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The work presents a comprehensive profile of the physicochemical characteristics of opoka sedimentary rock in the context of its use as a hybrid filler for thermoplastics. Determining the functional parameters of the studied filler was the main aim of this research. Thermal treatment leads to changes in its morphology and phase composition. A wide range of physicochemical techniques was used, such as low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, FT-IR, TGA, XRD, optical, and electron microscopy. The susceptibility of the material to micronisation was also tested (ball milling). Due to its widespread occurrence, opoka can be an attractive alternative to fillers such as silica or chalk. In order to verify this statement, polypropylene composites thereof were prepared by melt blending and injection molding, and studied by mechanical testing and microscopic imaging.

The aim of this study was to assess whether it is possible to produce a high adhesive carbon coating by applying low-temperature RFCVD and glow discharge methods on nanobainitic X37CrMoV5-1 steel with and without nitrided sublayer. For this purpose, several methods of investigation were used: observations of coating morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), analysis of bonds found in coatings (Raman spectroscopy), microhardness tests and adhesion of coatings (Scratch tests). Our research has shown that low-temperature RFCVD and glow discharge processes of nanobainitic X37CrMoV5-1 steel allow producing carbon coatings that can be described as hardened carbon coatings with very high hardness—> 2000 HV 0.25 in case of RFCVD processes and > 3300 HV 0.025 for glow discharge process and low friction coefficient—near 0.12 at 5 N load. However, the adhesion of produced coatings to the steel substrate strongly depends on the appropriate selection of the process parameters and on the proper preparation of the substrate before the deposition regarding the thermal stability of nanobainite.

Tools to image membrane tension in response to mechanical stimuli are badly needed in mechanobiology. We have recently introduced mechanosensitive flipper probes to report quantitatively global membrane tension changes in fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) images of living cells. However, to address specific questions on physical forces in biology, the probes need to be localized precisely in the membrane of interest (MOI). Herein we present a general strategy to image the tension of the MOI by tagging our newly introduced HaloFlippers to self-labeling HaloTags fused to proteins in this membrane. The critical challenge in the construction of operational HaloFlippers is the tether linking the flipper and the HaloTag: It must be neither too taut nor too loose, be hydrophilic but lipophilic enough to passively diffuse across membranes to reach the HaloTags, and allow partitioning of flippers into the MOI after the reaction. HaloFlippers with the best tether show localized and selective fluorescence after reacting with HaloTags that are close enough to the MOI but remain nonemissive if the MOI cannot be reached. Their fluorescence lifetime in FLIM images varies depending on the nature of the MOI and responds to myriocin-mediated sphingomyelin depletion as well as to osmotic stress. The response to changes in such precisely localized membrane tension follows the validated principles, thus confirming intact mechanosensitivity. Examples covered include HaloTags in the Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, endolysosomes, and the ER, all thus becoming accessible to the selective fluorescence imaging of membrane tension., Responding to general demand from mechanobiology, user-friendly small-molecule fluorescent probes are introduced to image tension changes selectively in any membrane of interest within live cells

A series of binary oxide systems with Ca/Si molar ratios of 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 have been synthesized by the sol-gel technique from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and metallic calcium powder. Upon calcination, a side effect of wollastonite formation as a result of the reaction between the components of the material has been observed in the two calcium-richest systems. The increase in calcium content produces an effect of porosity promotion. At high calcium contents, the homogeneity of the systems is limited by the ability of silica to disperse the calcium component. The properties of these systems are determined by the silica surface coverage with a large amount of the scattered CaCO3 fine microcrystallites (calcite), resulting from the phase segregation. The gels were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, low temperature nitrogen adsorption, transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM, SEM and SEM/EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and FT-IR spectra, to describe the parameters important from the point of view of their application as a support for metal-based catalysts.

The aim of the study was to compare the selenium (Se) status of beef cattle from conventional farms with the status of cattle from organic farms located in western Pomerania and to determine the ratios of Se concentration between soil, forage plants and animals at these locations. The mean total Se (Se

Aims Most studies examined spot urine sodium's (sUNa+) prognostic utility during the early phase of acute heart failure (AHF) hospitalization. In AHF, sodium excretion is related to clinical status; therefore, we investigated the differences in the prognostic information of spot UNa+ throughout the course of hospitalization for AHF (admission vs. discharge). Methods and results The study population were AHF patients (n = 172), who survived the index hospitalization. We compared the relationship between early (on admission, at 24 and 48 h) and discharge sUNa+ measurements with post‐discharge study endpoints: composite of 1 year all‐cause mortality and AHF rehospitalization (with time to first event analysis) as well as with each event in separation. There were 49 (28.5%) deaths, 40 (23.3%) AHF rehospitalizations, while the composite endpoint occurred in 69 (40.1%) during 1 year follow‐up. The sUNa+ had prognostic significance for the composite endpoint when assessed on admission, at 24 and at 48 h: hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) (per 10 mmol/L) were 0.88 (0.82–0.94); 0.87 (0.81–0.91); 0.90 (0.84–0.96), all P

The effects of pressure, temperature, shear, and their interactions on selected quality attributes and stability of milk during ultra-shear technology (UST) were investigated. The UST experiments include pressure (400 MPa) treatment of the milk sample preconditioned at 2 different initial temperatures (25°C and 15°C) and subsequently depressurizing it via a shear valve at 2 flow rates (low: 0.15–0.36 g/s; high: 1.11–1.22 g/s). Raw milk, high-pressure processed (HPP; 400 MPa, ~40°C for 0 and 3 min) and thermal treated (72°C for 15 s) milk samples served as the controls. The effect of different process parameters on milk quality attributes were evaluated using particle size, zeta potential, viscosity, pH, creaming, lipase activity, and protein profile. The HPP treatment did not cause apparent particle size reduction but increased the sample viscosity up to 3.08 mPa·s compared with 2.68 mPa·s for raw milk. Moreover, it produced varied effects on creaming and lipase activity depending on hold time. Thermal treatment induced slight reduction in particle size and creaming as compared with raw milk. The UST treatment at 35°C reduced the effective diameter of sample particles from 3,511.76 nm (raw milk) to 291.45 nm. This treatment also showed minimum relative lipase activity (29.93%) and kept milk stable by preventing creaming. The differential effects of pressure, shear, temperature, and their interactions were evident, which would be useful information for equipment developers and food processors interested in developing improved food processes for dairy beverages.

In accordance with the growing popularity of luminescence thermometry in the single-band-ratiometric approach configuration, we developed the first blue-emitting case based on LaF3:Pr3+. By using excitations matched to ground- and excited-state absorption, strong thermally activated quenching and enhancement of the band associated with the 3P0 → 3H4 electronic transition were obtained, respectively. Due to the differences in the thermal dependences of the luminescence intensity signals for different Pr3+ concentrations being controlled by the thermally activated cross-relaxation depopulation process, independencies of the calibration curves for the Pr3+ content were obtained. Concentration-independent high relative sensitivities of the temperature reading, reaching even 5–6% K−1 with 0.5 K temperature determination uncertainty, confirm the high applicative potential of the developed blue-emitting Pr3+ ion-based luminescent thermometer.

Celem pracy było określenie wpływu wielkości dodatku zagęszczonego, wodnego ekstraktu z dzikiego dorsza na charakterystykę fizyczną modelowych emulsji typu O/W. Badano próbki zawierające 0, 4, 6, 8 i 10 % preparatu. Wyznaczono współczynniki konsystencji (wiskozymetrem rotacyjnym), średnią wielkość cząstek (pod mikroskopem optycznym), współczynniki dyspersji, stabilność wirówkową, stabilność termiczno-wirówkową oraz indeksy niestabilności emulsji (testem LUMiSizer). Przeprowadzono test przechowalniczy, którym analizowano profile transmisji światła przez próbki przechowywane w temp. 4, 20 lub 40 ºC przez 1, 4, 7, 10 i 14 dni. Wykazano, że wprowadzenie preparatu z dorsza do modelowych emulsji spowodowało wzrost średniej wielkości cząstek i współczynnika konsystencji emulsji oraz zmniejszenie wielkości współczynnika dyspersji w porównaniu z próbą kontrolną (bez udziału białka). Wszystkie emulsje były stabilne w teście wirówkowym, natomiast te z dodatkiem preparatu uległy niewielkiemu rozwarstwieniu w teście termiczno-wirówkowym. Na trwałość emulsji w czasie wpływ miały zarówno obecność preparatu w ich składzie, jak i temperatura przechowywania. Zastosowany preparat wydłużył trwałość emulsji. Próbki termostatowane w temp. 40 ºC charakteryzowały się najniższą stabilnością przechowalniczą – odwracalne i nieodwracalne zjawiska destabilizacji zachodziły w nich najintensywniej. Wykazano możliwość zagospodarowania odpadów branży rybnej do produkcji emulsji niskotłuszczowych.

Background Tryptophan metabolism via the kynurenine pathway is considered the link between the immune and endocrine systems. Dysregulation of serotonergic transmission can stem from the direct influence of interferon-α on the activity of serotonergic receptors 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A, and from its indirect effect on tryptophan metabolism. Induction of the kynurenine pathway increases the concentration of neurotoxic kynurenine metabolites, and the activity of kynurenine derivatives is linked to the onset of depression. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationships between depressive symptoms and kynurenine, tryptophan, anthranilic acid and kynurenic acid concentrations, indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity and tryptophan availability to the brain. Methods The study followed a prospective longitudinal cohort design. We evaluated 101 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were treated with pegylated interferon-α2a, and 40 controls who were awaiting treatment. We evaluated the relationships between total score on the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale and kynurenine, tryptophan, anthranilic acid and kynurenic acid concentrations, IDO activity and tryptophan availability to the brain. A logistic regression model was adapted for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder at each time point, taking into account changes in parameters of the kynurenine pathway between a given time point and the baseline measurement. Results Of the treated patients, 44% fulfilled the criteria for major depressive disorder at least once during the 24 weeks of treatment. Anthranilic acid concentrations were significantly increased compared to baseline for all time points except week 2. Tryptophan availability showed a significant decrease (β = −0.09, p = 0.01) only in week 12 of treatment. Over time, kynurenine, tryptophan and anthranilic acid concentrations, as well as IDO activity and tryptophan availability to the brain, were significantly associated with total score on the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale. A logistic regression model revealed that participants with decreased tryptophan availability to the brain at 12 weeks of treatment and participants with increased anthranilic acid concentrations at week 24 of treatment were at increased risk for diagnosis of major depressive disorder (odds ratios 2.92 and 3.59, respectively). Limitations This study had an open-label design in a population receiving naturalistic treatment. Conclusion The present study provides the first direct evidence of the role of anthranilic acid in the pathogenesis of inflammation-induced major depressive disorder during treatment for hepatitis C with pegylated interferon-α2a.

Luminescence thermometry, an alternative to thermal imaging using the thermovision technique, requires the development of new approaches and a thorough understanding of the physical phenomena involved, in order to improve the temperature readout parameters. A phenomenon that has recently been shown to cause an extremely strong increase in the emission intensity for the temperature elevation is the thermally induced excited state absorption. This work demonstrates that taking advantage of the strong thermal dependence of the thermally induced excited state absorption process, the limitation associated with the two thermally coupled excited levels usually involved in the ratiometric temperature readout can be overcome, improving the thermometric properties of the luminescent thermometer. The same excitation wavelength was used to induce the emission resulting from the thermally induced excited state absorption of the Tb3+ ions and ground-state absorption of the other type of co-dopant ions causing the opposite nature of the thermal dependence of their emission intensities. Moreover, thanks to the strong color changes exhibited by the phosphors, it was possible to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach for through-object 2D thermal imaging of a microelectronic printed circuit board covered with a glass plate using an ordinary commercial digital camera, where the thermovision camera fails.

Funder: Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001655, Funder: amburg Behörde für Wissenschaft und Forschung - Landesforschungsförderung ‘Molekulare Mechanismen der Netzwerkmodifizierung’, Funder: Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca Ministero della Salute, Funder: Hamburg Behörde für Wissenschaft und Forschung - Landesforschungsförderung ‘Molekulare Mechanismen der Netzwerkmodifizierung’, Presenilin 1 (PS1) mutations are the most common cause of familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). PS1 also plays a role in cellular processes such as calcium homeostasis and autophagy. We hypothesized that mutant presenilins increase cellular vulnerability to stress. We stably expressed human PS1, mutant PS1E280A and mutant PS1Δ9 in mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells. We examined early signs of stress in different conditions: endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, calcium overload, oxidative stress, and Aβ 1–42 oligomers toxicity. Additionally, we induced autophagy via serum starvation. PS1 mutations did not have an effect in ER stress but PS1E280A mutation affected autophagy. PS1 overexpression influenced calcium homeostasis and generated mitochondrial calcium overload modifying mitochondrial function. However, the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) was affected in PS1 mutants, being accelerated in PS1E280A and inhibited in PS1Δ9 cells. Altered autophagy in PS1E280A cells was neither modified by inhibition of γ-secretase, nor by ER calcium retention. MPTP opening was directly regulated by γ-secretase inhibitors independent on organelle calcium modulation, suggesting a novel direct role for PS1 and γ-secretase in mitochondrial stress. We identified intrinsic cellular vulnerability to stress in PS1 mutants associated simultaneously with both, autophagic and mitochondrial function, independent of Aβ pathology.

Significance Here we establish femtosecond covariance spectroscopy as a technique that uses ultrashort stochastic light pulses to measure nonlinear material responses. By using pulses with spectrally uncorrelated fluctuations we can leverage on the noise and consider each repetition of the experiment as a measurement under different conditions. In this limit we demonstrate that nonlinear processes in the sample can be retrieved by measuring the spectral correlations in different pulses. We validate the approach by studying stimulated Raman scattering in α-quartz. This concept can be applied to reveal low-energy modes of electronic, spin, and vibrational origin and adapted to different techniques and wavelength ranges, from optical to X-ray free-electron lasers, where strong stochastic fluctuations are unavoidable., The success of nonlinear optics relies largely on pulse-to-pulse consistency. In contrast, covariance-based techniques used in photoionization electron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry have shown that a wealth of information can be extracted from noise that is lost when averaging multiple measurements. Here, we apply covariance-based detection to nonlinear optical spectroscopy, and show that noise in a femtosecond laser is not necessarily a liability to be mitigated, but can act as a unique and powerful asset. As a proof of principle we apply this approach to the process of stimulated Raman scattering in α-quartz. Our results demonstrate how nonlinear processes in the sample can encode correlations between the spectral components of ultrashort pulses with uncorrelated stochastic fluctuations. This in turn provides richer information compared with the standard nonlinear optics techniques that are based on averages over many repetitions with well-behaved laser pulses. These proof-of-principle results suggest that covariance-based nonlinear spectroscopy will improve the applicability of fs nonlinear spectroscopy in wavelength ranges where stable, transform-limited pulses are not available, such as X-ray free-electron lasers which naturally have spectrally noisy pulses ideally suited for this approach.

A new thermographic nanocrystalline Sr4Al14O25 :Mn4+, Tb3+ phosphor was developed including the optimization of the concentrations of both dopants and of the synthesis conditions. The combination of the thermally quenched luminescence from the Mn4+ ions to the almost temperature independent emission from Tb3+ provides a sensitive luminescent thermometer (SR=2.8%/oC at 150oC) with strong emission colour variability. In addition, a figure of merit for this luminescence thermochromism was proposed, as the relative sensitivities of the x and y CIE coordinates, which for this phosphor reaches at 150°C SR(x)=0.6%/oC and SR(y)=0.4%/oC, respectively. Non-contact thermal imaging was demonstrated with this phosphor using a single consumer digital camera and exploiting the ratio of red (R) and green (G) channels of the RGB images thereby confirming the high applicative potential of Sr4Al14O25 :Mn4+, Tb3+ nanocrystals for thermal sensing and mapping.

Despite extensive research on the topic, valorization of dairy by-products remains challenging. Cheese whey is of particular interest because it contains valuable proteins such as α-lactalbumin (α-LA) and β-lactoglobulin (β-LG). However, selective fractionation of these 2 proteins into pure fractions is complex because of their similar molecular weights. In this study, we proposed an innovative protein separation strategy based on coupling high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) with acidification of whey at pH 4.6. We investigated the effect of single-cycle HHP (600 MPa) for 5, 10, and 15 min and multiple-cycle HHP (1–3 cycles of 5 min at 600 MPa) on α-LA and β-LG fractionation from cheese whey at initial pH (control, pH 6.66) and acidified to pH 4.6. All pressurization conditions with acidified whey induced a drastic aggregation of β-LG compared with control whey. The highest degrees of purification (75 and 98%, respectively) and yields (95 and 88%, respectively) of α-LA and β-LG were obtained with the application of single-cycle HHP treatment of acidified whey at pH 4.6 at 600 MPa for 5 min. Our results showed the strong potential of using HHP as an innovative tool for the fractionation of valuable proteins such as α-LA from cheese whey.

The kinetics of intramolecular-contact formation between remote functional groups in peptides with restricted conformational flexibility were examined using designed peptides with variable-length proline bridges. As probes for this motion, free radicals were produced using the •OH-induced oxidation at the C-terminal methionine residue of γ-Glu-(Pro)n-Met peptides (n = 0–3). The progress of the radicals’ motion along the proline bridges was monitored as the radicals underwent reactions along the peptides’ backbones. Of particular interest was the reaction between the sulfur atom located in the side chain of the oxidized Met residue and the unprotonated amino group of the glutamic acid moiety. Interactions between them were probed by the radiation-chemical yields (expressed as G values) of the formation of C-centered, α-aminoalkyl radicals (αN) on the Glu residue. These radicals were monitored directly or via their reaction with p-nitroacetophenone (PNAP) to generate the optically detected PNAP•– radical anions. The yields of these αN radicals were found to be linearly dependent on the number of Pro residues. A constant decrease by 0.09 μM J–1 per spacing Pro residue of the radiation-chemical yields of G(αN) was observed. Previous reports support the conclusion that the αN radicals in these cases would have to result from (S∴N)+-bonded cyclic radical cations that arose as a result from direct contact between the ends of the peptides. Furthermore, by analogy with the rate constants for the formation of intramolecularly (S∴S)+-bonded radical cations in Met-(Pro)n-Met peptides (J. Phys. Chem. B2016, 120, 973227513096), the rate constants for the formation of intramolecularly (S∴N)+-bonded radical cations are activated to the same extent for all of the γ-Glu-(Pro)n-Met peptides. Thus, the continuous decrease of G(αN) with the number of Pro residues (from 0 to 3) suggests that the formation of a contact between the S-atom in the C-terminal Met residue and the N-atom of a deprotonated N-terminal amino group of Glu is controlled in peptides with 0 to 3 Pro residues by the relative diffusion of the S•+ and unoxidized N-atom. The overall rate constants of cyclization to form the (S∴N)-bonded radical cations were estimated to be 3.8 × 106, 1.8 × 106, and 8.1 × 105 s–1 for peptides with n = 0, 1, and 2 Pro residues, respectively. If activation is the same for all of the peptides, then these rate constants are a direct indication for the end-to-end dynamics along the chain.

Meeting the challenge of designing new light-emitting materials, we synthesized the compound N-isopropylcarbazole (CBL)–SiMe2–divinylbenzene (DVB), which represents the general idea of building att...

In this article, NiFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by co-precipitation method with subsequent thermal annealing leading to obtainment NPs with average sizes of 78 nm. Structure and magnetic analysis were performed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Mossbauer spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry techniques. Stability of NiFe2O4 NPs was evaluated in PBS solution during 20 days. The toxicity of prepared NPs was evaluated in vitro using different cancer cell lines: HeLa (cervical cancer cell), PC-3 (prostate cancer cell). Fibroblasts like cells of L929 obtained from subcutaneous adipose tissue of mouse were used as normal cells. Results indicate successful synthesis of NiFe2O4 NPs that exhibit low cytotoxicity in concentration range from 1 to 100 μg/ml. Presented physical and biological results indicate the possibility of application investigated magnetic nanoparticles in hyperthermia, targeted drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging or cell separation.

The description of luminescent processes and their thermally induced changes, that may be also influenced by the optically active ions concentration, and thus by the various inter-ionic processes, is the key to the improved development of luminescence thermometry. A phosphor doped with only trivalent terbium ions was described, which, by using two excitation lines fitted to the 7F6 → 5D3 and 7F5 → 5D3 transitions, shows a luminescent signals with the opposite characteristics of intensity changes as a function of temperature. By modifying the concentration of Tb3+ ions, the probability of {5D3, 7F6} ↔ {5D4, 7F0} cross-relaxation was being altered, which turned out to have a beneficial effect on the properties of the described nanothermometers. The ratio of intensities for both excitations was found to be temperature dependent, which resulted in high relative sensitivities of temperature readout reaching 3.2%/°C for 190 °C and not reaching values below 2%/°C in the broad range of the temperature. Extensive decay time measurements for 5D3 and 5D4 emissive levels were presented and the variability of both rise- and decay times as a function of terbium concentration and temperature was investigated. Thanks to this, conclusions were drawn regarding thermally dependent optical processes occurring in a given and similar systems.

The solvent-composition dependence of quenching triplet states of benzophenone (3BP) by anisole in acetonitrile–water (ACN–H2O) mixtures was investigated by laser flash photolysis over the water mole fraction (xw) increasing from 0 to 0.92. Single exponential decay of 3BP was observed over the whole composition range. The quenching rate constant consistently increased with the water content but increased far more rapidly with xw > 0.7. The water-triggered electron-transfer (ET) mechanism was confirmed by a steeply growing quantum yield of the benzophenone ketyl radical anion, escaping back-ET when the partial water volume exceeded the acetonitrile one. The water-content influence on the 3BP quenching rate was described by a kinetic model accounting for the microheterogeneous structure of the ACN–H2O mixtures and the very different solubility of the reactants in the solvent components. According to the model, the ET mechanism occurs at a rate constant of 1.46 × 109 M–1 s–1 and is presumably assisted by the ACN–H2O hydrogen-bonding interaction.

Gadolinium oxysulfate doped with terbium (Gd2 O2 SO4 :Tb3+ ; 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mol%) materials were obtained using thermal decomposition from sulfate hydrate under a dynamic air atmosphere and between 1320-1400 K. The materials were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric/derivative thermogravimetric investigations and X-ray powder diffraction patterns. The Tb2 O2 SO4 compound was obtained at 1300 K and was used to compare thermal stability and photoluminescence behaviour with that of Gd2 O2 SO4 :Tb3+ (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mol%). Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated the presence of 15% Tb4+ phases within Tb2 O2 SO4 . The materials were excited at 377 nm and displayed green narrow lines with the strongest emission peak at 545.5 nm due to the 5 D4 →7 F5 transition of Tb3+ ions. Brightness of terbium-activated gadolinium oxysulfate phosphors was enhanced with increase in the concentration of Tb3+ . Detailed analysis of spectroscopic properties of materials under investigations revealed efficient Gd2 O2 SO4 to Tb3+ and Tb3+ to Tb3+ energy transfers. Increase in dopant concentration led to the enhancement of 5 D4 →7 FJ emission intensity and reduction of 5 D3 →7 FJ emission intensity via cross-relaxation mechanisms. Distribution of particle size was increased by controlling dopant concentration in the host lattice. Obtained results confirmed that these materials could be applied potentially in field emission display devices and light-emitting diodes.

Ryvu Therapeutics and Selvita originated in 2007, a time when drug discovery in Poland was still not pursued by industrial enterprises. For many years, both entities operated one company and were known under a common name Selvita S.A., combining their efforts on both innovative small-molecule therapeutics for oncology and expertise in Contract Research Services (CRO). Following more than a decade of such a hybrid business model, Selvita established a strong position in the field of drug discovery and built trust among partners, clients, and investors globally. This encouraged the leaders of the company to separate the two divisions into fully autonomous units, which in fact, had already been operating quite independently and both were successful in diverse areas of drug discovery activities. At the beginning of October 2019, two new companies were established and both parts were given independence and more opportunities for growth. Discovery and development engine was named as Ryvu Therapeutics, and the CRO part of the company remained with the name Selvita. To reach this stage, both the divisions went through an interesting journey together, supporting and strengthening each other for the benefit of both.

Arsenic is recognized as a potent carcinogen at high concentrations, but the relationship between environmental arsenic and breast cancer risk has not well been studied. Most research has focused on the effect of arsenic in populations with high endemic exposure, and not in populations with arsenic levels within normal limits. We sought to determine if blood arsenic levels predict the risk of breast and other cancers risk among women in northern Poland. The cohort consisted of 1,702 healthy women, aged 40 and above, identified between 2010 and 2017. Blood arsenic level was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. After an average of 4.5 years of follow‐up (range 0.7–7.3 years), there were 110 incident cases of cancer diagnosed in the cohort, including 68 cases of breast cancer. Women in the highest quartile of arsenic had a highly significant 13‐fold increased risk of developing breast cancer, compared to women in the lowest quartile (hazard ratio [HR] = 13.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.02–43.0). Results were similar for arsenic and all incident cancers (HR quartile 4 vs. quartile 1 = 13.3; 95% CI 4.78–37.0). If confirmed, our study suggests that the blood arsenic level may be a useful predictive marker of cancer risk in women., What's new? Arsenic has long been recognized as a potent carcinogen at high concentrations. But can it affect cancer risk at “normal,” environmental concentrations? In this Polish study, the authors found that women whose blood levels of arsenic were in the highest quartile had a 13‐fold increased risk of developing breast cancer, compared to women in the lowest quartile. If confirmed in further studies, these results suggests that blood arsenic level may be a useful predictive marker of cancer risk in women.

Composites with differently shaped micro- and nanofillers show various, unique thermal, and physicochemical properties when mixed with carefully chosen polymer matrix. Selected composition holds strategic value in achieving desired properties that is biodegradability, thermoelectric conductivity, and shape memory for organic coating. The main aim of this work is to briefly examine structural changes after reaching percolation threshold and activating healing abilities within exploited (8–2 wt ratio) polyurethane–polycaprolactone thin films mixed up with different types of metallic and ferromagnetic microfillers. They, with applicable dosages of reduced graphene oxide nanoparticles, should enhance materials’ mechanical and conductive properties. Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques accompanied by extensive thermal analysis have been chosen to provide useful information about local changes in surface structure and morphology. Moreover, pristine, percolating surface with inner-formed, metallic structures shows moderate conducting properties within exploited materials which unfortunately diminish after thermal healing stimulus is being applied. This statement is supported by observing the coverage of regional defects and nearby pores with a concise, uniform layer of blend having different PU:PCL ratio. Including the additional fact that apparent filler migration is changing local dopant composition brings up an assumption that both phenomena have negative synergy effect on each other.

Luminescent thermometry (LT) is a technique that enables contactless temperature determination based on temperature dependent luminescence of phosphors. Among different LTs that have been described...