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Background: Experimental and epidemiological studies indicate an association between exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution and increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In view of the high and increasing prevalence of diabetes, we aimed to quantify the burden of type 2 diabetes attributable to PM2·5 originating from ambient and household air pollution.Methods: We systematically compiled all relevant cohort and case-control studies assessing the effect of exposure to household and ambient fine particulate matter (PM2·5) air pollution on type 2 diabetes incidence and mortality. We derived an exposure–response curve from the extracted relative risk estimates using the MR-BRT (meta-regression—Bayesian, regularised, trimmed) tool. The estimated curve was linked to ambient and household PM2·5 exposures from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019, and estimates of the attributable burden (population attributable fractions and rates per 100 000 population of deaths and disability-adjusted life-years) for 204 countries from 1990 to 2019 were calculated. We also assessed the role of changes in exposure, population size, age, and type 2 diabetes incidence in the observed trend in PM2·5-attributable type 2 diabetes burden. All estimates are presented with 95% uncertainty intervals.Findings: In 2019, approximately a fifth of the global burden of type 2 diabetes was attributable to PM2·5 exposure, with an estimated 3·78 (95% uncertainty interval 2·68–4·83) deaths per 100 000 population and 167 (117–223) disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) per 100 000 population. Approximately 13·4% (9·49–17·5) of deaths and 13·6% (9·73–17·9) of DALYs due to type 2 diabetes were contributed by ambient PM2·5, and 6·50% (4·22–9·53) of deaths and 5·92% (3·81–8·64) of DALYs by household air pollution. High burdens, in terms of numbers as well as rates, were estimated in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and South America. Since 1990, the attributable burden has increased by 50%, driven largely by population growth and ageing. Globally, the impact of reductions in household air pollution was largely offset by increased ambient PM2·5.Interpretation: Air pollution is a major risk factor for diabetes. We estimated that about a fifth of the global burden of type 2 diabetes is attributable PM2·5 pollution. Air pollution mitigation therefore might have an essential role in reducing the global disease burden resulting from type 2 diabetes.Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Biodiesel is composed of various types of methyl ester compounds with different concentrations. The role of unsaturation degree was observed through single-molecule droplet combustion from three fatty acid methyl ester compounds. This research was conducted under normal gravity at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. Analysis of droplet combustion characteristics was observed along the heating, evaporation, ignition, and combustion stages. The cis configuration and allyl groups in unsaturated molecules related to different unsaturation degrees affect the droplet combustion process. Allyl and bis-allyl groups play an important role in accelerating hydrogen atom abstraction due to the weaker bond dissociation energy of the C H bond adjacent to the carbon double bond. The lower energy gap in unsaturated molecules is prone to electron excitation. Increasing the unsaturation degree resulted in shorter ignition delay and burning duration but higher droplet temperature, burning rate constant, specific power output, and flame dimensions. Soot particles formed above the flame tip on the unsaturated molecules gave a higher flame dimension. A high concentration of linoleic methyl ester in biodiesel fuel is recommended due to of high power output. However, the soot formation at a higher level of unsaturation degree should be considered.

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes pulmonary injury or multiple-organ injury by various pathological pathways. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a key factor that is released during SARS-CoV-2 infection. TGF-β, by internalization of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), suppresses the anti-oxidant system, downregulates the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and activates the plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB). These changes cause inflammation and lung injury along with coagulopathy. Moreover, reactive oxygen species play a significant role in lung injury, which levels up during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Drug Suggestion Pirfenidone is an anti-fibrotic drug with an anti-oxidant activity that can prevent lung injury during SARS-CoV-2 infection by blocking the maturation process of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and enhancing the protective role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Pirfenidone is a safe drug for patients with hypertension or diabetes and its side effect tolerated well. Conclusion The drug as a theoretical perspective may be an effective and safe choice for suppressing the inflammatory response during COVID-19. The recommendation would be a combination of pirfenidone and N-acetylcysteine to achieve maximum benefit during SARS-CoV-2 treatment.

This paper discusses the role of water cavities to break palm oil into glycerol and fatty acids. The cavities were generated by injecting water via a nozzle into palm oil in the Hele-Shaw cell at room temperature, without catalyst and pressure of 2, 6, 10 to 16 MPa. The hydrolysis reaction between triglyceride with water was verified by the Amsterdam density function (ADF) software. This suggest that production of glycerol by water jet impinging into palm oil bath is determined by three factors: the lowest static pressure produced by the jet, the largest foam of cavities produced by the static pressure, and the most energetic vibration generated during cavities formation. The cavities have very high surface tension energy, which not only breaks the palm oil into glycerol and fatty acids, but also modifies some fatty acids molecular structure.

Arachidonic acid (ARA) is an omega‐6 fatty acid that plays a major role in human health. The present study optimizes the production of ARA by the soil fungus Mortierella alpina CBS 754.68 on oil cakes. In the first step, the best substrate was chosen from four oil cakes, namely soybean, sunflower, olive, and colza oil cakes, of which sunflower oil cake showed the highest yield. In the next step, screening tests were performed using the Plackett‐Burman design. Seven variables (substrate particle size, moisture content, time, temperature, yeast extract, glucose, and glutamate) were investigated (each taking values of +1 and −1). Among these variables, time, temperature, and substrate particle size significantly affected ARA production (p

The production and utilization of disposal merchandise made of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) continue to increase with an annual rate of ∼2%. The post-consumer PET (PC-PET), accumulated as was...

The potential of Tunisian prickly pear cactus as a low-cost adsorbent for Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution was investigated in batch mode. To determine the optimum adsorption conditions, experiments were conducted varying the operating parameters, as follows: pH of the solutions (2-10), initial concentration of metal ions (0.98-2.4 mmol/L) and temperature (30-60 °C). The adsorption isotherm data were analyzed by applying the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Raduskevich, Temkin and Redlich–Peterson models. The experimental results were better fitted by the Freundlish model. The pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich and intraparticle diffusion models were applied to the description of the kinetic data. The best fit was achieved for the pseudo-second order model, and the presence of both film and intraparticle diffusion mechanisms was demonstrated. Thermodynamic studies indicated that the biosorption on the cladode powder is an exothermic and chemical process. The desorption/regeneration process was also investigated. The obtained results revealed over 90% desorption of Pb(II) metal ions from the total metal-loaded mass of the adsorbent and good stability of the cactus adsorbent for four successive adsorption/desorption cycles.

A massive quantity of Elaeis guineensis (oil palm) trunk biomass, containing a significant amount of natural starch, is available in Malaysia as bio-waste because of annual replantation. The efficient extraction of this starch (carbohydrate polymer) would be worthwhile concerning the environmental sustainability and economy through conversion to bio-resources. This study investigated the effectiveness of the bisulphite steeping method for starch synthesis from oil palm trunk (OPT) bio-waste. The central composite design (CCD) of Design-Expert software executed an experimental model design, data analysis, evaluated the impacts of process variables and their interaction through response surface methodology to optimize the bisulphite steeping method for starch synthesis. The developed quadratic models for four factors (strength of sodium bisulphite solution, steeping hour, mixing ratio with the bisulphite solution and ultra-pure water) and one response (%Yield) demonstrated that a significant starch yield (13.54%) is achievable employing 0.74% bisulphite solution, 5.6 steeping hours, for 1.6 and 0.6 mixing ratio with the bisulphite solution and ultra-pure water respectively. Experimental outcomes were consistent with the predicted model, which eventually sustains the significance of this method. Malvern Zetasizer test revealed a bimodal granular distribution for starch, with 7.15µm of hydrodynamic size. Starch morphology was determined by scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction investigation exhibits an A-type model, specifying persistent characteristics, while FTIR confirms the presence of hydroxyl, carboxylic, and phenolic groups like other cereal starches. Implication StatementMalaysia is the 2nd largest palm oil exporter of the world and produced 20.5 million metric tons of crude oil with 2.13 metric tons of palm kernel oil annually. Therefore, a massive quantity of palm oil trunk (OPT) biomass (110 million tons by 2020) is available annually as biowaste during the replanting activities. This huge volume of bio-waste is a severe environmental burden regarding the disposal issue. Modification of bio-wastes into a beneficial form (only 22% currently) would be sustainable for both the environment and the country's economy by diminishing the solid waste dumping challenges.Naturally OPT contains about 20% of lignin, 70% of cellulose, and a significant amount of starch, which is a is a carbohydrate polymer. Efficient extraction of starch from OPT bio-waste could ensure a potential reuse towards sustainable waste management and at the same time various application of starch i.e. as natural coagulant for wastewater and leachate treatment, food source, adhesive for particle boards etc.Even though several studies applied various methods for starch extraction from natural sources rather the current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the novel bisulfite steeping method for the synthesis of natural starch from the OPT biomass and process optimization by applying the central composite design (CCD), from response surface methodology (RSM). The impacts and interaction of process variables were evaluated by RSM to optimize the starch yield. The developed quadratic model demonstrated that this method could achieve 13.54% starch yield, which is higher than previous studies.Therefore, implementation of this study outcomes will ascertain the reuse of OPT bio-waste reducing waste load from this sector and maximize the natural starch extraction for further implication of numerous economic activities.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the different carbon chain lengths and the degree of unsaturation of six fatty acids as the constituent of vegetable oils. The droplet combustion was carried out at an ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. The variation in the carbon chain length and the degree of unsaturation resulted in different physical and chemical properties of the fuel, which affect the droplet combustion characteristics. The increase of the carbon chain length results in longer ignition delay times and shorter burning durations, as well as higher droplet temperatures, burning rate constant, and specific power output. Conversely, an increase in the degree of unsaturation with the presence of double bond results in shorter ignition delay and longer burning duration, as well as higher droplet temperatures, but lower burning rate constant and specific power output. The droplet diameter evolution divides the combustion period into unsteady burning zones and quasi-linear burning zones. The flame dimension of unsaturated fatty acid is higher due to the soot formation at the top of the flame. A bluish flame related to the higher oxygen content in the molecule can be observed in saturated fatty acids. The short-chain saturated fatty acid has a large non-luminous zone because they are rich in oxygen. In contrast, the long-chain saturated fatty acid has a narrow non-luminous zone with high flame radiation.

Old landfill leachate is normally rich in colloidal particles, has low organic compound, poor biodegradability and hard to be biologically treated. The suspended particles are generally dispersed, ...

Thermal stability and kinetics of thermolysis of postconsumer milk containers made of high-density polyethylene (PC-HDPE) and filament rods extruded from them (HDPE-F) were examined by thermogravim...

Recently, bacterial cellulose-based wound dressings have gained lots of attention, and many studies have tried to improve the efficacy of these membranes with incorporation of different natural materials to fabricate an all-natural wound dressing with significant antibacterial and wound healing properties. In the present study, bacterial cellulose (BC) is produced from Gluconacetobacter xylinus to fabricate BC-based membranes. Then, chitosan (CS) and cinnamon extract (CE) are incorporated into the BC membranes to prepare an all-natural wound dressing. The obtained composite membrane (BC/CS/CE) is characterized according to chemical properties, surface morphology, mechanical properties, water absorptivity, water retention, CE release, antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, in vivo wound healing activity, and compared with BC and BC/CS membranes. The BC/CS/CE membrane is able to maintain appropriate moisture content for an acceptable period of time. Although the tensile strength and elongation at break values of the BC/CS/CE are slightly lower than the BC membrane, they are still in ideal ranges. The BC/CS/CE membrane exhibits significantly more antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in comparison with the BC and BC/CS which can be related to the sustained released profile of CE. In addition, BC/CS/CE is more biocompatible with L929 normal skin fibroblast cells in comparison with the BC and BC/CS membranes. Also, the BC/CS/CE membrane can meaningfully promote the wound healing progress compared with other membranes at the Wistar rats full-thickness skin wound model. The BC/CS/CE membrane-treated wounds have more developed dermis layer in comparison with other groups according to histopathological analyses. Taking together, the CS and CE enriched BC membranes can be a promising wound dressing with desirable properties.

Ozonation, combined with suitable catalyst represents an interesting option in removing poorly degraded pollutants from stabilized landfill leachate. Therefore, this study aimed to eliminate chemic...

The CS-TPP nanoparticles were synthesized and their efficiency for removal of arsenic (V) ions at the optimum conditions was investigated. The optimum conditions for CS-TPP nanoparticles were obtained with the mass ratio of tripolyphosphate to chitosan of 1: 2 and pH = 5.0. The experimental data for the adsorption of As (V) ions followed the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity was 77 mg/g at pH = 6.0. All isotherm experiments were performed at room temperature (25 °C). The crosslinking of sodium tripolyphosphate with the chitosan led to a decrease in crystallinity of the formed particles which then resulted in an improvement in metal ion sorption properties.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), low methoxyl pectin (LMP), Persian gum (PG), and tragacanth gum (TG) edible coatings on the physicochemical properties of strawberries during storage period at 4 °C. The results showed a significantly less weight loss and decay for coated strawberries compared to the control. So that, the TG and CMC coated strawberries exhibited the lowest weight loss (3.65%) and decay (32.66%) at day 16 of storage, respectively. Edible coatings reduced the rate of deterioration in ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and anthocyanins in fruit over time. There was no significant difference observed between the coated and untreated strawberries in firmness and color characterization during storage time. Coatings improved the sensorial attributes of the fruit during storage so that, the CMC coated strawberries exhibited the highest score. TOPSIS-Shannon entropy method used to compare different coatings to improve the shelf-life of strawberries. The comparison between different coatings via TOPSIS analysis showed that the CMC was the most appropriate coating to reduce the weight loss, decayed and preserved nutritional ingredients of strawberries during the storage period.

This study investigates the effectiveness of sludge in coagulation-flocculation treatment for suspended solids (SS) removal from landfill leachate using Tin (IV) chloride and Jatropha curcas seed (...

In the present study, the effects of phytoremediation using Ophiopogon japonicus and Platycladus orientalis on the compressibility of silty clayey sand contaminated with 3%, 5%, or 7% crude oil was examined over a period of 2 months. Phytoremediation led to a decrease in the total petroleum hydrocarbons. The scanning electron microscopy images showed that an increase in the crude oil content increased flocculation of the fine particles in the soil; however, phytoremediation decreased flocculation of the soil structure. The replacement of water by crude oil decreased the dielectric constant of the fluid in the void space, which decreased the thickness of the double-layer water. These changes caused the soil particles to move closer together and become more flocculated. The Atterberg limits of the contaminated soil increased after phytoremediation. A decrease in soil permeability was observed after phytoremediation in the permeability and consolidation tests. The compression index and coefficient of consolidation increased as the crude oil content and the contamination time period increased. The increase in the compression index at 30 and 60 days of phytoremediation was 6% and 18% less, respectively, than for the untreated samples. The increase in the coefficient of consolidation after phytoremediation also was 15% less than for the untreated samples. It could be concluded that phytoremediation decreased the negative effects of crude oil on the geotechnical properties of the soil over time. It also was effective in decreasing settlement of the soil contaminated with crude oil and decreased the coefficient of volume compressibility.

Drug resistance is a great challenge in cancer therapy using chemotherapeutic agents. Administration of these drugs with siRNA is an efficacious strategy in this battle. Here, the present study tried to incorporate siRNA and paclitaxel (PTX) simultaneously into a novel nanocarrier. The selectivity of carrier to target cancer tissues was optimized through conjugation of folic acid (FA) and glucose (Glu) onto its surface. The structure of nanocarrier was formed from ternary magnetic copolymers based on FeCo-polyethyleneimine (FeCo-PEI) nanoparticles and polylactic acid-polyethylene glycol (PLA-PEG) gene delivery system. Biocompatibility of FeCo-PEI-PLA-PEG-FA(NPsA), FeCo-PEI-PLA-PEG-Glu (NPsB) and FeCo-PEI-PLA-PEG-FA/Glu (NPsAB) nanoparticles and also influence of PTX-loaded nanoparticles on in vitro cytotoxicity were examined using MTT assay. Besides, siRNA-FAM internalization was investigated by fluorescence microscopy. The results showed the blank nanoparticles were significantly less cytotoxic at various concentrations. Meanwhile, siRNA-FAM/PTX encapsulated nanoparticles exhibited significant anticancer activity against MCF-7 and BT-474 cell lines. NPsAB/siRNA/PTX nanoparticles showed greater effects on MCF-7 and BT-474 cells viability than NPsA/siRNA/PTX and NPsB/siRNA/PTX. Also, they induced significantly higher anticancer effects on cancer cells compared with NPsA/siRNA/PTX and NPsB/siRNA/PTX due to their multi-targeted properties using FA and Glu. We concluded that NPsAB nanoparticles have a great potential for co-delivery of both drugs and genes for use in gene therapy and chemotherapy., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • A series of novel nanoparticles which composed of either glucose and/or folic acid conjugated FeCo@SiO2-SS-PEI-PLA-PEG copolymers were successfully synthesized and loaded with siRNA and PTX simultaneously. • The prepared nanoparticles had diameter in range of 100–150 nm, and released the drugs in sustainable manner. • The simultaneous PTX and siRNA loaded nanocarrier showed significant toxicity on MCF-7 cells and also their significant transfection efficiency in these cells was demonstrated through increased uptake of siRNA-FAM via fluorescence microscopy imaging.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can result in various complications, included micronutrient variations, nutritional impairment, gastric tissue damages and oxidative stress. The present study aimed to evaluate serum variations of Cu and Se in H. pylori infected individuals. A prospective case-control study was performed on 69 participants with abdominal pains (40 patients with H. pylori gastritis versus 29 control group). Serum levels of Cu and Se were measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Comparisons of elements between included groups were done using independent sample t-test. Subgroup analysis between male and female (with or without H. pylori) was performed using one way analysis of variance. Correlation between serum Cu and Se was assessed using Pearson’s correlation test. The p-value levels less than 0.05 were considered as significant. There were no significant differences in serum levels of Cu and Se between H. pylori positive and negative persons. In male with H. pylori, Se levels were 38.4% higher than control male (p-value=0.03). A positive and significant correlation was observed between serum Cu and Se levels (r = 0.51, P-value = 0.024). Although no statistic difference was observed in serum Cu and Se levels, the significant correlation between measured elements represents as good evidence for some discrepancies. Given the importance of well controlled micronutrients in whole body health, especially in high-risk H. pylori patients, more studies are needed to clarify the exact relation of these and other trace elements with H. pylori outcomes.

PAMAM dendrimers (PAMs) are a group of polymeric macromolecules with distinctive physicochemical features, which can make them multifunctional theranostic nanoparticles (NPs). This study was designed to examine the impact of mucin-1 aptamer-conjugated NPs which were engineered using PAM for image-guided delivery of gefitinib (GEF) in the breast cancer cells/tumor. For this, PAMAM was conjugated with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and modified with PEG2000 to prepare a multi-functionalized NPs. Subsequently, GEF was loaded onto the DTPA-PAM-PEG NPs, which were then armed with MUC-1 aptamer to form the DTPA-PAM-PEG/GEF@MUC-1 nanosystem. Finally, aptamer-conjugated NPs were radiolabeled by gallium-67 as an imaging agent to construct image-guided nanoplatforms. The prepared NPs were characterized by different techniques. The kinetic release models of gefitinib from radiolabeled NPs offer the sustained-release mechanism of the encapsulated drug for over 7 days. In vitro evaluation showed higher cytotoxicity and enhanced uptake of the mucin-grafted NPs in MCF-7 cells. Nuclear medicine imaging and in vivo investigations revealed significant accumulation of 67Ga-DTPA-PAM-PEG/GEF@MUC-1 in the tumor site of the animal models. These data suggest that the engineered NPs are a promising image-guided nanosystem for mucin-expressing breast cells/tumors with the assistance of nuclear medicine.

Background. Oxidative balance and inflammatory processes affect wound healing phases, and their disruption is connected with delayed wound healing. The present study aimed to assess the association between serum hs-CRP, prooxidant-antioxidant Balance (PAB), and vitamin D with anthropometric and biochemical parameters in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Methods. Thirty-two patients with DFU were included in this study. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the bivariate relationship between serum hs-CRP, PAB, and vitamin D with anthropometric characteristics, glycemic status, lipid profiles, homocysteine level, liver, and kidney function tests. Results. Our data showed a significant positive association between serum hs-CRP and insulin (r = 0.417, P = 0.027), uric acid (r = 0.629, P = 0.001), creatinine (r = 0.431, P = 0.022), erythema (r = 0.36, P = 0.049), and ESR (r = 0.560, P = 0.002). Moreover, hs-CRP negatively correlated with FBS (r = –0.427, P = 0.023), total bilirubin (r = –0.639, P = 0.001), direct bilirubin (r = –0.445, P = 0.033), LDL-cholesterol (r = –0.405, P = –0.032), BMI (r = –0.398, P = 0.033) and HTN (r = –0.450, P = 0.014). Serum PAB value negatively correlated with patients age (r = –0.460, P = 0.027), and BMI (r = –0.442, P = 0.035), and positively associated with insulin level (r = 0.431, P = 0.040). A significant positive association between serum vitamin D with patient sex (r = 0.379, P = 0.047), and QUICKI (r = 0.456, P = 0.029), and negative correlation with HbA1c (r = –0.381, P = 0.045) were also determined. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that serum hs- CRP, PAB, and vitamin D are significantly associated with some anthropometric and biochemical parameters with important clinical value in patients with DFU. Low levels of vitamin D and high levels of hs-CRP and PAB may have an important role in the pathogenesis of DFU.

Locus coeruleus (LC) is considered to be the main source of norepinephrine in the central nervous system (CNS) and plays important role in relieving pain in the body. Changes in the activity of synaptic excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) would be an applicable way to regulate synaptic transmission in the LC. In the present study, we examined the role of astrocytic glutamate transporter-1 (GLT1) in the firing activity of LC neurons and the sensation of pain in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into three control (CNT), ceftriaxone (CFT) and dihydrokainic acid (DHK) groups. Animals were given intraperitoneal injections for nine consecutive days after which the electrophysiological and behavioral experiments were performed to determine the single-unit activity of LC neurons and pain sensation. Results of this study revealed that CFT as a well-known up-regulator of GLT1 expression decreases the latency of pain sensation in rats but inhibition of GLT1 activity by DHK showed no significant effects. Furthermore, the results obtained by single-unit recording from LC showed a significant decrease in evoked response in CFT group compared to the CNT group. Therefore, this study suggests that GLT1 might be considered as a potential therapeutic target for pain modulation in the future.

The aim of present study was to investigate the beneficial effect of chromium (III) picolinate (CrPic) and chromium (III) picolinate nanoparticles (NCrPic) addition on growth performance, stress-related hormonal changes, and serum levels of various immunity biomarkers, as well as the gene expression of IFN-γ in broilers exposed to heat stress conditions. Treatments included T1 which received the basal diet with no feed additive; T2 exposed to heat stress; T3, T4, and T5 containing 500, 1000, and 1500 ppb CrPic; as well as T6, T7, and T8 containing 500, 1000, and 1500 ppb NCrPic, respectively. After 2 weeks from CrPic and NCrPic supplementation, IFN-γ mRNA expression was assayed using the RT-PCR technique. The results showed that the lower body weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake by heat stress, and the feed conversion ratio were recovered remarkably by CrPic and NCrPic supplements. The stress-elevated levels of cortisol and immunoglobulin were reduced significantly using CrPic and NCrPic supplementation (P ≤ 0.05). The gene expression profile showed that the upregulated expression of IFN-γ was regulated by the addition of CrPic and NCrPic, in particular, to the diet; however, a full downregulation of IFN-γ expression was observed after week 2 of NCrPic supplementation. In conclusion, the results indicated that nanoparticle supplementation could be effective in reducing heat stress-induced detrimental alterations, thereby attributing to substantial changes to the immune system, including IFN-γ expression.

Sustainable aquaculture arises as key to increase food production in the coming years. However, the sector still faces many challenges such as the exposure of the cultured animals to pesticide-contaminated water. Pesticides used in agriculture can reach aquaculture systems either directly (integrated-agriculture aquaculture practices) or indirectly (soil leakage) and cause a broad range of ecotoxicological effects on cultured fish and shellfish. Here, we studied how glyphosate affects several haematological, biochemical, and immune parameters in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings, the fourth most important cultured fish species worldwide. We also evaluated the potential of dietary supplementation with black seed (Nigella sativa, 0.25, 0.5 and 1%) to lower glyphosate-associated toxicity. Our results showed that 14-day sub-lethal exposure of common carp fingerlings to glyphosate increases oxidative stress, decreases antioxidant defences, affects several metabolic pathways, and induced immune depression. Furthermore, we showed that fish fed with N. sativa-enriched diets at 0.25, 0.5 and 1% for 60 days coped better with glyphosate exposure than control fish and displayed more stable levels of biochemical serum parameters (total protein, albumin, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein LDL), cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein HDL), higher levels of immune defences (lysozyme and immunoglobulin) and higher antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase SOD, glutathione peroxidase GPx) than control fish. Fish fed with all enriched diets also displayed lower lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde MDA), lower metabolic enzymes (alanine aminotransferase ALT, aspartate aminotransferase AST and alkaline phosphatase ALP) levels in blood serum and lower cortisol levels than control fish. Altogether, our results show that dietary inclusion of black seed can be used as a sustainable bio-remediation strategy, mitigating many of the negative effects of glyphosate exposure in fish.

This paper investigates the potential use of anthracite coal to remove Fe, Mn, UV254, and colour from pre-ozonated groundwater using batch experiment studies. Pre-ozonated groundwater samples were prepared in a laboratory to present the actual characteristics of groundwater samples. General characteristics for anthracite, as well as for groundwater samples, were examined. The influences of anthracite dosage, pH, agitation speed, and contact time on the reduction of tested parameters were discussed. Also, three adsorption isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin), as well as kinetics models, were evaluated. Results demonstrated that the maximum removal of Fe (67%) occurred at 100 g of anthracite dosage, and no significant removal of Mn was observed. In addition, anthracite was capable of removing UV254 and colour using a dosage of 100 g. However, the maximum removal efficiency of colour was 76% using the same anthracite dosage of 100 g. The optimum shaking speed of 300 rpm resulted in the maximum removal efficiency of all parameters. The optimum pH was 7, which resulted in the maximum removal efficiency of Fe (40%), Mn (7%), UV254 (43%), and colour (50%). The optimum contact time was 90 min for all parameters with a dosage of 100 g which resulted in the removal efficiency of 54%, 52%, and 70% for Fe, Mn, UV254, and colour. The adsorption and kinetics models were well fitted with the experimental results. Overall, this study demonstrated that anthracite could be a good practical option for groundwater treatment. The strong iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) concentrations; is one of the big groundwater issues, causing reddish and blackish in the groundwater. Batch experimental works have been undertaken to investigate the applicability of anthracite as an alternative adsorbent to remove Fe, Mn, UV254, and colour from pre-ozonated groundwater. The application of ozone alone was less effective to remove these pollutants. At the optimum pH value of 7 and 90 minutes of contact time, the adsorption and kinetics models were fit well with the experimental results. The study demonstrated that ozonation with anthracite could be a good practical option for groundwater treatment.

The tableting properties for fermented spray dried jackfruit (FJP) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) powders were studied. 25% FJP + 75% MCC, 50% FJP + 50% MCC and 75% FJP + 25% MCC binary powder mixtures were compacted into tablet form at various compaction pressures ranging from 15.1 to 73.8 MPa. The properties were compared to pure FJP and MCC tablets. The addition of MCC resulted in a higher particle size and the increased in the plastic work of the tablet. The best ratio of FJP-MCC binary tablet was found to be at 25% FJP + 75% MCC where the tablet showed the highest tensile strength. In conclusion, the addition of MCC to FJP improved the compaction characteristics and the tablet mechanical strength.

Several studies have shown that tea consumption is associated with beneficial effects on human health, which is mainly explained by the antioxidant properties of tea. However, evidence on the effect of nutrition interventions on oxidative stress in an occupational setting is limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of tea consumption on oxidative stress in noise-exposed metal press workers. The study sample comprised 24 metal press workers and 24 age-matched control subjects. Metal press workers were assigned to the intervention group consisting of a glass of jujube tea and a portion of raisins per day for 4 weeks. Full-shift noise dosimetry was performed to measure noise exposure with average noise levels of 89.91 ± 2.92 dB for metal press workers and 61.54 ± 1.03 dB for control subjects. Elevated levels of baseline oxidative stress were observed in metal press workers compared with control subjects as indicated by significantly decreased levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (P = 0.026) and total thiol groups (TTG) (P = 0.0001), whereas no significant difference was observed in case of malondialdehyde (MDA). Intervention with jujube tea and raisins in metal press workers led to a decrease of oxidative stress as displayed by increased levels of TAC and TTG (P = 0.0001) as well as decreased levels of MDA (P = 0.012). Moreover, the intervention significantly altered expression of repair genes in metal press workers as demonstrated by decreased levels of OGG1 (P = 0.0002) and ITPA (P = 0.009), whereas no significant difference was observed in case of MTH1. These data suggest that regular tea consumption may protect occupational noise-exposed subjects from oxidative damages.

Organic mixed (ionic and electronic) charge conductors are the building blocks of state-of-the-art bioelectronic devices, including the organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). Despite the interest in OECTs, the library of polymers that show efficient mixed charge transport is still narrow. In this work, we developed two donor–acceptor (D–A) type polymers based on the glycolated thiophene diketopyrrolopyrrole (TDPP) as the acceptor unit. We combined the acceptor with two donor units distinguished with different electron-donating strengths, i.e., a glycolated thienylenevinylene (gTVT) and a glycolated thiophene–benzothiadiazole–thiophene (gTBTT), leading to the polymers TDPP-gTVT and TDPP-gTBTT, respectively. Using spectral, gravimetric, structural, and electrical characterization techniques combined with density functional theory calculations, we sought to understand the effect of the donor unit on the mixed conduction performance of these D–A type polymers. We found that the stronger electron-donating nature of gTVT vs. gTBTT endowed TDPP-gTVT with a lower backbone curvature, leading to films with a tighter lamellar packing, and thereof, a higher degree of crystallinity compared to TDPP-gTBTT. The combination of a high product of electronic mobility and volumetric capacitance (μC* = 205 F cm−1 V−1 s−1) and a low threshold voltage (−0.36 V) rendered TDPP-gTVT based OECTs superior to TDPP-gTBTT devices. Our work introduces the selection of donor units with higher electron-donating power as a means to tune the film's microstructure, providing an effective approach to optimize mixed conduction properties of D–A type OECT materials.

Six conformers of benzothiadiazole (BTD) flanked by two thiophenes on each side (T4) and mono-functionalized by phosphonic acid (A) (T4-BTDA) have been investigated by Density Functional Theory (DFT). The performance of six different functionals, namely Becke's three-parameter Lee–Yang–Parr (B3LYP) and B3PW91 with (Perdew and Wang correlation), BHandH, M06-2X, Coulomb-attenuating-method-B3LYP (CAM-B3LYP), and Grimme's D2 dispersion model (ωB97XD) in combination with four different basis sets of Pople's 6-31G(d), 6-31+G(d), 6-311G(d), and 6-311+G(d) have been assessed for the prediction of Frontier Molecular Orbitals (FMOs) and the maximum of absorption spectra in comparison with available experimental data. Computed results reveal that the most stable conformer in the solvent is favored by the sulfur–nitrogen (S–N) non-covalent interaction and the orientation of thiophene. Besides, it has been revealed that the anchoring group stabilizes the conformer when sulfur and oxygen of the phosphoryl group (PO) are in transposition. Regarding the available electronics experimental data of the studied dye, calculations showed that the B3PW91/6-311G(d) method was the right choice to obtain FMO energies, while the TD-BHandH/6-311G(d) method was suitable for simulating the spectral absorption for the studied dye. Using BHandH functional and (6-311G(d), LANL2DZ) basis sets, the adsorption energy on titania anatase 101 with a (TiO2)9 slab and the photovoltaic performance of studied dyes have been reported. The calculated cell performance was very close to the experimental value. This indicates that the calculation schema is consistent.

This work was aimed at the examination of the interaction of certain physicochemical properties on micellar systems constituting of a polymer (sodium alginate), two surfactants (CTAB and tween 80), and Algerian olive oil. Response surface modelling (RSM) was applied to study the combined effects of systems containing each type of surfactant. The monitoring of four independent parameters, i.e., the interfacial tension (Y1), the conductivity (Y2), the viscosity (Y3) and the turbidity (Y4) as responses for the experimental design model, allowed the determination of the performance of the established models. Based on statistical analyzes, the coefficients R2 and Q2 for the inter­facial tension, the conductivity, the viscosity and the turbidity are: 0.998 and 0.805; 0.982 and 0.742; 0.976 and 0.734, and 0.985 and 0.723, respectively. The obtained results indicate that these models showed a good predictive power for an optimal system composed of CTAB, Tween 80, AlgNa, and olive oil. For the CTAB/AlgNa and CTAB/olive oil systems, interfacial tension values of 33.85 and 34.39 mN m-1, respectively, and maximum conductivity values of 4.126 and 4.064 mScm-1, respectively, were obtained. For viscous compounds consisting of AlgNa/Olive Oil and AlgNa/Tween 80, maximum viscosity values of 202.5 and 196.6 mPa s, respectively, were obtained. For the same systems as those for viscosity, turbidity values of 300 and 304 NTU, res­pectively, were obtained.

The water hyacinth has high growth rates that can lead to various environmental problems and the production of large amounts of waste biomass. However, it can be a source of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of bio-oil. This study aims to determine the effect of temperature variation on the pyrolysis process of water hyacinth ex-situ with bentonite catalyst and the addition of water vapor. Temperature variations used are 450°C, 550°C, and 650°C. The pyrolysis process uses 300 grams of water hyacinth and is carried out for 1 hour. The results showed that increasing pyrolysis temperature reduced the char and bio-oil products, but increased the product of gas. Pyrolysis at 450°C produces a lot of bio-oil, while at the temperature of 650°C tends to produce gas products. Also, increasing the pyrolisis temperature results in a higher density of bio-oil. Gas chromatograph testing was carried out to determine the content of organic compounds found in bio-oil. Hydrocarbons are obtained which increase with increasing temperature. The highest percentage of the content of organic compounds is in oxygen compounds. Components of alcohol, phenols, ketones, aldehydes are functional compounds found in the content of bio-oil. Acid compounds are also contained in bio-oil from the results of pyrolysis of water hyacinth.

npj computational materials 8(1), 93 (2022). doi:10.1038/s41524-022-00764-0, Published by Nature Publ. Group, London

The combination of chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) and low salinity water (LSW) flooding is one of the most attractive enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods. While several studies on CEOR have been performed to date, there still exists a lack of mechanistic understanding on the synergism between surfactant, alkali and LSW. This synergism, in terms of fluid–fluid interactions, is experimentally investigated in this study, and mechanistic understanding is gained through fluid analysis techniques. Two surfactants, one cationic and one anionic, namely an alkyltrimethylammonium bromide (C19TAB) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), were tested, together with NaOH used as the alkali, diluted formation brine used as the LSW, and the crude oil was collected from an Iranian carbonate oil reservoir. Fluids were analyzed using pendant drop method for interfacial tension (IFT) measurement, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for determination of aqueous and oleic phase chemical interaction. The optimum concentration of LSW for IFT reduction was investigated to be 1000 ppm. Additionally, both surfactants reduced IFT significantly, from 28.86 mN/m to well below 0.80 mN/m, but in the presence of optimal alkali concentration the IFT dropped further to below 0.30 mN/m. IFT reduction by alkali was linked to the production of three different types of in situ anionic surfactants, while in the case of anionic and cationic surfactants, saponification reactions and the formation of the C19TAOH alcohol, respectively, were linked to IFT reduction. The critical micelle concentration and optimal alkali concentration when using cationic C19TAB were significantly lower than with the anionic surfactant; respectively: 335 vs 5000 ppm, and 500 vs 5000 ppm. However, it was found that SDBS was more compatible with NaOH than C19TAB, due to occurrence of alkali deposition with the latter beyond the optimal point.

Background Lead is a hazardous heavy metal, which causes many problems in the human body. Unfortunately, recent reports showed that smugglers and opium sellers add lead to drugs during the production procedure in order to increase its weight and cost. Purpose The aim of this study was development of a rapid and accurate method for measurement of blood lead levels (BLL) in the oral and inhaled opiate abuser people. Methods BLL in samples obtained from the oral and inhaled opium addicted patients referring to Sina Hospital in Tabriz, Iran, during 2017 was compared with healthy control group (N=15). The wet digestion method was used to prepare whole blood and Mercury Droplet Electrode Polarography (MDEP) method was utilized for measurement of the lead content of digested samples. Results Results showed that there were significant differences between the BLL of samples obtained from oral (17.12±74.61 μg/dL, p Conclusion Based on the results of this study it was observed that BLL in opium addicted people needs to be measured as soon as possible. Furthermore, screening of blood lead concentrations in opium-addicted people with a rapid and accurate MDEP method is very necessary and important.

Date palm (phonix dactylifera L.) is an important tropical fruit growing in central and southern regions of Iran. Date seed is composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, that make it an excellent candidate for xylooligosaccharide (XOS) production. In this study, two different protocols are used for the extraction of hemicellulose from date seeds. In the first protocol, hemicellulose (xylan1) was extracted by 2.25 M alkaline solution at room temperature for 24 hr. In the second protocol, date seed was treated with LCHTA (low concentration, 0.1 M, high temperature, 80°C, alkaline solution) for 3 hr, and thereafter, hemicellulose (xylan2) was extracted by 2.25 M alkaline solution at room temperature for 24 hr. The carbohydrate units of xylan1 and xylan2 were qualified and quantified by HPAEC‐ PAD. Side groups of xylan1 and xylan2 were detected by FTIR. In the next step, xylan1 and xylan2 were exposed to two commercial endoxylanases namely veron 191 and pentopan mono BG. Temperature, pH, time, and enzyme dosage of hydrolyzation were optimized to maximize XOS and minimize xylose. The results showed that the enzymes successfully hydrolyzed xylan2 and produced XOS, but cannot hydrolyze xylan1. Pentopan mono BG and veron 191 produced the highest amount of XOS after 4 (1.17 mmol/g) and 6 hr (1.13 mmol/g) of incubation, respectively. Conversion factors of xylan2 to XOS for pentopan mono BG and veron were 0.41 and 0.36, respectively. This study presence the possible prebiotic properties of date seed XOS and its application in functional foods., Low polymerization degree xylooligosaccharides (XOS) were produced from date seed. A special treatment (0.1 N NaOH at 80°C) is essential prior to xylan extraction. Temperature, pH, reaction time and enzyme dosage were optimized. Xylanase type, enzyme dosage and hydrolysis period affect the degree of polymerization of XOS.

An electrochemical sensor based on glassy carbon electrode modified with reduced graphene oxide-sodium dodecyl sulfate-Nafion* composite film was constructed and used to determine theophylline. The synthesized graphene oxide and surface morphology of the reduced graphene oxide-sodium dodecyl sulfate-Nafion film were characterized using IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction studies, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrochemical behavior of the theophylline on the modified electrode was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and adsorptive differential pulse voltammetry. Under optimized analytical conditions, the electrode showed a linear response at concentrations of theophylline of 0.01–0.10, 0.1–1.0, and 1.0–40 µmol L−1 with the detection limit of 5 nmol L−1.

The high-strength leachate produced from sanitary landfill is a serious issue around the world as it poses adverse effects on aquatic life and human health. Physio-chemical technology is one of the promising options as the leachate normally presents in stabilized form and not fully amendable by biological treatment. In this research, the effectiveness of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) augmented electrocoagulation process (hybrid system) for removing high-strength ammonia (3,442 mg/L) and color (8,427 Pt-Co) from naturally saline (15 ppt) local landfill leachate was investigated. A batch mode laboratory-scale reactor with parallel-monopolar aluminum electrodes attached to a direct current (DC) electric power was used as an electrocoagulation reactor for performance enhancement purpose. Optimum operational conditions of 146 g/L zeolite dosage, 600 A/m2 current density, 60 min treatment time, 200 rpm stirring speed, 35 min settling duration, and pH 9 were recorded with up to 70% and 88% removals of ammonia and color, respectively. The estimated overall operational cost was 26.22 $/m3 . The biodegradability of the leachate had improved from 0.05 to 0.27 in all post-treatment processes. The findings revealed the ability of the hybrid process as a viable option in eliminating concentrated ammonia and color in natural saline landfill leachate. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Clinoptilolite was augmented on the electrocoagulation process in saline and stabilized landfill leachate (15 ppt). The high strength NH3 -N (3,442 mg/L) and color (8,427 Pt-Co) were 70% and 88% removed, respectively. The optimum conditions occurred at 140 g/L zeolite, 60 mA/cm2 current density, 60 min, and final pH of 8.20. The biodegradability of the leachate improved from 0.05 to 0.27 after the treatment. This hybrid treatment was simple, faster, and did not require auxiliary electrolyte.

Various efforts have been made to overcome Doppler broadening in hyperfine measurement limitations in the atomic vapors spectroscopy and associated applications. The present study measured and calculated hyperfine resolved ellipsometric parameters through the near-normal reflectance spectra of the rubidium vapor cell in two experimental setups based on continuous and modulated pathway. The results indicated that valuable information could be extracted from the ellipsometric parameters about the atomic medium. Change in the ellipsometric parameters in each transition line confirms the existence of the elliptical polarization of the reflected light when it is exposed to the alkali metal vapor. Our results show that the ellipticity at 5S1/2 (Fg = 1, 2) → 5P1/2 (Fe = 1, 2) hyperfine transitions of 87Rb (D1 line) is small, and accordingly hyperfine transitions between the ground 5S1/2 (Fg = 2, 3) and excited 5P1/2 (Fe = 2, 3) states of the 85Rb isotope are considerable. These ellipsometric parameters, as phase difference, can trace the behavior of the relative orientation of the electric field and atom velocity in the interface based on van der Waals dipole–dipole interaction and is directly proportional to the strength of the light-matter interaction which extremely useful instead complicated atomic spectroscopic methods.

Background: Abuse of drugs is associated with several medical, forensic, toxicology and social challenges. “Drugs of abuse” testing is therefore an important issue. Objective: We propose a simple CE-based method for the quantification of amphetamine, codeine and morphine after direct injection of Exhaled Breath Condensate (EBC) by the aid of simple stacking mode and an off-line pre-concentration method. Methods: Using graphene oxide adsorbents, amphetamine, codeine and morphine were extracted from EBC in order to eliminate the proteins and other interferences. In addition to off-line method, an online stacking mode was applied to improve the analytical signal obtained from the instrument. Results: The validation parameters were experimented on the developed method based on the FDA guideline over concentration ranges of 12.5-100, 30-500 and 10-1250 ng/mL associated with amphetamine, codeine and morphine, respectively. Small volumes (around 100 μL) of EBC were collected using a lab-made setup and successfully analyzed using the proposed method where precisions and accuracies (within day and between days) were in accordance with the guideline (recommended less than 15 % for biological samples). The recovery tests were used to evaluate the matrix effect and data (94 to 105 %) showed that the proposed method can be applied in different EBC matrix samplings of subjects. Conclusion: The proposed method is superior for simultaneous determination of amphetamine, codeine and morphine over chromatographic analyses because it is fast and consumes fewer chemicals, with no derivatization step.

This paper investigates the potential use of sequential treatment using ozonation–adsorption and adsorption–ozonation processes for stabilized landfill leachate treatment. Zeolite was used as adsorbent due to its novel composition of naturally hydrated aluminosilicate minerals. Preliminary tests were conducted to determine the optimum conditions of ozone and zeolite. Results demonstrated that the usage of ozonation as a post-treatment for adsorption could effectively remove 92%, 82%, and 75% of colour, COD, and NH4–N, respectively. In addition, the application of ozonation as a pre-treatment showed a good removal for colour, COD, and NH4–N with a removal efficiency of 93%, 80%, and 71%, respectively. Also, an improvement in biodegradability of the leachate was achieved after ozonation/adsorption and adsorption/ozonation which increases the BOD5/COD ratio from 0.016 to 0.195 and 0.194, respectively, where the maximum BOD5/COD in the raw leachate was 0.02. This is attributed to the oxidation of high molecular weight organics in the sample. A combined treatment leads to a removal of inorganic and small non-biodegradable organic molecules, which decreases the COD and further improve the BOD5/COD ratio. This study demonstrates that the application of ozonation as a pre- and post-treatment with zeolite is an effective treatment method that can improve the treatment of stabilized landfill leachate .

The presence of antibiotic residues in foodstuff has been of growing concern in recent years. They are associated with several adverse effects on human health such as the transmission of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria through the contaminated food, weakness of the immune system, allergic or toxic reactions and imbalance of the gut microbiota. Therefore, monitoring of the levels of antibiotic residues in animal-derived food is necessary to guarantee the safety of food products as well as the public health. Since the residual antibiotics in the foodstuff are in trace levels which are often lower than the limits of detection of analytical instruments, the sample preparation before the analysis is very important. This step is an essential part of an analytical process, especially for the extraction of chemical residues from a sample, preconcentration of the extract and elimination of any matrix interferences that may affect the selectivity, sensitivity and the overall performance of the analytical methods. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is one of the most widely used techniques for the sample preparation that provides an efficient and reproducible method for selective concentration of target analytes in complex matrices. The objective of this research was to provide an updated overview of the recent trends in SPE techniques over the past five years. Different variations of this method, including solid-phase microextraction, stir bar sorptive extraction, matrix solid-phase dispersion, micro-solid-phase extraction, dispersive micro solid-phase extraction, magnetic solid-phase extraction, and molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction are also given in the present study. The review is focused on recent developments and innovations in the SPE which tries to improve the efficiency, safety and performance of sample preparation.

Donor–acceptor–π–acceptor (D–A–π–A) dyes represent a promising alternative to their ancestor pull–push D–π–A structures for use in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. D–A–π–A dyes exhibit a red-shift and notable photostability in comparison with D–π–A dyes. Nevertheless, the effects of the position of the cyano moiety in the terminal acceptor of monofunctionalized phosphonic acid on the charge transfer (CT) in DSSCs remain unclear. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) are applied herein to study the effects of the insertion of an electron-withdrawing cyanovinyl moiety and the position of the cyanide moiety on the geometrical, photophysical, CT, and nonlinear optical properties and reorganization energy of the designed dyes. The calculations reveal that a position of the CN moiety in the cyanovinyl phosphonic acid close to the anchor (CCCN2) results in the narrowest energy gap, and highest extinction factor and red-shift compared with the other dyes as well as the highest polarizability and first hyperpolarizability.

The presence of External Magnetic Field (EMF) increases Hydrogen production in water electrolysis. A catalyst addition is proficient for multiplying the EMF effect to increase hydrogen production during electrolysis. In this study, the magnetic potential and the electric charge on the Algal#Activated Carbon Graphene (AACG) surface are manipulated to boost EMF effect in water electrolysis. EMF strengthened by AACG accelerates the electron spin and changes the H2O spin-isomer from para to ortho which decreases the surface tension. Furthermore, the mobility of NaCl ions as electric charge carriers is augmented. On the other hand, electric charges on AACG surface bind Hydroxide ions (OH−) in water which increases the Hydrogen ion (H+) concentration. Then, the solution became acidic and easily conducts electric current. As a result, the AACG addition has doubled the Hydrogen production.

Landfills are the main option for waste disposal all over the world. Most of the landfill sites across the world are old and are not engineered well to prevent contamination of the underlying soil and groundwater by the toxic leachate. The present study examines the potential use of raw zeolite and heated activated zeolite in the reduction of COD, NH3-N, and colour from leachate. Zeolite was activated using different temperatures at 150 °C, 200 °C, and 250 °C for 3 h. General characterization was conducted for raw zeolite and heat-activated zeolite to investigate the influence of temperature on zeolite properties. Batch experiments were conducted at the optimum dosage of zeolite and pH. Results demonstrated that the optimum dosage of raw zeolite was 10 g with 53.1%, 22.5% and 46% reduction of NH3-N, COD, and colour, respectively. The optimum pH for NH3-N was 7 with a percentage removal of 55.8% while better reduction of COD and colour was obtained at pH 4 with a percentage removal of 24.3% and 73.8%, respectively. Also, the optimum temperature tested was at 150 °C, where the optimum dosage using activated zeolite heated at 150 °C was 10 g, resulted in the maximum reduction of NH3-N, COD, and colour of 45.1%, 11.8% and 43.7%, respectively. The optimum dosage of activated zeolite heated at 200 °C and 250 °C, which was 25 g. This indicates that the use of the activated zeolite heated at 150 °C can achieve the optimum removal at a lower cost which is applicable for a larger scale of wastewater treatment. In addition, it was found that the capacity of the zeolite before and after heat activation was 41.30 cmol/kg and 181.90 cmol/kg, respectively. The adsorption isotherm analysis reveals that both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms were in agreement with experimental data. However, the Freundlich isotherm model was more favourable than Langmuir isotherm to evaluate the adsorption equilibrium of the three pollutants as verified by the high R2 values.

Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca) is a highly salt-tolerant C4 perennial halophytic forage. The regulation of ion movement across the plasma membrane (PM) to improve salinity tolerance of plant is thought to be accomplished with the aid of the proton electrochemical gradient generated by PM H+-ATPase. In this study, we cloned a partial gene sequence of the Lf PM H+-ATPase and investigated its expression and activity under salt stress. The amino acid sequence of the isolated region of Lf PM H+-ATPase possesses the maximum identity up to 96% to its ortholog in Aeluropus littoralis. The isolated fragment of Lf PM H+-ATPase gene is a member of the subfamily Π of plant PM H+-ATPase and is most closely related to the Oryza sativa gene OSA7. The transcript level and activity of the PM H+-ATPase were increased in roots and shoots in response to NaCl and were peaked at 450 mM NaCl in both tissues. The induction of activity and gene expression of PM H+-ATPase in roots and shoots of Kallar grass under salinity indicate the necessity for this pump in these organs during salinity adaptation to establish and maintain the electrochemical gradient across the PM of the cells for adjusting ion homeostasis.

Background: Thymol and carvacrol are the most important dietary constituents in thyme species. These two active compounds are used for the standardization of pharmaceutical compounds. Objective: In this work, a simple and reliable ultrasonic assisted dispersive solid phase microextraction method (USA-DSPME) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography-ultra violet detection system was developed to determine thymol and carvacrol in pharmaceutical syrups. The efficiency of SPME sorbent was examined through several sorbents and finally Graphene Oxide (GO) was applied for extraction of the analytes. Method: The efficiency of GO was compared with three reduced forms of GO adsorbents as well. Several effective factors on the extraction performance were investigated. Results: Under the optimized conditions for the GO sorbent, inter and intra-day relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 3) and the Limits of Detections (LODs) were lower than 5.0% and 0.02 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, good linear ranges were observed in wide concentration ranges with R-squared larger than 0.9961 for both thymol and carvacrol. Conclusion: The present method is reliable and simple for determination of carvacrol and thymol in pharmaceutical products.