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Selenium (Se) is an important trace element for human body, and the fruit Se source is one option for human Se supplementation. To increase grapevine uptake of Se, grape seedlings were transplanted in soils supplemented with sodium selenite, and the concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 g L−1 chitosan were sprayed on grapevine seedling leaves. Next, the effects of chitosan on grapevine Se uptake were studied. The chitosan‐based foliar application increased the biomass, photosynthetic pigment content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and soluble protein content of grapevine. Chitosan application also increased the total Se, inorganic Se, and organic Se contents in grapevine. However, while the root organic Se was increased, the shoot inorganic Se was decreased. Compared to the control, the concentrations of 1, 2, 4, and 6 g L−1 chitosan increased the shoot total Se content by 9.29%, 12.39%, 17.70%, and 14.16%, respectively. Chitosan application also increased the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents in grapevine. Moreover, correlation, gray relational, principal component, and cluster analyses revealed that the root total Se, shoot total N, and root total K contents were the top three indicators closely associated with the shoot total Se content. Therefore, foliar‐based chitosan application on grape seedlings can promote the Se uptake in grapevine under sodium selenite supply, and 4 g L−1 is the best concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most important staple crop feeding more than half of the world's population. Extensive effort currently undertaken to develop new and improve existing rice cultivars calls for high-throughput, ideally non-invasive methods for monitoring the phenology and performance of rice plants in the field. We report on the results of systematic application of canopy-level reflectance-derived absorption coefficients to the monitoring of rice stands with unmanned aerial vehicle multispectral sensors. The proposed approach was tested in the field on 39 rice varieties. It was capable of assessing rice phenology and physiology traits such as canopy absorption in different spectral regions, biomass productivity, panicle weight and, eventually, crop yield. Importantly, the proposed approach reflected the pigment transformation patterns accompanying the progression of rice phenological phases. Based on this information, our results showed it was possible to resolve with confidence the three key phases of rice phenology regardless of cultivar-specific variation in stand optical properties. The absorption coefficient in photosynthetically active radiation spectral range was significantly related to rice final yield. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time the absorption coefficients at blue and red bands were used to indicate panicle ripening, thus estimating panicle biomass accurately in the tested 39 varieties with the determination coefficient above 0.8. We argue that the proposed approach gives valuable insights into the rice phenology and physiology in the field, so it will become a useful complement to the traditional plant monitoring techniques welcomed by plant physiologists and practitioners, especially those involving in accelerated rice breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, accurate, precise spectrophotometric method was developed for the estimation of barberin (BRN). The optimum condition for the analysis of the BRN was studied. BRN was subjected to stress degradation under different conditions like acidic, alkali, neutral, oxidation, photolytic, and thermal degradation as per recommended by the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH). The samples thus prepared were used for degradation studies by with the developed method. The lambda max i.e. absorption maxima found at 348 nm and calibration curve linear over the range of 0-40 µg/ml. The standard regression equation and correlation coefficient fond to be y = 0.02x - 0.0189 R² = 0.9982 respectively. % RSD found to be less than one. The accepted limits of accuracy (recovery) were found to be 97.75% and all observed data are within required range which indicates good recovery value. LOD and LOQ found to be 0.0529 µg/ml and 0.2167 µg/ml respectively by developed UV spectroscopic method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the abandoned mining and industrial land in villages and towns are seriously polluted by heavy metals in China, it is necessary for sustainable development to adopt efficient and economical ways to restore the ecology of abandoned mining and industrial land. Pollution level of topsoil contaminated with metallurgical slag from non-ferrous metal smelting waste site in Baoding, North China and the heavy metals (HMs) accumulation behavior of Bidens pilosa L. (B. pilosa, native pioneer plant) were studied. Two selected study sites were mainly contaminated by As (270∼434 mg/kg), Cd (63∼95 mg/kg), Pb (5496∼24504 mg/kg) and Zn (4500∼21300 mg/kg), which exceed the national standard severely. Investigation of multi-metal accumulation in different parts of B. pilosa indicated that the absorption of toxic metals varied by types, concentration and species of HMs under stress conditions, soil property and plant tissues. The results showed that B. pilosa had excellent ability to accumulate HMs under different HMs stress condition, with the highest accumulation concentration of 85 mg/kg for As, 380 mg/kg for Cd, 4000 mg/kg for Pb, and 7500 mg/kg for Zn in roots under experimental conditions, respectively. The growth trend of B. pilosa declined with the increase of HMs stress concentration in tested soils. HMs stress led to different degrees of plant toxicity and obstruction of physiological metabolism. Among the plant physiological index, Chla and ChlT decreased 28.0% and 28.1%, 37.3% and 35.5% under different stress treatments, respectively. Indicators related to physiological metabolic strength and stress resistance of plant, such as MDA (Malondiadehyde), CAT (catalase), SOD (superoxide dismutase) and SP (soluble protein), all increased with the increase of HMs stress concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the principal roles of the gut is the absorption of nutrients to meet animal needs. While in vivo measures such as total tract digestibility indicate the totality of the nutrients that disappear, these methods provide no information on the digestion, site, flux, and mechanism of nutrient absorption. Nutrient absorption is a complex set of transport pathways including passive diffusion, facilitated transport, ion exchange, active transport, and secondary active transport that is driven by electrochemical gradients. To tease apart the complexities of nutrient transport at different sites along the gastrointestinal tract, Ussing chambers have been a useful tool. Two ex vivo chambers, filled with oxygenated physiological buffer, and separated by epithelial tissue allow for the detection of nutrient flux, transepithelial currents, and/or membrane permeability. Historically, detection of the nutrient of interest was achieved using radio-labelled or fluorescent tracers. Beyond detecting flux (uptake, efflux, net flux), Ussing chambers can also tease apart the complex network of transport pathways that govern nutrient absorption. Isolating specific transport pathways can be broad spectrum inhibitors, and alterations to the physiological buffers to target transport pathways of interest. Altering the electrical gradient using a voltage clamp for instance, can be used to neutralize, inhibit, or promote, the electrical gradient; such alterations can be especially useful for charged nutrients. Inhibitors, meanwhile, inhibit the activity of entire families of proteins, useful for when the role of specific protein transporters is of interest. Alterations to buffer composition, such as bicarbonate-free buffer solutions or the inclusion and exclusion of compounds with similar size and charge, can isolate transport solely dependent on that solute or provide knowledge on the solutes that may share a common transport mechanism. Together, these modulations allow for a powerful tool to study the presence or absence of nutrient transport and has been crucial in establishing absorption kinetics of ionic nutrients (e.g., Na+, Cl- ), small organic nutrients (e.g., short chain fatty acids, glucose), and macromolecules (e.g., immunoglobulins). Done in conjunction with other techniques, Ussing chambers can offer strong insight to improve our understanding of nutrient absorption and epithelial physiology of the gut. This presentation will discuss the methods key to successful use of Ussing chambers, alongside with their limitations and ways to augment data generated by Ussing chambers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dual role of nutrient uptake by plant roots and leaves is one of the main advantages of sprinkler fertigation, while an improper solution concentration suppresses plant physiology and even causes foliar burns. To explore the suitable solution concentrations of nitrogenous fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer, field experiments were conducted at two sites in the North China Plain during the 2019 and 2021 growing seasons of summer maize. The foliar relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), foliar light energy conversion capacity (Fv/F0) and maximum light energy conversion efficiency (Fv/Fm) prior to and after fertilizer solution spraying were measured and compared. In the experiments, six urea concentrations (0.10 − 3.20%), eight monoammonium phosphate concentrations (0.03 − 4.80%) and seven potassium sulfate concentrations (0.10 − 4.80%) were tested during the jointing stage (V6), flare opening stage (V12), heading stage (VT) and filling stage (R2) of summer maize. The results showed that after spraying fertilizer solution, the spatiotemporal variability in Fv/F0 reached moderate from the weak spatiotemporal variability observed prior to spraying. The SPAD values reached moderate from the weak spatiotemporal variability only after spraying nitrogen fertilizer from V6 to VT and after spraying potassium fertilizer from V12 to R2. All the changes in the index variability suggested a great influence of foliar nutrient absorption on plant physiology. Averaged over 5 days following nutrient spraying during the whole season, the average increments synthesized by SPAD, Fv/F0 and Fv/Fm were 1.60, 1.33, and 1.21 times, and the average reductions were 0.62, 0.78 and 0.62 times, respectively. Depending on the fertilizer type and spraying opportunity, the influence of the fertilizer solution on plant physiology changed greatly. To maximize the relative chlorophyll content and photosynthetic capacity of foliar plants resulting from fertilizer solution spraying, the recommended urea solutions were 0.10 − 0.80%, 0.40%, 0.25 − 0.40% and 0.25 − 0.40% during the V6, V12, VT and R2 stages, respectively. For monoammonium phosphate, the suggested concentrations were 0.06 − 0.15%, 0.06 − 0.15%, 0.03 − 0.40% and 0.03 − 0.80%, respectively. Spraying potassium sulfate at a concentration of 0.10 − 0.40% during the V12 and VT stages would benefit plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping can affect the growth and elemental absorption of vegetables. This study investigated the physiology and cadmium (Cd) content of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. ramosa Hort.), and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings under monoculture, mutual intercropping of two or three varieties. Intercropping is not conducive to the accumulation of chlorophyll and biomass content of pakchoi, lettuce, and radish. When three seedlings were intercropped together, the antioxidant enzyme activity of pakchoi, lettuce, and radish increased and the content of malondialdehyde decreased, except that the superoxide dismutase activity of radish is inferior to the value of radish and pakchoi intercropping. Intercropping increased the soluble sugar and proline content in the lettuce seedlings, while those in the radish and lettuce seedlings reduced or had no significant effect. When intercropped with pakchoi and lettuce, the Cd content in the roots and shoots of pakchoi is higher and lower, respectively. At the same time, root or shoot bio-concentration factors also performed the same trend, and TF was the smallest and less than 1; however, the TF of lettuce is greater than 1. When intercropping with pakchoi or lettuce separately or together, it promoted the accumulation of Cd in radish root; when intercropping with pakchoi, the value of TF was the smallest. From the antioxidant system, the performance of the three seedlings intercropped together is better than the two; however, the accumulation of Cd shows the opposite trend, and the participation of cabbage in the intercropping is relatively conducive to reducing the Cd content in the edible parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze in-plane and out-of-plane texture and terahertz analysis of a YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) film deposited by chemical solution deposition technique onto LaAlO3 (100) substrate. X-ray diffraction reveals the presence of (00l) reflections for the YBCO phase. The out-of-plane texture, measured by a rocking curve, shows two sub-layers with Δω = 0.45° and 1.8°. The value of the c-axis fraction of the crystallites is 81%. Also, the in-plane texture was studied by ϕ-scan measurements of the (102) reflection, displaying mostly a colony of c-axis oriented grains, and two colonies of a-axis oriented grains onto the YBCO surface. In addition, the temperature dependence of the magnetization measurement revealed a critical temperature of 90 K, typical for YBCO superconductor material. From the temperature-dependent optical conductivity of YBCO, we observe an absorption feature at ≈1.57 THz, which redshifts with increasing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature-dependent photoresponse behavior of BaAl2Se4 layers has been investigated through the analysis of optical absorption and photocurrent (PC) spectra. Based on these results, the optical band gap was well expressed by Eg(T)=Eg(0)-4.39×10-4T²/(T+250), where Eg(0) is estimated to be 3.4205, 3.6234, and 3.8388 eV for the transitions corresponding to the valence band states Γ3(A), Γ4(B), and Γ5(C), respectively. From the PC measurement, three peaks A, B, and C corresponded with the intrinsic transitions from the valence band states of Γ3(A), Γ4(B), and Γ5(C) to the conduction band state of Γ1, respectively. According to the selection rule, the crystal field and spin orbit splitting were found to be 0.2029 and 0.2154 eV, respectively, through the direct use of PC spectroscopy. However, the PC intensities decreased with lowering temperature. In the log Jph versus 1/T plot, the dominant trap level at the high-temperature region was observed and its value was 12.7 meV. This level corresponds to the activation energy for the electronic transition from the shallow donor levels to the edge of the conduction band. It is estimated that the decrease in the PC intensity is caused by trapping centers related to native defects in the BaAl2Se4 layers. Consequently, this trap level limited the PC intensity with decreasing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO has been actively studied for potential usage as a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) for a variety of applications including organic light emitting diodes and solar cells. In these applications, fine-tuning the workfunction of ZnO is critical for controlling interfacial barriers and improving the charge injection (or outcoupling) efficiencies. We have performed plane wave periodic density functional theory calculations to investigate the effect of different surface absorbents and surface defects (including surface non-stoichiometry) on the workfunction of ZnO. The aim was to understand the underlying mechanism of workfunction changes, in order to engineer specific workfunction modifications. Accurate calculations of workfunctions of polar surfaces were achieved by introducing balancing pseudo charges on one side of the surface to remove the dipolar effect. It was found that increasing the surface coverage of hydrocarbons (-CH3) decreased the workfunction, while adsorption of highly electronegative-F and -CF3 groups and increases in surface O/Zn ratio increased the workfunction of ZnO. The increase of workfunction was found to be directly correlated to the enhancement variation of surface dipole moment due to adsorptions or other surface modifications. Introducing surface absorbents that increase surface dipole moment can be an effective way to increase workfunction in ZnO TCOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium-based Metal-Organic Frameworks (Ca-MOFs) hold great promise for environmental remediation due to their non-toxic nature, eco-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. However, ensuring the structural integrity of MOFs after water exposure is crucial for industrial applications. This study investigates the physicochemical properties and structural stability of Ca-MOFs as potential adsorbents for water purification. The synthesis temperature, time, and reactant ratio significantly influence Ca-MIX's surface area and yield. The ideal conditions for synthesizing Ca-MIX, achieving a surface area of 20.45 m2/g and a yield of 18.56 kg/m³ per day, were achieved at a temperature of 120 °C, a reaction time of 16 h, and a metal-to-linker molar ratio of 1:0.33:0.33, respectively. The efficacy of a calcium-based MOF with a mixed linker, Ca-benzenedi and tricarboxylate (Ca-MIX) was explored, for removing the hazardous endocrine disrupting such EE2 from water. Ca-MIX exhibits high adsorption capacity at 97.17 μg/g and rapid 1-h adsorption. The adsorption process using the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models were analysed, both describing it well. Notably, Ca-MIX efficiently removes EDCs like EE2, even at trace concentrations. Thus, Ca-MIX emerge as promising sorbents for adsorption-based removal of EDCs from polluted water. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of novel mixed-linker calcium-based metal-organic frameworks. • Optimization of synthesis process variables through application of response surface methodology method. • Physicochemical properties of materials and their behavior in water. • Adsorption performance and capacity of materials for synthetic estrogen removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to produce floating microspheres of glipizide. The hypothesis was that it would remain in the intestine for a long time and increase the sensitivity of the medication to its absorption position. Floating glipizide filled microphones were prepared using an emulsion solvent evaporation process. Various polymers have been developed to calculate floating sizes, density, compressibility index, homeland ratio, repository angle, drug load and enclosure consistency Eudragit S 100 and Kollidone SR, cellulose acetate, Acrycoat S 100, Methocel K4M, Methocel K15M and Methocel K100M. Release tests with in vitro phosphate buffer pH (7.4) were performed at 37 ff for a full 12-hour f. Samples have been removed at various periods and a total number of medication releases have been estimated. The percentage of drug release has been recorded in both formulations. The formulation k1 containing Kollidone SR was considered to be appropriate in all its formulations because it was increased to 94.75 per cent at the end of 12 hours. The rate of swelling of highviscosity particles was assumed to be lent in relation to Kollidone SR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel educational tool helps teach intestinal absorption in physiology--We have designed an interesting educational tool to help sophomores learn intestinal absorption in physiology course. In the study group (2019), 51 sophomores from biomedical engineering were encouraged to learn the intestinal absorption knowledge through reading materials and group discussion. Then, using the form of flipped class, they stepped on the podium and simulated and explained the absorption processes with designed paper props as educational tool. In contrast, the control group (2018), 52 sophomores from the same specialty had taken the same professional courses before. The result of theoretical test showed the average score in the study group was higher than that in the control group. The questionnaire analysis showed the positive role of the education tool in their learning efficacy. To sum up, using our tool has achieved better teaching effects than the traditional lecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic structures and excitonic optical properties of single- and double-walled armchair boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) [e.g., (5,5) and (10,10), and (5,5)@(10,10)] are investigated within many-body Green's function and Bethe-Salpeter equation formalism. The first absorption peak of the double-walled nanotube has almost no shift compared with the single-walled (5,5) tube due to the strong optical transition in the double-walled tube that occurs within the inner (5,5) one. Dark and semi-dark excitonic states are detected in the lower energy region, stemming from the charge transfer between inner and outer tubes in the double-walled structure. Most interestingly, the charge transfer makes the electron and the hole reside in different tubes. Moreover, the excited electrons in the double-walled BNNT are able to transfer from the outer tube to the inner one, opposite to that which has been observed in double-walled carbon nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To establish whether irrigant activation techniques, namely manual dynamic activation (MDA), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) and sonic irrigation (SI), improve the tubular penetration of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) into root dentine when compared with conventional needle irrigation (CNI). Secondly, investigate if increasing NaOCl concentration and/or contact time improves the performance of these techniques. Methodology: A total of 83 extracted human maxillary permanent canines were decoronated to 15 mm, and root canals prepared to a size 40,.10 taper. Root dentine was stained with crystal violet for 72 h and embedded in silicone. Eighty specimens were randomly distributed into 16 groups (n = 5) according to the irrigant activation technique, NaOCl concentration (2%; 5.25%) and irrigant contact time (10 min; 20 min). All activation techniques were used for 60 s in the last minute of irrigation. Additionally, three teeth were not exposed to NaOCl to confirm adequate dentine staining had occurred (i.e. negative control). All specimens were subsequently dissected, observed under a light microscope and NaOCl penetration depth (µm) determined by measuring the average width of bleached dentine using ImageJ software. Statistical comparisons were made with paired and unpaired t‐tests, anovas followed by post hoc Tukey's and Dunnett's tests, and a general linear model (α < 0.05). Results: Overall, NaOCl penetration ranged from 38.8 to 411.0 µm with MDA, PUI and SI consistently resulting in significantly greater tubular infiltration than CNI (P < 0.05). The deepest measurements in the coronal, middle and apical segments were all recorded in the MDA; 5.25%; 20 min group and the least in the CNI; 2%; 10 min group. Increasing either irrigant concentration or contact time resulted in significantly greater NaOCl penetration depths for all techniques and segments of the canal (P < 0.05). However, when irrigant concentration and contact time were increased together, a significant interaction effect between these two independent variables was observed on overall NaOCl penetration (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Agitating irrigants with MDA, PUI or SI, as well as using greater irrigant concentrations or contact times, potentiated NaOCl penetration into root dentine. However, longer durations of NaOCl exposure at lower concentrations resulted in similar depths of tubular penetration as those achieved at higher concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the influence of the changes of sagittal balance index of lumbar spine on the natural absorption after lumbar disc rupture and protrusion. Methods: From August 2016 to August 2017, 64 patients with ruptured lumbar disc herniation and treated with natural absorption in our hospital were selected as the research subjects. According to the size of the herniated discs after 2 years, the subjects were divided into the reabsorption lumbar disc herniation group (group 1, 2, 3, and 4) and the non-reabsorption group (group 0). The pelvic incidence angle (PI), the sacral slope (SS), the pelvic tilting (PT), and the lumbar lordosis (LL) were measured and compared at the time of admission and 2 years after follow-up. Results: There were no significant differences in the PI value and the change of PI value during the entry and re-examination of different groups. There was no significant difference in the PT, SS, and LL values among the patients in each group; At the time of reexamination, the PT had a decreasing trend and the SS and LL had an increasing trend. With the increase of the patient's score, the changes in PT, SS, and LL values showed an increasing trend. Conclusion: The PT, SS and LL values of patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation had significant changes before and after treatment. Changes in the sagittal balance index of the lumbar spine were important factors affecting the natural absorption of lumbar disc herniation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four types of middle‐pressure chromatogram isolated gels are evaluated for adsorption or desorption characteristics of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng. Among them, SP207SS and SP2MGS were selected for dynamic investigations based on their static adsorption or desorption capacity of total ginsenoside. Their adsorption kinetics was better explained by pseudosecond‐order model and isotherms were preferably fitted to Langmuir model. Dynamic breakthrough experiments indicated an optimum sample loading speed of 4 bed volume/h for either SP207SS or SP2MGS. Desorption speed was determined to be 2 bed volume/h according to desorption amount of total ginsenoside in their effluents. Eight ginsenosides were identified and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography‐triple quadropole‐mass spectrometry in total ginsenoside extract and different fractions during stepwise dynamic elution. For SP207SS, 27.62% of loaded ginsenosides was detected in 40% ethanol fraction, while 59.12% of them were found in 60% ethanol fraction. As on SP2MGS, the number went to 53.71 and 44.43%, respectively. Recovery rate of ginsenosides were calculated to 78.65% for SP207SS and 89.53% for SP2MGS, respectively. Intriguingly, content of Rg1 and Re in 40% ethanol fraction from SP207SS became 20.1 and 18.6 times higher than that in total ginsenoside extract by one‐step elution, which could be leveraged for the facile enrichment of these two ginsenosides from natural sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel adsorption model for the description of adsorption isotherms of cobalt nitrate on porphyrins H2TPP and H2TTPP is developed in the present paper. Experimental data were measured at five temperatures using the quartz crystal microbalance technique and were discussed to choose the most reproductive adsorbent for the achievement of the vitamin B12 nucleus. Then, the modeling treatment was established based on the grand canonical formalism in statistical physics by taking into account the lateral interaction between the adsorbate particles. This leads to a six parameter equation describing the complexation process at the molecular level. Actually, there is a good correlation between experimental data and those calculated by using the double-layer L.B.L. model. It was found that cobalt ions were adsorbed via a multi-docking mechanism onto the two adsorbents. The study of the density of receptor sites (PM) confirmed the endothermic nature of the two complexation processes. The van der Waals parameters indicated that the disturbances following the lateral interactions between the adsorbates are the highest in the case of tetraphenylporphyrin. The magnitude of the calculated adsorption energies reveals that cobalt is physisorbed onto tetraphenylporphyrin, whereas chemical forces were found in the case of porphyrins (H2TTPP). In addition, the proposed model allows the prediction of some adsorption thermodynamic functions, which govern the adsorption mechanism, such as entropy, Gibbs free enthalpy, and internal energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibodies present in mammal's serum are of high relevance for therapeutic purposes, particularly in passive immunization and in the treatment of some chronic diseases. However, their widespread use is still compromised by the requirement of several process steps for their purification and the difficulty in keeping antibodies stable to guarantee their therapeutic efficiency. These challenges significantly contribute to the current high cost of biopharmaceuticals, namely antibodies such as immunoglobulin G (IgG). Accordingly, the development of effective and sustainable purification strategies for antibodies and other biopharmaceuticals is in critical demand to decrease economic, environmental and health burdens. Herein, bio-based and low-cost hybrid alginate–protein cryogel beads were prepared, characterized, and applied as novel adsorbent materials for the purification of IgG from human serum. It is shown that hybrid materials are more efficient than the respective alginate beads since the presence of proteins increases the material selectivity for IgG, which is due to the specific interactions occurring between the target antibody and amino acid residues in the hybrid materials. Several operating conditions, such as pH, adsorption time and serum concentration, were optimized to improve the recovery yield and purity of IgG. Adsorption isotherms were determined to infer the adsorption mechanism of IgG onto the cryogel beads and to determine their adsorption capacity (175 mg of IgG per g of cryogel beads). Under the optimized conditions, IgG can be recovered from the hybrid materials using buffered aqueous solutions, with a purity of 80% and a recovery yield of 91%. The stability and integrity of the antibody are retained after the desorption step. Finally, the regeneration and reuse of the cryogel beads were evaluated, with no losses in the IgG adsorption performance and antibody stability. Although significant efforts have been put on the development of novel affinity ligands to replace the standard chromatographic methods to purify IgG, this work demonstrates the potential of bio-based and low-cost hybrid materials as promising alternatives, in which proteins can be used to improve the material selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study of energy absorption characteristics and distortions between simple and multi-cell thin-walled tubes with various geometrics are examined. Energy has to disseminate to avoid damage and harm during collisions. To diminish the misfortunes from collision, thin-walled tubes are utilised to dissipate the kinetic energy by deformation. For this analysis, simple and multi-cell tubes with different sections were made from aluminium (Al 3003) sheet and then they are subjected to quasi-static axial crushing. From the results, the energy absorption capacity of various tubes were compared and it shows that multi-cell tubes have more noteworthy than that of simple tubes. Moreover, hexagonal multi-cell tubes were retained as most prominent for higher specific energy absorption. This type of columns was found to be effective one to improve the performance of crashworthiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-doped flower-like carbon superstructures (NPC-F) are prepared via carbonizing self-assembled polyimide nanosheets. SEM, TEM, XPS, and N2 sorption methods are adopted to characterize the flower-like structure. NPC-F exhibits adsorption selectivity for hemoglobin (Hb) because the specific pyridinic N groups of NPC-F could coordinate with the sixth vacancy of ferrous ion in hemoglobin. The adsorption behavior fits well with Langmuir model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 360.0 mg g−1 and the adsorbed Hb could be lightly stripped from the NPC-F nanospheres surface by 0.5 wt% CTAB solution. Circular dichroism spectra indicate no obvious conformation changing of Hb during purification process by NPC-F nanospheres. Five cycles of a continuous adsorption/desorption experiment demonstrate the reusability of NPC-F as adsorbent for Hb. The prepared NPC-F superstructures are then employed for the isolation of Hb from human whole blood sample, obtaining high-purity Hb as demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nano-sized cellulose modified with lactic acid (MW-Ce-LA) was prepared with the assistant of microwave then used for the adsorption of Cu2+ from real samples. This modified cellulose was characterized by means of FTIR, TEM, XRD, and elemental analysis. ICP-OES was used for determination of Cu2+. The effect of pH, adsorption times, temperature, sorbent dose, and initial adsorbate concentration were studied to detect the ideal adsorption condition. Langmuir model proved to be the best to fit the adsorption isotherm experiments with maximum adsorption capacity of 90.3 mg g−1 Cu2+. Calculated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG° and ΔH°) for adsorption of Cu2+ on MW-Ce-LA suggested exothermic and nonspontaneous character of the adsorption process. The reusability tests indicated regeneration of the prepared adsorbent simply using 1 mol L−1 of HCl. The examined method was used effectively to preconcentrate Cu2+ from water, blood, and food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach was developed to prepare molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) composites on filter paper and with the subsequent determination of sulfamethoxazole in food samples. Hemoglobin was firstly encapsulated in a metal-organic framework to improve its stability and catalytic performance. This mixture was modified with an initiator and immobilized in the paper to prepare the MIP using electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization. This composite exhibited excellent adsorption capacity (60.1 mg g−1) and rapid kinetics, which were better than those of previously reported MIPs. Using the optimized conditions, this MIP composite directly extracted the sulfamethoxazole from complex food samples and was placed on the surface of a screen-printed electrode to quantify sulfamethoxazole with a detection limit of 0.7 ng mL−1. Sulfamethoxazole recoveries ranged from 99.4 to 103.7% and the results were in good agreement with those obtained by a liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method (r = 0.992). This approach may also be applied for the determination of other target molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degreasing cotton showing selectivity for the bovine hemoglobin (BHb) was developed by an imprinting procedure that is based on metal coordinate interaction. The morphological structure of the as-prepared samples was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, and the chemical modification steps were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The results of adsorption experiments show that the maximum adsorption capacity of the Cu2+-immobilized molecularly imprinted cotton (Cu2+-MIC) and Cu2+-immobilized non-imprinted cotton (Cu2+-NIC) was 140.33 mg/g and 17.78 mg/g, respectively, at the optimum pH value of 6.2. The adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic and the adsorption equilibrium could be achieved in 30 min. The adsorption isotherm data could be well described by a Langmuir model. Moreover, satisfactory reusability is demonstrated by five adsorption–desorption cycles with no significant decrease of the adsorption capacity. The SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that the Cu2+-MIC could be applied successfully in separation of BHb from the bovine blood sample. This procedure presents facile, cheap and stable fabrication strategy for efficient separation of proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Synthesize the MIC via surface imprinting technique. • The MIC based on degreasing cotton is environmental and economical. • The MIC has good stability and acceptable reusabilitye. We have developed a bovine hemoglobin (BHb) surface molecularly imprinted cotton based on degreasing cotton via surface imprinting technique for the efficient selective adsorption of BHb. The morphological structure of the samples was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and the chemical modification steps were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The maximum adsorption capacity of the molecularly imprinted cotton (MIC) and non-imprinted cotton (NIC) for BHb was 62.95 mg/g and 8.32 mg/g, respectively, at the optimum pH value of 6.2. The kinetics studies demonstrated that the adsorption follows a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The adsorption isotherm analysis indicated that the Langmuir adsorption isotherm fits well with the adsorption equilibrium data. Also, the selective adsorption shows the MIC has a good selectivity for BHb. In addition, the assessment of the reusability of the MIC was tested for five successive cycles revealed no significant decrease of the adsorption capacity. Electrophoretic analysis suggests the MIC were successfully applied to capture template proteins from the bovine blood sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, untreated waste potato peels were used as adsorbents for treatment and cadmium removal mechanisms were investigated. Maximum removal efficiency was 76% at an initial concentration of 100 mg L-1 of Cd(II) at pH 5.8 in an aqueous solutions at room temperature; 7.61 mg of cadmium was removed per gram of adsorbent. However, as the initial concentration increased, the removal efficiency decreased. Under optimum conditions, two parameters equilibrium isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin etc.) were applied. The Freundlich isotherm has the highest correlation (99.9%) in isotherms. Isothermal adsorption capacity (KF) has 19.94 mg g-1 and heterogeneity factor (1/n) 1.0 were determined. In adsorption, it was found that both the boundary layer diffusion and the intra-particle diffusion steps were effective, and the determination of the adsorption rate showed that the Type I pseudo-second-order equation had a high correlation (99%) at all concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide‐modified attapulgite was prepared and utilized as a novel sorbent in a simple solid‐phase extraction method for the determination of vitamin A in blood serum. Several factors affecting extraction efficiency were systematically optimized, including the sampling solvent and its volume, as well as the elution solvent and its volume. Under the optimal solid‐phase extraction conditions, the adsorption capacity of vitamin A was as high as 28 mg/g according to the Langmuir isotherm model. Based on the developed solid‐phase extraction method, the level of vitamin A in 200 µL blood serum sample could be accurately determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The recoveries of vitamin A spiked in 10% v/v methanol aqueous solutions were in the range of 86.9–92.8%, with the relative standard deviations not more than 8.1%. The method was applied to the determination of vitamin A in serum samples from 20 pregnant women. Compared with the previously reported solid‐phase extraction methods for determination of vitamin A in serum, our developed cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide‐modified attapulgite‐based solid‐phase extraction method used lower serum volume, omitted extra steps (i.e. evaporation and re‐dissolution), and eliminated internal standard. The results were promising for it to be used in routine monitoring during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken egg shell powder (CESP) was exploited as a bio‐adsorbent to get rid of heavy metals such as Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cr3+ from water. The BET surface area, surface image and elemental information, mineral type, and thermal changes of CESP were examined by BET surface analyzer, field emission scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer (FESEM/EDX), X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TG‐DTA), respectively. The batch adsorption experiments of heavy metals on CESP were investigated by varying initial heavy metal concentrations, contact time and CESP dosage. At initial heavy metal concentration of 50 mg/L tested, the adsorption rate of Pb2+ was much faster than Cd2+ and Cr3+ and its removal efficiency showed more than 99% at 2.5 g of CESP dosage and 4 h of contact time. In the studied conditions, the adsorption capacity of CESP followed the order of Pb2+ > Cr3+ > Cd2+ in system mixed with three heavy metals. The experimental data for adsorption kinetics and isotherm were evaluated by using pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models and Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models, respectively. The overall outcomes showed that the pseudo‐second‐order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm models were applied well to the adsorption experimental data acquired in this study. Through this study, the CESP are thought to be an effective bio‐adsorbent material on heavy metals because of the low‐cost, the high adsorption capacity, the easy acquisition, and the absence of pretreatment for surface modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modified zeolites (MZs) were prepared by loading different concentrations of hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) solution: 0.5, 1.0 and 2.5 mmol/L onto raw zeolites (RZ) that were then used as adsorbents to remove estrogen contaminants from water. The RZ and MZs were characterized by FTIR, BET, SEM and Zeta potential tests, which proved that the HDTMA had been successfully loaded into the zeolites and did not alter the structure of the mineral. Loading the HDTMA into the zeolites changed their surface properties from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, which increased their adsorption capacity for the estrogens E1 and E2. The adsorption equilibrium data of the MZs were found to conform to the Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption kinetic data were found to obey a pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption mechanism was dominated by distribution effects, combined with surface adsorption. Batch experiments were conducted using the MZs as a function of contact time, initial estrogen concentration, temperature, pH and natural organic matter. The experimental results indicated that low initial concentration, low temperature, and low pH in the range of 5.0–7.0 were favorable for adsorption of E1 and E2. As a result, MZs were concluded to be effective adsorbents for the removal of estrogen contaminants from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argon microplasmas generated at 0.9 GHz by a split-ring resonator form a single filament-shaped nonequilibrium glow discharge. The internal structure of these microplasmas is probed using laser diode absorption and imaging emission spectrometry. These two-dimensional diagnostics are then Abel inverted to reveal that the core of the filament has a strongly depleted central metastable argon population. The microdischarges are approximately 0.2 mm in width at 1 atm and expand with increasing input power between 0.05-1.5 W. The relative electron density and the Ar(4p) density are estimated from the emission detected by a CCD camera through various bandpass filters. Absolute Ar(4s) densities, on the other hand, are determined by Ar 801.4 nm absorption. The Ar(4s) profile transitions from center-peaked at low power (0.05 W) to center-depleted above 0.25 W, saturating at 1019 m-3. The electron density profile within the microplasma, however, remains center-peaked regardless of the power. The spatially-resolved gas temperature was estimated from the broadening of the Ar 801.4 nm absorption profile. The error in this gas temperature measurement due to the depletion of the metastable atoms is corrected using numerical heat transfer models and shown to be 1650 K if the plasma power is 1.2 W. Differences between the peak and average temperatures based on the nitrogen rotational spectrum are also explained using nitrogen emission imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to describe the food intake of adventure racers during a competition simulated in the laboratory. Ten male athletes with international experience in adventure races took part in the study. The experiment lasted 67 hr (total distance covered 477.3 km), but 3 athletes did not finish the race. Food intake was recorded throughout the simulation. Athletes' total energy expenditure was greater than their total energy intake (24,516 vs. 14,738 kcal), and the athletes obtained significantly more energy from food than from supplements. Carbohydrate intake was below the recommendation of 0.5-1.0 g · kg-1 · hr-1. These results indicate that guidelines for multiday adventure races are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to histomorphometrically investigate crestal bone changes at nonsubmerged implants (Camlog) with different machined collar lengths in a dog model. Materials and Methods: One-stage insertion of sandblasted acid-etched screw-type implants with machined neck sizes of 1.6 mm (CAM) and 0.4 mm (CAM+) was performed in the mandibles of 4 beagle dogs. Both types of implants were inserted so that the implant shoulder (IC) exceeded the alveolar crest for 0.4 mm. Placement was followed by the connection of standard abutments. The animals were sacrificed after 2 and 12 weeks. Dissected blocks were processed for histomorphometric analysis (eg, distance between IC and the coronal extension of bone-implant contact [CBI], the distance between IC and the apical extension of the inflammatory cell infiltrate, and the percentage of bone-implant contact). Results: Histomorphometric analysis revealed significantly increased mean IC-CBI (CAM: 2.4 ± 0.3 mm; CAM+: 1.6 ± 0.1 mm) and BIC (CAM: 77%; CAM+: 80%) values in both groups at 12 weeks. However, mean IC-CBI values were significantly higher in the CAM group (P < .01). An inflammatory cell infiltrate was localized to the implant-abutment interface of both CAM and CAM+ implants, and BC was clearly separated from aICT by a subepithelial connective tissue zone. Conclusions: Within the limits of the present study, it was concluded that (1) rough-surfaced implant necks reduced crestal bone level changes after 12 weeks of healing, and (2) microbial leakage apparently did not contribute to the marginal bone resorption in either group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the thermomechanical response of a spherical absorber to pulsed laser radiation and the potential for causing damage to the absorber and the surrounding material due to shockwave and bubble formation. We calculate the expected response of a spherical absorber to a series of laser pulses as a function of the gap duration between the pulses. We model two common absorbers that have different characteristics: a 1 μm melanosome found in the retina, and a 100 nm gold particle. We find that the thermomechanical response strongly depends on the duration between pulses and displays resonant effects with a characteristic period that depends on the absorber properties. This allows tuning the duration between pulses to channel a greater or lesser fraction of the absorbed energy into shockfront and bubble production, presenting various possibilities such as delivering large amounts of laser energy to produce strong thermal effects while suppressing unwanted pressure effects in the surrounding material. Resonance can also be used to target absorbers of a specific size, allowing generation of shockfronts in localized target regions to destroy specific cells. This specificity can also be used to sort particles by size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the process by which ingestion of sodium bicarbonate induces alkalosis which enhances performance during high intensity exercise. The amount of plasma (H+) in the blood was measured before and after exercise of the most commonly used dose in controlled trials with athletes. The largest difference in plasma between those taking sodium bicarbonate and the control group came between the 60th and 90th minute after ingestion.

The small intestine acts as interface and regulator between the gut lumen and the rest of the body and controls the degree and rate of transport of amino acids coming from dietary protein via the portal vein to the liver and the systemic circulation. To measure protein absorption, kinetics multicatheter animal (pig) models in combination with amino acid tracer technology are available. Dietary factors influence the absorption rates from the lumen to the gut. metabolism of dietary component in the gut, and the release of amino acids to the portal circulation from digested protein. In a balanced-protein meal, the gut dietary amino acid utilization (30-50%) for gut protein synthesis will result in a labile protein pool in the gut that can be beneficial during the postabsorptive state. To enhance gut retention, amount and quality of protein and the presence of carbohydrate are major factors. Besides this the use of a slowly digestible protein or the presence of fiber in the meal can increase retention further. During the absorption of low-quality protein meals, fewer amino acids are utilized by the gut, resulting in higher amounts of amino acid release to the portal circulation. Malnutrition or starvation, protein depletion, deficiencies of specific nutrients, or illness such as sepsis all inhibit the growth and change protein turnover of the intestinal mucosa and therefore affect absorption kinetics. Therefore, the kind of protein meal that has the most optimal absorption kinetics (the most beneficial) for gut and for the rest of the body depends on these (patho)physiological circumstances. Despite the absence of different absorption kinetics between protein, peptides, and amino acids, they could be beneficial in specific circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of caffeine ingestion on exercise testing. Forty double-blind studies with 76 effect sizes (ES) met the inclusion criteria. The type of exercise test was classified as endurance, graded, or short-term. In comparison with placebo, caffeine improved test outcome by 12.3% (95% CI, 9.1 to 15.4), which was equivalent to an overall ES of 0.41 (95% CI, 0.31 to 0.51). Endurance exercise significantly improved test outcome (P < 0.05) more than either graded or short-term exercise. When exercise protocol was examined, time-to-exhaustion (Tlim) protocols had a significantly greater (P < 0.05) ES than either the graded or the non-Tlim protocol(s). The results from this meta-analysis confirm the ergogenic effects of caffeine, particularly for endurance testing that use Tlim protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnetic power absorption in biological tissues has recently received due scientific and public attention, particularly, in the areas of cellular communication and hyperthermic treatments. While efficient numerical algorithms, such as the finite difference time domain technique and the method of moments, have been developed as to obtain accurate power distributions in complicated configurations, their physical interpretation and explicit dependence on problem’s parameters are still difficult to achieve. In attempt to gain a clear insight into the electromagnetic power absorption mechanism as well as its estimation and relation to the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), we have recently proposed an infinite-extent current-sheet model. Herein, the model is further extended by incorporating finite-extent sources, i.e., electric and magnetic line-sources, exciting a highly lossy semi-infinite half-space. This modification results in deeper insight and understanding of the crucially important parameters, commonly involved in realistic configurations, namely, bounds and estimates on the power absorption and radiation efficiencies, local and total SAR coupling coefficients, and effective absorption dimensions. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effect of ingested fluid composition on the experience of exercise-related transient abdominal pain (ETAP). Forty subjects, susceptible to ETAP, completed 4 treadmill exercise trials: a no-fluid trial and flavored water (FW, no carbohydrate, osmolality = 48 mosmol/L, pH = 3.3), sports drink (SD, freshly mixed Gatorade®, 6% total carbohydrate, 295 mosmol/L, pH = 3.3), and reconstituted fruit juice (FJ, BERRI® orange, 10.4% total carbohydrate, 489 mosmol/L, pH = 3.2) trials. Measures of the experience of ETAP and gastrointestinal disturbances, particularly bloating, were quantified. The FJ was significantly (p < .01) more provocative of both ETAP and bloating than all other trials. There was no difference among the no-fluid, FW, and SD in the severity of ETAP experienced, although the difference between the no-fluid and SD approached significance at the .05 level (p = .056). There was a significant relationship between both the mean (r = 0.40, p <.01) and peak (r = 0.44, p < .01) levels of ETAP and bloating. When the level of bloating was controlled for, the FJ remained significantly (p < .01) more provocative of ETAP than the other conditions, with no difference between the FW and SD (p = .37). The results indicate that in order to avoid ETAP, susceptible individuals should refrain from consuming reconstituted fruit juices and beverages similarly high in carbohydrate content and osmolality, shortly before and during exercise. Further, the mechanism responsible for the heightened experience of ETAP in the FJ trial extends beyond a gastric mass explanation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of carbohydrate ingestion before and during intense constant load cycling to volitional fatigue on surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity from the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) muscles. After 24-h diet and training control, 8 well-trained subjects [maximal O[sub2] uptake (VO[sub2max]) 66 ± 2 ml ⋅ kg[sup-1] ⋅ min[sup-1]; mean ± SD] ingested 8 ml ⋅ kg[sup-1] of either a 6.4% carbohydrate-electrolyte (CHO) or a placebo (PLA) solution immediately before, followed by 2 ml ⋅ kg[sup-1] of the same solution every 15 min while cycling to exhaustion at 84 ± 1% of VO[sub2max]. Exercise time to fatigue was 13% longer with CHO ingestion compared to PLA (58:54 ± 8:48 vs. 51:18 ± 5:54 min:s, NS). VO[sub2] (4.22 ± 0.11 vs. 4.20 ± 0.14 L ⋅ min[sup-1]), heart rate (172 ± 4 vs. 176 ± 4 beats ⋅ min[sup-1]), ratings of perceived effort (18 ± 0.1 vs. 19 ± 0.1), and rates of carbohydrate oxidation (314 ± 28 vs. 324 ± 26 µmol ⋅ kg[sup-1] ⋅ min[sup-1]) were similar for both PLA and CHO at exhaustion. There was no main treatment effect of CHO ingestion on blood glucose or lactate concentrations, nor plasma prolactin levels either during exercise or at fatigue. However, CHO ingestion attenuated the rise in EMG root mean square (RMS) activity during the latter stages (>45 min) of exercise and at the point of exhaustion for both VM (0.325 ± 0.010 vs. 0.403 ± 0.020 mV; p = .006) and VL (0.298 ± 0.011 vs. 0.370 ± 0.007 mV; p = .0004). We conclude that in well-trained subjects, the ingestion of carbohydrate attenuated the increase in surface electromyographic activity during intense, constant load cycling leading to exhaustion in ∼1 h. The precise mechanism(s) underlying this effect cannot be attributed to alterations in CHO availability but, instead... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective separation of heme proteins and peptides from complicated biological samples before comprehensive identification and characterization of intact biomolecules which are low stoichiometry is indispensable for ongoing proteomics. Here, three magnetic mesoporous rare-earth silicate (rare-earth = Er, Tm, Yb) microspheres prepared by facile solvothermal method were used as novel adsorbents for the selective isolation of bovine hemoglobin (BHb), and magnetic mesoporous ytterbium silicate showed apparent adsorption efficiency in isolating BHb with a adsorption capacity of 304.4 mg/g after the comparison. The retained BHb could be eluted by using Na 2 CO 3 as stripping reagent. Meanwhile, Circular dichroism spectra illustrated that the microspheres posed no effect on the secondary structure of BHb. The resultant magnetic particles were characterized by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, x-ray powder diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption−desorption isotherm and zeta potential. The as-prepared magnetic microspheres showed high specificity for the separation of BHb from bovine plasma as corroborated by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF MS analysis, which would be expected to possess potential application in isolation of other heme proteins in complex biological samples. Image 1 • Magnetic rare-earth silicate (rare-earth = Er, Tm, Yb) microspheres were synthetized. • Magnetic ytterbium silicate showed better BHb enrichment effect after comparison. • The novel method was successfully applied to isolate BHb from bovine serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]