Artificial Neural Networks as a Tool for Supporting a Moulding Sand Control System Based on the Dependency between Selected Moulding Sand Properties

The article presents the potential for using artificial neural networks to support decisions related to the rebonding of green moulding sand. The basic properties of the moulding sand tested in foundries are discussed, especially compactibility as it gives the most information about the quality of green moulding sand. First, the data that can predict the compactibility value without the need for testing are defined. Next, a method for constructing an artificial neural network is presented and the network model which produced the best results is analysed. Additionally, two applications were designed to allow the investigation results to be searchable by determining the range of values of the moulding sand parameters

The Use of the XGBoost and Kriging Methods in the Prediction of the Microstructure of CGI Cast Iron

Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI), is a unique casting material characterized by its graphite form and extensive matrix contact surface. This type of cast iron has a tendency towards direct ferritization and possesses a complex set of intriguing properties. The use of data mining methods in modern foundry material development facilitates the achievement of improved product quality parameters. When designing a new product, it is always necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of the influence of alloying elements on the microstructure and consequently on the properties of the analyzed material. Empirical studies allow for a qualitative assessment of the above-mentioned relationships, but it is the use of intelligent computational techniques that allows for the construction of an approximate model of the microstructure and, consequently, precise predictions. The formulated prognostic model supports technological decisions during the casting design phase and is considered as the first step in the selection of the appropriate material type

Metody i narzędzia zapisu i udostępniania danych

Praca recenzowana / Peer-reviewed paperPrzekazujemy czytelnikowi kolejną monografię wydaną w ramach serii „Informatyka”, zawierającą publikacje pracowników związanych z Wydziałem Zarządzania i Komunikacji Społecznej Krakowskiej Akademii im. Andrzeja Frycza Modrzewskiego z obszaru problemów optymalizacji, systemów informacyjnych oraz kształcenia zdalnego. Wśród autorów niniejszej publikacji znajdują się głównie pracownicy Studium Informatyki Krakowskiej Akademii i Katedry Informatyki Stosowanej. Opublikowane artykuły są wynikiem współpracy w zespołach z pracownikami innych krakowskich uczelni. Tematyka monografii koncentruje się na metodach optymalizacji, zastosowaniach systemów informatycznych, oraz kształcenia zdalnego. Całość tematyki podzielona jest na trzy wzajemnie powiązane części. Pierwsza część zawiera trzy podrozdziały, w których podjęto kwestie kształcenia zdalnego. Druga część monografii, ujęta w kolejnych trzech podrozdziałach, prezentuje wybrane narzędzia i modele optymalizacji. Ostatnia, trzecia – przedstawia problematykę związaną z zastosowaniem systemów informatycznych w firmie

Genetic and biochemical characterization of the cell wall hydrolase activity of the major secreted protein of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG

Peer reviewe

Assessing circadian rhythms in propofol PK and PD during prolonged infusion in ICU patients

This study evaluates possible circadian rhythms during prolonged propofol infusion in patients in the intensive care unit. Eleven patients were sedated with a constant propofol infusion. The blood samples for the propofol assay were collected every hour during the second day, the third day, and after the termination of the propofol infusion. Values of electroencephalographic bispectral index (BIS), arterial blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation and body temperature were recorded every hour at the blood collection time points. A two-compartment model was used to describe propofol pharmacokinetics. Typical values of the central and peripheral volume of distribution and inter-compartmental clearance were VC = 27.7 l, VT = 801 l, and CLD = 2.73 l/min. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was found to influence the propofol metabolic clearance according to Cl (l/min) = 2.65·(1 − 0.00714·(SBP − 135)). There was no significant circadian rhythm detected with respect to propofol pharmacokinetics. The BIS score was assessed as a direct effect model with EC50 equal 1.98 mg/l. There was no significant circadian rhythm detected within the BIS scores. We concluded that the light–dark cycle did not influence propofol pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in intensive care units patients. The lack of night–day differences was also noted for systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and blood oxygenation. Circadian rhythms were detected for heart rate and body temperature, however they were severely disturbed from the pattern of healthy patients

Analysis of the Peptidoglycan Hydrolase Complement of Lactobacillus casei and Characterization of the Major γ-D-Glutamyl-L-Lysyl-Endopeptidase

Peptidoglycan (PG) is the major component of Gram positive bacteria cell wall and is essential for bacterial integrity and shape. Bacteria synthesize PG hydrolases (PGHs) which are able to cleave bonds in their own PG and play major roles in PG remodelling required for bacterial growth and division. Our aim was to identify the main PGHs in Lactobacillus casei BL23, a lactic acid bacterium with probiotic properties

Conserved CDC20 Cell Cycle Functions Are Carried out by Two of the Five Isoforms in Arabidopsis thaliana

The CDC20 and Cdh1/CCS52 proteins are substrate determinants and activators of the Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) E3 ubiquitin ligase and as such they control the mitotic cell cycle by targeting the degradation of various cell cycle regulators. In yeasts and animals the main CDC20 function is the destruction of securin and mitotic cyclins. Plants have multiple CDC20 gene copies whose functions have not been explored yet. In Arabidopsis thaliana there are five CDC20 isoforms and here we aimed at defining their contribution to cell cycle regulation, substrate selectivity and plant development.Studying the gene structure and phylogeny of plant CDC20s, the expression of the five AtCDC20 gene copies and their interactions with the APC/C subunit APC10, the CCS52 proteins, components of the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) and mitotic cyclin substrates, conserved CDC20 functions could be assigned for AtCDC20.1 and AtCDC20.2. The other three intron-less genes were silent and specific for Arabidopsis. We show that AtCDC20.1 and AtCDC20.2 are components of the MCC and interact with mitotic cyclins with unexpected specificity. AtCDC20.1 and AtCDC20.2 are expressed in meristems, organ primordia and AtCDC20.1 also in pollen grains and developing seeds. Knocking down both genes simultaneously by RNAi resulted in severe delay in plant development and male sterility. In these lines, the meristem size was reduced while the cell size and ploidy levels were unaffected indicating that the lower cell number and likely slowdown of the cell cycle are the cause of reduced plant growth.The intron-containing CDC20 gene copies provide conserved and redundant functions for cell cycle progression in plants and are required for meristem maintenance, plant growth and male gametophyte formation. The Arabidopsis-specific intron-less genes are possibly "retrogenes" and have hitherto undefined functions or are pseudogenes

Influence du métabolisme du peptidoglycane sur les propriétés immunomodulatrices de Lactobacillus casei

Le peptidoglycane (PG) est le composant majeur de la paroi des bactéries à Gram positif. Il assure la forme et l’intégrité de la cellule bactérienne. Le PG ou des fragments dérivés sont connus pour être des inducteurs du système d’immunité innée de l’hôte, en particulier au travers des récepteurs Nod2. Au cours de ce travail, nous avons étudié l’influence du métabolisme du PG sur les propriétés immunomodulatrices de Lactobacillus casei BL23, en étudiant principalement sa capacité à moduler la réponse des cellules dendritiques humaines. Nous avons tout d’abord caractérisé les hydrolases du PG (PGHs) majeures de L. casei BL23. Une recherche in silico a révélé que L. casei possède un système de PGHs relativement complexe comprenant treize enzymes putatives avec des domaines catalytiques variés. Une analyse protéomique d’extraits de paroi de L. casei BL23 a permis de détecter la production de sept d’entre elles pendant la croissance bactérienne. Quatre d’entre elles ont été étudié plus en détails. La PGH la plus fortement exprimée, Lc-p75, a une activité de -D-glutamyl-L-lysyl-endopeptidase et est responsable de la séparation des cellules après division. De plus, Lc-p75 associée à la paroi est localisée au niveau des septa cellulaires. Il s’agit également de l’une des protéines majeures secrétée dans le surnageant de culture de L. casei BL23. Lc-p75 possède la particularité d’être une glycoprotéine. La PGH Lc-p40 possède un domaine CHAP doué d’une activité endopeptidase avec un site de clivage situé au niveau des ponts interpeptidiques du PG. Lc-p40 parait localisée au niveau de la paroi latérale des cellules de L. casei. Lc-p45 est une deuxième -D-glutamyl-L-lysyl-endopeptidase avec un rôle dans le maintien de la forme de la bactérie. Enfin nous avons caractérisé deux enzymes de prophages, Lc-Lys et Lc-Lys2, codée par le génome de L. casei BL23, qui possède toute deux un domaine de liaison au PG d’un nouveau type qui possède la particularité de lier spécifiquement le D-Asp amidé présent dans les ponts interpeptidiques du PG de L. casei BL23. La délétion des deux gènes qui codent pour les endopeptidases Lc-p75 et Lc-p45 chez L. casei BL23 conduit à l’absence de disaccharide dipeptide dans la structure du PG du mutant, tandis que la délétion de Lc-p75 seulement conduit à une réduction de la quantité du disaccharide-dipeptide. Ce disaccharide dipeptide est un ligand des récepteurs Nod2. Les deux mutants obtenus par délétion de Lc-p75 ou bien par délétion des deux endopeptidases ont été comparés avec la souche sauvage BL23 pour leur capacité à activer in vitro des cellules dendritiques humaines dérivées de monocytes sanguins. Suite à l’activation des cellules dendritiques par les souches de L. casei, quatre cytokines pro-inflammatoires, les interleukines IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 et le TNF- ont été produites. La quantité de chaque cytokine sécrétée en réponse aux mutants simple Lc-p75 et double Lc-p75/Lc-p45 était diminuée par rapport à celle induite par la souche sauvage L. casei BL23.En conclusion, L. casei BL23 est doté d’un équipement complexe en PGHs. Les PGHs caractérisées au cours de ce travail présentent des caractéristiques uniques et jouent un rôle important dans la division des bactéries ainsi que dans le maintien de leur morphologie. Nos résultats indiquent que la souche sauvage de L. casei Bl23 et les mutants dérivés obtenus par inactivation d’enzymes à activité endopeptidase, qui diffèrent à la fois au niveau de leur contenu enzymatique ainsi qu’au niveau de la structure de leur PG, ont des effets différents sur les cellules dendritiques humaines, avec un caractère anti-inflammatoire plus élevé pour les mutantsPeptidoglycan (PG) is the major component of the Gram-positive bacteria cell wall. It ensures bacterial cell shape and integrity. PG or PG-derived fragments have been shown to stimulate the host innate immune system, through Nod-2 receptors. In this work, we studied the influence of PG metabolism on immunomodulatory properties of Lactobacillus casei BL23, mainly its ability to modulate the response of human dendritic cells (DCs).We have first characterized the main peptidoglycan hydrolases (PGHs) of L. casei BL23. In silico search revealed that L. casei BL23 has a rather complex PGH complement including thirteen predicted PGHs with various catalytic domains. Proteomic analysis of bacterial cell wall extracts revealed the expression of seven of them during bacterial growth. We characterized four of them in details. Lc-p75 is the major PGH with a γ-D-glutamyl-L-lysyl-endopeptidase specificity and is responsible for daughter cell separation. Lc-p75 associated to the cell wall localizes at the cell septa. It is also one of the major secreted proteins of L. casei found in culture supernatant. Besides, we showed that L. casei Lc-p75 is a glycosylated protein. Lc-p40 is a PGH with a CHAP-domain endowed with endopeptidase hydrolytic specificity toward peptidoglycan cross-bridges and appears to localize on lateral cell wall. Lc-p45 is a second γ-D-glutamyl-L-lysyl endopeptidase with a role in cell shape maintenance. We further demonstrated that two prophage endolysins Lc-Lys and Lc-Lys2, encoded in L. casei BL23 genome, share a common novel type peptidoglycan-binding domain that recognizes specifically D-Asn cross-bridge, present in L. casei BL23 peptidoglycan.Deletion of the two endopeptidases, Lc-75 and Lc-p45, resulted in a complete loss ofdisaccharide-dipeptide, which is a ligand of Nod-2 receptor, in the muropeptide structure of L. casei BL23, whereas deletion of Lc-p75 gene led only to a reduction of disaccharide dipeptide. The two PGH-mutants, obtained by deletion of Lc-p75 gene alone or both Lc-p75 and Lc-p45 endopeptidase genes were compared with wild type L. casei BL23 for their capacity to stimulate signaling pathways in vitro in DCs derived from human monocytes. As a consequence of DC activation by L. casei strains, four pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α were produced. The concentrations of secreted cytokines in response to the single Lc-p75 and Lc-p75/p45 double mutant were lower than those induced by wild type L. casei BL23.In conclusion, L. casei BL23 has a complex PGH complement. The PGHs described in this work present unique features and play important role in cell division and morphology of L. casei. Our results indicate that wild type L. casei and endopeptidase-negative mutants, which differ in their PGH content and in their PG structure, have distinct effects on human DCs, with a higher anti-inflammatory character of the endopeptidase-negative mutants