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Thermal treatment of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) presents a promising opportunity to halt the PFAS cycle. However, how co-occurring materials such as granular activated carbon (GAC) influence thermal decomposition products of PFASs, and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We studied the pyrolysis of two potassium salts of perfluoroalkanesulfonates (PFSAs, CnF2n+1SO3K), perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS-K), and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS-K), with or without GAC. PFBS-K is more stable than PFOS-K for pure standards, but when it is adsorbed onto GAC, its thermal stabilities and decomposition behaviors are similar. Temperatures and heating rates can significantly influence the decomposition mechanisms and products for pure standards, while these effects are less pronounced when PFSAs are adsorbed onto GAC. We further studied the underlying decomposition mechanisms. Pure standards of CnF2n+1SO3K can decompose directly in their condense phase by reactions: F(CF2)nSO3K → F(CF2)n-2CF═CF2 + KFSO3 or F(CF2)nSO3K → F(CF2)n- + K+ + SO3. GAC appears to facilitate breakage of the C-S bond to release SO2 at temperatures as low as 280 °C. GAC promotes fluorine mineralization through functional reactive sites. SiO2 is particularly important for the surface-mediated mineralization of PFASs into SiF4. These findings offer valuable insights into optimizing thermal treatment strategies for PFAS-contaminated waste.

The global prevalence of counterfeit and low-quality pharmaceuticals poses significant health risks and challenges in medical treatments, creating a need for rapid and reliable drug screening technologies. This study introduces a cost-effective electrochemical paper-based device (ePAD) modified with functionalized bamboo-derived biochar (BCF) for the detection of paracetamol in substandard medicines. The sensor was fabricated using a custom 3D-printed stencil in PLA, designed for efficient production, and a 60:40 (m/m) graphite (GR) and glass varnish (GV) conductive ink, resulting in a robust and sensitive platform. The electroactive area of the ePAD/BCF sensor was determined as 0.37 cm2. Characterization via SEM and cyclic voltammetry (CV) verified its structural and electrochemical stability. The sensor demonstrated linear detection of paracetamol from 5.0 to 60.0 µmol L-1 with a detection limit of 3.50 µmol L-1. Interference studies showed high selectivity, with recoveries of over 90%, and the sensor successfully quantified paracetamol in commercial analgesic and anti-flu samples. This sustainable, bamboo-based ePAD offers a promising solution for rapid on-site pharmaceutical quality control, with significant potential to enhance drug screening accuracy.

Soil salinity is a major nutritional challenge with poor agriculture production characterized by high sodium (Na+) ions in the soil. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and biochar have received attention as a sustainable strategy to reduce biotic and abiotic stress. However, there is a lack of information regarding the incorporation of ZnO NPs with biochar to ameliorate the salinity stress (0, 50,100 mM). Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the potentials of ZnO NPs application (priming and foliar) alone and with a combination of biochar on the growth and nutrient availability of spinach plants under salinity stress. Results demonstrated that salinity stress at a higher rate (100 mM) showed maximum growth retardation by inducing oxidative stress, resulted in reduced photosynthetic rate and nutrient availability. ZnO NPs (priming and foliar) alone enhanced growth, chlorophyll contents and gas exchange parameters by improving the antioxidant enzymes activity of spinach under salinity stress. While, a significant and more pronounced effect was observed at combined treatments of ZnO NPs with biochar amendment. More importantly, ZnO NPs foliar application with biochar significantly reduced the Na+ contents in root 57.69%, and leaves 61.27% of spinach as compared to the respective control. Furthermore, higher nutrient contents were also found at the combined treatment of ZnO NPs foliar application with biochar. Overall, ZnO NPs combined application with biochar proved to be an efficient and sustainable strategy to alleviate salinity stress and improve crop nutritional quality under salinity stress. We inferred that ZnO NPs foliar application with a combination of biochar is more effectual in improving crop nutritional status and salinity mitigation than priming treatments with a combination of biochar.

Waterpipe tobacco (WPT) smoking is a public health concern, particularly among youth and young adults. The global spread of WPTuse has surged because the introduction of pre-packaged flavored and sweetened WPT, which is widely marketed as a safer tobaccoalternative. Besides flavorants and sugars, WPT additives include humectants, which enhance the moisture and sweetness of WPT,act as solvents for flavors, and impart smoothness to the smoke, thus increasing appeal to users. In the United States, unlikecigarette tobacco flavoring (with the exception of menthol), there is no FDA product standard or policy in place prohibiting sales offlavored WPT. Research has shown that the numerous fruit, candy, and alcohol flavors added to WPT entice individuals toexperience those flavors, putting them at an increased risk of exposure to WPT smoke-related toxicants. Additionally, burningcharcoal briquettes—used as a heating source for WPT—contributes to the harmful health effects of WPT smoking. This reviewpresents existing evidence on the potential toxicity resulting from humectants, sugars, and flavorants in WPT, and from the charcoalused to heat WPT. The review discusses relevant studies of inhalation toxicity in animal models and of biomarkers of exposure inhumans. Current evidence suggests that more data are needed on toxicant emissions in WPT smoke to inform effective tobaccoregulation to mitigate the adverse impact of WPT use on human health.

Carbamazepine is utilized for various indications. Due to its pharmacokinetic profile and drug properties, toxicity can be delayed and persistent despite supportive care. We report a severe case of intentional carbamazepine toxicity in a carbamazepine naive individual mimicking brain death that was not diagnosed until three days after consumption of carbamazepine when the patient was comatose. Symptoms of overdose persisted for several days despite attempted treatment with activated charcoal and whole bowel irrigation, hemodialysis, and plasmapheresis. Symptoms only began to improve with bowel evacuation as a result of administration of neostigmine intravenously plus hemodialysis and plasmapheresis additionally. Despite previous literature that reported success with hemodialysis and/or plasmapheresis we did not find either to be overly effective in our case possibly due to lack of ability to perform multidose activated charcoal and whole bowel irrigation. To our knowledge this is one of the few cases of carbamazepine overdose utilizing both hemodialysis and plasmapheresis but without activated charcoal and the only case report in which neostigmine was administered as an attempt to remove drug via the gastrointestinal tract with success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: During breast cancer surgery, the use of dyes such as indigo carmine, methylene blue, or indocyanine green (ICG) for targeting axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) under ultrasound guidance can result in rapid diffusion, complicated tissue differentiation, and disruption of staining. LuminoMark™, a novel ICG-hyaluronic acid mixture, can provide real-time visualization and minimize dye spread, thereby ensuring a clear surgical field. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of LuminoMark™ for targeting ALNs in patients with breast cancer. Methods: A total of 13 patients with breast cancer (mean age 56.5 years; 92.3% female) and suspicious ALNs underwent targeted axillary surgery (TAS) with activated charcoal and LuminoMark™ injected into the LNs in the surgical field. The clinicopathological variables of the patients and diagnostic performance were assessed. The LNs injected with LuminoMark™ were examined for consistency with sentinel LNs (SLNs) and non-SLNs, as well as with charcoal-tattooed LNs. Results: The identification of SLNs took approximately 15.6 min from the start of skin incision, and it required 25.6 and 17.7 min, for charcoal-tattooed and LuminoMarkTM-illuminated LNs, respectively. The identification rate was 92.3% with charcoal and 100% with LuminoMark™. The concordance rate between LuminoMark™ illumination and SLNs was higher than that between charcoal tattooing and SLNs. The concordance rate between the two methods was 76.9% (n = 10). Three months after surgery, the charcoal tattoo remained visible on the skin; however, LuminoMark™ was not visible. Conclusion: Although both methods demonstrated high detection rates, the rate was higher using LuminoMark™. As LuminoMark™ was administered directly into LNs, this improved the accuracy of identifying LNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the influence of socio-economic factors on the adoption of improved cookstoves (ICSs) and identified barriers to their dissemination in Wereta district, Amhara, Ethiopia. A structured cross-sectional approach was employed, surveying 308 households through questionnaires and interviews. Key socio-economic factors such as income level, family size, education, and age were found to significantly affect ICS adoption (p < 0.05), whereas cooking location, household decision-making, and involvement of societal stakeholders did not show a statistically significant impact (p > 0.05). The primary barriers to ICS adoption included limited awareness, high costs, and age-related factors. Addressing these challenges by targeting the significant socio-economic determinants is crucial for facilitating the transition from traditional to improved cookstoves. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, NGOs, research organizations, and manufacturers, highlighting potential areas for targeted intervention to enhance ICS adoption in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying wood and wood charcoal from sub-tropical to tropical regions is challenging, due to the high floristic diversity. This is especially true for the Horn of Africa, characterized by a high degree of endemism, for which no wood anatomy atlas is available. Yet, there is a strong need for anatomical descriptions and identification tools, in particular concerning archaeobotanical research.Numerous rock shelters in the Ethiopian highlands provide rich charcoal assemblages. Their study is of utmost interest to decipher past human-vegetation relationships. Many of these sites are located in the Afromontane Forest, the potential natural vegetation of the highlands within the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot, hosting 483 dicot woody species.Here, we present the first wood database for the species of the Ethiopian Afromontane Forest. It is set up on the online open-access platform Xper3 and includes an interactive identification key. The anatomical features follow the IAWA nomenclature and include additional ones, to improve the identification process. The database comprises wood anatomical descriptions of (1) 68 species from the wood reference collections of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, and Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; (2) 72 species from InsideWood and (3) 92 genera/species from specialized literature. The database also includes original pictures taken on samples from the reference collections. Our original coded descriptions and pictures are also available in InsideWood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest towards a low carbon economy and to achieve the SDG 7 of access to a clean, affordable and modern energy for all has led to numerous studies that seek to examine the determinants of clean energy adoption. Despite the numerous studies previously conducted that have sought to explain the clean energy transition, the role that health facilities play in promoting clean energy use at the household level remains to be explored. This study investigates the effect of health care facilities on households' energy adoption using survey data from Ghana and ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation techniques. The study further examines the different effects of different types of health facilities on clean energy adoption. The results show that the presence of a health facility in a community has positive effects on the likelihood of choosing cleaner energy sources for cooking at the household level. Furthermore, lower-level health facilities tend to have a bigger effect on clean energy adoption compared to higher level facilities such as hospitals and clinics. Robustness analyses confirm these findings. The pathways through which this relationship potentially occurs and the implications for increasing adoption of clean energy fuels are discussed. Article Highlights: The presence of health facilities in communities have a positive effect on clean energy adoption This is potentially achieved through public health education offered by health facilities and their staff in their communities. Providing health facilities, equipped with human and financial resources to carry out public health education, could accelerate the transition to clean energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The IR pulsed laser ablation of different carbon targets using a Nd:YAG laser is investigated. The produced carbon plasma is characterized in terms of maximum ion energy at a laser intensity of about 3 × 109 W/cm2. The presented study can be applied to the use of carbon ions for their successive acceleration in laser ion sources or for the investigation of carbon-nucleation-generating nanoparticles. This work aimed to understand how the energy released by short laser pulses can produce different effects in carbon targets with different allotropic states. The IR pulse laser ablation, operating at 1064 nm wavelength, 3 ns pulse duration, and 100 mJ pulse energy, has been used to irradiate different types of carbon targets in a high vacuum. Graphite, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, glassy carbon, active carbon, and vegetable carbon have exhibited different mass densities and have been laser irradiated. Time-of-flight (TOF) measurements have permitted the evince of the maximum carbon ion acceleration in the generated plasma (of about 200 eV per charge state) and the maximum yield emission (96 μg/pulse in the case of vegetal carbon) along the direction normal to the irradiated surface. The ion energy analyzer measured the carbon charge states (four) and their energy distributions. Further plasma investigations have been performed using a fast CCD camera image and surface profiles of the generated craters to calculate the angular emission and the ablation yield for each type of target. The effects as a function of the target carbon density and binding energy have been highlighted. Possible applications for the generation of thin films and carbon nanoparticles are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studies the production of charcoal from a by-product of viticulture such as the vine pruning remains of vine (vine shoots). During this study, several carbonisation tests were carried out in an electric muffle furnace where vine shoot samples were tested at different temperature ranges (150–450 °C) and with test durations of 2 h and 3 h. From these tests, the mass yields and carbon yields were studied, as well as the characterisation of the chemical composition of the resulting charcoals, obtaining the maximum results of the fixed carbon content of up to 80.4%. Subsequently, the tests' energy consumptions were also recorded in order to optimise the amount of grammes of carbon per kWh of energy used. The average value obtained in the trials was 18.55 g of carbon per kWh of energy used in the carbonisation process. Finally, special emphasis was placed on studying the sustainability of this charcoal through the net balance of CO2 eq emissions. To this end, the CO2 eq emissions associated with the energy consumption of the trials and how, through the use of this waste to produce 10–12 g of charcoal, the negative net emission values of up to −522.74 g of CO2 eq were achieved were evaluated. This demonstrates the possibility of charcoal production with a zero-carbon footprint. This acts as evidence of the possibility of zero carbon footprint charcoal production, a key innovative aspect that helps to achieve greater sustainability in industrial sectors with a high impact on the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work was dedicated to the chemical-mineralogical characterization of black pigments recovered from the excavation of the Pedra do Cantagalo I archaeological site, located in the municipality of Piripiri, in northern Piauí, Brazil. Representative samples of these pictorial materials were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A magnetic prospection was carried out by bringing the samples close to a small permanent magnet. The iron content in the pigments, as determined by EDXRF, expressed here as Fe2O3, ranges from 8.5(2) mass% to 92.2(9) mass%. The XRD data show that these pictorial materials contain hematite, maghemite, manganese oxide, barium and manganese oxide, quartz, kaolinite, anatase, and feldspar as crystalline mineral phases. By evaluating the chemical composition and XRD data, it can be concluded that the ferruginous species present in some samples have a crystallographic structure with very low crystallinity. The FTIR spectra show the occurrence of charcoal in most of the samples, and the other vibrational signals are compatible with the EDXRF, XRD, and Mössbauer data. In summary, the overall results obtained indicate the occurrence of four different chemical-mineralogical compositions for the black pigments investigated here: (i) one based on ferruginous species with magnetic properties (sample PCI.2021.231), (ii) one composed of charcoal mixed with ferruginous species and without magnetic properties (samples PCI.2021.446 and PCI.2021.484), (iii) one based on species containing manganese and barium mixed with low content of ferruginous species and without magnetic properties (sample PCI.2021.441), and (iv) one consisting of charcoal mixed with ferruginous species, feldspar, anatase, and predominantly quartz, and without magnetic properties (sample PCI.2021.368). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A huge population of developing and underdeveloped nations are using traditional biomass cookstoves (TCS). This direct combustion-based three-stone/brick stove is the least efficient and generates a large amount of gaseous & particulate emissions. Gasification-based improved biomass cookstove (ICS) has the potential to replace TCS as it has comparatively higher thermal efficiency and fewer emissions. In this stove, air is provided to the stove from primary holes (gasification process) and secondary holes (combustion process). This paper deals with the influence of secondary air flow rate on the performance of natural draft rocket-type ICS operated with wood as a feedstock. Thermophysical properties and chemical analysis are conducted for feedstock. Experiments were conducted to perform a parametric study with five different secondary air openings with ICS. A comparative study is included along with TCS. Parameters such as thermal efficiency, burning rate, firepower, effective firepower, specific fuel consumption, emissions, etc. were investigated. A higher quantity of secondary air offers a higher operating temperature which leads to a higher burning rate and fire power. Higher charcoal generation was observed with lower secondary airflow due to changes in stoichiometric conditions. Higher gaseous and particulate emission was also found with less secondary airflow due to incomplete combustion. Apart from that, thermodynamic analyses such as energy balance, exergy balance, and mass balance were also performed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refractoriness of chrome minerals imposes challenges during chrome ore pelletization process. This study is conducted to find suitable additives to improve chrome ore pelletization and pellet properties. Two types of additives (carbonaceous heating additives and binding fluxes) have been explored to improve pellet induration in pre-heating and elevated temperature zone of a shaft furnace. Ten different types of carbonaceous heating additives (rice husk powder, coke fines, anthracite coal, Indian coal, South African coal, Indonesian coal, graphite powder, carbon soot, pet coke, charcoal) were tested and found that rice husk powder and carbon soot are the most effective additives to improve pellet properties in the shaft furnace pre-heating zone. Rice husk dosing improves pellet strength by 31% (31.76 to 41.90 kgf) in the pre-heating zone which helps pellets to maintain their shape and size, this in terms improve the pellet bed permeability and gas flow during sintering. Seven diverse types of binding fluxes (Dolomite, Magnesium-chromite fines, Magnesium-carbon fines, MgCl2, Na3AlF6, MgO powder, and DRI-additive) were studied in the lab. Cryolite dosing between 0.25% to 2% in pellet mix improved pellet compressive strength by 190% (63 to184 kgf) and reduced pellet swelling by 30%. A pellet mix which contained 95% ore fines, 2% bentonite, 2% rice husk powder, 1% cryolite and 14% moisture has been identified as an optimized pellet mix for producing pellets with 197 kgf/pellet compressive strength. The pellets produced using optimized pellet mix also showed superior metallurgical properties during smelting reduction. It can improve the overall plant productivity economically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miofloral and fossil charcoal analyses of the Permian deposits of the Barakar and Motur formations from core PKK-2B, located in the Pench-Valley Coalfield, Satpura Basin (India) were carried out to assess the floral diversity, evidence for palaeo-wildfire and age. Two distinct palynoassemblages are identified: Faunipollenites varius palynoassemblage and Gondisporites raniganjensis palynoassemblage dated as Kungurian (Cisuralian) and Guadalupian (Wordian-Capitanian), respectively. These assemblages show dominance of pollen attributable to Glossopteridales followed by Cordaitales and Coniferales. The occurrence of charcoal at two levels in the sedimentary sequence indicates the occurrence of repeated wildfires in the surrounding area. Macroscopic charcoal fragments exhibit anatomical features such as bordered pitting, rays and helical thickenings on cell walls of tracheids suggesting a gymnospermous wood affinity. Most of the charcoal specimens exhibit rounded edges suggesting an allochthonous origin. Furthermore, fusinite reflectance (1.03–6.61%) of studied charcoal/inertinite fragments suggests that the temperature was in the range of ~305–962°C during charring. This indicates co-occurrence of high-temperature crown fires, together with medium- and low-temperature surface and ground fires, respectively. Our data emphasise the dominance of gymnospermous vegetation during the Permian in India and adds further evidence for the widespread occurrence of wildfires during this period in India and on entire Gondwana as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to determine the combustion quality of biochar briquettes mixed with goat dung charcoal, saboak shell, and corn cob with different adhesive levels. The research method used in this study is a Randomized Complete Design (RAL) consisting of 4 treatments and 4 replicates. The treatments were P1 = 25% goat dung charcoal + 37.5% saboak shell + 37.5% corn cob + 8% adhesive, P2 = 25% goat dung charcoal + 37.5% saboak shell + 37.5% corn cob + 10% adhesive, P3 = 25% goat dung charcoal + 37.5% saboak shell + 37.5% corn cob + 12% adhesive, P4 = 25% goat dung charcoal + 37.5% saboak shell + 37.5% corn cob + 14% adhesive. The variables studied were combustion temperature, combustion rate, combustion resistance, combustion color, smoke, and the ability to boil water. The data obtained were combustion temperature 334.3℃, combustion resistance 215 minutes, combustion rate 1.933 g/minute, color 3.5, smoke 5.53 and the ability to boil water 13.39 minutes. The results of variance showed that the treatment had a very significant effect (P < 0.01) on combustion temperature, ability to boil water and no significant effect (P>0.05) on combustion resistance, combustion rate, color and smoke. It is concluded that bio charcoal briquettes mixed with goat dung charcoal, saboak shell, and corn cob with 12% adhesive l evel can improve the best combustion quality compared to other adhesive levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the variations in Macrophomina phaseolina, the causal agent of charcoal rot, is critical in understanding the ecology of the isolates and the epidemiology of the diseases they cause. This study sought to identify and characterize M. phaseolina isolates using both molecular and morphological approaches and to determine the virulence of the isolates. Macrophomina phaseolina was isolated from cowpea-diseased stem tissues. Eleven M. phaseolina isolates from the major cowpea growing areas (Manga, Nyankpala, Yendi, Damongo, Tumu, Wa, Akomadan and Ejura) were morphologically and molecularly characterized. DNA of the M. phaseolina isolates were amplified using species-specific PCR primers MpKF1 (5'-CCGCCAGAGGACTATCAAAC-3') and MpKR1 (5'-CGTCCGAAGCGAGGTGTATT-3') and sequencing of the M. phaseolina specific amplicons was obtained. This was followed by searching against the NCBI nucleotide sequence database. Isolates were tested for their pathogenicity on a susceptible cowpea cultivar (IT97K-499-35). Virulence of the M. phaseolina isolates was expressed as the percentage of sown seeds that expressed seed rot and damping-off symptoms 14 days after planting. All isolates were confirmed as M. phaseolina based on the amplicon size obtained, and the sequenced amplicons showed an average of 99% homology to the available M. phaseolina sequences. The radial growth of isolates and the percentage of seed rot and damping off they caused on the IT97K-499-35 cultivar varied significantly. The percentage seed rot and damping off were positively correlated (r = 0.74 and 0.75) with the radial growth and colour intensity of the isolates, respectively. Macrophomina phaseolina infection and disease expression may be predicted by the colour and colour intensity of isolates as well as cowpea genotypes. Isolate Mp_3Mc (dense black colour) was the most virulent while isolate Mp_6Ec (grey colour) was the least virulent, resulting in 76.7% and 26.7% seed rot and damping off, respectively. The three clades resolved through the phylogenetic tree matched the distinct colour types of M. phaseolina which correlated with virulence. Isolates of M. phaseolina are diverse and differ in their pathogenicity. Efforts must be geared towards developing cowpea varieties that have resistance to charcoal rot disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seedling establishment is often a critical bottleneck in the revegetation of mine tailings and similar substrates. Biochar and deactivated yeast are potential sustainable materials that could be used in this context as seed coatings to aid in seedling establishment. We conducted a greenhouse study on biochar and deactivated yeast use as seed coatings, assessing germination, establishment, and early growth of white clover (Trifolium repens) and purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea). Coated seeds were applied to a mine tailing, a coarse granitic sand, and potting soil mix substrates; seedling establishment and growth were monitored over 75 days. Biochar coatings enhanced the seedling establishment of Trifolium, with biochar and biochar plus yeast coatings giving the best results. In some cases, these effects persisted throughout the experiment: biochar coatings resulted in a ~fivefold increase in Trifolium biomass at harvest for plants in the potting soil mix but had neutral effects on sand or tailings. Biochar seed coatings also enhanced Dalea germination in some cases, but the benefits did not persist. Our results indicate that biochar-based seed coatings can have lasting effects on plant growth well beyond germination but also emphasize highly species-specific responses that highlight the need for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charcoal shape variations provide insight into past fuel types burned, with charcoal length:width (L:W) being the most popular means of distinguishing fuel types. This paper presents morphometric data (L:W) of charcoal produced from plant taxa (n = 21) native to the southeastern United States of America (USA). These taxa included monocots (n = 3), dicots (n = 12), and gymnosperms (n = 6), which represented a range of growth habits including graminoids, trees, shrubs, and subshrubs. We further divided these taxa into tissues (n = 36 total samples) which included leaves, wood, bark, needles, stems, and a seed pod. Our results show that charcoal produced from plants native to southeastern USA exhibits more variable L:W values than those tested in previous research, but that when aggregated, they broadly agree with published L:W value ranges. Within the dicot group, leaves produced charcoal lower L:W values (median = 1.92, interquartile range (IQR) = 1.33) than wood (median = 2.43, IQR = 3.00), whereas the opposite was true for gymnosperms whose needles produced greater L:W values (median = 2.60, IQR = 3.22) than wood (median = 1.93, IQR = 1.44). The monocot graminoid we tested produced greater L:W values (median = 3.47, IQR = 6.02) than dicot or gymnosperm fuels. Further, our results provide conflicting perspectives on the likelihood of evolutionary relationships as the cause of variations in charcoal L:W values. Last, our results underscore the importance of site-specific experimental charcoal approaches to enable robust paleofire applications of charcoal morphometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxbow lakes are important habitats for many rare and protected wetland organisms and play a role as a storage of pollutants in floodplain. Unfortunately, many oxbows were destroyed due to drainage works and the adaptation of riverbeds to inland transport. Multi-proxy palaeoecological analyses makes it possible to recognise the succession of flora and fauna in the oxbow lakes over centuries and millenia. Insight into the history of the destroyed wetlands ecosystems is especially important for their restoration. We used palaeoecological methods (plant macrofossils, pollen, mollusc, Cladocera, diatoms, macrocharcoal) supported by radiocarbon dating to: (i) reconstruct the succession of the local flora (macrophytes, diatoms) and fauna (molluscs, Cladocera) during the last ca. 3000 years; (ii) provide a background of local to regional vegetation composition and disturbance by fire and human impact in the Drava valleys. (iii) determine natural reference conditions as a basis for the restoration of degraded oxbow ecosystems in the region; Our study revealed that: (i) in the shallow eutrophic oxbow lakes (ca. 2 m deep) occurred numerous submerged (Najas marina, N. minor, Ceratophyllum demersum, Zannichelia palustris) and floating macrophytes (Trapa natans, Nymphaea alba, Nuphar lutea), Cladocera and molluscs species (e.g. Borysthenia naticinata, Bithynia tentaculata, Valvata cristata) and we recommend that these species should be included in the restoration of oxbows in this region; (ii) warm climate phases (Roman Period, Medieval Period) likely enhanced the terrestrialisation process and transformation of water reservoirs into peatlands between 1200 and 800 cal. BP; (iii) human activity has led to changes in overall forest composition, including riparian tree taxa, since the beginning of the record and has intensified since the Medieval Period; (iv) the difference in the time and intensity of fires between the northern and southern part of Drava river valley is most likely due to the different history of human colonisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agriculture has caused extensive soil pesticide contamination, which is a global concern. This study explored the potential of bamboo charcoal (BC) to alleviate quinclorac-induced stress in tobacco plants. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of BC and vinasse fertilizer (VF) on the growth and physiological parameters of tobacco plants subjected to quinclorac stress. At 30, 60, and 90 d after transplantation, BC and VF exhibited pronounced restorative effects on quinclorac-stressed tobacco plants. The treatments improved plant height, leaf length, and leaf width, and enhanced leaf quality and various biochemical indicators. Treatment with 500 g VF + 4% BC resulted in the lowest residual quinclorac levels in both the soil and leaves. Treatment with 500 g VF + 2% BC resulted in the most significant recovery of agronomic traits, whereas 500 g VF + 0.5% BC was the most effective in enhancing leaf quality. However, the effectiveness of BC decreased with time following application, and furthermore, quinclorac may be released from the BC. In conclusion, BC shows promise in alleviating the adverse effects of quinclorac stress in tobacco plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cenerimod is a sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor 1 modulator that reduces tissue availability of circulating lymphocytes. The compound is in Phase 3 development for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Its pharmacokinetic properties are characterized by slow absorption and multiphasic elimination with a long terminal half‐life (t½), potentially caused by enterohepatic circulation (EHC). In this trial in healthy participants, oral cenerimod 0.5 and 4 mg once daily was administered for 50 days, followed by oral administration of activated charcoal (ie, 50 mg every 12 h for 11 days, starting 24 h after the last cenerimod dose), to investigate the potential EHC of cenerimod and assess whether elimination of cenerimod can be accelerated. The multiple‐dose pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of cenerimod were also evaluated. For both doses, peak plasma concentrations were reached 6 and 7 h after dosing. Cenerimod accumulated approximately eightfold and (near) steady‐state conditions were reached after 50 doses, resembling clinically meaningful exposure to cenerimod. The t½ following 0.5 and 4 mg of cenerimod was 767 and 799 h (ie, 32 and 33 days) and 720 and 780 h (ie, 30 and 33 days) with or without administration of charcoal, respectively, indicating no statistically significant difference. Therefore, charcoal did not accelerate cenerimod elimination suggesting that there is no EHC of cenerimod. A reversible, dose‐dependent decrease in total lymphocyte count was observed. No safety concerns were identified; administration of charcoal was well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]