The Araucaria Project. Population effects on the V and I band magnitudes of red clump stars

We present measurements of the V and I band magnitudes of red clump stars in 15 nearby galaxies obtained from recently published homogenous HST photometry. Supplementing these results with similar data for another 8 galaxies available in the literature the populational effects on the V and I band magnitudes of red clump stars were investigated. Comparing red clump magnitudes with the I-band magnitude of the TRGB in a total sample of 23 galaxies possessing very different environments we demonstrate that population effects strongly affect both the V and I band magnitude of red clump stars in a complex way. Our empirical results basically confirm the theoretical results of Girardi and Salaris, and show that optical (VI) photometry of red clump stars is not an accurate method for the determination of distances to nearby galaxies at the present moment, as long as the population effects are not better calibrated, both empirically and theoretically. Near infrared photometry is a much better way to measure galaxy distances with red clump stars given its smaller sensitivity to population effects.Comment: AJ in pres

The Araucaria Project. The Distance to the Small Magellanic Cloud from Near-Infrared Photometry of RR Lyrae Variables

We have obtained deep infrared J and K band observations of nine 4.9x4.9 arcmin fields in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) with the ESO New Technology Telescope equipped with the SOFI infrared camera. In these fields, 34 RR Lyrae stars catalogued by the OGLE collaboration were identified. Using different theoretical and empirical calibrations of the infrared period-luminosity-metallicity relation, we find consistent SMC distance moduli, and find a best true distance modulus to the SMC of 18.97 +/- 0.03 (statistical) +/- 0.12 (systematic) mag which agrees well with most independent distance determinations to this galaxy, and puts the SMC 0.39 mag more distant than the LMC for which our group has recently derived, from the same technique, a distance of 18.58 mag.Comment: AJ submitted and accepte

Blending side streams. A potential solution to reach a resource efficient, circular, zero-waste food system

Reduction of production losses and increasing resource efficiency is needed to improve sustainability of the food supply chain. One approach to reach more resource-efficient, circular food systems is blending and processing side streams, especially when blending increases their value through compositional, nutritional or functional synergies. In this perspective we present a case study for valorizing sunflower oil press cake and whey. As the need for specialty products grows, small and medium-sized seed oil producers will be challenged with by-products. Similarly, small and geographically scattered dairy companies are faced with inadequate supply chains not allowing handling and downstream processing of whey. By combining two side streams, and applying simple processing steps and novel fermentation approaches, it would be possible not only to improve circularity of the value chain, but also to develop innovative ingredient platforms. A series of solutions appealing to various end users, from beverage producers to bakeries and snack applications, can be developed from fermented side stream blends when specific demands to ensure food safety and appropriate sensory quality are met

The features of liver lesions in children at the time of diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. Observations from one medical center

Wstęp: W przebiegu nieswoistych zapaleń jelit stosunkowo często procesem chorobowym objęte są inne narządy, w tym wątroba.Cel pracy: Ocena częstości występowania biochemicznych cech uszkodzenia wątroby w momencie rozpoznania nieswoistego zapalenia jelit (NZJ) u dzieci.Materiał i metody: Analizą objęto 49 dzieci z NZJ w wieku 2–18 lat. U wszystkich chorych przeprowadzono badanie kliniczne oraz diagnostykę laboratoryjną [między innymi aktywność aminotransferazy alaninowej (ALT) i asparaginowej (AST), gammaglutamylotranspeptydazy (GGTP) i stężenie bilirubiny w surowicy krwi]. Rozpoznanie choroby podstawowej ustalono na podstawie badania endoskopowego przewodu pokarmowego oraz oceny histopatologicznej wycinków błony śluzowej jelita. Jako podstawowe kryterium uszkodzenia wątroby przyjęto wartości aktywności ALT powyżej 45 j./l.Wyniki: Podwyższoną aktywność ALT stwierdzono u 16 badanych dzieci (32%) z nieswoistymi zapaleniami jelit. Aktywność ALT mieściła się w granicach 45–157 j./l; średnio 75,8 ± 40 j./l.Wnioski: U pacjentów pediatrycznych z nieswoistymi zapaleniami jelit stosunkowo często, już w momencie rozpoznania, obserwuje się cechy uszkodzenia wątroby. U wszystkich chorych z nieswoistymi zapaleniami jelit należy monitorować parametry funkcji wątroby w celu wczesnego rozpoznania współistniejących powikłań hepatologicznych. Obserwacje poczynione w niniejszym badaniu mają jedynie charakter wstępny i zobowiązują do pogłębienia diagnostyki „hepatologicznej” w celu ustalenia szczegółowego rozpoznania i wdrożenia właściwego leczenia. Konieczne są dalsze badania obejmujące liczniejsze grupy dzieci chorych na nieswoiste zapalenia jelit.Introduction: Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) often develop complications involving other organs, including the liver.Aim of study: To assess the prevalence of elevated liver enzymes in children suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Material and methods: We analyzed a group of 49 patients with IBD from 2 to 18 years old. Each patient had physical examination done, medical history taken and laboratory tests performed [alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma gluthamylotranspeptydase (GGTP), bilirubin]. The diagnosis of IBD was based on endoscopic and histopathological criteria.The liver damage was recognized when activity of ALT was above 45 U/l.Results: Increased liver enzymes activity was found in a group of 32% of patients with IBD. The activity of ALT ranged from 54 to 157 U/l.Conclusions: 1. In pediatric population with inflammatory bowel diseases the liver damage might be present at the very beginning of the IBD. 2. In all the patients with IBD liver enzymes activity ought to be monitored in order to recognize hepatic complications. 3. Observations of this study oblige to extend diagnostic procedures enabling accurate recognition and appropriate treatment

How Do the Different Types of Carrier and Drying Techniques Affect the Changes in Physico-Chemical Properties of Powders from Chokeberry Pomace Extracts?

Chokeberry fruit, one of the richest plant sources of bioactives, is processed into different foodstuffs, mainly juice, which generates a considerable amount of by-products. To follow the latest trends in the food industry considering waste management, the study aimed to produce chokeberry pomace extract powders and conduct experimental and chemometric assessment of the effect of different carriers and drying techniques on the physico-chemical properties of such products. The PCA analysis showed that the examined powders were classified into two groups: freeze-dried (variation in case of moisture content, water activity, colour, and browning index) and vacuum-dried (bulk density). No clear pattern was observed for the physical properties of carrier added products. The sum of polyphenolics (phenolic acids, anthocyanins and flavonols) ranged from 3.3–22.7 g/100 g dry matter. Drying techniques had a stronger effect on the polyphenols profile than the type of carrier. Hydroxymethyl-L-furfural formation was enhanced by inulin addition during high-temperature treatment. Overall, the addition of maltodextrin and trehalose mixture for freeze drying and vacuum drying at 90 °C caused the highest retention of polyphenolics and the lowest formation of hydroxymethyl-L-furfural; however, an individual and comprehensive approach is required when the obtainment of high-quality chokeberry powders is expected

On Zoosemic Tendencies in the Vocabulary of Prison Slang

The multifaceted prison slang may be considered to be the linguistic phenomenon which has relatively recently started to attract the attention of various representatives of the linguistic world, such as, for example, semanticists, sociolinguists and those who engage in the development of linguistic anthropology. In the past, prison slang was mainly perceived as a part of the prison subculture, and hence it was discussed as a socio-cultural problem, with little or no emphasis being put on its strictly linguistic features. Not to mention the issue of animal metaphors in prison slang forming a part and parcel of its vocabulary. On the basis of the research carried out by Ciechanowska (2017), related to the problem of zoosemy in prison slang, with special attention being given to animal nouns which either function or—at least—functioned as thief synonyms, as well as a group of animal verbs, it was possible to draw some conclusions of both qualitative and quantitative character, regarding the tendencies observable in the mechanism of animal metaphorisation. The apparatus applied in the analysis of the group of selected animal nouns and verbs was based on the theoretical and methodological frameworks of the cognitive approach, probably the most productive framework in lexical semantics, combined with some elements of componential analysis

Genetic Insight into the Domain Structure and Functions of Dicer-Type Ribonucleases

Ribonuclease Dicer belongs to the family of RNase III endoribonucleases, the enzymes that specifically hydrolyze phosphodiester bonds found in double-stranded regions of RNAs. Dicer enzymes are mostly known for their essential role in the biogenesis of small regulatory RNAs. A typical Dicer-type RNase consists of a helicase domain, a domain of unknown function (DUF283), a PAZ (Piwi-Argonaute-Zwille) domain, two RNase III domains, and a double-stranded RNA binding domain; however, the domain composition of Dicers varies among species. Dicer and its homologues developed only in eukaryotes; nevertheless, the two enzymatic domains of Dicer, helicase and RNase III, display high sequence similarity to their prokaryotic orthologs. Evolutionary studies indicate that a combination of the helicase and RNase III domains in a single protein is a eukaryotic signature and is supposed to be one of the critical events that triggered the consolidation of the eukaryotic RNA interference. In this review, we provide the genetic insight into the domain organization and structure of Dicer proteins found in vertebrate and invertebrate animals, plants and fungi. We also discuss, in the context of the individual domains, domain deletion variants and partner proteins, a variety of Dicers’ functions not only related to small RNA biogenesis pathways