Adam Ekielski

Zinc oxide nanoparticles: a promising nanomaterial for biomedical applications

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are a promising platform for use in biomedical research, especially given their anticancer and antimicrobial activities. These activities are associated with the ability of ZnO NPs to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce apoptosis. In addition, ZnO NPs have been successfully exploited as drug carriers for loading and transporting drugs to target sites, thereby reducing unwanted toxicity and off-target effects, and resulting in amplified synergistic effects. Here, we discuss the synthesis and biomedical applications of ZnO NPs.

Assessment of Energy Consumption in a Meat-Processing Plant—a Case Study

Meat-processing plants have their specific characteristics due to quantity of raw materials processed, production technology, degree of mechanisation of production and space utilization. These characteristics affect variability in consumption of energy carriers. This paper presents a case study of energy consumption in a small meat processing plant. It is attempting to identify and evaluate key factors which may be useful in conducting an in-depth analysis of energy consumption in the meat industry, and so this analysis may be important in selecting the best production techniques available. The results of the analysis are of critical importance for the selection of production technology selection assuming high plant efficiency.

Preferences for Groundnut Products among Urban Residents in Ghana

BACKGROUNDnThe present study identifies factors influencing preferences for common groundnut products using information about product perceptions from residents in Ghanas cities collected in 2011. In Ghana, domestically produced groundnuts, processed into a variety of groundnut products, are a vital source of protein and other nutrients.nnnRESULTSnResponse summaries provide insights about the eating frequency of various products, whereas a bivariate ordered probit model identifies factors influencing preferences for groundnut paste and roasted groundnuts. Attributes such as taste, protein content and healthfulness are important for roasted groundnuts, whereas aroma, taste and protein content are associated with a preference for groundnut paste. Large households prefer paste, whereas the less educated and those from households with children prefer roasted groundnuts. Adding a child (4-12u2009years old) increases probability of liking very much roasted groundnuts and an additional adult at home changes that probability regarding groundnut paste. College-educated consumers prefer groundnut paste less than those with less education. Consumers from Tamale and Takoradi prefer roasted groundnuts and groundnut paste more than Accra households.nnnCONCLUSIONSnTaste and protein content are attributes of groundnut paste and roasted groundnuts preferred by consumers. Location is a significant factor shaping preference for roasted groundnuts and groundnut paste.

THE IMPACT OF EXTRUSION ON THE BIOGAS AND BIOMETHANE YIELD OF PLANT SUBSTRATES

The objective of the present work was to determine the effect of pretreatment by extrusion on the biogas and biomethane yield of lignocellulosic substrates such as maize silage and maize straw silage. The biogas yields of the substrates before and after treatment were compared. Moreover, energy efficiency of pretreatment by extrusion was analyzed in order to assess the applicability of the process in an agricultural biogas plant. Extrusion tests were carried out in a short single-screw extruder KZM-2 in which the length-to-diameter ratio of the screw was 6:1 and rotational speed was 200 rpm. The biogas yield tests of the plant substrates after extrusion were carried out in a laboratory scale, using 15 biofermenters operated in a periodic manner, at a constant temperature of 39°C (mesophilic digestion) and controlled pH conditions. The gas-emission analysis was performed using a certified gas analyzer from Geotech GA5000. Pretreatment by extrusion was observed to improve the quantity of methane generated: in terms of fresh matter for maize silage subjected to extrusion, the methane yield was 16.48% higher than that of the non-extruded silage. On the other hand, maize straw silage after extrusion gave 35.30% more methane than did the same, non-extruded, material. Differences in yields relative to dry organic matter are also described in this paper. Taking into account the amount of energy that is spent on pretreatment and the generated amount of methane, the energy balance for the process gives an idea of the economics of the operation. For maize silage, energy efficiency was lower by 13.21% (-553.2 kWh/Mg), in contrast to maize straw silage, where the increase in energy was 33.49% (678.4 kWh/Mg). The obtained results indicate that more studies on the pretreatment and digestion of maize silage are required in order to improve the efficiency of its use for making biogas. To fully utilize its potential, it is necessary to know thoroughly the effect of the extrusion process and of biogas production on energy efficiency at different conditions.

Multivariate analysis for forensic characterization, discrimination, and classification of marker pen inks

ABSTRACT The multivariate analysis methods have recently gained high popularity within the field of forensic sciences because of their high accuracy and precision. The accurate and unbiased results are the preliminary need for a forensic investigation. The aim of the present work is to examine the marker pen inks which are widely used in various places like documentation in parcels, for photograph attestation, and also as a study material in the classroom. This research is focused on the three important aspects; first is to characterize the marker inks, second, to discriminate permanent marker and whiteboard marker inks using destructive (extracting of ink samples from paper substrate) and nondestructive (without ink extraction) techniques of ultraviolet–visible absorbance combined with peak identification examination as well as chemometric methods, and the third is to build a classification model for permanent and whiteboard marker inks. It is concluded that the chemometric method, that is, principal component analysis provides better discrimination power as compared to visual examination. However, destructive and nondestructive approaches give almost similar discriminating power. The classification model developed using linear discriminant analysis provides 87.5% of correct classification of marker ink samples. The method can further be used to formulate a statistical model for the determination of class/group of the other forensic exhibits.

Functionalized nanoliposomes loaded with anti survivin and anti angiogenic agents to enhance the activity of chemotherapy against melanoma by 4-pronged action

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers which has very low response rate and survival rate. Melanoma cells are known to be inherently resistant to the chemotherapy which results in poor outcomes and even failure of the therapy. For this reason, a better understanding of underlying mechanism of melanoma pathogenesis and resistance is required, so that more efficient and novel therapeutic strategies can be developed. Survivin is a protein which is overexpressed in melanoma cells and is known to impart resistance to them against apoptosis. Also, melanoma cells overexpress Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) angiogenic growth factors which lead to aggressive angiogenesis in melanoma cells thereby making the treatment more challenging. This hypothesis presents a combinatorial approach against melanoma where an anti-survivin agent and an anti-angiogenic agent are combined with a chemotherapeutic drug and loaded in surface functionalized liposomes in order to target specific mechanisms of melanoma, thus overcoming its resistance. Thus, the study aims to overcome the resistance of melanoma cells by developing a wise combination of drugs and achieve a higher response rate in resistant melanoma model, which is usually not achieved with the existing treatment modalities.

Melanoma treatment: from conventional to nanotechnology

IntroductionMelanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer causing most of the skin cancer-related deaths. The incidence of melanoma has risen so dramatically over past few years that no other solid or blood malignancy comes close to it in terms of increased incidence. The main problem associated with the treatment of melanoma is low response rate to the existing treatment modalities, which in turn is due to the incomplete response by chemotherapeutic agents and inherent resistance of melanoma cells.Materials and MethodsConventional therapeutic strategies, as well as, recent literature on melanoma have been thoroughly studied. This review summarizes the base of anti-melanoma treatment with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, followed by an account of recent studies which explored the potential of nanotechnology and newer strategies and agents in melanoma treatment.ConclusionAlthough melanoma is curable if detected in its early localized form, metastatic melanoma continues to be a therapeutic challenge. Metastatic melanoma has a very poor prognosis and conventional therapies have not improved the outcomes of the treatment so far. For this reason, newer combinations of anti-melanoma drugs and newer strategies utilizing nanotechnology have been constantly explored.

Assessing the Influence of Roasting Process Parameters on Mepiquat and Chlormequat Formation in Dark Barley Malts

The aim of this work was to examine the effect of temperature and time on mepiquat and chlormequat pesticides’ formation during the barley malt roasting process. The study was conducted for roasting of green malt and kilned malt. The barley used for the study was of the ecological type and verified by us to be free of any quaternary ammonium pesticides. In our study, we observed the formation of chloromequat (CHLM) along with mepiquat (MPQ). Both the compounds share the similarity in quaternary ammonium structure but to the best of our knowledge, it is the first report where CHLM formation has been observed during the roasting process. Additionally, we tried to study the effect of processing parameters (temperature and time) on the quantity of MPQ and CHLM formed during the process, using response surface methods. Additionally, the effect of process parameters (time and temperature) on the color parameter of luminosity (L*) values was also studied using the response surface methodology. The key factor which determined the amount of compounds produced in the course of roasting was found to be temperature; on the other hand, duration of roasting was observed to be of lesser effect. In the process of roasting dry malt, the CHLM presence was detected at a temperature above 433xa0K (160xa0°C), while the MPQ content was found to be present at a temperature above 442xa0K (169xa0°C). In the case of green malt, the temperature at CHLM and MPQ content was detected and was found to be higher than kilned malt. We also observed that CHLM formed at lower temperatures and shorter roasting time as compared to MPQ.

Impact of bioethanol additive on the properties of stretchable starch films

Impact of bioethanol additive on the properties of stretchable starch fi lms. The objective of the study was to examine the impact of bioethanol additive on mechanical properties of stretchable starch fi lms. The test consisted of adding bioethanol to the plasticizer, constituting a mixture of water and glycerol. Mass proportion of plasticizer to raw starch was 8 : 1 (800 g/100 g). Bioethanol used for the tests was a raw distillate, obtained directly from an agricultural distillery, containing 90% ethanol. The mixture obtained from these ingredients was heated to the temperature of 80°C, and then poured into Petri dishes and dried. The quality of starch coating obtained was assessed by calculating the Young’s modulus and the maximum puncture force with a cylindrical penetrometer. The strength tests were conducted for dried samples and for samples exposed directly to water. For this purpose, the samples were kept in an aqueous environment for 6 h and 6 days, and strength tests were conducted every 1 h and 24 h, respectively. It was found that under exposure to water, the quality of products changed over time, and increase in alcohol content resulted in increase in the value of Young’s modulus of the starch coating.

Characterisation of corn extrudates with the addition of brewers' spent grain as a raw material for the production of functional batters

BACKGROUNDnNovel food batters, recommended for various products, are at present manufactured by extru- sion. Thanks to this, it is possible to look for and process new raw materials, if their processing has so far been considered impossible or economically unviable. The purpose of the work was therefore to investigate the extrudates produced from the corn and brewers spent grain compounds that are subsequently used as raw material for food batter production.nnnMETHODSnThe work presents the findings of research on extrusion of corn mixes with varying levels of brewers spent grains, to the maximum amount of 30%. Tests were conducted using a co-rotating double screw extruder, equipped with a single-outlet matrix with a diameter of 2.5mm. The products obtained were subjected to analysis of their parameters (apparent density, strength parameters, abrasiveness index) and the granulation of a single fraction was checked. The sample for which the percentage content was the highest was subjected to a detailed analysis of particle shape using vision software.nnnRESULTSnIt was found that an increase in the content of brewers spent grains resulted in increased hardness of the products obtained. During the tests it was observed that the increasing hardness of the measured sam- ples is opposite to their abrasion resistance. The maximum decrement of the brasion parameters was seen for extrudates with 30% spent grain addition and was 1.4%, while the minimum decrement values for extrudates with brewers grain content (10%) amounted to 0.85%. It was noted that this may prove the high brittleness of such products, particularly on the outer surface. It was also observed that lower grindability was recorded for samples produced by extrusion at a temperature of 140°C. On the other hand, higher grindability obtained at a temperature of 120°C may facilitate the grinding of such products, which may be particularly important in the production of food batter.nnnCONCLUSIONSnBrewers spent grains used as an addition to corn groats contribute to substantial changes in the extrudates obtained. It is also possible to produce compact extrudates with a brewers spent grain content of 30%. After grinding, extrudates with higher brewers spent grain content are distinguished by more rounded grains. The packing index of the samples indicates the increased accuracy of covering products with such batter, which indicates an advantage of food batters containing brewers spent grains.