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One-dimensional (1D) ordered TiO2nanotubes exhibit exceptional charge transfer capabilities, making them suitable candidates for constructing visible-light-active photoanodes in selective PEC oxidation reactions. Herein, we employed a facile and easily scalable electrochemical method to fabricate Au-CoOx-deposited ordered TiO2nanotubular array photoanodes. The improved visible light absorption capacity of TiO2-Au-CoOx, with unhampered 1D channels and the controlled integration of Au between TiO2and CoOx, along with their synergistic interaction, have been identified as the most promising strategy for enhanced PEC performance, as evidenced by an IPCE of 3.7% at 450 nm. Furthermore, the robust interfacial charge transfer pathway from CoOxto the TiO2surface via the Au mediator promotes the migration of photogenerated electrons and enables the accumulation of holes on the surface of CoOx. These holes are then efficiently utilized by oxidants such as methanol or lignin to generate value-added products, highlighting the potential of this system for advanced PEC applications.

Well defined nanostructures of doped or undoped HfO2with unique physicochemical properties are crucial for applications in electronics, optoelectronics, sensors, and biomaterials. In this context, we have studied the fabrication of nanoporous anodic hafnium oxide (AHO) thin layers in ethylene glycol-based electrolytes containing NH4F. Although some earlier works have described the formation of nanoporous/nanotubular AHO layers in F−containing electrolytes, the key factors affecting the porosity, pore diameter, and thickness of synthesized materials have yet to be systematically investigated. We explored the feasibility of tuning unordered nanopores to ordered nanopores by varying the NH4F concentration in the electrolyte. We demonstrated that at constant anodizing voltage and time (30 or 60 V, 30 min), the mean porosity for the ordered porous AHO layer increases with NH4F concentration up to 0.10 M. We investigated the exclusive effects of anodizing time and NH4F concentration on the mean pore diameter, porosity, and thickness of AHO layer. The maximum mean porosity of 24.5 %, pore diameter of 39.8 nm, and the layer thickness of 24.6 μm were observed for AHO layers produced for 60 min at 60 V. Post-treatment thermal studies revealed the nanoporous AHO layer remained structurally stable up to 500 °C. X-ray diffraction studies showed a significant enhancement in crystallinity for thermally treated AHO layers. The composition and chemical environment of core elements at the top and bottom of AHO layer were thoroughly investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, we elucidated the rate limiting step of AHO growth by applying growth models.

This study demonstrates that the process of mushroom production, from straw acquisition through substrate preparation to mushroom harvesting, and the utilisation of the remaining biomass as a valuable soil conditioner allows for minimising residue and reducing the use of mineral fertilisers It helps fill the gaps in the currently deficient manure in agricultural production, which has a significant positive impact on the natural environment as well as the economic aspect of production. Because of the biotransformation of organic matter in straw with the addition of nitrogen (from poultry litter) and calcium compounds (gypsum) in the mushroom cultivation process, a biomorphic mass with high fertiliser values is produced, as confirmed by research. The above fits into the framework of carbon farming, enabling maximum, fully ecological, and climate-friendly use of post-production agricultural biomass. The presented solution of “from the field to the mushroom farm and back to the field” seems decidedly more beneficial than straw fertilisation as it allows for a much broader assurance of continuity in the carbon cycle.

Photoelectrochemical water splitting is considered one of the most promising methods for generating clean energy. Band gap engineering based on introducing transition metal oxides into the crystalline network of stable nanostructured semiconductors (e.g., TiO2) is of great interest. In the present work, nanotubular TiO2was synthesized via anodization followed by wet impregnation with a cobalt acetate solution (2-10 impregnation cycles) to obtain a heterojunction based on CoOx-modified TiO2upon annealing. To gather information connected to the material morphology, composition, crystallinity, optical, semiconducting, and photoelectrochemical properties, a variety of techniques were used, for example, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy (RS), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), Mott-Schottky analysis, and finally photoelectrochemical tests. Deposition of CoOxonto TiO2resulted in a reduction of the optical band gap (from 3.21 to 2.38 eV), which led to a significant improvement of the studied materials’ photoresponse in the visible range (the wavelength range in which the material is active has been extended to 600 nm).

In this work, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was doped with boron by thermal treatment with NaBH4. We have shown that the morphology of the modified polymer gradually changes from graphitic-like to amorphous, with increasing amounts of NaBH4used for annealing. On the other hand, the boron doping has a very small influence on the band gap energy, as well as on the positions of the valence and conduction band edges of the polymer, but strongly improves the activity of g-C3N4in the photocatalytic reduction of oxygen and degradation of methyl orange (8-fold increase of the degradation rate constant with respect to that of pure g-C3N4). The enhancement of the photocatalytic properties was explained by the increased rate of charge transport, both in the polymer plane and across the film, due to formation of N–B–N bonds between the adjacent heptazine units and the interlayer Coulomb interactions. The best photocatalytic activity was obtained for samples prepared from a mixture of g-C3N4and NaBH4at a moderate weight ratio (4:1), while increased amounts of NaBH4led to significant and unfavorable changes in both the morphology and molecular structure of the polymer.

While epigenetic age (EA) of mouse blood can be determined using DNA methylation analysis at three CpG sites in the Prima1, Hsf4and Kcns1genes it is not known whether this approach is useful for predicting vascular biological age. In this study we validated the 3-CpG estimator for age prediction in mouse blood, developed a new predictive model for EA in mouse aorta, and assessed whether epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) measured with blood and aorta samples correlates with age-dependent endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial function was characterized in vivo by MRI in 8–96-week-old C57BL/6 mice. Arterial stiffness was measured by USG-doppler. EA-related changes within 41 CpG sites in Prima1, Kcns1and Hsf4loci, were analyzed in the aorta and blood using bisulfite amplicon high-throughput sequencing. Progressive age-dependent endothelial dysfunction and changes in arterial stiffness were observed in 36-96-week-old C57BL/6 mice. Methylation levels of the investigated loci correlated with chronological age in blood and the aorta. The new model for EA estimation in aorta included three cytosines located in the Kcns1and Hsf4, explained R2= 87.8% of the variation in age, and predicted age with an mean absolute error of 9.6 weeks in the independent test set. EAA in the aorta was associated with endothelial dysfunction in the abdominal aorta and femoral artery what was consistent with the EAA direction estimated in blood samples. The rate of vascular biological ageing in mice, reflected by the age-dependent systemic endothelial dysfunction, could be estimated using DNA methylation measurements at three loci in aorta and blood samples.

The work shows the possibility of obtaining active platforms for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements based on TiO2nanotubes decorated with Ag, Au, or Au–Ag bimetallic layers. Plasmonic metallic layers were produced under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions using the thermal evaporation method and heat treatment, which enabled them to be formed with a precisely defined thickness and size of metallic nanoparticles. The two-stage thermal treatment leads to the formation of an Ag–Au bimetallic alloy on the top of the nanotubes. In all cases, the thickness of the deposited metal layer was 10 nm. Therefore, the materials prepared in the form of decorated nanoplasmonic antennas (nanobrushes) were tested for their use as active and effective substrates in SERS spectroscopy. For this purpose, the probe molecule mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) was used. The highest SERS enhancement factor was determined for the substrate with a monometallic Ag layer (1.5̇̇ × 105), then for the Ag–Au alloy (1.7 × 104), monometallic Au layer (9.6 × 103), and gold/silver layer-by-layer systems (∼5.6 × 103). The practical usefulness of the prepared SERS substrates was determined based on vitamin B12 detection measurements. The results showed that the proposed SERS substrates have a high detection sensitivity of 10–8M and measurement stability. Moreover, the conducted research showed that the most important factors influencing the enhancement due to the electromagnetic mechanism are geometric factors related to the distribution of plasmonic metals on the tops and walls of nanotubes, their size, and chemical composition. Moreover, the chemical composition of the examined deposits turned out to be an important factor affecting the plasmonic properties of the produced SERS platforms. Apart from SERS spectroscopy, other research methods were used to characterize the obtained materials, such as UV–vis spectroscopy, XPS spectroscopy (in situ), XRD structural analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.

Auranofin, a gold(I)-based complex, is under clinical trials for application as an anticancer agent for the treatment of nonsmall-cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer. In the past years, different derivatives have been developed, modifying gold linear ligands in the search for new gold complexes endowed with a better pharmacological profile. Recently, a panel of four gold(I) complexes, inspired by the clinically established compound auranofin, was reported by our research group. As described, all compounds possess an [Au{P(OMe)3}]+cationic moiety, in which the triethylphosphine of the parent compound auranofin was replaced with an oxygen-rich trimethylphosphite ligand. The gold(I) linear coordination geometry was complemented by Cl–, Br–, I–, and the auranofin-like thioglucose tetraacetate ligand. As previously reported, despite their close similarity to auranofin, the panel compounds exhibited some peculiar and distinctive features, such as lower log Pvalues which can induce relevant differences in the overall pharmacokinetic profiles. To get better insight into the P–Au strength and stability, an extensive study was carried out for relevant biological models, including three different vasopressin peptide analogues and cysteine, using 31P NMR and LC-ESI-MS. A DFT computational study was also carried out for a better understanding of the theoretical fundamentals of the disclosed differences with regard to triethylphosphine parent compounds.

Dental implants have become a routine, affordable, and highly reliable technology to replace tooth loss. In this regard, titanium and its alloys are the metals of choice for the manufacture of dental implants because they are chemically inert and biocompatible. However, for special cohorts of patients, there is still a need for improvements, specifically to increase the ability of implants to integrate into the bone and gum tissues and to prevent bacterial infections that can subsequently lead to peri-implantitis and implant failures. Therefore, titanium implants require sophisticated approaches to improve their postoperative healing and long-term stability. Such treatments range from sandblasting to calcium phosphate coating, fluoride application, ultraviolet irradiation, and anodization to increase the bioactivity of the surface. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) has gained popularity as a method for modifying metal surfaces and delivering the desired mechanical and chemical properties. The outcome of PEO treatment depends on the electrochemical parameters and composition of the bath electrolyte. In this study, we investigated how complexing agents affect the PEO surfaces and found that nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) can be used to develop efficient PEO protocols. The PEO surfaces generated with NTA in combination with sources of calcium and phosphorus were shown to increase the corrosion resistance of the titanium substrate. They also support cell proliferation and reduce bacterial colonization and, hence, lead to a reduction in failed implants and repeated surgeries. Moreover, NTA is an ecologically favorable chelating agent. These features are necessary for the biomedical industry to be able to contribute to the sustainability of the public healthcare system. Therefore, NTA is proposed to be used as a component of the PEO bath electrolyte to obtain bioactive surface layers with properties desired for next-generation dental implants.

DNA methylation (DNAm) clocks hold promise for measuring biological age, useful for guiding clinical interventions and forensic identification. This study compared the commonly used DNAm clocks, using DNA methylation and SNP data generated from nearly 1000 human blood or buccal swab samples. We evaluated different preprocessing methods for age estimation, investigated the association of epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) with various lifestyle and sociodemographic factors, and undertook a series of novel genome-wide association analyses for different EAA measures to find associated genetic variants. Our results highlighted the Skin&Blood clock with ssNoob normalization as the most accurate predictor of chronological age. We provided novel evidence for an association between the practice of yoga and a reduction in the pace of aging (DunedinPACE). Increased sleep and physical activity were associated with lower mortality risk score (MRS) in our dataset. University degree, vegetable consumption, and coffee intake were associated with reduced levels of epigenetic aging, whereas smoking, higher BMI, meat consumption, and manual occupation correlated well with faster epigenetic aging, with FitAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPACE clocks showing the most robust associations. In addition, we found a novel association signal for SOCS2rs73218878 (p= 2.87 × 10−8) and accelerated GrimAge. Our study emphasizes the importance of an optimized DNAm analysis workflow for accurate estimation of epigenetic age, which may influence downstream analyses. The results support the influence of genetic background on EAA. The associated SOCS2is a member of the suppressor of cytokine signaling family known for its role in human longevity. The reported association between various risk factors and EAA has practical implications for the development of health programs to improve quality of life and reduce premature mortality associated with age-related diseases.

In this study, anatase samples enclosed by the majority of three different crystal facets {0 0 1}, {1 0 0}, and {1 0 1} were successfully synthesized. These materials were further studied toward photocatalytic degradation of phenol and toluene as model organic pollutants in water and gas phases. The obtained results were analyzed concerning their surface structure, reaction type, and surface development. Moreover, the regression model was created to find the correlation between the possible predictors and the photodegradation rate constants (k). From the studied factors, the trapping energy of charge carriers at the surface was found to be the most significant one, exponentially affecting the observed k. This resulted in the overall per-surface activity between the samples being in the order {1 0 1} > {1 0 0} > {0 0 1}. Further introduction of the surface energy (Esurf) to the regression model and the number of possible trapping centers per number of pollutant’s molecules (ntrap·n–1) improved the model accuracy, simultaneously showing the dependence on the reaction type. In the case of phenol photocatalytic degradation, the best accuracy was observed for the model including Esurf·(ntrap·n–1)1/2relation, while for the toluene degradation, it included Esurf2and the S·n–1ratio, where Sis the simple surface area. Concerning different surface features which influence photocatalytic performance and are commonly discussed in the literature, the results presented in this study suggest that trapping is of particular importance.

Development of robust and cost-effective smart materials requires rational chemical nanoengineering to provide viable technological solutions for a wide range of applications. Recently, a powerful approach based on the electrografting of diazonium salts has attracted a great deal of attention due to its numerous technological advantages. Several studies on graphene-based materials reveal that the covalent attachment of aryl groups via the above approach could lead to additional beneficial properties of this versatile material. Here, we developed the covalently linked metalorganic wires on two transparent, cheap, and conductive materials: fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and FTO/single-layer graphene (FTO/SLG). The wires are terminated with nitrilotriacetic acid metal complexes, which are universal molecular anchors to immobilize His6-tagged proteins, such as biophotocatalysts and other types of redox-active proteins of great interest in biotechnology, optoelectronics, and artificial photosynthesis. We show for the first time that the covalent grafting of a diazonium salt precursor on two different electron-rich surfaces leads to the formation of the molecular wires that promote p-doping of SLG concomitantly with a significantly enhanced unidirectional cathodic photocurrent up to 1 μA cm–2. Density functional theory modeling reveals that the exceptionally high photocurrent values are due to two distinct mechanisms of electron transfer originating from different orbitals/bands of the diazonium-derived wires depending on the nature of the chelating metal redox center. Importantly, the novel metalorganic interfaces reported here exhibit minimized back electron transfer, which is essential for the maximization of solar conversion efficiency.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a dysfunction of the central nervous system caused by chronic and acute liver disease. The dysfunction presents a wide spectrum of symptoms—from the undetectable in a standard clinical examination to hepatic coma—and could be caused by both chronic and acute liver diseases. For many years research has been conducted to find a marker that would allow for the accurate, quick, and possibly inexpensive detection of hepatic encephalopathy. Due to the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy, researchers’ attention is focused on markers of damage to the central nervous system. One of the markers of astrocyte damage, known from research in neurology and neurosurgery, is the protein S100B. Published research results so far are inconclusive, but they allow us to look with optimism at the role of S100B as a marker of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).

Vinyl azides are very reactive species and as such are useful building blocks, in particular, in the synthesis of N-heterocycles. They can also serve as precursors of ketones. These form in reactions of vinyl azides with nucleophiles or radicals. We have found, however, that under light irradiation vitamin B12catalyzes the reaction of vinyl azides with electrophiles to afford unsymmetrical carbonyl compounds in decent yields. Mechanistic studies revealed that alkyl radicals are key intermediates in this transformation.

Roundabout guidance receptor 2 (ROBO2) plays an important role during early kidney development. ROBO2 is expressed in podocytes, inhibits nephrin-induced actin polymerization, down-regulates nonmuscle myosin IIA activity, and destabilizes kidney podocyte adhesion. However, the role of ROBO2 during kidney injury, particularly in mature podocytes, is not known. Herein, we report that loss of ROBO2 in podocytes [Robo2conditional knockout (cKO) mouse] is protective from glomerular injuries. Ultrastructural analysis reveals that Robo2cKO mice display less foot process effacement and better-preserved slit-diaphragm density compared with wild-type littermates injured by either protamine sulfate or nephrotoxic serum (NTS). The Robo2cKO mice also develop less proteinuria after NTS injury. Further studies reveal that ROBO2 expression in podocytes is up-regulated after glomerular injury because its expression levels are higher in the glomeruli of NTS injured mice and passive Heymann membranous nephropathy rats. Moreover, the amount of ROBO2 in the glomeruli is also elevated in patients with membranous nephropathy. Finally, overexpression of ROBO2 in cultured mouse podocytes compromises cell adhesion. Taken together, these findings suggest that kidney injury increases glomerular ROBO2 expression that might compromise podocyte adhesion and, thus, loss of Robo2in podocytes could protect from glomerular injury by enhancing podocyte adhesion that helps maintain foot process structure. Our findings also suggest that ROBO2 is a therapeutic target for podocyte injury and podocytopathy.

This study presents a novel approach to fabricating anodic Co–F–WO3layers via a single-step electrochemical synthesis, utilizing cobalt fluoride as a dopant source in the electrolyte. The proposed in situ doping technique capitalizes on the high electronegativity of fluorine, ensuring the stability of CoF2throughout the synthesis process. The nanoporous layer formation, resulting from anodic oxide dissolution in the presence of fluoride ions, is expected to facilitate the effective incorporation of cobalt compounds into the film. The research explores the impact of dopant concentration in the electrolyte, conducting a comprehensive characterization of the resulting materials, including morphology, composition, optical, electrochemical, and photoelectrochemical properties. The successful doping of WO3was confirmed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Mott–Schottky analysis. Optical studies reveal lower absorption in Co-doped materials, with a slight shift in band gap energies. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) analysis demonstrates improved PEC activity for Co-doped layers, with the observed shift in photocurrent onset potential attributed to both cobalt and fluoride ions catalytic effects. The study includes an in-depth discussion of the observed phenomena and their implications for applications in solar water splitting, emphasizing the potential of the anodic Co–F–WO3layers as efficient photoelectrodes. In addition, the research presents a comprehensive exploration of the electrochemical synthesis and characterization of anodic Co–F–WO3, emphasizing their photocatalytic properties for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). It was found that Co-doped WO3materials exhibited higher PEC activity, with a maximum 5-fold enhancement compared to pristine materials. Furthermore, the studies demonstrated that these photoanodes can be effectively reused for PEC water-splitting experiments.

Characterizing materials at small scales presents major challenges in the engineering of nanocomposite materials having a high specific surface area. Here, we show the application of electron tomography to describe the three-dimensional structure of highly ordered TiO2nanotube arrays modified with Pt nanoparticles. The titanium oxide nanotubes were prepared by the electrochemical anodization of a Ti substrate after which Pt was deposited by magnetron sputtering. Such a composite shows high electrochemical activity that depends on the amount of the metal and the morphological parameters of the microstructure. However, a TiO2structure modified with metallic nanoparticles has never been visualized in 3D, making it very difficult to understand the relationship between electrocatalytic activity and morphology. In this paper, TiO2nanotubes of different sizes and different amounts of Pt were analyzed using the electron microscopy technique. Electrocatalytic activity was studied using the cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. For selected samples, electron tomography 3D structure reconstruction was performed to describe their fine microstructure. The highest activity was detected in the sample having bigger nanotubes (25 V) where the porosity of the structure was high and the Pt content was 0.1 mg cm–2. 3D imaging using electron tomography opens up new possibilities in the design of electrocatalytic materials.

Titanium oxide nanotube layers with silver and zinc nanoparticles are attracting increasing attention in the design of bone and dental implants due to their antimicrobial potential and their ability to control host cell adhesion, growth, and differentiation. However, recent reports indicate that the etiology of dental infections is more complex than has been previously considered. Therefore, the antimicrobial potential of dental implants should be evaluated against at least several different microorganisms cooperating in human mouth colonization. In this study, Ag and Zn nanoparticles incorporated into titanium oxide nanotubular layers were studied with regard to how they affect Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, and Streptococcus mutans. Layers of titanium oxide nanotubes with an average diameter of 110 nm were fabricated by electrochemical anodization, annealed at 650 °C, and modified with approx. 5 wt % Ag or Zn nanoparticles. The surfaces were examined with the scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques and subjected to evaluation of microbial-killing and microbial adhesion-inhibiting potency. In a 1.5 h long adhesion test, the samples were found more effective toward yeast strains than toward S. mutans. In a release-killing test, the microorganisms were almost completely eliminated by the samples, either within 3 h of contact (for S. mutans) or 24 h of contact (for both yeast strains). Although further improvement is advisable, it seems that Ag and Zn nanoparticles incorporated into TiO2nanotubular surfaces provide a powerful tool for reducing the incidence of bone implant infections. Their high bidirectional activity (against both Candidaspecies and S. mutans) makes the layers tested particularly promising for the design of dental implants.

Because of profound applications of MoS2crystals in electronics, their microscale oxidation is the subject of substantial interest. We report on oxidation of single MoS2crystals, which were oxidized within a precision muffle furnace at a series of increasing temperatures up to 500 °C. Using electron dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) at ambient conditions, we observed an increase of oxide content with increasing heating temperature and obtained an apparent activation energy for the oxidation process of the order of 1 kcal/mol. This value is at least 8 times smaller than an activation energy for surface formation of MoO3and according to the literature points rather to physisorbed oxygen species. Our Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) results also pointed out toward the physisorbed oxygen, similarly as our further heating studies within elevated relative humidity conditions. The Mo oxide leftovers on the sample were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and showed dendritic structures. Surface appearance of those dendrites, their fractal dimension between 1.61 and 1.66, and their surface distribution were reminiscent of the diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) growth. On the basis of analysis of AFM topographs, we hypothesized that the DLA process was controlled by a surface diffusion of the initially physisorbed oxygen, which had to diffuse to reaction centers in order to facilitate the subsequent chemical conversion of MoS2layers to volatile Mo oxides.

Growth kinetics of four Trichodermastrains was tested on lignocellulosic by-products in solid state fermentation (SSF). The strains were also analyzed for their survival rate and growth after lyophilization on these carriers. All applied monocomponent and bicomponent media were substrates for the production and preservation of Trichodermabiomass. However, the maximum number of colony forming units (CFU/g dm) was acquired on bicomponent media based on dried grass and beet pulp or grass with corn cobs, when compared to monocomponent media. Although the process of lyophilization reduced the survival rate by 50–60%, the actual number of viable cells in obtained biopreparations remained relatively high (0.58 × 108– 1.68 × 108CFU/g dm). The studied strains in the preserved biopreparations were characterized by a high growth rate, as evaluated in microcultures using the Bioscreen C system.

Growth kinetics of four Trichodermastrains was tested on lignocellulosic by-products in solid state fermentation (SSF). The strains were also analyzed for their survival rate and growth after lyophilization on these carriers. All applied monocomponent and bicomponent media were substrates for the production and preservation of Trichodermabiomass. However, the maximum number of colony forming units (CFU/g dm) was acquired on bicomponent media based on dried grass and beet pulp or grass with corn cobs, when compared to monocomponent media. Although the process of lyophilization reduced the survival rate by 50–60%, the actual number of viable cells in obtained biopreparations remained relatively high (0.58 × 108– 1.68 × 108CFU/g dm). The studied strains in the preserved biopreparations were characterized by a high growth rate, as evaluated in microcultures using the Bioscreen C system.

Proteinuria is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease progression. Furthermore, exposure of proximal tubular epithelial cells to excess albumin promotes tubular atrophy and fibrosis, key predictors of progressive organ dysfunction. However, the link between proteinuria and tubular damage is unclear. We propose that pathological albumin exposure impairs proximal tubular autophagy, an essential process for recycling damaged organelles and toxic intracellular macromolecules. In both mouse primary proximal tubule and immortalized human kidney cells, albumin exposure decreased the number of autophagosomes, visualized by the autophagosome-specific fluorescent markers monodansylcadaverine and GFP-LC3, respectively. Similarly, renal cortical tissue harvested from proteinuric mice contained reduced numbers of autophagosomes on electron micrographs, and immunoblots showed reduced steady-state LC3-II content. Albumin exposure decreased autophagic flux in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner as assessed by LC3-II accumulation rate in the presence of bafilomycin, an H+-ATPase inhibitor that prevents lysosomal LC3-II degradation. In addition, albumin treatment significantly increased the half-life of radiolabeled long-lived proteins, indicating that the primary mechanism of degradation, autophagy, is dysfunctional. In vitro, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation, a potent autophagy inhibitor, suppressed autophagy as a result of intracellular amino acid accumulation from lysosomal albumin degradation. mTOR activation was demonstrated by the increased phosphorylation of its downstream target, S6K, with free amino acid or albumin exposure. We propose that excess albumin uptake and degradation inhibit proximal tubule autophagy via an mTOR-mediated mechanism and contribute to progressive tubular injury.

In this paper the influence of humic acid concentrations extracted from Histosols (HA-A) and their model forms (HA-B) separated from humic substances commercially produced by Carl Roth GmbH + Co.KG on the dynamic properties of liposome membranes was determined. Differences in the quality of the humic acids (HA-A and HA-B) were determined by the 1HNMR and FTIR methods. Liposomes from the sonication of egg yolk lecithin (EYL) in an aqueous solution and synthetic Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) were used. Fluidity of liposome membranes was determined by the EPR technique with spin probes (TEMPO, 16DOIXYL). The electrical parameters of membranes were found using a Keithley 6517 electrometer. Our study showed significant differences in the influence of HA-A and HA-B on the membranes. In the bilayer membranes of the liposomes of HA-A admixture there was slightly more stiffening of the interior of the membrane in comparison to HA-B. A similar effect was observed in the surface layer of the liposome membranes. This difference is particularly evident for DPPC liposomes, however, the EYL liposomes admixture with HA-B slightly increased the fluidity of the surface layer. Electrical study confirmed this effect. The study shows that natural and model forms of humic acids differ in their effects on the activity of tested membrane models. The strong differences in the interaction of HA-A and HA-B on parameter F in DPPC liposomes can be result from the transport of humic acids connected to the metal ions inside the membranes (xenobiotics present in the environment).

Primary glomerulocystic kidney disease is a special form of renal cystic disorder characterized by Bowman’s space dilatation in the absence of tubular cysts. ZEB2 is a SMAD-interacting transcription factor involved in Mowat-Wilson syndrome, a congenital disorder with an increased risk for kidney anomalies. Here we show that deletion of Zeb2in mesenchyme-derived nephrons with either Pax2-creor Six2-crecauses primary glomerulocystic kidney disease without tubular cysts in mice. Glomerulotubular junction analysis revealed many atubular glomeruli in the kidneys of Zeb2knockout mice, which explains the presence of glomerular cysts in the absence of tubular dilatation. Gene expression analysis showed decreased expression of early proximal tubular markers in the kidneys of Zeb2knockout mice preceding glomerular cyst formation, suggesting that defects in proximal tubule development during early nephrogenesis contribute to the formation of congenital atubular glomeruli. At the molecular level, Zeb2deletion caused aberrant expression of Pkd1, Hnf1β,and Glis3, three genes causing glomerular cysts. Thus, Zeb2regulates the morphogenesis of mesenchyme-derived nephrons and is required for proximal tubule development and glomerulotubular junction formation. Our findings also suggest that ZEB2might be a novel disease gene in patients with primary glomerular cystic disease.

Most incidents, serious incidents, accidents and disasters (catastrophes) connected with the irregular work of technical devices is caused by mechanical damage. Despite this, responses originating from the fields of psychology, sociology and medicine prevail in practical approaches to preventing accidents. In the author’s opinion this is the result of the low level technological knowledge amongst those involved in safety engineering. Technical education in the area of the mechanics is indispensable. A key part of this education, not just for engineers but also lawyers and others who work in safety regulation services, is explanatory experiments. In this article, the particular significance of scientific experiments in decreasing all factors posing a threat is shown. This article does not report concretely performed research, but rather attempts to propose a program of cooperation between different areas of the engineer’s art.

In this paper, the effects of model (commercial) and natural (extracted from peat) humic substances on the membrane of liposomes formed with egg yolk lecithin (EYL) are presented. In our research, mass concentrations of fulvic and humic acids were used, which in relation to lecithin varied from 0% to 13%. To study membrane fluidity, electron spin resonance (EPR) was used with two spin probes, penetrating various regions of the lipid bilayer. The effects of model and natural humic substances (humic acids – HAs and fulvic acids – FAs) on the lipid membrane in different regions were researched: the lipid-water interphase, and in the middle of the lipid bilayer. It was shown that FA and HA impact the fluidity of liposome membranes in different ways. Increased mass concentrations of HAs decreased membrane fluidity in both acids: extracted from peat and the model. However, increased mass concentration of FAs extracted from peat, decreased membrane fluidity in the surface region, at the same time stiffening the central part of the bilayer. Increasing the concentration of FAs extracted from peat had the opposite effect when compared to model FA. This effect may be related to the complexation of xenobiotics present in the soil environment and their impact on biological membranes.

In order to obtain uniform and reproducible surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) platforms, a novel method for deposition of well-adhered multifarious gold particles on a tin-doped indium oxide electrode through electrogeneration at an electrode|gold compound in toluene|aqueous-electrolyte three-phase junction was developed. The electrodeposition was carried out both by double-potential-step chronoamperometry with one pulse for nucleation and one for growth of the particles, and by potentiostatic single-potential-step chronoamperometry. Both procedures give angular, multifarious Au particles with a diameter of 150 ± 40 nm. The size of the particles is independent of deposition time, after an initial growth phase, and controlled by the formation of a microemulsion at the three-phase junction. The particles are likely deposited from the microdroplets and their size is determined by the amount of gold salt in a droplet. The mechanism involves electoreduction of tetraoctylammonium tetrachloroaurate at the tin-doped indium oxide electrode followed by ion transfer across the liquid|liquid interface. The Au particles are strongly adhered to the electrode surface. The Au particle covered electrode enhances Raman scattering on the order of 105–106times for malachite green isothiocyanate. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy studies reveal that the reproducibility of the Au particle deposit is excellent both between samples (<15% RSD) and across a single sample (<12% RSD). The obtained nanoparticulate deposit was also demonstrated to show electrocatalytic activity toward dioxygen reduction.

Robo2 is the cell surface receptor for the repulsive guidance cue Slit and is involved in axon guidance and neuronal migration. Nephrin is a podocyte slit-diaphragm protein that functions in the kidney glomerular filtration barrier. Here, we report that Robo2 is expressed at the basal surface of mouse podocytes and colocalizes with nephrin. Biochemical studies indicate that Robo2 forms a complex with nephrin in the kidney through adaptor protein Nck. In contrast to the role of nephrin that promotes actin polymerization, Slit2-Robo2 signaling inhibits nephrin-induced actin polymerization. In addition, the amount of F-actin associated with nephrin is increased in Robo2knockout mice that develop an altered podocyte foot process structure. Genetic interaction study further reveals that loss of Robo2 alleviates the abnormal podocyte structural phenotype in nephrin null mice. These results suggest that Robo2 signaling acts as a negative regulator on nephrin to influence podocyte foot process architecture.

In buildings with steel-concrete composite floors, joints are designed to transmit mainly hogging bending moment. In case of the large horizontal loads due to wind, earthquake or accidental events, sagging bending moments in a joint can also occur. Additionally, large deformations of the structure cause tying and prying effects. In the paper, a mechanical model based on “component method” for evaluation of characteristics of the composite joint is presented. The influence of tying and prying actions on distribution of the internal forces in a joint is also analyzed. The procedure for calculation of the characteristics of the composite joint with bolted endplate connection is elaborated too.

We report on the preparation of water‐filled polymer microvessels through the photopolymerization of pyrrole in a water/chloroform emulsion. The resulting structures were characterized by complementary spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, XPS, SEM, and TEM. The encapsulation of fluorescent, magnetic, and ionic species within the microvessels has been demonstrated. Confocal microscopy and fluorescence anisotropy measurements revealed that the encapsulated chromophore (Rhodamine 6G) resides within voids in the capsules; however, strong interaction of the dye with polypyrrole results in a measurable decrease in its rotational dynamics. Microvessels loaded with ferrofluid exhibit magnetic properties, and their structures can be directed with an external magnetic field. TEM measurements allowed imaging of individual nanoparticles entrapped within the vessels. The application of Cu2+‐loaded microvessels as a transducer layer in all‐solid‐state ion‐selective electrodes was also demonstrated.

The paper presents results of investigations into the structure and corrosion resistance of Ti-Al diffusion layers produced on two phase (a+b) Ti6Al4V alloy by Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). The process was carried out in aluminium chloride (AlCl3) mixed with argon atmosphere. Surface topography and microstructure characterization of the coatings were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The local chemical composition witch 1 μm lateral resolution was measured via EDS. The phase content was investigated by X-ray diffraction and analysis of the chemical composition of the surface by XPS. Corrosion resistance was tested using the potentiodynamic method in 0.1M Na2SO4 and 0.1M H2SO4 solutions at the room temperature. Their resistance to high temperature at atmospheric pressure was tested by 24-hours cycling to 700°C. The results indicate that the layers produced on the Ti6Al4V titanium alloy exhibit a very good adhesion combined with exceptional corrosion resistance, especially high at high temperatures.

Zinc, silicon, and steel superhydrophobic surfaces were prepared by a simple solution-immersion technique. In the case of zinc, the method consists of dipping of the substrate in a prehydrolyzed methanol solution of 1H,1H,2H,2H-(perfluorooctyl)trichlorosilane [CF3(CF2)5(CH2)2SiCl3, PFTS] for 24 h at 50 °C. Micron-sized spheres (1.7−2 μm in diameter) were formed on the zinc substrate at 50 °C, while a featureless coating was obtained when the solution-immersion process was conducted at room temperature. When the reaction was performed at room temperature, the formation of superhydrophobic coatings took several days (up to 5 days). In contrast, immersion of silicon or steel substrates in the PFTS/methanol solution led to the formation of hydrophobic interfaces even for a prolonged immersion period at 50 °C. The formation of superhydrophobic surfaces on silicon and steel surfaces was only possible if a zinc foil was added in the PFTS/methanol solution containing the silicon or steel substrate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was used to characterize the resulting surfaces and to underline a plausible reaction mechanism.

To evaluate the efficacy of radioiodine therapy using 131I in a group of patients with large multinodular goitre (LMG).

Summary:In the present work, various surface modifications have been applied to titanium surface. The aim of the modifications was to improve cell adhesion and to determine their influence on the properties of titanium surface. The unmodified and modified surfaces were observed using SEM. Subtle changes in modified surface layer of titanium samples were examined using the Auger Electron Microanalysis and Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The properties of surfaces were evaluated by contact angle and roughness measurements. The results revealed large differences in morphology of Ti modified with different procedures whereas only minor differences in the chemistry of the surfaces were detected. Preliminary quantitative measurements (cell number, viability and differentiation) of the MG 63 osteoblast‐like cells in the direct contact with the surface of the investigated materials show that both the not pre‐treated titanium surface and the surfaces modified by the methods used in the this work are all well tolerated by the living cells. Within the experimental scatter all the surfaces provided good substrate for proliferation and growth of the cells.

Painful bone metastases are most frequent in patients with advanced prostate or breast carcinoma. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic effect of radionuclide therapy using 89Sr and 153Sm-EDTMP in patients with painful bone metastases of these tumours.

The paper presents results of investigations into the structure and corrosion resistance of Ti-Al diffusion layers produced on two phase (a+b) Ti6Al4V alloy by Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). The process was carried out in aluminium chloride (AlCl3) mixed with argon atmosphere. Surface topography and microstructure characterization of the coatings were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The local chemical composition witch 1 μm lateral resolution was measured via EDS. The phase content was investigated by X-ray diffraction and analysis of the chemical composition of the surface by XPS. Corrosion resistance was tested using the potentiodynamic method in 0.1M Na2SO4 and 0.1M H2SO4 solutions at the room temperature. Their resistance to high temperature at atmospheric pressure was tested by 24-hours cycling to 700°C. The results indicate that the layers produced on the Ti6Al4V titanium alloy exhibit a very good adhesion combined with exceptional corrosion resistance, especially high at high temperatures.

Results to develop new and effective procedures to activate Cu- Ti, Cu-Zr, and Cu-Hf amorphous alloy ribbons for catalytic applications are summarized. A wide range of activation methods has been successfully applied to transform Cu-Zr alloys into catalysts of high and stable catalytic activity and selectivity. In contrast, only specific procedures may be used to activate Cu-Ti and Cu-Hf amorphous samples. Various characterization techniques including surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), XRD, wavelength/energy dispersive spectrometry (WDS/EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution Auger electron microanalysis (SAM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), porosity and surface area measurements provide data to interpret changes in structural, surface and catalytic properties.

Degradation processes occurring at the surface and in the bulk of Cu-based amorphous alloys during cathodic hydrogen charging were used for promoting the catalytic activity of such alloys. These processes modifying the structure, composition, and morphology of the substrate proved to be useful methods for transforming Cu-Hf and inactive Cu-Ti amorphous alloy precursors into active and durable catalysts. Indeed, their catalytic activity for dehydrogenation of 2-propanol increased up to a conversion level of ∼60% at selectivities to acetone of about 99% for Cu-Ti and to conversion of ∼90% at selectivities of ∼95% for Cu-Hf. Previous attempts carried out by aging in air or hydrogen charging from the gas phase resulted in a maximum conversion level up to 15% for Cu-Hf and up to 3% for Cu-Ti. High resolution Auger spectroscopy allowed changes occurring during the activation process to be identified, namely, the formation of small Cu particles on the HfO2 surface and the formation of highly porous particles containing mostly Cu and some Ti and O (Cu-Ti-O) on a Cu-Ti substrate. Differences in the chemistry and structure of both catalysts are discussed, and the implications for catalytic function are considered. A probable configuration of active sites on the Cu-Ti-O/Ti-O-Cu catalyst for dehydrogenation of 2-propanol is proposed.

Degradation processes occurring at the surface and in the bulk of Cu-based amorphous alloys during cathodic hydrogen charging were used for promoting the catalytic activity of such alloys. These processes modifying the structure, composition, and morphology of the substrate proved to be useful methods for transforming Cu-Hf and inactive Cu-Ti amorphous alloy precursors into active and durable catalysts. Indeed, their catalytic activity for dehydrogenation of 2-propanol increased up to a conversion level of ∼60% at selectivities to acetone of about 99% for Cu-Ti and to conversion of ∼90% at selectivities of ∼95% for Cu-Hf. Previous attempts carried out by aging in air or hydrogen charging from the gas phase resulted in a maximum conversion level up to 15% for Cu-Hf and up to 3% for Cu-Ti. High resolution Auger spectroscopy allowed changes occurring during the activation process to be identified, namely, the formation of small Cu particles on the HfO2surface and the formation of highly porous particles containing mostly Cu and some Ti and O (Cu-Ti-O) on a Cu-Ti substrate. Differences in the chemistry and structure of both catalysts are discussed, and the implications for catalytic function are considered. A probable configuration of active sites on the Cu-Ti-OTi-O-Cu catalyst for dehydrogenation of 2-propanol is proposed.

Anodic layers grown on Al-Ta sputter deposited amorphous alloys were studied by electrochemical methods, AES, and RBS. The alloy composition ranged from Al90Ta10to Al70Ta30. It has been found that an increase of breakdown potential Enp′caused by refractory metal content extends over a wide concentration range from 0.01 M up to 1 M NaCl.

To define the differences in emergency room usage patterns between patients with and without medical insurance coverage.

Changes in morphology and local chemical composition due to various methods of modification of surfaces of Cu-Zr, Cu-Hf, and Cu-Ti amorphous alloys (caused by aging in air/dry corrosion or hydrogen charging) were investigated. These modification/activation procedures transform the original amorphous ribbons of low surface area into efficient and stable catalysts, due to the segregation of a distinct amount of Cu and the development of a large specific surface area of Cu on a ZrOx or HfOx support. It was found that aging in air resulted in the formation of a bilayer of rough copper (containing small Cu particles indispensable for catalysis) on top of a rather smooth oxide underlayer (ZrOx, HfOx). Careful examination of the cross sections of the modified Cu-based ribbons revealed that, even after prolonged aging in air, only the first few microns of the surface layer was modified. Cu-Ti alloy was stable in air and did not undergo the expected modification. Hydrogenation followed by air exposure resulted in a disintegration of the ribbons into small pieces. Each piece was covered with many small Cu clusters 0.1–0.5 μm in diameter formed on an oxide underlayer. High-energy resolution Auger spectroscopy allowed identification of the underlayers (ZrO2, HfO2, or TiOx), identification of small Cu clusters, determination of the degree of surface oxidation of them, and mapping of the surface to identify the Cu-covered and “naked” heavy metal.

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The aim of this study was to investigate post cryotherapy thyroid function status of normal rat thyroid tissue and to determine the topography of temperature of cryotreated tissues and of tissues adjacent to them. Nitrous oxide cryotherapy was performed in 40 male Wistar rats. They were divided into four groups of 10. In group I, the right thyroid lobe was subjected to cryotherapy and the left lobe was not frozen. In group II, both thyroid lobes were cryotreated. In group III, the right lobe was frozen and the left lobe was excised. In group IV, the thyroid was subjected to neither cryotherapy nor surgery. During cryotherapy, the temperature in various places of the thyroid and in the surrounding tissues was measured. Serum thyrotropin concentrations were determined before an experiment and 4 weeks after in all rats. The results of temperature measurements proved that it is possible to limit cryotherapy to certain areas of thyroid tissue and to spare the neighboring tissues, because they are not subjected to temperatures that are damaging. The effectiveness of cryotherapy was confirmed by functional effect. Cryotherapy changed function of thyroid tissue. There was a statistically significant difference between mean baseline and follow-up concentrations in rats of groups II and III. In both groups hypothyroidism occurred post cryotherapy.