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The formation of geopolymers from fly ash (FA) and metakaolin (MK) was investigated. The effect of different reactivity of FA and MK was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy method. Geopolymer materials were obtained by an alkaline activation of aluminosilicate sources. The aim of this work is to develop methods for working properties prediction of geopolymer materials based on the starting materials. Selection of a geopolymerization scheme is found to be a key factor to realize a beneficial effect of improved reactivity. Finally, a descriptive model of the mechanism of geopolymer formation, taking into account the quality of starting materials was proposed. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 841-849, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analyses logistics outsourcing services from the viewpoint of client companies (manufacturing companies). The main goal is to show how intensively various logistics outsourcing services are used by Czech manufacturing companies in comparison with other world regions, and which areas of logistics outsourcing should be considered more seriously in order to increase logistic efficiency. The study is based on a quantitative and qualitative investigation of Czech manufacturing companies. Firstly, the brief overview of the present situation in the Czech market is presented. It is based on survey data. The results of this quantitative study are compared with global research activities, especially with the 2013 Third-Party Logistics Study carried out by Capgemini Consulting Company. Next, results of the qualitative investigation are discussed. This part describes the experience of four selected Czech manufacturing companies with logistics outsourcing, the main problems they face in this area and their future plans and expectations. The present study is part of a more complex research currently being carried out by the authors.

Nowadays mining water flowing out of an ore mine can be a serious threaten to the environmental due to high content of metals, especially heavy metals as well as solid particles. For this reason, this work proposes a membrane technology for mining water treatment so that the treated water meets the quality criteria of water for release into a recipient or industrial use. First polluted water was prepared, containing high concentrations of metals as well as other elements. Water was treated by selected membrane processes (stage 1 - microfiltration, stage 2- reverse osmosis). The stage 2 produced demineralized water, which was remineralised using Semidol – a dolomitic filter-material approved under DIN EN 1017 and DIN 2000. It can be concluded that the resulting water quality in terms of hardness and presence of nitrates and heavy metals improved and the water treatment method is suitable for preparation of both water safe for the environment and industrial water.

Unfavorable development air pollution along with the alarming growth of ecological damages speeded up an international cooperation. In 1979 the UN ECE Convention on Long Range Transport of Air Pollution was signed in Geneva, of which Slovakia is the successor. A part of the Convention is the implementation of the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of Long Range Transport of Air Pollution in Europe (EMEP Environment Monitoring and Evaluation Programme). In the sense of the Convention, the EMEP is obligatory for all European countries. Its goal is to monitor, model and evaluate long range transport of air pollutants in Europe and to elaborate a basis for the strategy to reduce European emissions.The national network of SHMI regional stations is a part of the EMEP monitoring system.This paper deals with information technologies in the air pollution control in Slovakia: imission and emission monitoring systems. From 1.1.2001 the Slovak emission monitoring system represented by the Emission and air pollutation source investory (EAPSI) was replaced by the new system National Emission Inventory System (NEIS). This new system removed drawbacks of system EAPSI.The Slovak Republic has fulfilled the commitment from the first sulphur Protocol that represented a reduction of European sulphur dioxide emissions by about 30%. Reduction of European emissions has been positively manifested in a precipitation acidity decrease over the territory of Slovakia. In compliance with the second suplhur Protocol, the European sulphur dioxide emissions should be reduced about 65% by 2005, as compared to 1980.

The MAGE (Melanoma-associated antigen) protein family members are structurally related to each other by a MAGE-homology domain comprised of 2 winged helix motifs WH/A and WH/B. This family specifically evolved in placental mammals although single homologs designated NSE3 (non-SMC element) exist in most eukaryotes. NSE3, together with its partner proteins NSE1 and NSE4 form a tight subcomplex of the structural maintenance of chromosomes SMC5-6 complex. Previously, we showed that interactions of the WH/B motif of the MAGE proteins with their NSE4/EID partners are evolutionarily conserved (including the MAGEA1-NSE4 interaction). In contrast, the interaction of the WH/A motif of NSE3 with NSE1 diverged in the MAGE paralogs. We hypothesized that the MAGE paralogs acquired new RING-finger-containing partners through their evolution and form MAGE complexes reminiscent of NSE1-NSE3-NSE4 trimers. In this work, we employed the yeast 2-hybrid system to screen a human RING-finger protein library against several MAGE baits. We identified a number of potential MAGE-RING interactions and confirmed several of them (MDM4, PCGF6, RNF166, TRAF6, TRIM8, TRIM31, TRIM41) in co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Among these MAGE-RING pairs, we chose to examine MAGEA1-TRIM31 in detail and showed that both WH/A and WH/B motifs of MAGEA1 bind to the coiled-coil domain of TRIM31 and that MAGEA1 interaction stimulates TRIM31 ubiquitin-ligase activity. In addition, TRIM31 directly binds to NSE4, suggesting the existence of a TRIM31-MAGEA1-NSE4 complex reminiscent of the NSE1-NSE3-NSE4 trimer. These results suggest that MAGEA1 functions as a co-factor of TRIM31 ubiquitin-ligase and that the TRIM31-MAGEA1-NSE4 complex may have evolved from an ancestral NSE1-NSE3-NSE4 complex.

Background: The Nse1, Nse3 and Nse4 proteins form a tight sub-complex of the large SMC5-6 protein complex. hNSE3/MAGEG1, the mammalian ortholog of Nse3, is the founding member of the MAGE (melanoma-associated antigen) protein family and the Nse4 kleisin subunit is related to the EID (E1A-like inhibitor of differentiation) family of proteins. We have recently shown that human MAGE proteins can interact with NSE4/EID proteins through their characteristic conserved hydrophobic pocket., Methodology/principal Findings: Using mutagenesis and protein-protein interaction analyses, we have identified a new Nse3/MAGE-binding domain (NMBD) of the Nse4/EID proteins. This short domain is located next to the Nse4 N-terminal kleisin motif and is conserved in all NSE4/EID proteins. The central amino acid residues of the human NSE4b/EID3 domain were essential for its binding to hNSE3/MAGEG1 in yeast two-hybrid assays suggesting they form the core of the binding domain. PEPSCAN ELISA measurements of the MAGEC2 binding affinity to EID2 mutant peptides showed that similar core residues contribute to the EID2-MAGEC2 interaction. In addition, the N-terminal extension of the EID2 binding domain took part in the EID2-MAGEC2 interaction. Finally, docking and molecular dynamic simulations enabled us to generate a structure model for EID2-MAGEC2. Combination of our experimental data and the structure modeling showed how the core helical region of the NSE4/EID domain binds into the conserved pocket characteristic of the MAGE protein family., Conclusions/significance: We have identified a new Nse4/EID conserved domain and characterized its binding to Nse3/MAGE proteins. The conservation and binding of the interacting surfaces suggest tight co-evolution of both Nse4/EID and Nse3/MAGE protein families.

Background: The SMC5-6 protein complex is involved in the cellular response to DNA damage. It is composed of 6-8 polypeptides, of which Nse1, Nse3 and Nse4 form a tight sub-complex. MAGEG1, the mammalian ortholog of Nse3, is the founding member of the MAGE (melanoma-associated antigen) protein family and Nse4 is related to the EID (E1A-like inhibitor of differentiation) family of transcriptional repressors., Methodology/principal Findings: Using site-directed mutagenesis, protein-protein interaction analyses and molecular modelling, we have identified a conserved hydrophobic surface on the C-terminal domain of Nse3 that interacts with Nse4 and identified residues in its N-terminal domain that are essential for interaction with Nse1. We show that these interactions are conserved in the human orthologs. Furthermore, interaction of MAGEG1, the mammalian ortholog of Nse3, with NSE4b, one of the mammalian orthologs of Nse4, results in transcriptional co-activation of the nuclear receptor, steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1). In an examination of the evolutionary conservation of the Nse3-Nse4 interactions, we find that several MAGE proteins can interact with at least one of the NSE4/EID proteins., Conclusions/significance: We have found that, despite the evolutionary diversification of the MAGE family, the characteristic hydrophobic surface shared by all MAGE proteins from yeast to humans mediates its binding to NSE4/EID proteins. Our work provides new insights into the interactions, evolution and functions of the enigmatic MAGE proteins.