Magnetophotoluminescence of Modulation-Doped CdTe Multiple Quantum Wells

Modulation-doped CdTe quantum wells (QWs) with Cd0.7Mg0.3Te barriers were studied by photoluminescence (PL) and far-infrared Fourier spectroscopy under a magnetic field at 4.2 K and by Raman spectroscopy at room temperature. Two samples were tested: a sample which contained ten QWs (MQW) and a sample with one QW (SQW). The width of each QW was equal to 20 nm, and each of them was modulation-doped with iodine donors introduced in a 4 nm thick layer. The concentration of donors in each doped layer was nominally identical, but the thickness of the spacer in SQW and MQW samples was 20 and 10 nm, respectively. This resulted in a two times higher electron concentration per well in the MQW sample than in the SQW sample. We observed differences in PL from the two samples: the energy range of PL was different, and one observed phonon replicas in MQW which were absent in the SQW sample. An analysis of oscillations of the PL intensity as a function of magnetic field indicated that PL resulted from the recombination of free electrons in the conduction band with free or localized holes in the case of SQW and MQW samples, respectively.

Ketogenic diet influence on the elemental homeostasis of internal organs is gender dependent

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet that gains increasing popularity in the treatment of numerous diseases, including epilepsy, brain cancers, type 2 diabetes and various metabolic syndromes. Although KD is effective in the treatment of mentioned medical conditions, it is unfortunately not without side effects. The most frequently occurring undesired outcomes of this diet are nutrient deficiencies, the formation of kidney stones, loss of bone mineral density, increased LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels and hormonal disturbances. Both the diet itself and the mentioned adverse effects can influence the elemental composition and homeostasis of internal organs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the elemental abnormalities that appear in the liver, kidney, and spleen of rats subjected to long-term KD treatment. The investigation was conducted separately on males and females to determine if observed changes in the elemental composition of organs are gender-dependent. To measure the concentration of P, S, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn and Se in the tissues the method of the total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) was utilized. The obtained results revealed numerous elemental abnormalities in the organs of animals fed a high-fat diet. Only some of them can be explained by the differences in the composition and intake of the ketogenic and standard diets. Furthermore, in many cases, the observed anomalies differed between male and female rats.

Improving the Selectivity of the C-C Coupled Product Electrosynthesis by Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer─An Enhanced Route from Phenol to Biphenol

We developed a procedure for selective 2,4-dimethylphenol, DMPh, direct electro-oxidation to 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl-2,2'-biphenol, TMBh, a C-C coupled product. For that, we used an electrode coated with a product-selective molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The procedure is reasonably selective toward TMBh without requiring harmful additives or elevated temperatures. The TMBh product itself was used as a template for imprinting. We followed the template interaction with various functional monomers (FMs) using density functional theory (DFT) simulations to select optimal FM. On this basis, we used a prepolymerization complex of TMBh with carboxyl-containing FM at a 1:2 TMBh-to-FM molar ratio for MIP fabrication. The template-FM interaction was also followed by using different spectroscopic techniques. Then, we prepared the MIP on the electrode surface in the form of a thin film by the potentiodynamic electropolymerization of the chosen complex and extracted the template. Afterward, we characterized the fabricated films by using electrochemistry, FTIR spectroscopy, and AFM, elucidating their composition and morphology. Ultimately, the DMPh electro-oxidation was performed on the MIP film-coated electrode to obtain the desired TMBh product. The electrosynthesis selectivity was much higher at the electrode coated with MIP film in comparison with the reference nonimprinted polymer (NIP) film-coated or bare electrodes, reaching 39% under optimized conditions. MIP film thickness and electrosynthesis parameters significantly affected the electrosynthesis yield and selectivity. At thicker films, the yield was higher at the expense of selectivity, while the electrosynthesis potential increase enhanced the TMBh product yield. Computer simulations of the imprinted cavity interaction with the substrate molecule demonstrated that the MIP cavity promoted direct coupling of the substrate to form the desired TMBh product.

Binding of Quercetin Derivatives toward G-Tetrads as Studied by the Survival Yield Method

Recently, much interest has been devoted to finding effective G-quadruplex ligands, both of synthetic or natural origins, which may be of potential use in the field of cancer therapy. Among compounds of natural origin, a common flavonol quercetin has attracted notable attention. Yet, only a modest number of papers have been concerned with a comparison of quercetin conjugates binding to G-quadruplexes. In this study, we applied the survival yield (SY) method in order to compare the stability of G-tetrad complexes with quercetin and its conjugates, namely, 3-O-glycosides and O-methylated conjugates. According to the determined values of Ecomδ50, flavonol glycosides bind most effectively with G-tetrads, whereas, among flavonols, 3-O-methylquercetin makes the most effective bonds. Because the aglycone structure is of crucial importance for biological processes, 3-O-methylquercetin seems to be a suitable candidate for anticancer therapeutics, and the extracts from the plants, which contain high amounts of 3-O-methylquercetin or its glycosides, should be considered as interesting materials for preparation of pharmaceuticals or dietary supplements.

Assessment of interrelationships between cognitive performance, symptomatic manifestation and social functioning in the acute and clinical stability phase of schizophrenia: insights from a network analysis

BACKGROUND

It has been shown that various aspects of clinical manifestation of schizophrenia are strongly related to social functioning. However, it remains unknown as to whether similar factors predict social functioning at various stages of psychosis. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effects of interconnections between various domains of psychopathology and neurocognition on social functioning in people during acute phase of psychosis and those during remission of positive and disorganization symptoms using a network analysis.

METHODS

Two independent samples of individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were enrolled (89 inpatients during acute phase and 90 outpatients during remission of positive and disorganization symptoms). Clinical assessment covered the levels of functioning, positive, negative and depressive symptoms. Cognition was recorded using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Data were analyzed by means of the network analysis. Two separate networks of clinical symptoms, social functioning, and cognition (i.e., in patients during acute phase of psychosis and remitted outpatients with schizophrenia) were analyzed and compared with respect to the measures of centrality (betweenness, closeness, strength, and expected influence) and edge weights.

RESULTS

In both networks, the majority of centrality metrics (expected influence, strength, and closeness) had the highest values for the RBANS scores of attention (the sum of scores from two tasks, i.e., digit span and coding) and immediate memory. In both networks, social functioning was directly connected to positive, negative and depressive symptoms as well as the RBANS scores of attention and language. Additionally, in remitted patients, social functioning was directly connected to the RBANS score of immediate memory.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from the present study indicate the central role of cognitive deficits, especially those related to attention, processing speed, working and immediate memory in shaping functional impairments regardless of schizophrenia phase. Therapeutic interventions that aim to improve functional capacity need to target these domains of neurocognitive performance.

A hydrodynamic interaction between bubbles and gas supply system during gas bubble departures in liquids: an experimental study

In the present paper, the hydrodynamic interactions between bubbles and the gas supply system to a needle were experimentally investigated. In experimental investigations in one of the needles, the air volume flow rate was constant, and in the neighbouring needle, it was changed. In the paper, the methods of data analysis: wavelet decomposition, and FFT were used. It was shown that the hydrodynamic interaction becomes stronger with the increase in air volume flow rate supply to the needle. The occurrence of hydrodynamic interaction modifies bubble growth time slightly, but it significantly modifies the bubble waiting time. In the case when the liquid penetration into the needle is repeatable, then the percentage disturbances in bubble growth time and bubble waiting time are close to each other. Moreover, it can be concluded that synchronized or alternative bubble departures from twin neighbouring needles (occurring due to hydrodynamic interaction) are possible by modifying the bubble waiting time. The modification of hydrodynamic interaction between bubbles, the bubbles themselves, and gas supply systems can be used to control the bubble departure process.

Integrating open- and closed-ended questions on attitudes towards outgroups with different methods of text analysis

Researchers in behavioral sciences often use closed-ended questions, forcing participants to express even complex impressions or attitudes through a set of predetermined answers. Even if this has many advantages, people's opinions can be much richer. We argue for assessing them using different methods, including open-ended questions. Manual coding of open-ended answers requires much effort, but automated tools help to analyze them more easily. In order to investigate how attitudes towards outgroups can be assessed and analyzed with different methods, we carried out two representative surveys in Poland. We asked closed- and open-ended questions about what Poland should do regarding the influx of refugees. While the attitudes measured with closed-ended questions were rather negative, those that emerged from open-ended answers were not only richer, but also more positive. Many themes that emerged in the manual coding were also identified in automated text analyses with Meaning Extraction Helper (MEH). Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) and Sentiment Analyzer from the Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure (CLARIN), we compared the difference between the studies in the emotional tone of the answers. Our research confirms the high usefulness of open-ended questions in surveys and shows how methods of textual data analysis help in understanding people's attitudes towards outgroup members. Based on our methods comparison, researchers can choose a method or combine methods in a way that best fits their needs.

Strongly Bound Polynuclear Anions Comprising Scandium Fluoride Building Blocks

The stability of polynuclear anions composed of ScF3 building blocks was studied by using ab initio and density functional theory electronic structure methods and flexible basis sets. Thorough exploration of ground state potential energy surfaces of (Sc2F7)-, (Sc3F10)-, and (Sc4F13)- anions which may be viewed as comprising ScF3 fragments and the additional fluorine atom led to determining the isomeric structures thereof. It was found that the most stable isomers which are predicted to dominate at room temperature correspond to the compact structures enabling the formation of a large number of Sc-F-Sc bridging linkages rather than to the chain-like structures. The vertical electron detachment energies of the (ScnF3n+1)- anions were found to be very large (spanning the 10.85-12.29 eV range) and increasing with the increasing number of scandium atoms (n) and thus the ScF3 building blocks involved in the structure. Thermodynamic stability of (ScnF3n+1)- anions (i.e., their susceptibility to fragmentation) was also verified and discussed.

The synthesis, thermal behaviour, spectral and structural characterization, and in silico prediction of pharmacokinetic parameters of tetraalkylammonium salts of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide

The synthesis, spectral properties, thermal analysis, structural characterization and in silico prediction of pharmacokinetic parameters of tetramethylammonium (compound 1) and tetraethylammonium (compound 2) salt of nimesulide were described in this article. Both compounds crystallize in the monoclinic P21/n space group, with one tetraalkylammonium cation and one nimesulide anion in the asymmetric unit and their crystal structures are stabilized by C-H···O hydrogen bonds between ions. Additionally, structures of title compounds are stabilized by π-π interactions (compound 1), or C-H···π interactions (compound 2) between nimesulide anions. The TG and DSC measurements show that compound 1 melts at a temperature higher than nimesulide, whereas the compound 2 melts at a temperature lower than nimesulide. The MALDI-TOF, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and ATR-FTIR analyses confirm the SCXRD study, that in compounds 1 and 2 nimesulide exists in an ionized form. Studies performed by SWISS ADME and ProTOX II tools, predict to be oral bioavailability of both salts obtained, and one of them (compound 1) is predicted to be well-absorbed by digestive system, while both compounds obtained are classified into toxicity class 4.

The presence of wolves leads to spatial differentiation in deer browsing pressure on forest regeneration

With the recent return of large carnivores to forest ecosystems, an important issue for forest owners and managers is how large predators influence the behaviour of their natural prey and, consequently, cervid browsing pressure on forest regeneration. To investigate this issue, we analysed deer pressure on Scots pine and European beech plantations in northern Poland's ecosystems with and without permanent wolf populations. Two characteristics were used to describe deer browsing patterns in plantations: distance from the forest edge (spatial pattern of browsing) and number of saplings browsed (browsing intensity). Beech saplings were more intensively browsed by deer compared to pine saplings. In a forest ecosystem not inhabited by wolves, spatial variation in browsing patterns on small-sized beech plantations was the same between the edge and the center. In contrast, browsing pressure by deer was greater at the edges on large-sized pine plantations. The presence of wolves reduced deer browsing on beech and increased browsing on pine saplings. In addition, deer foraging behaviour changed in large-sized pine plantations, and browsing pressure increased only in the central areas of the plantations. We assume that the presence of wolves in a forest landscape is an important factor that alters browsing pressure on the youngest stands and their spatial pattern, and that this may be a major factor in stand regeneration, especially in small forest patches.

Long-lasting effects of World War II trauma on PTSD symptoms and embodiment levels in a national sample of Poles

The main aim of this study was to investigate the long-lasting influences of World War II (WWII) trauma in a national sample of Poles, based on Danieli's (1998) survivors' post-trauma adaptational styles (fighter, numb, victim) and their link with current post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and embodiment level among participants. We also sought to investigate whether the level of knowledge about WWII trauma among ancestors could moderate that association. The study was conducted among a representative sample of 1598 adult Poles obtained from an external company. Participants filled out the Danieli Inventory of Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma, the knowledge about traumatic World War II experiences in the family questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale-5, and the Experience of Embodiment Scale. We observed a positive relationship between all survivors' post-trauma adaptational styles and current levels of PTSD symptoms among participants. In addition, PTSD level mediated the relationships between those adaptational styles and embodiment intensity; that mediation was additionally moderated by a lack of knowledge about WWII trauma among ancestors in our participants. Our study adds to the literature on intergenerational trauma by highlighting the importance of evaluating embodiment in understanding the mechanisms of trauma transmission. Furthermore, it highlights the moderating effect of knowledge of family history in this mechanism and the need to share family histories with subsequent generations.

Shake it off! Adaptive coping with stress reduces national narcissism

Examining the role of coping with stress strategies in shaping national narcissism, we proposed that this type of defensive national commitment (stemming from psychological shortcomings) should be lowered by adaptive coping strategies. In Study 1 (longitudinal, N = 603), we found that higher adaptive (i.e. self-sufficient) coping attenuated national narcissism. In Study 2 (experimental, N = 337), the priming of adaptive coping significantly decreased national narcissism. We also demonstrated the indirect effects of the induced adaptive coping strategy on conspiracy beliefs via national narcissism. These findings suggest that using adaptive coping strategies (either dispositional or situationally induced) may attenuate national narcissism. We discuss the role of coping with stress in shaping group-level phenomena.

Pten knockout affects drug resistance differently in melanoma and kidney cancer

BACKGROUND

PTEN is a tumor suppressor that is often mutated and nonfunctional in many types of cancer. The high heterogeneity of PTEN function between tumor types makes new Pten knockout models necessary to assess its impact on cancer progression and/or treatment outcomes.

METHODS

We aimed to show the effect of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Pten knockout on murine melanoma (B16 F10) and kidney cancer (Renca) cells. We evaluated the effect of PTEN deregulation on tumor progression in vivo and in vitro, as well as on the effectiveness of drug treatment in vitro. In addition, we studied the molecular changes induced by Pten knockout.

RESULTS

In both models, Pten mutation did not cause significant changes in cell proliferation in vitro or in vivo. Cells with Pten knockout differed in sensitivity to cisplatin treatment: in B16 F10 cells, the lack of PTEN induced sensitivity and, in Renca cells, resistance to drug treatment. Accumulation of pAKT was observed in both cell lines, but only Renca cells showed upregulation of the p53 level after Pten knockout. PTEN deregulation also varied in the way that it altered PAI-1 secretion in the tested models, showing a decrease in PAI-1 in B16 F10 Pten/KO and an increase in Renca Pten/KO cells. In kidney cancer cells, Pten knockout caused changes in epithelial to mesenchymal transition marker expression, with downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of Snail, Mmp9, and Acta2 (α-SMA).

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirmed heterogenous cell responses to PTEN loss, which may lead to a better understanding of the role of PTEN in particular types of tumors and points to PTEN as a therapeutic target for personalized medicine.

Analytical sensitivity of a method is critical in detection of low-level BRCA1 constitutional epimutation

Recent reports based on a substantial number of cases, warrant need for population-based research to determine implications of constitutional methylation of tumor suppressor genes such as BRCA1 occurring in healthy tissue in the prediction of cancer. However, the detection of the constitutional methylation in DNA extracted from blood has already been shown to be technologically challenging, mainly because epimutations appear to be present in blood at a very low level. The analytical sensitivity required for low-level methylation detection can be provided by NGS, but this technique is still labor and cost-intensive. We assessed if PCR-based MS-HRM and BeadChip microarray technologies, which are standardized and cost-effective technologies for methylation changes screening, provide a sufficient level of analytical sensitivity for constitutional BRCA1 methylation detection in blood samples. The study included whole blood samples from 67 healthy women, 35 with previously confirmed and 32 with no detectable BRCA1 promoter methylation for which we performed both MS-HRM based BRCA1 gene methylation screening and genome wide methylation profiling with EPIC microarray. Our results shown, that low-level BRCA1 methylation can be effectively detected in DNA extracted from blood by PCR-based MS-HRM. At the same time, EPIC microarray does not provide conclusive results to unambiguously determine the presence of BRCA1 constitutional methylation in MS-HRM epimutation positive samples. The analytical sensitivity of MS-HRM is sufficient to detect low level BRCA1 constitutional epimutation in DNA extracted from blood and BeadChip technology-based microarrays appear not to provide that level of analytical sensitivity.

Trityl-Based Lanthanide-Supramolecular Assemblies Exhibiting Slow Magnetic Relaxation

The triphenylmethane (trityl) group has been recognized as a supramolecular synthon in crystal engineering, molecular machine rotors and stereochemical chirality inductors in materials science. Herein we demonstrate for the first time how it can be utilized in the domain of molecular magnetic materials through shaping of single molecule magnet (SMM) properties within the lanthanide complexes in tandem with other non-covalent interactions. Trityl-appended mono- (HL1 ) and bis-compartmental (HL2 ) hydrazone ligands were synthesized and complexated with Dy(III) and Er(III) triflate and nitrate salts to generate four monometallic (1-4) and two bimetallic (5, 6) complexes. The static and dynamic magnetic properties of 1-6 were investigated, revealing that only ligand HL1 induces assemblies (1-4) capable of showing SMM behaviour, with Dy(III) congeners (1, 2) able to exhibit the phenomenon also under zero field conditions. Theoretical ab initio studies helped in determination of Dy(III) energetic levels, magnetic anisotropic axes and corroborated magnetic relaxation mechanisms to be a combination of Raman and quantum tunnelling in zero dc field, the latter being cancelled in the optimum non-zero dc field. Our work represents the first study of magneto-structural correlations within the trityl Ln-SMMs, leading to generation of slowly relaxing zero-field dysprosium complexes within the hydrogen-bonded assemblies.

Guest-induced pore breathing controls the spin state in a cyanido-bridged framework

Iron(ii) spin cross-over (SCO) compounds combine a thermally driven transition from the diamagnetic low-spin (LS) state to the paramagnetic high-spin (HS) state with a distinct change in the crystal lattice volume. Inversely, if the crystal lattice volume was modulated post-synthetically, the spin state of the compound could be tunable, resulting in the inverse effect for SCO. Herein, we demonstrate such a spin-state tuning in a breathing cyanido-bridged porous coordination polymer (PCP), where the volume change resulting from guest-induced gate-opening and -closing directly affects its spin state. We report the synthesis of a three-dimensional coordination framework {[FeII(4-CNpy)4]2[WIV(CN)8]·4H2O}n (1·4H2O; 4-CNpy = 4-cyanopyridine), which demonstrates a SCO phenomenon characterized by strong elastic frustration. This leads to a 48 K wide hysteresis loop above 140 K, but below this temperature results in a very gradual and incomplete SCO transition. 1·4H2O was activated under mild conditions, producing the nonporous {[FeII(4-CNpy)4]2[WIV(CN)8]}n (1) via a single-crystal-to-single-crystal process involving a 7.3% volume decrease, which shows complete and nonhysteretic SCO at T1/2 = 93 K. The low-temperature photoswitching behavior in 1 and 1·4H2O manifested the characteristic elasticity of the frameworks; 1 can be quantitatively converted into a metastable HS state after 638 nm light irradiation, while the photoactivation of 1·4H2O is only partial. Furthermore, nonporous 1 adsorbed CO2 molecules in a gated process, leading to {[FeII(4-CNpy)4]2[WIV(CN)8]·4CO2}n (1·4CO2), which resulted in a 15% volume increase and stabilization of the HS state in the whole temperature range down to 2 K. The demonstrated post-synthetic guest-exchange employing common gases is an efficient approach for tuning the spin state in breathing SCO-PCPs.

Electron Scattering from Methyl Formate (HCOOCH3): A Joint Theoretical and Experimental Study

Elastic low-energy electron collisions with methyl formate have been studied theoretically at the level of various theories. The elastic integral cross section was calculated using Schwinger multichannel and R-matrix methods, in the static-exchange and static-exchange plus polarization levels of approximations for energies up to 15 eV. The absolute total cross section for electron scattering from methyl formate has been measured in a wide energy range (0.2-300 eV) using a 127° electron spectrometer working in the linear transmission configuration. The integral elastic and the absolute total cross sections display a π* shape resonance at around 1.70-1.84 eV, which can be related to the resonance visible for formic acid, and a broad structure located at 7-8 eV, which can be associated to a superposition of σ* shape resonances. Our results were compared with theoretical and experimental results available in the literature and with the results of electron collisions with formic acid. The additivity rule was used to estimate the total cross section of methyl formate and the results agree well with the experimental data.

Prefoldin 2 contributes to mitochondrial morphology and function

BACKGROUND

Prefoldin is an evolutionarily conserved co-chaperone of the tailless complex polypeptide 1 ring complex (TRiC)/chaperonin containing tailless complex 1 (CCT). The prefoldin complex consists of six subunits that are known to transfer newly produced cytoskeletal proteins to TRiC/CCT for folding polypeptides. Prefoldin function was recently linked to the maintenance of protein homeostasis, suggesting a more general function of the co-chaperone during cellular stress conditions. Prefoldin acts in an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-independent manner, making it a suitable candidate to operate during stress conditions, such as mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial function depends on the production of mitochondrial proteins in the cytosol. Mechanisms that sustain cytosolic protein homeostasis are vital for the quality control of proteins destined for the organelle and such mechanisms among others include chaperones.

RESULTS

We analyzed consequences of the loss of prefoldin subunits on the cell proliferation and survival of Saccharomyces cerevisiae upon exposure to various cellular stress conditions. We found that prefoldin subunits support cell growth under heat stress. Moreover, prefoldin facilitates the growth of cells under respiratory growth conditions. We showed that mitochondrial morphology and abundance of some respiratory chain complexes was supported by the prefoldin 2 (Pfd2/Gim4) subunit. We also found that Pfd2 interacts with Tom70, a receptor of mitochondrial precursor proteins that are targeted into mitochondria.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings link the cytosolic prefoldin complex to mitochondrial function. Loss of the prefoldin complex subunit Pfd2 results in adaptive cellular responses on the proteome level under physiological conditions suggesting a continuous need of Pfd2 for maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Within this framework, Pfd2 might support mitochondrial function directly as part of the cytosolic quality control system of mitochondrial proteins or indirectly as a component of the protein homeostasis network.

Zeolites with Divalent Ions as Carriers in the Delivery of Epigallocatechin Gallate

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a compound with very high therapeutic potential in the treatment of osteoporosis and cancer. The disadvantages of this compound are its low stability and low bioavailability. Therefore, carriers for EGCG are sought to increase its use. In this work, new carriers are proposed, i.e., zeolites containing divalent ions of magnesium, calcium, strontium, and zinc in their structure. EGCG is retained on the carrier surface by strong interactions with divalent ions. Due to the presence of strong interactions, EGCG is released in a controlled manner from the carrier-ion-EGCG drug delivery system. The results obtained in this work confirm the effectiveness of the preparation of new carriers. EGCG is released from the carriers depending on the pH; hence, it can be used both in osteoporosis and in the treatment of cancer. The divalent ion used affects the sorption and release of the drug. The obtained results indicate the great potential of the proposed carriers and their advantage over the carriers described in the literature.

Experimental studies of the influence of mobile fan positioning parameters on the ability to transport the air stream into the door opening

The article aims to determine the influence of fan positioning parameters, i.e., its distance from a door opening (1-7 m) and the angle of inclination of the impeller axis in relation to the ground (0°-18°) on the amount of air flow pumped through a door opening. The experiment was carried out using a mock-up simulating a door opening, on which a measurement plane was located, without the cubic capacity (building structure) behind the door opening. The volumetric air flow stream was determined based on measuring (at 50 measuring points) the velocity of the air stream blown onto the surface of the door opening mock-up. Four commercial positive pressure ventilators, commonly used in rescue operations, with a power of 0.6-6.3 kW were tested. The tests showed that the value of the air flow stream at the most favourable setting (distance in the range of 3-5 m and the angle of the impeller axis to the ground in the range of 5°-12.2°) is included in the range of 18,304 ± 2460 m3/h to about 45,189 ± 4619 m3/h. Such settings cause the air stream to be aimed at the central area of the door opening. Imprecise mobile fan arrangement may reduce the flow rate from 41 to 76% in relation to the most favourable results.

Application of amino-hypophosphite polyampholyte for purification of wastewater containing Ni(ii) ions

This study investigated the sorption of Ni(ii) ions from an aqueous solution using novel, synthetic amino-hypophosphite polyampholyte resin (AHP) in a batch adsorption system. The removal of Ni(ii) ions was determined as a function of pH (2.0-8.0), initial concentration of Ni(ii) ions (2.0-20.0 mM), resin dosage (1.0-10.0 g dm-3), contact time (0.04-24 h), and temperature (298-318 K). Moreover, continuous fixed-bed column sorption was also studied using model solutions and actual wastewater from the galvanising plant. The batch sorption experimental data showed that the maximum pH for efficient Ni(ii) ion removal was about 5.0. An equilibrium was reached after about 24 hours. The kinetics results were fitted using pseudo-first-order (PFO), pseudo-second-order (PSO), liquid film (LFD), and intraparticle diffusion (IPD) models. Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were applied for sorption equilibrium data. The maximum sorption capacity was obtained from the Langmuir equation to be 2.39, 2.52, and 2.62 mmol g-1 at 298, 308, and 318 K, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters for the sorption of Ni(ii) ions on AHP imply the endothermic and spontaneous character of the process. The experimental results demonstrated that amino-hypophosphite polyampholyte resin could be used to effectively remove Ni(ii) ions from model solutions and real wastewater.

Drought risk probabilistic models based on extreme value theory

The article presents original, probabilistic models for the quantification of drought risk, based on generalized distribution functions for the distribution of maximum values as well as the standardized precipitation index. Using the models, a probabilistic measurement of drought risk has been made for three regions over four 5-year periods for each region. Three measurement points located in Poland were selected as a case study. The study provides an innovative approach in the field of probabilistic models of quantification; moreover, drought risk levels have been calculated for the selected locations. Furthermore, the method may be used for creating indexes for any climatic region subject to study.

Effects of diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, and wastewater from constructed wetlands on Eisenia fetida: impacts on mortality, fertility, and oxidative stress

Soil contamination with micropollutants is an important global problem and the impact of these pollutants on living organisms cannot be underestimated. The effects of diclofenac (DCF) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), their mixture (MIX), and wastewater containing these drugs on the mortality and reproduction of Eisenia fetida were investigated. The impact on the activities of antioxidant enzymes in earthworm cells was also assessed. Furthermore, the influence of the following parameters of the vertical flow constructed wetlands on wastewater toxicity was investigated: the dosing system, the presence of pharmaceuticals and the plants Miscanthus giganteus. The compounds and their mixture significantly affected the reproduction and mortality of earthworms. The calculated values of LC50,28 days values were 3.4 ± 0.3 mg kg-1 for DCF, 1.6 ± 0.3 mg kg-1 for SMX, and 0.9 ± 0.1 mg kg-1 for MIX. The EC50 (reproduction assay) for DCF was 1.2 ± 0.2 mg kg-1, whereas for SMX, it was 0.4 ± 0.1 mg kg-1, and for MIX, it was 0.3 ± 0.1 mg kg-1, respectively. The mixture toxicity index (MTI) was calculated to determine drug interactions. For both E. fetida mortality (MTI = 3.29) and reproduction (MTI = 3.41), the index was greater than 1, suggesting a synergistic effect of the mixture. We also observed a negative effect of wastewater (raw and treated) on mortality (32% for raw and 8% for treated wastewater) and fertility (66% and 39%, respectively) of E. fetida. It is extremely important to analyze the harmfulness of microcontaminants to organisms inhabiting natural environments, especially in the case of wastewater for irrigation of agricultural fields.

Single-Wall Carbon Nanohorn Langmuir-Schaefer Films

A suspension of single-walled carbon nanohorn (SWCNH) aggregates with a size of approx. 50 nm was used to create a floating film at the water-air interface. The film was then transferred onto large-area quartz substrates using the Langmuir-Schaefer technique at varied surface pressures. The packaging and arrangement of SWCNHs in the film can be controlled during the process. The resulting films' optical and electrical properties were investigated, and the highest electrical conductivity and figure of merit parameter values were observed for the film transferred at surface pressure near the collapse point. These films had a surface density of less than 5 μg cm-2, making them ideal for use in ultra-light sensors, supercapacitors, and photovoltaic cell electrodes. The preparation and properties of the Langmuir-Schaefer films of carbon nanohorns are reported for the first time.

Desolvation-Induced Highly Symmetrical Terbium(III) Single-Molecule Magnet Exhibiting Luminescent Self-Monitoring of Temperature

A conjunction of Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) behavior and luminescence thermometry is an emerging research line aiming at contactless read-out of temperature in future SMM-based devices. The shared working range between slow magnetic relaxation and the thermometric response is typically narrow or absent. We report TbIII -based emissive SMMs formed in a cyanido-bridged framework whose properties are governed by the reversible structural transformation from [TbIII (H2 O)2 ][CoIII (CN)6 ] ⋅ 2.7H2 O (1) to its dehydrated phase, TbIII [CoIII (CN)6 ] (2). The 8-coordinated complexes in 1 show the moderate SMM effect but it is enhanced for trigonal-prismatic TbIII complexes in 2, showing the SMM features up to 42 K. They are governed by the combination of QTM, Raman, and Orbach relaxation with the energy barrier of 594(18) cm-1 (854(26) K), one of the highest among the TbIII -based molecular nanomagnets. Both systems exhibit emission related to the f-f electronic transitions, with the temperature variations resulting in the optical thermometry below 100 K. The dehydration leads to a wide temperature overlap between the SMM behavior and thermometry, from 6 K to 42 K. These functionalities are further enriched after the magnetic dilution. The role of post-synthetic formation of high-symmetry TbIII complexes in achieving the SMM effect and hot-bands-based optical thermometry is discussed.