Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a device using microorganisms as biocatalysts for transforming chemical energy into bioelectricity. As soil is an environment with the highest number of microorganisms and diversity, we hypothesized that it should have the potential for energy generation. The soil used for the study was Mollic Gleysol collected from the surface layer (0-20 cm). Four combinations of soil MFC differing from each other in humidity (full water holding capacity [WHC] and flooding) and the carbon source (glucose and straw) were constructed. Voltage (mV) and current intensity (μA) produced by the MFCs were recorded every day or at 2-day intervals. The fastest and the most effective MFCs in voltage generation (372.2 ± 5 mV) were those constructed on the basis of glucose (MFC-G). The efficiency of straw MFCs (MFC-S) was noticeable after 2 weeks (319.3 ± 4 mV). Maximal power density (P max = 32 mW m(-2)) was achieved by the MFC-G at current density (CD) of 100 mA m(-2). Much lower values of P max (10.6-10.8 mW m(-2)) were noted in the MFC-S at CD of ca. 60-80 mA m(-2). Consequently, soil has potential for production of renewable energy.
Increased metabolism that occurs during pregnancy can result in oxidative stress which is harmful to cells and, consequently, for the proper functioning of the whole organism. Plasma and recently also saliva are important resources for evaluating physiological and pathological conditions in animals. The study aimed to investigate the influence of the metabolic state on the effectiveness of the antioxidant profile of plasma and saliva during the pregnancy of cows. Seventy-six healthy pregnant and twelve non-pregnant control cows were included in the study. Blood and saliva samples were collected each month of the pregnancy course. Examined body fluids were used to evaluate both the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the oxidative parameters related to protein and lipid peroxidative processes. TAC, the content of hydroperoxides, and SH groups were determined spectrophotometrically while formylokinurenine and bityrosine contents were measured spectrofluorimetrically. The results showed dynamic changes depending on the period of pregnancy course. The highest antioxidant activity in plasma was mostly noted in early pregnancy and advanced pregnant cows. All tested parameters except SH groups expressed higher values in saliva compared to plasma. Obtained results reveal that the increase in oxidative intensity induced appropriate answers of cells reflected in the increase in antioxidative activity of the organism. Moreover, some examined parameters can indicate the intensity of oxidative stress and therefore could be used in a panel of markers of the physiological course of pregnancy. However, with regards to antioxidant/oxidative parameters, saliva reflects the content of plasma only in part, due to the local metabolism of the salivary gland. Further studies are necessary to establish physiological ranges of antioxidative/oxidative profiles in cows and to define the usefulness of saliva as biological material in oxidative stress diagnostics.
The study aimed to summarize the knowledge about selected biochemical processes involved in the process of learning and memorizing in particular brain structures. The brain of mammals is composed of many structures and each of them is involved in the creation of memory processes to a different degree. The relevant element is the hippocampus, which is responsible for transferring information from short-term memory to long-term memory. Learning and memory are also greatly influenced by compounds called neurosteroids, which work by stimulating or inhibiting synaptic transmission. De novo synthesized neurosteroids in most areas of the brain are endogenous modulators of learning and memory formation in the hippocampus.
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