Sequential injection system with in-line solid phase extraction and soil mini-column for determination of zinc and copper in soil leachates.

A sequential injection (SI) system equipped with in-line solid phase extraction column and in-line soil mini-column is proposed for determination of zinc and copper in soil leachates. The spectrophotometric determination (560 nm) is based on the reaction of both analytes with 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN). Zinc is determined after retaining copper on a cationic resin (Chelex100) whereas copper is determined from the difference of the absorbance measured for both analytes, introduced into the system with the use of a different channel, and zinc absorbance.

Ring faults and ring dikes around the Orientale basin on the Moon.

The Orientale basin is the youngest and best-preserved multiring impact basin on the Moon, having experienced only modest modification by subsequent impacts and volcanism. Orientale is often treated as the type example of a multiring basin, with three prominent rings outside of the inner depression: the Inner Rook Montes, the Outer Rook Montes, and the Cordillera. Here we use gravity data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission to reveal the subsurface structure of Orientale and its ring system.

Assessment of the antigenic and neuroprotective activity of the subunit anti-Toxoplasma vaccine in T. gondii experimentally infected mice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunogenic and immunoprotective activities and to determine the neuroprotective capacity of the tetravalent vaccine containing selected recombinant T. gondii antigens (ROP2 + ROP4 + SAG1 + MAG1) administered with safe adjuvants (MPL and alum) using male and female inbred mice. The tested antigenic combination provided partial protection against brain cyst formation, especially in males (reduction in cyst burden by 72%).

High-energy-resolution diced spherical quartz analyzers for resonant inelastic X-ray scattering.

A novel diced spherical quartz analyzer for use in resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) is introduced, achieving an unprecedented energy resolution of 10.53 meV at the Ir L absorption edge (11.215 keV).

Activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta by antipsychotic drugs: Preliminary results.

Background: Catalytic subunit delta of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, p110δ, encoded by the PIK3CD gene, was recently proposed as a target for pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia. Current antipsychotic drugs were found to decrease the mRNA expression of PIK3CD, but the mechanism of this process is not known. The aim of the study was to elucidate the mechanism by which antipsychotic drugs affect the mRNA expression of PIK3CD.

An automated continuous homogeneous microextraction for the determination of selenium and arsenic by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

An automated continuous homogeneous microextraction approach based on a flow system has been developed and coupled with a hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry system (HG-AFS). The developed approach was applied for the determination of trace arsenic and selenium in environmental water and liver samples. The nonanoic acid was investigated as a switchable hydrophilicity solvent (SHS) for homogeneous microextraction of As(III) and Se(IV) complexes with pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDC).

Correction to: Health status of Polish children and adolescents after cancer treatment.

The first and family names of the authors were interchanged. The correct author names are now correctly presented in this article.

Genetic Characterization of Human Enteroviruses Associated with Hand, Foot and Mouth Diseases in Poland, 2013-2016.

The objective of the present study was to describe the molecular characteristics of enteroviruses associated with hand, food, and mouth disease (HFMD) in Poland. Clinical material from HFMD cases, that occurred during 2013-2016 were examined. It has been showed that coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6), CVA10 and CVA16 were circulating in the country.

Health status of Polish children and adolescents after cancer treatment.

Unlabelled: In the last 40 years, considerable progress was made in the treatment of childhood cancer. Nearly 80% of children achieve long-term clinical remission or are permanently cured. This improvement is however not without sacrifice.

Expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α and 2α and its association with vitamin C level in thyroid lesions.

Background: Cells adapt to hypoxia by transcriptional induction of genes that participate in regulation of angiogenesis, glucose metabolism and cell proliferation. The primary factors mediating cell response to low oxygen tension are hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs), oxygen-dependent transcription activators. The stability and activity of the α subunits of HIFs are controlled by hydroxylation reactions that require ascorbate as a cofactor.

Genetic characterization of enterovirus A71 isolates from severe neurological cases in Poland.

The aim of this study was to report a minor outbreak of enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) infection in Poland and characterize isolates from cases of severe neurological infection detected in 2013 and 2016. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Polish strains belonged to the C genogroup: C1, C2, and C4. Severe neurological manifestations as encephalitis or acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), were associated with all detected subgenogroups.

Transient effects following peak exposures towards pesticides - An explanation for the unresponsiveness of in situ measured functional variables.

Invertebrate-mediated leaf litter decomposition is frequently used to assess stress-related implications in stream ecosystem integrity. In situ measures such as the mass loss from leaf bags or the feeding of caged invertebrates deployed for days or weeks may, however, fail to detect transient effects due to recovery or compensatory mechanisms. We assessed the relevance of transient effects using the peak exposure towards an insecticide (i.

Structural and functional effects of a short-term pyrethroid pulse exposure on invertebrates in outdoor stream mesocosms.

Agricultural land-use frequently results in short pulse exposures of insecticides such as pyrethroids in river systems, adversely affecting local invertebrate communities. In order to assess insecticide-induced effects, stream mesocosms are used within higher tier aquatic risk assessment. Regulatory acceptable concentrations (RACs) derived from those studies are often higher compared with tier 1 RACs.

Detection of Polioviruses in Sewage Using Cell Culture and Molecular Methods.

The work presented here demonstrates the utility of a two-step algorithm for environmental poliovirus surveillance based on: preselection of sewage samples tested for the presence of enteroviral genetic material-RT-PCR assay and detection of infectious viruses by cell culture technique (L20B for polioviruses and RD for polio and other non-polio enteroviruses). RD and L20B cell lines were tested to determine their sensitivity for isolation of viruses from environmental samples (sewage). Finally, we wanted to determine if sewage concentration affects the results obtained for RT-PCR and cell cultures.

Molecular Characterization of Enteroviruses Isolated from Acute Flaccid Paralysis Cases in Poland, 1999-2014.

Enteroviruses (EVs) are among viral pathogens that can cause acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). This study represents an overview of EVs isolated through AFP surveillance in Poland between 1999 and 2014. The presence of enteroviruses was studied in stool samples that were collected from 747 AFP cases and their asymptomatic contacts.

Bitter taste of Brassica vegetables: The role of genetic factors, receptors, isothiocyanates, glucosinolates, and flavor context.

It is well known that consumption of Brassica vegetables has beneficial effect on human's health. The greatest interest is focused on glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products isothiocyanates, due to their potential as cancer preventing compounds. Brassica vegetables are also rich in flavor compounds belonging to many chemical groups.

Design of Acquisition Schemes and Setup Geometry for Anisotropic X-ray Dark-Field Tomography (AXDT).

Anisotropic X-ray Dark-field Tomography (AXDT) is a new imaging technique for reconstructing the three-dimensional scattering profile within a sample using the dark-field signal measured in an X-ray grating interferometry setup. As in any tomographic measurement, the acquisition geometry plays a key role in the accurate reconstruction of the scattering information. More- over, the anisotropic nature of the dark-field signal poses additional challenges for designing the acquisition protocols.

The nexus of hair corticosterone level, immunocompetence, metabolic rates and overwinter survival in the root vole, Microtus oeconomus.

Although corticosterone (CORT) regulates many physiological mechanisms, the associations between CORT levels, immunocompetence, energy expenditures and overwinter survival have not been examined. Here, we studied individual variation in CORT level extracted from hair, immunocompetence quantified as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, total white blood cells (WBC) and natural antibody levels (NAbs), along with the resting (RMR) and peak metabolic rates (PMR) and mortality during three consecutive winter seasons in a natural population of the root vole, Microtus oeconomus. In early winter, hair CORT level was strongly positively associated with body mass and inversely related to voles' ability to survive.

Novel approach to two-component speciation analysis. Spectrophotometric flow-based determinations of Fe(II)/Fe(III) and Cr(III)/Cr(VI).

The proposed approach to two-component speciation analysis relies on simultaneous application of two calibration methods to determination of two different forms of an analyte. One form is determined in extrapolative way, whereas the second form is determined in interpolative way, with the use of the same calibration graph, after appropriate chemical treatment, e.g.

New approach to H-point standard addition method for detection and elimination of unspecific interferences in samples with unknown matrix.

A novel method for correction of unknown unspecific (additive) interferences was developed in sequential injection analysis (SIA) using a Lab on Valve module (LOV) with spectrophotometric detection. The method implements a novel idea to calibrate by the standard addition method in several different chemical conditions created in such a way to measure different signal for an analyte and unchanged signal for interferents causing additive effect. This approach, being an enhancement of the H-point standard addition method (HPSAM), enables to quantify unbiased concentration of an analyte in the presence of unknown interferences.

Dissimilar responses of larch stands in northern Siberia to increasing temperatures-a field and simulation based study.

Arctic and alpine treelines worldwide differ in their reactions to climate change. A northward advance of or densification within the treeline ecotone will likely influence climate-vegetation feedback mechanisms. In our study, which was conducted in the Taimyr Depression in the North Siberian Lowlands, w present a combined field- and model-based approach helping us to better understand the population processes involved in the responses of the whole treeline ecotone, spanning from closed forest to single-tree tundra, to climate warming.

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and MHC Class II Proteins: Conformational Plasticity in Antigen Presentation.

Antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins is essential for adaptive immunity. Prior to presentation, peptides need to be generated from proteins that are either produced by the cell's own translational machinery or that are funneled into the endo-lysosomal vesicular system. The prolonged interaction between a T cell receptor and specific pMHC complexes, after an extensive search process in secondary lymphatic organs, eventually triggers T cells to proliferate and to mount a specific cellular immune response.

Novel electroanalytical method based on the electrostriction phenomenon and its application to determination of Cr(VI) by the flow injection technique.

The electrostriction phenomenon is observed in membranes of thickness in the nanometer range, e.g. bilayer lipid membranes or self-assembled monolayers.

The synthetic diazonamide DZ-2384 has distinct effects on microtubule curvature and dynamics without neurotoxicity.

Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) are widely used anticancer agents, but toxicities such as neuropathy limit their clinical use. MTAs bind to and alter the stability of microtubules, causing cell death in mitosis. We describe DZ-2384, a preclinical compound that exhibits potent antitumor activity in models of multiple cancer types.