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Global cashew nut production is nearly 4 million tons per year, valued at 7 billion US dollars. Remarkably, almost the entire cashew apple crop, amounting to 20 million tons annually, goes to waste. However, the cashew apple contains valuable nutraceutical compounds, including tannins, polyphenols, and carotenoids, estimated to be worth 150 million US dollars annually. Due to the highly perishable nature of cashew apples, degradation is a significant issue. In response, the current work has established drying as an effective preservation technique for these bioactive components. The effect of drying temperature on bioactive compounds has been thoroughly investigated. The non‐random two liquid (NRTL) activity coefficient model effectively captures the thermodynamics of the drying process. To facilitate the selection and design of drying equipment, two mechanistic mass transfer models were developed. The first model employs the Maxwell‐Stefan framework to account for internal diffusion, with external mass transfer resistance appearing as a boundary condition. While this model works well for products like grapes, it proved inadequate for explaining the drying behaviour of cashew apples. Consequently, a second model was developed, postulating rapid moisture transport by capillary action within the cashew apple. This model effectively captures the effects of a wide range of operating conditions, using only external mass transfer resistance as the tuneable kinetic parameter. This mechanistic model is more suitable for dryer design compared to conventional phenomenological models like the logarithmic model and the two‐term exponential model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subcutaneous microbubble administration in connection with contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging is showing promise as a noninvasive and sensitive way to detect tumor draining sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with breast cancer. Moreover, there is potential to harness the results from these approaches to directly estimate cancer burden, since some microbubble formulas, such as the Sonazoid used in this study, are rapidly phagocytosed by macrophages, and the macrophage concentration in a lymph node is inversely related to the cancer burden. This work presents a mathematical model that can approximate a rate constant governing macrophage uptake of Sonazoid, ki, given dynamic CEUS Sonazoid imaging data. Twelve healthy women were injected with 1.0 ml of Sonazoid in an upper-outer quadrant of one of their breasts and SLNs were imaged in each patient immediately after injection, and then at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 h after injection. The mathematical model developed was fit to the dynamic CEUS data from each subject resulting in a mean ± sd of 0.006 ± 0.005 h−1 and 0.4 ± 0.1 h−1 for relative lymphatic flow (EFl) and ki, respectively. Furthermore, the roughly 25% sd of the ki measurement was similar to the sd that would be expected from realistic noise simulations for a stable 0.4 h−1 value of ki, suggesting that macrophage concentration is highly consistent among cancer-free SLNs. These results, along with the significantly smaller variance in ki measurement observed compared to relative lymphatic flow suggest that ki may be a more precise and promising approach of estimating macrophage abundance, and inversely cancer burden. Future studies comparing tumor-free to tumor-bearing nodes are planned to verify this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of increasing organic load on the specific methane yields (SMYs) and kinetics of methane production during the anaerobic digestion (AD) of sugarcane bagasse (SB) was investigated in batch experiments at 37 °C. The organic load of the batch AD system was increased based on an increase in the feed-to-inoculum (F/I) ratio (T1–T5) and increase in the Total Solids (TS)% of the working volume (T6–T10). The results show that in both the treatment sets, an increase in organic load led to a decrease in SMY. Higher organic loads in terms of F/I ratio (T4 and T5) were inhibited due to Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) accumulation. On the other hand, higher organic loads (T8, T9 and T10) in terms of the higher TS% of the working volume was inhibited by the accumulation of NH4-N. Thus, an organic load of 50 gVS/L at an F/I ratio = 1.0 and TS = 10% (T3) was found to be the highest organic load that had no significant inhibitions among the tested treatments. The results from the kinetic studies show that the first-order kinetic model is the best fit for the SMY data, with average differences% of 2.32% and 3.13% for treatments T1–T5 and T6–T10, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biotransformation of steroid compounds into therapeutic products using microorganisms offers an eco-friendly and economically sustainable approach to the pharmaceutical industry rather than a chemical synthesis way. The biotransformation efficiency of progesterone into the anticancer compound testololactone using Penicillium chrysogenum Ras3009 has been investigated. Besides, maximization of testololactone formation was achieved by studying the kinetic modelling and impact of some fermentation conditions on the biotransformation process. Results: The fungal strain Ras3009 was selected among twelve fungal strains as the most runner for the transformation of 81.18% of progesterone into testololactone. Ras3009 was identified phenotypically and genotypically as Penicillium chrysogenum, its 18 S rRNA nucleotide sequence was deposited in the GenBank database by the accession number OR480104. Studying the impact of fermentation conditions on biotransformation efficiency indicated a positive correlation between substrate concentration and testololactone formation until reaching the maximum velocity vmax. Kinetic studies revealed that vmax was gL− 1hr− 1 with high accuracy, giving R2 of 0.977. The progesterone transformation efficiency generally increased with time, reaching a maximum of 100% at 42 h with testololactone yield (Ypt/s) 0.8700 mg/mg. Moreover, the study indicated that the enzymatic conversion by P. chrysogenum Ras3009 showed high affinity to the substrate, intracellularly expressed, and released during cell disruption, leading to higher efficiency when using whole microbial cell extract. Conclusions: Fungi can be promising biocatalysts for steroid transformation into valuable chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds. The study revealed that the new fungal isolate P. chrysogenum Ras3009 possesses a great catalytic ability to convert progesterone into testololactone. Kinetic modelling analysis and optimization of the fermentation conditions lead to higher transformation efficiency and provide a better understanding of the transformation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laccases are enzymes with low substrate specificity that in certain cases require the presence of a mediator in order to work properly. Therefore, this paper investigated the degradation of Orange G, Ponceau 4 R and Methyl Red in the presence of laccase isolated from Trametes versicolor and laccase-ABTS system. Laccase, in high concentration, was able to oxidize only Orange G and Ponceau 4 R, with a degree of decolorization less than 10 % in 20 min. In the presence of laccase-ABTS system, the reaction is much faster, and at least 40 % of dyes were degraded in 15 min. A kinetic model accounting for enzymatic oxidation of all dyes, including a step for enzyme operational inactivation, was proposed. This study proves that we can use a single kinetic model for the oxidation of all dyes in the laccase-ABTS system. [Display omitted] • Kinetics of Orange G, Ponceau 4 R, and Methyl Red oxidation by laccase and laccase-ABTS system was studied. • Operational inactivation of laccase was highlighted for all systems. • Kinetic models for dye degradation by laccase, and laccase-ABTS system were proposed. • The dyes oxidation can be attributed both to the oxidation by a complex between laccase and ABTS, and by ABTS ∙ + . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household food waste (HFW), which is rich in organic matter, is a good candidate for producing added-value bio-based chemicals, such as volatile fatty acids (VFAs), by acidogenic fermentation processes. However, the lack of design tools, such as appropriate kinetic models, hinders the implementation of this technology because the results of these processes are affected by operational factors. In this work, VFA production by the acidogenic fermentation of HFW under uncontrolled pH levels (4–5) was studied at thermophilic (55 °C) and mesophilic (35 °C) temperature conditions. Batch reactors were used to digest HFW, and VFA production and the individual acid distributions were measured at different fermentation times from 0 to 624 h. The results showed higher individual and total VFA production at 35 °C and 120 h of fermentation time as a consequence of the competition between the VFA production and decomposition reactions. Acetic and valeric acids were VFAs mainly produced as a result of a high content of proteins in the initial substrate, and a small amount of propionic and butyric acids were present. A simplified kinetic model was successfully developed to represent the complex process of VFA formation from the acidogenic fermentation of HFW. A simple mechanism for the production–decomposition of VFAs, corresponding to a zero-order reaction for the first 48 h and a single consecutive reaction from that time on, was proposed. For both mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, the suggested kinetic model was able to predict the individual and total concentrations of VFAs along the fermentation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this current study, hydrogels based on acacia gum (AG), polyacrylamide (PAM), and carboxymethyl tamarind kernel gum (CMTKG) were successfully developed and ciprofloxacin (drug) incorporated into it. To optimize the hydrogel, the concentrations of crosslinker and initiator were varied, and their effects on the swelling were examined. The hydrogel was subjected to characterization techniques such as Powder X‐ray Diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Attenuated Total Reflection‐Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The hydrogel swelling and in vitro drug release were assessed in pH 1.2 and 7.4 buffer solutions. The findings revealed that an alkaline pH yielded superior results for the swelling and in vitro drug release experiments compared to an acidic pH. The drug release kinetic of the ciprofloxacin‐loaded AG/PAM/CMTKG hydrogel followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model, demonstrating non‐fickian diffusion at pH 7.4 and fickian mechanism at pH 1.2. The pH‐dependent behavior of ciprofloxacin‐loaded AG/PAM/CMTKG hydrogel displayed its potential implications for site‐specific ciprofloxacin release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal kinetics of an aqueous mixture of thirteen antibiotics (i.e., ampicillin, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, flumequine, metronidazole, ofloxacin, oxytetracycline, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethazine, tetracycline, trimethoprim and tylosin) by batch UVC and UVC/H2O2 processes has been modeled in this work. First, molar absorption coefficients (ε), direct quantum yields (Φ) and the rate constants of the reaction of antibiotics with hydroxyl radical (kHO•) (model inputs) were determined for each antibiotic and compared with literature data. The values of these parameters range from 0.3 to 21.8 mM−1 cm−1 for ε, < 0.01 to 67.8 mmol·E−1 for Φ and 3.8 × 109 to 1.7 × 1010 M−1 s−1 for kHO•. Second, a regression model was developed to compute the rate constants of the reactions of the antibiotics with singlet oxygen (k1O₂) from experimental data obtained in batch UVC experiments treating a mixture of the antibiotics. k1O₂ values in the 1–50 × 106 M−1 s−1 range were obtained for the antibiotics studied. Finally, a semi-empirical kinetic model comprising a set of ordinary differential equations was solved to simulate the evolution of the residual concentration of antibiotics and hydrogen peroxide (model outputs) in a completely mixed batch photoreactor. Model predictions were reasonably consistent with the experimental data. The kinetic model developed might be combined with computational fluid dynamics to predict process performance and energy consumption in UVC and UVC/H2O2 applications at full scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the dynamics of biomass growth, lactic acid production, and glucose consumption for three microorganisms; Weissella cibaria IBUN 090–03684, Lactobacillus pantarum IBUN 090–03774, and Lactobacillus pantarum IBUN 04139 by using an extended logistic model. The microorganisms were cultivated in a 1 L bioreactor with pH control by using MRS medium at 37 ∘C for 24 h at 100 rpm. Weissella cibaria IBUN 090–03684 exhibited the highest product yield (1.26 gg−1), followed by Lactobacillus plantarum IBUN 04139 (0.96 gg−1), and Lactobacillus plantarum IBUN 090–03774 (0.90 gg−1), respectively. The results indicate that Weissella cibaria IBUN 090–03684 holds significant potential for large-scale lactic acid production. Furthermore, the reported modeling strategy fits well with experimental data for the three microorganisms evaluated. [Display omitted] • The logistics function is a good option for estimating kinetic parameters. • W. cibaria IBUN 090–03684 is a good option for large scale lactic acid production. • Lb. plantarum IBUN 04139 has the highest lactic acid production rate. • PLA from microbial lactic acid production can replace the plastic packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the Thermal Decomposition of Xishan coal Experiments and ReaxFF MD Simulations, the study investigated the processes and product changes in the thermal decomposition of coal and the pyrolysis of coal with Na2SO4. The results indicate that the initial temperature of thermal decomposition of Xishan coal is around 300 °C in experiments and approximately 1600 K in molecular simulations. The addition of Na2SO4 advances the initial pyrolysis temperature and promotes the generation of total number and types of products. Xishan coal pyrolysis generates a large number of small molecular gases and free radicals, and the addition of Na2SO4 promotes the generation of CO, CH4, and H2S, as well as the accumulation of a significant number of free radicals. Free Na mainly affects the evolution of N elements, promoting the formation of N into amino groups, and Na easily combines with sulfur-containing intermediates. Through the extraction of sulfur-containing intermediates and the analysis of the influence of free radicals, it was found that S elements Xishan coal ultimately forms H2S. This study microscopically confirms that in the coal with Na2SO4 system, H2S originates from the hybridised sulfur atoms in the carbon chain and free ${\rm SO}_4^{2-}$ SO 4 2 − . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the Thermal Decomposition of Xishan coal Experiments and ReaxFF MD Simulations, the study investigated the processes and product changes in the thermal decomposition of coal and the pyrolysis of coal with Na2SO4. The results indicate that the initial temperature of thermal decomposition of Xishan coal is around 300 °C in experiments and approximately 1600 K in molecular simulations. The addition of Na2SO4 advances the initial pyrolysis temperature and promotes the generation of total number and types of products. Xishan coal pyrolysis generates a large number of small molecular gases and free radicals, and the addition of Na2SO4 promotes the generation of CO, CH4, and H2S, as well as the accumulation of a significant number of free radicals. Free Na mainly affects the evolution of N elements, promoting the formation of N into amino groups, and Na easily combines with sulfur-containing intermediates. Through the extraction of sulfur-containing intermediates and the analysis of the influence of free radicals, it was found that S elements Xishan coal ultimately forms H2S. This study microscopically confirms that in the coal with Na2SO4 system, H2S originates from the hybridised sulfur atoms in the carbon chain and free ${\rm SO}_4^{2-}$ SO 4 2 − . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gelatin-based hydrogels, despite their excellent biocompatibility, face limitations in their utility for targeted drug release due to low mechanical strength. Thus, this research is directed towards the fabrication of pH-responsive hydrogels based on gelatin, polyacrylamide (PAM) and carboxymethyl tamarind kernel gum (CMTKG), followed by their loading with ampicillin sodium drug. The hydrogel has been optimized by varying crosslinker, and initiator amounts to observe their effect on swelling. The swelling is increased with an increase ininitiator, reaching a maximum of 1371% at pH 7.4 and 1218% at pH 1.2. The hydrogels are analyzed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), and Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) techniques. Various parameters such as drug loading, porosity, and gel fraction are evaluated. The in vitro drug release is evaluated in both pH 1.2 and 7.4 buffer, with higher drug release (63.3%) observed under alkaline pH. The kinetic modeling data validates the Korsmeyer-Peppas model (R² = 0.9871) to be the suitable model for the explanation of the drug release mechanism, suggesting the Fickian diffusion (n<0.5, pH 1.2) and non-Fickian diffusion (n>0.5, pH 7.4). Therefore, the Gelatin/PAM/CMTKG hydrogel shows potential for targeted release of ampicillin sodium in response to varying pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile industry uses high amounts of water and dyestuffs, and accordingly, wastewater containing significant amounts of dyestuffs is produced, which have to be treated before being discharged to the environment. The aim of this study is the treatment of synthetic wastewater containing 50 mg/L Acid Violet 90 dyestuff with catalytic ozonation process have been investigated by using n.CeO2, n.ZnO and n.CeO2/n.ZnO (1:1, m:m) nanocatalysts. The process optimization has been performed with the pH, ozone dose, catalyst dose and reaction time parameters. While the optimum conditions have been determined as pH 3, 600 mg/L ozone dose, 10 min reaction time, for all three catalysts, catalyst doses have differed as 50 mg/L for n. CeO2, 30 mg/L for n.ZnO and n.CeO2/n.ZnO. The removal efficiencies of AV 90 have been achieved as 97.04, 96.2 and 95.7% for n.CeO2, n.ZnO and n.CeO2/n.ZnO catalysts, respectively. Kinetic analyses showed that color removal of AV 90 dyestuff followed First order kinetics with R2 values of 0.9987 (n.CeO2), 0.9912 (n.ZnO) and 0.9923 (n.CeO2/n.ZnO) and reaction rate constant values have been calculated as 0,3435 (n.CeO2), 0,3551(n.ZnO) and 0,3226 (n.CeO2/n.ZnO) min−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Biotransformation of steroid compounds into therapeutic products using microorganisms offers an eco-friendly and economically sustainable approach to the pharmaceutical industry rather than a chemical synthesis way. The biotransformation efficiency of progesterone into the anticancer compound testololactone using Penicillium chrysogenum Ras3009 has been investigated. Besides, maximization of testololactone formation was achieved by studying the kinetic modelling and impact of some fermentation conditions on the biotransformation process. Results The fungal strain Ras3009 was selected among twelve fungal strains as the most runner for the transformation of 81.18% of progesterone into testololactone. Ras3009 was identified phenotypically and genotypically as Penicillium chrysogenum, its 18 S rRNA nucleotide sequence was deposited in the GenBank database by the accession number OR480104. Studying the impact of fermentation conditions on biotransformation efficiency indicated a positive correlation between substrate concentration and testololactone formation until reaching the maximum velocity v max . Kinetic studies revealed that v max was $$\:0.0482$$ gL− 1hr− 1 with high accuracy, giving R 2 of 0.977. The progesterone transformation efficiency generally increased with time, reaching a maximum of 100% at 42 h with testololactone yield (Y pt/s ) 0.8700 mg/mg. Moreover, the study indicated that the enzymatic conversion by P. chrysogenum Ras3009 showed high affinity to the substrate, intracellularly expressed, and released during cell disruption, leading to higher efficiency when using whole microbial cell extract. Conclusions Fungi can be promising biocatalysts for steroid transformation into valuable chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds. The study revealed that the new fungal isolate P. chrysogenum Ras3009 possesses a great catalytic ability to convert progesterone into testololactone. Kinetic modelling analysis and optimization of the fermentation conditions lead to higher transformation efficiency and provide a better understanding of the transformation processes. Graphical abstract

Soil microbes respond to fresh organic matter in soil by altering their respiration rate and hence the cumulative CO 2 efflux (henceforth called efflux) from soil. Parallelly, perturbed microbial respiration alters organic matter recalcitrance. Consequently, the turnover time of two carbon pools, namely recalcitrant soil organic matter and active microbial biomass, changes. The former outcome is the real, and the latter outcome the apparent soil priming effect (PE). Either or both PEs can occur. If pool turnover time changes, then the pool efflux necessarily changes. The PE is therefore widely measured using the pool efflux as proxy of pool turnover time since the latter cannot be measured directly. Typically, labelled experiments are performed to identify the carbon source in the efflux. We identify a caveat in this procedure. If soil PEs in multiple locations are compared, the initial soil carbon content per unit soil mass varies across locations, becoming a confounding variable. We propose a correction for this confounding effect. We also propose a simulation methodology to identify the two PEs from the total efflux without the need of expensive and onerous labelled experiments. A lumped parameter multi-carbon pool model is developed, in which the turnover time of the two carbon pools corresponds to two distinct model parameters. This model structure allows defining the two PEs by the change in the relevant model parameter value in treatment relative to control. Applying the definition to experimental data arising from glucose addition to loamy Haplic Luvisol soil gives results consistent with microbial ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In preclinical studies, the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [11C]UCB-A provided promising results for imaging synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) as a proxy for synaptic density. This paper reports the first-in-human [11C]UCB-A PET study to characterise its kinetics in healthy subjects and further evaluate SV2A-specific binding. Results Twelve healthy subjects underwent 90-min baseline [11C]UCB-A scans with PET/MRI, with two subjects participating in an additional blocking scan with the same scanning procedure after a single dose of levetiracetam (1500 mg). Our results indicated abundant [11C]UCB-A brain uptake across all cortical regions, with slow elimination. Kinetic modelling of [11C]UCB-A PET using various compartment models suggested that the irreversible two-tissue compartment model best describes the kinetics of the radioactive tracer. Accordingly, the Patlak graphical analysis was used to simplify the analysis. The estimated SV2A occupancy determined by the Lassen plot was around 66%. Significant specific binding at baseline and comparable binding reduction as grey matter precludes the use of centrum semiovale as reference tissue. Conclusions [11C]UCB-A PET imaging enables quantifying SV2A in vivo. However, its slow kinetics require a long scan duration, which is impractical with the short half-life of carbon-11. Consequently, the slow kinetics and complicated quantification methods may restrict its use in humans.

In this study, lupine seed (Lu-SP) and pumpkin seed shells (PSSP) biomasses were used to create alternative and effective adsorbents. Methylene blue (MB) dye was removed from wastewater using the as-prepared adsorbents at variables solution pH 2.0 –11.0, contact period (0–180 min), and adsorbent mass (0.2–2.0 g/L). The solution pH had a synergistic effect on the improved removal of MB and the optimal adsorption removal for both adsorbents occurred at pH 8.0 and 120 min. The adsorption isotherm modelling results showed a good fit with the Langmuir model, with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 48.98 and 77.48 mg/g for PSSP and Lu-SP, respectively. Similarly, the pseudo-first-order (PFO) model is regarded as the best-fit kinetic model for both adsorbents and suggests the predominance of physisorption via interfacial diffusion. Mechanistic investigation of the present system suggests that both intraparticle diffusion and surface sorption mechanisms control the adsorption rate. Notably, the Lu-SP with a lower surface area (54.013 m2/g) outperformed the PSSP (235.992 m2/g) in terms of adsorption capacity under varying pH. Therefore, in addition to electrostatic interaction, adsorption into the micropores via volume filling is considered one of the adsorption mechanisms. This study, therefore, revealed that the PSSP and Lu-SP may be very helpful for removing cationic MB dye from contaminated wastewater.

In this research, based on kinetic and pyrolysis modelling, a model of 1-MW th biomass chemical looping gasification (BCLG) was prepared using the Aspen Plus process simulation software; the involved biomass feedstock was corn stover. The model reliability was verified using experimental data, and the energy and exergy performances of the modeled BCLG were analyzed in detail. Further, thermodynamic modelling was compared with kinetic modelling to determine the fuel utilization efficiency. In addition, the effects of operating conditions such as the gasification temperature, oxygen/carbon (O/C) ratio, and water/carbon (H 2 O/C) ratio on the modeled BCLG were investigated under steady-state conditions. Results revealed that the involved H 2 /CO ratio, syngas yield, and cold-gas efficiency were optimal at a gasification temperature of 850 °C, an O/C ratio of 0.45, and an H 2 O/C ratio of 0.6. Moreover, the heat output power and heat efficiency were 15.42% and 60.99%, respectively. In addition, the involved exergy destruction was found to primarily result from the fuel reactor (50.29%), with the total exergy destruction being 54.59%. The product exergy efficiency and total exergy efficiency of the model were 91.40% and 41.64%, respectively. Overall, this research aims to guide the stable operation of the demonstration plant as well as offer theoretical support and data accumulation for industrialized BCLG application. [Display omitted] • Biomass chemical looping gasification was modeled using kinetic and pyrolysis modelling. • Identified optimal operational conditions for maximizing syngas yield and cold gas efficiency. • The system heat efficiency of the kinetic model is increased by 22.27%. • Kinetic modelling has higher product exergy efficiency and total exergy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinetic thermal degradation models are vital components for optimization of food and bioproducts processing. Typically, models are fitted to laboratory-scale experiments where vials are heated and held. However, these conditions are highly dissimilar from the thermal processes experienced in industrial production. Whereas fitting kinetic data to industrial-scale production is often impossible due to cost and flexibility issues, this discrepancy between what is typically measured and what the models are intended for could be of concern. This study presents a case study where traditional laboratory experiments are fitted to vitamin degradation kinetic models in milk (vitamins B1, B2, and E). The best-fitted kinetic models are then validated using five, carefully controlled industrial-scale dairy processes. Results show that predictions are surprisingly close to the validation data (mean relative percentual deviation is -1.1 %-+3 % depending on vitamin), given the substantial difference between the laboratory and production scale setup. This offers empirical support for the conventional method of fitting kinetic parameters through simplified laboratory experiments to predict vitamin degradation during industrial scale processing of foods and bioproducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate estimation of the tracer arterial blood concentration is crucial for reliable quantitative kinetic analysis in PET. In the current work, we demonstrate the automatic extraction of an image-derived input function (IDIF) from a CT AI-based aorta segmentation subsequently resliced to a dynamic PET series acquired on a Siemens Vision Quadra long-axial field of view scanner in 10 human subjects scanned with [15O]H2O. We demonstrate that the extracted IDIF is quantitative and in excellent agreement with a delay- and dispersion-corrected sampled arterial input function (AIF). Perfusion maps in the brain are calculated and compared from the IDIF and AIF, respectively, showed a high degree of correlation. The results demonstrate the possibility of defining a quantitatively correct IDIF compared with AIFs from the new-generation high-sensitivity and high-time-resolution long-axial field-of-view PET/CT scanners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater is a critical environmental challenge, necessitating efficient removal methods. This study investigates the adsorption of a synthetic multicomponent pharmaceutical wastewater (SPWW) containing methanol, benzene, methylene chloride, 4-aminophenol, aniline, and sulfanilic acid onto charcoal-based activated carbon (AC). Batch experiments were conducted to study the effects of pH, contact time, and initial concentrations of the adsorbates. The results show that longer contact time and higher initial concentrations increase the adsorption capacity, whereas pH shows no significant effect on the adsorption capacity at a value of less than 10, eliminating the need for pH adjustment and reducing process costs. The pseudo-second order (PSO) kinetic model best describes the adsorption process, with intraparticle diffusion playing a key role, as confirmed by the Weber and Morris (W-M) model. Six models describing the adsorption at equilibrium are applied to experimental data, and their parameters are estimated with a nonlinear regression model. Among isotherm models, the Langmuir-Freundlich model provides the best fit, suggesting multilayer adsorption on a heterogeneous granular activated carbon (GAC) surface. The maximum adsorption capacity is estimated to be 522.3 mgC/gAC. Experimental results confirm that GAC could effectively treat highly concentrated pharmaceutical wastewater, achieving up to 52% removal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyaniline is a conducting polymer with a wide variety of applications. In the recent years, exploring the different avenues for the synthesis of polyaniline has gained immense popularity among the researchers. This study focuses on the experimental investigation and subsequent data modeling to determine the kinetics of chemical (oxidative) polymerization of aniline with ammonium persulfate as an oxidant in aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions at 277 K. The concentration of the polyaniline formed was determined using colorimetry. The effect of different initial concentrations of oxidant/monomer from 0.010–0.025 M on the rate of polymerization was observed. The polymerization kinetics at various initial oxidant to monomer mole ratios from 1–2.5 was also investigated. Using a well-established kinetic rate expression, the reaction rate constants were determined that best fitted the experimental data. Further, the polyaniline concentrations were predicted using the kinetic parameters with an absolute average relative deviation ranging from 4 to 17%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In preclinical studies, the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [11C]UCB-A provided promising results for imaging synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) as a proxy for synaptic density. This paper reports the first-in-human [11C]UCB-A PET study to characterise its kinetics in healthy subjects and further evaluate SV2A-specific binding. Results: Twelve healthy subjects underwent 90-min baseline [11C]UCB-A scans with PET/MRI, with two subjects participating in an additional blocking scan with the same scanning procedure after a single dose of levetiracetam (1500 mg). Our results indicated abundant [11C]UCB-A brain uptake across all cortical regions, with slow elimination. Kinetic modelling of [11C]UCB-A PET using various compartment models suggested that the irreversible two-tissue compartment model best describes the kinetics of the radioactive tracer. Accordingly, the Patlak graphical analysis was used to simplify the analysis. The estimated SV2A occupancy determined by the Lassen plot was around 66%. Significant specific binding at baseline and comparable binding reduction as grey matter precludes the use of centrum semiovale as reference tissue. Conclusions: [11C]UCB-A PET imaging enables quantifying SV2A in vivo. However, its slow kinetics require a long scan duration, which is impractical with the short half-life of carbon-11. Consequently, the slow kinetics and complicated quantification methods may restrict its use in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the shelf life of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) based on age and temperature factors. Natural aging of nitrile butadiene rubber samples is performed under laboratory conditions for 2 years, followed by thermogravimetric analysis to evaluate Arrhenius parameters. Toop's equation is used to predict shelf life at 5% conversion rate. Model-free kinetic methods, including Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), and Kissinger, estimate shelf life at different temperatures for both virgin and naturally aged nitrile butadiene rubber. Results show close correlation between KAS and Kissinger methods, with slight variations in activation energy impacting shelf life. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests assess functional group changes with age. Virgin nitrile butadiene rubber activation energy: OFW-73.33 kJ/mol, KAS-68.43 kJ/mol. Aged nitrile butadiene rubber activation energy: OFW-72.57 kJ/mol, KAS-67.88 kJ/mol. Shelf life at 40°C: Virgin nitrile butadiene rubber - OFW-111.29 years, KAS-26.31 years. Aged nitrile butadiene rubber - OFW-89.01 years, KAS-22.37 years. These findings provide valuable insights for predicting and assessing nitrile butadiene rubber viscoelastic damper performance in engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for drug substances and drug products to contain low levels of N -nitrosamines is of continued interest to the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory authorities. Acid-promoted nitrosation mechanisms in solution have been investigated widely in the literature and are supported by kinetic modelling studies. Carbonyl compounds, particularly formaldehyde, which may be present as impurities in excipients and drug product packaging components or introduced during drug substance manufacturing processes are also known to catalyze nitrosation, but their impact on the risk of N -nitrosamine formation has not been systematically investigated to date. In this study, we experimentally investigated the multivariate impact of formaldehyde, nitrite and pH on N -nitrosation in aqueous solution using dibutylamine as a model amine. We augmented a published kinetic model by adding formaldehyde-catalyzed nitrosation reactions. We validated the new kinetic model vs. the experimental data and then used the model to systematically investigate the impact of formaldehyde levels on N -nitrosamine formation. Simulations of aqueous solution systems show that at low formaldehyde levels the formaldehyde-catalyzed mechanisms are insignificant in comparison to other routes. However, formaldehyde-catalyzed mechanisms can become more significant at neutral and high pH under higher formaldehyde levels. Model-based sensitivity analysis demonstrated that under high nitrite levels and low formaldehyde levels (where the rate of formaldehyde-catalyzed nitrosation is low compared to the acid-promoted pathways) the model can be used with kinetic parameters for model amines in the literature without performing additional experiments to fit amine-specific parameters. For other combinations of reaction parameters containing formaldehyde, the formaldehyde-catalyzed kinetics are non-negligible, and thus it is advised that, under such conditions, additional experiments should be conducted to reliably use the model. [Display omitted] • Automated experimental investigation of formaldehyde-catalyzed N -nitrosation of dibutylamine in the presence of nitrite in aqueous solution. • An augmented kinetic model for the solution phase N -nitrosation of dialkyl amines including formaldehyde-catalyzed reactions is presented. • Simulations show that acid-promoted nitrosation mechanisms have significantly greater impact on nitrosamine formation than formaldehyde-catalyzed mechanisms at low formaldehyde concentrations. • Formaldehyde-catalyzed mechanisms become more significant at neutral to high pH in the presence of high levels of formaldehyde, e.g., during certain synthetic or workup steps. • Global sensitivity analysis shows that experimental data should be generated for an amine without available kinetic parameters required to use the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of our research is related to the use of stems from S. aromaticum L. in the fermentation process in order to obtain new cosmetic raw materials with high antioxidant potential that are safe for human fibroblasts (HDFs) and keratinocytes (HaCaTs). This evaluation involves treating cell lines with different concentrations of fermented extracts to establish a noncytotoxic dose range. The focus was on evaluating antioxidant activity (AA), total polyphenol content (TPC), and lactic acid efficiency (LAe). For this purpose, the most favourable technological parameters of the fermentation process of stems were determined, including the type of microorganisms, initial sugar content, plant raw material content, and fermentation time. In the present study, lactic acid was obtained with maximum efficiency by stem fermentation in the presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and molasses as a source of six-carbon sugars. In addition, fermentation kinetics was investigated, the essence of which was to identify the technological parameters that allow the highest values of the main functions describing the process (AA, TPC LAe). Two kinetic models were used to determine the kinetics of process function changes during fermentation. The most favourable fermentation conditions for maximum antioxidant activity (26.88 mmol Tx/L ± 0.19), total polyphenol content (5.96 mmol GA/L ± 0.19), and lactic acid efficiency (88% ± 1) were: type of microorganism L. rhamnosus MI-0272, initial sugar content 3.20%, plant raw material content 6.40%, and a fermentation time of 9 days. The values of chelating activity (ChA), AA, and TPC in the fermented stems increased more than two-fold compared to the non-fermented extracts. Reducing activity (RA) and LAe increased to 46.22 mmol Fe3+/L ± 0.29 and 88% ± 1, respectively. Of the kinetic models adopted, follow-up reaction equations and first-order equations best described the time-dependent changes taking place. This study shows that the process function values of AA and LAe are dependent on the LAB strain and the content of the plant material, and the rate of change of TPC may largely depend on the forms of phenolic compounds formed during fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is an alternative to mineralizing emerging pollutants. The present study focuses on the kinetic model of salicylic acid photocatalytic degradation in an aqueous solution as a function of pollutant concentration and light intensity. The intrinsic kinetic model parameters were determined using a differential photocatalytic reactor with immobilized TiO2 based on experiments and numerical simulations. Five degradation experiments with different light intensities were performed for a turbulent flow rate of 4.7 L/min and salicylic acid concentration of 20 mg/L. Light intensities used for the kinetic experiments were obtained by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation using the radiation transfer equation that was pre‐validated. The TiO2 immobilized method presents low leaching of the catalyst and good degradation efficiency. The intrinsic kinetic model showed to be first‐order both for the pollutant concentration and for the light intensity and can be applied in simulation to optimize and design photocatalytic reactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic waste accumulation is a significant environmental concern as it promotes microbial growth and acts as a carrier for heavy metals. This study focuses on a Bacillus sp. strain isolated from the surface of a used plastic bottle, tolerant to various potential toxic elements (PTEs) such as chromium, nickel, cobalt, copper, zinc, arsenite [As(III)], but sensitive to uranium (U) and arsenate [As(V)] toxicity. The strain demonstrates growth under different abiotic stress conditions, with the optimal pH range of 5.0–8.0 and a temperature of 30 °C. It shows remarkable removal capabilities, removing > 23.3% of U, > 38% of As(III)), and > 22.6% of As(V) from an initial dose of 100 mg L−1 in an aqueous solution. The biosorption capacity for U, As(III), and As(V) is 3.12, 3.1, and 1.8 mg g−1 of biomass, respectively. Kinetic modelling suggests that the biosorption of U and As(V) follows a pseudo-second-order mechanism, while As(III) biosorption follows a pseudo-first-order mechanism. Moreover, the strain has the ability to precipitate > 38.1% and ∼67% of U using bacterially released phosphate from inorganic and organic sources, respectively. These findings highlight the strain's potential for bioremediation of PTE-contaminated environments, providing valuable insights for optimizing metal removal and immobilization processes in future research.

Changes in chondrocyte gene expression can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA), and so recognition of the regulative processes during chondrogenesis can lead to a better understanding of OA. microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression in chondrocytes/OA, and we have used a combined experimental, bioinformatic, and systems biology approach to explore the multiple miRNA–mRNA interactions that regulate chondrogenesis. A longitudinal chondrogenesis bioinformatic analysis identified paralogues miR-199a-5p and miR-199b-5p as pro-chondrogenic regulators. Experimental work in human cells demonstrated alteration of miR-199a-5p or miR-199b-5p expression led to significant inverse modulation of key chondrogenic genes and extracellular matrix production. miR-199a/b-5p targets FZD6, ITGA3 and CAV1 were identified by inhibition experiments and verified as direct targets by luciferase assay. The experimental work was used to generate and parameterise a multi-miRNA 14-day chondrogenesis kinetic model to be used as a repository for the experimental work and as a resource for further investigation of this system. This is the first multi-miRNA model of a chondrogenesis-based system, and highlights the complex relationships between regulatory miRNAs, and their target mRNAs.

Introduction SUV measurements from static brain [18F]FDG PET acquisitions are a commonly used tool in preclinical research, providing a simple alternative for kinetic modelling, which requires complex and time-consuming dynamic acquisitions. However, SUV can be severely affected by the animal handling and preconditioning protocols, primarily by those that may induce changes in blood glucose levels (BGL). Here, we aimed at developing and investigating the feasibility of SUV-based approaches for a wide range of BGL far beyond normal values, and consequently, to develop and validate a new model to generate standardized and reproducible SUV measurements for any BGL.Material and methods We performed dynamic and static brain [18F]FDG PET acquisitions in 52 male Sprague-Dawley rats sorted into control (n = 10), non-fasting (n = 14), insulin-induced hypoglycemia (n = 12) and glucagon-induced hyperglycemia (n = 16) groups. Brain [18F]FDG PET images were cropped, aligned and co-registered to a standard template to calculate whole-brain and regional SUV. Cerebral Metabolic Rate of Glucose (CMRglc) was also estimated from 2-Tissue Compartment Model (2TCM) and Patlak plot for validation purposes.Results Our results showed that BGL=100±6 mg/dL can be considered a reproducible reference value for normoglycemia. Furthermore, we successfully established a 2nd-degree polynomial model (C1=0.66E-4, C2=-0.0408 and C3=7.298) relying exclusively on BGL measures at pre-[18F]FDG injection time, that characterizes more precisely the relationship between SUV and BGL for a wide range of BGL values (from 10 to 338 mg/dL). We confirmed the ability of this model to generate corrected SUV estimations that are highly correlated to CMRglc estimations (R2= 0.54 2TCM CMRgluc and R2= 0.49 Patlak CMRgluc). Besides, slight regional differences in SUV were found in animals from extreme BGL groups, showing that [18F]FDG uptake is mostly directed toward central regions of the brain when BGLs are significantly decreased.Conclusion Our study successfully established a non-linear model that relies exclusively on pre-scan BGL measurements to characterize the relationship between [18F]FDG SUV and BGL. The extensive validation confirmed its ability to generate SUV-based surrogates of CMRglu along a wide range of BGL and it holds the potential to be adopted as a standard protocol by the preclinical neuroimaging community using brain [18F]FDG PET imaging.

This study developed a mathematical model for the co-torrefaction of low-rank coal and biomass, aiming to predict the final mass of solid produced and temperature distribution within a particle. The Simple Arrhenius and Distributed Energy Activation Model (DAEM) were used as micro-modeling methods to predict kinetics data for mixtures with 20 %, 30 %, and 40 % biomass, achieving regression factors above 0.99. DAEM kinetics data were applied to macro modeling, where temperature distribution inside particles and the final solid mass were analyzed. The model showed 2.5 %–7 % deviations from experimental results, confirming its reliability in predicting co-torrefaction behavior.

Extending shelf life while maintaining quality of traditional fermented foods is a major challenge. This study aimed to investigate betel leaf essential oil nanoemulsions (BLEONE) as a clean-label preservative for fermented Idli batter. BLEONE (1–10 %) was incorporated into Idli batter and evaluated for physicochemical properties, sensory quality, and shelf life during ambient (30 °C) and refrigerated (4 °C) storage. Kinetic modeling and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to quantify BLEONE's effects on fermentation dynamics and assess statistical significance. At 5 % concentration, BLEONE significantly (p < 0.05) maintained pH (4.5 vs 3.8 in control), restricted acidity increases (1.2 % vs 1.8 % in control), and limited viscosity loss (15 % vs 40 % in control) during fermentation compared to untreated and sodium benzoate-treated samples. Sensory analysis showed acceptable attributes up to 5 % BLEONE. Optimally fermented Idli batter with 5 % BLEONE extended shelf-life to 7 days at 30 °C and 25 days at 4 °C storage. The nanoemulsion's enhanced antimicrobial efficacy and controlled release of active compounds significantly improved safety and quality preservation during storage. This research demonstrates the potential of essential oil nanoemulsions as effective clean-label preservatives for traditional fermented foods, offering a promising solution to extend shelf life while maintaining product quality.

Pesticides containing chlorine, which are released during agricultural activities, are chemical substances that mix with surface and underground waters and have toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects on the entire living ecosystem. Due to their chemically stable structure, conventional water and wastewater treatment techniques such as coagulation, flocculation, and biological oxidation do not entirely remove these chemical substances. Therefore, before releasing them into the environmental receptor, these chemical substances must be transformed into harmless products or mineralized through advanced oxidation processes. When we look at the literature, there are not many studies on methods of removing diclofop methyl from aquatic media. Our study on the removal of diclofop methyl herbicide from aquatic media using the peroxy electrocoagulation method will provide the first information on this subject in the literature. In addition, this treatment method will contribute significantly to filling an important gap in the literature as an innovative approach for diclofop methyl removal. Moreover, peroxy electrocoagulation, which produces less sludge, provides treatment in a short time, and is economical, has been determined to be an advantageous process. The effects of conductivity, pH, H2O2 concentration, current, and time parameters on the removal of diclofop methyl were investigated using a GC–MS instrument. Kinetics, energy consumption, and cost calculations were also made. Under the optimum conditions determined (pH = 5, H2O2 = 500 mg/L, NaCl = 0.75 g/L, current density = 2.66 mA/cm2), the peroxydic electrocoagulation process resulted in a diclofop methyl removal efficiency of 79.2% after a 25-min reaction. When the experimental results were analyzed, it was found that the results fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A steel by-product, the slag collected from the blast furnace, was exploited as an adsorbent to remove methylene blue dye in solution by batch adsorption under the impact of contact time, mass of solid, agitation speed, pH, temperature, particles size, and initial concentration. The slag is mainly composed of silica, alumina and lime with a considerable specific surface (320.46 m² /g), which increased its adsorbent power. The experimental data revealed that the methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption on the slag is favorable (R = 93.3%) and the maximum adsorbed capacity after 50 min of contact amounts to 140.44 mg/g. The adsorption isotherms revealed that the adsorption of methylene blue dye was performed on a homogeneous monolayer surface, and their parameters confirmed that the process is favorable and physically achievable. The kinetic study specified that the methylene blue dye sorption is more adapted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² = 0.99). In accordance to the diffusion investigation, exterior diffusion under the diffusional and kinetic regimes and internal diffusion under the diffusional regime alone successively controlled the passage of the pollutant from solution to adsorbent. According to the values of free energy, enthalpy, and entropy, the MB dye adsorption is spontaneous, exothermic, and less entropic. Additionally, the free energy and enthalpy values suggest that this process was performed physically (physical adsorption) under the influence of electrostatic interactions. Based on the results of the desorption investigation, the slag could potentially be recycled four times in a row using hydrochloric acid (0.5 M) as a desorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-thermal plasma driven ammonia synthesis has great potential for future industrial applications due to its low theoretical energy requirements. To achieve technological advancement and environmental sustainability, it is crucial to boost the energy yield in plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis. Therefore, optimizing energy transfer and utilization are key strategies for enhancing energy efficiency. In this study, dielectric barrier discharge driven by a nanosecond pulsed power supply is used to enhance plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis by controlling the energy transfer through the addition of noble gases. It was found that the addition of noble gases changed the plasma characteristics, significantly improved the uniformity of the discharge, and achieved a high energy yield for ammonia synthesis. The effects of additive amounts of argon (Ar) and helium (He), as well as the pulse parameters including the pulse voltage, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, and pulse rise time on the energy yield of ammonia synthesis are discussed. The inclusion of noble gases expanded the pathway for gas-phase reactions, with the active components of critical reactions examined through optical emission spectra. This analysis revealed an increased presence of both N2+ and N2* particles in the reaction's rate-limiting step, attributed to the addition of noble gases. Finally, a zero-dimensional (0D) plasma chemical kinetic model was established to investigate the influence of Ar addition on the reaction mechanism of ammonia synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediocin (PE) is an antimicrobial peptide possessing a plethora of applications in food preservation. In this study, an economical and sustainable method for the production of PE by Pediococcus pentosaceus CRA51 was achieved by utilizing low-cost renewable feedstocks and industrial by-products viz., Palmyra palm jaggery (PJ), Cassava fibrous waste hydrolysate (CFWH) and Whey protein hydrolysate (WPH)) as substrates. WPH served as an elite nitrogen source yielding a 1.75-fold increment in the PE titer than the conventional glucose-based medium. In addition, the kinetics of growth, concomitant production kinetics of lactic acid and PE by P. pentosaceus CRA51 were investigated by employing different substrate-independent mathematical models such as Modified Logistic, Gompertz, Richards, and Schnute. Based on the overall model fitting parameters and statistical significance obtained on various carbon and nitrogen substrates, Richards model exhibited the best fit with the predictions close to the experimental data. The insights derived from kinetic studies and medium-based techno-economic analysis demonstrates that the utilization of PJ and WPH as alternate carbon and nitrogen source would be an economically viable strategy for the enhanced production of PE. It is envisaged that the maximum specific growth rate ( μ m) and biomass yield ( Y X / S ) obtained on PJ (0.346 h−1, 0.257 g g−1) and WPH-based media (0.204 h−1, 0.141 g g−1) can be leveraged for the optimization of high cell density fermentation, and further for the large-scale economic production of PE by P. pentosaceus CRA51. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a Linear Joule Engine Generator (LJEG) powered by ammonia and hydrogen co-combustion to tackle decarbonisation in the electrification of transport propulsion systems. A dynamic model of the LJEG, which integrates mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetics sub-models, as well as detailed combustion chemistry analysis for emissions, is presented. The dynamic model is integrated and validated, and the LJEG performance is optimised for improved performance and reduced emissions. At optimal conditions, the engine could generate 1.96 kWe at a thermal efficiency of 34.3% and an electrical efficiency of 91%. It is found that the electromagnetic force of the linear alternator and heat addition from the external combustor and engine valve timing have the most significant influences on performance, whereas the piston stroke has a lesser impact. The impacts of hydrogen ratio, oxygen concentration, inlet pressure, and equivalence ratio of ammonia-air on nitric oxide (NO) formation and reduction are revealed using a detailed chemical kinetic analysis. Results indicated that rich combustion and elevated pressure are beneficial for NO reduction. The rate of production analysis indicates that the equivalence ratio significantly changes the relative contribution among the critical NO formation and reduction reaction pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immuno-positron emission tomography (immunoPET) enables imaging of specific targets that play a role in targeted therapy and immunotherapy, such as antigens on cell membranes, targets in the disease microenvironment or immune cells. The most common immunoPET applications use a monoclonal antibody labeled with a relatively long-lived positron emitter such as 89Zr (T1/2= 78.4 h), but also smaller antibody-based constructs labeled with various other positron emitting radionuclides are being investigated. Thereby, this molecular imaging technique can guide the development of new drugs and may have a pivotal role in selecting patients for a particular therapy. In early phase immunoPET trials, multiple imaging time points are used to examine the time-dependent biodistribution and to determine the optimal imaging time point, which may be several days after tracer injection due to the slow kinetics of larger molecules. Once this has been established, usually only one static scan is performed and semi-quantitative values are reported. However, total PET uptake of a tracer is the sum of specific and nonspecific uptake. In addition, uptake may be affected by other factors such as perfusion, pre-/co-administration of the unlabeled molecule, and the treatment schedule. This article reviews imaging methodology used in immunoPET studies and is divided in two parts. The first part summarizes the vast majority of clinical immunoPET studies applying semi-quantitative methodology. The second part focuses on a handful of studies applying pharmacokinetic models and includes preclinical and simulation studies. Finally, the potential and challenges in immunoPET quantification methodology are discussed within the context of the recent technological advancements provided by long axial field of view PET/CT scanners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on optimizing organic contaminants removal using rotating biological contactors (RBCs) through a kinetic and equilibrium analysis. Response surface methodology was employed to explore non-linear relationships and identify optimal operating conditions for maximizing dodecane removal efficiency. Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria was chosen for the research due to its capacity to breakdown a wide range of hydrocarbons. The experimental data were analyzed using Design Expert software, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to assess the statistical significance of each variable and their interactions. The effects of beginning biomass content, initial dodecane concentration, and disc rotating speed were considered. The research provided insights into the relative importance of different factors and their combined effects on dodecane removal efficiency. The findings contribute to the understanding of microbial processes and the optimization of rotating biological contactor systems for efficient organic contaminant removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero-valent iron dosages have an impact on the performance of anaerobic co-digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste and activated sludge. Diverse dosages of zero-valent Iron additives within the range of 15–90 mg NP-ZVI/g VS were investigated under mesophilic conditions and a pH reading of 6.0 to deduce their impact on the AD stability in the domain of hydrolysis and acidification percentages, pollutants' uptake, and biogas upgrading rate. It was found that the biogas production was relatively ameliorated with the additives of NP-ZVI at different dosages compared to the non-amended AD process. The results revealed that the threshold of 45 mg NP-ZVI/g VS dosage to a high organic fraction substrate has achieved the most distinguishing features in the AD performance, as distinct through improving the hydrolysis by a factor of 30.5%, acidification percentage by 43.7%, TCOD removal by 89%, methane yield by 18.4%, and biogas production approaches the figure 0.398 Nm3/kg VS with an increase by 36% compared to that of the control test. Whereas a high dosage of 90 mg NP-ZVI /g VS appealed to an acute inhibition on AD that should be avoided, due to the retrogression of methanogenic activity for an anaerobic environment with such additives of concentrated NP-ZVI. Generally, the cumulative biogas production patterns were fitted using a nonlinear least square regression technique. The biogas production of the investigated substrates was adequately predicted by the three-parametric modified Gompertz and logistic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterotrophic microalgae cultivation has been suggested to reduce conventional photo-autotrophic microalgal biomass production costs. In heterotrophic cultivation, the most relevant operational costs are constituted by the supply of pure substrates used as carbon source (e.g., glucose), and the high energy request for culture aeration. In addition, suboptimal conditions of temperature and pH reduce the algal productivity, further increasing production costs. In this work, an attempt was made to define more sustainable and cost-effective strategies for the heterotrophic cultivation of Chlorellaceae and Scenedesmaceae. Several by-products from a local confectionery industry were thus screened as alternative carbon sources. Manufacturing residues from peppermint and liquorice candies production allowed to achieve comparable maximum growth rates (1.44 d-1), biomass yields (0.33 g COD·g COD-1) and biomass productivities (370 mg COD·L-1·d-1) as those achieved using glucose. A preliminary economic evaluation showed that the operational costs could be lowered of up to 85.6% by substituting glucose with the selected industrial by-products. As for fermentation conditions, high growth rates could be maintained at relatively low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, and in a large range of temperature and pH values. In addition, optimal temperatures (37.0 – 37.2°C), pH values (6.8 – 7.4), and DO concentrations (> 0.5 – 1 mg O2·L-1) were identified. On the overall, the study demonstrated the possibility of achieving the reduction of operational costs for heterotrophic microalgae cultivation, while implementing circular economy principles in the framework of resource recovery during the bioremediation of organic waste.

In this research, the possibility of cinnamaldehyde encapsulating with high amylose starch using ultrasound treatment was studied. The resulting microcapsules had an average size of 636.36±59.041 nm. The included cinnamaldehyde was 53.44±1.29, which only increased by 3 percent during 28 days of storage. Also, cinnamaldehyde release was investigated under simulated mouth conditions including temperature, saliva composition, and shear stress, using SPME-GC-MS, which was followed by analytical modeling. Among analytical kinetic models, zero-degree, Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Makoid-Banakar models during in-mouth release, and Korsmeyer-Peppas model during storage had the greatest agreements with release profiles. Using the results a 3 phase, 2D, constant source , reservoir model was simulated and solved using Comsol Multiphysics 5.6. Mesh independence analysis and low RMSE (1.78×10-6) alongside high R2 (0.997) indicated the model’s success in predicting the release of cinnamaldehyde in simulated mouth conditions. Investigating the role of physiological factors and microcapsules properties revealed that interpersonal differences play a more important role in determining the release behavior of cinnamaldehyde from high amylose starch capsules. Model parameters were also optimized using the SNOPT algorithm.

This study explored the potential of fortified pomegranate gummy candies (GC) as a solution for insufficient vitamin C and phenol intake. It entailed two objectives: assessing the impact of ambient storage (20±2 ℃) on various GC properties and developing kinetic models to predict vitamin C and phenol degradation during storage. The study involved the preparation of GC using a modified formulation and examined moisture content, water activity, texture, vitamin C, total phenolic content, and microbiological counts during 15-day-storage. Findings revealed that the moisture content decreased from 21.82% to 13.41%, potentially affecting texture. Water activity remained high (0.84-0.86), posing potential microbiological risks. The textural analysis indicated high hardness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness, which may impact consumer acceptance. Adhesiveness remained minimal. Vitamin C decreased from 2,176.90 mg AA/100g to 1,419.10 mg AA/100g, possibly influenced by moisture and oxygen. Phenolic content decreased from 2,845.97 mg GAE/100g to 2,183.70 mg GAE/100g, remaining remarkably high. Kinetic modeling revealed that zero-order kinetics best described degradation, with constant degradation rates. In conclusion, fortified pomegranate GC demonstrate potential as functional food. However, further research is necessary to optimize texture properties, improve formulation and understand complex interactions between gelatin and phenolic compounds for enhanced consumer acceptance and health benefits.