Use of the UNB_TopoDens model for local modelling of chosen gravity field parameters in the Western Carpathians

The latest, global density model of topographical masses (UNB TopoDms model) was used to determine complete Bouguer anomalies and the differences between geoid undulations and height anomalies in an area of the Western Carpathians, within the Polish-Slovak-Czech border region. The ranges of the calculated values are between approximately -74 and +23 mGal for Bouguer anomalies and -10 and +5 cm for differences between geoid and quasigeoid heights. Calculations were also performed for constant densities of topographical masses (2200, 2500 and 2670 kg/m(3)). The results show significant differences due to the various densities adopted for the calculations. For example, differences between the version using densities from the UNB TopoDens model and the version using a constant density of 2670 kg/m(3) ranged between -3.4 mGal and +37.5 mGal, for Bouguer anomalies, and between -0.5 cm and +7.4 cm for differences between geoid undulation and height anomalies. It has also been shown that, for high mountain areas, differences between geoid and quasigeoid height should be determined on the basis of exact formula (not on the basis of Bouguer anomalies).Web of Science17111811

Comrades at the fairs

A rememberance of the Black Thursday events, observed by the author (a student of medicine back then) witnessed as a tourist guide for a group organized by Province Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party from Bialystok, sightseeing at the Poznań International Fairs.A rememberance of the Black Thursday events, observed by the author (a student of medicine back then) witnessed as a tourist guide for a group organized by Province Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party from Bialystok, sightseeing at the Poznań International Fairs

Absorbance based light emitting diode optical sensors and sensing devices

The ever increasing demand for in situ monitoring of health, environment and security has created a need for reliable, miniaturised sensing devices. To achieve this, appropriate analytical devices are required that possess operating characteristics of reliability, low power consumption, low cost, autonomous operation capability and compatibility with wireless communications systems. The use of light emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources is one strategy, which has been successfully applied in chemical sensing. This paper summarises the development and advancement of LED based chemical sensors and sensing devices in terms of their configuration and application, with the focus on transmittance and reflectance absorptiometric measurements

The role of adenylate-uridylate rich RNA-binding factor 1 (AUF1) in thyroid carcinoma progression

AUF1 ist ein Bindungsprotein aus der Familie der heterogenen nuklearen Ribonukleoproteine D (hnRNPD), das selektiv A(denin)-U(racil)-reiche Abschnitte auf der RNA (ARE) bindet, welches die Stabilität der mRNA verschiedener Gene reguliert, u.a. Proto-Onkogene, Wachstumsfaktoren, Zytokine und Zellzyklusregulierende Gene. Die Proliferations- und Zellzyklusinduktion zeigten eine erhöhte AUF1 Expression in der zytoplasmatischen Fraktionen und teilenden sich Zellen. Untersuchungen auf Schilddrüsegeweben zeigten dass zytoplasmatische AUF1 Expression und “steady state level” mit der Gewebemalignität korrelieren. Eine Erhöhung von Tumorsuppressors sowie Erniedrigung von Tumorpromotoren durch AUF1-Ausschaltung, führte zu einer Wachstumsverzögerung in allen untersuchten Zellen. Die hier gezeigten Daten deuten auf die wichtige Rolle von AUF1 in der Schilddrüse hin, wobei die deutlichen Unterschiede in der Expression eine mögliche Verwendung als diagnostischen Marker hinweisen. Es kann postuliert werden, dass AUF1 als Regulator auf transkriptonaler- und/oder translationaler-Ebene möglicherweise zur Entstehung von Schilddrüsenkarzinomen beitragen kann.von Bogusz Trojanowic

Dimensioning of aerated submerged fixed bed biofilm reactors based on a mathematical biofilm model applied to petrochemical wastewater – the link between theory and practice

The description of a biofilm mathematical model application for dimensioning an aerated fixed bed biofilm reactor (ASFBBR) for petrochemical wastewater polishing is presented. A simple one-dimensional model of biofilm, developed by P Harremöes, was chosen for this purpose. The model was calibrated and verified under conditions of oil-refinery effluent. The results of ASFBBR dimensioning on the basis of the biofilm model were compared with the bioreactor dimensions determined by application of load-based design rules for these systems (ATV standards). The differences resulting from two different approaches to ASFBBR design are analysed and discussed. The efficiency of the ASFBBR bioreactors, designed in two different ways, are then compared during dynamic simulation utilising the most advanced one-dimensional biofilm model developed by Wanner and Reichert (1996).Keywords: Biofilm modelling; petrochemical wastewater; biofilm reactor

Flow-Injection Preconcentration of Chloramphenicol Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for HPLC Determination in Environmental Samples

The residue of antibiotic chloramphenicol (CAP) is important issue for food quality control and also for the environmental monitoring. It is banned for use in food-producing animals and has very limited use in human medicine, because of its severe impact on human health. Determination of trace level of CAP in environmental samples requires a very sensitive analytical method and efficient preconcentration procedure. CAP can be efficiently preconcentrated in flow-injection system using flow-through reactor packed with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), but determination of CAP in eluate from MIP requires the application of chromatographic separation, which was made in reversed-phase HPLC system with UV detection. In optimized conditions the limit of detection for 100 mL sample in HPLC with offline preconcentration on MIP was evaluated as 0.66 mg/L. In hyphenated FIA-HPLC system with zone sampling the LOD for developed method was evaluated as 15 ng/L, which indicates the possibility of using it for analysis of environmental samples

The development and optimisation of Nanobody based electrochemical immunosensors for IgG

Biosensors are increasingly heralded for their potential to create inexpensive diagnostic devices which are sensitive, selective and easy to use. One of the key categories of biosensor are immunosensors, which have historically used antibodies as bioreceptors. Though widely used, antibodies bring inherent limitations such as variability, limited stability and their reliance on animal sources. This has led to the development of alternative immuno-reagents such as non-antibody binding proteins (NABPs). These are low molecular weight proteins which largely avoid the aforementioned advantages of antibodies. They are commonly produced by bacteria enabling the use of DNA technology to manipulate bioreceptors at the molecular level. Single chain VHHs (commonly known as nanobodies) are an antibody derived NABP adapted from camelid heavy chain antibodies which are the isolated binding domain. Whilst nanobodies have been used for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, they have limited demonstration in biosensors. In this study, both antibodies and nanobodies were used to construct a biosensor. In addition nanobody performance was optimised by introducing a novel peptide spacer. The role of nanobody orientation and spacing was thus investigated and spacer length was optimised, leading to an increase in the sensitivity of the biosensor