Bond-graph description and simulation of membrane processes. 4. Non-exchange sorption of 1-1 electrolyte into ion-exchange polymer membrane.

The bond-graph description of transport processes was applied to analyse all the phenomena related to the sorption of free electrolytes into the internal solution of a polymeric cation-exchange membrane (no cation exchange reaction in the system). The kinetic constants for Nafion 120 and KNO3 solution were determined

Bond-graph description and simulation of membrane processes: hybrid membrane extraction

The bond-graph method was applied to study the hybrid membrane extraction, which occurs in the system with an ion-exchange polymer membrane placed between an aqueous and organic liquid phase. The numerical calculations were carried out to describe the time evolution of the transport systems as dependent on initial conditions for pH and the aqueous solution concentration as well as the carrier concentration in a liquid membrane. The results of the numerical calculations were compared with the experimental results

Bond-graph description and simulation of membrane processes: hybrid pertraction in multimembrane system

Thermodynamic network analysis (TNA) was applied for modeling and theoretical description of the hybrid pertraction of univalent cations in the multimembrane hybrid system (MHS). Some numerical calculations were carried out to describe the evolution of the transport systems as dependent on the initial conditions for pH, aqueous solutions concentration, and the carrier (D2EHPA) concentration in a liquid membrane. The results of the theoretical calculations were experimentally verified

Przykłady wykorzystania analizy SEM-EDX do badań zabytkowych skór garbowanych związkami metali

Application of the SEM-EDX technique for determination of elements in alum as well as chrome tanner leathers discussed in the article. These leathers are found in museum, library and archival collections. Alum tanner leathers are known since ancient period while chrome tanner leathers for 19th c. Examples of the use of leather samples examination and range possibilities created by the technique presented. Additional substances (not being tannins) to be found in leather structure ad surface such as auxiliary agents, decorative layers, contaminations, focused on. The SEM-EDX technique is useful not only for characterization of elements composition of leathers, but also contributes to preservation of cultural heritage by giving possibilities of planning conservation treatments and examining influence of conservation chemicals on leathers

Influence of metabolic risk factors of cardiovascular diseases on cognitive impairment in elderly patients

Wstęp. Zaburzenia funkcji poznawczych występujące u osób starszych obniżają jakość życia i wpływają na stan zdrowia tych pacjentów. Celem pracy jest ocena zaburzeń poznawczych u osób starszych, ustalenie związku między stopniem tych zaburzeń i metabolicznymi czynnikami ryzyka chorób sercowo-naczyniowych. Materiał i metody. U 93 starszych pacjentów przeprowadzono test MMSE, na podstawie którego utworzono następujące grupy: 1 &#8212; kontrolna (bez zaburzeń poznawczych), 2 &#8212; pacjenci z zaburzeniami poznawczymi oraz podgrupy: 2a &#8212; osoby z łagodnymi zaburzeniami, 2b &#8212; chorzy z zaburzeniami średniozaawansowanymi i głębokimi. Oceniono zależność pomiędzy stopniem zaburzeń poznawczych i stężeniem frakcji lipidowych. Na podstawie kryteriów klinicznych, takich jak: I &#8212; obecność cukrzycy, II &#8212; zwężenia tętnic szyjnych > 50%, III &#8212; współistnienie obu tych czynników, IV &#8212; występowanie zespołu metabolicznego, wyodrębniono 4 grupy. Wyniki. Uzyskano dodatnią korelację MMSE i stężenia cholesterolu frakcji HDL (HDL-C), ujemną korelację: MMSE i LDL/HDL, brak korelacji: MMSE i stężenia cholesterolu całkowitego (TC), cholesterolu frakcji LDL (LDL-C) i triglicerydów (TG), istotne różnice stężeń frakcji lipidowych TG, HDL-C i LDL/HDL pomiędzy grupą 1 i 2; różnice te zwiększają się przy porównaniu grupy 1 i podgrupy 2b. Uzyskano niższy wynik MMSE u chorych na cukrzycę i u pacjentów z zaawansowanymi zmianami w tętnicach szyjnych; wartość ta jest jeszcze mniejsza, jeśli oba stany współistnieją. Zespół metaboliczny wiąże się z istotnie niższym wynikiem MMSE (p < 0,0004). Wnioski. Zaburzeniom poznawczym i otępieniu u osób w podeszłym wieku towarzyszy niskie stężenie cholesterolu frakcji HDL, wysoka wartość wskaźnika LDL/HDL oraz wysokie stężenie TG. Stężenie cholesterolu frakcji HDL koreluje dodatnio, a wartość LDL/HDL ujemnie ze stopniem zaburzeń poznawczych. Zmiany miażdżycowe bez istotnego zwężenia tętnic szyjnych nie wpływają na funkcje poznawcze pacjentów. Zaburzenia poznawcze są większe u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2, z zaawansowanymi zmianami tętnic szyjnych i pogłębiają się przy współistnieniu obu stanów. Zespół metaboliczny wiąże się z bardzo wysokim ryzykiem osłabienia funkcji poznawczych.Background. Cognitive impairment in older people diminishes their quality of life and interferes with their state of health. The aim of the study is the assessment of cognitive functions in elderly people, the evaluation of the correlation between cognitive impairment and metabolic risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Material and methods. 93 patients over 60 years old completed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), as a consequence, the following the groups were established: Group 1 &#8212; control group without cognitive impairment, group 2 &#8212; presence of cognitive impairment: 2a &#8212; mild impairment, 2b &#8212; moderate or severe dementia. The interdependence of the MMSE score and serum concentration of fractionated lipids was evaluated, and it was examined whether cognitive impairment was connected with diabetes type 2, carotid arteries stenosis or with the coexistence of the first two and finally with the metabolic syndrome. Results. The following results were obtained: a positive correlation between MMSE score and HDL-C concentration, negative correlation between MMSE score and LDL/HDL index, no correlation between MMSE score and TC, LDL-C and TG concentration. In patients of group 2, the HDL-C concentration was significantly lower, the TG concentration higher, and the LDL/HDL index was higher than in group 1, these tendencies increased when both groups, 1 and 2b were compared. In patients with diabetes or with carotid stenosis, the MMSE score was low, the results decreased in patients with the coexistence of both. Patients with metabolic syndrome revealed significantly lower MMSE scores compared to patients without the syndrome (p < 0.0004). Conclusion. Low HDL-C concentration, high value of LDL/HDL coefficient and high TG concentration are connected with cognitive impairment in elderly people. HDL-C concentrations correlate positively, and values of LDL/HDL coefficients correlate negatively, with the degree of cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive impairment is connected with diabetes type 2 and carotid stenosis, and it intensifies in patients suffering from both. Metabolic syndrome gives a very high risk of cognitive impairment

Comparative Study of Structural Changes of Polylactide and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) in the Presence of Trichoderma viride

Plastic pollution is one of the crucial global challenges nowadays, and biodegradation is a promising approach to manage plastic waste in an environment-friendly and cost-effective way. In this study we identified the strain of fungus Trichoderma viride GZ1, which was characterized by particularly high pectinolytic activity. Using differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy techniques, and viscosity measurements we showed that three-month incubation of polylactide and polyethylene terephthalate in the presence of the fungus lead to significant changes of the surface of polylactide. Further, to gain insight into molecular mechanisms underneath the biodegradation process, western blot hybridization was used to show that in the presence of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) in laboratory conditions the fungus produced hydrophobin proteins. The mycelium adhered to the plastic surface, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, possibly due to the presence of hydrophobins. Further, using atomic force microscopy we demonstrated for the first time the formation of hydrophobin film on the surface of aliphatic polylactide (PLA) and PET by T. viride GZ1. This is the first stage of research that will be continued under environmental conditions, potentially leading to a practical application

The Photocatalytical Properties of RGO/TiO2 Coated Fabrics

The aim of this work was to immobilize reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) on the surface of selected fibrous structures. Textile fabrics made of cotton (CO) and polyamide (PA) were used as a carrier. The following modification methods were applied: coating for modification of PA and dip-coating for modification of CO. In the dip-coating method, no auxiliaries were used, which is a huge advantage. The RGO/TiO2 coated fabrics were characterized using several techniques: ultraviolet&ndash;visible (UV&ndash;VIS) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The obtained results showed the immobilization of RGO and TiO2 on the fabrics. Raw fabrics absorb much less radiation than coated ones, which is associated with strong absorption of radiation by applied modifiers (RGO and TiO2). Photocatalytic activity of functionalized textiles was determined using aqueous phenol solutions. Phenol removal efficiency obtained for RGO/TiO2 coated CO and RGO/TiO2 coated PA was 51% and 46%, respectively. The hydroxyl radicals play a major role in the phenol photocatalytic degradation. The phenol removal efficiency in the fifth cycle was higher (about 14% and 8% for RGO/TiO2 coated CO and RGO/TiO2 coated PA, respectively) compared to the first cycle

Growth, Structure, and Photocatalytic Properties of Hierarchical V2O5–TiO2 Nanotube Arrays Obtained from the One-step Anodic Oxidation of Ti–V Alloys

V2O5-TiO2 mixed oxide nanotube (NT) layers were successfully prepared via the one-step anodization of Ti-V alloys. The obtained samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis absorption, photoluminescence spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (DRX), and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The effect of the applied voltage (30–50 V), vanadium content (5–15 wt %) in the alloy, and water content (2–10 vol %) in an ethylene glycol-based electrolyte was studied systematically to determine their influence on the morphology, and for the first-time, on the photocatalytic properties of these nanomaterials. The morphology of the samples varied from sponge-like to highly-organized nanotubular structures. The vanadium content in the alloy was found to have the highest influence on the morphology and the sample with the lowest vanadium content (5 wt %) exhibited the best auto-alignment and self-organization (length = 1 μm, diameter = 86 nm and wall thickness = 11 nm). Additionally, a probable growth mechanism of V2O5-TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) over the Ti-V alloys was presented. Toluene, in the gas phase, was effectively removed through photodegradation under visible light (LEDs, λmax = 465 nm) in the presence of the modified TiO2 nanostructures. The highest degradation value was 35% after 60 min of irradiation. V2O5 species were ascribed as the main structures responsible for the generation of photoactive e− and h+ under Vis light and a possible excitation mechanism was proposed