Supplemental linseed oil and antioxidants affect fatty acid composition, oxidation and colour stability of frozen pork

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of dietary linseed oil and antioxidants on the quality of fresh and frozen pork neck stored at -20 °C for six and 12 months. Polish Landrace x Duroc pigs were fed a standard diet (C), a diet supplemented with 3% linseed oil (L1), or a diet with 3% of linseed oil, 1 mg organic selenium (SE)/kg, and 100 mg vitamin E/kg (L2). Chemical components, fatty acid profile and vitamin E content were determined in the fresh meat. Colour, pH and change in the profiles of certain volatile compounds (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and esters) were monitored during frozen storage. An electronic nose technique, which was based on ultra-fast gas chromatography, was used to evaluate changes in the profiles of the volatile compounds. After six months of frozen storage, oxidative processes were slower and similar in groups L1 and L2, but less so in meat from C. In pork that was stored for six months, lipid oxidation was not affected by supplementation only with linseed oil (L1). After 12 months of frozen storage, a reduced rate of increase in alcohols, aldehydes and ketones was observed in pork from L2 relative to L1 and C. Lipid oxidation processes in long-stored frozen pork neck were inhibited by the addition of antioxidants to L2. However, a total colour change (ΔE*) of the pork from L1 and L2 was found during storage, which might influence consumers’ decisions to purchase the product.Keywords: colour, fatty acids, freezing, meat quality, volatile component

Oxidation processes of Longissimus dorsi from pigs supplemented with linseed oil and antioxidants

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of pig fodder supplementation on lipid oxidation of Longissimus dorsi (L. dorsi ) after frozen storage at -20 °C ± 1 °C for nine months. Fodder additives included 3% linseed oil (L1) or 3% linseed oil and antioxidants containing 100 mg vitamin E/kg and 1 mg organic selenium/kg (L2). The oxidation processes were evaluated by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and analyses of a profile of volatile organic compounds (VOC). The VOC were determined using an electronic nose based on ultra-fast gas chromatography. The level of TBARS for diets was 1.88 ± 0.52 to 2.30 ± 1.10 mg malondialdehyde/kg of meat. The results indicated that the diet of pigs from L1 and L2 groups had no impact on the TBARS value of L. dorsi pork frozen for nine months. On the other hand, aldehydes, which are regarded as compounds characteristic of oxidation processes, were identified in all samples. Volatile aldehydes contributed approximately 10%, 12%, and 15% of total detected volatiles for L2, L1, and the control group, respectively. Moreover, the data showed that propanal and benzeneacetaldehyde were at the same level, regardless of the animal’s diet, which is in accordance with the TBARS level. These volatile aldehydes resulted from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and may be considered indicators of lipid oxidation for meat enriched with PUFAs. The results show that supplementation of the pigs’ diet with linseed oil (L1 group), which is a source of PUFAs, is recommended for meat intended for long-term freezing storage. However, supplementation with antioxidants is unnecessary, because it has no effect on lipid oxidation of L. dorsi pork after long-term freezing storage.Keywords: Animal’s diet, frozen storage, lipid oxidation, volatile organic compound

Dewetting of PtCu Nanoalloys on TiO2 Nanocavities Provides a Synergistic Photocatalytic Enhancement for Efficient H2 Evolution

We investigate the co-catalytic activity of PtCu alloy nanoparticles for photocatalytic H2 evolution from methanol-water solutions. To produce the photocatalysts, a few nm-thick Pt-Cu bilayers are deposited on anodic TiO2 nanocavity arrays and converted by solid state dewetting, i.e. a suitable thermal treatment, into bimetallic PtCu nanoparticles. XRD and XPS results prove the formation of PtCu nanoalloys that carry a shell of surface oxides. XANES data support Pt and Cu alloying and indicate the presence of lattice disorder in the PtCu nanoparticles. The PtCu co-catalyst on TiO2 shows a synergistic activity enhancement and a significantly higher activity towards photocatalytic H2 evolution than Pt- or Cu-TiO2. We propose the enhanced activity to be due to Pt-Cu electronic interactions, where Cu increases the electron density on Pt favoring a more efficient electron transfer for H2 evolution. In addition, Cu can further promote the photo-activity by providing additional surface catalytic sites for hydrogen recombination. Remarkably, when increasing the methanol concentration up to 50 vol% in the reaction phase, we observe for PtCu-TiO2 a steeper activity increase compared to Pt-TiO2. A further increase in methanol concentration (up to 80 vol%) causes for Pt-TiO2 a clear activity decay, while PtCu-TiO2 still maintains a high level of activity. This suggests an improved robustness of PtCu nanoalloys against poisoning from methanol oxidation products such as CO

Effective Mg Incorporation in CdMgO Alloy on Quartz Substrate Grown by Plasma-assisted MBE

The development of CdMgO ternary alloy with a single cubic phase is challenging but meaningful work for technological advancement. In this work, we have grown a series of Cd1-xMgxO ternary random alloys with various Mg concentrations (x = 0, 30, 32, 45, and 55%) on quartz substrate by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE) technique. The structural investigations of alloys were performed using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The decreases in average crystallite size and lattice parameters were observed with an increase in Mg content in the alloys. XRD analysis confirms a single cubic phase is obtained for alloy compositions. The elemental and morphological studies were carried out using energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and atomic force microscope (AFM) technique, respectively. The optical investigation was carried out using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The optical bandgaps were estimated using the Tauc relation and it was varied from 2.34 eV to 3.47 eV by varying the Mg content from zero to 55% in the alloys. The Urbach energy increases from 112 meV to 350 meV which suggests a more disordered localized state with an increase in Mg incorporation in the alloys.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, 2 table

Impact of European Integration on the Functioning of the Insurance Market in Poland

The transformation process, that has begun 20 years ago, generated significant changes in the structure and organization of Polish economy. It stimulated development of particular market's segments, especially of the insurance sector. Poland's accession to the European Union required conformity to Its regulations, fulfillment of several conditions connected with the membership in the European Community. The purpose of this article is to present the main consequences of Poland's integration with EU in the field of insurance market. Joining the common market was an important challenge for this sector in our country.Rok 1990 stanowił początek procesu transformacji systemu społeczno - gospodarczego i ustrojowego. Ostatnie 20 lat to okres intensywnych przemian o charakterze strukturalnym i organizacyjnym, w wyniku których ukształtowały się warunki rozwoju poszczególnych segmentów systemu finansowego państwa, zwłaszcza sektora ubezpieczeń. Przystąpienie Polski do Unii Europejskiej wymagało wprowadzenia szeregu zmian, dostosowujących polski porządek prawny do uregulowań wspólnotowych regulujących funkcjonowanie rynku ubezpieczeń. Celem artykułu jest zaprezentowanie szans i zagrożeń, jakie wynikają dla tego segmentu gospodarki z przystąpienia Polski do UE. Niewątpliwie proces integracji stanowił poważne wyzwanie dla polskiego rynku ubezpieczeń

MBE grown preferentially oriented CdMgO alloy on m- and c-plane sapphire substrates

Unlike other II-VI semiconductors, CdO-based transparent oxide has great potential application for the fabrication of many optoelectronic devices. In this work, we study the growth of CdxMg1-xO alloys on m- and on c-plane sapphire substrates in Cd-rich to Mg-rich conditions using the plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy method. A structural and morphological study of CdMgO random alloys was carried out using X-ray diffraction and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) techniques whereas composition analysis was done by Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy method. The optical properties of thin films were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy at room temperature. X-ray analysis confirmed the presence of cubic rock salt structure with CdMgO crystallographic orientation on c-plane sapphire and CdMgO preferential orientation on m-plane sapphire. The surface roughness was measured by the AFM. From the absorption curve, the optical bandgaps were determined using Tauc relation and it was found that the bandgap of films is influenced by the incorporation of Mg2+ ions into the CdO lattice. Bowing parameter was calculated both for samples on m- and c- sapphires.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figure

Temperature dependence of the bandgap of Eu doped {ZnCdO/ZnO}30 multilayer structures

In situ Eu-doped {ZnCdO/ZnO}30 multilayer systems were grown on p-type Si-substrates and on quartz substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Various Eu concentrations in the samples were achieved by controlling temperature of the europium effusion cell. The properties of as-grown and annealed {ZnCdO/ZnO}30:Eu multilayers were investigated using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and X-ray diffraction methods. SIMS measurements showed that annealing at 700{\deg}C and 900{\deg}C practically did not change the Eu concentration and the rare earth depth profiles are uniform. It was found that the band gap depends on the concentration of Eu and it was changed by rapid thermal annealing. Varshni and Bose-Einstein equations were used to describe the temperature dependence of the band gap of {ZnCdO/ZnO}30:Eu multilayer structures and Debye and Einstein temperatures were obtained.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, 3 table

Quantification of differences between occupancy and total monitoring periods for better assessment of exposure to particles in indoor environments

For the assessment of personal exposure, information about the concentration of pollutants when people are in given indoor environments (occupancy time) are of prime importance. However this kind of data frequently is not reported. The aim of this study was to assess differences in particle characteristics between occupancy time and the total monitoring period, with the latter being the most frequently used averaging time in the published data. Seven indoor environments were selected in Sweden and Finland: an apartment, two houses, two schools, a supermarket, and a restaurant. They were assessed for particle number and mass concentrations and number size distributions. The measurements using a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer and two photometers were conducted for seven consecutive days during winter in each location. Particle concentrations in residences and schools were, as expected, the highest during occupancy time. In the apartment average and median PM2.5 mass concentrations during the occupancy time were 29% and 17% higher, respectively compared to total monitoring period. In both schools, the average and medium values of the PM2.5 mass concentrations were on average higher during teaching hours compared to the total monitoring period by 16% and 32%, respectively. When it comes to particle number concentrations (PNC), in the apartment during occupancy, the average and median values were 33% and 58% higher, respectively than during the total monitoring period. In both houses and schools the average and median PNC were similar for the occupancy and total monitoring periods. General conclusions on the basis of measurements in the limited number of indoor environments cannot be drawn. However the results confirm a strong dependence on type and frequency of indoor activities that generate particles and site specificity. The results also indicate that the exclusion of data series during non-occupancy periods can improve the estimates of particle concentrations and characteristics suitable for exposure assessment, which is crucial for estimating health effects in epidemiological and toxicological studies. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).Peer reviewe

Gating of aquaporins by heavy metals in Allium cepa L. epidermal cells

Changes in the water permeability, aquaporin (AQP) activity, of leaf cells were investigated in response to different heavy metals (Zn2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Hg2+). The cell pressure probe experiments were performed on onion epidermal cells as a model system. Heavy metal solutions at different concentrations (0.05 μM–2 mM) were used in our experiments. We showed that the investigated metal ions can be arranged in order of decreasing toxicity (expressed as a decrease in water permeability) as follows: Hg>Cd>Pb>Zn. Our results showed that β-mercaptoethanol treatment (10 mM solution) partially reverses the effect of AQP gating. The magnitude of this reverse differed depending on the metal and its concentration. The time course studies of the process showed that the gating of AQPs occurred within the first 10 min after the application of a metal. We also showed that after 20–40 min from the onset of metal treatment, the water flow through AQPs stabilized and remained constant. We observed that irrespective of the metal applied, the effect of AQP gating can be recorded within the first 10 min after the administration of metal ions. More generally, our results indicate that the toxic effects of investigated metal ions on the cellular level may involve AQP gating

Treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and adverse reactions following off-label use of cidofovir (Vistide®)

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is caused by a human papilloma virus (HPV). It is a rare, sometimes debilitating disease compromising voice and airway. RRP is characterized by a variable course of disease, potentially leading to frequent annual surgical procedures, the number of which may exceed a hundred during the life time. The therapy focuses on surgical removal of the mucosal lesions in order to keep the airway open and the voice satisfactory. Till now, there is no curative therapy for the virus infection in itself. As recurrent surgery alone has proven to be insufficient in many cases, adjuvant therapy is increasingly being used. One of the mainstays of adjuvant therapy is the administration of intralesional cidofovir (Vistide Ò). Cidofovir is an antiviral agent, registered for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients wit