Additive Interactions between Betulinic Acid and Two Taxanes in In Vitro Tests against Four Human Malignant Melanoma Cell Lines

The incidence of melanoma is steadily increasing worldwide. Melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer, and new therapeutic methods are being sought. Our research aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of betulinic acid in vitro, used alone and in combination with taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel) in four melanoma cell lines. Isobolographic analysis allowed us to assess the interactions between these compounds. Betulinic acid had no cytotoxic effect on normal human keratinocyte HaCaT cells; the amount of LDH released by them was significantly lower compared to melanoma cell lines. The present study shows that betulinic acid significantly inhibits the growth of melanoma cell lines in vitro. The IC50 values of betulinic acid ranged from 2.21 µM to 15.94 µM against the four melanoma lines. Co-treatment of betulinic acid with paclitaxel or docetaxel generated desirable drug–drug interactions, such as an additive and additive with a tendency to synergy interactions.     

Influence of series resistance and cooling conditions on I–V characteristics of SiC merged PiN Schottky diodes

The paper presents the exemplary electro-thermal models of merged PiN Schottky diode – a diode with the parallel PiN junction, protecting the device against the uncontrolled voltage rise, causing so-called thermal runaway. In the presented models, the conductivity modulation effect in the PiN junction is taken into account. The influence of the PiN junction on the non-isothermal I–V characteristics of MPS diodes, for various cooling conditions, is discussed. It is shown, that the thermal runaway is possible, in spite of presence of protecting PiN junction.     

Comparison of Lupinus angustifolius protein digestibility in dependence on protein,amino acids,trypsin inhibitors and polyphenolic compounds content

Lupine seeds are proposed as a source of valuable protein in human and animal nutrition. However, not only protein content but its bioavailability is important. Thus, the protein digestibility of twenty Lupinus angustifolius varieties seeds and the impact of some factors (protein and polyphenols content, trypsin inhibition and amino acids composition) on the protein digestion were discussed. Composition as well as the digestibility of these seeds was influenced by variety, weather conditions (precipitations) and place of cultivation (soil quality). The average digestibility of the seeds was 46%. The positive impact on the digestibility had the extractivity of the protein. Higher than it was expected activity of trypsin inhibitors (even up to ~32%) in some varieties influenced the protein availability, while the lysine and phenolic compounds content did not affect digestibility. The content of compounds influencing protein digestibility depends both on variety as well as on agronomical conditions.     

Thermal Properties of Raw Hemp Fiber as a Loose-Fill Insulation Material

The article presents the possibilities of using hemp fiber as a loose-fill insulation material. The article presents the results of research concerning raw hemp fiber obtained from the Polish crop of industrial hemp of Bia?obrzeskie variety. The analysis involved evaluation of thermal conductivity in function of bulk density and air permeability, the properties important for insulation materials. The results of laboratory investigation were used to create the numerical simulation models of heat transfer in the frame wall partitions filled with hemp fibers. The study showed that with the increase of bulk density, the thermal conductivity and air permeability of material decrease. The obtained lambda values are comparable with the characteristic values for conventional thermal insulation materials. The results of heat transfer and temperature distribution reveal that hemp fibers characterize with strongly air permeance, what affects on the need for additional barriers against air filtration.     

A multidimensional index to measure energy poverty: the Polish case

ABSTRACT

Energy poverty is generally caused by having a low income, facing high energy costs, and living in a home with low energy efficiency. Various indicators capture these facets, but there is no consensus which is the best one, or how to combine them. To this aim, we create a multidimensional index that accounts for five dimensions of energy deprivation: two objective indicators of “low income, high costs,” and “high actual cost,” as well as three subjective indicators of “not warm enough home,” “housing faults,” and “bills difficulties.” We define households as poor if at least two forms of deprivation are present. We apply our measure to Poland. In 2017, 10% of households in Poland suffered from multidimensional energy poverty. Households living in buildings built before 1946, households living in rural areas, and households that were dependent on retirement and disability pensions were at the highest risk of multidimensional energy poverty.     

Study on the electrodialytic nickel concentration from electroplating industry waste

ABSTRACT

Owing to the ability of electrodialysis to produce highly concentrated solutions from dilute stream, in this paper, the possibility of nickel recovery and concentration from real electroplating industrial waste was discussed. The results showed that the nickel content in solutions after electrodialysis was approximately two times higher than in the initial working solutions, and the nickel recovery exceeded 85%. The nickel electric current efficiency (CE_Ni) depended upon the type of electroplating bath and its acidic behaviour. The CE_Ni was in the range of 52.3–70.6%. Moreover, high boron and the total organic carbon retention coefficients equal to 88.92% and 93.93% respectively, were observed.     

Analysis of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Wild Blackberry Fruits

Twenty three different wild blackberry fruit samples were assessed regarding their phenolic profiles and contents (by LC/MS quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) and antioxidant activity (ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and 2,2-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS)) by two different extraction methods. Thirty four phenolic compounds were detected (8 anthocyanins, 15 flavonols, 3 hydroxycinnamic acids, 6 ellagic acid derivatives and 2 flavones). In samples, where pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was used for extraction, a greater increase in yields of phenolic compounds was observed, especially in ellagic acid derivatives (max. 59%), flavonols (max. 44%) and anthocyanins (max. 29%), than after extraction by the ultrasonic technique extraction (UAE) method. The content of phenolic compounds was significantly correlated with the antioxidant activity of the analyzed samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the PLE method was more suitable for the quantitative extraction of flavonols, while the UAE method was for hydroxycinnamic acids.