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Jednostki samorządu terytorialnego stopnia powiatowego zobowiązane są do tworzenia i realizacji programów polityki zdrowotnej, co wynika z wyznaczonych im zadań w ochronie zdrowia. W artykule poddano weryfikacji, w jakim stopniu powiaty/miasta na prawach powiatu wywiązują się z tych zadań poprzez realizację programów polityki zdrowotnej oraz czy istnieje związek między realizacją takich programów a zamożnością powiatu, wskaźnikami opisującymi stan zdrowia populacji oraz posiadaniem przez powiat własnych podmiotów leczniczych. W wyniku przeprowadzonego badania stwierdzono, że na terenie jednostek, które realizują programy zdrowotne (choroby cywilizacyjne, nowotwory), występują niższe wskaźniki zgonów. Jednocześnie zaledwie 38% powiatów i 70% miast na prawach powiatu faktycznie realizowało takie programy. Za główne powody tak niskiego odsetka powiatów tworzących wyżej wymienione programy należy uznać niewystarczające wsparcie strukturalne (prawo), instytucjonalne (jednostki mogące pomóc w tworzeniu takich programów) oraz problemy z kadrą i braki w know‑how pracowników JST. Do poprawy sytuacji mogłyby przyczynić się: powstanie centralnego rejestru programów, lepsze rozwiązania legislacyjne, modyfikacja lub budowanie innych modeli polityki zdrowotnej (stawiających na profilaktykę i promocję zdrowia) oraz wsparcie edukacyjne dla samorządów.

“I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me […]. The Lord is on my side” (Ps 118[117]:5–6). On the Lexical Variation of Church Slavonic Psalter Redactions: The Case of Translations of the Greek ὁ ἀντιλή(μ)πτωρ, ἡ ἀντίλη(μ)ψις, ἡ βοήθεια, ὁ βοηθός, ἡ λύτρωσις, ὁ λυτρωτής, ῥυόμενος, ὁ ῥυστής, ὁ ὑπερασπισμóς and ὁ ὑπερασπιστής. A Quantitative Approach This article is another one in a series of studies dealing with the lexical variation of Church Slavonic Psalter redactions. The paper focuses on the vocabulary used by man to address God as his protector, helper, saviour etc., and analyses the (Old) Church Slavonic equivalents of such Greek lexemes as ἀντιλή(μ)πτωρ, ἀντίλη(μ)ψις, βοήθεια, βοηθός, λύτρωσις, λυτρωτής, ῥυόμενος, ῥυστής, ὑπερασπισμóς and ὑπερασπιστής. It also points out the Hebrew equivalents of the investigated Greek and (O)CS words. The study concentrates on the quantitative aspect of the use of the vocabulary under discussion, with qualitative issues (semantics / contextual conditions) remaining in the background. „W udręce wołałem do Pana, a On mnie wysłuchał […]. Pan moim wspomożycielem” (Ps 118[117]:5–6). O leksykalnej wariantywności psałterzowych redakcji cerkiewnosłowiańskich. Na przykładzie tłumaczeń gr. ὁ ἀντιλή(μ)πτωρ, ἡ ἀντίλη(μ)ψις, ἡ βοήθεια, ὁ βοηθός, ἡ λύτρωσις, ὁ λυτρωτής, ῥυόμενος, ὁ ῥυστής, ὁ ὑπερασπισμóς i ὁ ὑπερασπιστής. Ujęcie ilościowe To kolejny artykuł w cyklu opracowań traktujących o leksykalnej wariantywności psałterzowych redakcji cs. Tym razem uwagę skupia się na grupie słownictwa, którym człowiek zwraca się do Boga jako swego protektora, pomocnika, wybawiciela etc. Analizie poddaje się użycia (s)cs. ekwiwalentów takich gr. leksemów, jak: ἀντιλή(μ)πτωρ, ἀντίλη(μ)ψις, βοήθεια, βοηθός, λύτρωσις, λυτρωτής, ῥυόμενος, ῥυστής, ὑπερασπισμóς i ὑπερασπιστής. Dodatkowo wskazuje się na odpowiedniki hebrajskie badanych słów greckich i (s)cs. W rozważaniach nacisk kładzie się na aspekt ilościowy użyć badanego słownictwa, kwestie jakościowe (semantykę / uwarunkowania kontekstu) przesuwając na plan dalszy.

IntroductionHomelessness is considered to be a global problem, independent of the material situation of a given country and occurring in most societies around the world.Aim of the studyAssessment of the preferred health behaviors of homeless people.Materials and methodsThe study covered 153 men who are homeless and 312 men who are not homeless. The original questionnaire of homeless, and validated the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scale were used. The research covered fully completed questionnaires from 153 homeless men staying in Białystok and Gdańsk homelss centers.ResultsOn average, the homeless men assessed their health at 6.0 ± 2.7 points, and the non-homeless at 7.8 ± 2.2 points (p

Drug-resistant mental disorders, particularly treatment-resistant depression, pose a significant medical and social problem. To address this challenge, modern psychiatry is constantly exploring the use of novel treatment methods, including biological treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and novel rapid-acting antidepressants, such as ketamine. While both TMS and ketamine demonstrate high effectiveness in reducing the severity of depressive symptoms, some patients still do not achieve the desired improvement. Recent literature suggests that combining these two methods may yield even stronger and longer-lasting results. This review aims to consolidate knowledge in this area and elucidate the potential mechanisms of action underlying the increased efficacy of combined treatment, which would provide a foundation for the development and optimization of future treatment protocols.

Over the past decades, there has been a significant increase in the burden of neurological diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, on a global scale. This is linked to a widespread demographic trend in which developed societies are aging, leading to an increased proportion of elderly individuals and, concurrently, an increase in the number of those afflicted, posing one of the main public health challenges for the coming decades. The complex pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and resulting varied symptoms, which differ depending on the disease, environment, and lifestyle of the patients, make searching for therapies for this group of disorders a formidable challenge. Currently, most neurodegenerative diseases are considered incurable. An important aspect in the fight against and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases may be broadly understood lifestyle choices, and more specifically, what we will focus on in this review, a diet. One proposal that may help in the fight against the spread of neurodegenerative diseases is a diet rich in flavonoids. Flavonoids are compounds widely found in products considered healthy, such as fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Many studies indicated not only the neuroprotective effects of these compounds but also their ability to reverse changes occurring during the progression of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here, we present the main groups of flavonoids, discussing their characteristics and mechanisms of action. The most widely described mechanisms point to neuroprotective functions due to strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, accompanied with their ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, as well as the ability to inhibit the formation of protein aggregates. The latter feature, together with promoting removal of the aggregates is especially important in neurodegenerative diseases. We discuss a therapeutic potential of selected flavonoids in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases, based on in vitro studies, and their impact when included in the diet of animals (laboratory research) and humans (population studies). Thus, this review summarizes flavonoids’ actions and impacts on neurodegenerative diseases. Therapeutic use of these compounds in the future is potentially possible but depends on overcoming key challenges such as low bioavailability, determining the therapeutic dose, and defining what a flavonoid-rich diet is and determining its potential negative effects. This review also suggests further research directions to address these challenges.

Sambuci folium (elderberry leaves) have been used in traditional medicine, mainly externally, to treat skin diseases and wounds. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen the biological activity of elderberry leaves (antioxidant potential and possibility of inhibition of tyrosinase and hyaluronidase enzymes) combined with phytochemical analysis. For this purpose, a phytochemical analysis was carried out. Elderberry leaves of 12 varieties (“Sampo”, “Obelisk”, “Dwubarwny”, “Haschberg”, “Haschberg 1”, “Koralowy”, “Sambo”, “Black Beauty”, “Black Tower”, “Golden hybrid”, “Samyl”, “Samyl 1”) in two growth stages. The compounds from the selected groups, phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid) and flavonols (quercetin), were chromatographically determined in hydroalcoholic leaf extracts. All tested elderberry leaf extracts showed antioxidant effects, but the most promising potential: very high compounds content (TPC = 61.85 mg GAE/g), antioxidant (e.g., DPPH IC50 = 1.88 mg/mL; CUPRAC IC0.5 = 0.63 mg/mL) and optimal anti-inflammatory (inhibition of hyaluronidase activity 41.28%) activities were indicated for older leaves of the “Sampo” variety. Additionally, the extract obtained from “Sampo” and “Golden hybrid” variety facilitated the treatment of wounds in the scratch test. In summary, the best multidirectional pro-health effect in treating skin inflammation was specified for “Sampo” leaves II extract (leaves during the flowering period); however, wound treatment was noted as rich in chlorogenic acid younger leaf extracts of the “Golden hybrid” variety.

A field study in the years 2017–2019 was carried out to evaluate the impact of novel adjuvant formulations on the efficacy of sulfonylurea and synthetic auxin herbicides. Treatments included nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron + dicamba (N+R+D) at full and reduced rates with three multicomponent (TEST-1, TEST-2, TEST-3) as well as standard (MSO, S) adjuvants. In this greenhouse study, Echinochloa crus-galli seeds were planted and treated with N+R+D at 2–3 leaf stages. The water with the desired pH (4, 7, and 9) for the preparation of the spray liquid was prepared by incorporating citric acid or K3PO4 to either lower or raise the pH of the water. Adjuvant TEST-1 added to the spray liquid at pH 4 increased the effectiveness to 68%, TEST-2 to 81%, and TEST-3 to 80%, compared to 73% and 66% with the MSO and S. The efficacy of N+R+D at pH 7 with TEST-1 increased to 83%, TEST-2 to 82%, and TEST-3 to 77%, but with MSO, it increased to 81%, and 71% with S. Adjuvants TEST-1, TEST-2, and TEST-3 in the liquid at pH 9 increased efficacy to 76 and 80%, compared to 79 and 63% with MSO or S adjuvants. N+R+D applied with TEST-1, TEST-2, and TEST-3 provided greater weed control than herbicides with surfactant (S) and similar or even better than with standard methylated seed oil (MSO) adjuvants. Maize grain yield after herbicide-with-tested-adjuvant application was higher than from an untreated check, and comparable to yield from herbicide-with-MSO treatment, but higher than from S treatment.

This paper focuses on the weed species Echinochloa crus-galli, commonly known as barnyardgrass, which is a persistent threat to crop yield and quality, especially in maize (Zea mays) cultivation. It is one of the most problematic weeds in agricultural fields due to its aggressive growth, adaptability to different environmental conditions and prolific seed production. The incidence of Echinochloa crus-galli in maize fields has increased in recent years. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and behavior of Echinochloa crus-galli, and to suggest effective measures to control it. This research on sweetcorn was conducted from 1992 to 2019 at the Research and Education Center Gorzyń, Złotniki branch, which belongs to the Poznań University of Life Sciences. The evaluation of weed infestation was carried out in experiments focusing on chemical weed control in maize. The experiments were designed as a one-factor randomised block design with four field replications. The condition and the degree of weed infestation (number of weeds and fresh weight of weeds) in the control plots was assessed on an annual basis at the end of June and in July. The aim of the study was to evaluate the dynamic changes in the status and extent of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) infestation in maize grown after various other crops in the Wielkopolska region, with a focus on the weather conditions. The study found that barnyardgrass was most likely to occur when maize was sown after winter wheat in a dry and warm year, and least likely when maize was grown in rotation after winter wheat in a cold year with average rainfall. The proportion of barnyardgrass weed mass in the total weed mass was significantly lower after winter rye than after winter wheat, winter oilseed rape and winter triticale. Further research into the biology and ecology of barnyardgrass is key to effectively controlling this weed and safeguarding sweetcorn yields.

The compounds present in hemp show multidirectional biological activity. It is related to the presence of secondary metabolites, mainly cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, and the synergy of their biological activity. The aim of this study was to assess the activity of the Henola Cannabis sativae extract and its combinations with selected carriers (polyvinyl caprolactam–polyvinyl acetate–polyethylene glycol graft copolymer, magnesium aluminometasilicate, and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin) in terms of antimicrobial, probiotic, and immunobiological effects. As a result of the conducted research, the antimicrobial activity of the extract was confirmed in relation to the following microorganisms: Clostridium difficile, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pyrogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aereuginosa, and Candida albicans (microorganism count was reduced from ~102 CFU mL−1 to −1 in most cases). Additionally, for the system with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, a significant probiotic potential against bacterial strains was established for strains Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Streptococcus thermophilus (microorganism count was increased from ~102 to 104–107). In terms of immunomodulatory properties, it was determined that the tested extract and the systems caused changes in IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels.

Crispbread is gaining popularity as a healthy snack or bread substitute. This is a lightweight dry type of flat food that stays fresh for a very long time due to its lack of water and usually contains different types of grain flour, including gluten-containing wheat or rye flour. The incorporation of legume purée into crispbread represents an innovative approach to enhancing the nutritional profile and taste of the product. The rheological properties of various legume purées (chickpea, white bean, black bean, and red bean) mixed with citrus pectin were examined, revealing significant differences in fluid behavior and viscosity. Crispbread formulations were analyzed for water content and activity, color, structure, FT-IR spectra, water vapor adsorption isotherms, and sensory evaluation. The results showed the possibility of obtaining crispbread based on the purée of legumes and citrus pectin. Crispbread enriched with red bean purée exhibited low water activity (0.156) and water content (3.16%), along with a continuous porous structure, and received the highest sensory evaluation score among the products. These findings can be treated as a basis for the development of other innovative recipes and combinations using legumes.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

Aim: The article presents the results of research on the evacuation process of people from the building of the Faculty of Environmental and Power Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology, including the evacuation of people with a temporary limitation of independent movement, who are evacuated using an evacuation chair. The travel times and the time needed to prepare an evacuation chair were examined. Based on the research, the average speeds of movement of the studied populations were determined. Project and methods: Twelve evacuation experiments were carried out in three different user populations of the building. The experiments included the analysis of the times of movement of people without disabilities; people with temporary disabilities who move independently on crutches and a population in which there was one person with temporary reduced mobility, who was evacuated using an evacuation chair. Six of the experiments concerned the evacuation from the fourth floor of the building, three of which were proceeded through the main staircase and the remaining three through the side staircase. The next six experiments were carried out from the second floor, also split into two different staircases. Each experiment ended when all people reached the meeting point near the building. Results: The lowest values of the average total travel time were recorded for the population without disabilities. The shortest average travel time was 83 seconds and concerned the evacuation of the population without disabilities from the second floor, evacuating through a side staircase (K1). In all the experiments, the person on crutches was the slowest to move, for whom the evacuation times were the longest. The maximum average time for a person on crutches was 342 seconds to evacuate from the fourth floor via the main staircase. Evacuation with an emergency chair improved the process by 10.47% for the evacuation from the second floor using K1 staircase, and for the evacuation with this staircase from the 4th floor by 28.71%. For the main staircase (K2), the experiments conducted from the second floor using an evacuation chair took 40.02% less time than an independent evacuation of a person with crutches and 47.07% less time when evacuating from the fourth floor. Conclusions: Interpreting the results obtained in the experiments, it can be stated that the evacuation using an evacuation chair improved the evacuation process compared to the experiments in which a person temporarily disabled was walking independently on crutches. People without disabilities evacuate the fastest. The analysis of the time of travel made it possible to determine the average speed of movement of the analyzed populations, which can be used as a model value to perform an evacuation simulation. Keywords: evacuation, evacuation time, people with disabilities, evacuation chair

More than 40 yeast strains were isolated from various types of plant biomass and then evaluated for potential applications in biotechnological processes conducted at low temperature. Adaptation to low temperature was tested by passaging the isolates at decreasing temperatures, from 30 to 15 °C. Only the strains that were able to adapt to the final temperature and reached the stationary growth phase relatively quickly were submitted to further experimentation. These included eight environmental yeast isolates from four types of materials of plant origin: wheat, rye, and cucumber, containing glucose, fructose, sucrose, and starch; yeast-fermentable sugars; red beetroot, containing large amounts of glucose and fructose; and fruits (grapes and apples) containing glucose, fructose, and sucrose. The strains were identified and then subjected to a series of experiments to assess their suitability for use in low-temperature biotechnological industrial processes incorporating microbial biomass. The growth dynamics and assimilation profiles of the yeast strains were investigated, as well as their ability to produce volatile compounds.

ABSTRACT Vesiculation is a process employed by Gram-negative bacteria to release extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the environment. EVs from pathogenic bacteria play functions in host immune modulation, elimination of host defenses, and acquisition of nutrients from the host. Here, we observed EV production of the bacterial speck disease causal agent, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pto) DC3000, as outer membrane vesicle release. Mass spectrometry identified 369 proteins enriched in Pto DC3000 EVs. The EV samples contained known immunomodulatory proteins and could induce plant immune responses mediated by bacterial flagellin. Having identified two biomarkers for EV detection, we provide evidence for Pto DC3000 releasing EVs during plant infection. Bioinformatic analysis of the EV-enriched proteins suggests a role for EVs in antibiotic defense and iron acquisition. Thus, our data provide insights into the strategies this pathogen may use to develop in a plant environment. IMPORTANCE The release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the environment is ubiquitous among bacteria. Vesiculation has been recognized as an important mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis and human disease but is poorly understood in phytopathogenic bacteria. Our research addresses the role of bacterial EVs in plant infection. In this work, we show that the causal agent of bacterial speck disease, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, produces EVs during plant infection. Our data suggest that EVs may help the bacteria to adapt to environments, e.g., when iron could be limiting such as the plant apoplast, laying the foundation for studying the factors that phytopathogenic bacteria use to thrive in the plant environment.

The challenges of modern cities are widely discussed and related to both sustainable development, environmental problems, international cooperation and others. The aim of the article was to assess the endogenous potentials of Wrocław against the background of selected largest Polish cities for the formation of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Its implementation was supported by literature studies on contemporary concepts of urban development, the concept of the entrepreneurship ecosystem and the assessment of relationships between the studied potentials of Polish cities and the analyzed indicators of entrepreneurship in cities. In addition, attention was paid to the diversity in the definition and geographical coverage of entrepreneurship ecosystems globally. The results of the research confirm that in Polish conditions, cities with their potentials, especially infrastructural and human capital, are the basis for the formation of local entrepreneurship ecosystems. The article focuses in particular on the analysis of Wrocław, which, according to the latest Startup Poland report, is at the forefront of the Polish startup environment.

Abstract Background Clinical outcomes of cancer cell senescence are still elusive. Here, we reveal and compare pro-cancerous activity of spontaneously and drug-inducible senescent ovarian cancer cells. Experiments were performed on tumors and tumor-derived primary epithelial ovarian cancer cells (pEOCs) that were obtained from chemotherapy-naïve patients and from patients who received carboplatin (CPT) and paclitaxel (PCT) before cytoreduction. Results The analysis of tumors showed that senescent cancer cells are present in patients from both groups, albeit most frequently and covering a greater area in tissues from chemotherapy-positive women. This in vivo senescence of pEOCs translated to an expression of senescence markers in early-passage cells in vitro. A conditioned medium from senescent pEOCs fueled the cancer progression, including adhesion of non-senescent pEOCs to normal peritoneal cells, and their increased proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT. Senescent pEOCs’ secretome promoted angiogenic activity of vascular endothelium, induced senescence of normal peritoneal cells, reprogrammed their secretome towards hypersecretion of cancer-promoting proteins, and stimulated motility of cancer cells subjected to a mesothelium- and fibroblast-derived medium. The most striking finding was, however, that spontaneously senescent pEOCs supported all the above pro-cancerous effects more efficiently than drug-inducible senescent cells, which was plausibly related to augmented release of several cancer spread mediators by these cells. The prevalence of spontaneously senescent pEOCs was most evident in experiments on mice when they were able, unlike the drug-inducible cells, to promote the development of drug-sensitive i.p. xenografts. Conclusions Our study shows that spontaneous senescence of pEOCs should be treated as an independent pathogenetic factor of cancer progression.

Ensuring adequate comfort and safety in vehicle motion is a subject of extensive research worldwide. Despite the implementation of new control algorithms, including those leveraging AI, the application of effective semi-active vibration dampers remains crucial for achieving optimal suspension performance. This article presents experimental studies conducted on a vehicle equipped with semi-active suspension featuring custom-designed hydraulic dampers controlled by piezoelectric valves. These innovative dampers are characterized by extremely short response times, enabling real-time adaptation to varying driving conditions. A simple control algorithm designed to operate based on real-time signals from suspension sensors is introduced and evaluated. The experimental setup, including the measurement system used during testing, is described in detail. The presented results highlight the significant potential of this approach for improving driver comfort under specific driving conditions, even without detecting road roughness ahead of the vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthohumol (XN), a bioactive plant flavonoid, is an antioxidant, and as such, it exhibits numerous beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidative effects. The main dietary source of XN is beer, where it is introduced through hops. Although the concentration of XN in beer is low, the large quantities of hop-related post-production waste present an opportunity to extract XN residues for technological or pharmaceutical purposes. The presented study focuses on the role of XN in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, analyzing its effect at a molecular level and including its signal transduction and metabolism. The paper brings up XN's mechanism of action, potential effects, and experimental and clinical studies on Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Additionally, challenges and future research directions on XN, including its bioavailability, safety, and tolerance, have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of methyl esters adjuvant, pH reducer, and zinc sulfate on the physicochemical properties (contact angle, surface tension) of a spray liquid and a bromoxynil + terbuthylazine + nicosulfuron mixture's efficacy. Cockspur (Echinochloa crus-galli L.) was used as the test plant. The placement of any adjuvant in the spray liquid affected the reduction in contact angle, with zinc sulfate reducing it from 75.9 to 66.3°, methyl esters adjuvant from 61.8 to 47.1°, pH reducer from 58.3 to 47.0°, zinc sulfate + methyl esters adjuvant from 64.9 to 58.4°, and zinc sulfate + pH reducer from 57.1 to 44.6°. A decrease in contact angle was found with a reduction in herbicide doses, from 65.6 to 59.0°. The highest pH of the spray liquid with herbicides was found when the methyl esters adjuvant was added to the liquid (6.82–7.17), followed by 6.43–6.80 when zinc sulfate was added, and 6.05–6.30 for zinc sulfate with methyl esters adjuvant. The inclusion of adjuvant pH reducer very strongly reduced the liquid reaction to 3.28–3.60, and it was reduced to 2.76–2.90 in the presence of zinc sulfate. Bromoxynil + terbuthylazine + nicosulfuron mixtures applied with methyl esters adjuvant and zinc sulfate with pH reducer showed the highest efficacy (85–98% and 82–96%), and the efficacy was 64–81% when methyl esters adjuvant with zinc sulfate were used. The effect of the herbicide mixture with only zinc sulfate was noticeably weaker (40–81%), and it was very weak (13–43%) in the presence of adjuvant pH reducer only. On the basis of the ED50 values, the most favorable mixtures were those containing methyl esters adjuvant, methyl esters adjuvant + zinc sulfate and pH reducer + zinc sulfate in addition to the herbicides. Research has indicated that zinc sulfate could be used as an adjuvant, and will support not only the action of herbicides, but also the development of maize plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of water reuse is becoming increasingly important. It might be possible to use the well-known antibacterial effect of atmospheric pressure plasma due to its special mixture of reactive species, UV, and electromagnetic fields in a scaled-up, industrially interesting area to remove bacteria from wastewater, and thus, make it usable again. To review this question, water volumes of 5 L and of different qualities (turbidity and different degrees of hardness) were treated with a commercially available plasma system. The change in water-specific values such as pH, EC, ORP, nitrate, and nitrite content was determined. To test the antibacterial effect, both direct and indirect treatment of the test germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa was conducted. In the first case, the inoculated water samples were plasma-treated, while in the second case, the water samples were treated before inoculation with the germ. The viable bacteria were counted via the spread plate method. The best reduction rate of at least 6 log levels was achieved when inoculated deionized water samples were treated directly with plasma. A significant reduction in viability was also observed in directly treated clear tap water samples, whereby the different degrees of hardness did not influence the effectiveness of the plasma. The bacterial load remained almost unchanged when reused water samples from a car wash were treated. Based on the results, a possible application in a car wash was discussed including a cost estimation and possible limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]