Evidence of bacteriogenic iron and manganese oxyhydroxides in Albian-Cenomanian marine sediments of the Carpathian realm (Poland)

The Albian and Cenomanian marine sediments of the Silesian and Tatric basins in the Carpathian realm of the Western Tethys contain ferric and ferromanganese oxyhydroxides, visible macroscopically as brown stainings. They coat calcareous bioclasts and mineral clasts, fill pore spaces, or locally form continuous, parallel microlayers, tens of micrometers thick. Light-microscope (LM) and scanning-electron-microscope (SEM) obser- vations show that the coatings contain elongated capsules, approximately 3-5 \mum across and enriched in iron and manganese, which may be remnants of the original sheaths of iron-related bacteria (IRB). Moreover, the ferric and ferromanganese staining observed under LM is similar to bacterial structures, resembling the sheaths, filaments and rods formed by present-day bacteria of the Sphaerotilus-Leptothrix group. All of the possible bacteria-like structures are well preserved owing to processes of early diagenetic cementation. If the observed structures are fossil IRB, these organisms could have played an important role in iron and manganese accumulation on the sea floor during Albian-Cenomanian time. The most plausible source of metals for bacterial concentration in the Silesian Basin might have been submarine low-temperature hydrothermal vents, as previously was hypothesized for Cenomanian-Turonian deposits on the basis of geochemical indices

GDP and citizens’ happiness

Poziom życia obywateli poszczególnych państw świata utożsamiany jest najczęściej z wysokością produktu krajowego brutto w ujęciu nominalnym oraz per capita. W przestrzeni publicznej natomiast mówi się o rozwoju „społeczno-go­spodarczym” mającym mieć odbicie w powyżej wymienionych wskaźnikach gospo­darczych. Przekonanie o uniwersalności tych mierników, a także zrównywanie roz­woju społecznego z gospodarczym staje się coraz częstszą podstawą zarzutów wobec miernika PKB. Jaka jest jednak prawdziwa relacja PKB do poziomu szczęśliwości obywateli? Zagadnienie to stanowi przedmiot rozważań autorówThe standard of living of the citizens of different countries is mostly identified with the level of gross domestic product (GDP), nominal and per capita. In the public sphere, on the other hand, there is talk of ‘socio-economic’ development, supposedly reflected in the economic indicators mentioned above. The conviction of the universality of these two measures, as well as the equalization of social and economic development, is becoming an increasingly frequent basis for the criticism of GDP as a measure of national wellbeing. However, what is the true relationship between GDP and level of citizens’ happiness? This issue is considered by the authors

Impact of the Carbon Allotropes on Cholesterol Domain: MD Simulation

In recent years, immense advancement has been made in the field of nanotechnology. This emerging field will indefinitely become a critical facet of many areas including chemistry, biology, electronics and optics, and will provide unique opportunities for researchers to innovate in unimaginable ways. Nanomaterials, because of their unique mechanical, thermal, optical and electronic properties, have reshaped many segments of modern science and engineering and are increasingly impacting our society, health care, and the environment. Specifically, nanotechnology has great potential in biomedical applications, as mammal/human biology is essentially a very complex system of nano-machines. Nowadays big changes are coming from the marriage of medicine and nanotechnology - the new branch of science called nanomedicine or molecular medicine. A field of utilizing molecular assemblies at the nano-scale of about 100 nm or less for novel and alternative diagnostics and therapeutics, in incredible selectivity and accuracy not achievable through conventional means. One would hope that with the future development of nanomedicine, we will be able to think of today's incurable diseases as curable tomorrow, by looking at a problem at its molecular or even atomic levels and apply medical intervention at the molecular scale. [frag

Successive stages of calcitization and silicification of Cenomanian spicule-bearing turbidites based on microfacies analysis, Polish Outer Carpathians

Mid-Cretaceous turbidites with large proportions of sponge spicules are widely distributed in the Silesian Nappe of the Outer Carpathians, giving rise to diversified types of sediments, from spiculites to spicule-bearing siliciclastics and calcarenites. Part of this succession, Middle–Late Cenomanian in age, was transformed into cherts. A microfacies study showed that these turbidite sediments underwent several stages of calcitization and silicification, which took place during Mid-Cretaceous times in different sedimentary environments, i.e., on a northern shelf bordering the Silesian Basin and on a deep sea floor. The first diagenetic changes were related to changes to the biotic components of the turbidite layers, dominated by siliceous sponge spicules. This process, which took place in the spiculitic carbonate mud on the shelves, was related to the calcitization of sponge spicules. Calcareous clasts and calcified skeletal elements also were corroded by bacteria. After transportation down the slope, the biogenic and siliciclastic particles were deposited below the carbonate compensation depth. Taphonomic processes on the basin floor and alternating phases of carbonate and silica cementations, recrystallization and dissolution occurred in these sediments and were related to the diversification in composition of successive turbidite layers. Silicification was related to the formation of quartz precipitates as fibrous chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz, which were derived from the earlier dissolution of amorphous silica, originating mostly from siliceous sponge spicules and radiolarian skeletons. However, a source of silica from hydrothermal vents was also possible. The initial silica precipitation could have taken place in a slightly acidic environment, where calcite was simultaneously dissolved. A number of silicification stages, visible as different forms of silica precipitate inside moulds after bioclasts, occur in the particular turbidite layers. They were related to changes in various elements of the pore-water profile after descending turbidity-current flows. A very low sedimentation rate during the Middle–Late Cenomanian in the Silesian Basin may have favoured the sequence of initial calcitization and silicification stages of the turbidite sediments

Correlation between the band-gap energy and the electrical conductivity in MPr2W2O10 tungstates (Where M = Cd, Co, Mn)

The values of the direct allowed energy gap determined from the UV-vis-NIR measurements and Kubelka– Munk transformation decrease from 3.38 via 2.70 to 2.42 eV for MPr2W2O10 in the sequence M = Cd, Co, Mn, while the values of the activation energy increase from 0.11 via 0.44 to 0.47 eV in the same sequence. In other words, the higher the activation energy, the smaller the energy gap. Because the energy gap is typical for insulators, so electron transport phenomena are considered under the Poole–Frenkel effect and small-polaron mechanism

Use of the Methodology of Network Thinking for a Fatigue Criteria Investigation Based on the Example of Mining Companies

In the paper the factors of workers fatigue were tested by applying network thinking methodology supported by statistical analysis to determine the nature of individual factors for the fatigue management system development. Analysis of the distribution of factors along the intensity map allowed their classification into individual interaction categories, describing directions for miner fatigue management. Active factors were discovered which are: Elevated temperature, Noise and vibration, Oxygen-poor air and mining gases, High humidity, Poor work organization. Critical factors for fatigue management were: Poor technical condition of equipment and Long and time-consuming approach to headings

Dedicated bifurcation stents or regular drug eluting stents in distal left main stenosis: A retrospective study

  Background: In the distal left main (LM) atherosclerosis mainly develops within bifurcation or trifur­cation. The aim of this study was to analyze the strategy of distal LM stenosis treatment and associated clinical outcomes in a large hospital in Northern Poland. Methods: The study population consisted of consecutive patients with stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and distal LM stenosis who were hospitalized between June 2012 and June 2013. Patients were treated with regular drug-eluting stents (rDES), including bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, or dedicated bifurcation stents (BiOSS LIM®). Clinical outcomes were analyzed at 12, 24 and 36 months. Primary endpoint was cumulative major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) inducing rate of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization (TLR) after 36 months. Results: One hundred and two patients were identified, 90 of whom were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (56 rDES, including 9 Absorb, and 34 BiOSS) with no stent implantation fail­ure. In 15 (16.7%) patients rDES was required within side branch (SB). After 36 months MACE rate was 19.0% (BiOSS: 18.8% vs. rDES 19.2%), whereas TLR rate was 10.7% (BiOSS 12.5% vs. rDES 9.6%). In logistic regression for 36-month TLR rate proximal optimization technique (OR 0.311, 95% CI 0.211–0.644) was a prognostic factor of better clinical outcome, whereas non-ST-elevation ACS (OR 2.211, 95% CI 1.642–5.110), ST-elevation myocardial infarction (OR 2.771, 95% CI 1.325–7.209) and SB stenting (OR 1.141, 95% CI 1.002–1.881) were risk factors of poor outcome. Conclusions: Regular drug-eluting stents as well as dedicated bifurcation BiOSS LIM® stents enabled a simple and fast distal LM treatment option with a single stent. Both resulted in comparable MACE and TLR rates

Lithistid spicules in the sediments of the Turonian Variegated Shale in the Silesian Nappe, Polish Outer Carpathians

Turbiditic silty and sandy intercalations in the Turonian Variegated Shale from the Silesian Nappe (Polish Outer Carpathians) contain numerous sponge spicules among siliciclastic fine-grained particles. The highest amount of spicule admixture is nearly 50%. In such layers, they create spiculitic sublitharenite microfacies. These sponge spicules contain forms belonging mostly to the Lithistida group (97% of morphotypes), with a small admixture of spicules from the Hexactinellidae group. Tetraclones with a high content of different types of triaenes dominate among desmas, what indicates the dominance of sponges from subfamily Tetracladina. The preservation state of spicules is generally poor. The Variegated Shale deposits that contain the sponge spicules were accumulated in a deep sea basin, below the calcium compensation depth. Most probably, the spicules were derived from loose material accumulated earlier in various parts of the basin slopes, from which they were exhumed and again redeposited by turbidity currents during the Turonian times

Application of graphene as a nanoindenter interacting with phospholipid membranes - computer simulation study

Synthesis of graphene (GN) in 2004 stimulated wide interest inpotential applications of 2D materials in catalysis, optoelectronics, biotechnology,and construction of sensing devices. In the presented study, interactions betweenGN sheets and phospholipid bilayers are examined using steered moleculardynamics simulations. GN sheets of different sizes were inserted into a bilayer andsubsequently withdrawn from it at two different rates (1 and 2 m/s). In somecases, nanoindentation led to substantial damage of the phospholipid bilayer;however, an effective self-sealing process occurred even after significantdegradation. The average force and work, deflection of the membrane duringindentation, withdrawal processes, and structural changes caused by moving sheetsare discussed. These quantities are utilized to estimate the suitability of GN sheetsfor targeted drug delivery or other nanomedicine tools. The results are comparedwith those obtained for other nanostructures such as homogeneous andheterogeneous nanotubes

The impact of a carbon nanotube on the cholesterol domain localized on a protein surface

The influence of a single walled carbon nanotube on the structure of a cholesterol cluster (domain) developed over the surface of the endothelial protein 1LQV has been investigated using the classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulation technique. We have observed a substantial impact of carbon nanotube on the arrangement of the cholesterol domain. The carbon nanotube can drag out cholesterol molecules, remarkable reducing the volume of the domain settled down on the protein.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figure