Oxidative stress and the hypoxic microenvironment play a key role in the progression of human melanoma, one of the most aggressive skin cancers. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of ...Hypericum perforatum extracts of different origins (both commercially available (HpEx2) and laboratory-prepared from wild grown (HpEx12) and in vitro cultured (HpEx13) plants) and hyperforin salt on WM115 primary and WM266-4 lymph node metastatic human melanoma cells cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The polyphenol content, radical scavenging activity, and hyperforin concentration were determined in the extracts, while cell viability, apoptosis, ROS production, and expression of NRF2 and HO-1, important oxidative stress-related factors, were analyzed after 24 h of cell stimulation with HpExs and hyperforin salt. We found that cytotoxic, pro-apoptotic and antioxidant effects depend on the extract composition, the stage of melanoma progression, and the oxygen level. Hyperforin salt showed lower activity than H. perforatum extracts. Our study for the first time showed that the anticancer activity of H. perforatum extracts differs in normoxia and hypoxia. Importantly, the composition of extracts of various origins, including in vitro cultured, resulting in their unique properties, may be important in the selection of plants for therapeutic application.
This paper reports ATR-IR and NIR spectroscopic studies on microheterogeneity in binary mixtures of methanol with five short chain aliphatic alcohols: ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol,
tert
-butanol ...and cyclopentanol. The inhomogeneity distribution of molecules in the mixtures was characterized by MIR/NIR excess absorption spectra, two-dimensional correlation approach, and chemometric methods. The experimental data were compared and discussed with the theoretical calculations of homo- and heteroclusters of different size and composition. The results obtained in the present work allow us to infer that all studied mixtures deviate from the ideal and the largest effect appears at equimolar mixture. At this composition about 50% of molecules are involved in the mixed clusters. In the entire range of compositions in the mixtures coexist the clusters of pure alcohols and heteroclusters with an average mole ratio of 1 : 1. Only in methanol/
tert
-butanol mixture was observed an additional
tert
-butanol-rich cluster with an average methanol :
tert
-butanol mole ratio between 1 : 3 and 1 : 4. The excess absorption and two-dimensional correlation spectra reveals that methanol/ethanol mixture is the closest to the ideal one, while the largest degree of non-ideality was observed for methanol/
tert
-butanol mixture. The extent of deviation from the ideal mixture increases with an increase in the chain length and the order of the alcohol. These trends are correlated with decreasing degree of self-association of the alcohol.
This paper reports ATR-IR and NIR spectroscopic studies on microheterogeneity in binary mixtures of methanol with five short chain aliphatic alcohols: ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol,
tert
-butanol and cyclopentanol.
Lead-free Ksub.0.5Bisub.0.5TiOsub.3 (KBT) ceramics with high density (~5.36 g/cmsup.3, 90% of X-ray density) and compositional purity (up to 90%) were synthesized using a solid-state reaction method. ...Strongly condensed KBT ceramics revealed homogenous local microstructures. TG/DSC (Thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry) techniques characterized the thermal and structural stability of KBT. High mass stability (>0.4%) has proven no KBT thermal decomposition or other phase precipitation up to 1000 °C except for the co-existing Ksub.2Tisub.6Osub.13 impurity. A strong influence of crystallites size and sintering conditions on improved dielectric and non-linear optical properties was reported. A significant increase (more than twice) in dielectric permittivity (εsub.R), substantial for potential applications, was found in the KBT-24h specimen with extensive milling time. Moreover, it was observed that the second harmonic generation (λsub.SHG = 532 nm) was activated at remarkably low fundamental beam intensity. Finally, spectroscopic experiments (Fourier transform Raman and far-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)) were supported by DFT (Density functional theory) calculations with a 2 × 2 × 2 supercell (P4sub.2mc symmetry and C4v point group). Moreover, the energy band gap was calculated (Esub.g = 2.46 eV), and a strong hybridization of the O-2p and Ti-3d orbitals at Esub.g explained the nature of band-gap transition (Γ → Γ).
Lead-free K
Bi
TiO
(KBT) ceramics with high density (~5.36 g/cm
, 90% of X-ray density) and compositional purity (up to 90%) were synthesized using a solid-state reaction method. Strongly condensed ...KBT ceramics revealed homogenous local microstructures. TG/DSC (Thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry) techniques characterized the thermal and structural stability of KBT. High mass stability (>0.4%) has proven no KBT thermal decomposition or other phase precipitation up to 1000 °C except for the co-existing K
Ti
O
impurity. A strong influence of crystallites size and sintering conditions on improved dielectric and non-linear optical properties was reported. A significant increase (more than twice) in dielectric permittivity (
), substantial for potential applications, was found in the KBT-24h specimen with extensive milling time. Moreover, it was observed that the second harmonic generation (λ
= 532 nm) was activated at remarkably low fundamental beam intensity. Finally, spectroscopic experiments (Fourier transform Raman and far-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)) were supported by DFT (Density functional theory) calculations with a 2 × 2 × 2 supercell (
4
symmetry and C4v point group). Moreover, the energy band gap was calculated (
= 2.46 eV), and a strong hybridization of the O-2
and Ti-3
orbitals at
explained the nature of band-gap transition (Γ → Γ).
Next generation brain machine interfaces fundamentally need to improve the information transfer rate and chronic consistency when observing neural activity over a long period of time. Towards this ...aim, this paper presents a novel System-on-Chip (SoC) for a mm-scale wireless neural recording node that can be implanted in a distributed fashion. The proposed self-regulating architecture allows each implant to operate autonomously and adaptively load the electromagnetic field to extract a precise amount of power for full-system operation. This can allow for a large number of recording sites across multiple implants extending through cortical regions without increased control overhead in the external head-stage. By observing local field potentials (LFPs) only, chronic stability is improved and good coverage is achieved whilst reducing the spatial density of recording sites. The system features a ΔΣ based instrumentation circuit that digitises high fidelity signal features at the sensor interface thereby minimising analogue resource requirements while maintaining exceptional noise efficiency. This has been implemented in a 0.35 μm CMOS technology allowing for wafer-scale post-processing for integration of electrodes, RF coil, electronics and packaging within a 3D structure. The presented configuration will record LFPs from 8 electrodes with a 825 Hz bandwidth and an input referred noise figure of 1.77μVrms. The resulting electronics has a core area of 2.1 mm 2 and a power budget of 92 μW
The primary objective of this study was to characterise the edaphic conditions of forest areas in the Pieniny National Park (PNP), and to describe the dependencies between properties of forest soils ...and types of forest plant communities. The “Soil Trophic Index” (SIGg) for mountainous areas was applied. The evaluation of the trophism for 74 forest monitoring employed the soil trophic index for mountainous areas SIGg or SIGgo. Plant communities in the forest monitoring areas were classified according to the Braun-Blanquet’s phytosociological method. Soils of PNP present in the forest monitoring areas were mostly classified as eutrophic brown soils (72.9%), rendzinas (10.8%), brown rendzinas (5.41%), and rubble initial soils (5.41%). Pararendzinas, dystrophic brown soils, and gley soils were less common (total below 5.5%). In the forest monitoring areas of PNP, eutrophic soils predominate over mesotrophic soils. High SIGg index of the soils is caused by high values of acidity and nitrogen content. The Carpathian beech forest
and thermophilic beech forest
associations are characterised by high naturalness and compatibility of theoretical habitats. The soils of the Carpathian fir forest
subcommunity is characterised by a higher share of silt and clay particles and lower acidity as compared to the Carpathian beech forest
subcommunity. The soils of the forest monitoring areas in PNP stand out in terms of their fertility against forest soils in other mountainous areas in Poland.
The quarrying industry is changing the local landscape, forming deep open pits and spoil heaps in close proximity to them, especially lignite mines. The impact can include toxic soil material (low ...pH, heavy metals, oxidations etc.) which is the basis for further reclamation and afforestation. Forests that stand on spoil heaps have very different growth conditions because of the relief (slope, aspect, wind and rainfall shadows, supply of solar energy, etc.) and type of soil that is deposited. Airborne laser scanning (ALS) technology deliver point clouds (XYZ) and derivatives as raster height models (DTM, DSM, nDSM=CHM) which allow the reception of selected 2D and 3D forest parameters (e.g. height, base of the crown, cover, density, volume, biomass, etc). The automation of ALS point cloud processing and integrating the results into GIS helps forest managers to take appropriate decisions on silvicultural treatments in areas with failed plantations (toxic soil, droughts on south-facing slopes; landslides, etc.) or as regular maintenance. The ISOK country-wide project ongoing in Poland will soon deliver ALS point cloud data which can be successfully used for the monitoring and management of many thousands of hectares of destroyed post-industrial areas which according to the law, have to be afforested and transferred back to the State Forest.
The article discusses the effects of development strategy on management at the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków. The authors have concentrated on discussing the organizational innovations ...resulting from the assumed strategic objectives. The strategy implementation process and the corresponding barriers have been presented in the article as well. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
The article discusses the effects of development strategy on management at the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków. The authors have concentrated on discussing the organizational innovations ...resulting from the assumed strategic objectives. The strategy implementation process and the corresponding barriers have been presented in the article as well. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different types of high-fat diets (HFDs) on the proteomic profile of mouse liver. The analysis included four dietary groups of mice fed a standard ...diet (STD group), a high-fat diet rich in SFAs (SFA group), and high-fat diets dominated by PUFAs with linoleic acid (LA, C18:2n–6) to α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3n–3) ratios of 14:1 (14:1 group) and 5:1 (5:1 group). After three months of diets, liver proteins were resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) using 17 cm non-linear 3–10 pH gradient strips. Protein spots with different expression were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF. The expression of 13 liver proteins was changed in the SFA group compared to the STD group (↓: ALB, APOA1, IVD, MAT1A, OAT and PHB; ↑: ALDH1L1, UniProtKB—Q91V76, GALK1, GPD1, HMGCS2, KHK and TKFC). Eleven proteins with altered expression were recorded in the 14:1 group compared to the SFA group (↓: ARG1, FTL1, GPD1, HGD, HMGCS2 and MAT1A; ↑: APOA1, CA3, GLO1, HDHD3 and IVD). The expression of 11 proteins was altered in the 5:1 group compared to the SFA group (↓: ATP5F1B, FTL1, GALK1, HGD, HSPA9, HSPD1, PC and TKFC; ↑: ACAT2, CA3 and GSTP1). High-PUFA diets significantly affected the expression of proteins involved in, e.g., carbohydrate metabolism, and had varying effects on plasma total cholesterol and glucose levels. The outcomes of this study revealed crucial liver proteins affected by different high-fat diets.
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