Comparative assessment of morphological, cytological, and photosynthetic characteristics of the induced octoploid and its tetraploid counterpart of Celosia argentea L.

Background: Celosia argentea is a widely recognized plant for its ornamental qualities and therapeutic uses in traditional medicine. As demand for such multipurpose plants grows, enhancing its phenotypic and physiological traits could further expand its commercial potential. Polyploidization, particularly through chemical treatments like oryzalin, offers a method to induce genetic variation and potentially improve desirable traits in plants.

In Situ Raman Spectroscopy as a Valuable Tool for Monitoring Crystallization Kinetics in Molecular Glasses.

The performance of in situ Raman microscopy (IRM) in monitoring the crystallization kinetics of amorphous drugs (griseofulvin and indomethacin) was evaluated using a comparison with the data obtained via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). IRM was found to accurately and sensitively detect the initial stages of the crystal growth processes, including the rapid glass-crystal surface growth or recrystallization between polymorphic phases, with the reliable localized identification of the particular polymorphs being the main advantage of IRM over DSC. However, from the quantitative point of view, the reproducibility of the IRM measurements was found to be potentially significantly hindered due to inaccurate temperature recording and calibration, variability in the Raman spectra corresponding to the fully amorphous and crystalline phases, and an overly limited number of spectra possible to collect during acceptable experimental timescales because of the applied heating rates.

Remarkable difference in structural relaxation dynamics of conventionally prepared bulk glass and vapor-deposited thin films.

The structural relaxation dynamics of conventionally prepared bulk glass of N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N'-diphenyl-benzidine (TPD) was measured by differential scanning calorimetry. The calorimetric data were quantitatively described in terms of the Tool-Narayanaswamy-Moynihan (TNM) model. The TNM parameters were evaluated using a combination of linearization and non-linear optimization methodologies: h*/R = 109.

New biologically active sulfonamides as potential drugs for Alzheimer's disease.

A family of new compounds with sulfonamide and amide functional groups as potential Alzheimer's disease drugs were prepared by multistep synthesis. Thermal stability measurements recorded the initial decomposition in the range of 200-220°C, close above the melting point. The final compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, and the in vitro dissolution behavior of selected compounds was studied through both lipophilic and hydrophilic matrix tablets.

How Depolymerization-Based Plasticization Affects the Process of Cold Crystallization in Poly(P-Dioxanone).

The self-plasticization, i.e., the increase in the polymer chains' mobility by including its monomer, has a major impact on a polymer's structural, thermal, and mechanical properties.

Thermo-Structural Characterization of Phase Transitions in Amorphous Griseofulvin: From Sub-T Relaxation and Crystal Growth to High-Temperature Decomposition.

The processes of structural relaxation, crystal growth, and thermal decomposition were studied for amorphous griseofulvin (GSF) by means of thermo-analytical, microscopic, spectroscopic, and diffraction techniques. The activation energy of ~395 kJ·mol can be attributed to the structural relaxation motions described in terms of the Tool-Narayanaswamy-Moynihan model. Whereas the bulk amorphous GSF is very stable, the presence of mechanical defects and micro-cracks results in partial crystallization initiated by the transition from the glassy to the under-cooled liquid state (at ~80 °C).

Thermal stability of amorphous nimesulide: from glass formation to crystal growth and thermal degradation.

Thermally induced physico-chemical transformations in amorphous nimesulide were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry, and Raman microscopy. The equilibrium glass transition temperature was found to be = 10-15 °C, and the relaxation motions were found to be temperature-dependent. Crystal growth from the amorphous phase was found to be crucially dependent on the presence of mechanical defects that serve as centers for heterogeneous nucleation.

Polyploidization and genomic selection integration for grapevine breeding: a perspective.

Grapevines are economically important woody perennial crops widely cultivated for their fruits that are used for making wine, grape juice, raisins, and table grapes. However, grapevine production is constantly facing challenges due to climate change and the prevalence of pests and diseases, causing yield reduction, lower fruit quality, and financial losses. To ease the burden, continuous crop improvement to develop superior grape genotypes with desirable traits is imperative.

How the Presence of Crystalline Phase Affects Structural Relaxation in Molecular Liquids: The Case of Amorphous Indomethacin.

The influence of partial crystallinity on the structural relaxation behavior of low-molecular organic glasses is, contrary to, e.g., polymeric materials, a largely unexplored territory.

Thermal degradation of Affinisol HPMC: Optimum Processing Temperatures for Hot Melt Extrusion and 3D Printing.

Purpose: Affinisol HPMC HME is a new popular form of hypromellose specifically designed for the hot melt extrusion and 3D printing of pharmaceutical products. However, reports of its thermal stability include only data obtained under inert N atmosphere, which is not consistent with the common pharmaceutical practice. Therefore, detailed investigation of its real-life thermal stability in air is paramount for identification of potential risks and limitations during its high-temperature processing.

The impact of climate change on the sustainability of wine production and the structure of its consumption in Czechia.

Vine-growing for the production of wine constitutes one of the major areas of agriculture of Czechia, and in recent years it has been qualitatively improved. The purpose of this study is to express the effects of climate change on the structure of wine production and consumption in the Czech Republic in connection with the growing local popularity of white wine consumption. The current consumer preferences of wine consumers in the Czech Republic (characterized by the growing popularity of white wines) are not in line with the effects of future climate change associated with the assumption of growing vine varieties suitable for the production of red wines.

Indomethacin: Effect of Diffusionless Crystal Growth on Thermal Stability during Long-Term Storage.

Differential scanning calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy were used to study the nonisothermal and isothermal crystallization behavior of amorphous indomethacin powders (with particle sizes ranging from 50 to 1000 µm) and their dependence on long-term storage conditions, either 0-100 days stored freely at laboratory ambient temperatures and humidity or placed in a desiccator at 10 °C. Whereas the γ-form polymorph always dominated, the accelerated formation of the α-form was observed in situations of heightened mobility (higher temperature and heating rate), increased amounts of mechanically induced defects, and prolonged free-surface nucleation. A complex crystallization behavior with two separated crystal growth modes (originating from either the mechanical defects or the free surface) was identified both isothermally and nonisothermally.

Indomethacin: The Interplay between Structural Relaxation, Viscous Flow and Crystal Growth.

Non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the influences of particle size (d) and heating rate (q) on the structural relaxation, crystal growth and decomposition kinetics of amorphous indomethacin. The structural relaxation and decomposition processes exhibited d-independent kinetics, with the q dependences based on the apparent activation energies of 342 and 106 kJ·mol, respectively. The DSC-measured crystal growth kinetics played a dominant role in the nucleation throughout the total macroscopic amorphous-to-crystalline transformation: the change from the zero-order to the autocatalytic mechanism with increasing q, the significant alteration of kinetics, with the storage below the glass transition temperature, and the accelerated crystallization due to mechanically induced defects.

Matrix Tablets Based on Chitosan-Carrageenan Polyelectrolyte Complex: Unique Matrices for Drug Targeting in the Intestine.

The present study focused on the more detailed characterization of chitosan-carrageenan-based matrix tablets with respect to their potential utilization for drug targeting in the intestine. The study systematically dealt with the particular stages of the dissolution process, as well as with different views of the physico-chemical processes involved in these stages. The initial swelling of the tablets in the acidic medium based on the combined microscopy-calorimetry point of view, the pH-induced differences in the erosion and swelling of the tested tablets, and the morphological characterization of the tablets are discussed.

3D-Printed Coating of Extended-Release Matrix Tablets: Effective Tool for Prevention of Alcohol-Induced Dose Dumping Effect.

Tablets used for extended drug release commonly contain large amounts of drugs. The corresponding drug release mechanism thus has to be well-known and invariable under numerous conditions in order to prevent any uncontrolled drug release. Particularly important is the stability and invariability of the release mechanism in the presence of alcohol due to the possible occurrence of the dose dumping effect.

Change Management and Digital Innovations in Hospitals of Five European Countries.

The objective of the paper is to evaluate the quality of systemic change management (CHM) and readiness for change in five Central European countries. The secondary goal is to identify trends and upcoming changes in the field of digital innovations in healthcare. The results show that all compared countries (regardless of their historical context) deal with similar CHM challenges with a rather similar degree of success.

Artificial Neural Networks for Pyrolysis, Thermal Analysis, and Thermokinetic Studies: The Status Quo.

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are a method of machine learning (ML) that is now widely used in physics, chemistry, and material science. ANN can learn from data to identify nonlinear trends and give accurate predictions. ML methods, and ANNs in particular, have already demonstrated their worth in solving various chemical engineering problems, but applications in pyrolysis, thermal analysis, and, especially, thermokinetic studies are still in an initiatory stage.

Cost Analysis of Selected Radiotherapeutic Modalities for Prostate Cancer Treatment-Czech Republic Case Study for the Purposes of Hospital Based HTA.

This study aims to calculate the costs of prostate cancer radiotherapy in a regional hospital Department of Radiation Oncology equipped with Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT) radiation technology, using activity based costing (ABC), and to compare the costs of both methods at the level of component treatment process activities and with respect to insurance reimbursements. The costing was performed based on a sample of 273 IMRT VMAT patients and 312 3D-CRT patients in a regional hospital in the period from 2018 to 2019. The research has highlighted the necessity to place emphasis on factors that may skew the costing results.

Hop production in the Czech Republic and its international aspects.

Hop-growing has had a long tradition in the Czech Republic, and it remains in the interest of the Czech economy to further develop this agricultural sector. With an almost one-tenth share of the harvest, the Czech Republic is the third largest producer of aroma hops in the world after Germany and the US, which together account for over two-thirds of the hop market. The purpose of this article is to describe the current state of the Czech and global markets in hops, and the position of the dominant company, Chmelarstvi, druzstvo Zatec, on this market.

Influence of particle size and manufacturing conditions on the recrystallization of amorphous Enzalutamide.

Non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry was used to study the influences of particle size and mechanically induced defects on the recrystallization kinetics of amorphous Enzalutamide. Enzalutamide prepared by hot melt extrusion and spray-drying was used as a model material. The recrystallization rate was primarily accelerated by the presence of the processing-damaged surface of the powder particles.

Thermal decomposition of mixed calcium oxalate hydrates - kinetic deconvolution of complex heterogeneous processes.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and in situ XRD were used to study dehydration and consequent decomposition reactions of mixed calcium oxalate hydrates. As the complex dehydration kinetics exhibited certain trends with respect to the applied heating rate, the modified multivariate kinetic analysis approach (based on averaged curve-by-curve optimizations) was employed to obtain a full kinetic description of the data. The Šesták-Berggren equation was used to model the two consequent dehydration reactions.

A layered GeSbTe phase change material.

In this study, a universal GeSbTe phase change material was sputtered to obtain a layered structure. The crystalline phase of this material was prepared by annealing. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and HRTEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) images give confirmed that the sputtered GeSbTe thin film in crystalline phase has multiple layers.

Kinetic Processes in Amorphous Materials Revealed by Thermal Analysis: Application to Glassy Selenium.

It is expected that viscous flow is affecting the kinetic processes in a supercooled liquid, such as the structural relaxation and the crystallization kinetics. These processes significantly influence the behavior of glass being prepared by quenching. In this paper, the activation energy of viscous flow is discussed with respect to the activation energy of crystal growth and the structural relaxation of glassy selenium.

Thermal behavior in Se-Te chalcogenide system: interplay of thermodynamics and kinetics.

Heat capacity measurements were performed for Se, Se90Te10, Se80Te20, and Se70Te30 materials in the 230-630 K temperature range. Both glassy and crystalline Cp dependences were found to be identical within the experimental error. The compositional dependence of the N-type undercooled liquid Cp evolution was explained on the basis of free-volume theory; vibrational and chemical contributions to heat capacity were found to be roughly similar for all Se-Te compositions.