Enzymatically Modified Fats Based on Mutton Tallow and Rapeseed Oil Suitable for Fatty Emulsions

The aim of this work was to develop a new fat by enzymatic interesterification of mutton tallow with rapeseed oil. It was assumed that by inducing hydrolysis of fats by addition of water to the enzymatic preparation (8, 10, 15 wt%) natural emulsifiers would be produced in the reaction environment. Fat blends obtained from the enzymatic reactions were evaluated as a fat base for emulsion systems. It was found that the fat resulting from interesterification in the presence of Lipozyme RM IM (immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei, Novozymes Bagsvaerd, Denmark) with 15 wt% of water possessed the highest content of polar fraction (MAG and DAG), and served as the most suitable blend for emulsification, producing emulsions that exhibited the highest stability.     

The Role of Neutrophils in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Tumor-associated neutrophils appear to be a crucial element of the tumor microenvironment that actively participates in the development and progression of cancerous diseases. The increased lifespan, plasticity in changing of phenotype, and functions of neutrophils influence the course of the disease and may significantly affect survival. In patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), disturbances in neutrophils functions impede the effective immune defense against pathogens. Therefore, understanding the mechanism underlying such a phenomenon in CLL seems to be of great importance. Here we discuss the recent reports analyzing the phenotype and functions of neutrophils in CLL, the most common leukemia in adults. We summarize the data concerning both the phenotype and the mechanisms by which neutrophils directly support the proliferation and survival of malignant B cells.     

Influence of Nb5+ ions on phase transitions and polar disorder above TC in PbZrO3 studied by Raman spectroscopy

Micro-Raman light scattering experiments on PbZrO₃ (PZO) single crystal doped with Nb⁵⁺ have been investigated. Special attention was paid to the paraelectric (PE) phase in which nominally forbidden first-order Raman spectra were detected at temperatures far above the phase transition T_C. Complex Raman spectra were observed in the vicinity of three structural phase transitions. These results mainly from the coexistence of phases with different symmetries in a wide temperature range below T_C. The Raman measurements have been compared with dielectric and optical observations and proved that polar nanoregions in a centrosymmetric lattice appear well above T_C. It was shown that doping ABO₃ perovskites with heterovalent ions like Nb⁵⁺ unbalances charge neutrality of the lattice and strongly extends the temperature range of polar regions. The investigations performed point out that in the PE matrix the interaction between electrons and lattice vibrations, as recently suggested for pure PZO, plays an important role.     

Effect of the sintering temperature on microstructure and properties of Al2O3–Cu–Ni hybrid composites obtained by PPS

In the present research, the influence of sintering temperature on the microstructure and properties of Al₂O₃–Cu–Ni hybrid composites prepared by the Pulse Plasma Sintering (PPS) technique were described. In this research, three temperatures have been selected: 1250°C, 1300°C, and 1350°C. SEM observations were carried out to determine the distribution of the metallic phase in the composite depending on the sintering temperature. The conducted experiments and microscopic observations enabled a better understanding of the phenomena occurring between the ceramic matrix and metallic phase in the obtained materials. The mechanical properties like a hardness and fracture toughness were measured. The technology applied allowed us to obtain ceramic-metal composites with a homogeneous microstructure. It was found that the sintering temperature influences the selected physical and mechanical properties of the composites produced. It was found that samples produced at 1300°C are characterized by the highest relative density and the mechanical properties.     

New lake district in Europe: origin and hydrochemical characteristics

This article presents a new lake district in Southern Poland created as a result of human activity in the Upper Silesian region. The area has been named the Upper Silesian Anthropogenic Lake District. The lake density of the Lake District as delineated by the authors (with an area of 6766 km²) is 2.74%. It includes 4773 water bodies of various origins – reservoirs retained by dams, flooded mineral workings, water bodies formed in subsidence basins and hollows, levee ponds, residual water bodies following river regulation and other water bodies. These are located in urban‐industrial, rural‐agricultural or quasi‐natural areas. The hydrochemical diversity of water bodies is conditioned by their origin, location in the catchment and function. Studies have shown the widespread occurrence of eutrophication processes in limnic waters within the Lake District. The diverse origin and hydrochemical properties of water bodies within the Upper Silesian Anthropogenic Lake District make it special among other anthropogenic lake districts.     

Assessment of the hydromorphological state of Carpathian rivers above and below reservoirs

The article presents the results of an assessment of the hydromorphological state of selected Carpathian rivers in sections above and below the reservoirs. An attempt has also been made to assess the impact of reservoirs on the hydromorphological conditions and quality of river habitats. The research was based on the River Habitat Survey (RHS) method. The synthetic indices Habitat Quality Assessment (HQA) and Habitat Modification Score (HMS) were calculated on the basis of the gathered data for each section studied; this allowed the hydromorphological qualities of the rivers to be assessed numerically. The reservoirs interrupt river continuum, and they alter different biotic and abiotic elements of natural environment. However, this study has shown that the operation of reservoirs does not always negatively impact the hydromorphological conditions of rivers that reflect their habitat quality. The influence of reservoirs on a river's hydromorphological state above and below a reservoir's location may be neutral, but it also can improve the habitat conditions of a river.     

Comparison of Two Analytical Methods for Assessing Antioxidant Capacity of Rapeseed and Olive Oils

The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods were used for the determination of antioxidant capacities (AC) of rapeseed oils at different steps of technological process and olive oils. The mean ORAC and FRAP results obtained for rapeseed oils (1,106–160 and 552–95.6 μmol TE/100 g) were higher than for olive oils (949–123 and 167–32.1 μmol TE/100 g). Although, FRAP values were lower than ORAC values for all studied oils, there is a linear and significant correlation between these two analytical methods (r = 0.9665 and 0.9298, P < 0.0005) for rapeseed and olive oils, respectively). Also, total phenolic compounds in rapeseed oils and olives correlated with antioxidant capacities (correlation coefficient ranged between 0.9470 and 0.8049). The refining process of rapeseed oils decreased the total phenolics content and antioxidant capacities by about 80%.     

Properties of Light MMCs Modified with Cordierite Synthesized from Fly Ash

This paper presents novel opportunities for management of fly ash by synthesizing the material into cordierite ceramics and using it as a reinforcing phase for light metal alloys. Metal matrix composites (based on magnesium alloy and aluminum alloy) were produced by squeeze casting. The magnesium matrix composites with a suitably selected reinforcing phase content (2 wt.%) exhibited much better strength properties than the unmodified alloy (AM60). It was also demonstrated that the wettability (or the lack thereof) in the metal-ceramic system is critical to successful production of the composites based on the AK7 alloy with cordierite. Light alloy matrix composites reinforced with cordierite ceramics particles are innovative materials that combine high strength with low weight, which may be a key factor of merit for numerous applications of the composite in various branches of industries.     

Synthesis of Novel Phosphonic‐Type Activity‐Based Probes for Neutrophil Serine Proteases and Their Application in Spleen Lysates of Different Organisms

Neutrophils are a type of granulocyte important in the “first line of defense” of the innate immune system. Upon activation, they facilitate the destruction of invading microorganisms by the production of superoxide radicals, as well as the release of the enzymatic contents of their lysozymes. These enzymes include specific serine proteases: cathepsin G, neutrophil elastase, proteinase 3, as well as the recently discovered neutrophil serine protease 4 (NSP4). Under normal conditions, the proteolytic activity of neutrophil proteases is tightly regulated by endogenous serpins; however, this mechanism can be subverted during tissue stress, thereby resulting in the uncontrolled activity of serine proteases, which induce chronic inflammation and subsequent pathology. Herein, we describe the development of low‐molecular‐weight activity‐based probes that specifically target the active sites of neutrophil proteases.