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Purpose: The aim of the article is to analyze the recycling levels achieved in Krakow and the municipalities of the Krakow Metropolis and to identify the factors that influence these results. In order to increase recycling rates in municipalities, a calculation method has been proposed that can help estimate the amount of biodegradable waste composted in households. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the goal of analyzing recycling levels in municipalities, data from the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office and the Małopolska Marshal's Office were used. The proposed method for calculating the mass of composted biodegradable waste was based on exemplary declarations on composting of biodegradable waste posted on municipal websites and indicators such as the amount of kitchen waste generated/person/year and the amount of green waste generated in kg/m2 of green areas. Findings: The analysis of recycling levels shows the problems that municipalities may have in achieving the limits set by the European Commission. Actions must be taken to increase recycling rates in municipalities, and one of them may be a proposed method for calculating the amount of composted biodegradable waste in households. Failure to achieve recycling levels will result in administrative penalties imposed by the Provincial Inspectorates of Environmental Protection (WIOŚ) and failure to meet sustainable development goals. Research limitations/implications: Municipalities have household declarations regarding composting of biodegradable waste. The continuation of the research concerned checking the correctness of data in municipalities on the size of plots and the area of green areas using satellite maps, e.g. geoportal.gov.pl Practical implications: The work uses an original calculation method, helpful in estimating the amount of biodegradable waste subjected to composting. Municipalities could use this method, which would help estimate the neglected amounts of this type of waste in households. By using the proposed method, the management of the biodegradable waste fraction would be more transparent and reliable, which would help increase the achieved recycling levels. Social implications: The implementation of the proposed solution could change the approach of waste producers to the segregation of municipal waste and influence greater attention during segregating biodegradable waste. Consequently, this would also improve waste management and improve the results in achieving sustainable development goals in municipalities. Originality/value: The article is an attempt of response to the need to achieve higher and higher levels of recycling. The proposed solution has implementation value and is addressed to organizations managing waste management in local government units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four different compositions of polylactide/thermoplastic starch blends (PLA/TPS blends) for application as drug carriers were examined. Initially, using cyanocobalamin (1.355 kDa) as a model compound, the blend with the highest starch content (wt. 60%) was selected for further research of mass transfer phenomenon. In this case, different concentrations of acetaminophen (0.151 kDa), doxorubicin hydrochloride (0.580 kDa) and cyanocobalamin (1.355 kDa) were used for determination of particular releasing profiles. Besides from the comparative analysis of obtained results, the values of the overall mass transfer coefficient (K) were calculated for each of tested drug molecules. Depending on the size and properties of used compound, determined values of the coefficient range from 10−11 to 10−13 m/s. Based on these outcomes, it could be stated that PLA/TPS blend selected in preliminary research, seems to be preferred material for fabrication of long-term drug delivery systems, which could be successfully applied for example in anti-cancer therapy.

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Earlier studies have demonstrated that human platelets contain the 20S proteasome, and its protein activator. However, understanding the potential role of the proteasome in human platelets requires a detailed knowledge about its chymotryptic-like activity, a crucial one for protein degradation in all eukaryotic cells. In this communication we have shown that human platelet 20S proteasome exhibited chymotryptic-like activity towards succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin as substrate at a broad pH range, with optimum between pH 7.5-8.0 and 5.0-5.5. These two activities were markedly inhibited by a 10 kmol/l concentration of two structurally unrelated proteasome inhibitors: lactacystin/β-lactone or benzyloxycarbonyl-Ile-Glu(O-tert.-butyl)-Ala-leucinal, but not by ebelactone B, an inhibitor of lysosomal cathepsin A/deamidase. The chymotryptic-like activity of the 20S proteasome against succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin was also significantly inhibited in platelets, after exposure of platelet-rich plasma to 10 μmol/l lactacystin and benzyloxycarbonyl-Ile-Glu(O-tert.-butyl)-Ala-leucinal for up to 60 min. This indicates that these inhibitors can enter platelets and selectively inhibit 20S proteasome activity. We also demonstrated for the first time by Western blot analysis that human platelets contain a proteasome activator, PA28, which is known to play a key role in antigen processing by significant stimulation of the proteasomal chymotryptic-like activity. Since the platelet 20S proteasome was also present in a latent form, this suggests that its activity may be regulated in vivo in human platelets. All these results can therefore be beneficial in future studies on the role of the 20S proteasome in platelet biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To asses the influence of colchicine, a potent antinflammatory agent and neutrophile migration inhibitor, on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (IRI) in rat lung isogeneic transplantation., Material/methods: Isogeneic, orthotropic single left lung transplantations were performed among male Wistar rats after total ischemic graft storage time of 12 or 18 hours in temperature of 4 degrees C. Recipients received either no specific treatment (control) or Colchicine 1.2 mg/kg/d ip. Twenty-four hours after transplantation, the native contralateral lung was occluded to assess graft gas exchange function (PaO(2)). The lung graft was excised and assessed for Wet/Dry ratio (W/D) as a measure of edema, Myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) as a measure of neutrophile migration and histology., Results: PaO(2) differences were not significant among all groups. Comparing colchicine to control group, the W/D ratio 3.93+/-0.66 vs. 1.86+/-0.32, p=0.002 and MPO 8.1+/-3.34 vs. 5.87+/-1.76, p=0.046 were significantly higher for 18 hours colchicine group. Comparing 18 to 12 hours time groups, the W/D ratio 5.70+/-1.53 vs. 1.86+/-0.32, p=0.007 for control groups and 5.40+/-1.49 vs. 3.93+/-0.66, p=0.049 for colchicine groups were significantly higher for both 12 h groups. Histology favored colchicine treated animals., Conclusions: Colchicine in tested dose does not decrease edema after lung transplantation and does not improve lung function. 18 vs. 12 hours total ischemic graft storage time causes less lung edema.