Metabolic Profiling of VOCs Emitted by Bacteria Isolated from Pressure Ulcers and Treated with Different Concentrations of Bio-AgNPs

Considering the advent of antibiotic resistance, the study of bacterial metabolic behavior stimulated by novel antimicrobial agents becomes a relevant tool to elucidate involved adaptive pathways. Profiling of volatile metabolites was performed to monitor alterations of bacterial metabolism induced by biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (bio-AgNPs). Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis were isolated from pressure ulcers, and their cultures were prepared in the presence/absence of bio-AgNPs at 12.5, 25 and 50 µg mL⁻¹. Headspace solid phase microextraction associated to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was the employed analytical platform. At the lower concentration level, the agent promoted positive modulation of products of fermentation routes and bioactive volatiles, indicating an attempt of bacteria to adapt to an ongoing suppression of cellular respiration. Augmented response of aldehydes and other possible products of lipid oxidative cleavage was noticed for increasing levels of bio-AgNPs. The greatest concentration of agent caused a reduction of 44 to 80% in the variety of compounds found in the control samples. Pathway analysis indicated overall inhibition of amino acids and fatty acids routes. The present assessment may provide a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms of bio-AgNPs and how the metabolic response of bacteria is untangled.     

The influence of volume fraction of amorphous phase on corrosion resistance of Mg67Zn 29Ca 4 alloy

The aim of this study was to investigate the structure and corrosion resistance of amorphous, amorphous‐crystalline, and crystalline Mg₆₇Zn₂₉Ca₄ alloy for biodegradable applications. This paper presents a preparation method and results of the structural characterization and corrosion resistance analysis of the material. Samples were prepared in the form of 3 mm diameter rods. The structure of the alloy was examined with the use of X‐ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The thermal properties of the samples were examined with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results of DSC analysis were used to determine heat treatment temperatures, allowing to obtain different fractures of crystalline phase in the material. Corrosion resistance of heat‐treated samples was investigated by immersion tests and electrochemical measurements performed in the simulated body fluid. The X‐ray diffraction results confirmed that the prepared Mg₆₇Zn₂₉Ca₄ alloy's structure is fully amorphous. After heat treatment, samples with different fractions of amorphous phase in the structure were obtained. Immersion tests of the samples showed that the structure significantly influenced corrosion resistance in examined materials. It should be pointed out, that certain amounts of crystalline phase in amorphous matrix can greatly improve the corrosion resistance of Mg₆₇Zn₂₉Ca₄ alloy.     

Biological Water Treatment by a Hybrid Fluidized-Bed Bioreactor: Theoretical Study

A hybrid fluidized-bed bioreactor for water purification was proposed and analyzed. It is a novel type of bioreactor characterized by hitherto unknown stationary and dynamic features. Steady-state characteristics of this hybrid bioreactor with external liquid circulation are presented. A quantitative analysis of steady-state properties of the bioreactor was performed with the aid of an original mathematical model developed for a double-substrate aerobic microbiological process. A steady-state analysis of aerobic processes characterized by different oxygen demand was performed. The effect of essential parameters was evaluated, including carbonaceous substrate concentration in the feed stream to the apparatus, aeration intensity, total residence time of a liquid in the bioreactor, and height of the bed of fine carrier particles.     

Effect of complexation of oxidised corn starch with mineral elements on physicochemical properties

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of complexation of oxidised starch with mineral elements on its physicochemical properties. Corn starch was oxidised with sodium hypochlorite and, afterwards, modified with ions of potassium, magnesium and iron. Thus, native and modified starches were analysed for: contents of mineral elements, colour parameters (L*a*b*), water binding capacity and solubility in water at temperature of 60 and 80 °C. Thermodynamic characteristics of gelatinisation by DSC, molecular weight distribution by GPC, intrinsic viscosity and pasting properties by RVA were studied. The efficiency of incorporation of metal ions into oxidised corn starch was about 30%, 20% and 20% for potassium, magnesium and iron ions, respectively. The complexation with potassium ions caused the greatest changes in the molecular weight distribution and the intrinsic viscosity of starches and viscosity of starch pastes. Only modification of starch with iron ions affected the colour parameters of the starch. Incorporation of metal ions into starch resulted also in changes in its water binding capacity and solubility in water.     

Long-Term Changes in the Course of Ice Phenomena on the Oder River along the Polish–German Border

Ice phenomena are a major component of the hydrological regime of east-central and northern European rivers. However, their occurrence disturbs inland water transportation, particularly affecting the major rivers of the Central European Plain that are part of Europe’s international waterways. The Oder is one of these rivers, and is located on the boundary between the much warmer and the much colder part of the temperate climatic zone. This makes the course of ice phenomena on the river difficult to predict. The main purpose of this work is to document and analyse the dynamic of changes occurring for over 60 years (1956–2015) in the ice phenomena of a river that demonstrates a transitional ice regime. It was found that the duration of all ice phenomena decreased (by up to 0.58 days·year^?1) and so did the duration of ice cover (by up to 0.46 days·year^?1). The rates and trends of the two parameters were, however, different in different parts of the lower stretch of the river. This fact is especially important in the context of climate changes whose characteristics include an increased incidence of extreme weather situations, both meteorological and hydrological. There was also found to be a strong correlation (R² from 0.69 to 0.81) between the duration of ice phenomena and the mean air temperature in winter (December to February) and a much weaker correlation between the duration of ice phenomena and the NAO index (R² from 0.42 to 0.48). Such a little correlation of ice phenomena with NAO is likely to result from the pollution of the Oder River (in particular in the second half of the twentieth century) and icebreaking operations on the river.

     

Influence of n-alkanes on wettability and zeta potential of quartz

Contact angles were measured in the following systems: quartz/water droplet/saturated vapor of water + n-alkane and quartz/water droplet/saturated vapor of n-alkane. The alkanes tested were from hexane to pentadecane. In both systems non-smooth changes of contact angle as a function of the chain length were observed. These changes are similar to the zeta-potential changes measured previously for two different samples of quartz in the quartz/n-alkana/water system. On the basis of the results and calculations it is suggested that the observed non-smooth changes of contact angle are due to similar changes in film pressures of the water and n-alkanes.     

Synthesis of unsaturated polyesters of increased solubility in styrene

The present study presents the synthesis of unsaturated polyester resins using only one glycol i.e., ethylene glycol. Polyesters of inorganic solubility in styrene were prepared. Properties of the resins in the noncrosslinked state in the process of crosslinking and after curing were studied. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3143–3150, 2006     

Efficient computer implementation of the renormalized coupled-cluster methods: The R-CCSD[T], R-CCSD(T), CR-CCSD[T], and CR-CCSD(T) approaches

The recently proposed renormalized (R) and completely renormalized (CR) coupled-cluster (CC) methods of the CCSD[T] and CCSD(T) types have been implemented using recursively generated intermediates and fast matrix multiplication routines. The details of this implementation, including the complete set of equations that have been used in writing efficient computer codes, memory requirements, and typical CPU timings, are discussed. The R-CCSD[T], R-CCSD(T), CR-CCSD[T], and CR-CCSD(T) computer codes and similar codes for the standard CC methods, including the LCCD, CCD, CCSD, CCSD[T], and CCSD(T) approaches, have been incorporated into the gamess package. Information about the main features of this new set of CC programs is provided.     

Haemophilia A: mutation type determines risk of inhibitor formation

The formation of factor VIII antibodies is a major problem for replacement therapy of haemophilia A patients. Antibodies occur in 5-30% of patients with severe haemophilia A. The reason for antibody formation is still unknown. In this study we correlate for the first time different factor VIII gene mutations, stop- and missense mutations, large and small deletions and intrachromosomal intron 22 recombinations to antibody formation. A total of 364 patients with known inhibitor status of our institute, of the database, and of 3 studies representing intron-22-inversion data are included. The results show that the risk for developing factor VIII antibodies is strongly related to stop mutations. large deletions and intrachromosomal recombinations. A probable explanation could be the complete lack of endogenous circulating factor VIII protein in these cases. Other factors that might be important for the pathogenesis of inhibitor formation, e. g. the antenatal period, as well as possible therapeutic effects, are discussed.