Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences

About: Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences is a education organization based out in Wrocław, Poland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & GNSS applications. The organization has 3108 authors who have published 6672 publications receiving 57774 citations.

Trehalose Lipid Biosurfactant Reduces Adhesion of Microbial Pathogens to Polystyrene and Silicone Surfaces: An Experimental and Computational Approach.

Abstract: Rhodococcus fascians BD8, isolated from Arctic soil, was found to produce biosurfactant when grown on n-hexadecane as the sole carbon source. The glycolipid product was identified as the trehalose lipid with a molecular mass of 848 g mol-1. The purified biosurfactant reduced the surface tension of water from 72 to 34 mN m-1. The critical micelle concentration of trehalose lipid was 0.140 mg mL-1. To examine its potential for biomedical applications, the antimicrobial and antiadhesive activity of the biosurfactant was evaluated against several pathogenic microorganisms. Trehalose lipid showed antimicrobial activity against resistant pathogens. The largest antimicrobial activities of trehalose lipid were observed against Vibrio harveyi and Proteus vulgaris. The highest concentration tested (0.5 mg mL-1) caused a partial (11–34%) inhibition of other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and 30% inhibition of Candida albicans growth. The trehalose lipid also showed significant antiadhesive properties against all of the tested microorganisms to polystyrene surface and silicone urethral catheters. The biosurfactant showed 95% and 70% antiadhesive activity against C. albicans and Escherichia coli, respectively. Finally, the role and application of trehalose lipid as an antiadhesive compound was investigated by the modification of the polystyrene and silicone surfaces. The intermolecular interaction energy calculations were performed for investigated complexes at the density functional level of theory. The results indicate that the presence of aromatic moieties can be substantial in the stabilization of trehalose lipid-surface complexes. The antimicrobial and antiadhesive activities of trehalose lipid make them promising alternatives to synthetic surfactants in a wide range of medical applications. Based on our findings, we propose that, because of its ability to inhibit microbial colonization of polystyrene and silicone surfaces, trehalose lipid can be used as a surface coating agent

The Landscape Attractiveness of Abandoned Quarries

Abstract: This study is a trial for presenting high attractiveness of shape form in abandoned quarry areas, as well as for indicating social interest in the areas in terms of their attractiveness For this reason, a procedure of evaluation of the landscape attractiveness of abandoned quarries is suggested, which was created by assigning additional partial criteria, and their comparison with the criteria of already existing methods Methods used for the research are as follows: the semantic differential technique (also called Osgood’s method), the entropy method, and the method of point bonitation In order to verify the procedure suggested, 10 objects (quarries) located in the area of the Śleza Landscape Park with its buffer zone were studied Then, comparative studies were conducted, this time with quarries from Great Britain and Austria, also subject to some forms of environmental protection The results of the research suggest that the main indicator of a quarries’ attractiveness is their uniqueness, aesthetic appeal, interest, and the curiosity they raise, which allows the formation of four classification groups for attractiveness: very attractive, attractive, slightly attractive, and unattractive quarries The research conducted also indicates that highly attractive quarries may gain a larger number of tourists and the development of hiking, cycling, horse riding, and, in some cases, also qualified tourism (rock climbing or diving) through creating additional side attractions Additionally, due to their uniqueness and form differentiation, abandoned quarries may be used for common social education, being a didactic place in programmes of touristic trips, science lessons, and ecological education

Therapeutic effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell injection in horses suffering from bone spavin

Abstract: In this article we demonstrate the efficiency of autologous transplantations of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for equine bone spavin treatment. Horses qualified to the study were divided into three groups: (i) research – treated with intra-articular injections of autologous stem cells, (ii) comparison treated with steroid drugs and (iii) control – untreated. All animals underwent comprehensive clinical examination before and after treatment. Our research confirms the long-term beneficial influence resulting from stem cell therapy in horse bone spavin treatment, in contrast to routine steroid usage.