Impact of the addition of dolomite to cream-firing clays on the technological and color properties of sintered ceramics

Sintered ceramics, represented by ceramic tiles or clinker bricks, are widely used in the building materials industry due to their technological properties and visual qualities. The topic of color changing of ceramic materials from cream-firing clays with the use of mineral additives has not been addressed to date. The aim of the paper was to investigate the effect of granulation of dolomite additives to ceramic masses based on cream-firing Borkowice clay on the color and properties of fired ceramic materials. The paper proposes that grain size of mineral additive affects the color of sintered ceramics. In order to confirm this hypothesis, a number of experiments were performed, consisting of determination of the color and technological properties of ceramic materials. The conducted tests showed that the color and technological properties of sintered ceramics are influenced by the grain size of the additives used.     

Aromagrams – Aromatic profiles in the appreciation of food quality

In this review a new approach to the food aroma analysis using various instrumental techniques is described. In the last decade extensive studies have been performed concerning aroma profiles (called in this article ‘aromagrams’) of food products and beverages. Aromagram is characteristic or even individual fingerprint of the odour, obtained usually by chromatographic methods or electronic nose. Basing on the fact that each product has its own unique pattern of volatile components, it is possible to get desired information about organoleptic quality and health safety of the product by qualitative and quantitative comparison of aromagrams of different foodstuffs. Appearance of aromagrams and their usefulness depend on the assay method, particularly on the extraction step. The paper reviews the methods developed to analyse volatiles in food products basing upon their aroma profiles.     

Screening and Molecular Identification of Bacteria from the Midgut of Amphimallon solstitiale Larvae Exhibiting Antagonistic Activity against Bacterial Symbionts of Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) are a group of organisms capable of infecting larvae of insects living in soil, including representatives of the family Scarabaeidae. Their insecticidal activity is related to the presence of symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus spp. or Photorhabdus spp. in the alimentary tract, which are released into the insect body, leading to its death caused by bacterial toxins and septicemia. Although the antibacterial activities of symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes have been well described, there is insufficient knowledge of the interactions between these bacteria and microorganisms that naturally inhabit the alimentary tract of insects infested by nematodes. In this study, 900 bacterial strains isolated from midgut samples of Amphimallon solstitiale larvae were tested for their antagonistic activity against the selected five Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus species. Cross-streak tests showed significant antibacterial activity of 20 isolates. These bacteria were identified as Bacillus [Brevibacterium] frigoritolerans, Bacillus toyonensis, Bacillus wiedmannii, Chryseobacterium lathyri, Chryseobacterium sp., Citrobacter murliniae, Enterococcus malodoratus, Paenibacillus sp., Serratia marcescens and Serratia sp. Since some representatives of the intestinal microbiota of A. solstitiale are able to inhibit the growth of Xenorhabdus and Photorhrhabdus bacteria in vitro, it can be assumed that this type of bacterial interaction may occur at certain stages of insect infection by Steinernema or Heterorhabditis nematodes.     

Reduced Percentage of CD14dimCD16+SLAN+ Monocytes Producing TNF and IL-12 as an Immunological Sign of CLL Progression

Monocytes are one of the least studied immune cells with a potentially important role in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Nevertheless, data regarding the role of subpopulations of monocytes in the CLL microenvironment are still limited. For the very first time, this study presents an assessment of monocyte subsets divided according to SLAN and CD16 expression in CLL patients. The study involved 70 freshly diagnosed CLL patients and 35 healthy donors. Using flow cytometry, monocyte subpopulations were assessed among PBMCs. CD14⁺ monocytes can be divided into: “classical” (CD14⁺CD16⁻SLAN⁻), “intermediate” (CD14⁺CD16⁺SLAN⁻) and “non-classical” (CD14^dimCD16⁺SLAN⁺). In our study, we noted an increased percentage of non-classical monocytes with intracellular expression of TNF and IL-12. On the other hand, among the intermediate monocytes, a significantly higher percentage of cells synthesizing anti-inflammatory IL-10 was detected. The percentage of CD14^dimCD16⁺SLAN⁺ monocytes producing TNF and IL-12 decreased with the stage of CLL and inversely correlated with the expression of the prognostic factors ZAP-70 and CD38. Moreover, the percentage of CD14^dimCD16⁺SLAN⁺ monocytes producing TNF and IL-12 was lower in CLL patients requiring treatment. This may indicate the beneficial effect of non-classical monocytes on the anti-tumor response.     

5-Arylidenerhodanines as P-gp Modulators: An Interesting Effect of the Carboxyl Group on ABCB1 Function in Multidrug-Resistant Cancer Cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is considered one of the major mechanisms responsible for the failure of numerous anticancer and antiviral chemotherapies. Various strategies to overcome the MDR phenomenon have been developed, and one of the most attractive research directions is focused on the inhibition of MDR transporters, membrane proteins that extrude cytotoxic drugs from living cells. Here, we report the results of our studies on a series newly synthesized of 5-arylidenerhodanines and their ability to inhibit the ABCB1 efflux pump in mouse T-lymphoma cancer cells. In the series, compounds possessing a triphenylamine moiety and the carboxyl group in their structure were of particular interest. These amphiphilic compounds showed over 17-fold stronger efflux pump inhibitory effects than verapamil. The cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of target rhodanines on T-lymphoma cells were also investigated. A putative binding mode for 11, one of the most potent P-gp inhibitors tested here, was predicted by molecular docking studies and discussed with regard to the binding mode of verapamil.     

Phenomena that accompany the condensation of R404A refrigerant in multiports during hydrodynamic instabilities

Experimental research results are presented concerning the condensation of the R404A refrigerant in a five-channel multiport, which is fed in parallel and consists of mini-channels with internal diameter d = 0.90 and 3.30 mm. The research was performed in the presence of periodic instabilities generated in a frequency range from 5 to 0.2 Hz. During condensation in the multiport, the impact of instabilities is considerably stronger that in the case of single mini-channels. It was found that the temperature profiles and pressure profiles became deformed in each of the mini-channels of the multiport during the condensation process with the generated instabilities. These deformations decreased the value of heat transfer coefficient h, whose value depends on the diameter d of the multiport mini-channels, vapour quality x and the frequency f of the disturbances generated.     

Modelling of the carding process for spunlace nonwovens with particular regard to selected mechanical parameters in a double-drum card. Part 2: Modelling of delay times in the longitudinal mixing process

Abstract

The production of Spunlace nonwoven fabric is a complex process and includes, among other things, several important stages, such as carding, needling and drying. One of the most important stages is the carding process, which has a significant impact on the shaping of the physico-mechanical and qualitative characteristics of the nonwoven fabric. The article presents the modelling of the carding process in a two-drum system. A mathematical model, determining the expected number of drum and carding card cycles was proposed. Based on this model, delays were determined, due to longitudinal shifts of fibre in the carding process. Numerical simulations have been made and discussed in relation to fibre collection factors, at different production speeds and the number of carding rollers in the worker-stripper system.