Analysis of Thermal Properties of Materials Used to Insulate External Walls.

This article emphasizes the significance of understanding the actual thermal properties of thermal insulation materials, which are crucial for avoiding errors in building design and estimating heat losses within the energy balance. The aim of this study was to analyse the thermal parameters of selected thermal insulation materials, particularly in the context of their stability after a period of storage under specific conditions. The materials chosen for this study include commonly used construction insulations such as polystyrene and mineral wool, as well as modern options like rigid foam composites.

Molybdenum's Role as an Essential Element in Enzymes Catabolizing Redox Reactions: A Review.

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential element for human life, acting as a cofactor in various enzymes crucial for metabolic homeostasis. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the latest advances in research on molybdenum-containing enzymes and their clinical significance. One of these enzymes is xanthine oxidase (XO), which plays a pivotal role in purine catabolism, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) capable of inducing oxidative stress and subsequent organ dysfunction.

Development of FSW Process Parameters for Lap Joints Made of Thin 7075 Aluminum Alloy Sheets.

The article describes machine learning using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to develop the parameters of the friction stir welding (FSW) process for three types of aluminum joints (EN AW 7075). The ANNs were built using a total of 608 experimental data. Two types of networks were built.

Analysis of the Influence of External Wall Material Type on the Thermal Bridge at the Window-to-Wall Interface.

Background: Although many works focus on increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, there are still a number of problems that need to be solved, such as reducing heat losses at the window-to-wall interface, especially since the requirements for saving energy used for heating/cooling rooms are constantly increasing. This paper analyses the impact of the material parameters of the external wall and the window installation in the insulation layer on the size of thermal bridges around the window.

Purpose: The aim of the work is to demonstrate the benefits resulting from the correct installation of the window, the appropriate location of the window in relation to the face of the external wall, as well as the correct selection of construction materials.

Analysis of Durability of Watertight Concretes Modified with the Addition of Fly Ash.

The growing demand for watertight concrete structures is conducive to the development of research in this area, but their results are rarely published. In order to partially fill this gap, the authors of the publication present the results of research into the effect of fly ash addition on the watertightness of concrete. Prior to the tests, a recipe for a concrete mix with the addition of a sealing admixture modified with fly ash was developed.

Analysis of the Effectiveness of Technological Lubricants with the Addition of Boric Acid in Sheet Metal Forming.

One of the main problems during sheet metal forming is the reduction in coefficient of friction and separation of contact surfaces in order to eliminate buildups of the formed material on the forming tools. For this purpose, technological lubricants based on mineral or synthetic oils are usually used. Unfortunately, their removal from the drawn parts and their subsequent utilization pose many problems and are expensive.

A New Method of Predicting the Parameters of the Rotational Friction Welding Process Based on the Determination of the Frictional Heat Transfer in Ti Grade 2/AA 5005 Joints.

The article presents an original approach to determining the basic parameters of rotational friction welding (RFW) based on the analysis of friction heat transfer at the faying surfaces. Dissimilar Ti Grade 2/AA 5005 joints were used to demonstrate the method. The work established that for the analyzed joint, the optimum temperature at the faying surface that allow for a good quality weld to be obtained should be ~505 °C.

Tribological Aspects of Sheet Titanium Forming.

Friction, wear, and lubrication are inherent to all metal-forming processes. Unfortunately, they are particularly troublesome when forming titanium materials, which tend to form titanium buildup on the working surfaces of the forming tools. Lubrication is one of the most effective ways to separate contacting surfaces and eliminate galling, thus reducing tool wear.

Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Titanium Sheet Forming for Medical Instrument Parts.

The paper analyses the forming of the surgical instrument handles made of Grade 2 titanium sheets. Sheet metal forming is a technology ensuring high strength and light weight of products. Replacing stainless steels with titanium further reduces instrument weight and additionally provides the required resistance to corrosive environments typical for surgeries.

Kinetics of Azanone (HNO) Reactions with Thiols: Effect of pH.

HNO (nitroxyl, IUPAC name azanone) is an electrophilic reactive nitrogen species of growing pharmacological and biological significance. Here, we present data on the pH-dependent kinetics of azanone reactions with the low molecular thiols glutathione and N-acetylcysteine, as well as with important serum proteins: bovine serum albumin and human serum albumin. The competition kinetics method used is based on two parallel HNO reactions: with RSH/RS or with O.

Decomposition of Piloty's acid derivatives - Toward the understanding of factors controlling HNO release.

The recent interest in the clinical applications of Piloty's acid derivatives as HNO donors for the treatment of cardiovascular system dysfunction has led us to the examination of factors controlling HNO release from selected ortho-substituted N-hydroxysulfonamides. Here we present the kinetic and quantum mechanical studies on the mechanism of HNO release from selected ortho-substituted N-hydroxysulfonamides and in vivo examination of the antiaggregatory properties of N-hydroxy-(2-bromobenzene)sulfonamide complex with sodium salt of β-cyclodextrin sulfobutyl ethers-ethyl ethers as compared with Angeli's salt.

Cardioprotective effect of N-methylnicotinamide salt of pyruvate in experimental model of cardiac hypoxia.

Background: Pyruvate improves contractility of normal, hypoxic, and post-ischemic myocardium. However, sodium overload is a major problem with its therapeutic application if sodium pyruvate is used. Development of alternative forms such as N-1-methylnicotinamide (MNA) pyruvate may help to overcome this problem.

Retinyl propionate and climbazole combination demonstrates clinical improvement to the appearance of hyperpigmentation and deep wrinkling with minimal irritation.

Objective: To evaluate a combination of retinyl propionate and climbazole (RPC) compared to 0.1% retinol for its efficacy, tolerance and ageing appearance.

Method: Forty-five healthy Caucasian females, ages 40-70, with moderately photodamaged facial skin, were recruited for a 16-week randomized, double-blind, IRB-approved facial study.

A kinetic study on the reactivity of azanone (HNO) toward its selected scavengers: Insight into its chemistry and detection.

Recently, azanone (HNO), which is the protonated one-electron reduction product of NO, has gained considerable attention due to its unique pharmacological effects. Although there has been much progress in understanding HNO biology and chemistry, it remains the most elusive reactive nitrogen species. Herein, we applied the competition kinetics method, based on two parallel HNO reactions with the different scavengers and molecular oxygen (k = (1.

Climbazole boosts activity of retinoids in skin.

Objective: To explore whether climbazole enhances retinoid-associated biological activities in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: Primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) were treated from six to 48 h with either retinoids (retinol, retinyl propionate, retinyl palmitate) alone or in combination with climbazole, and then assessed for cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2 (CRABP2) mRNA expression by RT-qPCR. Next, skin equivalent (SE) cultures were topically treated with retinol or retinyl propionate, with or without climbazole, and then measured for biological changes in retinoid biomarkers.

Characterization of Fluorescein-Based Monoboronate Probe and Its Application to the Detection of Peroxynitrite in Endothelial Cells Treated with Doxorubicin.

Boronate probes have emerged recently as a versatile tool for the detection of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Here, we present the characterization of a fluorescein-based monoboronate probe, a 4-(pinacol boronate)benzyl derivative of fluorescein methyl ester (FBBE), that proved to be useful to detect peroxynitrite in cell culture experiments. The reactivity of FBBE toward peroxynitrite as well hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, and tyrosyl hydroperoxide was determined.

Mechanism of oxidative conversion of Amplex® Red to resorufin: Pulse radiolysis and enzymatic studies.

Amplex® Red (10-acetyl-3,7-dihydroxyphenoxazine) is a fluorogenic probe widely used to detect and quantify hydrogen peroxide in biological systems. Detection of hydrogen peroxide is based on peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of Amplex® Red to resorufin. In this study we investigated the mechanism of one-electron oxidation of Amplex® Red and we present the spectroscopic characterization of transient species formed upon the oxidation.

Detection and differentiation between peroxynitrite and hydroperoxides using mitochondria-targeted arylboronic acid.

The development of boronic probes enabled reliable detection and quantitative analysis of hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite. The major product, in which boronate moiety of the probe is replaced by the hydroxyl group, is however common for both oxidants. Here, we describe how ortho-isomer of mitochondria-targeted phenylboronic acid can be used to detect and differentiate peroxynitrite-dependent and peroxynitrite-independent probe oxidation.

Nitroxyl (HNO) reacts with molecular oxygen and forms peroxynitrite at physiological pH. Biological Implications.

Nitroxyl (HNO), the protonated one-electron reduction product of NO, remains an enigmatic reactive nitrogen species. Its chemical reactivity and biological activity are still not completely understood. HNO donors show biological effects different from NO donors.

Effect of Endurance Cardiovascular Training Intensity on Erectile Dysfunction Severity in Men With Ischemic Heart Disease.

The protective effect of physical activity on arteries is not limited to coronary vessels, but extends to the whole arterial system, including arteries, in which endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerotic changes are one of the key factors affecting erectile dysfunction development. The objective of this study was to report whether the endurance training intensity and training-induced chronotropic response are linked with a change in erectile dysfunction intensity in men with ischemic heart disease. A total of 150 men treated for ischemic heart disease, who suffered from erectile dysfunction, were analyzed.

Antithrombotic effects of pyridinium compounds formed from trigonelline upon coffee roasting.

Coffee may exert a preventive effect on arterial thrombosis. Trigonelline is one of the most abundant compounds in coffee that undergoes pyrolysis upon roasting of coffee beans. The aim of the present study was to identify pyridinium compounds formed upon trigonelline pyrolysis and coffee roasting and to investigate the effect of three of them, i.

Association between physical exercise and quality of erection in men with ischaemic heart disease and erectile dysfunction subjected to physical training.

Background: In addition to a beneficial effect on exercise tolerance and an associated reduction of global cardiovascular risk, modification of physical activity has a positive effect on the quality of life, reducing, among other things, the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim: The specific nature of sexual activity, which combines the need to maintain appropriate exercise tolerance and good erection quality, prompted us to evaluate the association between exercise tolerance and severity of ED in an intervention group of subjects with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and ED in the context of cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

Methods: A total of 138 men treated invasively for IHD (including 99 treated with percutaneous coronary intervention and 39 treated with coronary artery bypass grafting) who scored 21 or less in the initial IIEF-5 test were investigated.

The influence of endurance training intensity on dynamics of post-exertional heart rate recovery adaptation in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Purpose: The intensity of post-exertion heart rate recovery, evaluated in the first minute of the recovery period (HRR₆₀), is considered to be a strong predictor of risk for cardiac death. Intensification of physical activity performed as part of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) increases the HRR₆₀ value in ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients. In this context, the impact of endurance training intensity (ETI) on change in HRR₆₀ intensity seems to be an interesting issue.

Reaction between peroxynitrite and triphenylphosphonium-substituted arylboronic acid isomers: identification of diagnostic marker products and biological implications.

Aromatic boronic acids react rapidly with peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) to yield phenols as major products. This reaction was used to monitor ONOO(-) formation in cellular systems. Previously, we proposed that the reaction between ONOO(-) and arylboronates (PhB(OH)2) yields a phenolic product (major pathway) and a radical pair PhB(OH)2O(•-)···(•)NO2 (minor pathway).