Ozonation - an alternative decontamination method for raw plant materials

Raw plant materials are vital to our health and well-being because they are furnished with essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other health-promoting phytochemicals. Its increasing consumption forces food manufacturers to assure consumers of a proper microbiological purity of their products. Thus, microbiological purity is an important factor during assessing their suitability in the production process. The sources of raw plant material contamination are particularly soil particles which are brought during harvest, transport and storage and also microorganisms (bacteria, moulds and yeasts), which are associated with their living environment. The decontamination methods which have been used so far, cause a significant reduction of infective microflora, though it is observed a change or loss their valuable components such as: essential oils and biologically active substances. Thus, the aim of this paper is to propose an alternative method of decontamination such as ozonation. Microbial status of samples of Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton (cardamom) seeds, Juniperus communis (L.) (juniper) berries, Piper nigrum (white pepper) drupes, dried Ribes nigrum (L.) (blackcurrant) berries, and dried Allium cepa (L.) (onion) flakes was determined before as well as after ozonation. The conducted study shows that ozone causes a significant reduction of contaminating microflora. However, the ozone effectiveness depends on the microflora of plant material and its various vulnerability to ozone

Morphology and a proposed model of innervation of the human deltoid muscle: a pilot study

Background: The deltoid muscle (DM) plays an essential role in retaining the stability and correct function of the upper limb. The aims of the study were to perform a detailed morphological analysis of the DM including its innervation, structure, attachments and relationship with adjacent structures.Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 17 formalin-fixed cadavericupper limbs. After dissection of the shoulders, the DM was visualised and analysed.The following measurements of the muscle were performed for all cases: width of attachments (acromial, clavicular, spinal), entire width of origin, length of the component parts (acromial, clavicular, and spinal) and length of the arm.Results: In all specimens, a characteristic ‘segmented’ innervation scheme of the DM was observed. The axillary nerve (AN) was always divided into an anterior branch (abAN) and a posterior branch (pbAN). Two variations of the DM innervation were distinguished: variation I, where the clavicular and the acromial parts were innervated by the abAN, while the spinal part was supplied both by abAN (anterior fibres) and by pbAN (posterior fibres), and variation II, in which the spinal part did not have double innervation — the abAN innervation area covered only the acromial and clavicular parts, and the entire spinal part was supplied by pbAN. Both variations had a segmented arrangement of sub-branches reaching individual parts of the DM, which was particularly distinct in the clavicular and acromial parts. Correlations were found between the entire width of the DM originand the length of the arm (p = 0.001), between the length of the acromial part of the DM and the length of the arm (p = 0.003), between the width of the spinal attachment and the length of the spinal part (p = 0.002), and between the width of the spinal attachment and the length of the arm (p = 0.0008).Conclusions: The study confirmed the existence of a characteristic segmented innervation scheme of the DM which corresponds with the segmented morphology of its individual parts. An analysis of the internal structure of the muscle specific architectonics based on the tendon system was also presented

A home energy measurement system

Artykuł opisuje projekt systemu pomiarowego służącego do szczegółowego określania zużycia energii elektrycznej, przeznaczonego dla odbiorców indywidualnych, instalowanego w mieszkaniach i domach jednorodzinnych. System umożliwia rejestrację zużycia energii na poszczególnych piętrach, w wybranych pomieszczeniach, a także przez pojedyncze urządzenia elektryczne. Pozwala też na szczegółowe obliczanie kosztów zużytej energii elektrycznej. System pomiarowy składa się z szeregu jednofazowych mierników energii zainstalowanych w wybranych punktach instalacji elektrycznej oraz z komputera centralnego z zainstalowanym systemem operacyjnym, przechowującego w bazie danych wyniki pomiarów przesyłane z poszczególnych mierników, umożliwiającego kontrolę systemu za pośrednictwem serwera WWW i dowolnej przeglądarki internetowej zainstalowanej na komputerze użytkownika. Zaprojektowany system jest rozwiązaniem modelowym, mogącym stanowić podstawę do wykonania komercyjnego układu pomiarowego funkcjonującego w nowoczesnym domu.This paper describes the design of a measurement system used to determine the electrical energy consumption, designed for retail customers, installed in apartments and single-family homes. The system allows recording the energy consumption on the floors, in selected areas and individual electrical devices (Fig. 1). The stand also allows for a precise calculation of the cost of energy consumption. The measurement system consists of single-phase energy meters (Fig. 2) installed at selected points of the electrical system and the central computer (Fig. 3) with the database storing the measurement results transmitted from the meter via the PLC (Power Line Communication) [2, 3, 4]. Access to the system provides a web server and a browser installed on a personal computer. To minimize energy consumption, the measurement system uses a central computer module with an ARM processor. The designed system is a model solution, which could be the basis for the implementation of a professional energy measurement system operating in a modern home

Pain perception in schizophrenia: influence of neuropeptides, cognitive disorders, and negative symptoms

Małgorzata Urban-Kowalczyk,1 Justyna Pigońska,2 Janusz Śmigielski3 1Department of Affective and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland; 2Department of Neurology and Movement Disorders, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland; 3Department of Geriatrics, Healthy Ageing Research Centre (HARC), Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland Objectives: The causes and nature of insensitivity to pain in schizophrenia remain unknown. The role of endorphins and the association of cognitive dysfunction and negative symptoms are postulated.Methods: In this study, 43 patients with schizophrenia, five first-degree relatives, and 34 healthy controls were examined. Participants’ plasma concentrations of substance P, β-endorphin, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were assessed. In patients, the Trail-Making Test, the Color Reading Interference Test (Stroop test), and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale Negative Syndrome subscale (PANSS N) test were performed. We also evaluated pain threshold using nociceptive reflex (RTIII) testing.Results: The mean β-endorphin concentration was about 20% higher in patients than in healthy controls (P<0.05). CGRP concentrations were significantly higher in patients than in controls (5.34 ng/mL versus 4.16 ng/mL; P<0.01). Subjects treated with antipsychotic polytherapy had higher concentrations of CGRP than did patients treated with second-generation antipsychotic monotherapy (5.92 ng/mL versus 5.02 ng/mL; P<0.05). There were no correlations between any biochemical parameters and Trail-Making Test, Stroop test, and PANSS N scores. There were no differences in RTIII among study groups. Strong negative correlation (P<0.001) was found between PANSS N scores and subjective pain threshold on the right lower limb.Conclusion: The insensitivity to pain in schizophrenia is a complex phenomenon that is probably not related to changes in nociceptive pathways. Increase in β-endorphin level may be related to this issue, but it is uncertain if such concentration ensures analgesic effect. It is unknown if patients with schizophrenia in fact experience less pain. Cognitive impairment and excess negative symptoms may strongly influence the patient’s expression of pain. Keywords: schizophrenia, endorphin, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, working memory, negative symptom

Comparison of beta-endorphin and CGRP levels before and after treatment for severe schizophrenia

Małgorzata Urban-Kowalczyk,1 Janusz Śmigielski,2 Dominik Strzelecki1 1Department of Affective and Psychotic Disorders, 2Department of Geriatrics, Healthy Aging Research Centre (HARC), Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland Objectives: Links between endorphins and dopaminergic transmission have not been fully explored in schizophrenia. Both endorphins excess and deficiency were postulated. CGRP is probably involved in dopaminergic transmission. The aim of this study was the evaluation of beta-endorphin (BE) and CGRP blood concentrations before and after treatment of severe schizophrenia. Methods: Seventy patients treated with various antipsychotics, with severe symptoms of schizophrenia (51 with positive symptoms, 19 with negative symptoms), 15 first-degree relatives, and 44 healthy controls were included in the study. BE and CGRP blood concentrations were measured during patients severe schizophrenia and in their stable mental state after treatment. The results were compared with relatives and controls. Results: BE and CGRP concentrations in patients with negative symptoms were higher than in relatives and in controls. BE levels in patients with positive symptoms were lower than in patients with negative symptoms (P<0.0000) and controls (P<0.0006). No significant changes in CGRP concentration were found in patient samples. CGRP levels in these samples were independent of treatment, but they were significantly higher than in relatives and controls. After the treatment, BE level decreased in patients with negative symptoms (P<0.0001) and increased in patients with positive symptoms (P<0.0000). No differences in BE concentration between patients in stable mental state, their relatives, and controls were found. Conclusion: Effective antipsychotic treatment results in “normalization” of BE level. Specific changes in BE concentration could be involved in dopaminergic transmission and related to some symptoms of schizophrenia. Keywords: schizophrenia, negative symptoms, neuroleptics, β-endorphin, CGR