Synthesis of Solketal Catalyzed by Acid-Modified Pyrolytic Carbon Black from Waste Tires.

Solketal, a widely used glycerol-derived solvent, can be efficiently synthesized through heterogeneous catalysis, thus avoiding the significant product losses typically encountered with aqueous work-up in homogeneous catalysis. This study explores the catalytic synthesis of solketal using solid acid catalysts derived from recovered carbon blacks (rCBs), which are obtained through the pyrolysis of end-of-life tires. This was further converted into solid acid catalysts through the introduction of acidic functional groups using concentrated HSO or 4-benzenediazonium sulfonate (BDS) as sulfonating agents.

Upgrading Pyrolytic Residue from End-of-Life Tires to Efficient Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Conversion of Glycerol to Acetins.

Recovered carbon blacks (rCBs) produced from end-of-life tires using pyrolysis were transformed into solid acid catalysts for the synthesis of acetins, i.e., products with a wide spectrum of practical applications.

Modelling of Resinous Material Filling Expansion Joints in Reinforced Concrete Structures.

This paper is a continuation of the research and analysis to estimate hyperelastic material constants when only uniaxial test data are available. The FEM simulation was expanded and the results obtained from three-dimensional and plane strain expansion joint models were compared and discussed. The original tests were carried out for a gap with a width of 10 mm, whereas in the case of axial stretching, the stresses and internal forces caused by the leading deformations were recorded for a smaller gap, and the axial compression was also recorded.

Assessment of the Mechanical Properties of ESD Pseudoplastic Resins for Joints in Working Elements of Concrete Structures.

Concrete structure joints are filled in mainly in the course of sealing works ensuring protection against the influence of water. This paper presents the methodology of testing the mechanical properties of ESD pseudoplastic resins (E-elastic deformation, S-strengthening control, D-deflection control) recommended for concrete structure joint fillers. The existing standards and papers concerning quasi-brittle cement composites do not provide an adequate point of reference for the tested resins.

Antihypertensive treatment prescription in pediatric dialysis patients in Poland: A comparison between two nationwide studies 2003/2004-2013.

Background: Blood pressure in pediatric dialyzed patients is under poor control.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the strategy and efficacy of antihypertensive drugs used for the treatment of hypertension in pediatric dialyzed patients in 2013 in comparison with the data collected in 2003/2004. The results have been viewed against present strategies of antihypertensive treatment in children.

When "diabetic nephropathy" is not always of diabetic origin: a case report.

The etiology and pathogenesis of fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) remains unknown. The presented case shows an extremely rare FGN in association with commonly diagnosed diabetes. A 74-year-old, non-smoking, obese and diabetic woman was hospitalized due to a progressive and accelerated decrease in the renal function.

A decrease in the cellular phosphodiester to phosphomonoester lipid ratio is characteristic of HIV-1 infection.

The ability to detect HIV-1 in tissues that are not readily amenable to biopsy greatly limits the diagnosis and control of HIV infection, and ultimately, our ability to understand HIV-induced disease pathology. In view of this, we explored the utility of diagnostically measuring HIV-1 infection using (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance ((31)P-NMR). (31)P-NMR enables the correlation of infection to changes in the concentration of specific intracellular metabolites, macromolecules and of bioenergetic parameters that are key to mammalian cell physiology.

The effect of uremia and hemodialysis on caspase-1 and caspase-3 activity in neutrophils.

Background: Neutrophils in uremia maintain chronic inflammation, which contributes to malnutrition and immunity disorders. The influence of hemodialysis on the life span of neutrophils is unclear, although many authors postulate its apoptotic effect. Erythropoietin (EPO) is an antiapoptotic factor for various cells.

[Can the administration of large doses of vitamin C have a harmful effect?].

Vitamin C in its pure form or as a component of multivitamin and combined drugs belongs to the over-the-counter drugs that are available not only at the chemist's but in retail shops as well. Intensive promotion of the advantages of vitamin C as the compound that augments immunity to all sorts of infections, accelerates recovery, eliminates the symptoms of common cold and flu-like diseases, and contributes to general well-being, is of great importance to its intake in quantities far exceeding the recommended dietary allowance. Moreover, the subjects who simultaneously take several anti-common cold drugs are not aware of the fact that almost each of them contains ascorbic acid.

The role of carbonic anhydrase in the recovery of skeletal muscle from anoxia.

To investigate the role of carbonic anhydrase in the recovery of skeletal muscle from anoxia, pH and cell phosphates were measured by (31)P-nuclear magnetic resonance in superfused newborn rabbit myotubes and cultured mouse soleus cells (H-2K(b)-ts a58) after approximately 2-3.5 h without superfusion. In control studies, pH and phosphocreatine fell and P(i) rose during anoxia and recovered within <10 min after reperfusion began.