Congenital long QT syndrome of particularly malignant course connected with so far unknown mutation in the sodium channel SCN5A gene

This article presents the case of a 35 year-old male with long QT syndrome (LQTS) who suffered from sudden cardiac arrest. Even though asymptomatic LQTS had been diagnosed, the patient had not undergone any medical treatment. His two daughters, aged four and seven, were also diagnosed with LQTS. A new, previously unknown, mutation of the SCN5A gene has been found in the family. The older daughter died suddenly before implantable cardioverterdefibrillator (ICD) implantation, but the father and the younger daughter have been implanted with ICDs

Non-typical fluorescence effects and biological activity in selected 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives : spectroscopic and theoretical studies on substituent, molecular aggregation, and pH effects

The below article presents the results of spectroscopic research, theoretical (time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT)), microbiological, and antioxidative calculations for three compounds from the group of 1,3,4-thiadiazoles: 2-amino-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (TB), 2-amino-5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole (TS), 2-amino-5-(2-hydroxy-5-sulfobenzoyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole (TSF). In the fluorescence emission spectra (TS) of solutions with varying concentrations of hydrogen ions, a particularly interesting effect of dual fluorescence was observed. The aforementioned effect was observed even more clearly in the environment of butan-1-ol, relative to the compound’s concentration. Depending on the modification of the resorcylic substituent (TS and TSF), we observed the emergence of two separate, partially overlapping, fluorescence emission spectra or a single emission spectrum. Interpretation of the obtained spectra using stationary and time-resolved spectroscopy allowed the correlation of the effect’s emergence with the phenomenon of molecular aggregation (of a particular type) as well as, above all, the structure of the substituent system. The overlap of said effects most likely induces the processes related to the phenomenon of charge transfer (in TS) and is responsible for the observed fluorescence effects. Also, the position of the –OH group (in the resorcylic ring) is significant and can facilitate the charge transfer (CT). The determinations of the changes in the dipole moment and TD-DFT calculations further corroborate the above assumption. The following paper presents the analysis (the first for this particular group of analogues) of the fluorescence effects relative to the changes in the structure of the resorcylic group combined with pH effects. The results of biological studies also indicate the highest pharmacological potential of the analogue in the case where the effects of dual fluorescence emission are observed, which predisposes this particular group of fluorophores as effective fluorescence probes or potential pharmaceuticals with antimycotic properties

Far Red and Red as Factors Forming Physiological Processes in Spring Barley under Controlled Conditions

Solar radiation is a very important energy source for life on Earth and especially for the proper growth and development of plants. Its spectral composition is necessary for a main physiological process in a plant’s life—photosynthesis. In practical agriculture, plants are cultivated in the stand, which causes neighboring plants not only to compete for water and nutrients but also for light. Living in such an environment, plants have developed different mechanisms for dealing with shading. An aim of the studies conducted here was to determine the effect of the red (R) and far red (FR) range of spectral composition on gas exchange and the other physiological features of spring barley plants. The experiment was conducted in two growth chambers with different spectral compositions of radiation. Spring barley was grown in Mitscherlich pots. The physiological features measured during the two barley developmental phases, i.e., seventh and flag leaves, differed depending on the R/FR ratio used in these chambers. Plants that grew under conditions of a high R/FR ratio showed a higher photosynthesis efficiency, intracellular CO2 concentration, stomatal conductance and transpiration of water but lower values of the water use efficiency (WUE) index. The leaves of plants treated with this kind of light (higher R/FR ratio) had a greater stomata number and higher content of chlorophyll when compared to plants grown under conditions with a low R/FR ratio

Effect of Pre-Sowing Magnetic Field Treatment on Enzymes and Phytohormones in Pea (<i>Pisum sativum</i> L.) Seeds and Seedlings

The aim of the presented studies was to evaluate the magnetic field (MF) effect on changes in some enzymes and phytohormones that takes place in the process of seed germination and growth of seedlings. Studies were led in the climatic chambers HERAEUS, on Petri dishes during six consecutive days. Pea seeds were divided into three groups from which one was the control (without stimulation) and two were treated with different doses of magnetic field (30 and 85 mT, respectively). Contents of amylolytic enzymes (AE) and phytohormones were determined at seven terms (0; 24; 48; 72; 96; 120 and 144 h) after placing them on the dishes. A favorable effect of seed stimulation with MF was found on the biochemical processes in the germinating seeds and pea seedlings. The size of changes in enzyme concentration was dependent mainly on the advancement of germination process (i.e., on length of time in which the seeds were on the dishes) and the MF treatment. The use of MF also had an effect on the increase in hormone content in the seeds and organs of seedlings, but values from objects treated with different doses did not differ significantly

Effect of Pre-Sowing Magnetic Field Treatment on Enzymes and Phytohormones in Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Seeds and Seedlings

The aim of the presented studies was to evaluate the magnetic field (MF) effect on changes in some enzymes and phytohormones that takes place in the process of seed germination and growth of seedlings. Studies were led in the climatic chambers HERAEUS, on Petri dishes during six consecutive days. Pea seeds were divided into three groups from which one was the control (without stimulation) and two were treated with different doses of magnetic field (30 and 85 mT, respectively). Contents of amylolytic enzymes (AE) and phytohormones were determined at seven terms (0; 24; 48; 72; 96; 120 and 144 h) after placing them on the dishes. A favorable effect of seed stimulation with MF was found on the biochemical processes in the germinating seeds and pea seedlings. The size of changes in enzyme concentration was dependent mainly on the advancement of germination process (i.e., on length of time in which the seeds were on the dishes) and the MF treatment. The use of MF also had an effect on the increase in hormone content in the seeds and organs of seedlings, but values from objects treated with different doses did not differ significantly

Investigation of the Acoustic Properties of a Metamaterial with a Multi-Ring Structure

In this article, the authors present the geometry and measurements of the properties of an acoustic metamaterial with a structure composed of multiple concentric rings. CAD models of the structure were developed and subsequently used in numerical studies, which included the study of resonant frequencies using the Lanczos method and an analysis of sound pressure level distribution under plane wave excitation using the finite element method. Subsequently, experimental tests were carried out on models with the same geometry produced with three different materials (PLA, PET-G, and FLEX) using a fused deposition modeling 3D printing technique. These tests included: determining insertion loss for a single model based on tests using the measurement window of a reverberation chamber and determining transmission loss through tests in a semi-anechoic chamber. Sound wave resonance was obtained for frequencies ranging from 1700 to 6000 Hz. Notably, the experimental studies were carried out for the same structure for which numerical tests were conducted. The physical models of a metamaterial were manufactured using three different readily available 3D printing materials. The results of laboratory tests confirm that the created acoustic metamaterial consisting of multi-ring structures reduces noise in medium and high frequencies

Response of spring wheat to NPK and S fertilization. The content and uptake of macronutrients and the value of ionic ratios

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) fertilizers on the content and uptake of macronutrients by grain dry mass (DM) of spring wheat. A field experiment was conducted in southeastern Poland on Cambisols (WRB 2007), in conditions of low S content in the soil. The experiment included 2 factors: fertilization with N (0, 40, 80, 120 kg ha-1) and with S (0, 50 kg ha-1)

Improvement of the Content and Uptake of Micronutrients in Spring Rye Grain DM Through Nitrogen and Sulfur Supplementation

The aim of this field experiment was to analyze the influence of different nitrogen and sulfur doses on yield as well as the content and uptake of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) by spring rye grain. The study was conducted in south-eastern Poland (2009&ndash;2011) on Cambisols (WRB 2015), in conditions of low sulfur content in soil. The experiment included four doses of N fertilization (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha&minus;1) and two doses of S supplementation (0 and 40 kg ha&minus;1). The analysis showed that fertilization with N and S had a positive effect on the studied features of spring rye. The highest grain yields were found after use of 90 kg N ha&minus;1. The grain of rye fertilized with these doses of N was characterized by the highest concentration and uptake of tested microelements. The supplementation of sulfur in a dose of 40 kg S ha&minus;1 improved the nitrogen effect, because the rye grain yield and the content and uptake of micronutrients (except Mn) by rye grain dry mass increased. The highest yield of spring rye grain and accumulation of Mn and Zn and intake of Mn, Zn and Cu by grain dry mass (DM) were obtained in the vegetation season of 2011, which was characterized by an optimal rainfall distribution. The highest accumulation of Fe and Cu and intake of Fe were obtained in the vegetation season of 2009. Significant correlations were found also between grain yield and the content and uptake of all studied micronutrients. The supplementation of NPK fertilization with sulfur can be a good means of agronomic biofortification for spring rye in order to increase the content and uptake of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu