Methylxanthines and catechines in different teas (Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze) - influence on antioxidant properties

In general, there are four basic types of tea: green (not fermented), black (fermented), oolong and white tea (partially fermented). The differences among these types are in the processing technology, which is largely reflected in their chemical composition. The most influential factor that significantly affects the quality and quantity of substances (biologically active) is the processing temperature, which causes changes in the composition (isomerization and/or transformation). The present paper focuses on monitoring content of three methylxanthines - alkaloids (caffeine, theophylline and theobromine), and seven flavan-3-ols - catechins ((+)-catechin (C), (-)-catechin-3-gallate (C-3-G), (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (EC-3-G), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGC-3-G), (-)-gallocatechin (GC) and (-)-gallocatechin-3-gallate (GC 3-G)), which are characteristic for tea. Attention was also given to the assessment of selected antioxidant parameters using spectrophotometric procedures (ABTS - radical cation decolorization assay and Phosphomolybdenum reducing antioxidant power assay) in relation to the determined substances using RP-HPLC/DAD analysis. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that a type of tea clearly affects the quality and quantity of the substances that have a positive impact on the consumer's health, significantly reflected in the levels of antioxidant active substances determined by the spectrophotometric procedures. The highest content of methylxanthin, catechins, polyphenols and antioxidant substances was recorded in the green tea sample GT3. The highest content of flavonoids and phenolic acids was recorded in the Pu-erh tea sample PT 5

Copper content in cereals grown in the model condition

The consumption of cereals in Slovakia but also worldwide is increasing by every year. From 30000 to 50000 tons of mercury circulates thought the biosphere that gets into the atmosphere degassing of the earth's crust and world oceans. Trace element as copper is one of the most efficient antioxidants in the body, often referred to as an element of beauty. It acts as a powerful catalyst for many enzymes and vitamins, through which already small amounts affects many activities in the body (strengthens immunity, reduces levels of histamine). It accumulates in the barley, beans, cucumber, nuts or milk and so on. The aim of our work was the evaluation of transfer of mercury from sludge to edible part of chosen cereals. The objectives were achieved in simulated conditions of growing pot experiment. We used agricultural soil from the location of Výčapy - Opatovce for the realization of the experiment. The sludge, which was added at various doses, was taken from Central Spiš area from locality of Rudňany near the village where minedironore that contains mainly cooper and mercury during last few decades was. We used three types of cereals: barley (Hordeum sativum L.) variety PRESTIGE, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety ISJARISSA and oat (Avena sativa L.) variety TATRAN. The length of growing season was 90 days. From the obtained results of two years can be concluded that the accumulation of cooper by seed follows barley ˂ oat ˂ wheat. Even though that the barley is characterized by the highest accumulation of cooper in the seeds, the content did not exceed the maximum level specified by The Codex Alimentarius of the Slovak Republic (CA SR). The results shows that the suitable cultivation of the cereals in localities, which are contaminated with heavy metals, especially by cooper, that the high content of cooper in soil do not pose a risk of accumulation of the metal into the cereal grain

THE EFFECT OF RATIONALIZATION OF GROWING SYSTEMS ON INTAKE OF IRON, POTASSIUM INTO BARLEY GRAIN

The influence of applied inorganic nutrients in soil, the method of tillage (conventional and minimalization) on accumulation of Fe and K into the grain of selected varieties of barley was observed. Small-parcel experiments were carried out on fields with size 14 m2 in three parallels. Four levels of fertilization were done: 1) control – not fertilized variant; 2) N70 + P4,36 + K16,6; 3) N60 + P22,7 + K36; 4) N60 + P22,7 + K36 + Ca25. Fe, K in grain of barley were mineralized by the method of Koppová and their content was assessed by the method of flame AAS at instrument VARIAN 240FS. Content of Fe in dry matter of barley grain in analyzed samples were v interval 34.7-109.0g.kg-1 and of potassium 293,1-658,9g.kg-1. Application of macro elements (N, P, K) into the soil had on the accumulation of Fe into the barley grain reduction effect (beside KM2084 variety) and contrary, in comparison with control variant increased influence on intake of mentioned element in winter varieties (beside variety Malwinta) not dependent on the method of amendments of soil by tillage. Addition of CaCO3 in fertilizers affected with contrary - reducing effect of contents Fe and K in barley grain

Penta­ammonium hepta­sodium bis­[penta­kis(μ2-oxido)deca­oxido­bis­(μ5-phosphato)penta­molybdenum(VI)] henicosa­hydrate

The title compound, (NH4)5Na7[Mo5P2O23]2·21H2O, was prepared under atmospheric conditions in aqueous solution at room temperature. The structure contains the [Mo5P2O23]6− heteropolyoxometallate anion, which has been previously reported a number of times with a variety of differing counter-cations. Each anion is built up of five MoO6 octa­hedra sharing an edge and forming a ring which is closed by common corners of the terminal octa­hedra. The rings are closed on both sides by two asymmetric PO4 tetra­hedra, sharing three corners with three MoO6 octa­hedra. The anions are chiral and the two independent anions in the asymmetric unit were arbitarily chosen with the same chirality, but the centrosymmetric crystal contains both enanti­omers. The structure can alternatively be described as a succession of layers parallel to (101), formed by the [Mo5P2O23]6− anions and linked by sodium chains. Water mol­ecules and ammonium ions fill the remaining space and ensure the cohesion through extensive N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg–Strauss) (EGPA) Consensus Task Force recommendations for evaluation and management

AbstractObjectiveTo develop disease-specific recommendations for the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg–Strauss syndrome) (EGPA).MethodsThe EGPA Consensus Task Force experts comprised 8 pulmonologists, 6 internists, 4 rheumatologists, 3 nephrologists, 1 pathologist and 1 allergist from 5 European countries and the USA. Using a modified Delphi process, a list of 40 questions was elaborated by 2 members and sent to all participants prior to the meeting. Concurrently, an extensive literature search was undertaken with publications assigned with a level of evidence according to accepted criteria. Drafts of the recommendations were circulated for review to all members until final consensus was reached.ResultsTwenty-two recommendations concerning the diagnosis, initial evaluation, treatment and monitoring of EGPA patients were established. The relevant published information on EGPA, antineutrophil-cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitides, hypereosinophilic syndromes and eosinophilic asthma supporting these recommendations was also reviewed.DiscussionThese recommendations aim to give physicians tools for effective and individual management of EGPA patients, and to provide guidance for further targeted research

Lattice distortion-induced sluggish phasetransition in CoCrFeNixAl1-x (x = 0.5, 0.75) highentropyalloys at high pressures

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) attract growing interest due to their remarkable properties. However, our knowledge of the mechanism of phase stability of HEAs is still very limited. Herein, CoCrFeNixAl1-x (x = 0.5 and 0.75) were compressed to high pressures to investigate the lattice distortion effect on their phase stability. It was discovered that both bcc CoCrFeNi0.5Al0.5 and fcc CoCrFeNi0.75Al0.25 alloys transform to the hcp structure at high pressures, following a gradual phase transition. The sluggish character of these transitions perhaps originates from the local energy fluctuations caused by the chemical disorder. The phase transitions in both studied compounds commenced when their intrinsic lattice strain had reached the maximum value, indicating that the lattice distortion effect plays a key role in these crystallographic structure-transforming processes. These results provide fundamental information on the phase selection rules of HEAs, which are important for physical metallurgy theories and HEAs design in the future

Short-range order in tourmaline: a vibrational spectroscopic approach to elbaite

Polarized Fourier-transform infrared and Raman spectra were acquired on an elbaite sample previously characterized by electron- and ion microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction and structure refinement. Spectra from the two vibrational spectroscopy techniques reveal a close similarity in the OH-stretching region, with three main absorption bands strongly polarized in the c-axis direction. By means of bond-valence theory arguments, the observed OH bands are interpreted and assigned to specific local cation arrangements around the O1 (a W) and O3 ( V) anion sites. In combination with the relatively simple composition of the studied sample, bond-valence constraints are used to identify stable anion-cation arrangements, which permit the occurrence of short-range ordering to be assessed. Evidence for nearly complete short-range order at the O1 site, with the stable arrangements (Y)(LiAlAl)(0.6)-(W)(OH)(0.6) and (Y)(LiLiAl)(0.4)-(W)(F)(0.4), are presented. These two local arrangements can be further expanded to obtain the larger ordered clusters [(W)(OH)-(Y)(LiAl2)-(V)(OH)(3)-(Z)(Al)(6)](0.6) and [(W)(F)-(Y)(Li2Al)-(V)(OH)(3)-(Z)(Al)(6)](0.4)

Hydrogen analysis in nominally anhydrous minerals by transmission Raman spectroscopy

We present a new approach for the analysis of water in nominally anhydrous minerals using transmission Raman spectroscopy. Using this approach, the laser was shone through thin, nearly transparent samples of clinopyroxene, garnet and synthetic rhyolite glass. To remove mineral-induced background and to improve the quality of the OH spectral region, specifically for clinopyroxene, a reference spectrum of a dehydrated crystal was measured and subtracted. Water contents of all clinopyroxene samples were previously determined by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The application of transmission Raman spectroscopy and a reference spectrum of a dry sample revealed a noticeable improvement in the quality of spectra and thus the detection limit, compared to the standard backscattering configurations. We show that the quality of transmission spectra and the detection limit depend on the sample thickness, and that the thickness has to be taken into account when measuring and comparing OH-integrated intensity and water content if the results are used for OH quantification

Atomic arrangements around the O3 site in Al- and Cr-rich oxytourmalines: a combined EMP, SREF, FTIR and Raman study

A study of natural oxy-tourmalines belonging to the system oxy-dravite–chromo-alumino-povondraite– oxy-chromium-dravite from the Sludyanka crystalline complex (Southern Baikal region, Russia) was carried out to explore the characteristic vibrational bands in the principal (OH)-stretching frequency and their relations to the O3 anion site of the tourmaline structure. Relevant information was obtained using electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), structural refinement (SREF), infrared (IR) and Raman single-crystal spectroscopy. The studied oxy-tourmalines are characterized by the substitution Al ↔ Cr, which is accompanied by redistribution of Mg over the Y and Z sites. The occurrence of strong correlations between relative peak area intensities for two IR bands at 3,565 and 3,519 cm−1 and cation site populations derived from SREF and EMP data allowed assignment of the band at 3,565 cm−1 to the cluster [YMg ZAlZ(Al,Mg)]–O3 and the band at 3,519 cm−1 to the cluster[YCr Z(Cr,Al) Z(Cr,Al,Mg))]–O3. It appears that the combination of polarized IR and Raman spectra collected with the electric vector E⊥c and E//c may provide a useful characterization of the local (OH) environments around the O3 site of the tourmaline structure