Pollution of artesian wells in the urban areas of Krakow, Europe

Artesian wells are sources of water from the late Pleistocene era. They are in common use in Krakow, in southern Poland, where five years ago limited studies were carried out, the results of which disputed the potability of water from some of the wells. This paper presents complex studies carried out at the end of 2012 concerning the pollution and composition of water samples from nine artesian wells. We studied smell and taste, color, turbidity and conductivity, pH levels, hardness, oxygen concentration and demand, total organic content, compound concentrations (NH{_{4}}^{+}, NO{_{2}}^{-}, NO{_{3}}^{-}, Br^{-}, Cl^{-}, benzene, ethylbenzene, xylene, toluene), element concentrations (Al, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Pb, Zn) and the quantity of bacteria. In only on well was water fit for human consumption. In other cases, numerous parameters were above the permissible limits. Most often, the parameters of color, turbidity and concentrations of Fe and NH{_{4}}^{+}, exceeded the acceptable levels. In one well the concentration of benzene also exceeded the maximum permissible level. The significance of the differences in the levels between wells shows that aquifers mix either very slowly or not at all

X-ray microtomography analysis of the aluminum alloy composite reinforced by SiC after Friction Stir Processing

Despite many years of using friction stir processing (FSP), there are many unexplained aspects concerning the processes which appear during FSP: determining the direction of flow and mixing of the materials and the degree of mixing and microstructure fragmentation in specific areas. This paper presents the impact of FSP on the micro- and macrostructure of the composite with hypo-eutectic Si matrix reinforced by SiC particles. The analysis of the structure of the processed area in FSP in the relation to the microstructure of the base material has been made using x-ray microtomography. The results of these studies have been juxtaposed with studies using microscopic methods (light microscopy and SEM). The microtomography images revealed an additional separation on the advancing side and the weld nugget, where on the basis of a 3D reconstruction a layer microstructure on the direction of linear movement of the tool has been demonstrated. The analyses have revealed a limited flow of the material above the weld nugget. The main advantages of the research method applied were the possibility to show the invisible or barely visible elements of the microstructure using standard test methods and the ability to analyze the microstructure changes uninterruptedly in different directions in the volume of the material

SEM-EDS and X-ray micro Computed Tomography studies of skeletal surface pattern and body structure in the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris collected from Goczalkowice reservoir habit (Southern Poland)

Introduction. Freshwater sponges are common animals of most aquatic ecosystems. They feed by filtering small particles from the water, and so are thought to be sensitive indicators of pollution. Sponges are strongly associated with the abiotic environment and are therefore used as bioindicators for monitoring of water quality in water habitats. Among the freshwater sponges, Spongilla lacustris is one of the classic models used to study evolution, gene regulation, development, physiology and structural biology in animal water systems. It is also important in diagnostic of aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to characterize and visualize three-dimensional architecture of sponge body and measure skeleton elements of S. lacustris from Goczalkowice reservoir for identification purposes. Material and methods. The scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM- -EDS) and X-ray micro computed tomography (micro-CT) were used to provide non-invasive visualization of the three-dimensional architecture of Spongilla lacustris body. Results. We showed that sponge skeleton was not homogeneous in composition and comprised several forms of skeleton organization. Ectosomal skeleton occurred as spicular brushes at apices of primary fibres with cementing spongin material. Choanosomal skeletal architecture was alveolate with pauci- to multispicular primary fibres connected by paucispicular transverse fibres, made by megascleres embedded in a scanty spongin matrix both in the choanosome and at the sponge surface. In contrast, microscleres were irregularly scattered in choanosome and skeletal surface. Furthermore, SEM-EDS studies showed that the distribution of silica in megascleres and microscleres was observed along the spicules and sponge surface areas. Conclusions. In conclusion, we showed that the combination of SEM-EDS and micro-CT microscopy techniques allowed obtaining a complete picture of the sponge spatial architecture

Monitoring not only in security agencies

Jednym z najbardziej aktualnych i wciąż rosnących problemów w ochronie środowiska i przyrody jest sprawne monitorowanie obecności zanieczyszczeń oraz ocena konsekwencji, jakie niesie ze sobą ich emisja z przemysłu i gospodarki. Znanych jest obecnie wiele metod oceny zanieczyszczenia, ale tylko jedna z nich - biomonitoring - wykorzystuje organizmy żywe i w związku z tym tylko ona mierzy rzeczywisty wpływ zanieczyszczeń na biosferę. Monitoring biologiczny (biomonitoring) jest popularną metodą oceny zanieczyszczenia środowiska, którą stosuje się na całym świecie. Opiera się ona na organizmach żywych, tzw. biowskaźnikach, wśród których najczęściej wyróżniamy wskaźniki (indykatory) i akumulatory. Na podstawie reakcji tych organizmów na potencjalne zanieczyszczenie można wyciągać wnioski na temat stanu danego środowiska. Oczywiście nie wszystkie organizmy nadają się do wykorzystania w biomonitoringu. Cechy charakteryzujące dobre biowskaźniki to przede wszystkim powszechność występowania, stosunkowo wysoka odporność na zanieczyszczenia, a zarazem widoczna i szybka na nie reakcja. W odróżnieniu od indykatorów, akumulatory to organizmy, które oprócz szerokiego zasięgu i wysokiej odporności na zanieczyszczenia charakteryzują się intensywną akumulacją pewnych substancji (metali, pestycydów i innych związków), a niekoniecznie widoczną na nie odpowiedzią

Expression of IL-1 and TNF-α in uterine myomas and myometrium in women of different age

INTRODUCTION Fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the female reproductive organ. In uterine myoma cells, a disturbed expression of some cytokines and growth factors is found. AIM OF STUDY The aim of the study was to evaluate IL-1 and TNF-α expression in uterine myomas and myometrium in women of different age. MATERIAL AND METHODS The studies included 60 women. The control was a group of 20 patients in whom there were no fibroidal changes. The subjects were both in the reproductive and menopausal age. 20 women of childbearing age with fibroidal changes in the uterus (under age 45, FSH 30 mIU/ml) also qualified for the study. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on the sampled material. In the examined tissue fragments, the optical density of cells expressing IL-1 and TNF-α was evaluated, which reflects the concentration of the immunocytochemical reaction product. RESULTS Expression of the studied cytokines was higher in the myoma and surrounding myometrium comparing to the uterine myometrium of healthy women. CONCLUSIONS Increased expression of cytokines at the edge of uterine myomas may be a signal of the appearance of new tumors. Therefore, use of the expression levels of IL-1 and TNF-α as a prognostic factor should be considered.WSTĘP Mięśniaki macicy są najczęstszymi nowotworami o łagodnym charakterze żeńskiego narządu rodnego. W ich komórkach stwierdza się zaburzoną ekspresję niektórych cytokin i czynników wzrostu. CEL PRACY Celem badań była ocena ekspresji interleukiny-1 (IL-1) i czynnika martwicy nowotworu- (TNF-) w mięśniakach macicy kobiet w różnym wieku. MATERIAŁY I METODY W badaniach uczestniczyło 60 kobiet. Kontrolę czystą stanowiły pacjentki, u których nie stwierdzono zmian mięśniakowatych, zarówno w wieku reprodukcyjnym (10 kobiet), jak i okołomenopauzalnym (10 kobiet). Do badań zakwalifikowano 20 kobiet w wieku rozrodczym ze zmianami mięśniakowymi w macicy (poniżej 45 roku życia, FSH 30 mIU/ml). W badaniu immunohistochemicznym pobranych skrawków oceniono gęstość optyczną komórek z ekspresją IL-1 oraz TNF-α, która stanowi odzwierciedlenie stężenia produktu reakcji immunocytochemicznej. WYNIKI Ekspresja badanych cytokin w mięśniaku oraz otaczającym go miometrium w była wyższa niż w miometrium macicy kobiet zdrowych. WNIOSKI Zwiększona ekspresja cytokin na obrzeżu mięśniaków macicy może decydować o pojawieniu się nowych guzów, dlatego należy rozważyć wykorzystanie poziomu ekspresji IL-1 i TNF-α jako czynnika prognostycznego

Evaluating Gelatin-Based Films with Graphene Nanoparticles for Wound Healing Applications

In this study, gelatin-based films containing graphene nanoparticles were obtained. Nanoparticles were taken from four chosen commercial graphene nanoplatelets with different surface areas, such as 150 m2/g, 300 m2/g, 500 m2/g, and 750 m2/g, obtained in different conditions. Their morphology was observed using SEM with STEM mode; porosity, Raman spectra and elemental analysis were checked; and biological properties, such as hemolysis and cytotoxicity, were evaluated. Then, the selected biocompatible nanoparticles were used as the gelatin film modification with 10% concentration. As a result of solvent evaporation, homogeneous thin films were obtained. The surface’s properties, mechanical strength, antioxidant activity, and water vapor permeation rate were examined to select the appropriate film for biomedical applications. We found that the addition of graphene nanoplatelets had a significant effect on the properties of materials, improving surface roughness, surface free energy, antioxidant activity, tensile strength, and Young’s modulus. For the most favorable candidate for wound dressing applications, we chose a gelatin film containing nanoparticles with a surface area of 500 m2/g

Accumulation of metals in cancerous and healthy tissues of patients with lung cancer in Southern Poland

<div><p>The aim of this study was to investigate whether the concentrations of metals differ among patients with and without lung cancer with different smoking status and living in industrialized environments. We also evaluated the relationships between metals and blood parameters including hematocrit level (Hct), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), red (RBC) and white (WBC) blood cells numbers. Concentrations of metals were measured with AAS (copper - Cu, iron - Fe, magnesium - Mg, zinc - Zn) and CV-AAS (mercury - Hg). Neither smoking status nor industrialization could be considered as a significant factor for metals accumulation in blood, lungs and tumor tissues, with the exception of mercury which differed in the aspect of industrialization. According to the type of the disease, Fe, Hg and Mg concentrations differed significantly in lungs. Correlations between metals and blood parameters were observed. Additionally, concentrations of Mg, Cu and Zn were correlated between lungs and tumor tissue of patients with cancer as well as they all were related to each other in lungs, tumor and blood tissues.</p></div

A 41,500 year-old decorated ivory pendant from Stajnia Cave (Poland)

Evidence of mobiliary art and body augmentation are associated with the cultural innovations introduced by Homo sapiens at the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic. Here, we report the discovery of the oldest known human-modified punctate ornament, a decorated ivory pendant from the Paleolithic layers at Stajnia Cave in Poland. We describe the features of this unique piece, as well as the stratigraphic context and the details of its chronometric dating. The Stajnia Cave plate is a personal 'jewellery' object that was created 41,500 calendar years ago (directly radiocarbon dated). It is the oldest known of its kind in Eurasia and it establishes a new starting date for a tradition directly connected to the spread of modern Homo sapiens in Europe