Overview of Torsion Tests on Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Beams.

The article presents the results of laboratory tests published in dozens of publications. These tests focused on reinforced concrete beams with additional dispersed reinforcement that were loaded with torsional moments. The results of cracking and ultimate stress were presented depending on various factors influencing the beam's load-bearing capacity, i.

Acquired Resistance to Decitabine Associated with the Deoxycytidine Kinase A180P Mutation: Implications for the Order of Hypomethylating Agents in Myeloid Malignancies Treatment.

The backbone of therapy for elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia consists of hypomethylating agents 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC) and 5-azacytidine (AZA). However, resistance frequently emerges during treatment. To investigate the mechanisms of resistance, we generated DAC-resistant variants of the acute myeloid leukemia cell lines, MOLM-13 and SKM-1, through their prolonged cultivation in increasing concentrations of DAC.

Predicting the Fate of Bisphenol A During Electrochemical Oxidation: A Simple Semiempirical Method Based on the Concentration Profile of Hydroxyl Radicals.

The efficiency of electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) is fundamentally governed by hydroxyl-radical (•OH) generation. While direct experimental measurements of these transient species remain complex and impractical, robust computational methods for predicting their temporal profiles are notably scarce. This work presents a semi-empirical methodology based on HO measuring experiments that enables indirect •OH quantification.

Silver Nanoparticles for Biosensing and Drug Delivery: A Mechanical Study on DNA Interaction.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted tremendous attention in recent years due to their unique physicochemical properties, including pronounced surface plasmon resonance, tunable size, and amenability to functionalization. These attributes underpin the growing interest in AgNPs as SMART nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery and as active components in biosensing platforms. In this work, we discuss various synthesis strategies for AgNPs-ranging from conventional chemical methods to green approaches-and highlight their subsequent functionalization with anticancer drugs, notably doxorubicin (DOX).

Reduction of tar, sulfur, chlorine and CO in syngas produced by gasification of refuse-derived fuel pellets.

Effective waste management is an increasingly urgent global challenge, with gasification emerging as promising alternative to conventional disposal methods. However, the major challenge in thermochemical waste processing is the presence of contaminants in the product streams. Therefore, this study focuses on the experimental gasification of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) pellets, with the aim of characterizing the products, analyzing contaminant distribution, and purifying the syngas from multiple contaminants simultaneously.

Utilisation of stir bar sorptive extraction for the analysis of biogenic amines in wines.

Wine intolerance primarily concerns the body's ability to process histamine, sulphites, tannins, and alcohol. Histamine, a biogenic amine, is involved in immune responses and helps regulate stomach acid. The legal limits for histamine in wine range from 2 to 10 mg/mL.

On the flexibility of the multipole model refinement. A DFT benchmark study of the tetrakis(μ-acetato)diaquadicopper model system.

In this study, the flexibility of the multipole Hansen-Coppens (HC) model refinement is investigated on calculated structure factors from a DFT reference for the tetrakis(μ-acetato)diaquadicopper model system (CCDC reference 1811668). The effect of the resolution [sin(θ)/λ], the Cu scattering factor, the inclusion of anisotropic displacement parameters and the positions of the atoms in the refinement are considered in terms of statistical error analysis, residual and deformation density maps, Atoms In Molecules parameters, d-orbital populations, and others. The choice of the neutral Cu scattering factor in the HC refinement is found to give the most satisfactory results for most of the monitored parameters, despite the formal Cu nature of copper in the studied complex.

Digital image-based chemometrics for food analysis: a practical tutorial and roadmap.

Digital images have become a powerful tool for developing analytical methods in food quality control. Unlike conventional analytical signals, images can be processed to extract relevant chemical information, with chemometric techniques enhancing their utility. This review synthesizes applications of digital imaging in food analysis, providing a roadmap from univariate methods to multivariate classification/calibration approaches, illustrated through three case studies demonstrating their potential for food safety and quality.

Green Analytical Method Using Single-Drop Microextraction Followed by Gas Chromatography for Nitro Compound Detection in Environmental Water and Forensic Rinse Water.

The extensive use of nitro compounds in agriculture, industry, armaments, and pharmaceuticals, along with their toxic effects on living organisms, necessitates efficient and environmentally sustainable analytical methods. Traditional extraction techniques often involve practices that are not eco-friendly, such as the use of large volumes of solvents, toxic chemicals, and the generation of significant waste; therefore, the single-drop microextraction technique was involved in overcoming these limitations. This study shows an environmentally friendly method for nitro compound analysis focusing on NB (Nitrobenzene), 2-NT (2-Nitrotoluene), 3-NT (3-Nitrotoluene), 4-NT (4-Nitrotoluene), 1,3-DNB (1,3-Dinitrobenzene), 1,2-DNB (1,2-Dinitrobenzene), 2,4-DNT (2,4-Dinitrotoluene), and TNT (Trinitrotoluene).

Molecularly Imprinted Adsorbent and Its Magnetic Version for Solid Phase Extraction of D-Panthenol: Comparison of Synthesis Approaches, Properties, and Applicability for Different Real Samples Extraction.

This study demonstrates the development of HPLC-DAD method for determination of D-panthenol incorporating the molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction for sample preparation. Two types of adsorbents, molecularly imprinted polymers synthesized by bulk polymerization (MIPs) and precipitation polymerization on the surface of magnetic particles (Fe₃O₄@MIP), were compared in terms of adsorption properties and application potential. D-panthenol, a bioactive compound of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, was used as the template for imprinting.

Effects of maternal depression and antidepressant treatment on neurotransmitters, brain regions, and mitochondrial function in rat dams.

Increasing evidence suggests that mothers experience stress before or during pregnancy, which can significantly impact their GABAergic system and lead to amygdala hyperactivity. While animal models are expected to reflect the above findings in humans, the current knowledge on the effects of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in rat dams remains insufficient. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the structural and neurochemical alterations in the dorsal hippocampus, specifically gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (Glu) relative to total creatine (tCr), induced by the CUMS and the effects of antidepressant mirtazapine (MIR) treatment.

Enhancing Data Collection Through Optimization of Laser Line Triangulation Sensor Settings and Positioning.

This study proposes a new approach to improving laser sensor data collection through optimised sensor settings. Specifically, it examines the influence of laser sensor configurations on laser scanning measurements obtained by using a laser line triangulation sensor for transparent and non-transparent plastics, as well as aluminium alloys. Distance data were acquired with a three-degree-of-freedom positioning device and the laser sensor under both manual and automatic settings.

Deformation of Polyethylene Subjected to Static and Nonstatic Stresses and Krypton Ions Irradiation.

The dependence of polyethylene deformation on applied mechanical stress under varying load conditions and radiation doses was investigated experimentally. Obtained results reveal significant alterations in the mechanical properties of polyethylene following irradiation with krypton ions at doses of 1.5 × 10, 1.

Banknotes as a Source of Drug and Pharmaceutical Contamination of the Population.

This study investigates the potential contamination of cash register employees in the Slovak Republic with 148 selected pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and their metabolites. Of these, 42 substances were detected, and it was found that the target group-cashiers-regularly handle large volumes of banknotes, increasing their exposure to contaminants compared to the general population. This study revealed that commonly prescribed and over-the-counter medications significantly contribute to the contamination of cash registers.

Physical properties and cytotoxicity of Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with a TMS-substituted indolo[2,3-]quinoline-derived Schiff base.

The incorporation of non-native chemical elements, such as silicon, into drug molecules has gained significant attention as a strategy to broaden the chemical space in medicinal chemistry and develop novel drug candidates. Traditionally, research has focused on the isosteric replacement of a carbon atom with silicon ("silicon switch") in known drug structures or the attachment of a trimethylsilyl (TMS) group to biologically active scaffolds. In this study, a TMS-substituted indoloquinoline-based Schiff base (HLTMS) and its corresponding metal complexes, (1) and (2), were synthesized and comprehensively characterized using elemental analysis, spectroscopic techniques (IR, UV-vis, H and C NMR for HLTMS and 2), ESI mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) for 1 and electron diffraction (ED) for 2.

NLP-enhanced inflation measurement using BERT and web scraping.

In this research note, we explore the integration of natural language processing (NLP) and web scraping techniques to develop a custom price index for measuring inflation. Using the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) as a benchmark, we created a database of consumer electronics product data through web scraping. Using the BERT model for classification, we achieved a high-performance classification of approximately 10,000 items into COICOP categories, with an accuracy of 94.

Evaluation of stability and quality of bioproducts derived from solid-state fermentation of wheat bran using Mortierella alpina.

Solid-state fermentation is an efficient and economically viable biotechnological approach for converting low-cost substrates into high-value fermented bioproducts. This study used the filamentous fungus Mortierella alpina to directly enrich wheat bran substrate with a myriad of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and natural antioxidants, including phenolic acids and flavonoids. These PUFAs, with long carbon chains containing two or more unsaturated double bonds, are highly susceptible to oxidation, which can deteriorate the quality of the fermented bioproduct.

Sulfur and Peroxide Cross-Linking of Lignosulfonate-Filled Compounds Based on Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber and Styrene-Butadiene Rubber.

Calcium lignosulfonate was incorporated into rubber compounds based on styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) in amounts ranging from 10 to 60 phr. A sulfur-based curing system and a peroxide curing system consisting of dicumyl peroxide in combination with methacrylic acid zinc salt were used for cross-linking of the compounds. The aim of the work was to investigate the influence of lignosulfonate and curing system composition of the cross-linking process, morphology, physical-mechanical and dynamic-mechanical characteristics of the composites.

Solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry as an advanced method for the determination of bioplasticizers in environmental and bottled water samples.

The aim of this work was the development of a novel analytical method for the extraction, separation, and determination of 21 bioplasticizers in water using direct immersion - solid phase microextraction in combination with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (DI-SPME-GC-MS/MS) to monitor these substances in the environment at low concentration levels. Incubation, extraction, and desorption parameters of the SPME procedure were optimised. All solutions were incubated in a heating chamber for 10 min at 70 °C, followed by SPME extraction for 60 minutes using 50/30 µm DVB/CAR/PDMS fiber.

Combination of liquid- and solid-phase extraction followed by achiral and chiral high-performance liquid chromatography as an efficient and sensitive method for determination of panthenol in personal care products.

Objective: This work deals with the development of an analytical method for the analysis of body milk, cream, and oil. The objective is to develop a reliable, sensitive, and reproducible method suitable to assess the content of dexpanthenol in personal care products and to confirm the declared enantiomeric form.

Methods: Optimization of conditions for the extraction of panthenol from personal care products was carried out for the detection and quantification of panthenol and its enantiomers by achiral and chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with spectrophotometric detection.

Study of Application of an Active Ultrasound by Use of Zn-Al-Mg-Ti-Based Solder on Selected Substrates.

This study investigates the potential application of Zn5Al1.5Mg1.5Ti active solder in ultrasonic soldering of AlO ceramics and Cu substrates.

Exploring Novel Interfacial Charge Transfer Complexes Between TiO and Flavonoids: Theoretical Study.

The formation of interfacial charge transfer (ICT) complexes with suitable ligands is an effective method to improve the spectral properties of materials based on titanium dioxide (TiO). In the presented work, six structurally different flavonoids are studied as potential ligands for synthesizing novel TiO-based ICT complexes using density functional theory (DFT). The formation of stable bidentate Ti-O coordination between the TiO surface and studied flavonoids is confirmed by Bader's quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis.

Formation of oxidative and cytotoxic products of tocopherols and their adsorption onto the surface of French fries when fried with rapeseed oil.

This work examines the impact of frying (180 °C) French fries on the degradation of fatty acids and tocopherols in rapeseed oil, with a particular focus on the formation and adsorption of gamma-tocopheryl quinone on the surface of French fries. Gamma-tocopheryl quinone has a cytotoxic effect, and long-term exposure may alter DNA. It was found that gamma-tocopheryl quinone formed 1.

Enhanced Catalytic Activity of Pt Nanostructured Electrodes Deposited by Spark Ablation for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.

Catalyst layers play a crucial role in determining the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, the deposition of catalyst layers poses challenges in PEMFC stack production due to the complexity of the fabrication steps. Herein, we present a simplified approach to synthesize Pt nanostructures via spark ablation and simultaneously deposit them onto gas diffusion layers (GDL).

Machine Learning-Driven Data Fusion of Chromatograms, Plasmagrams, and IR Spectra of Chemical Compounds of Forensic Interest.

Achieving fast analytical results on-site with the highest possible accuracy in forensic analyses is crucial for investigations. While portable sensors are essential for crime scene analysis, they often face limitations in sensitivity and specificity, especially due to environmental factors. Data fusion (DF) techniques can enhance accuracy and reliability by combining information from multiple sensors.