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Recently, the retention time of pesticides has been considered an informative indicator of the ecological quality of pesticides. Two new possibilities are proposed for building pesticide retention time models using the CORAL program (http://www.insilico.eu/coral). Firstly, the possibility of being involved in modelling the correlation weights of local symmetry fragments in SMILES. Secondly, using two criteria of predictive potential (correlation ideality index and correlation intensity index) as a vector in Monte Carlo optimization for model building. Building models of the retention time of pesticides using the CORAL software confirms the effectiveness of these innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The OphtalMimic device offers a precise simulation of human ocular conditions for improved ophthalmic drug product evaluation. • A novel hydrogel-based hybrid membrane closely replicates the human cornea's water content and morphology. • The device successfully differentiated between the drainage profiles of various ophthalmic formulations. • The system demonstrated its potential as a reliable platform for the high-throughput screening of ophthalmic drugs. • This advancement aligns with ethical mandates to reduce animal testing and accelerate the development of safer and more effective ophthalmic drugs. Envisaging to improve the evaluation of ophthalmic drug products while minimizing the need for animal testing, our group developed the OphthalMimic device, a 3D-printed device that incorporates an artificial lacrimal flow, a cul-de-sac area, a moving eyelid, and a surface that interacts effectively with ophthalmic formulations, thereby providing a close representation of human ocular conditions. An important application of such a device would be its use as a platform for dissolution/release tests that closely mimic in vivo conditions. However, the surface that artificially simulates the cornea should have a higher resistance (10 min) than the previously described polymeric films (5 min). For this key assay upgrade, we describe the process of obtaining and thoroughly characterizing a hydrogel-based hybrid membrane to be used as a platform base to simulate the cornea artificially. Also, the OphthalMimic device suffered design improvements to fit the new membrane and incorporate the moving eyelid. The results confirmed the successful synthesis of the hydrogel components. The membrane's water content (86.25 ± 0.35 %) closely mirrored the human cornea (72 to 85 %). Furthermore, morphological analysis supported the membrane's comparability to the natural cornea. Finally, the performance of different formulations was analysed, demonstrating that the device could differentiate their drainage profile through the viscosity of PLX 14 (79 ± 5 %), PLX 16 (72 ± 4 %), and PLX 20 (57 ± 14 %), and mucoadhesion of PLXCS0.5 (69 ± 1 %), PLX16CS1.0 (65 ± 3 %), PLX16CS1.25 (67 ± 3 %), and the solution (97 ± 8 %). In conclusion, using the hydrogel-based hybrid membrane in the OphthalMimic device represents a significant advancement in the field of ophthalmic drug evaluation, providing a valuable platform for dissolution/release tests. Such a platform aligns with the ethical mandate to reduce animal testing and promises to accelerate the development of safer and more effective ophthalmic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on boiling point (BP) is a crucial metric for defining petroleum streams. Understanding the BP distribution range of hydrocarbon products is crucial for selecting an appropriate way to process feedstocks, controlling the process, identifying impurities, and developing new tests. To evaluate BP range rapidly, the refinery employs simulated distillation (SimDis) by gas chromatography (GC) paired with a flame ionization detector (FID) and a capillary column. This method is used to examine the level of contamination in petroleum products. Jet A-1 fuel is an essential product whose specifications can be altered by diesel contamination. Some producers utilize the same distribution line for both products, contaminating the Jet fuel that is shipped. We conducted research to determine the lowest level of diesel contamination in jet A-1 fuel. The study consists of varying proportions of diesel (0.5%, 2%, and 5% mass) blended with jet A-1 to determine the impact on standard specifications DEF STAN 91-91/12 and ASTM D1655. Among those methods, SimDis by GC-FID was the most successful method for identifying a little level of diesel contamination. Properties of jet fuel, such as thermal stability, water separation, and electrical conductivity, are particularly sensitive to trace contamination and can be altered by it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland (VSSF-CW) was evaluated to neutralise acid mine drainage (AMD) using organic waste and planted with mangroves. The type and composition of media, as well as the improper assembly and operation of the system, are among the reasons why the wetland system has not been effective and efficient so far. The main objective of this research is to develop a method to neutralise AMD using organic waste (oil palm empty fruit bunches and eucalyptus leaf waste). To achieve this research’s main goal, the steps were to analyse the characteristics of AMD at the research site, analyse the type and composition of organic waste, determine the retention time, and analyse the concentration of contaminants in the water after the treatment process. To implement the stages, sample preparation, plant acclimatisation, organic material selection, primary characterisation of samples, assembly of the CW reactor, and operation of the system were carried out. After the study, it was found that the system maximally increased the pH from 3.32 to 7.34 in the 12-day retention time oil palm empty fruit bunches reactor, and maximally removed total suspended solids (TSS) and manganese (Mn) with efficiencies of 97.52% (from 444 to 11 mg/L); and 95.97% (from 4.47 to 0.18 mg/L) in the 12-day retention time eucalyptus leaf waste reactor, respectively. Rhizophora sp. showed bioaccumulation ability > 1 (accumulator) and translocation < 1 (phytostabiliser). The media type and composition, as well as the assembly and operation of the system in this study successfully neutralised AMD with good efficiency and a relatively short time. In addition, the addition of mangrove plants and fly ash-bottom ash (FABA) bricks, also contributed to the good results of AMD treatment and also became an innovation in AMD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide perovskites (HPs) are promising materials for memristor devices because of their unique characteristics. In this study, nonvolatile resistive switching memory devices based on thick MAPbI3 perovskite (800 nm) films with structure FTO/MAPbI3/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/Ag are presented. Reproducible and reliable bipolar switching characteristics are demonstrated with an ultra‐low operating voltage (−0.1 V), high ON/OFF ratio (106), endurance (>2 × 103 times) and a record retention time (>105 s). The I–V curve of the first cycle exhibits self‐formed conductive filaments. These are attributed to the presence of metallic Pb resulting from an excess of PbI2 in the perovskite film. The subsequent activation process involves the formation of conductive filaments, consisting of either iodide vacancies or migrated charged metals. Numerical simulations are then carried out to understand the nature of these conductive filaments and the role of the internal electric field in the migration of iodide ions, iodide vacancies, and Ag cations. Finally, an exhaustive model is proposed that explains the set and reset processes governing the first voltage cycle and the steady state, at different voltage ranges. In summary, this work offers a novel and thorough perspective of the complete resistive switching (RS) behavior in a MAPbI3/buffer/Ag memristor, supported by numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland (VSSF-CW) was evaluated to neutralise acid mine drainage (AMD) using organic waste and planted with mangroves. The type and composition of media, as well as the improper assembly and operation of the system, are among the reasons why the wetland system has not been effective and efficient so far. The main objective of this research is to develop a method to neutralise AMD using organic waste (oil palm empty fruit bunches and eucalyptus leaf waste). To achieve this research's main goal, the steps were to analyse the characteristics of AMD at the research site, analyse the type and composition of organic waste, determine the retention time, and analyse the concentration of contaminants in the water after the treatment process. To implement the stages, sample preparation, plant acclimatisation, organic material selection, primary characterisation of samples, assembly of the CW reactor, and operation of the system were carried out. After the study, it was found that the system maximally increased the pH from 3,32 to 7,34 in the 12-day retention time oil palm empty fruit bunches reactor, and maximally removed total suspended solids (TSS) and manganese (Mn) with efficiencies of 97,52% (from 444 to 11 mg/L); and 95,97% (from 4,47 to 0,18 mg/L) in the 12-day retention time eucalyptus leaf waste reactor, respectively. Rhizopora sp. showed bioaccumulation ability > 1 (accumulator) and translocation < 1 (phytostabiliser). The media type and composition, as well as the assembly and operation of the system in this study successfully neutralised AMD with good efficiency and a relatively short time. In addition, the addition of mangrove plants and fly ash-bottom ash (FABA) bricks, also contributed to the good results of AMD treatment and also became an innovation in AMD treatment.

Nitrate and orthophosphate in wastewater effluent have a considerable impact on the nutrient load of water bodies. Therefore, the discharging of nitrogenous and phosphorus compounds into water resources induces water pollution. The present study aimed to investigate the performance of natural materials in removing nitrate and orthophosphate from the effluent of a wastewater treatment plants. For this purpose, four laboratory-scale bioreactors with different combinations of filter materials, including woodchips (W), woodchips-beach sand (WS), woodchips-seashells (WSS), and woodchips-beach sand-seashells (WSSS) were applied to assess the performance of nitrate and orthophosphate removal in three hydraulic retention times of 12, 18 and 24 hr. The results showed that the highest removal performance of nitrate and orthophosphate belongs to the WSSS treatment by 92.19 and 96.57%, respectively. In addition, the retention time of 18 hr had the best performance in removing nitrate and orthophosphate in all bioreactors. The research findings revealed that the woodchips in combination with modifier materials have a excellent performance to remove nitrate and orthophosphate.

BACKGROUND: Veterinary antibiotics are chemical compounds used to kill or inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria associated with animal diseases. These molecules can be defined by their retention times (tR) in liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). One strategy to predict the tR of new veterinary antibiotics is the development of predictive quantitative structure–property relationships (QSPRs), which were used in this study. RESULTS: A database of 122 antibiotics was selected in which the tR was measured using a Hypersil GOLD column. An optimal three‐feature model was developed by integrating the unsupervised variable reduction, replacement method variable subset selection, and multiple linear regression. The negligible differences among the coefficient of determination and the root‐mean‐square error for the training set (R2 = 0.902 and RMSEC = 0.871) and test set (Q2 = 0.854 and RMSEP = 1.064) indicate a stable and predictive model. In a further step, a more in‐depth explanation of the mechanism of action of each descriptor in predicting the tR is provided, with the construction of the theoretical chemical space for accurate predictions of new antibiotics. CONCLUSION: The in silico model developed in this work identified three molecular descriptors associated with aqueous solubility, octanol–water partition coefficient, and the presence of negative and lipophilic atom pairs. The QSPR developed here could be implemented by agricultural and food chemists to identify and monitor existing and new antibiotics within the framework of LC–MS. The computational model was developed in accordance with five principles outlined by the Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel in vitro methods are necessary to substitute costly, slow, and highly complex in vivo models to evaluate ophthalmic formulations. • The efficacy of topical ophthalmic drug products depends directly on formulation residence time in the eye, which must be sufficient for the drug to penetrate the cornea to reach the site of action at therapeutic levels. • A new in vitro alternative method that mimics the in vivo dynamic barriers of the eye by using a dynamic tear flow system and a synthetic barrier to simulate the cornea is presented. • The OphtalMimic is a promising tool for comparing the performance of ophthalmic formulations regarding their residence time. The necessity of animal-free performance tests for novel ophthalmic formulation screening is challenging. For this, we developed and validated a new device to simulate the dynamics and physical–chemical barriers of the eye for in vitro performance tests of topic ophthalmic formulations. The OphthalMimic is a 3D-printed device with an artificial lacrimal flow, a cul-de-sac area, a support base, and a simulated cornea comprised of a polymeric membrane containing poly-vinyl alcohol 10 % (w/v), gelatin 2.5 % (w/v), and different proportions of mucin and poloxamer, i.e., 1:1 (M1), 1:2 (M2), and 2:1 (M3) w/v, respectively. The support base is designed to move between 0° and 50° to replicate the movement of an eyelid. We challenged the model by testing the residence performance of poloxamer®407 16 % and poloxamer®407 16 % + chitosan 1 % (PLX16CS10) gels containing fluconazole. The test was conducted with a simulated tear flow of 1.0 mL.min−1 for 5 min. The OphthalMimic successfully distinguished PLX16 and PLX16C10 formulations based on their fluconazole drainage (M1: 65 ± 14 % and 27 ± 10 %; M2: 58 ± 6 % and 38 ± 9 %; M3: 56 ± 5 % and 38 ± 18 %). In conclusion, the OphthalMimic is a promising tool for comparing the animal-free performance of ophthalmic formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural drainage water is a significant source of return water due to its decentralization, large volume, and poor quality. This study examined the effectiveness of constructed wetlands in improving sugarcane field's drainage water in the south of Khuzestan province of Iran, located approximately 17 km north of Khorramshahr city at latitude 303,805.94′ N and longitude 480,759.86′ E, by removing agricultural herbicides (atrazine, glyphosate, paraquat, and 2, 4-D) and Total Coliforms (TC) and Fecal Coliforms (FC) from April 2019 to March 2020. A reed length was divided into three equal parts at three consecutive stations, ST1, ST2, and ST3. Natural reeds had a dimension of 3.5 km long, 1.2 km wide, and 0.5 m deep between two consecutive stations. According to the study, natural reeds were effective in removing agricultural herbicides and improving agricultural drainage water quality. ST3, which was the furthest from the entry point, had the largest difference in agricultural herbicides concentrations compared to their initial concentrations, as well as the highest removal efficiency (100%) during all four retention times (1.26, 1.10, 1.30, and 1.60 days). Natural reed at this distance from the entry point significantly reduced TC and FC. The ST3 station had the highest removal efficiency of TC and FC, with average values of 62 and 83%, respectively, while ST1 had the lowest (with values of 9 and 34%). Due to the differences in performance between ST1, ST2 and ST3 stations, ST2 is considered the most efficient and cost-effective station. The Khuzestan province has a water shortage and agricultural drainage water problems. Treating drainage water with environmentally friendly methods, like natural reeds, will prevent contamination of water sources and result in a significant amount of water entering the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The OphthalMimic is a 3D-printed device that simulates human ocular conditions with artificial lacrimal flow, cul-de-sac area, moving eyelid, and a surface to interact with ophthalmic formulations. All tests with such a device have used a continuous artificial tear flow rate of 1 mL/min for 5 min. Here, we implemented protocol variations regarding the application time and simulated tear flow to increase the test's discrimination and achieve reliable performance results. The new protocols incorporated the previously evaluated 0.2% fluconazole formulations containing or not chitosan as a mucoadhesive component (PLX16CS10 and PLX16, respectively) and novel moxifloxacin 5% formulations, either in a conventional formulation and a microemulsion (CONTROL and NEMOX, respectively). The flow rate was reduced by 50%, and a pre-flow application period was also included to allow formulation interaction with the membrane. The OphthalMimic model was used with both polymeric and hydrogel-based hybrid membranes, including a simulated eyelid. Lowering the flow made it feasible to prolong the testing duration, enhancing device discrimination potential. The hydrogel membrane was adequate for testing nanostructure formulations. The OphthalMimic device demonstrated once again to be a versatile method for evaluating the performance of ophthalmic drug formulations with the potential of reducing the use of animals for experimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar, produced from biodegradable waste through advanced thermochemical processes like pyrolysis, offers substantial environmental benefits due to its carbon-rich composition and versatile applications. This review delves into the transformative potential of biochar derived from diverse agricultural and municipal solid wastes. With its unique properties-including a high surface area, porosity, and functional groups such as –COOH, –OH, and –NH2 biochar stands out as a highly effective adsorbent for heavy metals and organic pollutants. Factors like feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, and residence time critically shape biochar’s characteristics and yield. Moreover, pretreatment methods and activation techniques further amplify its adsorption capacity. Biochar’s environmental applications are vast, spanning soil remediation, water purification, carbon sequestration, and waste management, all promoting ecological sustainability. Its remarkable stability and efficacy in pollutant removal highlight its potential as a catalyst and a vital component in improving soil health. Despite its many advantages, a thorough assessment of biochar’s environmental impact and long-term stability is crucial for its sustainable use. This review highlights recent biochar production, characterization, and application advances, emphasizing the need to balance economic growth with environmental development. By strategically integrating biochar into various sectors, we can pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of features with high levels of confidence in liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) lipidomics research is an essential part of biomarker discovery, but existing software platforms can give inconsistent results, even from identical spectral data. This poses a clear challenge for reproducibility in biomarker identification. In this work, we illustrate the reproducibility gap for two open-access lipidomics platforms, MS DIAL and Lipostar, finding just 14.0% identification agreement when analyzing identical LC–MS spectra using default settings. Whilst the software platforms performed more consistently using fragmentation data, agreement was still only 36.1% for MS2 spectra. This highlights the critical importance of validation across positive and negative LC–MS modes, as well as the manual curation of spectra and lipidomics software outputs, in order to reduce identification errors caused by closely related lipids and co-elution issues. This curation process can be supplemented by data-driven outlier detection in assessing spectral outputs, which is demonstrated here using a novel machine learning approach based on support vector machine regression combined with leave-one-out cross-validation. These steps are essential to reduce the frequency of false positive identifications and close the reproducibility gap, including between software platforms, which, for downstream users such as bioinformaticians and clinicians, can be an underappreciated source of biomarker identification errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of data repeatability in small‐molecule metabolites acquired within and among different liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) platforms is crucial for data sharing or data transfer in natural products research. This work was designed to investigate and evaluate the separation and detection performance of three commercial high‐resolution LC‐MS platforms (e.g., Agilent 6550 QTOF, Waters Vion IM‐QTOF, and Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 120) using 68 ginsenoside references and the extract of Panax ginseng leaf. The retention time (tR), measured on these three platforms (under the same chromatography condition), showed good stability in different concentration tests, and within/among different instruments for both intra‐day and inter‐day precision examinations. Correlation in tR of ginsenosides was also highly determined on these three platforms. In spite of the different mass analyzers involved, these three platforms gave the accurate mass determination ability, especially enhanced resolution gained because of the ion mobility (IM) separation facilitated by IM‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight. The current study has systematically evaluated the separation and MS detection performance enabled by three high‐resolution LC‐MS platforms taking ginsenosides as the template, and the reported findings can benefit the researchers for the selection of analytical platforms and the purpose of data sharing or data transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to clarify the relationship between the molecular structure of functional groups and the elution of carbohydrates in high-performance liquid chromatography. Herein, ion-exchange resins were synthesized with different numbers of methylene groups (two, four, or six) in the functional unit. The core-shell monomer weight ratio was 40:60 (St-60) and the degree of crosslinking was constant at 55%. The effect of the number of methylene groups on the separation of carbohydrates was examined under strongly alkaline conditions. A mixture of inositol, glucose, fructose, and sucrose was separated using a 0.10 or 0.15 moL/L NaOH eluent at flow rates of 0.3-0.7 mL/min. The retention times for St-60 variants with different numbers of methylene groups (two, four, or six) in the porous layer were found to be nearly the same. The theoretical plate number for glucose and fructose tended to show larger values at flow rates of 0.3 and 0.5 mL/min as the number of methylene groups increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of quantitative proteomics, data-independent acquisition (DIA) has emerged as a promising approach, offering enhanced reproducibility and quantitative accuracy compared to traditional data-dependent acquisition (DDA) methods. However, the analysis of DIA data is currently hindered by its reliance on project-specific spectral libraries derived from DDA analyses, which not only limits proteome coverage but also proves to be a time-intensive process. To overcome these challenges, we propose ProPept-MT, a novel deep learning-based multi-task prediction model designed to accurately forecast key features such as retention time (RT), ion intensity, and ion mobility (IM). Leveraging advanced techniques such as multi-head attention and BiLSTM for feature extraction, coupled with Nash-MTL for gradient coordination, ProPept-MT demonstrates superior prediction performance. Integrating ion mobility alongside RT, mass-to-charge ratio (m/z), and ion intensity forms 4D proteomics. Then, we outline a comprehensive workflow tailored for 4D DIA proteomics research, integrating the use of 4D in silico libraries predicted by ProPept-MT. Evaluation on a benchmark dataset showcases ProPept-MT's exceptional predictive capabilities, with impressive results including a 99.9% Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) for RT prediction, a median dot product (DP) of 96.0% for fragment ion intensity prediction, and a 99.3% PCC for IM prediction on the test set. Notably, ProPept-MT manifests efficacy in predicting both unmodified and phosphorylated peptides, underscoring its potential as a valuable tool for constructing high-quality 4D DIA in silico libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: A validated RP-HPLC method was established for the quantification of Amlodipine and Metoprolol succinate according to ICH guidelines. Materials and Methods: This method utilized a Phenomenex (US) C18 column with dimensions of 250X4.6 mm I.D and a particle size of 5 µm. Employing an isocratic elution technique, the mobile phase comprised pH 3.0 phosphate buffer solution and acetonitrile. Detection occurred at a wavelength of 215 nm and a flow rate of 1 mL/min was chosen to ensure optimal resolution for Amlodipine and Metoprolol succinate. Results and Discussion: Retention times were noted at 3.137 min and 5.672 min for Amlodipine and Metoprolol succinate, respectively. High correlation coefficients were achieved (0.9995 for Amlodipine and 0.9996 for Metoprolol succinate). The method exhibited precision, with low relative standard deviations of 0.357% for Amlodipine and 0.077% for Metoprolol succinate. In summary, the RP-HPLC method developed was specific, linear, precise and robust. Conclusion: The devised method was validated in terms of accuracy, precision, linearity, specificity, robustness and ruggedness. All formulations' sample recoveries were in good accordance with the claims made on their labels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers with alluvial bars store more wood than those without, supplied through channel shifting. However, wood dynamics (arrival or new deposits, departure or entrainment, and stable or immobile pieces) can vary substantially over time in response to critical hydrological drivers that are largely unknown. To evaluate them, we studied the dynamics of large wood pieces and logjams along a 12‐km reach of the lower Allier River using six series of aerial images of variable resolution acquired between 2009 and 2020, during which maximum river discharge fluctuated around the dominant flood discharge (Q1.5) that is potentially the bankfull discharge along this well‐preserved not incised reach. Individual wood departure was best correlated with water levels exceeding dominant flood discharge. The duration of the highest magnitude flood was best correlated with wood depositions, with shorter floods resulting in a higher number of deposits. Finally, most of the wood remained stable when river discharge did not exceed 60% of Q1.5 over a long period of time. Changes in inter‐annual wood budget (reach‐scale) depend on the duration over which discharge exceeded 60% of Q1.5. Hydrological conditions driving jam build‐up and removal were similar to those controlling individual wood piece dynamics. The results suggest that specific hydrological conditions influence the dynamics of large wood and log jams in the Allier River. Understanding the dynamics of large wood and its impact on river morphology is fundamental for successful river management and habitat restoration initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many aspects of the activity of a medical laboratory have to be documented so as to facilitate the maintenance of the ongoing quality of service. As a consequence, many documents, forms and reports are generated. The retention time for each of these has to be specified. In addition to medical laboratory reports as part of the patient's medical record, the medical laboratory has to retain many documents and specimens according to national legislation or guidance from professional organizations, if these exist. If not, the laboratory management needs to define a retention schedule, which shall define the storage conditions and period of storage, according to ISO 15189:2022 requirements for retention of general quality management documents and records. The EFLM Working Group on Accreditation and ISO/CEN standards provides here a proposal on retention periods of documentation and specimens based on a failure-mode-effects-analysis (FMEA) risk-based approach, a concept of risk reduction that has become an integral part of modern standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: As a result of population growth, paper and wood products consumption has increased, and restrictions on using forest wood raw materials initiated the utilization poplar trees as fast-growing spices. The aim of this study was to focus on identification and comparison of the phenolic chemical components in poplar woods (populous nigra and populous deltoides). Materials and methods: In this study, three trees from each poplar tree were randomly felled in plantation near Nowshar, Iran. Then three discs were cut from each log. At first, wood was grounded and then wood flour extractive were measured using TAPPI standard procedure. Wood flour was extracted by acetone and extractives residue was added to BSTFA reactor and samples were kept in constant temperature bath at 70oC for an hour. The extractive samples were then analyzed by GC/MS. The compounds were identified using GC diagram which shows abundance and retention time of each compound, and calculation of quartz index and Adams table. Results: The result of GC-MS showed that there exist 68 and 105 compounds in wood of Populus nigra and Populus detoides, respectively. di-Limonene (30.26%), bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (10.07%), Gamma-Sitosterol (1.06%), Hexadecanoic acid (2.0%), gamma-Terpinene (4.02%) and 4-Hydroxy-Benzoic acid (3.62%) were the most important compounds in wood of Populus detoides. There were the Limonene (25.62%), Anymol (5.29%), gamma-Terpinene (3.38%), 1, 2-Benzandicarboxylic acid (2.00%) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (0.68%) as the most important compounds in wood of Populus nigra. Conclusion: The gas chromatographs showed that Limonene, Benzene methanol, alpha-Terpineol, beta-Bisabolene, Hexadecanoic acid and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were the 7 common compounds in the wood of Populus nigra and Populus deltoides. These compounds can play an important role in the durability and consumption of these woods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on converting fruit waste into usable clean energy by an innovative, cost-effective anaerobic biodigester. The biodigester is designed to anaerobically digest various fruit wastes and starter inoculums of cow dung that are locally obtained. A batch vertical digester of 1000 liters capacity built of fiber with a phonematic agitator positioned in the center is used to improve mixing. The retention time is 30 days with a substrate of banana peels co-digested with mango and papaya peels individually in the ratio of 50:50. The combined wastes generated the biogas and the total quantity of biogas generated for all combined wastes over 21 days varies between 530L/day and 480L/day respectively. In this work, banana and mango peel (waste/water) split 50:50 gives a peak yield of 530L/day. The average ambient temperatures are kept in the range of 25°C to 35°C (i.e., mesophilic range). The pH range of 6.4 to 7.8 is consistently maintained and seems to be stable. Therefore, this proposed anaerobic digester would reduce the disposal of solid waste, and it is cost-effective. After cleaning, it is observed that the combined peels of bananas and papaya contained 91.95% of the estimated biogas and methane, which can be used to solve energy issues such as electricity production and cooking purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Halide perovskites (HPs) are promising materials for memristor devices because of their unique characteristics. In this study, nonvolatile resistive switching memory devices based on thick MAPbI3 perovskite (800 nm) films with structure FTO/MAPbI3/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/Ag are presented. Reproducible and reliable bipolar switching characteristics are demonstrated with an ultra‐low operating voltage (−0.1 V), high ON/OFF ratio (106), endurance (>2 × 103 times) and a record retention time (>105 s). The I–V curve of the first cycle exhibits self‐formed conductive filaments. These are attributed to the presence of metallic Pb resulting from an excess of PbI2 in the perovskite film. The subsequent activation process involves the formation of conductive filaments, consisting of either iodide vacancies or migrated charged metals. Numerical simulations are then carried out to understand the nature of these conductive filaments and the role of the internal electric field in the migration of iodide ions, iodide vacancies, and Ag cations. Finally, an exhaustive model is proposed that explains the set and reset processes governing the first voltage cycle and the steady state, at different voltage ranges. In summary, this work offers a novel and thorough perspective of the complete resistive switching (RS) behavior in a MAPbI3/buffer/Ag memristor, supported by numerical simulations.

SUMMARY: Understanding the influence of feed processing on early broiler growth is essential for maintaining production and increasing profit. The purpose of this research was to assess the effects of 3 retention times (RT) during the conditioning process prior to pelleting on broiler performance, AME, and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients from 1 to 21 d of age. During 2 repeated studies, broilers were fed crumbled starter diets differing only in RT (40, 80, or 120 s). Targeted RT were achieved by utilizing a variable speed feed hygieniser. Varying RT did not influence AME during early broiler growth. Early FCR (d 7–14) was decreased with RT of 40 and 80 s compared to 120 s. Opposingly, phosphorus digestibility was observed to increase with longer RT (80 and 120 s). Overall, RT during the conditioning process did not substantially influence broiler growth nor nutrient AID during the starter phase.

Context: Medical records storage is a valuable and statutory requirement, but for any hospital, it is always most challenging. Many studies on the quality of medical records have been available but very few regarding storage space. Aims: This study uses a forecasting technique to measure the storage space requirement for medical records. Settings and Design: The study is a record-based study using the moving average forecasting technique in a tertiary care 900-bed public hospital in eastern India. Subjects and Methods: The data of the medical record files were collected from 2014 to 2022 years and used the moving average forecasting technique to get the forecasting till 2040. Accordingly, average racks and shelves and floor space requirements were calculated based on forecasted data. Statistical Analysis Used: Simple statistics and moving average forecasting technique was used using Microsoft Excel. Results: The forecasted number of medical record generation data was calculated using moving average forecasting techniques till 2040. From 200 racks and 1168 shelves, it was calculated to be an average of 113 ± 35 records per shelve, 678 ± 35 records per rack, and 3.75 square feet of space per rack is required. Accordingly, cumulative records, eligible for destruction after the retention period, effective cumulative records, racks, and floor space required were calculated. Conclusions: Proper storage of medical records is essential for optimal patient care and medical legal aspects but is a challenge in most organizations. The study findings conclude the forecasted space requirement for medical records and choose a strategic plan accordingly for efficient management of the medical records.

Abstract This study explores how machine-learning can be used to predict chromatographic retention times (RT) for the analysis of small molecules, with the objective of identifying a machine-learning framework with the robustness required to support a chemical synthesis production platform. We used internally generated data from high-throughput parallel synthesis in context of pharmaceutical drug discovery projects. We tested machine-learning models from the following frameworks: XGBoost, ChemProp, and DeepChem, using a dataset of 7552 small molecules. Our findings show that two specific models, AttentiveFP and ChemProp, performed better than XGBoost and a regular neural network in predicting RT accurately. We also assessed how well these models performed over time and found that molecular graph neural networks consistently gave accurate predictions for new chemical series. In addition, when we applied ChemProp on the publicly available METLIN SMRT dataset, it performed impressively with an average error of 38.70 s. These results highlight the efficacy of molecular graph neural networks, especially ChemProp, in diverse RT prediction scenarios, thereby enhancing the efficiency of chromatographic analysis.

The affinity between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and organic compounds is of substantial importance since it strongly relates to the dispersibility of CNTs in those compounds. Several affinity evaluation methods have been developed so far, and the concept of the Hansen solubility parameter is a representative method widely used in the field of nanocarbon materials. Here, we demonstrate that CNT-loaded silica columns can effectively assess the affinity of organic compounds for CNT surface by exploiting the chromatographic retention time as a criterion. Obtained trends of the affinity of organic compounds for CNT were compared to those based on Hansen solubility parameter distance values. Most organic compounds showed similar trends, but one exceptional compound was observed. Simple CNT dispersion tests were conducted with these organic compounds to demonstrate the advantage of the chromatographic assessment. Further, we conducted comparison experiments using a pyrene-functionalized column and other CNT-loaded columns to elucidate the characteristics of each CNT column. The chromatographic approaches using CNT columns would be beneficial for realizing CNT suspensions with improved CNT dispersibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allium cepa, commonly known as onion, is renowned for its culinary and medicinal properties. This article investigates the phytochemical composition of four aggregatum onion varieties using preliminary phytochemical screening and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The study reveals diverse metabolites, including hydrocarbons, aldehydes, terpenoids, and organosulfur compounds, with variations observed among the onion varieties. Significant proportions of compounds such as diisooctyl phthalate, hexanol, and nobilitin, possessing various pharmacological activities like antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, were identified. The research emphasizes the importance of understanding onion phytochemistry, particularly given its widespread cultivation and consumption, notably in regions like Tamil Nadu, India. The identified bioactive compounds shed light on different onion varieties' unique attributes and potential health benefits. By elucidating onion bulb metabolite profiles using advanced techniques like GC-MS, this study contributes to understanding the phytochemical diversity within Allium cepa species. These findings lay the groundwork for future research into the medicinal and nutritional advantages of onions and support targeted breeding (selective breeding) programs to enhance healthpromoting compounds in onion varieties. Overall, this study underscores onions' significance as a culinary staple and a valuable source of diverse bioactive compounds with pharmacological potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Low-Carbon Chemistry & Chemical Engineering is the property of Low-Carbon Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) TaqIA polymorphism has an influence on addiction treatment response and prognosis by mediating brain dopaminergic system efficacy. Insula is crucial for conscious urges to take drugs and maintain drug use. However, it remains unclear about the contribution of DRD2 TaqIA polymorphism to the regulation of insular on addiction behavioral and its relation with the therapeutic effect of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Methods: 57 male former heroin dependents receiving stable MMT and 49 matched male healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Salivary genotyping for DRD2 TaqA1 and A2 alleles, brain resting-state functional MRI scan and a 24-month follow-up for collecting illegal-drug-use information was conducted and followed by clustering of functional connectivity (FC) patterns of HC insula, insula subregion parcellation of MMT patients, comparing the whole brain FC maps between the A1 carriers and non-carriers and analyzing the correlation between the genotype-related FC of insula sub-regions with the retention time in MMT patients by Cox regression. Results: Two insula subregions were identified: the anterior insula (AI) and the posterior insula (PI) subregion. The A1 carriers had a reduced FC between the left AI and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) relative to no carriers. And this reduced FC was a poor prognostic factor for the retention time in MMT patients. Conclusion: DRD2 TaqIA polymorphism affects the retention time in heroin-dependent individuals under MMT by mediating the functional connectivity strength between left AI and right dlPFC, and the two brain regions are promising therapeutic targets for individualized treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This in vitro study aimed to compare the adhesion strength of the adhesives of four modified cement-retained methods (MCRMs) that affect the retention of two types of materials (Zirconia and hybrid ceramic/VITA Enamic). Methods: In this in-vitro study, four cement-retained methods were used: the first is an occlusal hole with a diameter (1mm) with lateral hole with a diameter (1mm) (OLH), the second is an occlusal hole with a diameter (2mm) for screw access (OH), the third is a lingual hole for releasing the excess adhesive (1mm) (LH), and the last one is a control group (no holes). twenty-eight crowns (n=7) were fabricated for test with CAD-CAM system. The retention strength was examined by mechanical tensile experiments (MTE) in vitro using a universal testing machine, pull-off test. Results: A statistically significant difference is seen in each material's retention strength (zirconia and hybrid ceramic). The OLH group in zirconia (257.4286 N), and in ceramic (213.5714 N). had the highest values among the other groups, subsequently, the LH groups had slight differences from the other OH and control groups. (P=0.05). Conclusions: The use of modified cement methods had a remarkable effect on retention. In this study, the use of occlusal-lateral with (1 mm) hole (OLH) modification is more retentive than the other groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitcoin gained significant popularity starting in 2017, when the price soared from around $1,000 at the beginning year to nearly $20,000 in December. The aim of this research to analyze the factors of investment in bitcoin in Indonesia. The population of the study is individual who invest in Bitcoin. The sample is purposive with 140 valid respondentsfrom social media bitcoin group. The research used quantitative with online survey, distributed during September to November 2022.The survey was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling with Smart PLS. This study found that the facilitating conditions, compatibility, trust, power prestige, and retention time positively influence the investing intention in Bitcoin. Moreover, Awareness does not have significant effect on investment intention. Gender does not moderate the facilitating conditions, awareness, compatibility, trust, power prestige, and retention time with intention to invest in Bitcoin. It implies that the provider should pay attention more on facilitating conditions, compatibility, and retention time of the Bitcoin investment in their platform.

IntroductionThe use of illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids, specifically fentanyl and its analogs, has escalated exponentially in the United States over the last decade. Due to the targeted nature of drug detection methods in clinical laboratories and the ever-evolving list of synthetic opioids of concern, alternative analytical approaches are needed.MethodsUsing the fentanyl analog screening (FAS) kit produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we developed a liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) synthetic opioid spectral library and data acquisition method using information dependent acquisition of product ion spectra. Chromatographic retention times, limits of detection and matrix effects, in urine and serum, for the synthetic opioids in the FAS kit (n = 150) were established. All urine and serum specimens sent to a clinical toxicology laboratory for comprehensive drug testing in 2019 (n = 856) and 2021 (n = 878) were analyzed with the FAS LC-HRMS library to determine the prevalence of fentanyl analogs and other synthetic opioids, retrospectively (2019) and prospectively (2021).ResultsThe limit of detection (LOD) of each opioid ranged from 1 to 10 ng/mL (median, 2.5 ng/mL) in urine and 0.25-2.5 ng/mL (median, 0.5 ng/mL) in serum. Matrix effects ranged from -79 % to 86 % (median, -37 %) for urine, following dilution and direct analysis, and -80 % to 400 % (median, 0 %) for serum, following protein precipitation. The prevalence of fentanyl/fentanyl analogs in serum samples increased slightly from 2019 to 2021 while it remained the same in urine. There were only 2 samples identified that contained a fentanyl analog without the co-occurrence of fentanyl or fentanyl metabolites. Analysis of the established MS/MS spectral library revealed characteristic fragmentation patterns in most fentanyl analogs, which can be used for structure elucidation and drug identification of future analogs.ConclusionsThe LC-HRMS method was capable of detecting fentanyl analogs in routine samples sent for comprehensive drug testing. The method can be adapted to accommodate testing needs for the evolving opioid epidemic.

Abstract The analysis of ceramide (Cer) and sphingomyelin (SM) lipid species using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) continues to present challenges as their precursor mass and fragmentation can correspond to multiple molecular arrangements. To address this constraint, we developed ReTimeML, a freeware that automates the expected retention times (RTs) for Cer and SM lipid profiles from complex chromatograms. ReTimeML works on the principle that LC–MS/MS experiments have pre-determined RTs from internal standards, calibrators or quality controls used throughout the analysis. Employed as reference RTs, ReTimeML subsequently extrapolates the RTs of unknowns using its machine-learned regression library of mass-to-charge (m/z) versus RT profiles, which does not require model retraining for adaptability on different LC–MS/MS pipelines. We validated ReTimeML RT estimations for various Cer and SM structures across different biologicals, tissues and LC–MS/MS setups, exhibiting a mean variance between 0.23 and 2.43% compared to user annotations. ReTimeML also aided the disambiguation of SM identities from isobar distributions in paired serum-cerebrospinal fluid from healthy volunteers, allowing us to identify a series of non-canonical SMs associated between the two biofluids comprised of a polyunsaturated structure that confers increased stability against catabolic clearance.

Copyright of Forensische Psychiatrie, Psychologie, Kriminologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A very simple, more accurate, and highly precise process is refined to development of two combination drugs Dolutegravir (dua ), Rilpivirine (rpv) in the tablet dosage form. For this development agilent 100-5c18 column (250mmx4.6Mm). Acetonitrile as 40v/v and phosphate buffer which is maintained at ph 4.0 As 60v/vis passed with the help of column. Flow rate was measure as 0.80Ml/minute. Column temperature is accompanied as ambient. Upgraded wavelength is 235 nm. Run time is identified as 10 min and the volume injected for this analysis is 20 µL. Retention time of dua and rpv were found to be 2.6 & 3.9 Minute. % Rsd of the dua and rpv were and found to be 0.87, 0.40 As intraday and 0.75 And 0.56 As inter day precision. % Recovery was obtained as 98.59%, 100.7 % For dua and rpv respectively. The Rt values are minimized as well as run time was decreased. Finally, concluded that this proposed and developed process is more simple as well as economical which should be prevalent in regular qc labs and present in the plasma samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bland–Altman approach is one of the most widely used mathematical approaches for method comparison and analytical agreement. This work describes, for the first time, the application of Bland–Altman to study 14N/15N and 1H/2H (D) chromatographic isotope effects of endogenous analytes of the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway in human plasma, serum and urine samples in GC-MS. The investigated analytes included arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, dimethylamine, nitrite, nitrate and creatinine. There was a close correlation between the percentage difference of the retention times of the isotopologs of the Bland–Altman approach and the area under the curve (AUC) values of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) approach (r = 0.8619, p = 0.0047). The results of the study suggest that the chromatographic isotope effects in GC-MS result from differences in the interaction strengths of H/D isotopes in the derivatives with the hydrophobic stationary phase of the GC column. D atoms attenuate the interaction of the skeleton of the molecules with the lipophilic GC stationary phase. Differences in isotope effects in plasma or serum and urine in GC-MS are suggested to be due to a kind of matrix effect, and this remains to be investigated in forthcoming studies using Bland–Altman and ROC approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to elucidate the changes of body weight and nutrients in black soldierfly larvae of different days of age during live storage. In this experiment, 6 kg of larvae at 10 days, 12 days and 14 days old were selected, and each instar was treated with 1 treatment, each treatment was 6 replicates, each replicate was 1 kg, and 3 replicates were weighed at noon every day to measure weight loss. The other three replicates were stored in the same environment, and on the 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th days, 50 g of larvae were weighed for each replicate, and the nutrient content was determined after drying. The results showed that the absolute loss of fresh weight at 20 days of 12 and 14 days old was about 50%. The dry matter content of larvae stored in black soldier fly for 15 days was significantly greater than that stored for 5 days and 10 days (P<0.05). The crude protein content of 10th and 20th days of 12-day-old and 14-dayold black soldierfly larvae was higher than that of the 5th and initial larvae, and the crude protein content was highest at the 15th day of preservation. The initial crude fat content of 14-day-old larvae was significantly higher than that of other stages (P<0.05). The preservation time had an interactive effect with the age of the day, and the preservation time×day age could significantly affect the crude fat and dry matter content of the larvae of the black soldier fly (P<0.05). This study revealed the change law and consumption degree of nutrients in larvae during in vivo preservation, and under the experimental conditions, 10-day-old black soldier fly larvae were transported and preserved alive, and high nutrients could be obtained within 10 days of storage time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic lagoons remove organic matter in the absence of oxygen and must be designed considering facultative or aerated lagoons, to continue with the treatment and at the same time re-oxygenate the wastewater. The purpose of this document is to determine two graphs to calculate the elimination of fecal coliforms in anaerobic lagoons. An application example is included with the traditional method adopted by the Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua y la Comisión Nacional del Agua, later the graphs previously prepared are used. The results show the same values calculated with the traditional criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge is limited at the hydrolysis stage of the process. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of sludge retention times and ultrasound pretreatment on the ammonium concentration and organic matter transformation in anaerobic digesters treating sewage sludge. To achieve this, two laboratory-scale semicontinuous anaerobic digesters were operated for a period of over 70 d, including a control reactor and another fed by pretreated sludge. Both anaerobic systems were fed with mixed sludge (50%/50% primary/secondary treatment) in mesophilic conditions (37 °C), with solid retention times (SRT) of 7.5 d (Phase I) and 3 d (Phase II). The performance of the anaerobic digestion process was assessed in terms of the methane yield and the total and soluble chemical organic demand, total solids, and volatile solids removal. The results showed that the ultrasound pretreatment caused an increase of around 22.2% in CODt removal for an SRT of 7.5 d. Meanwhile, an SRT of 3 d resulted in a decrease of up to 92.4% in CODt removal. The performance in terms of biogas production and organic matter removal was significantly affected by the SRT reduction to 3 d, showing that the process is not viable in these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an n-type pseudo-static gain cell (PS-nGC) embedded within dynamic random-access memory (eDRAM) for high-speed processing-in-memory (PIM) applications. The PS-nGC leverages a two-transistor (2T) gain cell and employs an n-type pseudo-static leakage compensation (n-type PSLC) circuit to significantly extend the eDRAM's retention time. The implementation of a homogeneous NMOS-based 2T gain cell not only reduces write access times but also benefits from a boosted write wordline technique. In a comparison with the previous pseudo-static gain cell design, the proposed PS-nGC exhibits improvements in write and read access times, achieving 3.27 times and 1.81 times reductions in write access time and read access time, respectively. Furthermore, the PS-nGC demonstrates versatility by accommodating a wide supply voltage range, spanning from 0.7 to 1.2 V, while maintaining an operating frequency of 667 MHz. Fabricated using a 28 nm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process, the prototype features an efficient active area, occupying a mere 0.284 µm2 per bitcell for the 4 kb eDRAM macro. Under various operational conditions, including different processes, voltages, and temperatures, the proposed PS-nGC of eDRAM consistently provides speedy and reliable read and write operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Static stretching (SS), dynamic stretching (DS), and combined stretching (CS; i.e., DS+SS) are commonly performed as warm-up exercises. However, the stretching method with the greatest effect on flexibility and performance remains unclear. This randomized crossover trial examined acute and prolonged effects of SS, DS, and CS on range of motion (ROM), peak passive torque (PPT), passive stiffness, and isometric and concentric muscle forces. Twenty healthy young men performed 300 sec of active SS, DS, or CS (150-sec SS followed by 150-sec DS and 150-sec DS followed by 150-sec SS) of the right knee flexors on four separate days, in random order. Subsequently, we measured ROM, PPT, and passive stiffness during passive knee extension. We also measured maximum voluntary isometric and concentric knee flexion forces and surface electromyographic activities during force measurements immediately before, immediately after, and 20 and 60 min after stretching. All stretching methods significantly increased ROM and PPT, while significantly decreasing isometric knee flexion force (all p < 0.05). These changes lasted 60 min after all stretching methods; the increases in ROM and PPT and the decreases in isometric muscle force were similar. All stretching methods also significantly decreased passive stiffness immediately after stretching (all p < 0.05). Decreases in passive stiffness tended to be longer after CS than after SS or DS. Concentric muscle force was decreased after SS and CS (all p < 0.05). On the other hand, concentric muscle force was unchanged after DS, while the decreases in surface electromyographic activities during concentric force measurements after all stretching methods were similar. Our results suggest that 300 sec of SS, DS, and CS have different acute and prolonged effects on flexibility and muscle force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactobacillus spp. inhibit the growth of Campylobacter spp. in vitro. However, in chicken crops, in which Lactobacillus spp. predominate, such inhibition of Campylobacter has not been confirmed. In our previous study, feeding paddy rice to broiler chicks increased the residence time of the food, which might enhance the bactericidal activity of the crop. Here, the bactericidal activity against the remaining Campylobacter spp. in broiler crops was evaluated. A suspension prepared by mixing Campylobacter jejuni and titanium dioxide (TiO2) was inoculated into the pharynx of 26-day-old broiler chicks fed a paddy rice-based diet. The crop contents were sampled at 20-min intervals. The TiO2 residual ratio in the crop gradually decreased with time after inoculation, with 57% of the inoculated TiO2 remaining in the crop 60 min after inoculation. The survival fraction of C. jejuni in the crops was 11% at 40 min, only 1% at 60 min, and was undetectable at 80 min. Most of the inoculated C. jejuni died in the crop before entering the next segment. These data indicated that bacterial death occurred between 30 min and 40 min after inoculation. The average survival time of C. jejuni in the crop was calculated to be 37.1 min. Thus, C. jejuni remaining in a chicken crop for more than 40 min died.

Antibiotics enter the environment, mainly aquatic environments, through the effluents of pharmaceutical industries, antibiotic factories, hospitals, human and animal sewage. Toxicity (carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and damage to the body's DNA), biodegradability, and drug resistance in antibiotics have caused these compounds to be called semi-persistent pollutants in the environment. The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of ultrasonic waves in reducing the antibiotic amoxiclav in aqueous solutions. The discharge and flow velocity parameters have been neglected due to their insignificance. The investigated variables included contact time, amoxiclav concentration, and pH. Antibiotics were based on concentrations of 2 and 6 mg/L of Amoxiclav, retention time (30, 45, 60) minutes, and pH values (3, 7, 9) in an ultrasonic device with a volume of 10 liters and internal dimensions (20*30*50), and the frequency was set to 95. Then the remaining concentration in the samples was measured by HPLC. The obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis with SPSS software. As the retention time increases, the initial concentration of the antibiotic decreases, but on the contrary, as the initial concentration increases, the removal of the antibiotic decreases. The highest concentration reduction of amoxiclav in concentration 2 (mg/L) is about 50% in the retention time of 60 minutes and pH = 3, but in concentration of 6 (mg/L), the highest concentration reduction is in the same retention time and pH of about 47%. The advantages of ultrasonication are easy application, acceleration of chemical and biological processes, no production of secondary pollutants, reduction of suspended and soluble substances in water, and an effective and cheap method to remove the antibiotic Amoxiclav.

Rumen accumulation in slaughterhouses produced by sheep is a significant issue that endangers human life and the ecosystem. Use of rumen appears to improve biogas production due to a high rate of hydrolytic bacteria. Hydrolytic bacteria are required for the breakdown of organic matter and biogas. This study proposes that combined camel and sheep manure with tomatoes and Rumen be co-digested under mesophilic conditions by anaerobically fermenting in a batch system to produce biogas. In the cross-sectional area of the study at the same operating conditions, biogas volume was measured for a period of 14 days, and on the last day, methane concentrations were measured. The study found that the rumen sample had the highest methane concentration, measuring 69.30%. Conversely, the control mixture without any additional co-substance had the lowest percentage of methane. Additionally, the tomato sample showed a slightly higher methane concentration of 0.1% compared to the control mixture. The study results show that efficient biogas production increased with rumen and tomatoes addition to manure compared to the control bio-digester sample. This demonstrates how waste can be transformed into wealth, which can be used to reduce costs for the community.

Abstract Objective To investigate the risk factors associated with the peripheral venous catheter-related complication and infection in children with bronchopneumonia. Methods A total of 185 patients were divided into case group (n = 114) and control group (n = 71) according to the presence of catheter-related infection and complications related to indwelling needle. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to explore the risk factors associated with the infection. Results Age was divided into 4 categories (0 6). The case group had a higher percentage of patients with 0

The OphthalMimic is a 3D-printed device that simulates human ocular conditions with artificial lacrimal flow, cul-de-sac area, moving eyelid, and a surface to interact with ophthalmic formulations. All tests with such a device have used a continuous artificial tear flow rate of 1 mL/min for 5 min. Here, we implemented protocol variations regarding the application time and simulated tear flow to increase the test’s discrimination and achieve reliable performance results. The new protocols incorporated the previously evaluated 0.2% fluconazole formulations containing or not chitosan as a mucoadhesive component (PLX16CS10 and PLX16, respectively) and novel moxifloxacin 5% formulations, either in a conventional formulation and a microemulsion (CONTROL and NEMOX, respectively). The flow rate was reduced by 50%, and a pre-flow application period was also included to allow formulation interaction with the membrane. The OphthalMimic model was used with both polymeric and hydrogel-based hybrid membranes, including a simulated eyelid. Lowering the flow made it feasible to prolong the testing duration, enhancing device discrimination potential. The hydrogel membrane was adequate for testing nanostructure formulations. The OphthalMimic device demonstrated once again to be a versatile method for evaluating the performance of ophthalmic drug formulations with the potential of reducing the use of animals for experimentation.