibiting and revising the fibrosis process related to COVID-19 infections. Due to the known induction of coagulation pathways during COVID-19 infections, possible interaction between nintedanib and anticoagulant seems to be an extremely important issue. In theory, nintedanib could increase the bleeding risk, thrombosis and lead to thrombocytopenia. The data from clinical trials on the concomitant use of nintedanib and antithrombotic agents is very limited as this patient group was within the standard exclusion criteria. Nintedanib is an important therapeutic option, despite its interaction with anticoagulants. If anticoagulant therapy is necessary, the more effective and safer option is the concomitant administration of DOACs and nintedanib, especially when drug-monitored therapy will be used in patients at high risk of bleeding complications.     

Surface Condition of New γ–γ′ Co-Al-Mo-Nb and Co-Al-W Cobalt-Based Superalloys After Oxidation at 800 °C

A new type γ–γ′ Co-Al-Mo-Nb Co-based superalloys were developed due to limitations of basic Co-Al-W superalloys, related to tungsten alloying. The present study aims to characterization of new γ–γ′ Co-10Al-5Mo-2Nb (at.%) cobalt-based superalloy performance in terms of the high-temperature exposure under cyclic conditions, with particular regard to surface condition. Specimens were tested in cycles of high-temperature exposition (25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 h) in air environment at 800 °C. Detailed analysis of oxidized surfaces by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction was made at various intervals during testing. The cyclic oxidation behavior of new alloy was compared to the basic Co-9Al-9W (at.%) Co-based superalloy.     

On the origin of emission and thermal quenching of SRSO:Er3+ films grown by ECR-PECVD

Silicon nanocrystals embedded in a silicon-rich silicon oxide matrix doped with Er³⁺ ions have been fabricated by electron cyclotron resonance plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Indirect excitation of erbium photoluminescence via silicon nanocrystals has been investigated. Temperature quenching of the photoluminescence originating from the silicon nanocrystals and the erbium ions has been observed. Activation energies of the thermally activated quenching process were estimated for different excitation wavelengths. The temperature quenching mechanism of the emission is discussed. Also, the origin of visible emission and kinetic properties of Er-related emission have been discussed in details.     

Effect of randomly methylated beta-cyclodextrin on physical properties of soils

The application of cyclodextrins in several soil remediation technologies has been increasingly studied, but little is known about their effects on soil physical properties. One of the popular soil remediation additives, randomly methylated beta-cyclodextrin (RAMEB), was found to significantly alter surface and pore properties of soil clay minerals. Therefore, in this paper we studied the effect of various RAMEB doses on physical properties of selected soils, representing a wide range of clay content (3-49%). The results showed that soil physical properties were greatly modified by RAMEB treatment. Analysis of water vapor adsorption isotherms revealed that RAMEB increased water adsorption and surface area in sandy soils and decreased them in clayey soils. An increase in adsorption energy of water in RAMEB-treated soils indicated that desorption of nonpolar pollutants can be enhanced. Water vapor desorption isotherms showed that the volumes and radii of micropores (nanometers range) increased above 1% RAMEB concentration. The micropores became more rough and complex after RAMEB treatment as deduced from an increase in fractal dimensions. The volume of soil mesopores measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry (micrometers range) gradually decreased in most soils with an increase in RAMEB concentration whereas the average mesopore radius increased, indicating that finer mesopores were blocked by RAMEB. Measurements of the granulometric composition of soils by sedimentation analysis showed that the amount of coarse-size soil fractions increased on the expense of finer fractions due to aggregation of smaller particles. Behavior of the studied soils after RAMEB treatment depended on their clay content and the dose of cyclodextrin. In clay-rich soils, strong interactions of cyclodextrins with the soil solid phase governed the resulting soil properties. In clay-poor soils, the cyclodextrin excess (not interacted with clays) played a dominant role. Modification of surface, pore, and aggregation properties of soils by RAMEB can have a significant effect in soil remediation technologies.     

Geoenergy in Poland

This paper presents the current state of geothermal energy production in Poland and its future development prospects. At present, there are four geothermal heating plants in Poland. In addition, warm water is used in seven spa towns in balneology as well as in seven thermal swimming pools for recreational purposes. There has recently been an increase in the number of installed heat pumps in Poland – reaching 10,000 in 2010. In the near future the development of geothermics in Poland is forecast to continue. The first power and heat geothermal plant is being built in Uniejów whilst in more than ten other towns special swimming pool complexes using geothermal warm water are being built or designed. In the coming years heat pumps will be installed in living and office buildings as well as in public use buildings (mostly in newly built ones). Moreover, in Poland it is planned to use heat pumps in order to recover waste heat from factories and power plants.