Combined toxicity of endosulfan and phenanthrene mixtures and induced molecular changes in adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Individual and combined toxicities of endosulfan (ENDO) with phenanthrene (PHE) were evaluated using zebrafish (Danio rerio) adults. The 96-h LC values for ENDO and PHE were 4.6 μg L and 920 μg L, respectively.

Adsorption and desorption of heavy metals by the sewage sludge and biochar-amended soil.

The goal of the study was to evaluate the application of biochar (BC) to the sewage sludge (SL) on the adsorption and desorption capacity of Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II). The effect of biochar contribution in the sewage sludge (2.5, 5 and 10%) was investigated.

Detailed characterization of Synechocystis PCC 6803 ferredoxin:NADP oxidoreductase interaction with model membranes.

Direct interaction of ferredoxin:NADP oxidoreductase (FNR) with thylakoid membranes was postulated as a part of the cyclic electron flow mechanism. In vitro binding of FNR to digalactosyldiacylglycerol and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol membranes was also shown. In this paper we deal with the latter interaction in more detail describing the effect for two FNR forms of Synechocystis PCC 6803.

β-Cyclodextrins incorporated multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified electrode for the voltammetric determination of the pesticide dichlorophen.

In this work, a glassy carbon electrode modified with β-cyclodextrins and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (β-CDs/MWCNTs/GCE) was constructed and applied for the square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric (SWAdSV) determination of the pesticide dichlorophen (Dcp). For the first time, this compound was electrochemically investigated. The voltammetric measurements were conducted in phosphate buffer (PBS) at pH 6.

Synthesis of biochar from residues after biogas production with respect to cadmium and nickel removal from wastewater.

The objective of the study was to investigate the ability of biochars prepared under different temperatures (400 °C and 600 °C) from the residue of biogas production (RBP) for the adsorption of cadmium (Cd(II)) and nickel (Ni(II)) ions from aqueous solution. Furthermore, the RBP biochars adsorption capacity was compared with adsorption capacity of biochar produced from wheat straw at 600 °C (BCS600). The kinetics of the adsorption, the sorption isotherms, the influence of solution pH and the interfering ions (chlorides and nitrates) were investigated.

Electrochemical determination of closantel in the commercial formulation by square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry.

Abstract: In this paper, the square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric (SWAdSV) determination of the veterinary drug closantel using a renewable silver amalgam film electrode (Hg(Ag)FE) is presented. As observed in SWAdSV, closantel provided one well-shaped reduction peak suitable for analytical purposes at potential ca. -1.

The Influence of Biochemical Modification on the Properties of Adhesive Compounds.

The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of biochemical modification of epoxy adhesive compounds on the mechanical properties of a cured adhesive exposed to various climatic factors. The epoxy adhesive was modified by lyophilized fungal metabolites and prepared by three methods. Additionally, the adhesive compound specimens were seasoned for two months at a temperature of 50 °C and 50% humidity in a climate test chamber, Espec SH 661.

Rapid automatized naming, phonology and dyslexia in Polish children.

Background: Many studies have showed that children with reading difficulties have deficits in both rapid automatized naming (RAN) and phonological skills (PS). The double-deficit hypothesis suggests that phonological and naming-speed deficits are two separable causes of reading problems. The main goal of our study was to investigate naming speed in Polish fourth grade children with dyslexia.

Music preferences and tobacco smoking.

This study investigated the association of music preferences with tobacco smoking in a group of 152 high school and college students. Both the questionnaire and the listening survey indicated a higher preference for music associated with anxiety and depressed mood among smokers. These findings may reflect a common etiology of tobacco addiction and a specific type of music preferences.

The activity of lipoxygenase in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh -- a preliminary study.

The activity of lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.

Organization of antibiotic amphotericin B in model lipid membranes. A mini review.

Amphotericin B (AmB) is a polyene antibiotic frequently applied in the treatment of fungal infections. According to the general understanding, the mode of action of AmB is directly related to the molecular organization of the drug in the lipid environment, in particular to the formation of pore-like molecular aggregates. Electronic absorption and fluorescence techniques were applied to investigate formation of molecular aggregates of AmB in the lipid environment of liposomes and monomolecular layers formed at the argon-water interface.

Disturbances of stem circumnutations evoked by wound-induced variation potentials in Helianthus annuus L.

The relationship between evoked electrical activity and stem movements in three-week old sunflowers was demonstrated. Electrical potential changes (recorded by Ag/AgCl extracellular electrodes) and time-lapse images (from a top view camera) were recorded and analyzed. A heat stimulus applied to the tip of one of the second pair of leaves evoked a variation potential, transmitted basipetally along one side of the stem.

DNA index as prognostic factor in breast cancer.

Enzymatically dissociated cells exhibited growth in most cases while mechanically dissociated cells did not grow in short term cultures and were not suitable for cytometric study. Breast cancer cells obtained by enzymatic dissociation were examined for DNA content and S-phase fraction. The most of the primary and metastatic breast cancer cells were aneuploid.

Age-related production of spotted souslik (Spermophilus suslicus) interferon.

Interferon production by virus stimulated spotted souslik tissue explants in vitro depends on the age of the tissue donor and on the kind of tissue. The interferon titers in foetal liver were 1/120-1/370 and foetal lungs 1/21-1/500 of these observed in autologous organs of adult sousliks after infection in vitro with Newcastle disease virus, Radom strain (NDV-R). After birth interferon response in vivo develops with the age.