Degrees of Antioxidant Protection: A 2‐Year Study of the Bioactive Properties of Organic Milk in Poland

The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional value of organic milk in Poland, investigate the influence of diet on antioxidant capacity and degree of antioxidant protection (DAP), and to examine the effect of season on the bioactive properties of milk from organic farms. From 2014 to 2015, 820 milk samples were collected from 6 organic farms during indoor feeding season (IDS) and pasture feeding season (PS). Pasture feeding season + corn grain (PSCG) cows’ daily ration during pasture feeding season was enriched with 4 kg a day of corn to improve dietary energy balance. Milk obtained during PS was found to have a higher fat content, slight but significantly lower protein content compared with milk from IDS. The study showed that the content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in milk fat was strongly linked to the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and, to a lesser extent, on the supply of MUFA. The IDS data (concentration of vitamin E, A, and β‐carotene) showed the lowest values compared with the PS and PSCG groups. Total antioxidant status (TAS) and DAP showed an increasing trend in organic milk. PSCG was associated with highest level of DAP (9% higher than PS and 79% higher than IDS) and TAS (37% higher than PS and 79% higher than IDS). The results obtained show that supplementation of the basic ration with corn grain improved both TAS and DAP. The higher DAP and TAS value is responsible for product stability, considering the risk factor related to levels of cholesterol‐oxide intake in humans.     

Comparison of the Effects of Resveratrol and Its Derivatives on the Radiation Response of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Radiotherapy is among the most important methods for breast cancer treatment. However, this method’s effectiveness is limited by radioresistance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the stilbene derivatives piceid, resveratrol, and piceatannol have a radiosensitising effect on breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The conducted research enabled us to determine which of the tested compounds has the greatest potential in sensitising cells to ionising radiation (IR). Among the stilbene derivatives, resveratrol significantly increased the effect of IR. Resveratrol and IR used in combination had a higher cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells than using piceatannol, piceid, or radiation alone. This was due to a significant decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which resulted in the accumulation of formed reactive oxygen species (ROS). The effect of resveratrol and IR enhanced the expression of apoptotic genes, such as Bax, p53, and caspase 8, leading to apoptosis.     

Synaptic Alterations in a Transgenic Model of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Relevance to Autism Spectrum Disorders

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare, multi-system genetic disease with serious neurological and mental symptoms, including autism. Mutations in the TSC1/TSC2 genes lead to the overactivation of mTOR signalling, which is also linked to nonsyndromic autism. Our aim was to analyse synaptic pathology in a transgenic model of TSC: two-month-old male B6;129S4-Tsc2^tm1Djk/J mice with Tsc2 haploinsufficiency. Significant brain-region-dependent alterations in the expression of several synaptic proteins were identified. The most prominent changes were observed in the immunoreactivity of presynaptic VAMP1/2 (ca. 50% increase) and phospho-synapsin-1 (Ser62/67) (ca. 80% increase). Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated serious ultrastructural abnormalities in synapses such as a blurred structure of synaptic density and a significantly increased number of synaptic vesicles. The impairment of synaptic mitochondrial ultrastructure was represented by excessive elongation, swelling, and blurred crista contours. Polyribosomes in the cytoplasm and swollen Golgi apparatus suggest possible impairment of protein metabolism. Moreover, the delamination of myelin and the presence of vacuolar structures in the cell nucleus were observed. We also report that Tsc2^+/− mice displayed increased brain weights and sizes. The behavioural analysis demonstrated the impairment of memory function, as established in the novel object recognition test. To summarise, our data indicate serious synaptic impairment in the brains of male Tsc2^+/− mice.     

Utilization of bog iron ores as sorbents of heavy metals

Sorption properties of bog iron ores with respect to Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr are evaluated at various pH. Maximum sorption determined in the experiments equals to 97.0, 25.2, 25.5, 55.0mg/g for lead(II), copper(II), zinc(II), and chromium(III), respectively. Chromium(VI) is bound in the amount of up to 10.0mg/g. The values of desorption indicate that most of the metals remain stably bound to the surface of bog iron ores, indicating that the chemisorption process prevails. The metals are sorbed as cations at the pH values from 4 to 9. Within this pH range up to 100% of the initial metal amount is immobilized. 90-100% of Cr(VI) is sorbed at pH between 3 and 5. Such properties, combined with favorable conditions of shallow mining and resultant low costs, may be regarded as an incentive for local utilization of bog iron ores in the environmental protection practice.     

Porous anodic alumina membranes formed by anodization of AA1050 alloy as templates for fabrication of metallic nanowire arrays

The through-hole porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes were fabricated by a two-step anodization of the aluminum alloy (AA1050) in 0.3 M oxalic acid at 45 V and 20 °C followed by removal of Al and pore opening/widening procedures. The effect of duration of the second anodizing step on the porous oxide layer thickness and the influence of the pore opening time on structural features of as-prepared membranes were studied in detail. The prepared membranes with a thickness of about 60 μm were used as templates for fabrication of dense arrays of Ag, Au, and Sn nanowires with various aspect ratios by a DC electrochemical deposition process. The successful synthesis of metallic nanowires by simple DC electrodeposition of metals inside the pores of AAO templates fabricated from the AA1050 alloy was reported for the first time. The fabrication costs of nanowire arrays can be reduced by about 500 times when AAO templates, prepared from the AA1050 alloy, are used instead of those usually formed from expensive high purity Al.     

Ultraviolet influence on catalase activity and mineral content in eyeballs of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

UV radiation present in the environment may induce several eye disorders including inflammation and cataract. The aim of this work was to study catalase activity and Mg, Cu, Ca and Zn contents in the eyeballs of gibel carp exposed to ecologically relevant doses of UV radiation (0.09 kJ/m2 for UV-A and 0.98 kJ/m2 for UV-B) simulated in laboratory conditions. Ultraviolet exposure resulted in significant reduction of catalase activity in the eyeballs of tested fish. Reductions in Mg, Cu and Ca contents after UV exposure were also observed. The differences in Mg and Cu levels between control and UV exposed animals were statistically significant, whereas the reduction of Ca level was insignificant. Zinc level in the eyeballs of UV-exposed fish was significantly higher than in non-irradiated specimens. The results suggest that ultraviolet radiation affects prooxidant/antioxidant balance and Mg, Cu, Zn contents in the eyes of fish living in shallow habitats. These may lead to cataract formation.     

Sorption of copper,zinc and cobalt by oat and oat products

We determined copper, zinc and cobalt sorption by oat and its products under variable pH conditions as well as the content of neutral dietary fiber (NDF) and its fractional composition. Adsorbents in a model sorption system were: oat, dehulled oat, oats bran and oats flakes. Three various buffers (pH 1.8, 6.6 and 8.7) were used as dispersing solutions. Results collected during this study indicate that copper, zinc and cobalt sorption is significantly affected by the type of cereal raw material. Zinc and copper ions are subjected to higher sorption than cobalt ions. Examined metal ions were subjected to high sorption under conditions corresponding to the duodenum environment (pH 8.7), regardless of the kind of adsorbent. A little lower sorption capacity is observed under conditions close to the neutral environment, while the lowest one is found in environment reflecting conditions of stomach juice (pH 1.8). Zinc ions are bound intensively by dehulled oat, while oats flakes bound mostly copper and cobalt, independently on environmental conditions. Contents of dietary fiber in oat, dehulled oat, oat bran and oat flakes were: 40.1, 19.3, 20.3 and 14.3%, respectively. The dominating fraction in all oat products was the fraction of hemicelluloses. The content of remaining fractions varies in dependence on the product.     

A Compendium of Continuous Lattices in MIZAR

This paper reports on the MIZAR formalization of the theory of continuous lattices as presented in Gierz et al.: A Compendium of Continuous Lattices, 1980. By a MIZAR formalization we mean a formulation of theorems, definitions, and proofs written in the MIZAR language whose correctness is verified by the MIZAR processor. This effort was originally motivated by the question of whether or not the MIZAR system was sufficiently developed for the task of expressing advanced mathematics. The current state of the formalization – 57 MIZAR articles written by 16 authors – indicates that in principle the MIZAR system has successfully met the challenge. To our knowledge it is the most sizable effort aimed at mechanically checking some substantial and relatively recent field of advanced mathematics. However, it does not mean that doing mathematics in MIZAR is as simple as doing mathematics traditionally (if doing mathematics is simple at all). The work of formalizing the material of the Gierz et al. compendium has (i) prompted many improvements of the MIZAR proof checking system, (ii) caused numerous revisions of the the MIZAR data base, and (iii) contributed to the to do list of further changes to the MIZAR system.     

The application of solid electrolytes to the thermodynamic study of some alkaline earths silicates

Solid electrolytes based on stabilized zirconia (or thoria) cannot be used to the construction of the solid galvanic cells for the study of thermodynamic properties of the alkaline earths silicates. They become a partially electronic conductors of low chemical potentials of oxygen, as those in the coexisting alkaline earths silicate phases.It was attempted to use as the solid electrolyte a mixture of small amounts of alkaline earth fluoride in the corresponding silicate. Then, the solid galvanic cells consisting of such electrolytes were applied to the determination of the standard Gibbs free energies of formation of some magnesium, strontium and barium silicates.