OBJECTIVE: The study aims at assessing the relationship between blood pressure, heart geometry parameters, and the erythrocyte content of sulfur, potassium, chlorine and phosphorus, in a group of patients with ambulatory systolic and... more
OBJECTIVE: The study aims at assessing the relationship between blood pressure, heart geometry parameters, and the erythrocyte content of sulfur, potassium, chlorine and phosphorus, in a group of patients with ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) below 140 or 90 mm Hg, respectively, who were otherwise healthy and untreated. METHODS: The study group consisted of 42 adults recruited in a primary care setting. The individuals were healthy, not undergoing any therapy and free from smoking. For each individual, data were obtained on: average 24-hour SBP and DBP, left ventricle geometry, complete blood count, lipids profile, fibrinogen, hs-CRP and the erythrocyte concentration of sulfur (S), potassium (K), chlorine (Cl) and phosphorus (P). RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis showed statistically significant relationships of diastolic posterior wall thickness (PWTd) and relative wall thickness (RWT) with the concentration ratio of sulfur and potassium (S/K) in ...
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The mechanical unfolding of two proteins belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily, fibronectin (an extracellular matrix protein) and contactin (a neuronal adhesion protein), was studied by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). The... more
The mechanical unfolding of two proteins belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily, fibronectin (an extracellular matrix protein) and contactin (a neuronal adhesion protein), was studied by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). The mean unfolding forces and characteristic lengths describing unfolding events of two types of the immunoglobulin module observed for contactin were compared with results obtained for fibronectin. The results showed that the FnIII-type domain present in both proteins, i.e.in contactin and fibronectin, requires a similar force of about 100pN to be unfolded. However, the IgC2-type domains of contactin, normally remaining intact in view of the intra-domain disulfide bonds, reveal rather lower stability in the presence of the reducing agent. The force needed to unfold a single IgC2 domain was calculated and established to be about 70pN. Initially, natural human fibronectin was chosen only as a reference protein for studies of contactin unfolding force values. However, interesting results were obtained and used as a reference in further analysis of the contactin unfolding pathway. Two characteristic length values were obtained for the FnIII domain type of both studied proteins; thus for both domains the ability to unravel in two different pathways was concluded.
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Abstract The corrosion behavior as well as the electrochemical surface response of the novel CoCrFeMnNi (marked A1H) high entropy alloy (HEA) prepared by mechanical alloying of Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni powders combined with Hot Isostatic... more
Abstract The corrosion behavior as well as the electrochemical surface response of the novel CoCrFeMnNi (marked A1H) high entropy alloy (HEA) prepared by mechanical alloying of Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni powders combined with Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP: 1000 °C/15 min/150 bar) has been studied in chloride environment. Moreover, combination of the powder metallurgy and HIP allows to obtain HEA Metal Matrix nano-Composite (MMnC) with SiC nanoparticles addition as a reinforced phase. The influence of 5 %wt. SiC nanoparticles addition (specimen marked A1H5SiC) in A1H has been also investigated. Polarization tests indicate both passivation properties and pitting susceptibility of A1H alloy. This has been confirmed by the corrosion potential (OCP) and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements (EIS) which revealed strong passivation process in the first 16 h of immersion in 0.1 M NaCl water solution. The addition of 5 wt% of SiC nanoparticles improves the mechanical properties (e.g. hardness, yield stress) simultaneously changing the surface electrochemical response by the time reducing (from 16 h to 4 h) of the corrosion resistance during immersion in chlorides.
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In PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) trace-element analysis of thick targets, especially the biological ones, one has to consider matrix effects as well as possible matrix changes during beam irradiation. Such phenomena have been... more
In PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) trace-element analysis of thick targets, especially the biological ones, one has to consider matrix effects as well as possible matrix changes during beam irradiation. Such phenomena have been investigated and matrix effects in determination of trace element concentration have been taken into account in a procedure based on the use of FTIR (Fourier Transform
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The PIXE technique for Trace Element Analysis have been applied to the studies of mineral deposits such as kidney stones in human organisan. The calculi mainly composed of phosphates, oxalates and uric acid were extracted during surgical... more
The PIXE technique for Trace Element Analysis have been applied to the studies of mineral deposits such as kidney stones in human organisan. The calculi mainly composed of phosphates, oxalates and uric acid were extracted during surgical operations and were ...
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ABSTRACT Measurement of physical properties of porous geological materials is a crucial issue in oil and gas recovery industry. A conventional experimental way to obtain information on porosity, pore size distribution, specific surface... more
ABSTRACT Measurement of physical properties of porous geological materials is a crucial issue in oil and gas recovery industry. A conventional experimental way to obtain information on porosity, pore size distribution, specific surface area and permeability are the intrusion porosimetry and permeameter measurement. However, in this approach Washburn's equation is usually used, thus approximation of cylindrical pore shapes is made. However, in recent times the computed microtomography (CMT) technique is more widely used in geoscience (Appoloni et al., 2007). We have already reported preliminary results of investigation of elemental content, microporosity, and specific surface area of porous rocks by means of the CMT technique based on a laboratory source (Bielecki et al., 2012). In this paper, results of complex study of porous rock samples with the use of X-ray CMT (laboratory-source-based facility and synchrotron radiation source) combined with permeability tensor computation by means of the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) are presented. Moreover, the proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method was additionally used for elemental content determination of pores-filling substance.
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ABSTRACT A new, multi-purpose X-ray microprobe has been constructed in Kraków. The Hamamatsu L9191 microfocusing X-ray tube is used as a source of radiation. The microprobe is equipped with three dedicated experimental lines serving for... more
ABSTRACT A new, multi-purpose X-ray microprobe has been constructed in Kraków. The Hamamatsu L9191 microfocusing X-ray tube is used as a source of radiation. The microprobe is equipped with three dedicated experimental lines serving for the computed microtomography (CMT), for micro-XRF or TXRF measurements (micro-X-ray induced Fluorescence, Total reflexion XRF) and for mammalian cell irradiations. Details of the construction of the experimental line dedicated to irradiations are presented.
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Special kinds of petrified wood of complex structure were investigated. All the samples were composed of at least two different inorganic substances. The original cell structure was preserved in each case. The remnants of the original... more
Special kinds of petrified wood of complex structure were investigated. All the samples were composed of at least two different inorganic substances. The original cell structure was preserved in each case. The remnants of the original biological material were detected in some ...
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The dentin-enamel junction (DEJ) is known for its special role in teeth. Several techniques were applied for the investigation of the DEJ in human sound molar teeth. The electron (EPMA) and proton (PIXE) microprobes gave consistent... more
The dentin-enamel junction (DEJ) is known for its special role in teeth. Several techniques were applied for the investigation of the DEJ in human sound molar teeth. The electron (EPMA) and proton (PIXE) microprobes gave consistent indications about the variability of elemental concentrations on this boundary. The locally increased and oscillating concentrations of Mg and Na were observed in the junction, in the layer adhering to the enamel and covering roughly half of the DEJ width. The chemical results were compared with the optical profiles of the junction. Our chemical and optical results were next compared with the micromechanical results (hardness, elastic modulus, friction coefficient) available in the world literature. A strong correlation of both result sets was proven, which testifies to the self-affinity of the junction structures for different locations and even for different kinds of teeth and techniques applied for studies. Energetic changes in tooth strictly connected...
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Abstract A desk-top laser-produced plasma (LPP) source of soft X-rays (SXR) has been developed for radiobiology research. The source is based on a double-stream gas puff target, irradiated with the focused beam of a commercial Nd:YAG... more
Abstract A desk-top laser-produced plasma (LPP) source of soft X-rays (SXR) has been developed for radiobiology research. The source is based on a double-stream gas puff target, irradiated with the focused beam of a commercial Nd:YAG laser. The source has been optimized to get a maximum photon emission from LPP in the X-ray “water window” spectral wavelength range from 2.3 nm (i.e., an absorption edge of oxygen) to 4.4 nm (i.e., an absorption edge of carbon) (280–540 eV in photon energy units) by using argon gas-puff target and spectral filtering by free-standing thin foils. The present source delivers nanosecond pulses of soft X-rays at a fluence of about 4.2 × 103 photons/μm2/pulse on a sample placed inside the vacuum chamber. In this paper, the source design, radiation output characterization measurements and initial irradiation experiments are described. The source can be useful in addressing observations related to biomolecular, cellular and organisms’ sensitivity to pulsed radiation in the “water window”, where carbon atoms absorb X-rays more strongly than the oxygen, mostly present in water. The combination of the SXR source and the radiobiology irradiation layout, reported in this article, make possible a systematic investigation of relationships between direct and indirect action of ionizing radiation, an increase of a local dose in carbon-rich compartments of the cell (e.g., lipid membranes), an experimental estimation of a particular role of the Auger effect (in particular in carbon atoms) in the damage to biological systems, and the study of ionization/excitation-density (LET – Linear Energy Transfer) and dose-rate effects in radiobiology.
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We present an experimental study of the longitudinal and transverse relaxation of ensembles of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV−) centers in a diamond monocrystal prepared by 1.8 MeV proton implantation. The focused proton beam was... more
We present an experimental study of the longitudinal and transverse relaxation of ensembles of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV−) centers in a diamond monocrystal prepared by 1.8 MeV proton implantation. The focused proton beam was used to introduce vacancies at a 20 µµm depth layer. Applied doses were in the range of 1.5×1013 to 1.5×1017 ions/cm2. The samples were subsequently annealed in vacuum which resulted in a migration of vacancies and their association with the nitrogen present in the diamond matrix. The proton implantation technique proved versatile to control production of nitrogen-vacancy color centers in thin films.
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The collection of denarii from the time of development of a Polish medieval state was studied using the proton induced X-ray emission spectroscopy. The major elements detected for these denarii are Ag and Cu, while minor elements such as... more
The collection of denarii from the time of development of a Polish medieval state was studied using the proton induced X-ray emission spectroscopy. The major elements detected for these denarii are Ag and Cu, while minor elements such as Pb, Fe, Au, Bi, and Zn may also be present. The aim of the study was to cross-compare the results with a previous micro-X-ray fluorescence data and to perform a better quantification of the denarii elemental composition, especially for trace elements, providing suggestions of the origin of alloy compounds.
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Thin "lms, formed by polymer blends spun-cast from a blend/solvent solution onto a rigid substrate, are used in many practical applications (e.g. photoresist layers, dielectric coatings). Film preparation process is often accompanied... more
Thin "lms, formed by polymer blends spun-cast from a blend/solvent solution onto a rigid substrate, are used in many practical applications (e.g. photoresist layers, dielectric coatings). Film preparation process is often accompanied by phase decomposition (PD) during the rapid evaporation of the solvent. PD is re#ected in undulations formed on an air/"lm interface. We have studied the topography of surface undulations and the phase domain morphology in thin "lm blends of polystyrene (PS) and polyisoprene (PI) using atomic force microscopy combined with selective dissolution of blend components. Gold covered with self-assembled monolayers (HS(CH ) COOH) (HS(CH ) CH ) (SAM ) was used as a substrate. For "lms of PS and PI (50% by mass) cast from toluene, the PS-rich domains protrude high above the PI-rich matrix forming concave or convex islands for hydrophobic (SAM )- or hydrophilic(SAM )-support, respectively. Di!erent substrates (e.g. SAM and Si with a native ox...
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The major characteristics of cancer metastasis is the ability of the primary tumor cells to migrate by way of the blood or lymph vessels and to form tumors at multiple, distant sites. There are evidences that cancer progression is... more
The major characteristics of cancer metastasis is the ability of the primary tumor cells to migrate by way of the blood or lymph vessels and to form tumors at multiple, distant sites. There are evidences that cancer progression is characterized by disruption and/or reorganization of cytoskeleton (i.e. cellular scaffold). This is accompanied by various molecular alterations influencing the overall mechanical resistance of cells. Current approach in diagnosis focuses mainly on microbiological, immunological, and pathological aspects rather than on the biomechanics of diseases. The determination of mechanical properties of an individual living cell has became possible with the development of local measurement techniques, such as atomic force microscopy, magnetic or optical tweezers. The advantage of them lies in the capability to measure living cells at a single cell level and in liquid conditions, close to natural environment. Here, we present the studies on mechanical properties of single cells originating from various cancers. The results show that, independently of the cancer type (bladder, melanoma, prostate, breast and colon), single cells are characterized by the lower Young's modulus, denoting higher deformability of cancerous cells. However, the obtained Young's modulus values were dependent on various factors, like the properties of substrates used for cell growth, force loading rate, or indentation depth. Their influence on elastic properties of cells was considered. Based on these findings, the identification of cancerous cells based on their elastic properties was performed. These results proved the AFM capability in recognition of a single, mechanically altered cell, also in cases when morphological changes are not visible. The quantitative analysis of cell deformability carried out using normal (reference) and cancerous cells and, more precisely, their characterization (qualitative and quantitative) can have a significant impact on the development of methodological approaches toward precise identification of pathological cells and would allow for more effective detection of cancer-related changes.
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ABSTRACT The role of sulfur in prostate cancer progression may be significant for understanding the process of carcinogenesis. This work, based on X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) spectroscopy, is focused on determination of... more
ABSTRACT The role of sulfur in prostate cancer progression may be significant for understanding the process of carcinogenesis. This work, based on X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) spectroscopy, is focused on determination of sulfur chemical species occurring in prostate cancer cell lines. The experimental material consisted of four commercially available cell lines: three from metastasized prostate cancer (PC3, LNCaP, and DU145) and one, used as a control, from the non-tumourigenic peripheral zone of the prostate (PZ-HPV-7). The experiment was performed at the SUL-X beamline of the synchrotron radiation source ANKA, Karlsruhe (Germany). The K-edge XANES spectra of sulfur were analyzed by deconvolution in order to establish sulfur species that occur in prostate cancer cells and to find out whether there are any differences in their content between various cell lines. Experimental spectra were fitted in two ways: with two Gaussian peaks and one arctangent step function, and additionally by a Linear Combination Fit with spectra of reference compounds in order to obtain quantitative chemical information. All fitting procedures were performed with the Athena code (Ravel and Newville, 2005) and the results of deconvolution were used to determine the fraction of each sulfur form. The results of data analysis showed that cell lines from different metastasis had different ratio of reduced to oxidized sulfur species. The LCF analysis demonstrated that the highest content of GSH, one of the most important sulfur-bearing compounds in cells, was observed in DU145 cells. These findings may confirm the hypothesis of changes in redox balance in case of cancer initiation and progression.
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Chemical Th–U–total Pb (CHIME) dating of monazite by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and proton microprobe (PIXE) was carried out on felsic granulites from Stary Gierałtów, Poland, which represent part of the Orlica-Śnieżnik Dome in... more
Chemical Th–U–total Pb (CHIME) dating of monazite by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and proton microprobe (PIXE) was carried out on felsic granulites from Stary Gierałtów, Poland, which represent part of the Orlica-Śnieżnik Dome in the NE Bohemian Massif. Analyzed monazite is characterized by mosaic zoning rather than simple core-to-rim growth, and strontium contents of up to 750ppm. An isochron age
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Synchrotron radiation-Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis was used as an independent modality to monitor the cellular bystander effect. Single, living prostate cancer PC-3 cells were... more
Synchrotron radiation-Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis was used as an independent modality to monitor the cellular bystander effect. Single, living prostate cancer PC-3 cells were irradiated with various numbers of protons, ranging from 50-2,000, with an energy of either 1 or 2 MeV using a proton microprobe. SR-FTIR spectra of cells, fixed after exposure to protons and nonirradiated neighboring cells (bystander cells), were recorded. Spectral differences were observed in both the directly targeted and bystander cells and included changes in the DNA backbone and nucleic bases, along with changes in the protein secondary structure. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to investigate the variance in the entire data set. The percentage of bystander cells relative to the applied number of protons with two different energies was calculated. Of all the applied quantities, the dose of 400 protons at 2 MeV was found to be the most...
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... The proton microprobe was used for chemical (non-isotopic) UThPb dating of zircon grains for samples from Canning Dam, Western Australia (Lucas et al ... Montel et al., 1996], [Williams et al., 1999], [Cocherie et al., 1998], [Pyle... more
... The proton microprobe was used for chemical (non-isotopic) UThPb dating of zircon grains for samples from Canning Dam, Western Australia (Lucas et al ... Montel et al., 1996], [Williams et al., 1999], [Cocherie et al., 1998], [Pyle et al., 2005], [De Souza et al., 2006], [Kusiak et al ...
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Investigations of the microstructure and mechanical properties of nitrided Ti–1Al–1Mn alloy were performed. The microstructural analyses were carried out using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron... more
Investigations of the microstructure and mechanical properties of nitrided Ti–1Al–1Mn alloy were performed. The microstructural analyses were carried out using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Phase identifications and chemical compositions of the bulk material and the layers were determined by electron diffraction as well as by energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Scanning force microscopy (SFM) was applied for the alloy surface topography analysis. Microhardness and Young’s modulus measurements as well as scratch tests were performed. The investigations revealed a clear correlation between the nitriding process temperature, surface topography, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the alloy investigated.
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... The proton microprobe was used for chemical (non-isotopic) UThPb dating of zircon grains for samples from Canning Dam, Western Australia (Lucas et al ... Montel et al., 1996], [Williams et al., 1999], [Cocherie et al., 1998], [Pyle... more
... The proton microprobe was used for chemical (non-isotopic) UThPb dating of zircon grains for samples from Canning Dam, Western Australia (Lucas et al ... Montel et al., 1996], [Williams et al., 1999], [Cocherie et al., 1998], [Pyle et al., 2005], [De Souza et al., 2006], [Kusiak et al ...
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The microstructure of titanium alloys (Ti–1Al–1Mn, Ti–6Al–4V) nitrided under glow discharge was characterised using light microscopy, X-ray diffraction and analytical electron microscopy. The investigations revealed a complex multilayered... more
The microstructure of titanium alloys (Ti–1Al–1Mn, Ti–6Al–4V) nitrided under glow discharge was characterised using light microscopy, X-ray diffraction and analytical electron microscopy. The investigations revealed a complex multilayered microstructure produced by diffusion at 850 and 900°C at the surface. The layers formed on the Ti–1Al–1Mn alloy were identified as δ-TiN (face-centred cubic NaCl type), δ′-Ti2N (tetragonal body-centred), ε-Ti2N (tetragonal primitive) phases and α (N) solid solution containing up to 19at.% nitrogen. The layers formed on the Ti–6Al–4V alloy also contained, besides the phases mentioned above, Ti2AlN and other minor Ti–Al–N ternary phases. The layer topography of both nitrided alloys, examined by atomic force microscopy, exhibited pronounced surface development. A relationship between the microstructure of the alloys and their micromechanical and tribological properties has been established. It shows that the improved properties are related to the presence of nanocrystalline δ-TiN in the outermost sublayer on the top of the layers composed of δ′+ε-Ti2N and Ti2AlN crystals.