Radiation chemistry of solid-state carbohydrates using EMR

We review our research of the past decade towards identification of radiation-induced radicals in solid state sugars and sugar phosphates. Detailed models of the radical structures are obtained by combining EPR and ENDOR experiments with DFT calculations of g and proton HF tensors, with agreement in their anisotropy serving as most important criterion. Symmetry-related and Schonland ambiguities, which may hamper such identification, are reviewed. Thermally induced transformations of initial radiation damage into more stable radicals can also be monitored in the EPR (and ENDOR) experiments and in principle provide information on stable radical formation mechanisms. Thermal annealing experi-ments reveal, however, that radical recombination and/or diamagnetic radiation damage is also quite important. Analysis strategies are illustrated with research on sucrose. Results on dipotassium glucose-1-phosphate and trehalose dihydrate, fructose and sorbose are also briefly discussed. Our study demonstrates that radiation damage is strongly regio-selective and that certain general principles govern the stable radical formation

Detection of radiation treatment of dry plant extracts by thermoluminescence and pulsed photostimulated luminescence. Comparative study

Results of the examination of the variety of dry plant extracts (Thyme extract, Celery seed extract, Artichoke extract, Citrus aurantium extract and others) by two different detection methods are described. Both PSL and TL methods are presented and discussed. Comparative study based on the analysis of the results obtained by thermoluminescence (TL) and photostimulated luminescence (PSL) measurements delivered the arguments that preselection of detection methods based on model studies is rational to be adapted in analytical laboratories specialized in the detection of irradiated foods

Assessment of the protective and therapeutic effect of melatonin against thioacetamide-induced acute liver damage.

Acute or chronic damage to the liver may occur through alcohol, drugs, viruses, genetic disorders, and toxicity. In this study, we planned to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of melatonin (Mel) by causing damage to the liver with thioacetamide (TAA). Thirty-five rats were used. Group I: control group (seven pieces), group II: Mel group (seven pieces) the single dose on the first day of the experiment was 10 mg/kg, group III: TAA (seven pieces) 300 mg/kg with 24-hour intervals, two doses, group IV: Mel + TAA group (seven pieces) 10 mg/kg single dose Mel was applied 24  hours before TAA application, group V: TAA + Mel group (seven pieces) single dose (24th hour) of 10 mg/kg Mel was administered after TAA (300 mg/kg) two doses. The liver histology was evaluated. Apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis markers in tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in blood serum samples and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were determined in liver tissue. TAA affected histologically the classical lobule structure both in cell cords and sinusoids. Caspase-3, RIP3, and LC3 levels were increased in group III compared with the control group. TAA did not cause a statistically significant change in TNF-α level but decreased the TGF-β level significantly. AST and ALT levels were statistically significant in group II and V compared with group I, the ALP level was significant in group IV compared with group II. The results of this study showed that TAA caused significant damage to tissues and increased cell death, Mel was found to have more therapeutic than the protective effect on tissues

Protective coatings made of refractory metals by thermal spraying technique

W pracy zaprezentowano nowe warstwy stopowe na bazie molibdenu o wysokiej zawartości renu, przeznaczone do zwiększania odporności korozyjnej elementów ceramicznych/cermetalicznych na działanie ciekłego szkła, w szczególności szkła sodowo-wapniowego. Przeznaczeniem są szczególnie narażone na korozję i erozję elementy instalacji do topienia szkła takie, jak gardziele przelotowe, bubblery, rozdzielniki ciekłego szkła oraz oczka. Cermetalicznym podłożem, na powierzchni którego wytworzono techniką natryskiwania plazmowego warstwy, jest spiekany ogniotrwały materiał na bazie niestabilizowanego ZrO2 z dodatkiem Mo. Wytworzone materiały poddane zostały procesowi krzemowania celem wytworzenia powłoki chroniącej warstwę przed utlenieniem w początkowej fazie zanim nastąpi całkowite stopienie szkła. Wytworzenie warstw wymagało opracowania metody umożliwiającej wytwarzanie proszku stopowego o morfologii pozwalającej na stosowanie go w procesach natryskiwania cieplnego. W celu otrzymania proszku wykazującego dużą sypkość opracowano metodę polegającą na wprowadzaniu renu do molibdenu w procesie redukcji nadrenianu amonu. Badano wpływ zastosowania operacji wygrzewania proszku po procesie redukcji na skład fazowy i mikrostrukturę proszków oraz otrzymanych z nich warstw. Operacja wygrzewania wpływa na jakościowy i ilościowy skład fazowy proszków, natomiast nie ma istotnego wpływu na skład fazowy warstw. Wytworzone materiały poddano próbom odporności korozyjnej, na podstawie których można stwierdzić, że opracowane warstwy bardzo dobrze chronią wyrób ceramiczny/cermetaliczny od korozyjnego działania szkła sodowo-wapniowego. Nie zaobserwowano składników szkła w cermetalu. Istotne jest również to, że rozpuszczalność składników warstwy w szkle jest minimalna.The article presents novel molybdenum-based alloy coatings with a high rhenium content for improvement of corrosion resistance of ceramic/cermet elements towards molten glass, particularly soda-lime glass. The expected destination of the studied materials are elements especially exposed to corrosion such as passage throats, bubblers, separatory funnels for liquid glass. The substrate is a sintered refractory material made of unstabilized zirconia with Mo addition. Obtained materials were subjected to silicon in order to grow a cover layer to protect coating from oxidizing during the initial phase before glass is completely melted. For the purpose of deposition it was necessary to develop a method for preparation of alloy powder with a morphology applicable for thermal spraying. In order to obtain powder with high flowability a method of introduction of rhenium into molybdenum during ammonium perrhenate reduction was developed. The powders and coatings were investigated for phase composition and microstructure after annealing of reduced powder. The process of annealing was found to influence the phase composition of powders but not of the coatings. Tests of corrosion resistance carried out with the resulting materials indicate that the coatings protect well the underlaying ceramic/cermet core from the corrosive action of soda-lime glass. No glass element were found in the cermet material. It is also important that solubility of layer components in glass is minimal

Estimation of phosphorus recovery by struvite crystallization from animal manure wastewater in China

Intensive farming is main industry which produces large amount of animal manure wastewater with high content of phosphorus. Its discharging to surface water leads to eutrophication. On the other hand, phosphorus is vital for plant growth and its natural reserves are rapidly exhausted. Therefore, recovering phosphorus from animal manure wastewater can achieve two important goals: prevention of eutrophication and recovery of non-renewable phosphorus compounds. The method of struvite precipitation has been presented for phosphorus recovery from animal manure wastewater. Based on scenario study, 8.76 million tons of struvite could be produced from animal manure wastewater in China

Metody modelowania predykcji plonu ziemniaków – przykłady i możliwości zastosowania

The purpose of the following work is to review the methods used in predicting plant yields, with particular emphasis on potato production. The article refers to the histological methods of estimating plant yields and prevailing trends: groundbased remote sensing, which is often associated with regression calculus, multiple regression, artificial intelligence and image analysis. There are also two popular models SUBSTOR and LINTUL-POTATO, which are the foundation for developing more and more accurate tools of potato yield estimation. There are many methods that allow to predict yields before the end of the growing season. The most important element in creating prediction models is choosing the appropriate number of independent variables that actually shape the yielding of potatoes. Timely and accurate prediction of crop yields improve the management of agricultural production as well as limit financial, quantitative and qualitative losses of crops.Celem niniejszej pracy był przegląd metod wykorzystywanych w prognozowaniu plonów roślin ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem produkcji ziemniaka. W artykule nawiązano do historycznych sposobów szacowania plonów roślin oraz obecnie panujących trendów w predykcji: teledetekcji naziemnej, która często powiązana jest z rachunkiem regresyjnym, regresji wielorakiej, sztucznej inteligencji, analizie obrazów. Wspomniano także o dwóch popularnych modelach SUBSTOR i LINTULPOTATO, które stworzyły podwaliny do opracowywania coraz dokładniejszych narzędzi prognozujących plony ziemniaków. Wiele metod pozwala na predykcję plonów przed zakończeniem sezonu wegetacyjnego. Najistotniejszym elementem tworzenia modeli predykcyjnych jest dobór odpowiedniej liczby zmiennych niezależnych, które rzeczywiście kształtują plonowanie ziemniaków. Terminowe i dokładne prognozy plonów roślin uprawnych usprawniają zarządzanie produkcją rolniczą, pozwalają na ograniczanie strat finansowych, ilościowych i jakościowych plonów

Evaluation of the influence of composts made of sewage sludge, ash from power plant, and sawdust on floristic composition of plant communities in the plot experiment

Floristic studies were conducted in 2011 and 2012 on the soil reclaimed using composts made of sewage sludge with the addition of various amounts of ash from power plant and sawdust. The experiment was carried out in 2002 on devastated soilless formation in the area of “Jeziórko” sulfur mine. Strongly acidic soilless formation (weak loamy sand) was reclaimed using post-flotation lime for de-acidification at the dose of 300 t/ha and compost in various variants: municipal sewage sludge, sewage sludge (80%) + ash (20%), sewage sludge (70%) + ash (30%), and sewage sludge (70%) + sawdust (30%). The compost was added at following doses of dry weight: 90, 180, and 270 t/ha. In the prepared plots, each with the area of 15 m2, a mixture of reclamation grasses was sown: Festuca pratensis –41.2%, Festuca rubra – 19.2%, Lolium perenne – 14.7%, Lolium multiflorum –12.4%, Dactylis glomerata – 6.5%, Trifolium pratense – 6%. The phyto-indication method was used to evaluate the impact of different ways of the soilless formation remediation on the habitat development. The assessment took into account following indicators: soil moisture, trophism, pH, organic matter content, resistance to salinity, and increased content of heavy metals. The largest number of species was found on plots where compost made of sewage sludge was used, while the smallest – on those reclaimed with sewage sludge compost with sawdust addition. In terms of habitat conditions, species preferring wet habitats typical of fresh soils, trophism of the subsoil corresponding to the abundant soils (eutrophic), neutral soil reaction, and subsoil with organic matter like in humus and mineral soils, dominated. The most favorable habitat conditions were found in plots reclaimed using sewage sludge compost